Some Democrats seek change in filibuster rules, but others are wary

[Joanne98]

By Paul Kane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 8, 2010

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) chuckled as he recently reflected on his effort, five years ago, to change nearly century-old filibuster rules.

"God, that was a dumb idea," McConnell said.

Back in 2005, McConnell had "majority" in his leadership title, and Republicans -- confident about their majority status -- pushed unsuccessfully to obliterate filibusters of judicial nominees. Now the shoe is on the other foot.

A growing number of Democrats, from senatorial veterans such as Vice President Biden to freshman Sen. Tom Udall (N.M.), are calling for a rules change that would transform the culture of long and sometimes tedious debate in the world's greatest deliberative body.

Continued>>>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702403.html

[maxsolomon]

1. stop calling it that

"world's greatest deliberative body" is only accurate if you don't include the rest of the world.