Reply #6: I can see your point [View All]

I don't know enough about senate rules to be sure, but if even 1 dem joined the repubs (a near certainty), they would be be able to filibuster. Which brings it up to 17 people preventing health care reform.

Correct me if I'm wrong again, but don't all filibusters eventually fail unless the other party concedes? It didn't google readily but I think the record is something like 4 months.

And Reid can make them do 'sleep on cots and read from the phone book' type filibuster.

"In current practice, Senate Rule 22 permits filibusters in which actual continuous floor speeches are not required, although the Senate Majority Leader may require an actual traditional filibuster if he or she so chooses."

I think it's worth trying and failing, rather than slowly losing everything, which is what appears to be happening now.