General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Pres Obama: David, in pursuit of strengthening SS, I'm willing to cut SS benefits [View all]Tom Rinaldo
(22,911 posts)That was when we had 60 "Dems" I know, I know, that 60 included Lieberman, but there were other miderate to conservative Dem Senators willing to throw the Public Option under the bus not just Lieberman - and that was with the President supposedly fighting for it.
This time around we have 53 or 55 "Dems", depending on the date we do the count. We have a Democratic President who is on record as being willing to include the Chained CPI as part of a budget deal as opposed to when he was on record saying he wouldn't sign health care reform that didn't include a Public Option. This time Republicans control the House, so they have actual leverage in the final negotiations.
It seems very likely to me that moderate Senators will ultimately reach a deal with the Senate Minority Leader on a bi-partisan plan that includes a Chained-CPI now that Obama is on record as accepting it. That would only take 6 to 8 Moderate Democratic Senators backing the Chained CPI for it to clear the Senate - plus there would be some less conservative Democratic Senators who would accept it rather than fight a deal the President signed off on.
What then? It is true that there probably are at least 41 Democratic Senators who would balk at the Chained CPI, but are there 41 of them so steadfast in their opposition that they will fillibuster a bill that Obama says he will accept, even if that deal was the price for getting something through the House?
It is remotely possible that progressives in the Senate can ikill the Chained CPI, but not if progressive activists act like there is no reason to be alarmed. Progressives in the Senate will need a howling mob standing behind them in order to face down the mainstream tide pushing the Chained CPI