Reply #3: This is not a "new tactic"

[frogcycle]

It has been around since dirt. Used to be used frequently; the "cloture" concept was introduced to save everyone time - but cloture is voting to prohibit endless "debate." Cloture is the "polite" way to deal with a minority that does not like a bill. When the threat of filibuster is used constantly, for every frigging bill that is introduced. its time to stop being polite. You have a kid that throws tantrums? Eventually you have to let them lie on the floor and kick their feet and scream until they are exhausted - and still not give them what they want. The threat of a tantrum suddenly becomes much less viable.

The deal is, that by only voting on cloture and never bringing the bills to a vote, you don't have a voting record to rub their noses in. Put people on the record on something more than procedural votes!