Greg Richards writes us that the GOP is missing an important opportunity, one which could serve (in classic W fashion) multiple goals: 

I think the Republicans are missing a polemical opportunity with Sen. Byrd.  It is very likely that most people do not have the sentimental attachment to the filibuster that Sen. Byrd does.  After all, its most important use in living memory was to tie the Senate up such that civil rights legislation was impossible to pass.  Sen. Byrd and other Southern Democrats used the filibuster to greatly enhance their otherwise limited power.  They defined the debate on civil rights from the end of World War II until the Eisenhower Administration was able to push through a limited bill in 1957. 

Those "good old days" of the 1950's were not so good for everybody.  And this isn't the 50's any more.