The World's Most Dysfunctional Body? Cory Booker Captures The Decline Of The US Senate

Jonathan Turley argues that Senator Cory Booker's actions exemplify a troubling trend of the Senate becoming a more populist and impulsive institution. He contrasts this with George Washington's vision of the Senate as a "cooling saucer" for heated political discourse, designed to foster compromise and deliberation. Turley suggests the Senate is losing its constitutional and cultural moorings, devolving into something more akin to the House of Representatives. Booker's recent floor tirade against a bipartisan law enforcement bill, and his fellow Democrats, is presented as a prime example of this shift. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized Booker's actions, accusing him of grandstanding and hypocrisy regarding his long-standing opposition to such funding. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto also pushed back against Booker's framing of cooperation with Republicans as "complicity." Turley posits that Booker is positioning himself for a presidential run by appealing to the far left's growing anger. He believes this rhetoric, amplified by figures like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, forces other Democrats to either join the "resistance" or face party backlash. This dynamic, Turley warns, undermines the Senate's intended moderating role and harms the constitutional system. Ultimately, Turley concludes that while Booker's actions may resonate with some, they come at a significant cost to the institution of the Senate itself.