Obstructionism in the Senate
August 14th, 2010
Filibusters and arcane obstructions in the Senate: This is an article that will probably just make you sad. It details all the ways the U.S. Senate has degenerated into a utterly dysfunctional body which exists solely so that the two parties can obstruct each other and avoid compromising on anything.
Like many other aspects of senatorial procedure, Rule XXVI, Paragraph 5 is a relic from the days when senators had to hover around their desks to know what was happening on the floor during the main afternoon debate. […] In the press lounge, McCaskill said, with light sarcasm, “Somebody told me the rule is to make sure people pay attention to what’s happening on the floor during debate and not be distracted by committee work. Clearly, it’s an old rule.”
The Republicans had turned this old rule into a new means of obstruction. There would be no hearings that afternoon; the general and the admiral would have to come back another day. Like investment bankers on Wall Street, senators these days direct much of their creative energy toward the manipulation of arcane rules and loopholes, scoring short-term successes while magnifying their institution’s broader dysfunction.
Now, this article was written when the Democrats are in power, so it’s largely about how the Republicans are the ones doing the obstructing these days. But don’t think for a second that the Democrats are any different. When the shoe was on the other foot (and will be again), I have no doubt the Democrats were every bit as divisive and obstructionist.
You can’t compromise on anything these days. The media will crucify you. The only way to get re-elected is to ensure that nothing gets accomplished. The media has turned it into a zero-sum game. For someone else to win, someone has to lose, so let’s just make sure neither thing happens.