Republicans to do nothing about Democratic filibuster

As I've been saying for months, it is rational for Republicans to threaten the filibuster but not follow through. See this Roll Call article (paid subscription required), which begins: "Despite nine months of assaults on Democratic filibusters, Senate Republicans are admitting they still don’t have the support within their own Conference to pass a leadership-backed proposal to change the chamber’s rule on nominations.

Even more troubling for those behind the effort to bring an end to filibusters, Republicans are far from securing the 50 votes they would eventually need to execute what has become know as the “nuclear” option, the controversial parliamentary route that would require only a simple majority to end filibusters on nominations."

Posted by Rick Hasen at November 17, 2003 07:24 AM