From the "Just the facts…" file.

Steve Benen...

Consider this tidbit: cloture was invoked 63 times in 2009 and 2010, which isn't just the most ever, it's more than the sum total of instances from 1919 through 1982. That's not a typo.

It is, however, a disgrace.

A distinctly Republican disgrace.

Chart of the day.

This is why we can't have nice things...


H/T Donkeylicious.

Chart of the day.

Via Ezra Klein...

In other good news...

AP - Senate Democrats on Wednesday overcame Republican opposition and cleared the way for a $26 billion measure to help states ease their severe budget problems and save the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.

Those Women From Maine momentarily came to their senses. Hurrah again.

Worth repeating…

…over and over, everywhere and anywhere. Robert Reich...

The 60-vote requirement for healthcare is made up. 51 is a majority, and it's all we need.

Sure, you knew that, but does everyone you know know that?

Who's gonna tell 'em if you don't?

Chart of the day.

Via Thers...



Tom Coburn is typical…

"I love gridlock. I think we’re better off when we’re gridlocked because we’re not passing things."

Not passing things that the majority of Americans have asked for, voted for and, in too many cases, are dieing without.

That's why...

From the "Me neither" file.

Vice President Biden…

"Yes it's had a practical impact, but I'm not so sure what a blessing 60 votes was."

Me neither. When we had 60, that is, which wasn't all that often or none of those filibusters would have mattered. 51 isn't always easy with this caucus. Sometimes the big tent sucks, but that's who we are.

Worth repeating.

Nick Beaudrot on the media's normalization of the Senate supermajority roadblock...

...while treaties need 67 votes to pass, nothing needs 60 votes to pass; that requirement is a choice made by current members of the Senate.

I'll bet somebody you know - bunch of folks, probably - thinks the filibuster is in the Constitution.

It ain't.

Spread the word.

It's worth keeping mind…

…that while Landrieu, Nelson, Lincoln, et al may be a problem, they're not the problem. (Ben, in fact, seems to be coming around.) E.J. Dionne explains…

As of last Monday, the Senate majority had filed 58 cloture motions requiring 32 recorded votes. One of the more outrageous cases involved an extension in unemployment benefits, a no-brainer in light of the dismal economy. The bill ultimately cleared the Senate earlier this month 98-0—yes, that is a zero.

The vote came only after the Republicans launched three filibusters against the bill and also tried to lard it with unrelated amendments, delaying passage by nearly a month. And you wonder why it’s so hard to pass health care?

If the Democrats in the Senate don't stand together it could be a disaster, both on policy and political ground, but it will be a disaster designed, pursued and celebrated by Republicans. Pulling things down and tearing things apart is all they have left, and obstruction is their primary legislative tool.

Hat tip to Howie.

So long, Joe.

Senator Lieberman announces he will retire at the end of his current term.

Not in so many words, and not necessarily voluntarily, but it sounds like retirement to me.

Chart of the day.

Via Norman Ornstein...

Go ahead, click it bigger.
Hat tip to Steve Benen.

From the "Cunning plan" file.

Sir Charles seconds William Greider's call for cloture at 55...

Let's achieve post-partisan politics by making the partisans on the other side utterly irrelevant to the debate.

Yep.

"Nothing has been accomplished all year."

…sez Republican leader Rep. John Boehner. This is what nothing looks like:

Implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

Benchmarks for progress in Iraq.

Raising the minimum wage.

10,000 new math and science teachers for America's public schools.

The largest increase in college aid since 1944.

Ethics reform.

And, of course, dozens of bills passed by the House and stymied by Senate Republicans - despite majority support in the Senate - or Bush's newly discovered veto pen.

It's not everything, for sure. It's not nothing, either, though.

Still, we could do more and better.

We could, with more and better Democrats.

From the "They write letters" file...

Dear AP:

Could you please change this:

Senate rejects expanding detainee rights

to this?

REPUBLICANS Filibuster

And while you're at it, how about changing this:

Senate blocks bill on combat tours

to this:

REPUBLICANS Filibuster

Thank you.

Erin Alecto

I'm just wild about Harry.

The Majority Leader:

“It is dark in Washington. It is dawn in Baghdad. Six thousand miles from here, 160,000 American troops are awakening to a new day – the 1,582nd day of this war. One hundred sixty- thousand of our sons, daughters, parents, friends and neighbors, are rising on foreign sand to face another day of violence, chaos and constant danger.

“The high temperature in Baghdad today is 113 degrees. But our troops will wear their 100 pounds of gear and bravely go about the jobs that they are given. By nightfall, it is likely that some of them will die. It is certain that more will be wounded. The rest will end another day on foreign sand, not knowing when they will come home to American soil.

“Those 160,000 troops are heroes. Every single one of them. They are serving with courage despite enormous hardships and without even proper equipment. They are serving with courage despite a President who took us into war falsely, prematurely and recklessly. They are serving with courage despite a President who refused to form a coalition of nations to share their awful burden of sacrifice. They are serving with courage despite a President who has never had a plan for peace. And they are serving with courage despite Republicans in Congress who are blocking us from passing laws that will bring a responsible end to the war.

“I want everyone here tonight – every American from coast to coast – to know that we won’t stop fighting until we end this war. That is what this night is all about.

“But we all know this debate won’t end tonight. It won’t end because for all the encouraging words we’ve heard from some Republicans these past few weeks, too few of them are willing to vote the right way too. It won’t end because the majority of Republicans continue to ignore the will of the majority of Americans – and continue to protect the President instead of our troops."

Sic 'em, Harry!