General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Looks Like Harkin Just Gave Up - I Will Bet the Failibuster Was The Last Straw [View all]bigtree
(85,970 posts). . . Senate balance in the mix two years from now, yet this op is saying we should go full steam ahead with some scorched earth plan to tear down the filibusters.
First there's the likelihood that republicans in power would then want to use their own slim majority to bend the rules back their way.
Second, would we even have enough defenses against republican initiatives under our own changes; even under the ones we just negotiated?
It's always a bold view from the majority. I was just fine with using everything Senate leaders could come up with to block the Bushes and Reagan in my time. I'm all for some farsightedness on the filibusters.
Besides, removing republican power to filibuster (in whatever form) doesn't solve the problem of recalcitrant Democrats when we need their votes. That's been the rub, more often then not.