Will Burris FILLIBUSTER a bill without the public option? That's the issue

[Alhena]

I get tired of hearing Senators talk about whether they will "vote" for this or that on health care. That's not the issue in the Senate, since there are easily 51 Democratic Senators who will support whatever health care bill emerges, public option or not. The issue is whether Burris will FILLIBUSTER a health care bill without the public option. If so, then he has a lot of leverage. If not, then his not being one of the 51 Senators needed to vote for the bill doesn't mean a hill of beans.

Anyone know if Burris will fillibuster a non-public option health care bill?

[vi5]

1. If he doesn't then someone should....

I'm sick of only threats from a rightward fillibuster holding any sway with this administration and the media.

[sandnsea]

2. Fillibuster doesn't work that way

One person does not stand up and do a fillibuster anymore. He could be the one person to keep a bill from getting to the floor though, since we need 60 for cloture.

[mmonk]

3. Technically they could but for logistical reasons, they don't.

[sandnsea]

6. Technically it's against Senate rules n/t

[mmonk]

7. Threatening filibuster now is in practice, the same.

“If you really want to find out who called the shots on this bill,” Mr. Rangel said in a speech on the House floor, “it’s those people on the other side of the Capitol that believe that everything that has to pass the Senate, that you need 60 votes.” He added: “You may call it the Democratic majority, as I once did, but they’re being held hostage by the Republican minority.”

-snip-

“This is a sharp increase in the use of a filibuster as a routine mechanism,” said Norman J. Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research group based in Washington. “The Senate is set up culturally not to act on anything quickly. That’s a good thing. But there can be too much of a good thing.” He said he believes the current Senate Republicans have turned filibustering into a primary strategy.

-snip-

About all he would have to do is say he will lead one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/weekinreview/02herszenhorn.html

[Nederland]

4. He doesn't have to

All he has to do is not vote for cloture and Republicans will do the Fillibustering.

[Winterblues]

5. He will not..

The ONLY one that may is Lieberman....