Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman has lost his unique leverage in Washington now that his party has pulled off a blue wave in the midterm elections.

The Democratic Party was handed control of the House and the Senate on Tuesday, dramatically reshaping Congress for the country.

In Pennsylvania, Fetterman has wielded the power of being the deciding vote in what was a narrowly divided Senate, as a Democrat willing to break with his party. But Democratic Senate gains across the country on Tuesday have pushed their seats from a minority of 47 to a majority of at least 54, after flipping at least seven seats, as of early Wednesday morning.

This means Fetterman, who has long faced criticism from wings of his party for obstructing the Democratic agenda by voting with Republicans, will now have less power to force his party to listen to the views he represents.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 19 points 2 days ago (8 children)

He will matter when the time comes to get things done. You want to convict trump? 2/3 majority in the Senate. Want to amend the constitution to teach John Roberts how to read? 66 votes. Hooked on phonics, John. Start with seeing spot run. Democrats can legislate with the majority they have, but now they have to do that and override vetoes. You guessed it, 2/3.

People aren't going to accept "we tried" again. If Democrats fuck this up now, again, just disband the party.

  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

    No one will be trying to amend the constitution, unfortunately

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 11 points 2 days ago

    If Democrats fuck this up now, again, just disband the party.

    not how the gop ran the country into the ditch, now it's all about how fast the dems can fix everything that's been fucked up.

    2009 all over again.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 12 points 2 days ago* (2 children)

    2/3 majority in the Senate.

    Democrats are never going to convince enough Republicans to defect, to reach 67 votes in the Senate. So Fetterman indeed doesn't matter.

    People aren’t going to accept “we tried” again.

    I can already see people like coming with criticism like "why didn't the Democrats win that vote that requires 2/3rds majority? Surely because the Democrats don't truly care. Both sides are the same."

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    The last few times the Democrats held a majority in both houses, they rolled over for Republicans who were absolutely relentless in their attacks.

    When Republicans held both houses, Democrats just silently let them get away with whatever, instead of going on the offensive the way they should.

    Attack. Legislation isn't going to happen. Investigate. Obstruct. Be so offensive that simply existing in Washington becomes unpalatable for Republicans.

    Instead what they'll do is send through the most milquetoast of progressive legislation, watch it get vetoed and when it comes to a point where it could actually happen, they'll forget the ever brought it up in the first place. Like they do every time.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment