Little noticed development today: Lieberman to vote for cloture/Over to you Nelson/Lincoln

[Politics_Guy25]

He issued a statement that he will vote for cloture no matter what is in the final senate bill. That means that we now have 58 guaranteed votes for cloture. Senators Lincoln and Nelson are probably the only 2 democrats that Reid is still having trouble getting at this point as those are the only 2 dems that I can POSSIBLY see fillibustering a public option.

The statement can be found by googling for it.

An aide to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that, while the senator does not favor a public option with a state exemption, he would not vote to filibuster the bill. This would put Reid closer to the 60-vote threshold.

BTW, this makes President Obama look like a GENIUS: Let him keep his committee chair and voila. For all we know, the prez told JL back in January, "well Joe you get to keep the chair if you promise me right now your vote for cloture on health when it comes up." I could easily see him or Rahm doing something like that.

BRILLIANT.

[FrenchieCat]

1. If that's the case, looks like Pres. Obama kept his eye on the prize,

While many here at DU felt that Obama should have "punished" Lieberman at the time.

Guess Obama was doing some long term planning,
and DUer were after some instant gratification.

I'll go with the long term plan myself,
cause instant gratification only lasts so long,
and then it's gone.

[Lord Helmet]

2. that punishment will come from the voters

I doubt he will be re-elected even if Pres Obama campaigns for him in exchange for this vote on cloture.

[FrenchieCat]

3. I don't see Obama campaigning for Lieberman at this point.....

he's already done him a favor by allowing him to keep his chairmanship. Plus, I don't think Lieberman is up for re-election anytime soon.....or is he? :shrug:

[Lord Helmet]

4. he's thinking of running as a Democrat again in 2012

LINK

[Jennicut]

8. Eww. What a jerk. We don't want him back as a Dem here.

Of course, do we want the Rethug alternative?

[GOTV]

12. But is it the case?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8718135

[annabanana]

5. Do either Nelson or Lincoln have any Chairmanships that could be revoked?

Or any seniority that could be withheld?. .If so..

HEY HARRY!!!

Also. . I'd really really like a link to Lie-berman saying this.

[MH1]

6. Lincoln just became chair of the Ag committee that Harkin vacated

when Harkin took over the chairmanship of health and welfare (Kennedy's committee).

Lincoln is going to be a big thorn in our side on the climate change bill, too. So I like your suggestion.

Nelson, I don't know about.

[stevenleser]

10. MH1/Annabanna, there is simply no way

that Lincoln and Nelson vote against cloture. For reelection, those senators need access to funding that only comes from the support of a lot of grassroots Democratic groups. If they stand in the way of HCR even getting to a full vote, they get zero dollars.

I even give it 50-50 that they vote for any HCR bill that gets to a vote in the senate, even one with a robust public option. There is no alternative for them that leads to reelection. They cant even consider becoming 'pugs because in this climate, only extremely conservative pugs are assured of winning their parties nominations. They would become prime targets for teabaggers who want only wingnuts nominated.

[MH1]

11. I hope you are right.:)

I still wish there was a way to replace Lincoln on the Ag committee.

[Clio the Leo]

7. Yep and I suspected that at the time.....

.... not for the health care bill specifically, but that the President thought it was better to keep Lieberman on the Dems side rather than send him completely over to the GOP.

[Jennicut]

9. If Obama did this, he really did think long term

It always is about strategy for the long haul.

[GOTV]

14. Yeah, 7-dimensional chess and all that. But ....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/lieberman-id-vote-against_n_335627.html

[IndianaGreen]

13. Oh, please, you guys go thru more contortions that Goebbels in defending that POS

Here is what he told the reporters:

"But I also told him 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."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/lieberman-sure-id-filibuster-a-health-care-reform-bill.php?ref=fpblg

[Dr Robert]

15. and you latch onto anything that would slow this Bill down

Why is that?

[IndianaGreen]

16. Lieberman's doctor again!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

17. Since your claim directly contradicts what Liberman said, link please

Thanks

:hi:

[Raine1967]

18. Link? I have read the opposite of that information.

Thanks!