Why is the Democrats still negotiating with Republicans?

[Chisox08]

All the Republicans are doing is stalling, delaying and complaining about how they can't stall and delay more. Even after the Democrats water down a bill by giving in to the Republicans demands they still vote no. They should have ignored the Republicans and passed strong legislation and not watered down bills that has pissed off liberal voters.

[Oregone]

1. To share responsibility for shitty legislation

[VMI Dem]

2. Its called pragmatism. Its how worthless shit gets done.

[rbrnmw]

3. They buy into the myth of Americans being Center Right??

They left their spines on the campaign bus??? They don't want to appear biased??? They just plain don't give a damn??? You choose

[Chisox08]

4. It seems like all of the above

[katandmoon]

5. Because they all get campaign contributions from the same place

[txlibdem]

6. Because they're all cut from the same cloth

Rich, privileged SOBs.

Sherry Sherrod said it's not about color, it's about the haves versus the have nots.

[Lil Missy]

7. Is our Democrats learning?

[Winterblues]

8. It is actually how our founding fathers imagined America to function

Republicans on the other hand would do exactly what you suggest if roles were reversed.

[Statistical]

9. Let me know when we have 60 real Democrats.

Until they ignoring the Republicans = guarantee of <= 59 votes = guaranteed bill does not pass.

So they might as well all just go home and wait until the election to see if that changes anything.

[Chisox08]

10. The Republicans vote no any way

They said that the will break Obama. They said that they will be against anything that the Democrats do why negotiate with people who wants you to fail?

[Statistical]

11. Once aain then why do anything.

Just sit home and say can't get a vote.

The Democrats can craft anything they want in a bill but without 60 votes it isn't going to become law. What good is the perfect bill if it never becomes law?

So given
a) there are <60 Democratic votes in senate (more likely 52 when you count DINO
b) it takes 60 votes to pass a bill
no bill (not a single one) will ever become law without at least a single Republican.

So what should they do to given that. Negotiate to get that single (or more likely couple Republican votes) or simply do nothing for 2 years. Not pass a single piece of legislation for 2 years? Then if after 2010 election they still have <60 votes they should do absolutely nothing for another 2 years and hope 2012/2014/2016 gets them to magic 60+ votes?

What would your solution be to passing legislation with 60+ votes given Democrats have <59 votes in Senate?

BTW a few Republicans (at least 2 or 3) did vote YEA on the financial reform bill. If they hadn't the vote would have been 59 or less YEA and the cloture vote would have failed.

[Chisox08]

12. Show me where it says that you need 60 votes to pass a bill in the senate?

Go ahead I'll wait.
50 plus 1 is all that is needed according to the constitution. Yes I'm using the constitution because the Republicans are all of a sudden are all for the constitution.
Show some spine and get rid of the filibuster or cut it to 55 votes and don't be afraid of what could happen if the Republicans ever regain control. So until then 41 people rule this country and we are supposed to believe that the Dems can do nothing about it.