Filibuster Reform: Talk But No Action

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One vote shy of 60, frustrated Democrats are talking about changing Senate rules to make it easier for them to overcome Republican filibusters. It's not going to happen - and not only because Republicans are against it.

(L-R) Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. George Voinovich, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Evan Bayh and Rep. Jim Cooper testify before the Senate Budget Committee on Capitol Hill, 11/10/09. (photo: Getty Images)

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+1 # Guest 2010-03-09 10:05

The filibuster does not appear anywhere in the constitution. That is a bylaw created by the Senators themselves and can be changed by the majority caucus at anytime. The constitution does indeed intend the Senate to be a "cooling off" spot: the minority is protected by the fact that each state has 2 senators, regardless of population. California equals Wyoming in the Senate. That combined with the proportionally structured House of Representatives , is what makes the USA a federal republic ("democracy" is a process, not a form of government.) Eliminate the filibuster, which distorts the constitution mightily, and we will have restored the republic as the founders designed it. How's that, conservatives? (Real conservatives, that is, those who admire and wish to "conserve" the constitution of these "united States of America." (Capitalization as in the Constitution. Read it!)

0 # Guest 2010-03-09 15:01

The Democrats are wimps and wussies. If they do nothing to bypass the filibuster, they will also accomplish (absolutely) nothing during the Obama administration. When they lose control of Congress to the Republicans, possibly this November, and almost for sure come 2012, the Republicans won't think twice about invoking the nuclear option to kill the filibuster if the Democrats were to ever grow a spine and attempt to use it against the Republicans.

0 # Guest 2010-03-09 15:28

Fire Feinstein...

0 # Guest 2010-03-09 18:03

There is a reason why even a reform of the filibuster (let alone it's abolition) is unlikely.

Senators are there for the power; that's what makes them tick. With the filibuster, all of them, every single one, has much more power than they would with simple majority rule and no power to block.

With the filibuster, Ben Nelson can hold up the nation for his state alone, and so can Lieberman, and so can Jim Bunning. Each, then, gains enormous power--negative--but useful to gain things like the Medicaid in Nebraska deal.

So, why would any power-mad Senator want to give that up?

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