if you have the time.
First off, congrats on the reform victory! Way to dog them to the bitter end.
That said, I have been around DK long enough to remember when folks were getting pretty steamed at the idea the that GOP would "go nuclear" and prevent us from filibustering. I also remember people being pretty pissed at Lieberdems for refusing to filibuster Alito and Roberts (decisions which have had PROFOUND consequences, see Citizens United and Shelby).
So, some would say we are being hypocritical about this (No, I am not picking a fight, I am making an observation).
Thus my question: Why didn't we just change the rules to REQUIRE filibusters to be actual TALKING filibuster. If you hate an appointment that much, then you should be willing to "Mr. Smith" it. The advantage off that solution is that it would have preserved the filibuster, but made the GOP have to WORK for it, and it would have showcased their obstructionism and naked partisanship when every day they would have to talk non-stop to prevent a vote. I mean, there is a limit to how much Mitch McConnell or Ted Cruze the American public can stand to watch without projectile vomiting (and the more the American people get to know the Republicans, the more they dislike them).
Yes, this could still have gummed up the works, but I think the tactic of forcing the GOP to stay in session and forcing them to talk at length about their positions would have ultimately obliterated the Republican "brand".
The GOP is going to pull out all of the stops to take back the senate next year. I predict that they will spend more money on the coming race than has ever been spent on an "off year" election. They HAVE to get back in power in order to ram through their own laws, free from the possibility of minority opposition. IF they get a majority, they will change the rules to eliminate the filibuster in all cases, and change the rules in every way that will benefit them. They have to, it is the only way they can keep power in the face of their eroding demographic. All of the big money daddies (Koch, Addleson, Pope, Thiel, Paulson, ect) and the corporate oligarchs (Big Oil, Big Pharma, the PIC, the MIC, and Big Ag) are going to be raining super-typhoons of money to buy the next election. Everyone on the Right knows that this and 2016 must be won, or it is over.
At least, that's how I see it and why I see the filibuster question as grenade without a pin that two sides keep tossing to the other.