TPM: Bayh: Hey, Senate! Reform The Filibuster Already!

[flpoljunkie]

Bayh: Hey, Senate! Reform The Filibuster Already!
Jillian Rayfield

February 17, 2010

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) said today that the Senate needs filibuster reform in order to overcome the "braindead partisanship" that is preventing it from getting anything done.

On MSNBC, Bayh said "we need to look at the filibuster and reform" it in order to stop partisan deadlock in the Senate.

He also referenced the Civil Rights-era Senate tenure of his father, Sen. Birch Bayh, when "the filibuster was being used to frustrate some basic fundamental equities in this country." In response, the vote total needed to break a filibuster was lowered from 67 votes to 60.

"Perhaps the threshold should be lowered once again," he said, adding that 55 might be the right number.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/02/bayh-hey-congress-reform-the-filibuster-already.php?ref=fpa

[lordcommander]

1. Wow Pigs must be flying but....

I actually agree with him :crazy: K&R
but too little, too late....

[DrToast]

2. Thanks for sticking around and helping, Bayh

Now we'll get a Republican in that seat who thinks the filibuster rule is just fine.

[brentspeak]

3. Oh, now he calls for filibuster reform

Little late in the day

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. Wasn't he one of the few Senators whom argued against reconciliation too

immediately following Scott Brown's *victory* in the Massachusetts Senate race? What a tool. :eyes:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. Then people wonder why we think this guy's a giant douche. nt

[flpoljunkie]

6. Here's link to video clip of Bayh's appearance on Andrea Mitchell today discussing the filibuster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzRC434jSs4&feature=player_embedded#at=13

[Jennicut]

7. Wouldn't have been needed if he and the conservadems just voted on the damn bills to begin with.

Instead, it was all this hemming and hawing. He really tries to make himself some kind of independent hero. Heh. I have Lieberman as my Senator. Bayh is coming off as a bigger douchebag.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Filibuster would had been dead if he and his cohorts weren't

threatening it.

If he had any leadership qualities he would had gotten the other DINO's to stop threatening.

[liberalpragmatist]

9. Bayh unleashed?

Maybe dropping reelection has made him grow a spine. Mad as hell and not taking it anymore?

[Canuckistanian]

10. The filibuster worked just fine for him

The threat of it spared him any uncomfortable moments of actually voting against his party's HCR bill.