Obama Shouldn’t Hate the Filibuster

I'm uncertain how I feel about the implication I've been seeing around that Obama is a flip-flopper on filibusters. In the '05-'06 Senate, 68 motions for cloture were filed. Compare to 139 in the 110th Congress, and 123 (so far) in the 111th.

I mean, did party play a big role in Obama's change of tune? Undoubtedly. But filibusters are also, I think, undeniably a bigger monster now than they were only five years ago. Plus, filibusters serve minority policy positions, not just minority parties. Shelby filibustered for pork, for God's sake. By himself! (He seems to have kept his seat.)

One other time-honored feature of Senate design will probably ensure that excessive filibusterers hang onto their power, provided they filibuster in a halfway intelligent manner: the length of Senate terms, intended to insulate that 'better class of men' from rowdy public opinion.

Elisa of TX 5:40PM November 03, 2010