Harry Reid says Dems. have the votes to pass stimulus. Also acknowledges bipartisanship "isn't working"

First, the news that the Majority Leader says they've got the votes to bust a GOP filibuster of the economic rescue package:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters Thursday that he has enough votes to pass a more than $900 billion stimulus bill out of the Senate.

Reid said he believes at least two Republicans of "good will" would support the Democratic-crafted package.

"Do we have the votes? We believe we do," said Reid, who expects a final vote on the package will be held on Thursday.

Now, that sounds good. We'll see.

Then, an acknowledgment of what any sane observer already knows:

Frustrated Senate Democratic leaders dispensed with calls for bipartisanship on the stimulus package Thursday, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid saying that he won't let anyone "hold the president of the United States hostage."

President Barack Obama had once hoped to have the package pass with substantial Republican support. But Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that's now a “distant memory."

"So far," he said, bipartisanship "isn't working."

It's not working. The Republicans are only playing politics. They don't care about the policy. On the other hand, the Obama team thinks they can sell the stimulus because it's good policy and haven't been playing politics. The Obama team needs to get back to playing politics. Hard ball politics. Roll the Republicans. It's the only way.