Lieberman Shows Democrats Don’t Have 60 Healthcare Votes
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
I wrote earlier noting that the imminent arrival of Sen. Al Franken does not mean that the Democrats will be able to start running amok in Washington because the Senate Democratic caucus covers a relatively broad ideological spectrum. CQ's David Nather makes the same point, using a fresh Joe Lieberman interview to underscore the point. Lieberman told the New Haven Independent that he is "skeptical" of a public option in healthcare. Remember that all it takes is one member to puncture the "filibuster-proof majority."
And as Nather points out, this lesson seems to be lost on the Democrats' base:
"Let's do what the American people have asked Democrats to do, and let's not use any excuses like this 60-vote nonsense, which is now obviously no longer an issue," Markos Moulitsas, founder of the Daily Kos, said on MSNBC yesterday.
Sure, the statement proves Moulitsas doesn't really understand the Senate. But there are lots of people who will agree with him. Until now, Democrats have used their lack of 60 votes to explain why they have to make concessions to Republicans in the Senate. Now, it's going to be a lot harder to explain any concessions—even though there will be times when they still have to make them.
Forget a filibuster-proof majority. How about a Lieberman-proof majority?
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Tags: Congress | Democrats | healthcare | Senate | Joe Lieberman
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Reader Comments
Thank goodness someone's reading
Boehner read excerpts from the 3 AM amendment so that at least a few of us would have some idea of the provisions in this bill and how much more government intrusion we will have in our lives as a result. I saw a couple of pundits asking one of the Democrats, "Did you read the bill?" "As best we could," he responded.
Our so-called leaders are voting for and against measures without having any idea of their true content.
Additionally, they're pushing these Draconian measures while responding with denial to new scientific data which controvert their objectives. Selective memory is alive and well on the left.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10274412-38.html
Liebermann is a Wolf in Sheeps Clothing
He is no friend of the Democrats. He used to be one - but that ended when he sided with the neo-cons on every overseas issue during the Bush years. He was kept around to supposedly help with the majority - but that has proven to be a joke.
The voters in his state must like his neo-con buddies and appreciated his constant tailing of McCain during the last election.
I'd count on Olympia Snow before I'd count on Liebermann. She is honest about being a moderate Republican, and votes on the issues - not just based on party rhetoric and payoffs....
All that needs to happen
is that 55 or so Dem Senators need to FORCE one real filibuster at the first "threat".
Lieberman and 40 Republicans will make a grand sight on TV night after night after night reading the phone books from the Senate podium--or whatever you do for endless speeching. The filibuster thing is an empty threat. One and it's done.
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