I very much agree with you on all answers, except on the filibuster. Yes it can be used to keep good ideas from being voted on, but there are usually no good ideas to be voted on in the senate. More often it can be used to block or at least delay bad ideas such as spending bills, spying authorizations, war acts. Rand Paul has used it effectively at times to at least draw attention to horrible policies such as drone bombing authorizations.

But anyway, Japheth for U.S. Senate definitely has my vote!