Lieberman's Name Ain't Benedict

Senate rules make delay tactic too easy for fence-sitters

(NEWSER) - The filibuster is supposed to be a last resort. It allows the Senate minority, when it's willing to engage in endless debate—at the cost of holding up the chamber’s other business—to challenge legislation. But today, senators need only signal their intention to filibuster to stall a bill, and fence-sitting Dems like Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson need only hint at it to get what they want. It’s merely “filibluster,” writes Renee Loth, and the Democrats should call their bluff. More»

Indy senator promises he'll vote with Dems to end filibuster

(NEWSER) - Forget all the grandstanding about joining a GOP filibuster of health care reform if it contains any kind of public option: Sen. Joe Lieberman won't do it, Harry Reid tells liberal interest groups, who tell the Hill . He has a deal with the Connecticut Independent, the majority leader claims. Lieberman is the likeliest lawmaker outside the Democratic caucus to provide the extra vote needed to shut down a GOP filibuster. More»

Independent's warning is bad news for Harry Reid

(NEWSER) - Joe Lieberman doesn't want a public option, and he warned today that he would join a Republican filibuster to try to prevent one from becoming law. The statement by the Democrat-turned-independent is bad news for Harry Reid's prospects of getting 60 votes in the Senate. Lieberman said he told Reid "that if the bill remains what it is now, I will not be able to support a cloture motion before final passage. Therefore I will try to stop the passage of the bill." More»

Looks like Dems have missed their chance again

(NEWSER) - This week’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell hearings were typical of Washington lately: “The Democrats waited too long to close the deal, the president showed no leadership, and a campaign promise that was seen as a fait accompli now seems a casualty,” writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times . Meanwhile, that "erratic and intolerant" "Arizona old-timer" John McCain inexplicably battled to prevent repeal, though even his own family and bosom buddy Joe Lieberman support it. More»

Need big gains in Congress ... and GOP president

(NEWSER) - While the idea of repealing the health-reform measure passed last night has Republicans buzzing nationwide, the actual chances of it happening are tiny, Nate Silver writes. At very least, nothing happens before January 2013, and that’s if President Obama and his veto are out of office. So from there, Silver continues on FiveThirtyEight , the GOP needs:

• To control the House. Given the tide of public sentiment, this could be a fait accompli by 2011.