Just a quick thought on filibusters

Repugs these days are spending half their time saying "No," and the other half saying, "Look at these useless Democrats, they can't get anything done" - and somehow, the population seems unable to connect these facts.

Way back when, if you wanted to filibuster, you actually had to do it. Happened during the 60s, in the battle for a Civil Rights bill. Thurmond had to actually take the floor for 24+ hours and actually talk all that time.

I'd like to see that be a requirement again. Call me a crazy anarchist, but I'd like to see them actually have to work for their obstruction, because right now I'm seeing no more effort requirements than that of a group of kids playing "Duck, Duck Goose."

These days, all you have to do is say 'filibuster' (unless the majority leader says you actually have to do it), and it's 'Oh, well, he said 'filibuster,' guess we'll just let them roll over us.'

Kind of like if gunslingers in the Wild West could win a gunfight just by saying "Bang! You're dead!" before the other guy did, just like when we were kids, pointing our fingers and watching the other kid go down because of the overwhelming power of our spoken fast draw. Nice deal if you can get it.

Maybe in the future, they won't even have to be there. Just do it from a laptop, like bidding wars on eBay. After all, if actually talking, actually working to carry your filibuster is just too inconvenient, actually being in the building must be a burden, too.

Who knows, maybe 50 years from now, Congressmen will be able to just vote down anything they don't want from their iPads and Blackberries while waiting for the next guy to tee off on the golf course. The software will have two buttons - "Filibuster" and "Cave" - or maybe "Filibuster" and "Wuss out," in the interests of honesty.

Filibuster? Bring it.

Okay, I just surfed to this TPM article:

The Rise Of Cloture: How GOP Filibuster Threats Have Changed The Senate

Old news, but it really shows how the party of No and of No Ideas handles things when in the minority these days.

With nothing significant to contribute to the debate, and no desire to spend time and energy offering genuine alternatives beyond the ritual invoking of the magical, cure-all of tax cuts, the GOP's only 'contribution' is stalling and avoiding votes they'll lose by threatening with filibusters.

I've said it before, but really, the Democrats are partially to blame, too. They need to just call them on the threat, let some fool babble on and on about anything and everything, from chili recipes to a reading of a dog-eared copy of Machiavelli's "The Prince." Maybe a reading of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Federalist Papers, just to familiarize the current GOP crop with them.

Then, when the little prick collapses and an ambulance comes to haul him away, just say "Okay, that was interesting, I didn't even know that bit about raising Chihuahuas. Now, let's get back to actual work and vote. What, the Repugs are a man short? What a shame. Tough noogies, kids."

Seriously - just call them on it. Let them talk and talk, let them show the country how much they want to continue their brilliant strategy of, you know, doing nothing, then when they're done, have the goddamned vote anyway and get things done.

Simple fact - you let someone threaten you often enough, and they'll do it any time they want, because threats are easy. Following through - that's hard. Make them put up until they shut up.