We keep hearing that there is an ongoing "filibuster" in the Senate against the nomination of Miguel Estrada. But the current situation is not deserving of the name. When the parties to the proceedings, knowing that cloture will not prevail, agree to suspend the proceedings and return to the Senate's normal routine business, reconvening the issue of the nomination only to attempt another cloture vote, that should not be called a filibuster. That is no way to have fun in the Senate.
Filibusters are outright battles, and they should be fought like battles. Armies don't fight for a day and then agree to meet again a week from Tuesday for another day of combat. Bring the issue to the floor and keep it pending until one side or the other gives in. Force the Democrats to read excerpts from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook to keep the filibuster going, as long as it takes, until one side or the other drops. Keep the issue pending and let the American public get a good look at the ludicrous situation of a representative body hamstrung by the Democrats' parlimentary tactics reminscent of - shall I say it? - Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond. It is only then that the American public will know or care that the fight is even going on. At present, just about the only people who know that the issue is even pending are political reporters -- when they think of it.
8:03:26 AM 
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