I know. It's been too long since I've posted. Again. Sorry! It's really not for a lack of interesting things to say...
I have continued to increase the amount of socializing around here, and that's been pretty great. Friday night I had such a fabulous time. I saw a movie at the Argentinian Embassy, had dinner with a friend, then spent most of the evening at a coffeehouse/bar/lounge in the Adams Morgan area of DC. There are quite a few interns in my building, but we're so spread out that we rarely interact except in meetings. The best part about Friday night was the chance to just get to know one another.
I've also made friends at the church I'm going to. There was a great picnic after the service on Sunday, and again, it was an opportunity to just sit around and talk. I'm pretty sure I've discovered that's my favorite thing to do - sit around and talk. :)
It should be exciting to be here on the 4th of July. A couple of my friends, Beth and Jill, are flying in on Thursday to spend the holiday with me, and I'm looking forward to that more than I could tell you. We're going to the parade and fireworks, and probably to some of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival events.
Feel free to comment on the BTK confession. I heard the chilling piece on the radio, and it actually did make me shudder. I know people who have come into contact with this man. Geez!
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
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Whitney, if I may interrupt you for just a moment, I have something very important to say. . .
The American political process is facing a persistent and worrisome vexation, one which will only grow in its irritation unless we deal with it promptly. Of course I am referring to the modern use, or - dare I say - misuse, of the filibuster on the floor of the United States Senate.
Filibuster, as I'm sure everyone is aware, is delay tactic in the U.S. Senate by which one Senator, generally from the minority party, forces a debate on an issue to go on indefinitely, thus stalling the final vote on a matter. That Senator generally ends the debate and thus relinquishes the floor only when either the majority party agrees to drop or compromise on the matter, the debate is voted to cloture by two thirds of the Senate, or the filibuster simply becomes so long and tiresome that the Senator decides to stop. Without any of these three scenarios happening, however, a filibuster could theoretically last forever.
Just a moment, Whitney, I’m going somewhere with this. I promise you this is relevant to your posting. Don't role your eyes at me . . .
Filibusters find their root in the notion that the United States Senate is devoted to the idea of allowing a debate to proceed as long as necessary to resolve a matter. According to this notion, debates should only end when both sides feel satisfied that all possible rhetorical avenues have been explored on the floor (the use of a cloture vote was not added to Senate rules until 1917, and since then has only been used on rare occasions). The creation of a stall tactic was an obvious and natural development. In a country that is dedicated to “majority rules” but “minority rights,” the use of the filibuster by the minority party can be an effective way to reign in a majority party that feels it no longer has to negotiate with the minority. It therefore can be quite useful to help prevent a dictatorship of the majority.
However, filibuster can also be abused. Filibusters have been viewed as a peculiar institution, and allowed to persist only because they have been used infrequently, typically as a last resort. However, there is no rule technically preventing the minority party from using a filibuster everyday on nearly every issue, thereby grinding the Senate to a halt. However, such a practice is severely frowned up on as this use of the filibuster completely undoes the idea of “majority rules” and in fact creates a dictatorship of the minority.
Whitney, I promise this is coming to something, just keep your pants on . . .
A dictatorship of the minority is exactly what has developed in the Senate in recent months. Senate Democrats, wary of Republican control of all three branches of the federal government, have started using the filibuster liberally, no pun intended. Not only do they use it to stop some of the more objectionable and controversial Republican bills from coming to a vote, but they have even started using it to block judicial and diplomatic nominations, the most famous, but by no means only, being John Bolton’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Such use of the filibuster is simply a reckless and desperate tactic by the minority party.
Unfortunately there is little the Republicans can do about this quandary. They are unable to consistently get the two thirds vote required to force cloture. Also, though they could theoretically change the Senate rules and alter or end the use of a filibuster – an idea which has been seriously considered – they do not want to destroy such a sacred tool to minority rights nor do they wish to attack the foundational idea that a debate should go on as long as necessary in the Senate. No, the Republicans’ hands are tied in this instance. It is not for the majority to force the minority to behave responsibly.
Hang on, hang on . . .
Instead it is for the minority to step up and assume responsibility for itself. Yes, it is difficult and frustrating being the minority in Congress, and yes the filibuster is a tool that is available to the minority, but Democrats must understand that such flagrant use of the filibuster is simply weakening the democratic process in this nation. If Democrats really want to be an effective party for their ideals, they should do a better job of convincing the voters of their views in November and not simply obstruct the other party now. Its all about understanding and working with democracy, not simply seeking to hinder it.
Yes, Whitney, here it comes. Thank you for being patient . . .
Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters to contact Democrats in the United States Senate and tell them to stop this disruptive practice of filibustering every bill, every nomination, and every action from a Republican in that sacred chamber. Tell them to restore the filibuster to its rightful place, a hallowed place of last resort, and not a place of knee-jerk, standard operating procedure. If even a few Democrat Senators understand the negative effects of filibuster misuse, then their votes could help the Republicans find the two thirds necessary for cloture and the ending this ridiculous abuse. All it would take would be a couple of Democrats siding with democracy on this one.
It is up to the Democrats to stand up and restore a faithful practice of democracy . . . and it is up to us to convince them to do so.
There you have it. Thank you for use of the soapbox, Whitney. I told you I had something relevant to say. . . Actually, I guess not. Anyway, please go back to what you were saying. I think you were talking about sound editing, or coffe shops, or some such matter . . .
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