[TomGuy]

No...this is nothing close to a real filibuster.

A real filibuster has one member refusing to give up control of the floor. He/she does so by talking. If/when he/she ever gives up the floor, the Senate can continue business.

[Keith]

The only way to end this without changing the rule is to not permit ANY other business to come to the floor until the votes are taken.

Two problems...

I think this is prohibited under the new "non-filibuster filibuster" rules...and

the Pubbies are paranoid after being "successfully" (by the media) painted as being the party that "shut down the government" in 1995. The Senate has always seen the House as the "petulant children next door". They are unlikely to take that measure.

[Republican Wildcat]

No one can force the Democrats to hold the floor, so I don't understand your point for Frist to force a 'real' filibuster. Certainly holding the floor is one way to obstruct and filibuster, (like what Reid did the other day), but the Democrats are obstructing (filibustering) by not allowing the Senate to vote using parliamentary rules. They can do this, and are, without holding the floor, as long as they have 41 Senators to vote against cloture.