Let the filibuster die

Let the filibuster die: Distinctly Catholic: Democrats should normally be opposed to any parliamentary procedure that is as obviously anti-democratic as the filibuster.

MGB: When the Democrats were in power but without a sixty vote majority, they were loud in their view that the filibuster should be ended. I told them to be careful what they wish for. This is why I did so, because their consensus was not permanent and was based on people who don't vote that frequently. The current majority is based on an electoral block of older white people who believe in what FoxNews has to say and who are susceptible to campaign ads designed by neo-Birchers. Let us not be so hasty about ending the filibuster. ALEC has 29 state legislatures in their thrall. They are mostly small states. Making them deal with a super-majority rule limits their impact to when they are willing to reach across the aisle (not often). Let us not add the Senate, especially while the House is firmly in the grip of the Hastert rule (which also favors right wing stupidity).

Sadly, the GOP could win this one. They should be careful because their majority is not permanent either, especially in two years. Remember that not so long ago they were seeking a balanced budget bill that gave the minority an effective veto whenever the budget was not balanced, so confident were they of permanent minority status. As their base ages, they have reason for concern.