Bolton, Filibustering, & the Cowering Senate Dems

In my first post about the Senate filibuster "deal," I worried that Democrats had been emasculated because they would now refrain from using the tool, even in the most extreme cases, because they would fear the nuclear option would immediately be put back on the table. In a subsequent post, I tried to be optimistic about the agreement. But just days after the "deal," we now see that the further weakening of Democrats may be the real outcome.

Though Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is still calling for a delay in voting on the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador, the Boston Herald reports that she has, more importantly, "decided to drop her plan to use procedural delays" to stop the nomination altogether. Her decision came after conferring with that profile in courage, Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). Worse, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) came out to specifically reassure the public that "There is no desire for a filibuster."

Let's understand how sad this really is: the Democrats are backing down and cowering in a corner, EVEN AFTER top GOP Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) gave an impassioned speech begging Senators to stop the nomination. The Democrats, in other words, have all the cover they need - yet are trembling in fear, and backing off.

Contrast this behavior with that of Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS). He was an ardent proponent of the "nuclear" option to end filibusters. And yet, he's now threatening a filibuster over stem cell legislation. Of course I don't agree with his filibuster, and think he's an unbelievable hypocrite. But, in a way, his tactical hypocrisy shows the difference between the parties: he's positioned himself as a conviction politician who is willing to fight with everything he's got - no matter how hypocritical in terms of tactics - on what he portrays as his principles.

Democrats, on the other hand, supposedly worked to protect the filibuster, but are now indicating an unwillingness use it even in extreme cases, where they have cover from other Republicans. If confirming right-wing judges and further emasculating Democrats is the prime result of the filibuster "deal," then we have a lot to be worried about.

UPDATE: CQ now reports that even more Democrats are capitulating on Bolton.