They only need 2/3 of Senators present, not 2/3 of the full Senate to pass it.
They only need 2/3 of Senators present, not 2/3 of the full Senate to pass it.
Correct, but if you have at least 34 dedicated “no” votes who show up and vote “no”...the treaty fails...case closed!
Currently, the GOP has 35 dedicated senators who have pledged to show up and vote “no”. Because of this, the treaty can’t pass no matter what the number of senators in attendance (if quorum is made).
(1) Quorum is 51 senators
(2) Currently, the GOP has 35 dedicated “no” votes (According to Senator Inhofe more GOP senators...not on the current 35 name list...will also vote “no” if this treaty comes to a floor vote)
(3) 2/3 of attending senators (if quorum is made) are needed to pass a treaty.
Lets say you have 90 Senators who show up. You will then need 60 votes to pass the treaty. If we have 35 committed “no” votes who show up and vote “no” the best the Democrats will get is 55 votes. 55 is not 2/3 of 90....5 votes short
Lets say you have 75 senators who show up. You will then need 50 votes to pass the treaty. If you have 35 committed “no” votes who show up and vote “no”, the best the Democrats will get is 40 votes. 40 is not 2/3 of 75.....10 votes short
Lets say you have 60 senators who show up. You will then need 40 votes to pass the treaty. If you have 35 committed “no” votes who show up and vote “no”, the best the Democrats will have is 25 votes. 25 is not 2/3 of 40.....15 votes short
Moral of the story: The 35 dedicated “no” votes will have to show up, quorum is declared, they vote “no”, and it’s over.
If the Democrats table the bill, it’s essentially over until 2013 but the odds will only get worse as the GOP is projected to take the Senate with a new batch of conservative Freshman.
If not enough people show up for quorum (most likely Democrats), no vote will be taken. Egg is on the Democrat’s faces and unless they try trickery (and the GOP will eye them like a hawk for shenanigans) it’s over until next year (see above paragraph for future LOST prospects). It also means the Democrats realize that LOST is a lost cause and don’t want to go on the record (those supporting LOST, and running for reelection in 2014, don’t want this embarrassment to linger). Quite frankly, if enough Democrats decide to be a no-show they’ll call off the vote rather than risk the embarrassment.
Quite frankly, on the day of the vote, if you see Democratic senators AWOL on the quorum call (but enough for quorum call), you’ll know that LOST is DOA.
Simple as that.