From TPM:
TPM - Lieberman Skips Town
Potentially complicating matters, though is that Lieberman, who's caused Democratic leadership no shortage of political heartburn on health care, isn't even in town!
Here is the gist of it:
"After being assured by Democratic and Republican leaders that his vote was not needed to pass the Defense Appropriations bill, Senator Lieberman went to Connecticut to spend the Sabbath and the last night of Hanukkah with his wife, Hadassah, and their children and grandchildren," reads a statement to TPMDC from Lieberman's spokesman Marshall Wittmann.
And that leaves Democrats begging for atleast one Republican so that the troops fighting for worthless war, the men and women who risk their lives in foriegn dumps while Lieberman spends last night of Hannukah with his wife get the funding...get the appropriations bill done.
I am sorry to say this but THIS IS A FUCKING OUTRAGE.
You risk you life for the country, the remaining country doesnt have to sacrifice anything and back home you have people leaving town to celebrate Hannukah putting the funding for troops in jeopardy?
Are you fucking kidding?
No no,...wait...
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER NOW :
The US Supreme court has ruled that the rules of filibuster can be changed with a simple majority. See more here.
I say DO THAT NOW.
Not just for passing healthcare, but to get funding for troops. After all, imagine an election ad saying : Democrats had to remove filibuster rules to prevent jeopardizing the troops funding after 40 Republicans filibustered it and Joe Liberman had to go to Connecticut to spend time with his family on Hannukah.
What about the fucking troops' family time to spend Hannukah?
I have heard many stories about how reconciliation is not productive way to fix healthcare. But filibuster rule change, down to 54 or 53 votes, should do it. If they vote in medicare or public option with 54 or 53 votes, even if Republicans control senate in future, they will never have 51 votes to remove public option because by that time, it would already be too popular. Try getting 51 votes today, or any day, to try to end Medicare or Social Security. You would find hard time getting 25 votes to end those programs.
COME ON OBAMA, REID, THIS IS DOABLE. CHANGE FILIBUSTER RULES NOW. Go down in history with FDR, Johnson and Lincoln. Go down in history as leaders that laid foundation for making healthcare a civil right. Listening to Emmanuel will get you in speech business after retirement. Getting rid of filibuster and getting universal healthcare will put you on Mount Rushmore.