You may have forgotten, what with that whole Illinois Governor getting arrested thing, but today was the day Congress and/or the White House was supposed to announce a bailout/bridge loan/financial rescue of the “Big Three” auto companies.
However, there are a growing number of Republican Senators who have a different idea and are ready to drop the f-word on us…filibuster. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) hinted at one a few days ago, and now it appears Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) is on board to…
Fiscal conservatives may remember that Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada was instrumental in defeating the Asbestos Trust Fund by using a parliamentary tactic called a Budget Point of Order.
According to Roll Call, he’s prepared to use these sorts of means again to stop the coming auto bailout. This time around he may put a legislative hold on the bill to stave it off until next year and force the Big Three to consider pre-packaged bankruptcy.
This should be an interesting week, and all the jive in Illinois gives Republicans a perfect cover to pick a fight. The key is to not just pick a fight, but to do so with an alternative. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) has a few good ideas, and Hugh Hewitt had an interesting thought on the corporate tax. I just don’t want us to filibuster just for the sake of filibustering. That would make us Democrats.
There are just two x-factors:
1. Public opinion: Current polls have the public split between being for or against an auto bailout.
2. John McCain: He lost the Joe the Plumber vote over the last bailout. Will he be looking to make nice with the Democrats and/or media again?
UPDATE: Ensign! Coburn! DeMint! Vitter! Shelby! This is hot!
UPDATE DEUX: Meet President Rodney Dangerfield.
