April 25, 2005 Was So Long Ago
The L.A. Times, which as recently as yesterday decried the nuclear constitutional
My take: none of the above. This is the Times’s famous “power of the jump,” in time rather than space. Like the Schwarzenegger hit piece that just “happened” to be ready for print four days before election day, this editorial, which could have run anytime, came at just the right time to accomplish certain things, without accomplishing other things.
As recently as a week ago, a strong L.A. Times editorial in support of the no-filibuster option might have actually helped to make it happen. Now, with Sen. Frist having all but abandoned the “nuclear” option in favor of the more Democrat-friendly“fuck-me-harder” option, the chances of this editorial making a tinker’s damn of a difference is next to nil. By coming out in favor of the no-filibuster option just as soon as it was really over, but before the fat lady had actually sung, the Times preserves its position for the long term. Next time, when the shoe is on the other foot (as it inevitably will be someday), the Times will, surprise surprise, come out in favor of what will then be called the “anti-obstructionist option,” proudly reminding everyone that it had consistently taken the same position over the years, even when the Republicans were pushing it way back in 2005.
