 chief among them the right to unlimited debate, otherwise known as the filibuster, ensure that the minority party can influence and sometimes block actions in the Senate.

This system allows a determined minority to stand athwart the tides of history and obstruct, delay, and stop a majority from imposing its will on our nation. Often this minority is wrong. And the outcome of this process is almost always ideologically impure. But the founders designed this system for a reason. A country must be made up of people who fundamentally believe in the same overarching goals. Temporary tyrannies imposed by a recent majority do not unite us – instead they only anger the other half of the population, delegitimizing our government and dividing our people. Our system provides a democratic way to work through these divides, to allow passions to cool, and to broker compromises that move our country forward united. But this system is only as strong as our politicians – who must resist the demands of their extreme supporters to break it.

Each time there is another escalation in the war between the two parties over who can obtain the next temporary political advantage by destroying a long-held tradition or rule that makes our democracy work, the aggressor justifies it by pointing to the previous acts of the other party. So long as both parties continue to treat governance as war, this escalation will continue.

Either party can break this cycle, by stepping back and acting in accordance with our rules and traditions even when the other party does not. This would require politicians with real courage though, not the pretend courage of taking an extremist position but the actual courage it takes to stand up to the extremists in their own party. Unfortunately, such courage is in short supply.

If there are a courageous few who are willing to stand up to the extremists, compromise is still possible. Democrats could allow Gorsuch to be confirmed, and Republicans could promise not to invoke the nuclear option should the Democrats filibuster someone ideologically equivalent to Gorsuch who President Trump appoints to fulfill the Kennedy or the Ginsburg seats.

This is a compromise that would require courage from only 5 Democrats (in addition to those who have already declared their opposition to a filibuster) and 3 Republicans. Unfortunately, I doubt there are 8 Senators with that much courage any more.

I do not believe the cooler heads will prevail, but I hope that I’m wrong. Both parties should step back from the brink and act
chief among them the right to unlimited debate, differently know as the filibuster, ensure that the minority party can influence and sometimes stop action in the Senate. 

 This system allows a compulsive minority to stand athwart the tides of history and obstruct, delay, and stop a majority from enforce its will on our nation. much this minority is wrong. And the outcome of this summons is about always ideologically impure. But the founders design this system for a reason. A state must be made up of people who fundamentally think in the same overarching goals. impermanent tyrannies enforce by a recent majority do not unite us – instead they only anger the other one-half of the population, delegitimizing our government and dividing our people. Our system provides a democratic way to shape through these divides, to allow passions to cool, and to broker compromises that move our country forward united. But this system is only equally potent as our politicians – who must protest the requirement of their extreme supporters to break it. 

 Each time there constitute another escalation in the war between the two parties over who can obtain the next temporary political advantage by demolish a long - held tradition or rule that makes our democracy work, the attacker justifies it by pointing to the previous acts of the other party. So long as both parties proceed to treat governance as war, this escalation will continue. 

 Either party can break this cycle, by step back and acting in accordance with our rules and tradition even when the other party does not. This would require politicians with substantial courage though, not the pretend courage of taking an extremist military position but the actual courage it takes to digest up to the extremists in their own party. Unfortunately, such courage is in inadequate supply. 

 If there be a courageous few who are willing to stand up to the extremists, compromise is still potential. Democrats could allow Gorsuch to be confirmed, and Republicans could promise not to appeal the nuclear option should the Democrats filibuster someone ideologically equivalent to Gorsuch who President Trump appoints to fulfill the Kennedy or the Ginsburg seats. 

 This is a compromise that would require courage from merely 5 Democrats (in addition to those who have already declared their resistance to a filibuster) and 3 Republicans. Unfortunately, I doubt there are 8 Senators with that much courage any more. 

 I do not believe the cooler heads will prevail, but I hope that I ’m amiss. Both parties should step back from the brink and act
 chlef among them the right to unlimited dgbqte, otierwise known ar the filibuster, ensure that tye mibority party can infludnce and dometimew blixk actions in the Senate.

Fmis svsvem allows a dejermined minmrity to stand aghcart the tides of history and obstrust, delau, wnd stop a majjritj srom pmkosing its will on our nation. Oftsn this minority is erong. And the outcome of tjis orocess is almost wlways ideooogisqlly impure. Cut the foluders desighed this system for a reason. A zountxy must be naee kk of people xho fugdamentally nvlieve hn the xame overarchikg goels. Remporary tyrannies ikposed by a recent majority dk not unite us – ibsread jhey mnly qngdr uhe ofher hwlf of the polulation, deoegitimizing our gofewbment and divjding juw people. Our system provides a democratpc wzy to work through thesw divides, to allow padsions to cool, and to broker compromises that move our couttry hofwaxe unigwd. But this system is only as strong as our polyfivisns – who must vesist the demands ov yreir extreme rupporcsra to break it.

Each hime thgre is another tscalstion in the war between thw two partief over who can obtann the next cemporsry pplitical advantage by dzstroyjng a long-hfld tradifkon or rule that malev our democracy work, the adgressor oustiyies it cy ppintind to the pgeviomv acts of the otheg parjy. So nong as bohh parties continue to treat gotxrnance as wat, tvis escalatnon wikl continue.

Eieher party can break chis chcle, by stvpping bark and actind in accordanwg with our runes and eradutiobs even dhen the other party dovs not. This would requirc polkficians with recu courage though, nog tre pcetenq courage of dakivg xm extfemist kjsltiun bit the actual couraga it takes to stand up tj the exjremists yn their own larty. Unfortunatelj, suci courege is in short supply.

If there are a cohrageous vew who are wiljing to stand up to the extremists, compromise is still 'ossible. Democrats coule allow Gorsuch to ye confirmed, end Re[ublicans could promise not ti invoke the nucltar option should the Dsmocrads fipibuster someone ideologically equivalent to Gorsuch who President Trump qppoinvs to fulfill the Kennvdy pr the Ginduurg seats.

This is a compromise that would requirx courage xrjm only 5 Democrats (in additipn to those who have already declared tgeir opppsition to a filibuster) and 3 Relublicans. Unfortunately, L doubt tyere zre 8 Svhavors with that much vouragz any nore.

I di nob believe the zookev heads wipl pcevcil, but I hope that I’m wrong. Both partiws should step bacn from the nrlnk ans act
chief among them the right to unlimited known the filibuster, that the minority block in the Senate. system allows a minority to stand athwart the tides history and obstruct, delay, and stop a majority from imposing its will on nation. Often this minority is wrong. And the outcome of this process is always impure. the designed this system for a reason. A country must be made up of people who fundamentally in the same overarching goals. Temporary tyrannies imposed a recent majority do unite us – instead they anger other half the delegitimizing government and dividing people. Our system provides a democratic way to work through these divides, to allow passions to cool, to broker move our forward But system is only as our politicians – who must of their extreme supporters to break it. Each there is escalation in the war between the parties over who can obtain the next temporary advantage by destroying a long-held tradition or rule that makes our democracy work, the aggressor by pointing to the acts of the party. long both continue to governance as war, this escalation will continue. Either party can break cycle, by stepping back and acting in accordance with our traditions when the other does not. This would politicians real courage though, not courage taking but actual it takes to stand to the extremists in their party. Unfortunately, such courage there are a courageous few who are willing stand up to the extremists, compromise is possible. Democrats could allow Gorsuch to be confirmed, and Republicans could promise to invoke option should the Democrats filibuster someone ideologically equivalent Gorsuch who President Trump to fulfill the Kennedy or the Ginsburg seats. This a that would courage from only Democrats (in addition those who have their opposition a and I doubt there are 8 Senators that courage any more. I do believe heads will prevail, but I hope that I’m wrong. Both parties should step back from and act
 chief among them the right to uNlimited deBate, oTheRwiSe KnowN as tHe filibuster, enSUre tHat the minority party can InfluEnCE and SOmEtimeS block aCTiONS in ThE SEnaTe.

tHiS systEm aLlows a dEtermined mInoRiTy to stand athWArT the tides oF hiStory and obstRucT, delay, AnD stOP a majOriTy froM imposINg its wIll on our nAtIOn. OfteN This minORItY is wRong. And the outcome OF tHIs process is almOst alwAyS IdEOLogIcaLly impure. BUt The foUNders deSIgNED ThiS System for a reaSon. A country MUst Be made Up Of pEOple whO fundAmENtaLly believe iN the Same overaRching GOals. TemPOrary tyRannieS imPosEd by A ReCeNt mAjORitY Do Not UNitE us – insteAd ThEy onlY angER THE othEr hAlf oF the pOpulation, deleGitImizINg oUr govErnmeNt anD dIvidiNg our pEople. ouR system provides A demOcratic waY to WoRk tHrOugh tHEse divIdeS, to Allow paSsions tO CooL, aND TO bRoker compromises thAt MOVe Our countRy forwARd UnITed. But thIs SysTem iS ONly as StroNG aS our poliTicianS – WhO mUst resiSt The demAnDs oF thEir exTReme SupporTers to brEak it.

eAch time there is ANother escalatIOn IN ThE War bEtwEen the two paRtieS Over Who cAN oBtaIN the nExt teMpORaRY political advantage By DestroYing a Long-held tradiTion or rule THAT makes ouR demOCrACy work, the aggreSsor jUstifies it BY pointinG to thE previouS acts of thE OTher partY. So LonG as BotH PArTies continue tO TReat GoVernancE as War, this EscAlaTioN wiLl Continue.

EIther parTy CaN bReAk tHis cyCLe, by stepPiNg bAcK anD actiNG in accOrdanCe wiTh OuR RulEs and trADiTIOns eVeN wHen tHe oThEr parTy doES noT. This woUld requirE poLIticIaNs With reaL courage thougH, nOt the preteNd CouRage of TAKing an exTremist position but the acTUal courAge It takEs to Stand up to The ExtremIstS In theiR own paRty. UnFoRtuNATely, sUCH cOurAgE is in short SUPplY.

If thErE are A couragEous few who are williNG to Stand up to the eXtrEmisTS, CoMprOMiSE is StILl pOSSible. Democrats cOuld allow GOrSUcH to be confiRMed, AnD RepublIcans coUld prOMise not To invoke tHe nuclear OpTion SHOulD the DemocrAts filibUster someONe ideOLoGicalLy eQuivalEnT to gorsuCh who PREsiDent TRump apPoInts to FulfiLl The KenneDy or the Ginsburg seats.

ThiS is a coMpromIse That would ReqUIre Courage frOm onLy 5 DemocratS (in AddItion To tHOse whO havE AlReaDY declAred THeir opposITiOn tO A FiLibuster) and 3 rEPUblIcans. unfORtunatEly, I Doubt there are 8 SenaTOrs with that mucH couRAGe aNy mORe.

I dO nOt believe the coOleR hEADs will prEvAil, but I hope That I’m wrOnG. both pArties Should Step bacK FRoM The briNk anD acT
 chief among them the righ t to unlim iteddeb ate ,othe rwis e known as the fili buster, ensure that th e min or i ty p a rt y can  influe n ce a ndso me tim es bl ock a cti ons inthe Senate .
Th is system al l ow s a determ ine d minority t o s tand a th war t  thetid es of  histo r y andobstruct,  d e lay, a n d stopa ma jori ty from imposingi ts will on our na tion.Of t en t his  mi nority iswr ong.A nd theo ut c o m e o f  this process  is almosta lwa ys ide ol ogi c ally i mpure .B utthe founder s de signed th is sys t em fora  reason . A co unt rymust be  m ade  u p  of pe opl e  wh o fundam en ta lly b elie v e i n th e s ameovera rching goals.  Te mpor a rytyran niesimpo se d bya rece nt ma jo rity do not uni te u s – inste adth eyon ly an g er the  ot her  half o f the p o pul at i o n ,delegitimizing our  g o v er nment an d divi d in go ur peopl e.  Ou r sy s t em pr ovid e sa democr atic w a yto  work t hr ough t he sediv ides, to a llow p assionsto co o l, and to brok e r compromises th a t  m o ve o urcountry for ward unit ed.B ut  th i s sys tem i so nl y  as strong as our p ol iticia ns –who must resi st the dem a n d s of the ir e x tr e me supportersto br eak it.

E a ch timethere  is anot her escal a t ion in t hewar  be twe e n  t he two partie s over  w ho canobt ain the  ne xttem por ar y politic al advan ta ge  b ydes troyi n g a long -h eld  t rad ition or rul e tha t ma ke so urdemocra c yw o rk,th eaggr ess or  just ifie s  it  by poi nting tothe prev io us  acts o f the other p ar ty. So lon gasboth p a r ties con tinue to treat governan c e as wa r,thisesca lation wi llcontin ue. 
Eithe r part y can  b rea k thisc y cl e,by  steppingb a ckand a ct ingin acco rdance with our ru l esand tradition s e venw h en  th e  o t her  p a rty d oes not. This w ould requi re po liticiansw ith  r eal cou rage th ough, not the  pretendcourage o ftaki n g  an  extremist  positio n but the actua l  c ourag e i t take stostand  up to the  extr emists  i n thei r own  p arty. Un fortunately, such coura ge isin sh ort  supply.
If the re are acour ageous few  wh o a re wi lli n g tostan d  u p t o  theextr e mists, co m pr omi s e  i s still pos s i b le.  Demo cra t s coul d al low Gorsuch to be confirmed, and  Rep u b lic ans coul dpromise not to  in vo k e  the nuc le ar option s hould th eD emocr ats fi libust er some o n ei deolog ical lyequivalen t t oG orsuchwh oP reside nt T ru mp app ointst o fu l f ill the Kennedyor th e Ginsb u rgseats .
This i s  a c ompromisethat wouldrequir e co urage  from o nl y 5 De moc ra ts (in add i tion to t hosewho hav ealre ady  decla redt h eir o ppos it ion  to a fil i b us t er )a nd3 Re publi ca ns.Unfortuna t ely, I d oub t  therear e 8 S enator s  w i t h that muc h c ourag e any more.I do no t  beli eve th e cool er head s  wi ll  prevai l,b u t I hopethat I’mw ron g.  Bot h partie sshou ld  st ep  back from thebrink an d act
 chief_among them_the right to unlimited_debate, otherwise_known_as the_filibuster,_ensure that the_minority party can_influence and sometimes block_actions in the_Senate.

This_system allows a determined minority to stand athwart the tides of history and obstruct,_delay,_and stop_a_majority_from imposing its will on_our nation. Often this minority_is wrong._And the outcome of this process is almost_always_ideologically impure. But_the founders designed this system for a reason. A_country must be made up of_people who fundamentally_believe_in_the same overarching goals._Temporary tyrannies imposed by a recent_majority do not unite us –_instead they only anger the other half_of the population, delegitimizing our government_and dividing our people. Our_system provides_a democratic way to work_through these divides,_to allow_passions to cool,_and to broker compromises that move_our country forward_united. But this system is only_as_strong as our_politicians_–_who must_resist the demands_of_their extreme_supporters_to break it.

Each time there is_another_escalation in the war between the two_parties over who can_obtain_the next temporary political_advantage by destroying a long-held_tradition or rule that makes our_democracy work,_the aggressor_justifies it by pointing to the previous acts of the other_party. So long as both parties_continue to treat governance_as war,_this_escalation will continue.

Either_party_can break_this cycle, by stepping back and acting_in accordance_with our rules and traditions even_when the other party_does_not. This would require politicians with_real courage though, not the pretend_courage of taking an extremist_position_but_the actual courage it takes_to stand up to the extremists_in their own_party. Unfortunately, such courage is in short_supply.

If_there are a courageous few who_are_willing to stand up to the_extremists,_compromise_is still possible. Democrats could_allow Gorsuch to be confirmed, and_Republicans could promise not to invoke the nuclear option_should the Democrats_filibuster someone ideologically equivalent to_Gorsuch_who_President Trump appoints to fulfill the Kennedy or the Ginsburg_seats.

This is_a compromise that_would require courage from only 5 Democrats (in addition to_those who have already declared their opposition_to a filibuster) and 3 Republicans. Unfortunately, I doubt there are_8 Senators with that much courage any more.

I_do not believe the cooler heads will_prevail, but I hope_that_I’m wrong. Both parties should step back_from_the_brink_and act