tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522121129844880066.post6407200767869132945..comments2023-10-24T11:23:31.580-04:00Comments on Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion: Rise and Fall, Sword OptionalWilliam A. Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16433685588536441422noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522121129844880066.post-22278266213038200202009-11-20T15:34:28.141-05:002009-11-20T15:34:28.141-05:00It looks like it's over. Reid bought Landrieu...It looks like it's over. Reid bought Landrieu. He claims he knows how Lincoln will vote, so I assume that means she'll vote to bring it to debate. Ben Nelson just said he'll vote to start the debate.<br /><br />That really just leaves Bayh and Lieberman. Bayh doesn't seem enthused by the bill, but I also don't think he has the backbone to be the only Democrat to oppose cloture.<br /><br />Lieberman is probably our only hope, assuming all Republicans vote against it.MaggotAtBroad&Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04493406951892285654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1522121129844880066.post-63059086406320750582009-11-20T11:19:23.827-05:002009-11-20T11:19:23.827-05:00Does anybody know if my understanding of the proce...Does anybody know if my understanding of the process is about right?<br /><br />Here's how I understand it:<br /><br />60 votes are needed to open debate on Saturday. If it passes, then 60 votes are needed to pass any amendments. After several weeks of amendments, 60 votes are needed to close debate. If they get the 60 votes to close debate, the bill passes the Senate.<br /><br />Then King Harry merges the pieces of the Senate bill he likes with the pieces of the House bill Queen Nancy likes. Final passage of the merged bill requires only a majority vote in the House and a mere majority in the Senate.<br /><br />So, it is the 60 votes to open debate on Saturday that is the criticial vote, since the amendment process is where the "horse trading" (i.e. bribes) occurs to ensure they can close the debate and pass the bill in the Senate. <br /><br />But King Harry may decide to disregard some of the amendments when he merges the Senate bill with the House bill, knowing he only needs 51 votes for final passage of the bill into law.MaggotAtBroad&Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04493406951892285654noreply@blogger.com