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>Boo on Obama for not even bothering to try for Universal Healthcare... He tried to include the public option but it only had 59 votes to the 60 required to pa

• venomsnake 10y ago
  You only need 51 votes. If Democrats really cared they could have just sit in the senate until the republican speakers collapsed. And it would have gotten to a vote. It may have taken a couple of days but whatever. Edit: Can anyone explain the downvotes please? A filibuster can be overcome by just siting and listening to the other side until they can no longer speak from exhaustion.
  • maxerickson 10y ago
    They can trade off speaking during the filibuster. Say only 20 of the minority decide to be completely intransigent. How many weeks do you think it will take to exhaust them when they each only need to speak for ~9 hours a week to maintain the filibuster?
    • venomsnake 10y ago
      They don't have the right to leave the senate hall I think. So I do think they will have to make number one and two from time to time. The answer also is as much as needed.
      • maxerickson 10y ago
        The Senator that has the floor can't leave the Senate. They can leave if they aren't holding the floor. So 52 weeks later, maybe you compromise to get some things done (or maybe sooner)?
• ddp 10y ago
  How about you take it to a vote and see what happens? If you just cave up front, I guarantee you you're going to lose. That's my point.