Bring Out The Nukes

One of my pet peaves is the filibuster. It has been used time and time again to thwart what should have been a very logical step forward for America. It was used to stop laws against lynching, against the civil rights bill and myriad other opportunities to move this country forward. Now, it's being used against Bush's judicial appointments and the appointment of John Bolton to the UN Ambassadorship. "We have to have it to prevent the tyranny of the majority" yelp the hapless Democrats (they used that excuse against the lynching and civil rights bills too).

Then 14 senators joined in lockstep to agree to continue the filibuster for appointments they didn't like under "extraordinary circumstances" which of course aren't defined, leaving it up to each member of the Senate to define for themselves. Well, anyone can tell you that in a criminal action 10 witnesses will give you 12 different stories. Ten psychiatrists or psychologists looking at the same set of symptoms might give 30 different diagnoses, depending on the symptoms and the shrinks ability to correctly use the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. So I hold out no hope that there will be a dearth of "extraordinary circumstances" for the next nomination Bush makes.

Soon, perhaps at the end of this term of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Chief Justice Rehnquist may retire for health reasons and the possibility that the filibuster will rear its damnably ugly head is quite real.

Having said that, John Fund writing in the Wall Street Journal's Political Diary (today printed in the "Best of the Web Today") notes:

"With at least six legitimate targets for the Democrats, the Senate is officially in play for the first time this cycle," concludes Chuck Todd of Hotline, the political tip sheet. While the GOP has several opportunities to target Democrats, he points out that two Northeastern Republicans, Rick Santorum and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, face stiff challenges, as does Montana Senator Conrad Burns, who represents a state that has been trending Democratic. In addition, the GOP can't be confident it will hold the Tennessee seat being vacated by Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is honoring a pledge to leave office after two terms. "I'd feel a whole lot better if we had a confirmation vote this year when we have 55 Senators than waiting and rolling the dice," one GOP Senator told me.

Well heck, why not call a spade a spade brother John? The Democrats are absolutely fearful that the Republicans have the votes to trounce the filibuster for any of the Senate's Advise and Consent role. This is the so called Nuclear Option. Where by one Senator objects to the filibuster and asks the President of the Senate for a ruling as to the constitutionality of the filibuster in the Senate's Advise and Consent duties, it goes to a vote (no filibuster allowed on this one) and the Republicans win because they have the votes. Hell's bells, I've got a better idea... Let's change the Senate rules and outlaw the filibuster all together. It is useless, in fact, more than useless, it's downright hindering. Republicans are scared that they may need the filibuster in the future? Scared that the roles will change in the future and the Democrats will take back the Senate? So what! It's a bad rule, regardless of who controls the Senate.

This is supposed (note the word supposed is emphasized) to be the "Worlds Greatest Deliberative Body" and that debate will clear the way to a good vote. That is what is supposed to happen... too bad that all 100 rascals in the Senate haven't got the guts to rule democratically and have to use the subterfuge of the Fill-E-Buster to prevent any work from being done.

Hell, pull out the nuclear button, push the damn thing and let us get on with the peoples business. Git 'Er Done!!!