Compromise?

The Dems and Reps have settled, some court appointees will be voted on, other's remain in limbo, but probably won't get a vote anytime soon.

The Dems claim victory - the filibuster remains in place. The Reps claim victory, several "controversial" judges get an up-or-down vote. The American people get the shaft while the pompous Senators get the gold mine.

(GM, are you being a little hostile?...ed. - Youdamnbetcha; if you look at the history of the Phil-e-buster it has been used most often by ignorant and unprincipled congress-critters to block needed and important legislation. The civil rights bill comes to mind.)

While I recognize that the Senate (and the House for that matter) has the constitutional right to set their own rules, this rule allows a single member to block action on what may be an important and life-changing process, passing of legislation.

Now, there can be an argument made that blocking legislation can be a good thing, in fact, I have iterated that argument myself a time or two. Overall, the filibuster stinks. I would rather the Senate discard that rule altogether.

Come to think of it, I would rather the Senate and the House adopt a rule prohibiting the adding of pork-barrel spending amendments unrelated to the bill being passed. The "Transportation Bill" recently passed comes to mind. Not only is it a budget buster, but a large hunk of the spending is unrelated to transportation but allows some of the congress-critters to claim to their constituents that they brought home some bacon.

Maybe we need a third way. I'm for starting a "Vote The Bastards Out" party. Here is how it would work: If a Democrat represents you, vote in a Republican. If a Republican represents you, vote in a Democrat. A couple of elections down the road and these folk will get the idea that they work for us, and not for themselves. Then maybe, just maybe votes in the House and Senate would be for the benefit of America, and not for the benefit of the congress-critter. However, I am not going to hold my breath!

Others reporting on the compromise: The Pirates Cove, Absinthe and Cookies, One Billion Red Chinese and a Dog Named Liberty, Rambling's Journal, Mark Levin Fan, La Shawn Barber's Corner and The Smarter Cop