re: #168 sliv_the_eli

It is a reality of congressional politics that on occasion, the Republicans , like the Democrats, are able to secure party discipline on a particular vote

It is not ‘on occasion’. It is now standard for the GOP. Even for bills that the Democrats have made many compromises on.

Seems to me there are “moderate Republicans” who might break party ranks if the issue was presented on a straight “up or down” vote.

You really have no clue what you’re talking about. The filibuster is to prevent a straight up or down vote.