Are Democrats cowards? Why, for example, is Olympia Snowe's support considered vital

[closeupready]

when we control most every branch of government and the support of the American people on a public option?

Why don't they just do what the American people sent them to do, and screw Republicans, let THEM play suck up for a few years? Olympia Snowe IS NOT IN CHARGE, she is not even leader of the Republican Party. :rant:

[Occam Bandage]

1. 60. nt

[arthritisR_US]

2. I hear you and agree with you wholeheartedly! n/t

[Oregone]

3. She is a vital scapegoat to blame the shitty reform on

The "liberal" Democrats have by now, to the inattentive, wiped the blood completely off their hands.

[closeupready]

8. Ooooo! I think Ieft my thinking cap at home today.

Of course - you are absolutely right.

[Echo In Light]

4. Preferred, calculated, perpetuated mythology: Cons are "incompetent," & Dems are "cowardly"

Neither are remotely accurate. When one examines the primary M$M outlets pushing these meme's, and the dominant views of those who buy into them, it's very easy to see why; "whenever you have to choose between being thought guilty of a crime, or merely being thought guilty of incompetence, people will choose incompetence every time. Particularly if it's a huge crime." ~ David Ray Griffin

[Dogmudgeon]

5. We have a WINNER!

:thumbsup:

--d!

[Kansas Wyatt]

6. It provides COVER for the Blue Dog Democrats / Republican Lites

If they weren't concerned with her, then the Democrats would have to tell the people supporting the Party why there are a lot of Democrats who keep voting for the Republican Platform and Policies, instead of Democratic Ideals. If they had to tell the people the truth, then the people would know that they don't really have any choice or voice.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Because you need 60 votes to break a filibuster...

...and there are 58 Democrats. I'm not worried about Bernie Sanders, he'll vote for cloture even if he votes against the bill or the conference report, because it's too weak. But there's always Lieberman to worry about, and if he goes off the reservation, it's get one GOP cloture vote or the whole process dies in the Senate.

[rudy23]

9. Why not just let people filibuster against HCR, and make asses of themselves?

Makes no sense.

[closeupready]

10. So what you're telling me is that Democrats are foolish at strategy, since "keeping the powder dry"

is a strategy only Democrats subscribe to when it comes to filibustering. Republicans seem to get their way even when they are the minority and totally out of power.

[Davis_X_Machina]

12. Republican filibusters...

...when they're in the minority, historically have succeeded because they had ca. 45 votes, and could lose a bod or two, or could count on Democratic crossovers, especially before the last few Dixiecrat were retired out of the south, or had perfect party discipline.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. They live in their own little bubble in DC

[Scarsdale Vibe]

13. Lincoln's polling is bad and could pull a reverse Spector.

The best way for Lincoln to ensure Republican support would be for her to single-handedly kill health care reform on the final bill. Not to mention Lieberman, Nelson, Landrieu and others.

Snowe is essential, and the "progressives" attacking her and the conservative Democrats are reducing the likelihood of health care reform passing.

[emulatorloo]

14. Good analysys n/t

[mmonk]

15. She is vital to the "third way" democrats.