Flip-Flopping on Filibuster Makes Congress a Mess

July 23 (Bloomberg) -- What are the legitimate powers ofthe president? Of Congress? Some people’s answers to theseenduring questions seem to shift dramatically depending on asingle (and seemingly irrelevant) fact: whether the currentpresident is a Democrat or a Republican. These shifts amount to“institutional flip-flops,” a defining feature of modernpolitical life.

In recent weeks, the filibuster has been the most prominentexample. Under President George W. Bush, Democratic senatorstended to defend its use, while Republican senators opposed it.Under President Barack Obama, of course, the two sides haveessentially flipped. (Clarifying note: My topic throughout isthe flip-flop, not which party has engaged in worse or moreaggressive behavior.)