This will be short and sweet, as I have a plane to catch back home from Shanghai.
Back when I was a kid, growing up in DC in the 1970s, Senators would occasionally "filibuster" a piece of legislation. That meant they'd actually stand on the floor of the United States Senate and talk - sometimes for days - until the Majority leader caved, or until they caved.
For some reason - they say it's comity, or not to dishonor the institution or some bullshit - several years ago, the Senate stopped requiring Senators to actually filibuster a bill. All they have to do is go on Fox News and say they'll filibuster, and that's the end of the story.
Well I say fuck. That. Shit. That's why I'm sending this letter to Harry Reid, and hope you'll do the same.
Dear Harry,
I read in the papers that ol' Joe Lieberman is promising a filibuster if you bring a health bill to the floor that includes a public option.
I have only one request: Make him do it. Please reserve the cots, blankets, and coffee makers now. I want to see Joe Lieberman, Blanche Lincoln, Evan Bayh et al stay up all night, every night, reading from Rush Limbaugh's latest book or whatever, until they're quite sure they don't want to provide health care to Americans.
I want to see Joe's eyelids struggling to stay open on national TV, I want to hear him complain about the scratchy wool blankets, I want to see the dark bags growing under his eyes, I want to viscerally smell the body odor in his suit that he's willing to suffer in order to prevent Americans from being able to go to the doctor.
Because remember, that's what this is about: Joe doesn't want us to be able to go to the doctor; he wants his insurance industry pals to keep inviting him on their yachts.
If you don't force them to put up for their filibuster, then the failure will be on your shoulders and we'll always remember.
Thanks Harry. I'm sure you'll do the right thing.
Yours in solidarity,
Mateosf