So, Mitch McConnell and friends are assuring the American people that "Oh, yes, there WILL

[Atticus]

be a Senate vote" on repealing the Healthcare Act. This despite the inconvenient fact that Harry Reid and the Democrats are still in control of the US Senate and Reid has said he will NOT call the matter up for a vote.

There is talk that the Republicans are planning to simply refuse to participate in any governance unless and until they get their way and the Senate votes on their prized repeal bill. It is sort of the equivalent of a petulant child threatenuing to hold their breath until they get what they want.

As disgusting as this approach would be, I fervently hope the GOP will try it. It will not tell me anything I don't already know about the Republicans, but it would likely tell me something very important about the Democrats: is there still a backbone in there somewhere?

If the Democrats allow themselves to be bluffed out of their shorts by this weasely puppet-mouthed twit---if they don't stand their ground, let the GOP bring government to a standstill and then HANG THEM WITH IT!---I will agree with those who say that the Democratic Party is dead.

If we blink in response to this bullshit stunt, we will truly not deserve the support of the American people.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. Mitch McConnell wants to add billions to the deficit!

[JuniperLea]

2. I hope they hold their breath...

And turn blue.

Please don't invite trouble... I'm sick of DU ESP... not worth a hill of beans or the gas they create.

[bluestateguy]

3. There will be a vote to bring it to the floor for consideration of cloture

Oooooh! I'm scared.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Fillibusters work for both parties, Mitch.

[tritsofme]

4. Not sure I agree with Reid's strategy here. Why not hold a vote?

Hell, even give cloture unanimous consent. And then proceed to vote it down 53-47, and dare Republicans to support such a nasty bill.

[Atticus]

9. That would waste time and effort reclaiming what we have already won AND

would amount to conceding that we will allow McConnell to call the shots if he just threatens to raise a big enough stink.

No way.

[Versailles]

5. Hold on...

So if the Rethug Senators do pull the old "we won't participate" gambit, since Dems control the Senate, won't we just be able to pass Senate bills without interference? My parliamentary procedure is a little rusty...would quorum come into play if they just refused to show up?

As I'm typing this, I'm kind of thinking that they wouldn't just not participate, but would more likely try to actively disrupt with procedural methods. Bleh. Bastards.

[Atticus]

8. Sorry, I was unclear. By "refuse to participate" I meant they would try to insure that

no business was accomplished in the Senate and, yes, I do believe they would use procedural methods to grind things to a halt.

[pacalo]

6. Boner may control the House agenda, but Reid is the "decider" on the Senate's agenda.

The Republicans can stomp their feet & hold their breaths; perhaps Barbara Boxer can offer them graham crackers & juice (no KoolAid, please), then a nap on a kinder-mat.

[opihimoimoi]

10. WHY do the GOPers HATE AMERICA? everything they do is counter productive

[Arkana]

11. There's gonna be an upper limit on how far they take this insanity.

If they force a Presidential veto, they will get one--and I think that's what they're after. It's the ultimate piece of red meat for the crazies.

[unblock]

12. heck, why not let them have a series of votes on it?

why not let them vote for reinstating lifetime caps?
why not let them vote to kick kids off their parents' insurance?

why not let them vote against all the *parts* of the law that everyone likes?
this is the advantage of being in control of the debate, you control what gets voted on and what doesn't.

let them have the votes that they DON'T want.

[quaker bill]

13. We should make them actually do it

Harry should bring up some popular stuff, whatever he can pull up that polls really well, and cause them to act at length to stall it. If they are going to do it, make it a news worthy event with procedures that require republicans to stand at the podium saying inane things for hours, perhaps weeks on end, and wait until their poll numbers start dropping like a rock. We need to put them in their place and make it clear that this sort of crap will have political consequences for a change.