Filibuster Reform? NOT Happening.

[MannyGoldstein]

I watched the press conference where McCain and Levin announced their bipartisan proposal to reform the filibuster. Senate rules are pretty complicated so I didn't understand a lot of it, but the other parts of the presser told me all I needed to know.

First off, Levin repeatedly said that Democrats amending the rules without Republican support would be a catastrophe.

During the Q&A, most answers about how their proposal would actually make things better included one of the following:

- "it just means that we have to enforce the rules we already have"
- "once both leaders agree that..."

It's a bad joke.

And given the choice between voting for a do-nothing rule that pretends to be reform, and actual reform... You can make up your own mind on where most Dem Senators will fall."

Unbelievable. But predictable.

[Kaleva]

1. As far as I know, Levin has never supported filibuster reform.

[putitinD]

2. end the filibuster

[jinx1]

3. What would be a catastrophe is not reforming the filibuster

What are the Republicans going to do that they have not already done. I say go for it and then something can get done in the Senate and then all eyes will be on the House for the next 2 years and the public will see Boehner and his ilk for who they are.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

4. I think we, the people, need to offer a proposal....

Every senator from the party who filibusters a bill must return 5% of his annual salary to the Treasury...for each bill filibustered. The same for any "anonymous' hold..., I believe the party is known for those. I bet that would cut down on this nonsense.

[global1]

5. Again The Dems Will Snatch Defeat From The Jaws Of Their Nov Victory....

It looks like they will back down on real and effective filibuster reform. It looks like they will give in on the $250,000 threshold and include some sort of entitlement reform to please the Repugs. I just don't understand why they never capitalize on their successes.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Too chickenshit. No one is surprised.

[Fumesucker]

7. Quite a day, eh?

I have to hand it to our overlords, they are finessing this like tapdancing hippopotami.

[1-Old-Man]

8. Levin's is not the only proposal to change the filibuster