Obama can provide Landrieu cover.

[Atman]

Let her vote for it. Let the Dems vote for it. All he has to do is veto it, then she can say she was for it, Dems can say they supported her, but they don't have to vote to override his veto. They can have it both ways. I think they call this "politics." Let the Republicans look like shit heads (as if that is difficult) while we make the case that we're protecting our drinking water and our environment, and the Republicans just want to cash in on sending oil to China. Obama has NOTHING to lose, he's not running for anything.

*now snaps out of fantasy-land*

[Thinkingabout]

1. This is what it is about, too many blinders. If it gets passed and Obama vetoes

the bill and Congress can override a veto then so be it, Landrieu can say she got the bill voted on and it failed.

[madville]

2. It's a futile exercise in Landrieu's case

She is now down 21% in polling, 59-38 versus Cassidy in the head-to-head runoff.

The only thing that I think could save her now is some major scandal involving her opponent breaking in the next two weeks.

[AndreaCG]

5. In Louisiana. Ha!

Diaper David Vitter is still in office.

[fadedrose]

11. Maybe knowing she's going to lose in LA

made her ask for this vote with her heart, for her party, for the environment and the Lakotas, after she checked with her cronies to see how they would vote. Her affirmative vote was not needed, so she went for it....

That's why she insisted on voting now. The end to the XL Pipeline, at least for a while.. I think maybe we underestimated her...

[cloudbase]

3. I find the whole idea of political cover repugnant.

Just cast your vote and take the praise or the hits.

[Laurian]

4. +1000 ^^^ !

A politician who stands on principle is rare, indeed. Self serving bunch.

[fadedrose]

10. It's okay to be self-serving if the vote is for the common good....nt

[fadedrose]

6. Now he doesn't have to...

I think she had friends in the Senate that she knew she could depend on to vote "No"

Double Sting operation, maybe?

[Atman]

7. ^^^^^^^^^

[ctaylors6]

8. I suspect someone has an IOU from Obama

I think they did the math and saw Landrieu is almost certainly going to lose. This vote give Obama cover not to have to veto. There's strength in threatening a veto, with the bonus now of not having to actually veto a bill that polls show favor for.

I'm sure the white house was working the undecided senators hard, and one of them is extra happy tonight.

Or am I too cynical?

[fadedrose]

9. I think Landrieu did the math

and when she realized that they were going to be 2 short with her "no" - she voted FOR it knowing she would lose.

She's still a Democrat. I bet she and the President are having a good laugh...