There is a “West Wing” segment on the filibuster, where a Senator took the stage and began reading recipe books, Tom Sawyer, and War and Peace in order to hold the floor from the vote because he was holding out for the addition of an ammendment to add funds for autism. Everyone thought the vote was going to happen without fail and the legislators would go home for the holidays…just like what’s happening now. No one could understand why this senator felt so strongly about funding for autism, until they realized he had a grandchild suffering from autism. Ah, if only things were that clear in real life. Now, the rule of filibuster has changed and one doesn’t need to read War and Peace, or something anymore. And, in the “West Wing” segment the Senator wanted the funding for autism in the bill because his grandson had autism, not like self serving Lieberman who simply wants to stall American policy so that he can run for President, as a Republican, in 2012 and get health care instituted and his place in history books.

Lieberman is simply using the tactic to obstruct justice. He is using the practice to show how powerful he thinks he is. To show the democratic caucus that he can wield power, even as an independent. Now, there is discussion he will run for office of the President as a Republican.

The use of the filibuster in a way such as this is a disservice to the American people. It is a waste of tax dollars, and perhaps its time Lieberman show up in public so someone can hit him with their kids soccer trophy. At least in Italy, or Europe, they have the balls to criminalize or assault those that do the most damaging work. Our country seems to hail the Wall Streeters with hundreds of billions of our tax dollars with no strings, the unemployed octomoms that now have 14 children and a tv show, and senile power hungry senators that show their true colors with no party or constituent care or affiliations..