Prometheus 6

Ronald Brownstein, L.A. Times:

"This is their style of governing," said Marshall Wittmann, a former aide to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who is a fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist party group. "You build upon the base and pressure the middle and you ignore the other side. You push across the finish line and you move on. In their mind, a win is a win, regardless of how narrow or polarizing it is."

This approach has allowed Bush to move more of his agenda into law than appeared possible for a president twice elected with narrow majorities in the electoral college. But it has also bitterly divided the country over his presidency, and so alienated congressional Democrats that Bush often needs virtually lock-step Republican support to pass his priorities.

The next few weeks will severely test Bush's ability to maintain that partisan unity, as Congress approaches explosive battles over ending filibusters of judicial nominees and restructuring Social Security —  as well as the Senate floor vote on Bolton.

Do you own a vacuum cleaner? Do you own a window fan? If so, Grasshopper, you are ready for today's lesson in the Art of Political War.

I want you to place a crumpled wad of paper on a table. Place your window fan to the right of it and turn it on. See how it makes the paper move. This is yang. Now place your vacuum cleaner to the left of the crumpled wad of paper and turn it on. See how it makes the paper move. This is yin.

American politics is all yang...force against force. The outcome of such contests is predictable. Yet we know that pure force rarely wins any contest. Black ignores a gathering attack to seize the initiative. A bunt moves a player into scoring position. An aikido practitioner moves away from the blow, leaving the attacker overextended. Victory rarely comes from overwhelming yang; most often it is the result of yin and yang, each in its proper place.

In 1995, the U.S. Senate spent a total of 1,839 hours over 211 days in session...a record which still stands. To establish a sense of scale, an eight hour by five day work week (with two weeks vacation) amounts to 2000 hours.

So say the Nuclear Option is invoked. The vote is on Owens. And every Democratic Senator

1. Prepares a two hour long statement
2. Reads it into the record
3. Votes party line against any cloture motion

100 hours, gone. Assuming no Republican Senator speaks at all. And that doesn't count time lost voting on all the things that now occur by unanimous consent. How often can that happen before there's no time left to deal with the necessary business of the nation?

More importantly, if forced by these circumstances to deal with the necessary business of the nation first, how much time would be left for ideological battles?

The ability of each Senator to impact the flow of events is inherent in the office.