Relentless optimism reigns in the left-blogosphere.
Despite headlines declaring that a public option can’t pass congress, many left-leaning “news” outlets are celebrating like they’re just around the corner from a successful, if watered-down, public option passing.
Washington Post Lib-blogger Ezra Klein led the pack, reporting on Schumer’s comment “We don’t have 60 votes” but pointing out that “we” only need 51.
There are two questions here. The first is “60 votes for what?” Do they not have 60 votes in favor of a health-care plan that includes a public option? Or do they not have 60 votes against a filibuster of a health-care plan that includes a public option? If it’s the former, that’s okay: You only need 51. If it’s the latter, that’s a bigger problem. But I’d be interested to hear which Democrats will publicly commit to filibustering Barack Obama’s health-care reform bill. If that’s such a popular position back home, why aren’t more Democrats voicing it loudly?
He argues that blue dogs should be tapped to kill the public option publicly. “If these moderates want to kill the measure, let them get full credit for doing so on the floor.”
Matthew Yglesias asks, “Is Blanche Lincoln so hostile to a public option that she would filibuster a massive health care package she otherwise likes just to avoid it?”
Huffpo’s D. Brad Wright said, “a bill with a public option should expect no more than 55 votes in the Senate.”
And Open Left’s Mike Lux tried to put a positive spin on it in his optimistically titled post Public Option Stays Very Much Alive. “So getting 10 votes on this is promising for those of us who believe a public option is essential.”
“I voted against the public option so I could save it.”
Then things get interesting. Dems are hoping Baucus’s vote against the public option in committee means he can bring it back into the bill later, perhaps on the floor.
“Sam” commented on MYglesias, “it’s pretty typical for a chairman to vote against something he or she supports if that measure will fail. This allows the chair to bring it up again, because only the winners of a vote can move to reconsider an issue.”
He got a chorus of amens on that.
Tags: D. Brad Wright, Ezra Klein, Huffington Post, Matthew Yglesias, Mike Lux, Open Left
