Our best chance now for the future after national health care has been thrown overboard.

[Cleita]

Since all that has been done is to rearrange the deck chairs on the ship of our failing health care and since the only glimmers of change have been chucked by one Senator who shouldn't have the power of a King we need to get behind Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. He is taking a swing at changing the Senate filibuster rules.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/14/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5979331.shtml

As Sen. Joe Lieberman comes under fire for holding up the Senate health care debate, one of his more liberal colleagues is considering a bill that would keep senators from using the filibuster to kill a piece of legislation. And as it turns out, Lieberman was once also opposed to filibustering a bill to death.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) told reporters on Thursday he is considering re-introducing a bill to significantly soften the power of the filibuster, the Burlington Hawk Eye first reported.

Harkin first introduced the bill in 1995 -- with Lieberman as a co-sponsor.

"I think, if anything, this health care debate is showing the dangers of unlimited filibuster," Harkin reportedly said. "I think there's a reason for slowing things down ... and getting the public aware of what's happening and maybe even to change public sentiment, but not to just absolutely stop something."

Discussed on Rachel Maddow this evening, it will be an uphill battle for Senator Harkin. I think he needs all the support we can muster for him. Start firing those emails, snail mails, faxes and telephone calls. Let him know the majority of Democrats are behind him. We need to stop any further Napoleons from becoming dictators from the minority.

[varelse]

1. Uhmmm

How will we get that through the Senate?

[Cleita]

3. I don't know, but he must have a plan if he's attempting it.

I think if he can show the Senate that millions of us are behind him it will help if he's not alone.

[varelse]

10. It was a lame attempt at dry humor

not my forte, really :/

[regnaD kciN]

7. Harkin has already caved...

He now says that, even without a public option or Medicare buy-in, the rest of the bill (individual mandates???) is so important, we have to do it right away.

:puke:

[Ken Burch]

2. Harkin is right-Weaken the filibuster!

or, eventually, get rid of the damn thing entirely.

[niceypoo]

4. The Democrats will always cave in to the right

For whatever reason, the Democrats cower in fear of angering the right. I have no faith in them whatsoever.

[WeDidIt]

5. Smoke and Mirrors

The Senate rules are very clear. It takes a 2/3 majority of the Senate to invoke cloture on any legislation to change the rules of the Senate.

If they can't get 60, what makes you think they can get 67?

[Cleita]

6. Like I said it's an uphill battle but we've got to give it to them instead

of going home with our tails between our legs. The Senate used to operate for more than a hundred years with just a majority vote.

[WeDidIt]

9. After they pass this piece of shit

I will e voting for any candidate who promises to repeal it.

[Hannah Bell]

8. so the only thing left is the mandate? oh, that'll end well.