The key is cloture not reconciliation.

[chieftain]

I think the Obama strategy in the Senate is to be conciliatory to the wavering Democrats so they can be persuaded to vote for cloture even if they are not willing to vote for the final bill. We will not need to go to reconciliation if we can end a GOP filibuster. The key to getting an acceptable reform is to get bills passed in both chambers, get an acceptable bill from the Conference and then insist that all Democrats vote cloture so that the measure can be voted up or down. Our message to the Ben Nelsons of the world ought to be focused on getting 60 votes to shut off debate . Vilifying these guys now is unhelpful. Let's get this done and then make sure that none of these weak Democrats retain their chairmanships and that the Blue Dogs in the House are dispersed to unimportant Committees where their power is minuscule.

[Better Believe It]

1. Republicans only have to threaten a bogus "call-in" filibuster to obtain a Democratic surrender

When was the last time the Republicans were forced to actually engaged in a real on the floor Senate filibuster?

I'm not writing about the bogus fake ones they are permitted to engage in. I mean a real one!

In current practice, Senate Rule 22 permits filibusters in which actual continuous floor speeches are not required, although the Senate Majority Leader may require an actual traditional filibuster if he or she so chooses.

[chieftain]

2. The key problem facing California is the inability to raise taxes

due to structural changes which require super majorities. If Democrats accede to the notion that you have to get 60 votes in order to pass legislation, all progressive ideas will die aborning. The health care vote has implications beyond the text of the bill. We cannot allow a reactionary faction to impose their neanderthal world view on the rest of the nation.