For the past two years, Harry Reid could, conceivably, have forced the Republicans to mount an actual filibuster. That is, nowadays, as we've often discussed, the minority party merely needs to threaten a filibuster, and the majority, knowing that it does not have 60 votes, will just put off the vote so as not to waste everyone's time (in part, because they all have to spend so much time calling donors and raising money, and yes, I'm being serious about that).

I can't count the number of times I've heard liberals say, "Reid should just make them filibuster! Make them hold the floor for 24 straight hours, as Strom Thurmond once did. They will look ridiculous to the American people, especially as said people figure out they're trying to block a relatively inexpensive unemployment benefits extension, and the opposition will crash down like a house of cards."

In a session with a record number of filibusters threatened and cloture motions filed, it never happened. Almost, once or twice; but it didn't. So, it's kind of sad that the only actual filibuster of the whole dysfunctional session is the one happening right now, but it doesn't involve Republicans at all.

Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont is not a Democrat but a socialist. However, he does caucus with the Democrats, and he has been mainly an Obama supporter. But there he is, as I write, finishing his fifth hour of filibustering the tax deal.

I admire Sanders, and although I think the deal is pretty good, under the circumstances, and should pass, I do take my hat off to the guy. It's just nice to see someone taking a stand for the view that upper-income households don't need a tax cut, and the view that we're going to have an estate tax that will impact – get this – just 3,500 families in the entire country (see that chart, and look at "taxable returns" for 2011 under the Lincoln-Kyl proposal).

Sanders is not expected to pull a Thurmond. The Senate put together a package last night and this morning that added a few meagre sweeteners for the Democrats (extending subsidies for alternative energy and ethanol that were slated to expire). It will almost surely pass, with most Republicans and enough Democrats. Then, the action moves to the House, where things are a bit iffier but, most suspect, only a bit.

Still, it'll be enough to make Sanders a hero to the left. "Bernie for President" talk will … heck, there's probably already a website. Let's hope he doesn't drink any Ralph Nader juice. He's a good senator and should stay there.

However, let's also hope that there arises a popular groundswell behind his efforts today, enough that some other Democrats and – God help us – a few Republicans see that his view is a responsible one. It is one, after all, that majorities typically support in polls.

People, especially liberals, need to remember that even if or when this deal passes, the tax fight is a long way from over. Obama and the Democrats have a mulligan here, a 2012 do-over. Sanders and simpatico colleagues like Sherrod Brown can lead a progressive charge to strengthen the no-upper-bracket-cuts position when all this comes up again. Two years will pass quickly enough.

In the meantime, even though I disagree with Sanders' position, I do like his style.