Reply #12: Dem senators currently represent about 194000000 people, or 62% of the population

[alcibiades_mystery]

based on the July 2009 estimate of 307,000,000.

So, in fact, Democrats actually have less Senatorial power than a fair distribution of Senators to population would call for - if you add the population of states that have full Dem representation and split the population with one Dem senator, you get 62% of the population, while the Dems have only 59% of the Senate votes. In terms of population, the Democrats have a filibuster proof majority.

So much for that little theoretical exercise. Republican filibusters - given this particular historical configuration of the Senate - are minority rule pure and simple, and they are even benefiting from the structure of the Senate to the tune of three votes.