Here's the problem I have with the filibuster.

[Goblinmonger]

NOBODY MAKES THEM DO IT ANYMORE. They just count the votes and go "Ah, shucks, guess they'll just filibuster." Bullshit. Make them do it. Make them talk and talk and talk and talk like Thurmond did. Call their bluff. They don't want to look like assholes.

I don't think we should get rid of the filibuster. Remember when the Republicans were bitching about the filibuster? Remember when they complained about not getting a "straight up yea or nay vote" on things? Remember how we thought they were dumbasses? Those of you calling for the removal of the filibuster might want to think about that.

[msongs]

1. exaclty, make sweat and wear a pee bag while reading phone books. harry reid doesn't have it in him

to make the repubs own their own opposition.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Yeah that's the worst of it to me. If they're gonna hold up legislation,

let them be on camera reading the phone book for 72 hours looking like a douche.

The Democratic Party has no balls.

[Goblinmonger]

5. And they better make sure they don't have to take a piss.

It ain't easy filibustering. Let's see if one of them is up to it.

[burning rain]

17. They're too self-indulgent to do it, but it isn't hard, provided enough join in.

They just have to take turns. That way some can go off and use the bathroom, get something to eat and drink, take a nap, etc. Making them engage in actual filibusters would likely have no effect beyond eliminating a few filibusters that only a couple senators were willing to support. Certainly enough would join in to sustain a filibuster of the health care bill indefinitely.

And I must say that your warning about how absent the right to filibuster Republicans could pass anything with 51 votes, doesn't change my mind about the desirability of ending it in favor of majority rule. People should get what they vote for, and get it good and hard. It would make for a more engaged citizenry rather than a nation of couch potatoes.

[MercutioATC]

3. You DO realize that will require eliminating milquetoasts like Harry Reid?

Unless we stop electing safe (but weak) legislators, this is our doom.

Let's try electing a few people with some balls and see what happens.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Yes, and it should be done posthaste.

[Goblinmonger]

6. I've wanted him out since he "kept the powder dry"

and let Satan on the Supreme Court. What a spineless bastard.

[burning rain]

22. *shrug*

Elect people like George W. Bush and a majority-GOP Senate, and you should expect Supreme Court nominees like Alito and Roberts.

[Goblinmonger]

23. Sure, but I would expect the minority party to at least fight a bit.

I'm with Feingold, actually. If the president wants a person on the SCOTUS and they are qualified, the pres should get them. But Alito (aformentioned as Satan) was not qualified. He was a hack. I understand giving him Roberts even though I hate him, too, because at least he was qualified for the job. But they didn't even bat an eyelash at Alito.

[treestar]

7. When was the last time it actually happened?

It seems to have been the 60s. Then it was just the newspapers and the evening news.

Now it will be 24/7 coverage. it could be a disaster, with Republicans getting all the attention, increasing their fame - a la Joe wilson - and repeating their talking points over and over.

Then the Dems would have to do it too when they are in the minority.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. The difference is, GOP is doing this on 72 percent of ALL bills. Dems didn't do anything

remotely like this at their worst.

[MercutioATC]

16. Doing what?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

18. Blocking votes with a filibuster, or trying to (check that it might just be 72 times)

which is way more than any other congress

[MercutioATC]

21. How many times have Repubs actually DONE it, and how many are just threats?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

26. By the table in here, as of Dec 18th it was 62 actual cloture votes, on pace to double the record:

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=12&year=2007&base_name=your_world_in_charts_republica

[Goblinmonger]

13. You really think people would think it was cool

for some asshole to be up there reading the phone book for 72 hours? Really? I think they would look ridiculous. I think most people would as well. They would look like the political game players they preach to hate so much. Plus it ain't easy to do. Strom Thurmon had to prep for it pretty seriously.

The Dems should have done it when Bush was in office.

[treestar]

20. They wouldn't read the phone book

My guess is they would read Rush Limbaugh transcripts, or even entertaining things. They'd make it a spectacle that the reality TV crowd would just love. That's why I'd worry it would backlash and be a disaster.

[HughMoran]

8. Yes! At least make them "do the dirty deed" for all to see on CSPAN

They need to change this rule immediately.

[Kablooie]

11. They can force them into a real filibuster if they want to. It's in the rules.

But the Dems just allow the GOP to filibuster every little thing and never once force them to actually do it.

[TheWraith]

9. Filibusters don't work that way anymore.

This is not Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. But some of us are saying that they SHOULD work that way again.

The current setup makes for almost no cost for the GOP to relentlessly abuse the filibuster.

[Goblinmonger]

15. They only don't work that way

because nobody makes them actually do it. The rules are still the same. It's just that the Dems leadership is not pushing the issue. They see a possible 41 votes and they roll over. Make them follow the rules.

[AlinPA]

14. The filibuster you describe (talk and talk, etc) does not exist. Now it's just a vote of

"no" against cloture.

[Goblinmonger]

19. But they can still bring the Senate business to a halt

but continuing to put it up there. They don't just have to roll over.

And I want to go back to the endurance tests.

[Codeine]

24. Sigh.

That's not how it works anymore. The rules were changed long ago.

[Goblinmonger]

25. The majority party can still put the issue

up for debate indefinitely, shutting down business in the Senate until the minority party blinks. The Republicans managed to get things done with less than 60 votes.

[TheWraith]

27. You think the Repubs will hesitate to shut down the Senate? That's their GOAL!

It's what they've been striving for all freakin' year.