Filibusters

I'm sitting at progressive media summit in the US Senate today. It's an annual event that the Democrats put on for progressive bloggers and talk radio, so that we can meet with Senators and House members and talk about the issues of the day. Oops, strike that. It's apparently a chance for members of Congress to come give us speeches about how they're not blame for being outsmarted repeatedly by the Republicans, and then they get to flee before we can ask any questions. This is actually pretty pathetic, so far. (Stoller just got up and yelled at Senator Stabenow, asking her when we're going to get to ask questions - good for Matt.) Reid and Hoyer both just spoke and hurriedly left before anyone could ask a single question. Last year, we got to ask questions of the members coming to speak. They were good questions, hard questions. Perhaps that's why we're not getting to ask them this year. We're told that the schedule is a little behind, that's why we can't ask questions. So now we're watching some propaganda video showing us how wonderful the Democrats are. Much more important than actually talking to Senator Reid or Congressman Hoyer about Iraq or FISA. Yes, assemble all the top bloggers and talk radio folks in the same room and then piss them off. And who says the Democrats don't know anything about PR?

After the jump, why the Republicans are so good at using filibusters while the Dems pretty much sucked at it. (Actually, I kind of feeling like we're being filibustered right now.)

Anyway, back to the "substance." Senator Reid just explained to us, and Senator Stabenow just expanded on the point, that because of all the Republican filibusters - 62 to date - the Dems aren't able to do what we want them to do on Iraq and other issues.

Hmmm.... a few thoughts.

First, if the filibuster is such a potent weapon then why didn't Dems use it more often, and more effectively, when we were in the minority?

Second, Dems didn't filibuster as much, or as effectively, as the Republicans because it's not just how big your party's majority (or minority) is in the Senate. Just as important is how good a job you do on the public relations/spin surrounding the issue. All Bush has to do is say "Osama!" and the Democrats cave. That isn't because they don't have enough members in their majority, it's because the members they have don't have enough backbone. And no increase in their majority is going to change that fact, or their courage.

PS After Matt yelled at them, we now get to ask questions.