Landrieu - No Filibuster : "I'm not going to be joining people that don't want progress."

[denem]

With a few political niceties thrown in of course:

Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.), one of the very few Democrats on record against the public option, said that she'd rather not join a Republican filibuster. "I'm not right now inclined to support any filibuster," she told HuffPost.

The refusal of the GOP to participate meaningfully in negotiations has soured her on joining them in a filibuster. "For the Republican Party to kind of step out of the game is very unfortunate," she said. "I'm not going to be joining people that don't want progress." http://www.beyondchron.org/articles/Pelosi_Presses_Public_Option_Sanders_Wants_Obama_to_Lobby_Senators_7466.html

The operative word here is "any filibuster", the Sanders' position:

"I would hope that (The President) would remind every member of the Democratic caucus that the function of the Republican Party -- which the American people are very clearly seeing -- is obstructionism and is saying no in the midst of a terrible, terrible health care crisis. So what the President -- and all of us -- should be asking is every member of the Democratic caucus to vote yes to stop Republican filibusters," said Sanders.

"And if later on," Sanders said, "people in the Democratic caucus -- a few of them and they're a minority; I don't know how many there are: two, three, four -- choose to vote against the public option later on, let them do so."

Sen. Cardin, has some observations for those who want a stronger statement from Obama.

"It's not in his DNA to do the prescriptive lobbying on the details here and I'm not going to try to change his style at this stage. We'll take what--he's certainly made it clear he wants this bill done and his people are sitting in all the meetings," said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). "I'm not going to second-guess the president. He's been very successful to date."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), of the "Public Option is impossible" fame, is now less committal: "It's too early to embrace the strategy laid out by Sanders and others."

First Published in the Huffington Post.
Sorry if it's a dupe.

[karynnj]

1. Great news - especially as she frames filibustering as "joining people that don't want progress"

That makes it very hard to backtrack. I wonder if Nelson's comment implies that there will be a time to embrace it and now is to early because there are still negotiations behind closed doors and later on the Senate floor and the threat is still a bargaining chip.

[denem]

2. The Senate Republican's are doing Obama's work for him.

[karynnj]

5. You've got a point - they make it easy to equate joining the filibuster with Obstruction

I don't remember the numbers, but I do know that last year they had a record number of filibusters. It is good to see that constant use of that has finally led to it being seen that way. Party of "No".

[ej510]

3. As long as they vote to close down debate I don't care if they vote against the final bill.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Nelson also seems to like the Public Option Opt Out plan so I would say that we are definitely

getting some form of PO.

[Thrill]

6. Democrats on the hill are basically begging Obama to push them

towards the public option.

Like Cenk said last night. The real Question is, does Obama really want it?

[denem]

8. Sanders: "two, three, four (may) choose to vote against the public option later on"

Obama doesn't need to push them. It's all rides the Filibuster, first.

[MoJoWorkin]

14. He is making THEM , and US, do the pushing for a change.

Why SHOULD he do all the work? After the teabagger summer, he told us time after time during his town halls what he preferred--a public option. With those town halls, he started to turn things around, and now he wants us to get involved again, and push this ourselves. Some of us (over 300,000) yesterday, made calls to our Reps in support of HCR, and a strong public option. Organizing for America initiated it. Did you participate?

His supporters seem to think once he got elected, they don't have to work at this anymore. He is trying to poke us to stay involved, as we are going to have to continue being involved if we are going to pass this ambitious agenda of HCR, energy, etc.

His most recent speeches in San Fran, and NY, to me, clearly show what he is doing. You think he doesn't know what the polls are showing NOW (public support for a public option). that they were not showing in August?


He is working as hard as ever. He is picking off Senators, one by one--behind the scenes. Since his NOLA trip, Landrieu has been singing a different tune.
He was huddling with Pelosi, during his San Fran trip---look what she is doing now with the new CBO report on House side.

Keep the faith.

I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the end product.

[denem]

17. Obama holds the 'radical' position that it's the Legislature that Legislates.

Whatever else, the Bill cannot be called "ObamaCare"

[MoJoWorkin]

21. Right, you are.

[sandnsea]

30. If we care enough to fight for it, it will be AmeriCare n/t

[vaberella]

32. They want O to push them? Then what the fuck are we?!

The consituents should have more power in this and poll after poll says we do. As for the Pres..I think O does really want it. He suggested it. It's not that.O wants the Congress to listen to their constituents. Why does the President have to force congressional leaders and reps? The people, who they are supposed to represent, are the one who have to be heard.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Landrieu coming to her senses??!! I hope it sticks. Thought she

was lost for a while there. KnR

[rucky]

9. So will it be 51 or 60?

Do we know yet? Who else is on the fence about cloture?

[denem]

10. Lieberman.

[Mass]

11. She could also read the CBO analysis about Pelosi's bill.

It lowers deficit in 10 years. So, not only should she not oppose it, but vote for it.

[denem]

12. She's free to vote for cloture, then vote any way she wants IMO.

Sanders thinks two, three, four are against the public option. Nelson is talking positively about a "opt out". Discussions about 'a trigger' have dried up. It's on!

[Mass]

13. Do you mean Sanders (VT)?

I will be fine if she votes for cloture. Just pointing she is not logical. She wants to reduce deficit, but opposes what seems the only way to do it.

[denem]

15. Yeah Sanders. Fixed, thanks.

[Jennicut]

16. Is she actually coming to her senses?

Or did someone lay it on the line for some of these Conservadems? Either way, it is good news.

[MoJoWorkin]

18. There has been a change, since she was in NOLA with President Obama.

I will let you make of that what you will. I know what I think.

We will not know what was said behind the scenes; but what President Obama said and did publicly--his defense of Bobby Jindal against the boos-- during his well received speech, sure didn't hurt either.

I thought it pretty interesting that Jindal was even there for the speech.

The President is 'working' it all the time. I am sick of these naysayers around here.

[Jennicut]

20. Yes, very interesting....

[denem]

27. Maybe she's been looking at the polls lately.

[denem]

19. Quote: It's "very unfortunate" "for the Republican Party to ,,, step out of the game"

Very unfortunate for the Republican Party that is.

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. And is no doing she draws a clear blue line between herself and the Republican Party

I can live with blue dog Democrats in conservative states if they stay clear on where that line is drawn.

[Beetwasher]

24. I Agree, I Can Live W/ Them If They Vote For Cloture

Absolutely. They are welcome in fact, as long as they allow up or down votes and don't side w/ Repubs on fillibusters.

[Clio the Leo]

23. awesome, tell her to bring her friends! NT

[thatsrightimirish]

25. she should talk to Blanche Lincoln nt

[Scarsdale Vibe]

28. Lincoln and Lieberman will be the hardest to pin down on cloture.

It's heartening that Landrieu has stated her position on cloture now, as it somewhat weakens the negotiating power of Lieberman, Lincoln, and Snowe.

[backscatter712]

29. Landrieu's announcement is very helpful.

If we get it to the point where it's 58 or 59 confirmed votes for cloture, you don't want to be the last Democrat to vote for a filibuster - you're liable to be tarred and feathered. There will be intense pressure on the remaining conservadems to cave and vote for cloture. They can vote against the final bill if they want, just so long as they vote for cloture.

[Cha]

26. That's mighty

hospitable of her.

[vaberella]

31. Landrieu teetering?! Wow. I don't like Nelson, but I do agree on opt-out.

I hope they both go for PO, but I'm not holding my breath.