Comments on: When The Pendulum Swings http://www.eckernet.com/2009/12/when_the_pendulum_swings.html Pissing you off and making you laugh since 2002 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:55:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: J. Ewing http://www.eckernet.com/2009/12/when_the_pendulum_swings.html/comment-page-1#comment-5612 J. Ewing Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:20:27 +0000 http://www.eckernet.com/?p=4219#comment-5612 I wasn't talking about reconciliation, but about a bill coming out of conference. My understanding is that it only requires 51 votes to pass, no amendments allowed. Maybe there are still 60 votes needed to end debate on the whole magilla? BTW, did you catch Coburn's play on the Senate floor today, requesting a reading of the 700-page Sanders amendment, and the naked breach of Senate Rules Reid used to have the motion withdrawn? He won't be able to do that with the full bill. I wasn’t talking about reconciliation, but about a bill coming out of conference. My understanding is that it only requires 51 votes to pass, no amendments allowed. Maybe there are still 60 votes needed to end debate on the whole magilla?

BTW, did you catch Coburn’s play on the Senate floor today, requesting a reading of the 700-page Sanders amendment, and the naked breach of Senate Rules Reid used to have the motion withdrawn? He won’t be able to do that with the full bill.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.eckernet.com/2009/12/when_the_pendulum_swings.html/comment-page-1#comment-5611 Kevin Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:19:10 +0000 http://www.eckernet.com/?p=4219#comment-5611 Yes but reconciliation takes time as well, and there are a lot of steps that have to happen first. Second, it's seen as a backdoor method to passing legislation. So that takes us well into an election year. And the election is contentious enough without Democrats being seen as trying to back door legislation that's already unpopular. I think reconciliation is rapidly becoming unpalatable. Yes but reconciliation takes time as well, and there are a lot of steps that have to happen first. Second, it’s seen as a backdoor method to passing legislation.

So that takes us well into an election year. And the election is contentious enough without Democrats being seen as trying to back door legislation that’s already unpopular.

I think reconciliation is rapidly becoming unpalatable.

]]> By: J. Ewing http://www.eckernet.com/2009/12/when_the_pendulum_swings.html/comment-page-1#comment-5610 J. Ewing Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:38:21 +0000 http://www.eckernet.com/?p=4219#comment-5610 Here's the problem: If Harry Reid can take out enough objectionable crap to get all 60 Democrats aboard, he can end debate and then easily pass his bill with 51 votes. All the moderates can jump ship and try to save their skins, and Reid still gets his 51. Then it goes to conference with the House, all the objectionable stuff goes back in, and comes back to the Senate where this re-animated Frankenstein redux needs only 51 votes, again. And that's the worst of all worlds. Now is the time to, as Republicans are continuing to do, focus fire on EVERY objectionable piece of this thing, and prevent Reid from getting his 60 votes. It's the only chance to kill this thing, and the worse thing that Pelosi has concocted. Here’s the problem: If Harry Reid can take out enough objectionable crap to get all 60 Democrats aboard, he can end debate and then easily pass his bill with 51 votes. All the moderates can jump ship and try to save their skins, and Reid still gets his 51. Then it goes to conference with the House, all the objectionable stuff goes back in, and comes back to the Senate where this re-animated Frankenstein redux needs only 51 votes, again. And that’s the worst of all worlds. Now is the time to, as Republicans are continuing to do, focus fire on EVERY objectionable piece of this thing, and prevent Reid from getting his 60 votes. It’s the only chance to kill this thing, and the worse thing that Pelosi has concocted.

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