Mitch McConnell and the Lost Cause

Question of the day: What do you think of when you think of filibusters?  If you're like me, and a lot of other people in this country, you think of the Jimmy Stewart classic film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  The film should be required viewing for any Congressperson before being sworn into office. 

This is what a filibuster used to look like.  One dedicated man (or woman) standing on the Senate floor as long as he could or until the 60 required votes were gathered to end the filibuster.  The longest filibuster in Senate history was conducted by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who filibustered in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957.  He talked for a total of 24 hours and 18 minutes.  It's not like that anymore.  Senators can call in a filibuster from their office or anywhere else and business comes to a screeching halt.

The filibuster has been abused by Republicans.  Over the last 6 years there have been over 300 filibusters.  Our Senate has passed less than 3% of the bills that come to the floor.  The Republicans have hi-jacked the Senate and now they're complaining because Democrats are considering using the "nuclear option", a Senate rule that on the first day of a new Congress, rules can be changed by a simple majority, rather than the 67 votes rules changes require at any other time.

It all comes down to one man; Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, who famously stated the first and foremost priority of the Republican Senate:

In the clip, which McConnell doubled down on in a later Fox News interview, he states that his "top political priority should be to deny President Obama a second term."  Think about that for a second...the Republican Senate leadership wasn't worried about job creation or the economy, or Homeland Security or any of the damned things that keep us all up at night.  His priority was to obstruct the sitting President.  It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out how he went about his attempt to deny Obama a second term.

So, Mitch McConnell, how'd that work out for ya?  Not too well, eh?!  Well now it's time to suffer the consequences, and the Democrats, lead by Harry Reid, are going to do what is necessary to make the Senate a working body again.  You did this, sir.  They're going to take your favorite tool of obstruction out of the tool box.  You asked for it.  

Your present righteous indignation is lost on me Mitch. Remember that "gentleman's agreement" you were part of with Lamar Alexander along with Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer ?  You know, the one where you agreed to not abuse the filibuster and run the Senate openly?  Do you remember that being a bunch of bullshit, as you continued with your obstructionist agenda?  Because we remember, and we're not going to allow you to continue your political vendetta against our President while we, the people, and this country suffer for it.  You, sir, are no gentleman--not by any stretch of the imagination. 

We're glad for Elizabeth Warren, who is coming into the 113th Congress and has the backbone to stand up to you and your team of Republican bullies.  We're grateful for Sherrod Brown who has the courage to press forward and do the people's business. We're proud that Harry Reid is going to go nuclear on this one.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  You backed the Democrats--and the entire nation into this corner.  This is no time for personal grudges and political vendettas.  This is not a game of chess. You're messing with people's lives and you don't seem to care.

 Mitch, you seem to have forgotten that it's not your Senate--it's ours...it belongs to us.  And we support Harry Reid's efforts to prevent you and your Republican obstructionist cronies from hi-jacking our political process.  We're not going to turn this President's  second term into a Senatorial witch hunt where your top priority is the attempt to impeach our President.  Yeah, we're on to you, Mitch.  We all know about your tactics and we're not having it anymore.  If you want to filibuster, you're going to have to earn it from now on.  I wonder which Republican Senator does the best Jimmy Stewart impression?