Filibusters: Know Them When You See Them

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Filibuster. Senate Democrats have only rarely muttered the 'F' word since 2004, when it played a role in toppling their leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota. Republicans' reaction to filibusters then was to call Daschle the "O" word: obstructionist.

Lesson learned. Many Democrats, now led by Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, resolved to save filibusters for fights they can win.

Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination isn't one of them, by anyone's count.

But that didn't stop Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., from launching a long-distance filibuster effort from Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. In so doing, he gave opponents of Alito another tool for making their point.

"Some have done it to draw attention, some have done it for publicity's sake," said Senate historian Donald A. Ritchie.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-scotus/2006/jan/28/012804652.html

[rodeodance]

1. what is the future if it changes so dramatically at this moment in time?

...Before Daschle's defeat, Democrats waged several successful filibusters against some of President Bush's appeals court nominees. Now it's Kerry's turn.

"I know it's an uphill battle," Kerry said on the Senate floor. "I hear their arguments. You know, reserve your gunpowder for the future. Well, what is the future if it changes so dramatically at this moment in time?"