> A well made argument, but I just don't see what authority would
> prevent the majority party from changing the rules.
The Republicans were threatening to do it back when they were the majority -- the slang phrase was "the nuclear option." At that point, of course, all the Dems (and The Nation magazine) were desperate to "save the filibuster!"
It was saved, in the end, by the Dems agreeing not to use it, if memory serves.
I think we can confidently predict that no attempt will be made by the current majority to tamper with this venerable institution.
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Michael J. Smith mjs at smithbowen.net http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com