The future of the filibuster.

NPR reports on the future of the filibuster. There is a proposal in the Senate to exempt judicial nominations from the filibuster. Years ago, the filibuster was associated with southern Senators objecting to civil rights legislation. Strom Thurmond went 24 hours without urinating, we're told, in his diehard filibuster against civil rights legislation. So why is it so hard to oust the disreputable old technique? The theory is that the filibuster exemplifies the individualism of Senators and that they will not dare to change their institution by removing the old, ideosyncratic tradition.