Asserts the moderate-liberal commentator: "Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) created an Internet sensation last week with
his 13-hour filibuster. In a rare alliance, anti-big government types in
the Tea Party and left-wing, anti-authoritarians in Code Pink
celebrated him as a principled hero daring to demand answers from the
president on his controversial use of drones to kill people. What a
misguided view. In fact, Sen. Paul’s grandstanding is the latest
illustration of how the GOP’s abuse of filibusters is crippling the
Senate."
He continues his commentary: "Under Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R-Ky.) the filibuster has turned the Senate into what freshman
Democratic Senator Tom Udall (N.M.) calls a 'graveyard for good ideas.' That
is why [Democratic Senator Jeff] Merkley and Udall want to end filibusters unless, like Paul, a
member is willing to stand and talk and talk and talk."
More: "One possibility for Merkley is passing a rule requiring any
filibuster to produce the 41 votes necessary to prevent cloture. That
will put the pressure on them instead of having proponents pressed to
produce the 60 votes necessary to vote. This fight over the filibuster in the Senate is just beginning."
Juan Williams: "Sen. Rand Paul's Anti-Drone Stand Shows Senate Republicans' Abuse Of The Filibuster"
