That will be very hard for them to do. They have to hold 40 of their 47 or 48 members to vote against cloture.
The problem with that is visions of Max Cleland will run through their heads. They know that perhaps as many as 5 or 10 of them could get defeated in 2004. Presidents normally lose senate seats in the off year and gain them bank in the years they run. They are all thinking that Bush may do better than that in 2004.
Anyone who can look at the productivity figures understands that the economy will be booming in 2004. Understand that we are going to make Iraq pay us for defeating Saddam. They will have to pay us for our cost in FREE OIL. We intend to make a profit on defeating Saddam. That will give a big boost to our economy in 2004. What kind of coat tails do you think Bush will have with an economy at least as good as Reagan had in 1994?
There is huge anger and division in the Democratic party in both the house and the Senate. Some want to attack. Some want to cooperate. Some say Daschle was not mean enough. Some say Daschles nastyness cost them last night. Daschle or someone will have to hold them together. It will be 100 times as hard as it was two years ago. Some will want to out bush bush. Other will want to filibuster a roll call. The have to hold 41 of their guys together. Some of them may not even be speaking.
This is not a unified united angry democratic senate working together to hurt Bush. This is 46 or 47 Democrats mad as hell at each other. They are pointing fingers and calling names.
Don't buy the united against Bush stuff. They are far from united on anything.