I gotta secret
Okay, there are 60 Democratic Senators. Some are a little weak kneed, but they signed up with the Democratic Party. So, it is time for a little hardball.
What I am talking about is the secret hold. The secret hold is a threat of filibuster. It has been around since Johnson was the Senate Majority Leader and it exists to avoid actual on the floor filibusters. However, filibusters can also be shut down with 60 votes, which just happens to be the number of Democratic Party members.
So, it is time for the current Majority Leader to tell the other party they are out of luck. Threats of filibuster must materialize before anything will happen. In other words, no secret holds.
Let's see these elected senators demonstrate some spine.
What I am talking about is the secret hold. The secret hold is a threat of filibuster. It has been around since Johnson was the Senate Majority Leader and it exists to avoid actual on the floor filibusters. However, filibusters can also be shut down with 60 votes, which just happens to be the number of Democratic Party members.
So, it is time for the current Majority Leader to tell the other party they are out of luck. Threats of filibuster must materialize before anything will happen. In other words, no secret holds.
Let's see these elected senators demonstrate some spine.
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Agreed, but the real question is whether milquetoast Reid, can hold 60 votes together.
July 1, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
AMEN PEEGALITO!
July 1, 2009 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The real question is why Reid is insisting we need 60 votes in the first place.
I would love to see a dramatic, drawn out filibuster where Republicans get the cots out and stay up all night for days, while the entire country gets more educated and passionate about the public option.
That would be a major political victory for Democrats, and in all likelihood enough Republicans would get harassed by their constituents that they would switch votes or the filibuster would stop.
All Reid and the Democrats have to do is get out their cots, sip some champagne, and watch the country discover pro-Democrat populist rage.
But ultimately, Reid doesn't want a strong public option, and they are only tinkering with the script, casting the Senators for the roles of stubborn "bipartisans," and readying legislation that will be absolutely as week as focus groups dictate they can get away with.
July 2, 2009 12:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
July 2, 2009 2:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately two of them can barely walk, and half a dozen others routinely forget they are not Republicans. This sixty vote meme annoys me because Dems have never voted as a bloc the way Reps did.
July 2, 2009 8:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi ya Marq. Its 58 dems and two independents one of whom is an asshat.
I predict, as I did elsewhere, none of the sixty will aid in a filibuster. There will be some who will demur on a vote or two. But no filibuster.
The other issue of course surrounds two very sickly Democratic Senators. upon any real threat they will have to bring at least one of them in on a gurney for a vote.
July 2, 2009 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I predict there will never be a senate vote on a contentious issue where you have 58+2 votes on something where that 58+2 is all the democrats and the two independents. In fact, I'd bet on that and give 10:1 odds against it.
July 2, 2009 11:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
They're missing Kennedy and Byrd, too. I'm guessing Kennedy would make it back for a HC vote, but don't know about Byrd.
Is it time for Byrd to resign? What are the chances of electing another Dem from WV, especially after the cap and trade bill?
July 2, 2009 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't claiming that all filibusters would go bust. I am only demanding that secret holds be refused. The 60 vote caucus should permit that.
July 2, 2009 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink