I like the filibuster because it protects “minority” interests, but it requires the minority to work for it. Therefore, it can only be used sparingly and only when it really matters.
It makes sense to have one in the senate because it is quite possible that a minority of senators represent a majority of citizens. From what I’ve read, this is true today. The Democratic senators actually represent more Americans than the Republican senators.
I am really hoping that Frist not only loses the filibuster wars but that it backfires completely both against him and the Republican Party. The GOP needs a hard kick in the backside to remind them that they don’t have a mandate to institute totalitarian policies.
P.S., I saw an episode of King of the Hill last week which defended the filibuster.
I gather too that more electors voted for the 44 Dem senators than voted for the 55 GOP senators.
When I worked for Orrin Hatch he was always proud of his use of the filibuster – tactics he learned from Sen. James Allen of Alabama.
It’s highly ironic to hear him complain about such tactics now. He seems to have forgotten how he delayed the confirmations of Judge Patricia Wald and Judge Abner Mikva for months …
Update