On health care reform, Jed Lewison lays it out for the Democratic Senators:
The Senate Dem's problems are mostly caused by a handful of senators hiding behind the crazy notion that health care reform should require a supermajority. Senators like Kent Conrad are pushing the nonsensical notion that the success of health care reform depends on votes from Republicans.Listen to Jed.
Al Franken will be the 60th Democratic Senator. You don't need 60 votes to pass health care -- you only need 60 votes to block a filibuster, and no Democrat who filibusters health care reform will manage to get through a primary.
If Senate Dems are banking on a "we're not Republicans" strategy to pass health care reform, they'll be sorely disappointed. Instead of playing procedural games, they had better get around to the business of joining President Obama in making the public case for health care reform.
If they don't, they'll learn how quickly electoral fortunes can change.
Democrats were elected to deliver on issues. The American people want real solutions. But, something happens on Capitol Hill, especially on the Senate side. They get wrapped up in their own little world and lose touch with reality.
In 2006, there were 55 Republicans. Three years later, the GOP caucus is down to 40 members. Electoral fortunes do change quickly. Democrats won by offering solutions to real problems -- and whether zero Republicans are on board doesn't matter. The results do.
And, Obama really needs to lead on health care reform. This debate feels like it has gotten off track and it's way, way too important to screw up.
