If we get one senator to filibuster a bill without a public option

we can probably stop any compromise in its tracks. As most, to all, R's will agree to a filibuster, regardless of who's starting it.

2 or 3, and we definitely have a lot of leverage.

I wonder why Sanders hasn't threatened this already.

(note that I am ambivalent as to the wisdom of this strategy).

the Republicans that if they filibuster, the word will go out for people to go to Washington to surround the Capitol Building!

On edit: whatever happened to the Republicans demanding up or down votes?

Despite the popular myth, promoted by Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, it takes at least 41 to filibuster, and I really doubt the Republicans would want to help someone supporting a public option.

The republicans want to kill the bill at all costs.

Hypothetical Good Senator X wants to kill the bill if it doesn't meet his demands.


Republicans can't kill the bill as it stands. They need more votes for filibuster to do it.

So long as the R's think they can stop the bill from proceeding at all, they would filibuster alongside someone else who is filibutering for a different reason. If they think the bill is destined to pass, then they won't join the filibuster, on the off chance they actually worsen the outcome in the bill itself by doing so.

Right now, I suspect they think they can kill this bill with a few more votes. So I suspect they would join Senator X in a filibuster for now.

What happened? The Black Caucus was left holding the bag!

The Senate will not allow a filibuster. Get 51 Bernie Sanders in the Senate, and we would have Single Payer today, all the troops would be home, DOMA would be dead, DADT will be repealed, and we would be well on the way to building a more humane society.

:thumbsup:

Harry Reid in one of his better maneuvers got healthcare reform passed as part of the budget process, so there are no filibusters -- from either side.

1) which they are unlikely to use

2) which results in an even crappier bill