I'll bet that republicans can't organize a majority of their members for this 'deal'

[bigtree]

It would likely pass with a majority of Democratic votes, but they're still not willing to go past the 'Hastert rule' where they want a majority of republican votes in the House for anything they bring to the floor for votes.

I don't think republicans will even bring this offer up for a vote.

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. They don't need a majority of their members

They need between 35 and 60.

[bigtree]

2. Hastert rule in effect

They will have trouble bringing up a bill in the House that doesn't have majority republican support . . . They'll have trouble pushing past their 'Hastert rule.'

from wiki:

The majority of the majority is a governing principle (not a legal procedure) used by Republican Speakers of the House of Representatives since the mid-1990's to effectively limit the power of the minority party to bring bills up for a vote on the floor of the house Under the majority of the majority doctrine the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives will not allow a vote on a bill to take place unless the majority of the majority party supports the bill. This is sometimes referred to as the “Hastert Rule”, as its introduction is widely credited to former Speaker Dennis Hastert (1999-2007); however, Newt Gingrich, who directly preceded Hastert as Speaker (1995-1999), followed the same rule. Hastert was vocal in his support of the rule stating that his job was "to please the majority of the majority."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majority_of_the_majority

[RomneyLies]

3. That doesn't get past the "Hastert Rule"

Under the "Hastert Rule", when Republicans control the House no bill can come to the floor for a vote that will not pass without a majority of the Republican Caucus.

Democrats have never followed this rule.

[bowens43]

4. this illistrates the difference between democrats and repubicans

republicans are much less likely to compromise their principles.

[bigtree]

5. I read it as a cravenness on most important issues

You can't argue here that their obstruction and obstinacy involves any 'principle' that Democrats should support or emulate.