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The American public is becoming upset with the Democrats because they are not getting anything done. They have a majority in both Houses of Congress, but in the Senate because of the filibuster process the Democrats need 60 out of a hundred votes to get anything done.
The filibuster process is not mentioned in the constitution but the Constitution does say that everything but impeachment and a very few other things should be done by a simple majority.
The filibuster used to be a very rare occasion and then when someone did do a filibuster it was a physically demanding thing that made Jimmy Stewart faint from weakness in Mr. Smith goes to Washington. Today every single thing that gets done has the threat of a filibuster placed on it. The least the Democrats could do is call their bluff and make them speak all day.
The filibuster has been abused by the Republicans and they are using it far more than the Democrats ever did. The Democrats filibustered a few of Bush's radical appointments and the Republicans went nuts and said they were willing to use the "Nuclear Option" and do away with the filibuster all together.
Now a single Republican has put a hold on not just one appointee, but 70! Why on earth the Senate rules would allow one knot head to throw a monkey wrench into the works and bring the entire system to a stop is besides me, but that is the way things work.
Republican Senator Richard Shelby from Alabama —Is blocking 70 federal appointments because he wants more goodies for his state. He wants the $40 billion Airbus built in his district or else. To heck with the bidding process and the years of evaluations and the proper way to get things done. This one Senator wants to bypass all of the rules and regulations and is blackmailing the nation.
Democrats should not let this one Senator to hold the country hostage for pork projects for his State. I thought the Republicans wanted to do away with pork.
The Democrats should also not let the 41 Republicans hold the nation hostage either. They should do away with the filibuster and allow legislation to be passed with a simple majority like the founding fathers wanted when they wrote the Constitution.