McClatchy on why tonight’s filibuster isn’t a filibuster …
McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said Republicans would speak on the floor, not just yield to Democrats, but that it wouldn’t be a true filibuster because the lawmakers in the minority party weren’t the ones who wanted it.
Here’s another beaut just out from the AP in which David Espo describes tonight’s events but refuses to use the word ‘filibuster’ until he gets around to describing what the Democrats did four years ago in the judicial appointments fight — that is to say, when the Democrats did precisely what the Republicans are going to do tonight. (ed.note: Thanks to TPM Reader AR for the catch.)
Like I said, the ploy that dare not speak its name — except when Democrats use it.
(ed.note: Honestly it’s gotten so flagrant, especially with AP, that I start to wonder if it’s not intentional rather than a product of sloppiness and being cowed by GOP flacks)
Late Update: And then there’s Reuters. When is a filibuster not a filibuster? When it’s a “procedural roadblock.” (ed.note: Thanks to TPM Reader AH.)
Because Filibusters Must Stay in the Closet Update: Even the Washington Post goes in for the song and dance. In this story in tomorrow’s paper, the word ‘filibuster’ doesn’t appear until the final graph when Moveon.org’s “counter-filibusters” are mentioned. (ed.note: This one was flagged by TPM Reader AS.)
Really Late Update: Sigh. I’m not sure anyone can top this nonsense from Diane Sawyer who says Harry Reid “vows to filibuster.”
