Exactly how man blue dogs are in the senate?

[FatDave]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is this:

With the swearing in of Senator Franken, we have 60 seats in the senate.

It takes 60 votes to vote for cloture (to end debate and vote), but only 51 (one of which can be a vice-presidential tie-breaker) to pass a bill.

So, unless there are more than 10 blue dogs who will vote against the senate bill, the bill will still pass.

UNLESS...Some of the blue dog democrats join in a republican filibuster.

Isn't it the case that the only way blue dogs can really stop the bill is to join a republican filibuster? And wouldn't joining a republican filibuster be political suicide for any democrat?

Or am I seriously underestimating the number of senatorial blue dogs?

[David__77]

1. They would have to vote FOR cloture to defeat filibuster.

So they cannot abstain; their active opposition to filibuster is required. That would seem in some cases at least, unlikely.

[FatDave]

3. True...

But wouldn't the act of not voting for cloture be supporting a republican filibuster? And wouldn't that be bad for any democrat?

But how many are we talking? There's Baucus, Bayh, and Nelson, who am I forgetting? Are there any republicans we can sway? Snowe comes to mind.

[jody]

2. The Blue Dog Coalition is only in the House, obviously zero in the Senate.

[FatDave]

4. Understood, but I'm using the term loosely.

They may not call themselves blue dogs in the senate, but the sentiment is the same.

[jody]

5. We don't need to debate whether "the sentiment is the same" but what specific issue concerns you? nt

[FatDave]

7. Health care reform.

Specifically with a public option. I guess I didn't explicitly say, I thought it went without saying.

[SmileyRose]

6. The man blue dog coalition meets at Santorum's house every 2nd Thursday

cruise by and do a head count.