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In reply to the discussion: Tom Harkin: Filibuster Reform Failure Hamstrings Obama Agenda [View all]BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)I don't deny that Reid may have negotiated some incremental improvements, and that perhaps they might make some slight difference. But I don't think anybody could argue that this agreement will slow down the GOP abuse of the filibuster in any significant way. We will still see hundreds of filibusters each session compared to a small handful, which was the practice before the modern GOP began this pattern of abuse.
And in particular, they will still be able to block all of Obama's initiatives, except ones that might somehow slip through under reconciliation rules. And without forcing a talking filibuster, the GOP pays no price at all for obstruction.
What is sad is that the talking filibuster was both good democracy and good politics. We will get neither.