I think Reid and Obama wont use reconciliation because it will expose the Democratic Party

[LovinLife]

I think u could count out

Bayh
Baucus
Lincoln
Pryor
Landrieu
Ben Nelson
Bill Nelson

I'm sure I left out atleast 4 more. The problem is the Democratic Party. What is the use of getting a Republican to put a "D" by their name. They're still republicans.

[avaistheone1]

1. I though Landrieu had finally bought in a week or two ago and was supporting the bill.

[LovinLife]

2. She seems to only support it if other blue dogs and Lieberman are supporting it. NT

[avaistheone1]

12. I thought Landrieu made a $300 million deal to go with it.

[Clio the Leo]

3. I think they wont use it because of the timetable. NT

[uponit7771]

6. What timetable? TIA

[Clio the Leo]

7. November 2nd, 2010. (Election Day) NT

[fugop]

4. They only need 50 + Biden, right?

I'm hopeful that they can get this bill through and THEN take some of the other aspects to reconciliation. But if they don't get this .... Well, I can see the writing on the media's wall and it ain't pretty. It will be all "OBAMA AND DEMS FAIL! WOOHOO!" 24/7. I think if this passes, they'll have to grudgingly admit some (not enough, but some) reform has come through.

Then I'm hoping the push to improve finds a path needing only 50+1, because this 60 BS has got to stop.

[uponit7771]

5. Unnnnn, we only need 51...even if you add in 3 more we still got reconciliation no?

[Hawaii Hiker]

8. The problem with the Democrats is that we have a BIG tent

we have very liberal members, moderate members, & very conservative Democrats (the blue dogs) whereas the Republicans are ALL far right...

But i definitely think we have enough of senators on board to pass REAL health care not just a HBINO (Health Bill in Name Only) & thus we should use Reconcilation...We are letting the inmates run the prison by enabling 4 (Libermann, Nelson, Lincoln, & Landrieu) to override the 55 or so that would pass a bill w/a public option or at least a Medicare buy in...

[Kitsune]

9. Good. We'd know who to cut off funds to in the next primary, then.

Letting these poisonous backstabbers lie in wait to ruin everything even vaguely progressive is unacceptable.

[ShortnFiery]

10. Add Jim Webb (D-VA) to the list of Corporate Senators.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Well at least you got the name of the party right this time.

Took you long enough.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. No, I thinnk theyt can win the 50 votes plus Biden if Obama put his reputation on the line

I think they hesitate because with only 50 votes needed they can't feel sure that the bill that comes out won't be more progressive than they originally wanted it to be - they will lose their leverage to keep Liberals in line if they can't argue that they have to please Baucus and Lincoln etc. or get nothing at all.