While I disagree with the Republicans implementing the "nuclear option," all this Democratic hyperventilation is ridiculous.

"...fundamentally alter the role of Congress..."

Um, no, not at all. The Senate would still advise and consent on judicial and political appointments. The change would make it happen based on a simple majority vote, not a 60% majority vote. I think it would be a mistake, but for political reasons, not this "alter the role of Congress" lie. Yes, it's a lie, intended to make people believe something that's patently untrue.

"...they want to give George Bush unprecedented power to manipulate the legislative branch and the courts."

This is pure bullshit, to be quite honest. All the President will do (and has done) is appoint the people he believes are the best for their prospective jobs. This line has been pulled out of someone's (most likely hysterical) ass.

"...preserve the right of our elected representatives to speak their mind on the floor of the U.S. Senate."

Oh, my. This is made up out of whole cloth. The Republican proposal is to change the number of votes required to invoke cloture on a filibuster to a simple majority (a move I disagree with, as I already said). There is no move to eliminate all debate. No one is trying to take away "the right...to speak their mind..."

The whole thing is utter hogwash. I wish all of these idiots (and that means both the Republicans and the Democrats) would grow up and start acting at least like teenagers. This 5-year-old-like behavior is contemptible.

Yeah, it is kinda like when Frist says that the Democrats are against people of faith and all the Republicans need to get together and push the "nuclear option" into effect so they can shut up the heathens.

Actually, I do feel that it is a measure to try and silence debate. If all you have to do is get a majority, just one vote more than the other side, you do silence debate because all you have to do is have that extra vote and there is no trying to work through to a solution that everyone can live with.

But, then I also think that stopping the filibuster would alter the role of Congress too. The majority would have rule and the rest of the population that is represented by the minority would be pretty much silenced whenever the majority wanted.

Of course the wording is dramatic, as all political wording is. I mean, goodness, we have heard enough of it during the election when Republicans claimed that voting for Kerry was the equivalent of voting for terrorists. Or was that Bush, himself?

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