Do They Really Want to Pursue This?

by **ohio county** Thu Jan 06, 2011 8:58 pm

Udall, a liberal (what else) Senator from New Mexico is spearheading an effort to banish the filibuster. The filibuster has evolved since the old Civil Rights days. Nowadays, they don't read the telephone book for hours on end, they only threaten to. That, apparently, is enough to set in motion the cloture vote to fend off a dreaded filibuster.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/politics/04cong.html

Consider this:

...a Republican Senate majority just two years hence is a realistic prospect. It would require a pickup of four seats, or three if the GOP wins the White House. Of the 33 Senate seats up in 2012, only 10 are currently held by Republicans. Of the 23 Democratic seats up, five are from states that John McCain carried.

Above from James Taranto, "Best of the Web", Wall Street Journal.

I wouldn't want to take it to the bank but prospects for losing the Senate are statistically "excellent". Will they change their minds during the 113th Congress? Most likely. They have no sense of irony... or shame.