[GilGil]

It would appear that the reconciliation process is to be used for budgetary issues only. As such, senators can offer unlimited numbers of amendments and basically cut up the bill like swiss chees. another way of saying this is running out the clock.

It would appear that the problem will not be the democrats but the republicans. We can 100% win this withouot a doubt. The missing link will be how good we will be at keeping the republicans in line. they can drown and choke this bill to death with reconciliation!!!!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

I hope you’re right.

On the other hand, socialist medicine is a moot point after financial Armageddon strikes, which will be within 2 years.

[Man50D]

It will be interesting to see if the conservative tea party movement has helped the OP(formerly the GOP) grow a spine.

[BunnySlippers]

Bookmarking ... hoping ...

[CaptainMorgantown]

The Republican leadership needs to be willing to do whatever is necessary to stop this abuse of the legislative process. They need to do more than just complain about how unfair it is. They need to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means shutting down the Senate for months with parliamentary devices like 1000’s of ammendments.

[socialismisinsidious]

Here is how Jake Taper is saying obama will handle the budgetary issue:

Obama to Say Democrats Will Use Reconciliation to Pass Senate Health Care Reform Fix

He will argue these rules are perfectly appropriate because the procedure is not being used for the whole bill, just for some fixes; because reconciliation rules are traditionally used for deficit reduction and health care reform will reduce the deficit;

[fortheDeclaration]

The problem is the the Democrat controlled House won't pass the Senate version.

Nothing that the Senate Democrats would do would change that, even Reconciliation.

What is amazing is how few 'experts' even understand that.

[The Good Doctor]

Few amendments will delay it for a few days or weeks, others ruled non-germane. It cruises through. The Senate reconciliation is not going to be their problem. It’s the House, and that’s unfortunately looking doable.

[lack-of-trust]

Rules mean nothing to Democrats

Laws mean nothing to Democrats

[Intolerant in NJ]

I’m still trying to figure out how Obama can now suggest his new slimmed down version of the healthcare bill, emphasizing Republican-proposed additions (yeah, right) and still expect to pass it using reconciliation - I thought they could only “reconcile” the bill already passed by the Senate with the House version of the same bill once the House voted on it, and that any new bill from Obama would have to be considered and voted on by the Senate, exposing it to potential filibuster which theoretically the ‘rats can’t break now - all very strange......

[TomasUSMC]

Ten thousands pigs were seen being loaded off of trains in Washington D.C. preparing the Capital for the biggest Nuclear Pork Giveaway in a hundred years.

[TomasUSMC]

All they need is 51 votes in the Senate and 51 percent in the House. Procedure wise, the GOP back in 2003/5 were ready to use the Nuclear Option but McCain’s Mutiny stopped them. So, it can be done.

Will the Blue Dogs bite the hand that feeds them?