‘Filibuster’ Means That Losers Rule the Senate.

“Filibuster” (from the Dutch word for “pirate” or “freebooter”) is a parliamentary rule the U.S. Senate adopted by accident. These days it has nothing to do with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Alvin Chang explains how the filibuster broke the Senate. A Vox video.

More:

“Make the Filibuster Difficult Again,” Burt Neuborne and Erwin Chemerinsky, New York Times

“What is the Senate filibuster, and what would it take to eliminate it?” Molly E. Reynolds, The Brookings Institution

“All the Lies They Told Us About the Filibuster,” Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine

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Lindsay Graham’s Continuing Legal Education

Senator and Doctor of Jurisprudence Lindsay Graham, defending President Donald Trump against credible reports of abuse of power, addressed this arguement to the Great Court of Twitter:

In America you can’t even get a parking ticket based on hearsay testimony.

But you can impeach a president?

I certainly hope not.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) September 28, 2019

Annotation was provided by a thoughful attorney with a frightful spouse, George Conway III:

It has been a while since you’ve practiced law, so let me help:

* @realDonaldTrump’s incriminating statements are binding admissions against him and are not hearsay under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2);

* Even if that were not so, the statements would be admissible … https://t.co/8eWOOjZUYy

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) September 28, 2019