Ixnay on the Policy Discussion-ay

by shamanic

Kevin Drum's point here is worth noting, absorbing, and repeating indefinitely (I think I made the same point a few weeks back, but Kevin's megaphone is a little bigger than mine):

It's also worth noting why Republicans are filibustering everything in sight. It's not because it's the only way they have of blocking legislation they dislike. After all, a Republican is president. The real reason is a desperate desire to kill popular legislation quietly (the press doesn't spend much time reporting on routine filibusters) rather than force President Bush to kill popular legislation in full public view (the press does report on presidential vetoes). The problem is that the public tends to be on the side of Democrats when domestic issues actually get some attention, so Republicans benefit by keeping their disagreements as low key as possible. The last thing they need is a bunch of high-profile vetoes that would make it crystal clear exactly what they're fighting against.

Republicans oppose measures like a minimum wage increase, health care reform, concluding the Iraq war, and finding ways to approach climate change. Republicans filibuster popular legislation so you don't have to see that they oppose stuff you support. That's what is driving the filibuster bonanza in the senate. They don't want you to know that their policy priorities oppose your policy priorities.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.