--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The filibuster is an affront to commonly…" description: "\"The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.\" — Hendrik Hertzberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png" --- # The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood… ![“The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.” quote by Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png) > “The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.” [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The filibuster undermines democratic norms, yet the Senate itself often violates those norms. **In simple terms:** Both filibuster and Senate can erode democracy. Key Takeaway Recognize systemic issues beyond single procedures. Themes politics democracy institutional critique Mood critical analytical Type political inspirational When to use this quote - legislative process - policy debates - public trust - media coverage Key Concepts filibuster senate behavior norm erosion Questions to Reflect On - How can democratic norms be protected? - What reforms could address both issues? A Different Perspective Reform may be hard due to entrenched interests. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Filibuster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filibuster/) [Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senate/) ## Related quotes > [What are our priorities? First, the welfare, the survival of the people. Then, democratic norms and processes which from time to time we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/what-are-our-priorities-first-the-welfare-the-survival-of-the-people/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [The domestic policy of any president, U.S. or otherwise, is his or her own concern, as long as democratic norms are followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toomas-hendrik-ilves/the-domestic-policy-of-any-president-u-s-or-otherwise-is-his-or-her/) [Toomas Hendrik Ilves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toomas-hendrik-ilves/) > [The Founders surely never imagined that a three-fifths majority would be the standard requirement for passing legislation in the upper chamber, and for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kornacki/the-founders-surely-never-imagined-that-a-three-fifths-majority-would/) [Steve Kornacki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kornacki/) > [We have promised to do better, and no Republican concern should ever be enough to filibuster our own bill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-hatch/we-have-promised-to-do-better-and-no-republican-concern-should-ever/) [Orrin Hatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-hatch/) > [They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/they-say-women-talk-too-much-if-you-have-worked-in-congress-you-know/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [The Dream Act and the DISCLOSE Act, to name two, had majorities in both chambers during Obama's first term, but they were filibustered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-melber/the-dream-act-and-the-disclose-act-to-name-two-had-majorities-in-both/) [Ari Melber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-melber/) > [In reality, if Democrats truly cared about solutions to our immigration crisis they would have done so long ago - like in 2009, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/in-reality-if-democrats-truly-cared-about-solutions-to-our/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [We've seen filibusters of bills and nominations that ultimately passed with 90 or more votes. Why filibuster something that has that kind of support?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/we-ve-seen-filibusters-of-bills-and-nominations-that-ultimately/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [The filibuster is used more aggressively, so I think doing each individual appropriations bill through regular order would be a home run. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/the-filibuster-is-used-more-aggressively-so-i-think-doing-each/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [With all the surgical skill and the vital rays lavished on him he should talk like alike a congressman at a filibuster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-langtry/with-all-the-surgical-skill-and-the-vital-rays-lavished-on-him-he/) Kenneth Langtry > [No one likes the Electoral College, expect perhaps those who were elected because of it. No one likes gerrymandering, except those doing the gerrymandering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bleyer/no-one-likes-the-electoral-college-expect-perhaps-those-who-were/) [Kevin Bleyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bleyer/) > [In theory, the filibuster helps whichever party is in the minority in the Senate. In practice, it is the Republicans who have disproportionately used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-hasan/in-theory-the-filibuster-helps-whichever-party-is-in-the-minority-in/) [Mehdi Hasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-hasan/) > [If Trump wins, the only thing blocking complete implementation of the programs of Trump, Paul Ryan, the Koch brothers, etc., is the Senate filibuster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-nairn/if-trump-wins-the-only-thing-blocking-complete-implementation-of-the/) [Allan Nairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-nairn/) > [“There is another, grimmer history to the filibuster, though, one that carries special relevance for me. For almost a century, the filibuster was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-another-grimmer-history-to-the-filibuster-though-one-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When you use the word 'filibuster,' most of us in America - and I count myself among them - envision it as the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-merkley/when-you-use-the-word-filibuster-most-of-us-in-america-and-i-count/) [Jeff Merkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-merkley/) ## More by Hendrik Hertzberg > [Where is it written that if you don't like religion you are somehow disqualified from being a legitimate American? What was Mark Twain, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/where-is-it-written-that-if-you-don-t-like-religion-you-are-somehow/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [I can't agree that what we're seeing is a matter of the American bourgeoisie confronting workers everywhere. It's more like the international plutocracy eliminating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/i-can-t-agree-that-what-we-re-seeing-is-a-matter-of-the-american/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [Marriage should be between a spouse and a spouse, not a gender and a gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/marriage-should-be-between-a-spouse-and-a-spouse-not-a-gender-and-a/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [I don't think that the "freedom movement" is a racist movement as such. But it's a virulent example of identity politics. "Whiteness" is part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/i-don-t-think-that-the-freedom-movement-is-a-racist-movement-as-such/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [Unfair in practice is not the same thing as wrong in principle, but sometimes it has to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/unfair-in-practice-is-not-the-same-thing-as-wrong-in-principle-but/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [ \[If the Democratic nominee turns out to be\] Walter Mondale, I hope he picks Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. It would be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/if-the-democratic-nominee-turns-out-to-be-walter-mondale-i-hope-he/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [The dismaying truth is that birtherism is part of a larger pattern of rejection of reality that has taken hold of intimidating segments of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-dismaying-truth-is-that-birtherism-is-part-of-a-larger-pattern-of/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [A political ideology is a very handy thing to have. It's a real time-saver, because it tells you what you think about things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/a-political-ideology-is-a-very-handy-thing-to-have-it-s-a-real-time/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as God,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/i-m-pretty-sure-there-is-no-such-thing-as-god/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [It's a strange sort of attack, to be sure: a wonderfully pacific attack, a supportive attack, an attack without the slightest intention or capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/it-s-a-strange-sort-of-attack-to-be-sure-a-wonderfully-pacific-attack/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [A person's character is what it is. It's a little like a marriage - only without the option of divorce. You can work on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/a-person-s-character-is-what-it-is-it-s-a-little-like-a-marriage-only/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) > [A "communist/socialist/progressive" is an oxymoron, like an "atheist/evangelical Christian/Muslim."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/a-communist-socialist-progressive-is-an-oxymoron-like-an-atheist/) [Hendrik Hertzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) [Explore all 13 Hendrik Hertzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/) ## More Affront quotes > [Self-ruled Taiwan cannot be expected to accept such an affront to the legitimacy of its government and the self-determination of the Taiwanese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-akin/self-ruled-taiwan-cannot-be-expected-to-accept-such-an-affront-to-the/) [Todd Akin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-akin/) > [Old, that's an affront no woman can well bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/old-that-s-an-affront-no-woman-can-well-bear/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [A government run by billionaires for billionaires is an affront to freedom and morality and humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/a-government-run-by-billionaires-for-billionaires-is-an-affront-to/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [I'm achingly aware of my own limitations as both part of the human race and as an individual. I'm just, casting this out that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-m-achingly-aware-of-my-own-limitations-as-both-part-of-the-human/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Despite my best efforts, I'm not quite perfect. Let's just say I'm like one of those Hopi blankets where they leave a tiny flaw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/despite-my-best-efforts-i-m-not-quite-perfect-let-s-just-say-i-m-like/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere... I call on all governments to join with the United States and the community of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/torture-anywhere-is-an-affront-to-human-dignity-everywhere-i-call-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Black people in America have to, for their own protection, develop a defense mechanism, and I just grew terribly tired of it. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/black-people-in-america-have-to-for-their-own-protection-develop-a/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) > [He's never quite got the trick of conversation, tending to hear in dissenting views, however mild, a kind of affront, an invitation to mortal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/he-s-never-quite-got-the-trick-of-conversation-tending-to-hear-in/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [And old affront will stir the heart Through years of rankling pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ingelow/and-old-affront-will-stir-the-heart-through-years-of-rankling-pain/) [Jean Ingelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ingelow/) > [The first and last lesson of religion is, 'The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-first-and-last-lesson-of-religion-is-the-things-that-are-seen-are/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Usitukane kamwe. Pigana itakapobidi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/usitukane-kamwe-pigana-itakapobidi/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [“Any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/any-path-is-only-a-path-and-there-is-no-affront-to-oneself-or-to/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“It is an affront to our present, and it is a bad prescription for our future. History cannot be changed. It cannot be moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-landrieu/it-is-an-affront-to-our-present-and-it-is-a-bad-prescription-for-our/) [Mitch Landrieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-landrieu/) > [A great mind will neither give an affront nor bear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/a-great-mind-will-neither-give-an-affront-nor-bear-it/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [A moral, sensible, and well-bred manWill not affront me, and no other can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/a-moral-sensible-and-well-bred-manwill-not-affront-me-and-no-other-can/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) Browse all 106 Affront quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hendrik Hertzberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affront" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/hendrik-hertzberg-35818_affront_the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly_130413.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The filibuster is an affront to commonly understood democratic norms, but then so is the Senate.” — Hendrik Hertzberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hendrik Hertzberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrik-hertzberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The filibuster is an affront to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrik-hertzberg/the-filibuster-is-an-affront-to-commonly-understood-democratic-norms/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```