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Filibuster

Can We Afford to Let Blanche Lincoln Stop Health Care Reform Dead in Its Tracks?

Howie Klein | Posted 11.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Senate Races, Health Care Reform, Arkansas, Filibuster, Cloture, Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, K Street, Lobbyists, Politics News
Howie Klein

Blue America has run TV spots against Lincoln all summer and fall and she's watched her re-elect numbers dwindle. This week Blue America has a brand new ad for Arkansas voters to look at.

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Dem Leaders in 1965: "Filibuster Threat Is Too Daunting -- So Let's Just Drop This Civil Rights Crap"

Martin Lewis | Posted 11.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Profiles-in-Cowardice, John McCain, Fear, Civil Rights Movement, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, President Obama, Filibuster-Proof Majority, Filibuster, President Johnson, Democratic Party, Barack Obama, Civil Rights, Lbj, Democratic Majority, Lyndon B. Johnson, Health Care Reform, Lyndon Johnson, Barry Goldwater, Health Care, Politics News
Martin Lewis

It's March 16, 1965. We have a Democratic President. We have large Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate. It's long been part of the progressive and liberal platform...

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"Justice Can't Wait:" Judicial Selection in the First 10 Months of the Obama Administration

Nan Aron | Posted 11.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: Filibuster, Senate, Judicial Nominees, Constitution, Senate Judiciary Committee, Republican Obstructionism, Judges, President Obama, Politics News
Nan Aron

Alliance for Justice has released a new report on judicial selection in the first ten months of the Obama administration.

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The 60 Vote Rule - What's Worse: An Oppressive Majority or an Obstructionist Minority?

Judge H. Lee Sarokin | Posted 11.05.2009 | Politics

Read More: Supermajority Requirement, Filibuster, Cloture, 60 Vote Rule, Senate, Healthcare, Politics News
Judge H. Lee Sarokin

The Constitution provides the circumstances under which more than a majority is required, and this type of legislation being considered for health care reform is definitely not on the list.

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Nebraska Voters Favor Public Option, Want Ben Nelson To Back It

Posted 11.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Polls, Public Option Polls, Public Option, Public Option Polling, Democracy for America, Filibuster, Omaha, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Poll, Public Option Statistics, Insurance Industry, Nelson, Lincoln, Research 2000, Rachel Maddow, Health Insurance, Sen. Nelson, Nebraska, Ben Nelson, Health Care, Politics News

If Ben Nelson decides to filibuster a Democratic health care bill that includes a public insurance option, he should expect to lose support among Nebr...

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Putting the Power Back in the Hands of the People Against Rogue Democrats

Paul Loeb | Posted 11.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Harry Reid, Baucus, Max Baucus, Filibuster, Lieberman, Joe Lieberman, MoveOn.Org, Nancy Pelosi, Politics News
Paul Loeb

As the health care fight approaches its end game, there's now a way for us, as ordinary citizens, to exercise power, and create enough of a potential cost to deter conservatives standing in the way.

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Getting the Deal Done

Mike Lux | Posted 10.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Filibuster, Harry Reid, U.S. Senate, Cloture, Public Option, 2009 Obama Administration, Politics News
Mike Lux

With the Republicans becoming locked into being the party of No, Democrats are going to need to seriously consider revising the rules of the Senate at the beginning of next term.

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WATCH: The Scariest White House Halloween Costume

Matthew Filipowicz | Posted 10.29.2009 | Comedy

Read More: Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Halloween, Public Option, Joe-Lieberman-Filibuster, President Barack Obama, Filibuster, Horror, Obama Health Care, Barack Obama, Halloween Costumes, Satire, Parody, Scary, Health Care Reform, Joe Lieberman, Political Satire, Robert Gibbs, Health Care, Comedy, Political Cartoons, Blue Dog Democrats, Comedy News
Matthew Filipowicz

With Halloween just around the corner, some folks in the White House are getting into the spooky spirit. Namely, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

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Cartoon: Joe Uncool

Shan Wells | Posted 10.28.2009 | Denver

Read More: Senate, Traitor, Health Care Reform, Filibuster, Backstabber, Joe Lieberman, Democrats, Joe-Liberman, Health Care, Blue Dog Democrats, GOP Candidates, Cartoon, Political Cartoons, Denver News
Shan Wells

What do Joe Lieberman and Lucy from Peanuts have in common?

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Ryan Grim

Reid, Durbin Open To Majority Vote To Beat Health Care Filibuster

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reconciliation, Health Care Filibuster, Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Health Care Majority Vote, Health Care Vote, Filibuster, Health Care, Reconciliation, Politics News

As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid works to cobble together the 60 votes he needs to overcome an expected Republican attempt to block a floor vote o...

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Lieberman Twists the Knife

Robert Scheer | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Robert Scheer, Olympia Snowe, Senate, Public Option, Ron Paul, Health Care Reform, Filibuster, Medicare, Joe Lieberman, Libertarian, Health Care, Politics News
Robert Scheer

Is there a more hypocritical figure in American politics than Joe Lieberman? His threat to thwart a vote on health care legislation should be the last straw that ends his Democratic caucus connection.

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The Public Option, and Why Letting It Snowe Is Foolish

Robert J. Elisberg | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: House of Representatives, Filibuster, Senate, Senate Finance Committee, Health Care, Olympia Snowe, Politics News
Robert J. Elisberg

If a health care bill is as critical as the Democrats -- and American public -- say it is, then what matters is passing it in as strong a form as possible, not gutting it for the sake of one, empty Republican vote.

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There's No Such Thing As A Republican Filibuster: It's Time to Deliver

Andy Stern | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Andy Stern, Filibuster, Senate Democrats, Public Option, Health Care, Republican Health Care Plan, Let the Republicans Filibuster, Republican Filibuster, No Such Thing as a Republican Filibuster, What Is a Republican, Huffington Stern, Can Republican Filibuster?, Health Reublican Fillibuster, Andy Stern How Many 60, Andy Stern Harry Reid, United Health Care, Unemployment Insurance, Republican News, How Does a Modern Filibuster Work, Andy Stern Filibuster, Why Don't Democrats Call Republican Filibuster on Healthcare, Would the Republicans Filibuster Health Care, Republican on Health Care Reform, Politics News
Andy Stern

There is no such thing as a Republican filibuster. Right now, the only ones who can stand in the way of giving the American people meaningful health care reform are our elected Democratic Senators.

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Every Democratic Senator Must Vote to Allow an Up or Down Vote on Health Care

Robert Creamer | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Public Health Insurance Plan, President Obama, Public Option, Senate Democrats, Breaking News, Health Care Reform, Harry Reid, Filibuster, Up or Down Vote, Health Insurance Reform, Cloture, Politics News
Robert Creamer

If a Democratic Senator votes to prevent his party from having an up or down vote on its top domestic priority, he is endangering the political lives of his swing district colleagues. That would be unforgivable.

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Leaderless: Senate Pushes For Public Option Without Obama's Support

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein and Ryan Grim | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ads, Health Care Bill, Trigger, White House, MoveOn.Org, Public Option, Olympia Snowe, Filibuster, Obama, Trigger Option, Health Insurance, Barack Obama, Maine, House, Insurance Industry, Obama White House, Senate, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel, Nancy Pelosi, Health Care Reform, Harry Reid, Health Care, Politics News

President Barack Obama is actively discouraging Senate Democrats in their effort to include a public insurance option with a state opt-out clause as p...

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Why is Harry Reid Covering Up a Secret Senate Filibuster?

Jane Hamsher | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Harry Reid, Poll, Public Option, Democrats in Nevada, Creigh Deeds, Filibuster, Cbo, Politics News
Jane Hamsher

"One or two votes shy" of the public option means Reid is allowing members of the Democratic caucus to threaten a filibuster behind closed doors and dictate what will be in the bill he brings to the floor.

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Reining in the Rogue Democrats--Petition For Primary Challengers

Paul Loeb | Posted 10.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Baucus Bill, Public Option, Grassroots, Nancy Pelosi, Health Care Reform, Filibuster, Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Petition, Health Care, Politics News
Paul Loeb

Forcing Senators like Nelson, Baucus, and Lincoln to respond to the American public, through a petition, would be the right thing politically as well as morally.

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Friday Talking Points: Is Opt-Out The Answer?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.14.2009 | Politics

Read More: Tax Code, Blue Dog, Progressives, Ways and Means, Compromise, Reform, Charles Schumer, Howard Dean, Tripled Down, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, 60 Vote, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Nationwide, Public Option, States Rights, Democrat, Congress, Democrats, Barack Obama, Im in My Place, Nobel Prize, Schumer, Progressive, Mddotw, Put Her in Her Place, Health, Opt Out Plan, Blue Dogs, Americas Next Great Pundit, Healthcare, Senate, George Bush, President Obama, Teddy Roosevelt, Cloture, Senator, Dr Dean, Public Plan, State, Filibuster, Obama, Democratic, Charlie Rangel, Woodrow Wilson, Friday Talking Points, Bush, Dean, Republican, Pelosi, Double Down, Simpsons, Co-Op, Triple Down, Doubled Down, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Taxes, Trigger, Tax Laws, House, Nobel, Marge Simpson, Playboy, Nobel Peace Prize, Opt Out, Tenth Amendment, Rangel, Chris Weigant, Clockwork Orange, Afghanistan, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The plan isn't going into effect until 2013. Think you're tired of TV ads and screaming folks at town hall meetings now? Picture a more local version of that for the next four years -- not a pretty sight.

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Friday Talking Points [96] -- The Impressiveness of Alan Grayson

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.03.2009 | Politics

Read More: 80, Chicago, Spiro Agnew, Eighty Percent, Reform, South America, Alan Grayson, DC City Council, Dc, Charles Schumer, Death Panel, Die Quickly, Grayson Transcript, William Safire, Floor Speech, Midotw, Sexual Harassment, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Don't Get Sick, Health Care, Kenneth Feinberg, Reid, Tarp, Abortion, Public Option, Grayson Speech, Democrat, Letterman, Congress, Pay Czar, Democrats, Barack Obama, Schumer, Mddotw, Child Rape, Health, Harry Reid, Vacation, Nixon, Bonuses, Polanski, Gay Marriage, Healthcare, Senate, David Catania, Ben Nelson, Cloture, President Obama, Sex Scandal, Washington, Filibuster, Moral Relativism, Obama, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Grayson, Republican, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Paranoid Delusions, Rio, Roman Polanski, Salaries, Rape, House, Copenhagen, Nelson, Consensual, Olympics, Wall Street, Chris Weigant, Sex, Columbus Day, Chuck Schumer, Executive Pay, Troubled Assets, David Letterman, Agnew, Safire, Feinberg, Catania, Politics News
Chris Weigant

First, let's get rid of the distractions this week. Chicago will not be getting the Olympics in 2016, even after President Obama went over to Copenha...

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Baucus' Bill Not Bipartisan, But Panmedia

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Panmedia, Mao, Chairman Mao, Bipartisanshipiness, Kennedy, Filibuster, Democratic, Reform, Media, Rewrite, China, Republican, Baucus, Bipartisanshippy, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Reid, Reconciliation, Gang of Six, Committee, Conference Committee, Edit, Democrat, Colbert, Stephen Colbert, Bipartisan, Democrats, Ted Kennedy, Truthiness, Chris Weigant, Health, Max Baucus, Harry Reid, Senator Baucus, Republicans, Bipartisanship, Gang of Four, Healthcare, Senate, Bill, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Baucus' was supposed to be the "bipartisan" bill, but the only way it can truly be referred to as such is in the growing bipartisan distaste for the bill.

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Cloture Passes On Cass Sunstein, 63-35

Washington Independent | David Weigel | Posted 11.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: White House, Blanche Lincoln, Cloture, Robert Bennett, Olympia Snowe, Orrin Hatch, Filibuster, Judd Gregg, Glen Beck, Cass Sunstein, Barack Obama, James Webb, Richard Lugar, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Politics News

On a 63-35 vote, the Senate has broken the filibuster against Cass Sunstein, President Obama's nominee for Administrator of the White House Office of ...

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The Daily Pulse: Deep Six the Gang of Six

Lindsay Beyerstein | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Abortion, Lindsay Beyerstein, The Nation, Public Option, Lobbyists, Washington Monthly, Filibuster, Gang of Six, Salon, Mohter Jones, Insurance, The Media Consortium, Health, Daily Pulse, Talking Points Memo, Tmc, Healthcare, Ted Kennedy, Politics News
Lindsay Beyerstein

The White House has given up on Republican gangster Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY). They finally got the hint when Enzi told a radio listeners that Democrats wanted to kill the elderly.

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Anti-Reform Group Pumping Calls Into Nebraska Urging Senator Nelson To Help GOP "Kill" Reform

The Plum Line | greg Sargent | Posted 10.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Afp, Filibuster, Gop, Ben Nelson, Healthcare Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Politics News

Here come the robocalls. In a clear sign that anti-reform forces are banking on "centrist" Dems to help block health care reform, the well funded gro...

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Friday Talking Points [91] -- Win One For Teddy

Chris Weigant | Posted 09.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Social Security, Ted, May You Be in Heaven, Cloture, Win One for Teddy, Employee Free Choice Act, Public Universities, Irish Wake, Kennedy, Teddy Kennedy, Filibuster, Politicizing, Reform, Politicize, Democratic, Friday Talking Points, Paul Wellstone, Funeral, Video, Edward Kennedy, Mayor Quimby, Simpsons, Senator, Chow-Dah, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Public Education, Public University, Health Care, Reid, Diamond Joe Quimby, Irish, Card Check, Massachusetts, Democrat, Medicaid, Majority Leader, The Simpsons, Democrats, Efca, Springfield, The Simpsons Movie, USA Today, Contest, Edward M Kennedy, Mddotw, Eulogy, Chris Weigant, Health, Uncle Ted, Senator Kennedy, Harry Reid, Medicare, Irish Toast, Socialism, Higher Education, Wellstone, Teddy, Up or Down Vote, Quimby, Healthcare, Senate, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Calling for some sort of decorous avoidance of politics during politicians' funerals is downright ridiculous. It'd be like eulogizing Charles Lindbergh and not mentioning airplanes.

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Sen. Ted Kennedy: A Loss for the Nation Should Not Mean a Loss for Democracy

Rob Richie | Posted 09.27.2009 | Politics

Read More: Feingold, Filibuster, Mccain, Massachusetts Senate Vacancy, Ted Kennedy, Elections, Politics, Senate, Deval Patrick, Health Care Reform, Politics News
Rob Richie

As the nation honors Sen. Kennedy, I trust his former advisers will drop this effort to revise Massachusetts law in pursuit of short-term partisan advantage.

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