People still tend to think of the filibuster in the Senate as Jimmy Stewart pulling an all-nighter talk-a-thon to desperately block something he felt, in his heart, was wrong.
Today, it's a mere procedural move, far too easy to invoke. One can see that in the GOP minority's abuse of the system as a normal part of business for the last four years.
I do believe that the filibuster has value, as a last ditch defense against measures too far. And the reforms the Dems are talking about leave that in place (which is, of course, smart of them, given that no party stays in the majority forever). But the discussed reforms make it an effort to invoke, and a public effort at that.
Which is why, of course, the GOP is claiming it's Doom, DOOM I tell you! for the Senate and, in fact, for American democracy itself. To which I say, Bah.
Reshared post from +Talking Points Memo
Do you think filibuster rules should be changed?
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Dems Defend Filibuster Reform Effort: ‘McConnell Has Broken The Social Contract’
A move to reform the filibuster in the Senate is neither as draconian as Republicans claim nor has game-changing as Democrats claim.
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I doubt this will change until it’s been used against the GOP enough for them to lead the charge to reform the rules.
I'm all for it. Although I do have to admit, a part of my bias is that making them actually stand up and talk again is the only way anybody is going to beat Strom Thurmond's record for longest filibuster against Civil Rights – which I just think is a blot on our history that needs to be overshadowed.
But especially these days when they'll be standing up on 24-hour television, I think this would make members of either party have to think a lot harder about what they're doing, and that can't be bad.