The spectacle of Republicans filibustering a strong health care bill could be the best thing ever for the Democrats.
Harry Reid knows he's got at least 51 votes for a health bill with a strong public option. And he's got at least 55 votes for cloture. Imagine a strong health care bill on the floor of the Senate, with Republicans reading from the phone book to stop it. The pressure on the recalcitrant Democrats would be overwhelming. The opposition to cloture would collapse, possibly even with some Republican support. The Democratic party (and the President if he's willing to pitch in here) would be heros. The 2010 mid-terms and the 2012 election would be a breeze.