Can we get a virtual 60% in the Senate via differential absenteeism?

[wuushew]

I am sure Byrd and Kennedy will miss votes on our side vs. Arlen Specter on theirs.

For this Congress, Democrats have a slightly worse attendance record which is encouraging given the large number of contestants in the Presidential primaries.

[Eric J in MN]

1. 60 votes are needed.

Regardless of whether some Senators are out sick.

The only exception is if a Senator has died and a replacement hasn't been appointed yet.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloture

Thus, 60 votes for cloture would be necessary regardless of whether every Senator voted. The only time a lesser number would become acceptable is when a Senate seat is vacant. (For example, if there were two vacancies in the Senate, thereby making 98 Senators "duly chosen and sworn", it would only take 59 votes for a Cloture motion to pass.)
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[wuushew]

2. That sucks

Although in the event of an unforeseen vacancy doesn't the replacement need to be sworn in to officially carry out the duties of a Senator? That might leave a day or two window to overcome Republican intransigence.

[Eric J in MN]

3. A better chance would be to ask some Republicans in blue states to cross over.

I expect the Senators in Maine to occasionally vote to end Republican filibusters.