why even have the filibuster if it isn't used?

Alito Nears Partisan Win on Committee Vote
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Obviously, the media continues to kiss bush's ass and push his agenda, so I hope that articles like this are just propaganda and not really what the Dems are thinking.
If they can't use the filibuster on a right-wing extremist like this, then there is no reason to have it at all!
Once again, wouldn't it be nice if there really was a liberal media that wasn't just trying to convince the public that everything that bush says and does is right and that maybe an opposing opinion might be the right opinion?