If they get this done, and if the Republicans take the Senate in ‘12, look for the Dems to change the filibuster rule back right before the Republicans take over. Just watch.
Changing the rules on a day other than the first day of a Congress (which is when the rules are initially adopted) would take 67 votes. So if the Democrats are dumb enough to get rid of the Senate filibuster at a time in which the GOP will have a large House majority (so there won’t be any liberal House-passed bills for the GOP Senate minority to filibuster in the first place) and just two years before the GOP will definitely have a Senate majority (I have no doubt that the GOP will pick up at least 6 seats in 2012, and it only needs 3 or 4) and probably the presidency as well, then they’re bigger idiots that I thought. The only possible benefit the Dems would get from not having the filibuster rule in effect would be for judicial nominations over the next two years, but the GOP has never filibustered a judicial nominee, and then in two years the GOP Senate would have carte blanche to pass the entire conservative agenda.
Quite a while back, Russ L. said that if you wanted to see where Obaba and the Dems would try to take the USA, just look at Chavez and Ven.
Seemed absurd at the time.
Not so, now.
Funny, the DEMs were not concerned 'bout this when they had the 60 votes - now that they don't, the filibuster is being abused and the rule must be modified so that they can break it up.
And, like you say, if they get into a 60-40 minority - they'll want it back. Prolly will say that it is a "necessary check" on the evil GOP ...