[aristeides]

There's a section in the new volume of Caro's life of LBJ about what was done at the opening of the new Congress in 1957, when the liberals wanted to change the filibuster rule so that cloture became easier. If I understood Caro correctly, until the old rules -- possibly with changes -- were adopted, everything was to be decided under normal rules of parliamentary procedure, i.e., with simple majorities deciding everything, without the possiblity of a filibuster.

Anybody know anything about that?

By the way, if the RATs are able to filibuster the reorganization resolution and block Senate business, what happens until the filibuster ends? Do the committees function? Do staffs get paid? Is all business to be conducted -- in the absence of committees -- on the Senate floor?

C-SPAN Radio had a Senate Commerce Committee hearing this morning. How was it possible to hold this?

[hobbes1]

Interesting Point, and let me add another.

No Senator, interested in serving his constituents AND HIS PARTY, has no business being on the F*ng floor, let alone in a leadership position, without a frim grasp of the nuances and intricacies of Parliamentary procedure.

The fact that Byrd, who is one step from a doddering old fool, is the Senates resident whiz at this, tells you something is wrong. Being there a long time counts for some of it, but give me a break.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Everything operates under the old rules: Chairman Leahy with half of the budget to slander Bush's judicial picks.