Sure, like it takes real courage to sponser a bill that you know won’t get more that 20 votes in the Senate. Where I come from that’s called grandstanding.

And here’s a prediction – Reid won’t get re-elected and if he does he will no longer be Dem leader of the Senate. He’s to much of a spineless, ineffective wuzzie even for Dems.

And please, spare me the Harry Reid is a fighter becasue he was a boxer speech. Hell, I had a ripped 6-pack, full body tan and a head of long hair once but those days are long gone…

This sounds more like positioning for a future gig as majority leader than grandstand. I bet it now as at last the majority of Democrats.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! The Huffington Post, Paul Blumenthal piece – “Legacy of Billy Tauzin”, hits it out of the ballpark. Here’s the confirmation of the story FDL worked so hard to get out. THIS story is TREMENDOUS! A MUST READ!
By the way, that last quote by Obama is priceless.

I don’t care whether or not this is a leadership move by Durbin.

This is the man who stood on the floor of the Senate last year and stated, “The banks OWN this place.” Good on him.

What this suggests to me is that the Dems are finally coming to grips with the sheer unreasonable, intractable, irrational obstructionism that has nothing to do with governance and everything to do with corporate profits, the Old Boys Network, globalised interests, and personal ego.

Long overdue.

This must happen.

No offense but this 4 step process is a monstrosity and makes no sense.

Hey MM, welcome, how’s that RSS feed workin’ for ya?

I don’t think you’ll find many who’ll stand up for former boxer Harry Reid around this blog, in case you’re still waiting around for a reply….

This sounds more like positioning for a future gig as majority leader than grandstand. I bet it now as at last the majority of Democrats.

That’s also my impression. It’s kind of like cardinals queuing up for the job of pope. They can’t come right out and say they want the gig but they have to remain in the limelight while convincing other cardinals they would be a good advocate for the church.

I’ve always thought Durbin was a little wimpy but maybe it was because he was in Reid’s shadow. At this point I’d be more than willing to give anybody besides Reid a try.

The statement by Rep. Raul Grijalva upon learning of the PhRMA deal sums it up well.

“Are industry groups going to be the ones at the table who get the first big piece of the pie and we just fight over the crust?”

Short answer: yes

Talk is cheap.

Now is not the time to be considering changing the filibuster rules considering that the Repubs will probably be in charge come November.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-blumenthal/the-legacy-of-billy-tauzi_b_460358.html

I don’t care how they do it, but at the very least, any filibuster should be forced to argue in the Senate chambers for as long as he/she can, in front of the cameras so the country can see exactly how the Republicans are abusing the system. I am not sure about a 4 part process to get to a majority rule vote. If you are going to get to a majority rule vote, just start with that to begin with.

In another Huff. Post story, Michael Brenner believes Obama’s political idealogy is that of a “Moderate Republican”. Maybe, but I’ve yet to see a sign he believes in anything other than executing power using old-school Chicago politics. Either way, the facts are clear – we voted for “hope” and “change”; we got another political hack. Read it & weep, Progressives!

The truth is, we voted for a con man, a smart guy who told us what we wanted to hear to get elected. He cares nothing about “hope”, “change” or the community he worked for in Chicago.

The truth is if we had not elected Obama we would be looking at losing 700,000 jobs a month like we were under Bush. The stock market would have crashed and our banking system would also have completely collapsed by now. McCain said there was nothing wrong with our economy, remember. Most of the griping I see are from those who still can’t understand why Hillary lost or they are moles who voted for McCain. I’m not at all worried about the mid-term election. I hope we lose Sen Nelson and Baucus and it’s too bad Lieberman’s not up for reelection. Reid will be gone as well but there is absolutely no way Republicans can gain more than 5 or 6 seats in the Senate leaving Democrats with a commanding majority. I have been explaining to the Senators how they can change the Senate rules on the first day of the next session with a 50+1 vote and there’s not one thing Republicans can do about it. I have also explained to them how they can change other rules that would in effect keep Republicans from being able to retaliate after it’s done. The Constitution only calls for a simple majority vote in the Senate. We Progressives are going to make the GOP pay and pay dearly for their obstruction and treason. ~~~EDITED IN MODERATION~~~

~~~ModNote: Please refrain from violent suggestions, even the imaginary ones. Thank you.~~~

This proposal passes for bold action by what Senators and commentators repeatedly told us in the past was the “greatest deliberative body in the free world”.

What a crock. Going from a snail’s pace to a turtle’s pace is considered bold progress by these bufoons.

People are just wasting their time expecting change to come from within the federal government, it is a cesspool. Initiatives passed at a local and state level where people have more of a say is where the impetus for change will come about. And where people’s lives can improve.

This particular central government should be divested of power because it serves nothing more than as a vehicle of transferring money to lobbied concentrated wealth from the population at large.

Yes, apparently Obama is a genius, a top notched intellect. He does after all take counsel from the likes of world class idiots like Robert Gibbs and David Axelrod.

Obama may have a good mind but is in essense a weakling and a political idiot. After being dealt a winning hand he has folded and after a year he has nothing to show while in office. To see him move from disengaged to ineffective to pathetic has been a tragedy for the country.

Thanks for the link to the great article by Sen. Udall.

Are these four steps really necessary? Is there a short cut? Glad to hear Harkin, Sheehan, Durbin moving forward.

The other day Chris matthews interview with Rev Sharpton about the abuse of the fillibuster was priceless

Rev Sharpton “these people are blocking everything” “they’re blocking jobs, health care they’re blocking things that hurt their own constituents”
“they’re blocking their own ideas”

Chris Matthews “why are they (Republicans) so fearless”

Sharpton “there has not been a significant push back”
Sharpton ” the rabbit hunting is not fun when the rabbit has the gun”

Chris Matthews cracks up in response to this image

Sharpton “why are we running from the people who lost the election

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Schumer as majority leader? For heavens sake this man voted for the 2002 war resolution, voted for Mukasey, supported Holders decision to hold KSM’s trial in Manhattan and then flipped on the decision. This man has stood in the way of accountability far too many times.

Durbin voted against the 2002 war resolution, against Mukasey. Supports accountability. No contest. Durbin for majority leader

Leon, It’s not like Schumer’s against everything. He’d be absolutely wonderful representing Wall St. & Israeli interests.

bingo