This
article from American Prospect talks about how Democrats have recently used the filibuster to effectively give themselves veto power over the Republican agenda. Senate Republicans, being the strong willed tough minded statesmen that they are, have of course started the constant whining about these "obstructionist" tactics.
Of course, one man's obstructionism is another's wily parliamentary maneuver. And Tom Daschle is the master of the wily maneuver.
The Democratic leader has so infuriated the Republicans that Frist, in a sharp break with tradition, will go to South Dakota at the end of the month to campaign against Daschle, who is in a tight re-election fight with former GOP Representative John Thune. It is the first time that anyone can remember a party leader in the Senate actively campaigning against his opposite number. These are extraordinarily bitter times, indeed. Says Frist, "I may sound a bit frustrated, but in truth, I'm really bothered by the fact that we are not being allowed to govern, to debate, to amend, to pass legislation that is in the best interest of the American people."
Nice to see Daschle doing something for a change, don't you think?