i am shocked shocked! that republicans are all of a sudden discovering the virtues of the filibuster.
isn't it strange how the filibuster went from being antithetical to democracy as we know it to a legitimate legislative tool?
actually, i doubt if a filibuster will really be necessary for the republicans. with such a slender margin, blocking legislation on an up-or-down vote would require more party discipline than the democrats have in them. especially when you consider that "them" includes joe lieberman. so the democrats still might have to resort to a filibuster in the new senate. the big difference this time around is that the republicans might want to also, though they have less reason to because they can count on a presidential veto.
