[Cyclopean Squid]

Do you know if it's too late to rewrite the rules of the Senate to require an actual filibuster (Mr. Smith style) in lieu of the lame procedural filibuster currently employed? I would have no objection to a real filibuster; at least 5 Dems would vote for cloture after listening to Shrillary read from a phone book.

And if the constitutional option is invoked, I don't see the Dems plot to shut down the Senate lasting for very long. After a few days of doing nothing, I see a few of the reasonable Dems like Salazar and Lieberman and maybe some of their brethren, splitting off from the bloc. The Dems aren't a monolithic party and can't act as such for extended periods of time.

[Jim Noble]

Do you know if it's too late to rewrite the rules of the Senate to require an actual filibuster (Mr. Smith style) in lieu of the lame procedural filibuster currently employed?

No, it's not too late-as long as you have 67 votes to do so.

[Bob]

Do you know if it's too late to rewrite the rules of the Senate to require an actual filibuster (Mr. Smith style) in lieu of the lame procedural filibuster currently employed?

That's what I'd like to see, real filibusters. With technology today, CSPAN feeds would be all over the internet. :=)