After all that whining, complaining, finger-pointing and brave words about changing things, the filibuster continues on virtually unmolested. Fuck you Harry Reid, you fucking coward, and all the rest of you whiners. Don’t expect sympathy in the next four years when Republicans continue to derail legislation.
Dunno. I’m probably pissed, I usually am.
Rachel Maddow seems cautiously optimistic last night. I don’t know if she’s trying to salvage something from the ashes of the lost filibuster reform, but she’s been pretty good with coverage on these types of things and thinks that we’ve underestimated Reid. Sure he has the reputation as weak, she says, but if you look at his history (I didn’t), he can get things done. So I’m mad, but since there’s nothing I can do about it, I’ll hope she knows what she’s talking about
Swan’s neck, girlish giggle, and steel trap mind. What’s not to love?
Of course. Because Reid knows that someday the Dems will be in the minority again, and will suddenly rediscover how important the filibuster is as a bulwark against the tyranny of the majority.
And of course the GOP knows that when they’re in the majority, they will rediscover how much the filibuster harms democracy.
We can only hope that the Democrats learned from the Republicans how to use it effectively.
You will, I assume, admit that the Republicans are using the filibuster way more than at any other time in history, right?
Because your childish view that both sides are equal isn’t actually that useful here.
I think this is a situation where both sides can be reasonably be considered equal. The abuse of the filibuster has evolved over time with each party upping the ante when they are in the minority. I think it’s hit the bizzaro level and needs fixing, but allowing 51 [del]bloviating asswipes[/del] senators who may represent far less than 50% of the people to pass reactionary law is not a good idea.
ETA: Hey, this is the pit.
, but allowing 51 bloviating asswipes [del]senators[/del] who may represent far less than 50% of the people to pass reactionary law is not a good idea.
They’ll rue the day.
I would have favored a middling course of invoking cloture for nominations at 51 votes and requiring an actual filibuster and 60 votes for everything else.
This is going to end badly.
Use of filibusters:
http://newsjunkiepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Cloture-Invoked3Final.png
http://i46.tinypic.com/10nw6j6.jpg
Historically, it seems that when the Teahadist party becomes the minority, it escalates the use of the filibuster and when the Democrats subsequently are in the minority, they use the weapon at about the same rate, maybe a tad less. Then another escalation, etc. rinse and repeat.
So this is your first day on Earth, I take it? 
What pisses me off about the filibuster is that they don’t have to actually filibuster any more. That’s bullshit. If a minority wants to block legislation, they should have to actually stand up there and talk the whole time.
Check out this chart and get back to me on that.
And their compatriots should be tied to their chairs and be made to listen to the whole thing without bathroom brakes.
Well said.
Yes, the Republicans increased the use of the filibuster, just like the Democrats did before them. Do you think the Democrats would lessen the use of the filibuster if the Republicans take control of the Senate? There are a lot of ways in which the parties are not equivalent, but escalating the use of rules to strenthen party power isn’t one of them. There are no issues tied to the filibuster, it’s not a left-wing or right-wing cause, it is a rule, this is not about a violation of rules. I don’t see any basis for considering the sides unequal here except for partisanship.
Recheck the chart. The Republicans *doubled *the use. This isn’t hard, factually the Republicans are far worse at obstruction with the filibuster.
I had no idea you had such feelings for the Majority Leader.
So what? The democrats could come in and triple it next time. The trend is upward, it’s a weak argument to say one party escalated faster than the other based on the last measure.
You slap me. I slap you. We go back and forth, slowly increasing power. You shoot me.
Both sides equal?
Oh, merciful Og, I’ve got the gay! For guys uglier and older than me! I am sooo boned…
Why would they need bathroom brakes? Do congressional bathrooms move around a lot?
I think this is a case where both sides are really not equal. The Republicans up the obstruction, then the Democrats meet it, then the Republicans up it again.
Of course, over in the House, the Republicans are even worse. They had the Hastert rule, which said that a majority of their own caucus has to favor a bill for it to make it to the floor. When Nancy Pelosi took over as speaker, she got rid of that rule. Boehner brought it back. So, the House Republicans really and truly are more obstructionist than the Democrats.
Really, both sides are not equal here.