[monotone] Please. Don’t. Stop. [/monotone]
Let’s set the (somewhat stylized) scenario, here:
The Senate on January 5, 2011 – as per the apparent wishes of Senators Tom Udall of New Mexico and Tom Harkin of Iowa, neither of whom are up for reelection in 2012 – votes to change the rules so that a simple majority may short-circuit the filibuster. Cheers and applause from the progressives; silence from the Republicans. The cheering dies down as progressives realize that the Republican silence is not from stoicism; it is more anticipatory. What do they anticipate? Why, a knock on the door! It is a courier from the House of Representatives, with the freshly-printed text of HR 1 (“Repeal of Obamacare”), ready for the Senate’s perusal.
All forty-seven Republicans sign off on that bill. Immediately. So does Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who campaigned on Obamacare’s repeal.
Then eyes turn to:
- Kent Conrad of North Dakota. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
- Claire McCaskill of Missouri. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
- Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
- Bill Nelson of Florida. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
- Jon Tester of Montana. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
- Jim Webb of Virginia. Blue Senator, Red State. Up for re-election in 2012.
What do you think the odds are that the GOP can get three of those Senators to panic? You don’t know? – Funny; neither does the Obama administration, which is why they’d be insane to sign off on making it easier for Republican Senators to pass legislation, not harder. Continue reading Democrats, filibusters, and briar patches.