January 20, 2010
Dear Democrats: Before you panic, remember that you have a huge majority--enjoy!
No more horror stories about Mary Landrieu holding up the Senate so Harry Reid can count to 60 to break a filibuster; no more threats from "fickle Joe" Leiberman, and the importance of his 60th vote; bye-bye, Senator Nelson. He will go back to Nebraska sans pork!
There is a silver lining beyond the Massachusetts cloud--the Democrats will have a huge majority, and if they put a little hot sauce in their morning java they can do just about everything with 59 seats they could do with 60 seats. Probably more, if they hustle. Maybe this is just what the Senate Dems needed. Does it occur to anyone in Washington that people are angry at the faux filibuster? We elected these senators to do more than wring their hands--get on it! If you have a huge majority no need crying over one less.
And the White House staff might feel Obama's boot as well. No more David Axelrod blaming someone else. Paahhleeeeze! So now Senator Kohl can take the lead on the Butler nomination and secure his confirmation. Perhaps Obama can drop the gloves.
Sure, Republicans can filibuster--but make them do it the old-fashioned, Strom Thurmond way. Cots in the Senate.
Elsewhere, Justice Gableman speaks and reminds us that sometimes one is better off not explaining. He responded to defense lawyers who accused him of bias against criminal defendants. Turns out he didn't like much about the state's Supreme Court. Gableman said, "In a whole host of areas of law...the court began distorting the law to fit its own policy preferences." (Pretty dangerous territory.)
He went on swinging at the court, saying, "It invented new theories of liability and new protections for criminal defendants that were unwise and unjustified by the law." (More evidence of bias?) Whoa Nelly! If you think this reads poorly, listen and watch Justice Gableman in action on Wisconsin Eye. Memo to Gableman: 10 years is a long time to sit with legal scholars after accusing them of twisting the law.
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Which team of politicians was sufficiently motivated to get some type of health care reform going? Democrats.
And which is still opposed? Republicans.
It really matters not what happened in Massachusetts. Democrats are still people-oriented and innovators. Republicans continue to obstruct and side with monied interests.
The country remains mired in serious troubles inherited from the Cheney/Bush years, and most cannot be resolved by simply throwing a switch. They can be resolved by throwing out of office those who obstruct.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Stoughton, WI | January 20, 2010
Remember back in 2006? The Democratic leadership said they couldn't do anything because they didn't have 60 votes. So what happened? In 2008 they got 60 votes and they still can't do anything.
It is time to let Blue Dog Democrats with seniority be defeated, if not by progressive candidates, then by Republicans. Then you won't have Nelson, Baucus, Lieberman, Conrad and other corporatists as chairs of key committees. We can do more with 52 Senate seats with progressive committee chairmen that we can with 60 seats and sell-out chairmen.
If the best Democrats can do is hand money and influence to corporate interests, how are they different from Republicans?
-Tim | Maple Grove, MN | January 20, 2010
How did the Dems not realize that in this political climate every seat would have to be fought for? Everyone knew Ted Kennedy was at deaths door. How could they not be prepared and have a vigorous candidate and plan?
How could Obama not know that any bill left up to the whims and fancy of Congress would end up being a hash? Perhaps the argument of inexperience is true. He, unlike LBJ, was not in the Senate for very long and perhaps he had no real feel for this body.
When will the Dems quit being a "reactionary" party and a "caucus of caucuses"? When will they learn to make pro-active arguments and build a narrative?
Why wasn't the connection between our out of whack health insurance system and the lagging economy made by Obama?
It is starting to look like the sign of Democratic Campaign headaquarters in 2010 will be "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here."
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | Egg Harbor WI. | January 20, 2010
The most important thing that Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats can do from now on is to make the Republicans really, truly filibuster bills they want to stop.
No more "We're going to filibuster!" threats and Reid backing away; no, it's time Harry actually give 'em hell and make them actually, truly filibuster.
You want to filibuster to prevent consideration of a real healthcare bill? All 41 opposition Senators (and it won't be just Republicans) need to go on record.
Threats to stop by the GOP and their assorted Democratic enablers are not good enough -- Harry Reid needs to make them famous.
You want to filibuster amendments to a healthcare bill to end 'pre-existing conditions' or increase the required medical-loss ratio or expand Medicare eligibility to anyone? Time to go on the record.
Harry Reid needs to make them filibuster for real so that the American people see who is with them -- and more importantly, who is against them. It's a helluva lot harder to defend your votes back home to constituents than it is to lobbyists in D.C.
Harry Reid either makes them filibuster for real, or it's time to get a new Senate Majority leader (well, it's actually years past that -- but it's time to throw down the gauntlet).
Will Feingold and/or Kohl join with us in calling for this? That's the question.
-Peter Rickman | Madison, WI | January 20, 2010
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