60! Blanche Lincoln Says She'll Support Health Care Debate

and she just promised to join the filibuster if the bill contains a public option.

Fine: no public option, no mandate.

If Americans think they can get something for nothing, they're going to end up like California:

http://www.ianwelsh.net/

Perhaps it's time to call these inane Republicans and "moderate" Democrats bogus anti-government bluff - disband the government, send them their final paycheck and watch the ensuing chaos.

Quote: "and she just promised to join the filibuster if the bill contains a public option."

I didn't hear her say that. I heard her say she wouldn't vote for the bill if it contained a public option. She could still vote for cloture to stop a filibuster and then vote no on the bill itself.

I assume the deal-making isn't over -- and maybe even that Bill Clinton's vocal and visible support for her re-election is part of any deal she might strike.

A little help here friends?
With the outcome today it looks like the first time through the Senate bill will have triggers. So the endgame either has triggers or will go through reconciliation in two bills. Am I correct?

Something I don't understand - since the House bill is already passed, why is it critical to the end product that the Senate bill have a public option? The Senate bill will have to have 60 votes to pass, but the final bill will only require 51 votes (right?). Why doesn't the Senate water down their bill enough to get the 60 votes, then add the public option back in conference with the House? That way, you get the public option in the final bill, but it only takes 51 votes to pass it.

If she is truly going to vote for cloture that's all well and good, but the steadfast opposition of people like Lincoln, Landrieu, Nelson, and Baucus to a public option is getting on my last nerve. Agree with some here who have suggested Reid go all LBJ on some of these people and break some arms.

Oh well, as long as the thing makes it to conference committee and can get 51 votes I guess that's better than nothing. However, it's criminal that so much effort is being expended to keep truly needy people from enjoying the benefits of a revamped and more fair health insurance system now rather than later. Even if the thing passes and is signed into law the built in delays and deviations from the true purpose of the bill will result in a lot of needless suffering and death.

Quote: "The Senate bill will have to have 60 votes to pass, but the final bill will only require 51 votes (right?)"

No. There will be another procedural vote, subject to filibuster, after the final bill is put together and before the up or down vote (if there is one).