I ask our readers’ indulgence for two reasons.
First, for musing (some may wish to call it “crowing” or “making light of” — it’s their call) over some of the faux outrage that is being expressed today around the beltway after Democrats got some spine and put a stop to the blatant abuse of the filibuster by Republicans in the Senate. As Eugene Robinson so eloquently put it in the Washington Post, “Way to nuke ‘em, Harry.”
Second for exercising author’s privilege — or something like that — and transforming some remarks I posted earlier in the “comments” section into a “proper post,” knowing full well I will hear about it. But is has been that kind of day.
So here are my musings (or gloats, or whatever):
Chilling effect? Balderdash. It is already colder in Congress than a witch’s you-know-what.
Poison the well? Give me a break. The Washington kool-aid is already more toxic than Chernobyl.
More gridlock? You kidding me?. There could not be a more serious case of total paralysis than what is ailing our nation’s legislative branch right now.
It will destroy bipartisanship. Now that is the funniest one, yet
It will assure an escalation of partisan warfare. Wow! It is already Armageddon in the halls of Congress.
Democrats will regret the decision as it will come back to haunt them. No, really? Of course Republicans will seek revenge and, as my wife would say, “with knobs on.”
But after all this silliness and levity, back to the sober words of Eugene Robinson:
The Senate was designed by the Founders to move slowly but not to be paralyzed. Republican obstruction of presidential appointments makes the government less able to do the people’s work — and less reflective of the people’s will. Elections are supposed to have consequences.
It was time to push the button.
Amen!
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.