What's The Problem With The Senate?

       Well, a couple of weeks ago the majority leader in the Senate, Senator Harry Reid pulled the nuclear trigger. I'm told that the Senate still exists though, contrary to some predictions. Oh, I admit that the minority is very unhappy with the change. They can't just call up Harry and tell him they want to put a hold on some appointment or other. Now they have to find other ways to hold up progress in the Senate. Of course they can still put a "hold" on legislation and require 60 votes to bring it up for a vote, while presidential appointments only require a majority of 1 vote.
       It was a surprise and uncle Mitch is still boiling mad. He's still telling uncle Harry to just wait and see what we'll do when we regain majority status. But judicial appointments that have been waiting for years, literally, are finally getting approved. Family get-togethers are really rough though. What with uncle Harry getting some things done and Uncle Mitch steaming mad about it, there's no peace at the table. "Just wait! You'll see!" And an "I had to do it to get some work done."
       So exactly who's in the wrong here? Who's lily white and without sin? On the one hand this secret filibuster rule has been around for a couple of decades and it worked pretty well. Nobody likes change and uncle Harry knows that. On the other hand a couple dozen or so such filibusters has turned into well over a hundred and fifty. When it comes to sin, I have to go along with the "let whoever is without sin cast the first stone." Or in the Senate's case, the first vote.
       In fact that rule, the one about casting the stone, or vote, might be a good idea for all legislators in Washington and the state capitals to consider. If you haven't taken any money from someone or some company this bill will effect, you can vote. That's because you're without sin. But if you did get money or your campaign did, then you can't vote. Boy would that change things. Then all that would be left to deal with would be special interest groups. But that's another whole story.