Dick Durbin was just on The Ed Show & kept saying he needs 60 votes

[jenmito]

and Ed NEVER challenged him on it, asking why they can't do it with 51. Ed ALSO didn't say at all that he would not support Obama next time if he doesn't get the public option through. He just said Obama will be a one-term president.

[Sebass1271]

1. what happens with the other dems in congress? they won't vote

for public option? and any news on our senator from MN??? when is he going to be seated?

[jenmito]

6. Nope. They'll go for a "compromise." And he also said Kennedy & Byrd aren't there to vote

(which is a strawman since the vote is not NOW and when pressed, Durbin said well they're not there NOW but who knows when the vote comes down) and so we need a bipartisan solution. :eyes:

[sabbat hunter]

7. I thought

That Ted was healthy enough to come to DC for important votes like this one. Is Byrd that sick as well?

[jenmito]

9. He probably IS. And I don't know about Byrd's condition but being out

now is not a guarantee that he'll be out later.

[baldguy]

2. If Durbin thimks they need 60

What is HE DOING as Majority Whip to get them? Isn't that his job?

[Dinger]

3. Good Fucking Question!

Sheesh! Durbin, pffft.

[ChiciB1]

4. Durbin's Acting Like A DOOFUS... I Think I Just Saw A Good

SONG & dance BY HIM!!! Kennedy & Byrd may not be there... we need 60 votes, blah, blah, blah!

NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING is going to get done UNLESS the DEMOCRATS stick THEIR feet in the CONCRETE and stand their ground!! Just like Ed said!!!

Democrats back with NO SPINE... or did they EVER find one.... YET?????

[bertman]

5. Dick's just doing his warmups for his famous Democratic rollover and retreat at full gallup.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Like I just said in another thread.....

.... I dont get it.

NOT voting for a candidate because of one issue seems as foolish as voting for a candidate because of one issue (ie the GOP sanctity of life values voters.)

Reminds me that I decided last night to start watching CNN at 6pm instead.

[jenmito]

11. Well, he didn't repeat that tonight...

but there were quite a few DUers who said THEY wouldn't vote for Obama again if he's unable to get this through with single payer. :shrug:

[Jennicut]

23. I always watch CNN at 6pm...but I don't get MSNBC anymore. Stupid Comcast

took it away.
Anyway, Wolfie is okay in small doses and I get an overview of the news of the day. At least they cover Iran okay lately.

[AtomicKitten]

10. He'd be one of the last Democrats I'd expect to hear that from.

:(

[jenmito]

12. I know! What's with the pre-emptive excuses?

:shrug:

[AtomicKitten]

13. It's a preemptive admission of defeat.

Good gawd where are their spines?!!!

[jenmito]

14. Yup-defeat of getting the public option.

I CAN'T blame Obama who made a very good explanation yesterday of why a public option is the way to keep the others honest, but he can't get the conservadems on his side.

[alsame]

16. 40 Repubs running the show and intimidating the

ConservaDems. Yep, that pretty much sums it up. :banghead:

[jenmito]

17. I agree. n/t

[TankLV]

25. then you haven't been paying attention...

I'm sure dicky is searching for a repuke he APOLOGIZE to for something a Democrat said...

[jenmito]

15. Gov. Jim Doyle (WI) just met with Obama today and said Obama is VERY committed to having

a public option and HE thinks Obama would "move forward" and "withhold bipartisanship" like they did with the stimulus.

[MarjorieG]

19. Still went 60 for the Stimulus, but we don't have all Dems. I want to know differences to

legislation, process, if we go reconciliation.

[Better Believe It]

20. We only need 51 votes with or without reconciliation

[4lbs]

21. The stimulus wasn't presented as part of the federal budget. So, no reconciliation and thus

60 votes were required for cloture (end any filibuster).

President Obama already presented healthcare reform as part of that $3.6 trillion budget he presented a few months ago.

He presented an estimate on the budget plan on how much it might cost, with actual cost to be added later when healthcare reform is actually passed this year.

So, because he made healthcare reform a crucial budgetary procedure, it can go through reconciliation if need be, and thus only 51 votes required for anything budgetary.

[MarjorieG]

18. Ed thought Obama wasn't trying. Knowing he is, hopefully won't blame Obama. I know he wants relief

for the people.

[Vidar]

22. Run away! Run away!

[TankLV]

24. Fucking Dicky "I have to apologize to a repuke" durbin...what an asswipe...

never liked him, never will...

[mucifer]

26. I live in Chicago. I called Durbin's office in Chicago asking him to vote for the public option

The person answering the phone couldn't tell me what his position is. She told me to call his office in D.C. I called his office in D.C. and said I wanted him to vote for the public option. The woman answering the phone said "I'm just an intern. I don't know the senators position on this. But, I will record your request."

Is Durbin even FOR the public option? I don't know.