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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (105393)	3/3/2009 2:59:28 PM
From: Sultan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 542019

Wilful ignorance ?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (105393)	3/3/2009 9:24:54 PM
From: Win Smith	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 542019

I recall the record thing being mention maybe a year ago, halfway through the congressional session. Looking it up I wasn't able to come up with a concise citation, but I did get this topical article from some NYT blogospheric auxiliary : 100days.blogs.nytimes.com A few clips: In the entire 19th century, including the struggle against slavery, fewer than two dozen filibusters were mounted. In F.D.R.’s time, the device was employed exclusively by Southerners to block passage of federal anti-lynching legislation. Between 1933 and the coming of the war, it was attempted only twice. Under Eisenhower and J.F.K., the pattern continued. In the eight years of the Eisenhower administration, only two filibusters were mounted. Under Kennedy there were four. The number more than doubled under Lyndon Johnson, but the primary issue continued to be civil rights. Except for exhibitionists, buffoons and white southerners determined to salvage racial segregation, the filibuster was considered off limits. . . . But invoking cloture proved difficult. Between 1919 and 1960, 23 attempts to close off debate were mounted, and only four were successful. In 1975, Rule 22 was amended to allow 60 senators, three-fifths of the Senate, to close off debate. The results have been better, but not markedly so. In the 108th Congress (2003-2004), cloture was attempted 49 times and was successful only 12. What is more disheartening is the growing frequency with which the filibuster has been resorted to. In the most recent Congress, 112 filibusters were mounted, and 51 were successful. I'm a little confused by the last numbers there. It looks like 51 is indeed a record, but I'm somewhat amazed that cloture actually was obtained 61 times. Or maybe 51 times, the way they stated it is somewhat ambiguous.