Harry Reid: Filibuster Rule Has 'Been Abused,' Needs Changing

Who woulda thunk Harry Reid would raise ending the filibuster as an election issue (says this hardened and cynical liberal Democrat)?

Reid, Obama and the DLC-controlled Democrats would love for their supporters to believe it's all the Republicans' fault.

Yes, Republicans are scvm, but the fact of the matter is that Democrats haven't needed Republicans and have pulled their punches (hoping ignorant voters wouldn't know the rules that the Senate and the House operate under) and helped pass corporate-friendly legislation.  Like Obama's healthcare bill, without a public option, that does not provide affordable, quality medical treatment for everyone, and that was passed in the end through reconciliation (50 + 1).

Republicans haven't filibustered; they've threatened to filibuster.  And Harry Reid made a deal with Mitch McConnell, to let Republicans do that.  Harry Reid has refused to exercise the discretion that Senate Rule 22 allows: Making Republicans actually filibuster, instead of just threatening to do it.  Rule 22 gives the Senate Majority Leader the discretion to actually make the call.

Filibustering is hard on those soft, pampered bodies. Harry Reid should have forced them do it, over every issue where Republicans have threatened to do it -- Americans love reality TV. 'Survivor - E Capitol St NE and 1st St NE'.  The few times Reid has forced Republicans to actually filibuster, when Democrats have really needed whatever the issue was (like when Jim Bunning threatened to filibuster over extending unemployment benefits), Republicans caved.

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