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Chambliss' win in Georgia means Republicans are down, but not out
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AP Photo/John Bazemore
Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, ensured that Democrats will not have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate this session by winning that state's run-off senatorial election by a margin of 59 - 41. The Georgia senate race was forced into a run-off when none of the three candidates won over 50% of the vote. Under Georgia law, that necessitates a run-off between the two top vote getters.
Democrats needed victories in Georgia as well as in Minnesota's race between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat challenger Al Franken to secure the 60 votes needed to stop a filibuster in the senate. The Minnesota results are currently being recounted due to a razor thin margin of victory by Coleman. A filibuster is a technique used to block legislation by taking advantage of the Senate's unlimited debate rule. Unless at least 60 senators vote to end debate and vote on a bill, members can continue to debate the measure for as long as anyone has anything to say. If debate never ends, the bill can never be voted on.
It's an important tool for the minority party, but overuse can backfire. If the public perceives that one party is blocking progress for political reasons rather than standing on principal, they can find themselves losing more members in the next election cycle.
The mere ability to filibuster gives the Republican leadership more leverage in the Democratically controlled Congress. Democrats will have more incentive to negotiate and perhaps give a little on important issues in exchange for a pledge to allow a bill to come to a vote.
Republicans need to choose their battles wisely. It's about more than gaining leverage against a rival party. It's about demonstrating to the American people those issues and principals from which Republicans refuse to budge. What is a Republican? What do they stand for? How are they different from the Democrats? The bills they block may do more to answer those questions than any bills they author.
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