Latest Headcount? Public Option

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Probably vote against anything with a public option, in reconciliation....ignoring any abortion jazz.

60

Less

1 Landrieu
2 Ben Nelson
3 Pryor
4 Lincoln
5 Baucus
6.Lieberman
7.Conrad
8. Byrd (because his health, can't totally count on him)

Gives us 52

Agree or disagree with list ??

On edit removed Dodd and Spector

[mvd]

1. Not sure, but..

I think Specter, Nelson, Dodd, Baucus, and Byrd would probably vote for the bill with its limited public option. Why was Dodd included?

[bluethruandthru]

2. Dodd? What a disappointment! n/t

[Connie_Corleone]

3. Last time I heard, Specter was for the public option.

Trying to save his butt for re-election.

Dodd is for a public option. Conrad might be for it as long as reimbursement rates aren't tied to Medicare. that seems to be his main issue. I don't know about Byrd.

I say there are at least 55 votes for a health care bill that includes a public option (opt-out version).

[Dr Robert]

4. Dodd definitely supports a PO

[phleshdef]

5. Byrd is for it, Spectre is for it and I believe Dodd is too.

[Thrill]

6. Specter said he was for it. And Dodd is the one pushing the HELP bill

What changed?

[Engineer4Obama]

7. Specter went super liberal when seska challenged him

Its safe to take him and Byrd off your list.

[bluestateguy]

8. I think Dodd will be fine

Sheets Byrd suppots PO on the merits, but refuses to support using the reconciliation process for health care. Senate rules are more important to him than providing people with health care.

Specter will be fine too, especially with Joe Sestak nipping at his heels from the Left.

[mvd]

10. Yes, that's what I heard about Byrd

I think we would still have enough in reconciliation as long as other Democrats don't do the same thing as Byrd.

[quiller4]

9. Disagree. Dodd, Specter and Byrd has announced support.

Baucus isn't likely to remain a hold out. Clinton met for some time with Lincoln and Pryor. I really think that all but Lieberman will eventually come around.

[mvd]

11. What do we do about Lieberman? All the Repukes need is him..

for a filibuster. I know we can use reconciliation for some elements of the plan, but are there other options?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. You know, IMHO, watching the House debate last Saturday

the right looked bad, really bad. It was so "kind and just" vs. "mean and selfish".

I say let them filibuster. It would be great theater.

[mvd]

17. Yep, Reid should have the courage to make them

:thumbsup:

[4lbs]

12. Dodd supports it, and President Clinton is smooth-talking Blanche Lincoln as best he can.

That will be about 52 at least.

As long as they vote for cloture, all 10 of them can vote against it, because VP Biden will be the tiebreaker.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. love the pics ! crazies. something I don't want to picture is

Bill smooth talking Blanche

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Baucus will probably vote for it in the end, too much invested not to

I think Conrad will as well. Lincoln, Pryor, Landrieu, and Nelson represent constituencies made up mostly of ill informed morons which is a problem.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

16. I live in Nola - LA is a funny place. Despite what Bushco did

during Katrina - most people still lean right - just amazing to me. Sure, there are left in the
Nola intelligentsia in the Quarter, Bywater, and Garden District - but forget the rest of the city
and the state. Landrieu is playing the majority.