Does anyone need a quick refresher on the filibuster and how it has been used by various political parties in the United States over the last two centuries? A website designed by the People For the American Way takes a look at the history of the filibuster in action, as well as current myths surrounding it, and how its disappearance might affect the American ecosystem.

The first Supreme Court nomination approaches as the Bush administration begins another four-year term. Use of the filibuster by Democrats during Bush’s last term successfully impeded 10 of Bush’s 52 appeals court nominees. As a result, Republicans contend that Democrats are “trampling on the Constitution” with their “abuse” of the filibuster, according to an article last month in The Washington Post by reporters Helen Dewar and Mike Allen. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has suggested he “may resort to an unusual parliamentary maneuver, dubbed the ‘nuclear option,’ to thwart such filibusters.”

An editorial available on the PFAW website argues the merits of the key role the filibuster process plays in the legislative process. It explains,

Popular arguments against the use of the filibuster claim that in the past, senators have exploited its use. A United States Senate website notes these arguments, as well as the ends toward which filibusters have been implemented.

“Many Americans are familiar with the hours-long filibuster of Senator Jefferson Smith in Frank Capra’s film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but there have been some famous filibusters in the real-life Senate as well. During the 1930s, Senator Huey P. Long effectively used the filibuster against bills that he thought favored the rich over the poor.”

What if the use of nuclear weapons were protested based upon the potential that the wrong people might exploit their use? What if such protests were effective?

Activists interested in signing a petition to save the filibuster can find it on the PFAW website.