What Should the GOP Filibuster?

With the victory of Saxby Chambliss in the U.S. Senate runoff election in Georgia, Republicans in the Senate have blocked a potential 60-seat Democrat 'supermajority.'

60 votes are needed by the majority Party to cut off attempts by the minority to 'filibuster' in order to block pending legislation favored by the majority.

Now that the Democrats lack the 60 votes necessary to end a filibuster, the Republicans can use the filibuster to prevent Leftwing extremist legislation put forth by the Democratic majority.

We have already heard that one GOP Senator has threatened a filibuster to block the pending bailout of the auto industry.

But is such a move wise at this point?

I say no.

Having the power to use the filibuster does not mean it is prudent to use it at the drop of a hat. The filibuster has a long history in the Senate as a measure of last resort--the absolute last tactic to be used to block foolhardy legislation.

This means that the filibuster should be used sparingly.

While I detest government bailouts of large corporations, there are some other more important matters coming down the pike that the GOP will need to block by necessity. The overuse of the filibuster on less important matters may make sustaining such a move in the future more difficult.

I would much rather the Senate GOP save the filibuster as an absolute last resort to use against Obama judicial appointments, for example.

Obama will attempt to make his mark on the judiciary by appointing Leftist judges early-on. These individuals should be blocked from the bench at all costs.

And to those who cry 'foul,' I would remind you that this is the very tactic the Democrats used against the appointees of George W. Bush, many of whom could not even get a simple up or down vote in the Senate.

If ever there were a time for payback, it is now. If Obama is allowed to move the judicial branch leftward with liberal appointees, then there will be nothing stopping the Obama-Democratic Congress steamroller from smashing ALL of our cherished victories to bits, particularly when it comes to firearms legislation.