- Against the nominees of Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, the filibuster was never used.
- Against Carter and Reagan, the filibuster was used twice against each president.
- Against nominees of Poppy Bush, the filibuster was never used.
- Against Clinton, 9 times. Against Baby Bush, 7 times.
- Against Obama... so far... 72 (seventy-two) times.
The filibuster has always been a thorn in my side. Even when it was not anti-Democratic, it was certainly always antidemocratic. It may occasionally have prevented Jefferson's frequent‑revolution solution, serving as an escape valve when one party did something utterly outrageous against the other. But 72 times against Obama in about five years? As often as I oppose Obama, his policies, his appointments... that record of filibusters against his nominees is plain and simple racism. And Senate Republicans who employ the filibuster against Obama about as often as they breathe... they are plain and simple racists.
End of story.
Real filibusters were always good, cheap entertainment, but they took all of the fun out of the process by not requiring people to talk. If they don't want to debate the issue, and it is obvious that they don't because they don't stand up and start. then the point of the filibuster has been lost.
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