So, the threat of a filibuster is the same as an actual filibuster?
Seems like lazy do-nothingness to me. It also sounds like caving, like allowing the dems to rule without the power, the action required to overrule the GOP. It is laziness pure and simple.
They know there will be a filibuster - so do nothing.
That way the elite senators do not have to work hard. Why stay up late, miss their parties, and all that. We know they will filibuster so let them have it.
No, they have to do an actual filibuster spending the time and effort in order to overrule the majority party. And, if this is not done - I will call the GOP lazy senators caving to the minority party without the fight. Which is exactly what they are doing.
Why should our men go to battle when the government politicians will change their minds a year later? Why go to elections, when the minority party will still rule? Why send representatives to Washington and pay for their "work" when they just count votes and go on to bed giving up the fight by an easy count - not an actual filibuster.
Filibuster or shut up - no simple vote counting.
There were no filibusters at all until 1917, I believe. The greatest Senate speeches were supposedly made prior to 1860, when many senators served short tenures because it was such a sacrifice to spend time from their businesses even though the Senate was in session for just two months a year! Now these senators spend much of their time on the social circuit, as you clearly explained. A really hardworking one like Senator Coburn would be disdained by most of his "lazy" (your word) colleagues.