Jon Chait lays out all the arguments to kill the filibuster and it really should be required reading for every Senator. Democrats have been arguing that the filibuster is a temporary impediment to passing needed laws, but Chait makes an argument that it actually stands in the way of compromise and comity. The invisibility of the modern filibuster has meant that a few assholes like McConnell can abuse the process and avoid having their fingerprints on it.
Today, Joe Biden will meet with Republican Senators who think his Covid relief package is too big. It is not too big. They will talk about the deficit, even after blowing a hole the size of Canada in the debt by cutting taxes on the rich. They don't want Biden to demonstrate the capacity of a Democratic led government to actually solve problems, even if they don't admit this to themselves. Biden will listen respectfully and then rightfully ignore calls for austerity in the face of a pandemic and recession.
Republicans can't run the 2009 playbook, because Biden was there to see it run the first time. Why Joe Manchin can't see it is a mystery.
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