MaddowBlog: Senate Dems play offense for a change

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/08/6220566-senate-dems-play-offense-for-a-change

Senate Dems play offense for a change
By Laura Conaway
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Tue Mar 8, 2011 5:21 PM EST



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he'll force a cloture vote on the House Republicans' spending bill late tonight or very early tomorrow morning. That bill cuts $57 billion, much of it in ways designed to light up the Republicans' rightward base. (UPDATE from NBC's Ken Strickland: Senate votes Wednesday around 3.)

The Hill reports that Republican Whip Jon Kyl "ran from reporters after a party lunch" today, saying he didn't yet know whether everyone in his caucus is on board. More?



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has stuck to the Republican line, that his party is trying to do something and Democrats won't cooperate. "Where is the President?" he asked, in a release titled "A Tragic Failure of Leadership."

Senator Reid sounds like he sees an opportunity to play offense. Today he accused Republicans of going back on their deal with Vice President Biden to vote on the Republican spending plan and the Democratic one. "That was the deal. But now Republicans are reneging on that deal. They don't want to vote on their own bill."

I can't imagine that all the Democrats plus the Rand Paul/Jim DeMint wing would not vote for cloture - and in addition to it being defeated - it would be a tough vote for many Republicans. Imagine being Olympia Snowe or Scott Brown. They have to vote "no" if they want to be re-elected. I doubt Brown could be primaried, though both parties will have a primary at the same time - so he likely can't count on all the independents coming out in large numbers for him in the open primary. Where it would be hard is for principled Republicans - ie Senator Lugar - who would be hurt by voting "no".

What an interesting coincidence.

Bookmarked: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=624898&mesg_id=624898