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February 9, 2010
Doof Quote of the Day
"God, that was a dumb idea." Mitch McConnell yesterday on the 2005 Republican effort to kill the filibuster
In hindsight, it was a good idea, actually. But "killing the filibuster" is a misleading way to describe it. The filibuster should continue to exist, but it shouldn't be a matter of procedure anymore. In other words, breaking a filibuster is a standard part of the process now, with cloture votes built into the system.
If you eliminate the need for a 60-vote supermajority for cloture -- or any cloture votes at all -- you force the minority party, if they really want to stop a bill, to literally stand up with the adult diapers and filibuster. Talk and talk and talk, and to take the public scrutiny for it. That's the hinge in the all of this. The public doesn't understand or even know when a filibuster takes place. With a real-life filibuster, I think they would. And that makes the filibuster a politically risky tactic, but still one that's available if need be.
Filed under: Cloture || Filibuster || Mitch McConnell || Republicans
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Posted By Bob Cesca | February 9, 2010 8:56 AM
Comments
When you say "filibuster" most people think of Mr. Smith Goes To Washington. But it no longer works that way, and it ought to.
Besides: can you imagine the fun Al Franken would have?
Posted by: Matt Osborne ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.bobcesca.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 9, 2010 9:40 AM
two things they ought to do....
1- Eliminate the filibuster except for judicial and cabinet confirmations
2- Make them actually filibuster.
Posted by: eljefejeff at February 9, 2010 11:38 AM
