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| Nicely played, Harry |
In the long lead up to last weekend's vote, knowledgeable senators like Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had predicted that Reid would win. "Harry Reid is the best vote counter and vote getter that I have ever seen in my 35 years as a legislator," he said, way back in October.
Or, as Reid himself said, "I don't bring anything to the floor unless I think I have the votes."
Well, any doubts I may have had about Senator Reid's ability to count have been laid to rest. It was a masterful performance. In the end, he won over Senators Mary Landrieu (LA), Ben Nelson (NE), and Blanche Lincoln (AR), as well as stinky Joe Lieberman (CT). (Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Reid dropped the hammer on Lieberman! To the extent that I can stomach the sight of him, I'll be closely examining Lieberman's face to look for the tire tracks.)
Although the bill is now up for debate, where every senator will propose his or her amendments and pontificate and expound ad nauseum, the process is set in motion. And, ultimately, a bill will pass the Senate with at least 60 votes.
(And I'm still asserting that, once passage is assured, some Republican senators will break ranks and vote in favor. Cowards that they are, they will ultimately judge that voting against the bill will hurt them in future elections. Hark back to how GOP governors caved in on their so-called "principles" and gobbled up stimulus funds: in the end, they always fold.)
From the perspective of the inside game within the Senate, Harry Reid came out a big winner, of course. But progressive and liberal senators who support a public option, including Oregon's own Johnny-Come-Lately, Senator Ron Wyden also fared well. The losers, aside from each and every Republican senator, are Joe Lieberman, who comes across as petulant rather than principled, and Senator Evan Bayh (IN) who seems to be failing at forming an effective "moderate" coalition within the Democratic caucus.
Although Reid has disgusted me with his lack of spine regarding the Iraq war and the abuses of the Bush administration, he has clearly demonstrated that he knows how to work the Senate. Last weekend's vote was a decisive victory. Now, it's a matter of plodding through the rigmarole. As Reid said, "The end is in sight. But we're not there yet."
The US Senate is an arcane, enigmatic body. The health care debate has demonstrated that fact. But Senator Reid has shown that he knows how to negotiate those murky, treacherous waters. Well done, Senator Reid!
(And I'm still asserting that, once passage is assured, some Republican senators will break ranks and vote in favor. Cowards that they are, they will ultimately judge that voting against the bill will hurt them in future elections. Hark back to how GOP governors caved in on their so-called "principles" and gobbled up stimulus funds: in the end, they always fold.)
From the perspective of the inside game within the Senate, Harry Reid came out a big winner, of course. But progressive and liberal senators who support a public option, including Oregon's own Johnny-Come-Lately, Senator Ron Wyden also fared well. The losers, aside from each and every Republican senator, are Joe Lieberman, who comes across as petulant rather than principled, and Senator Evan Bayh (IN) who seems to be failing at forming an effective "moderate" coalition within the Democratic caucus.
Although Reid has disgusted me with his lack of spine regarding the Iraq war and the abuses of the Bush administration, he has clearly demonstrated that he knows how to work the Senate. Last weekend's vote was a decisive victory. Now, it's a matter of plodding through the rigmarole. As Reid said, "The end is in sight. But we're not there yet."
The US Senate is an arcane, enigmatic body. The health care debate has demonstrated that fact. But Senator Reid has shown that he knows how to negotiate those murky, treacherous waters. Well done, Senator Reid!