“Mostly dead” is clearly from Billy Crystal’s Miracle Max in the brilliant Princess Bride (as any 10 year old can tell you)… The Monty Python line, from Holy Grail, is basically “I’m not quite dead.” And it’s used/paraphrased by the guy who doesn’t “want to go on the cart,” and by Lancelot’s squire, Concord when he’s shot in the heart by Herbert’s arrow from the tall tower of Swamp Castle.

as you were.

they will use the “trigger option”. It would potentially snag both Lieberman and the Maine Twins.

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/57669-collins-lieberman-doubtful-on-public-option

Lieberman will filibuster, but he will vote to put the bill into debate. Once the bill is in debate, it doesn’t matter if he filibusters or not, the Dems will go nuclear. I hate to be so pessimistic, but this is the end game. We’re screwed universal healthcare is going to happen and there’s nothing we can do about it, this has been the Dem’s wet dream since FDR, it’s going to happen, they don’t care.

read, and act on this:

http://www.redstate.com/dan_perrin/2009/11/19/gun-alert-on-the-reid-bill-mandates-create-gun-health-database/

What is the point in opposing a so-called “public option” when in fact this “exchange” they want is the very same thing?

The way I see it, this “exchange” is actually worse than a “public option.”

I wouldn’t question a good thing in the unlikely event it led to defeat of the whole thing, but I do find it puzzling.

I’m not well versed with all the tricks in the Senate, but when Republicans during the Bush administration had around 55 Republicans in the Senate, they were threatening to go “nuclear” with regard to judges (and get rid of the filibuster for judicial nominations)

How were they able to even make good on this threat when they were well short of 60 votes? By that same reasoning, couldn’t Democrats go “nuclear” also?

Is there a way to “end” the filibuster without 60 votes? I’m loving the filibuster right about now, but it really isn’t constitutional. If the founders wanted 60 votes to pass something in the Senate, they would have written it in the constitution.

Budget Reconciliation would be a huge hurdle and problem for Harry Reid and the Democrats.

1st- the bill would have to be sent to the Budget Cmte. to be rewritten- the Byrd Rule requires that every section of the bill directly relates to the budget and must be proven to be effective.

This would strip all of the prevention, wellness and other garbage put in by the HELP cmte out.

2nd- The GOP would have thousands of points of order they could make when the bill is brought to the floor,all of which are ultimately ruled on by the Senate Parliamentarian. This would allow for days and weeks of floor fights.

3rd- If passed with a 51 vote threshold out of the Senate that bill in conference would be rejected by House conferees because it would not be able to include a public option etc.