Because there are still two issues that divide them—Federally funded abortion and the public option—and it was hard for them to get as far as they got.
And there are still two more 60-vote votes ahead of them: the cloture-cloture vote in a few weeks, and the vote on the reconciliation, which will also have to re-pass the House.
They have a chance of getting this, but Reid still needs to get the thread into the eye of a pretty fine needle.
UPDATE: Santorum gives a quote to NR:
Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum comments to National Review Online on tonight’s vote: “I never wanted this to be considered a critical vote — it wasn’t one we could win. This is just the start of the process; the majority leader getting a vote tonight was almost a given. Pressure was a good thing, but only because it helped focus attention and dramatically increases pressure for the next cloture vote.”
And, and email to Kathryn Jean Lopez:
Santorum is all over this: It was a terrible mistake for opponents to allow tonight’s vote such a dramatic buildup. We had no hope. What Democrat is going to deny his party even the opportunity for floor debate on such a historical piece of legislation? Wasn’t going to happen. I hope the hype will not feed despair on our side. I am very optimistic that much of the worst mischief will be stripped from this bill before final passage. In fact, it is entirely possible that there will be no final passage.
Excelsior.
; ?>/images/user.png)
; ?>/images/email.png)
; ?>/images/feed.png)
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
“They have a chance of getting this, but Reid still needs to get the thread into the eye of a pretty fine needle.”
The way things are looking for Harry Reid next year, Nevada voters are going to thread HIM through the eye of their collective needle. And they’re going to do it none too gently. 😉
As long as the people remain convinced that this beltway golden calf is god, we remain screwed.