I sent a pair of red balls to him through the site the other day – just got UPS confirmation – he should be receiving pretty soon ; )

Its not like there’s an overabundance currently in use in the GOP.

Budget bills are governed under special rules called “reconciliation” which do not allow filibusters. Reconciliation once only applied to bills that would reduce the budget deficit, but since 1996 it has been used for all matters related to budget issues.

But

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 created reconciliation. (See Pub.L. 93-344, § 310; 88 Stat. 297; 2 U.S.C. § 641.) But Congress came to use it in the 1980s. Congress used reconciliation to enact President Bill Clinton’s 1993 (fiscal year 1994) budget. (See Pub.L. 103-66, 107 Stat. 312.) President Clinton wanted to use reconciliation to pass his health care plan, but Senator Robert Byrd insisted that the health care plan was out of bounds for a process that is theoretically about budgets.

Thanks

This merchant must be like, “What’s with all the balls?”

This merchant must be like, “What’s with all the balls?”

The dems will still own this horror show.

Then McConnell should hold the line and allow the Democrats to own the bill, as in the House. This prevents a legitimate charge of obstruction (a charge the Republicans could not politically defend against) – as they allowed the vote – but the Republicans still make the Democrats take a stand – and leave the bill’s fate up to the Blue Dogs. Whereupon the Republicans can hang the outcome, good or ill.

This is responsible opposition – the Democrats come up with the bill and you let the cards fall where they will – win or lose.

Not chess…poker. Hopefully McConnell knows the game

Now our little story moves to the upper chamber, where Democrats need 60 votes for cloture, There are 56 Democrats, and the two Independents Senators (Liberman and Sanders) caucus with them. That leaves the Democrats two short on a closure vote. So, what is Mitch McConnell to do?

His options as I see them are:

1. Whip hard on the Republican Senators in the hopeless task of keeping them in line. Through superhuman efforts keep them in line and mount a filibuster. Watch as each new piece of bad economic news can be hung around their necks.

2. Play nice and craft a compromise that will bring more of the despicable graft to Republican states, but piss off Rush Limbaugh.

3. Fane outrage against the “stimulus” during press conferences along side the Republican Senators opposing the bill. At the same time wink at the few Republican Senators who vote for closure and exact zero payback. Hang every piece of bad economic news around the Democrats necks.

My money is on option three.

Despite the jabs at his anatomy, McConnell remains a skilled tactician in Senatorial warfare. That is his job. If you are looking to blame someone for the collapse of Republican “manhood”, call Crawford. The original “sky is falling” bailout has made this and future bailouts almost impossible to stop.

Read it here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/29/gop-senators-lobby-stimulus-plan-obama/

Read it here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/29/gop-senators-lobby-stimulus-plan-obama/

As far as above link – labor unions calling for Obama – how appropriate.

I emailed my Senators and if either one of them (Georgia) vote for this mess I will vote against them – even if I have to write in a vote for “stupid you voted for the Obama pork bill!!!” – I wonder could you write in such a long name??? ; )