'Even LBJ would be stuck if he drew this hand'

[RoyGBiv]

From Ezra Klein:

Mark Schmitt adds another perspective on the rise of the filibuster:

In terms of culture and custom, the turning point was almost certainly the previous health-reform debate, in 1993 and 1994. That's when Bob Dole, then the majority leader, made the phrase "You need 60 votes to do anything around here" his mantra, and when -- thanks to Bill Kristol's famous memo -- the idea of blocking major legislation for political reasons, rather than trying to get it revised to reflect your own policy preferences, took hold.

This is one of the explanations I favor for the rise of the filibuster: The Republican minority of the mid-'90s proved that a filibuster strategy was good politics. Kill the majority party's legislative agenda and you kill their standing in the eyes of the public, as well. America doesn't like losers, and the press has a useful tendency to blame legislative failure on the party that failed to pass the bill rather than the party that actually killed it.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/11/even_lbj_would_be_stuck_if_he.html

[Warpy]

1. The main reason it's time to kill the filibuster rule

is that the Republicans are using it for everything, even mundane bills that should have been passed months ago but which are blockaded by one Republican or another who is puffing and blowing about a filibuster. Those old boys have set filibuster records over the last two and a half years and they need to be stopped. The Senate is simply being prevented from doing its job by one obstructionist party.

Those old boys are going to have to be brought back to the reality of doing business in this country out of power: that the best way to get any of their own pet projects into any bill is to compromise instead of blockade.

We can't afford the filibuster right now. Ending the rule should have a six month sunset clause, though, with reinstituting it brought up for a vote every six months. When the Republicans have stopped being tantrum throwing crybabies and are willing to do their jobs, the stoppage of the filibuster can be allowed to sunset.

That's what I would do if somebody appointed me dictator and wouldn't allow me to weasel out of it.

[pansypoo53219]

2. ignore it like the right did.

fuck bi-partisan.