Dems fail to get fillibuster proof majority

[cutthemdown]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1639920.aspx

NBC News projects that incumbent Republican Roger Wicker will pull out a win against former Governor Ronnie Musgrove in Mississippi.

With Kentucky's McConnell, Mississippi's Wicker, and Georgia's Chambliss - who looks positioned for reelection - Senate Democrats won't reach 60 votes, even if they gain seats in Colorado (Udall) and Alaska (Begich).

The two races still very much up for grabs: Minnesota and Oregon. But even with those potential victories, Democrats are poised to fall just short of the sixty votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority in the US Senate.

Nebraska's new senator, as expected, will be Mike Johanns.
Johanns, the former Secretary of Agriculture to Bush, will join Sen. Mel Martinez, former HUD director, as the second former Bush Administration cabinet member in the Senate.


Whew it was close but IMO this is a huge issue. At least Senate Republicans have something they can do. It will be funny to see Dems all upset when Repubs fillibuster. It's been so long on the other foot politics is going to be fun to follow watching the 2 parties switch roles.

[BroncoBuff]

Yeah, 60 was never seriously likely. But 57 is pretty good.

It will take 2 election cycles - MINIMUM - to lose that majority, and that's a worst-case scenario.

And the House majority will also take minimum 2 (probably 3 or 4) cycles worst-case scenario to lose that majority.


The bottom line is, Obama is about 99% certain to have both houses of Congress for his entire first term.

[cutthemdown]

Yeah, 60 was never seriously likely. But 57 is pretty good.

It will take 2 election cycles - MINIMUM - to lose that majority, and that's a worst-case scenario.

And the House majority will also take minimum 2 (probably 3 or 4) cycles worst-case scenario to lose that majority.


The bottom line is, Obama is about 99% certain to have both houses of Congress for his entire first term.

For sure he will have majorities in both. This really is only an issue if Obama tries to put someone to Supreme court Republicans feel they have to oppose. Or someone to the cabinet they feel they have to oppose.

No doubt Republicans will have to gauge the mood of the country before they fillibuster or they could face an even bigger backlash.

No doubt most of Obamas early efforts will be rubber stamped quickly. I don't see an early conflicts.

When healthcare bills come along though we will see.

[BroncoBuff]

Supreme Court won't change during his first term, as the looming retirements are all liberals: Ginsberg, Stevens and Souter.

If Obama is reelected though, Scalia will be over 80 by the time a Republican president will come along. And like Souter, Scalia no longer enjoys the job. He's a workaholic no doubt, but he talsk pretty frequently about retirement .... and before Bush placed Roberts and Scalia he was pretty close. Clarence Thomas is also known not to enjoy the job anymore.


SC TRIVIA: As much a troglodyte as Clarence Thomas is (even Scalia has lightly mocked him in public speeches), he is by far the most popular judge in the building ... by all accounts, he's a gragrious, friendly, caring human being who knows the name of every employee in the building, from librarians to janitors to cooks. Who'd of thunk it ???

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

http://www.bartcop.com/obama-napalm.jpg

[cutthemdown]

Finally LABF says nothing

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I'm a sore loser

QFT.

[rastaman]

The Dems will probably get their 60 seats in the Senate after the 2010 mid-terms election. Also, moderate Republican Senators will cross over the isle to knock out any filibusters that maybe attempted by the extreme right Republican Senators.

During the 110th Congress, the narrow 51-49 majority the Dems held in the Senate, set the environment and opened the door for Republican Senators to set a Congressional record for the number filibusters used---thus ensuring grid lock on steroids from 2006-2008.

[Spider]

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/04/1639920.aspx

NBC News projects that incumbent Republican Roger Wicker will pull out a win against former Governor Ronnie Musgrove in Mississippi.

With Kentucky's McConnell, Mississippi's Wicker, and Georgia's Chambliss - who looks positioned for reelection - Senate Democrats won't reach 60 votes, even if they gain seats in Colorado (Udall) and Alaska (Begich).

The two races still very much up for grabs: Minnesota and Oregon. But even with those potential victories, Democrats are poised to fall just short of the sixty votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority in the US Senate.

Nebraska's new senator, as expected, will be Mike Johanns.
Johanns, the former Secretary of Agriculture to Bush, will join Sen. Mel Martinez, former HUD director, as the second former Bush Administration cabinet member in the Senate.


Whew it was close but IMO this is a huge issue. At least Senate Republicans have something they can do. It will be funny to see Dems all upset when Repubs fillibuster. It's been so long on the other foot politics is going to be fun to follow watching the 2 parties switch roles.

This is a good thing , I want to believe Obama would do the right thing , but absolute power corrupts absolutely ........

[rastaman]

This is a good thing , I want to believe Obama would do the right thing , but absolute power corrupts absolutely ........

I agree, however, if Obama is going to get new initiatives and policies passed, such as spending $150 billion to accelarate the development and bringing to fruition alternative fuels; Obama will need a 60 seat Dem. majority in the Senate.

I think Obama having a 60 seat Dem Senate majority for 8 consecutive years maybe counter productive, unless there was an overwhelming mandate from the American voters to ensure there is a 60 seat Senate majority....Obama would have no control over stopping the "Will of the American People".

[Spider]

I agree, however, if Obama is going to get new initiatives and policies passed, such as spending $150 billion to accelarate the development and bringing to fruition alternative fuels; Obama will need a 60 seat Dem. majority in the Senate.

I think Obama having a 60 seat Dem Senate majority for 8 consecutive years maybe counter productive, unless there was an overwhelming mandate from the American voters to ensure there is a 60 seat Senate majority....Obama would have no control over stopping the "Will of the American People".

Obama attracted alot of republicans to win like he did , one reason was Obama's platform , he had a pre Clinton era Platform ........ that attracted alot of people , I see Obama winning Guys like McCain , Lie-Berman , Snow , etc ....

[Bronco Bob]

SC TRIVIA: As much a troglodyte as Clarence Thomas is (even Scalia has lightly mocked him in public speeches), he is by far the most popular judge in the building ... by all accounts, he's a gragrious, friendly, caring human being who knows the name of every employee in the building, from librarians to janitors to cooks. Who'd of thunk it ???

They probably all like getting together at night to watch his porn collection. ;D

[cutthemdown]

They probably all like getting together at night to watch his porn collection. ;D

unfortunately it might be gay porn with midgets.

[Paladin]

Why are you assuming that all Republicans will oppose what Obama may or may not propose? There are moderates on both sides of the aisle, and whether the Senate is safe from fillibusters is a stupid effort to garner a little bit of "good news" from the serious refutation of the Repugnican agenda and methods. Frankly, the Republican brand is shot to h3ll, and the moderate Republicans just may well reject the bug eyed neocons, and go their own way. Maybe they will be more like Independents. Obama has a great deal more flexibility to work with the Republicans because he has acknowledge that "Republicans have good ideas, too", as he said last night.

I am amazed that the supposed "Republicans" who post crap here continue to harbor untrue "beliefs" when Obama has spoken completely opposite to their....um..... "understandings". Some of their remarks or "cute" smack is disgustingly simpleminded and reflects only stupidity.

[ak1971]

brushing up on my poli sci..todays word is cloture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloture

[cutthemdown]

This is a good thing , I want to believe Obama would do the right thing , but absolute power corrupts absolutely ........

I think so also, too much power on one side leads to bad things. One reason I couldn't vote McCain was because I felt the Supreme Court could end up adding 2-3 conservatives under him. That would worry me a lot.

[cutthemdown]

Why are you assuming that all Republicans will oppose what Obama may or may not propose? There are moderates on both sides of the aisle, and whether the Senate is safe from fillibusters is a stupid effort to garner a little bit of "good news" from the serious refutation of the Repugnican agenda and methods. Frankly, the Republican brand is shot to h3ll, and the moderate Republicans just may well reject the bug eyed neocons, and go their own way. Maybe they will be more like Independents. Obama has a great deal more flexibility to work with the Republicans because he has acknowledge that "Republicans have good ideas, too", as he said last night.

I am amazed that the supposed "Republicans" who post crap here continue to harbor untrue "beliefs" when Obama has spoken completely opposite to their....um..... "understandings". Some of their remarks or "cute" smack is disgustingly simpleminded and reflects only stupidity.


Take it easy. No one is suggesting Republicans will be fillbustering everything. Everyone understands we probably won't see it unless it's a controversial appointment or bill.

I could see fillbusters used a few times a yr though.

[Bronco Bob]

unfortunately it might be gay porn with midgets.

Nah, from what I heard, Clarence Thomas is a big fan of Long Dong Silver.