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Politics : I Will Continue to Continue, to Pretend....
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To: Sully- who wrote (9696)5/11/2005 2:59:47 PM
From: Sully-   of 35834
 
Simple Math, or, Why Democrats Have Better Discipline Than Republicans

Patterico's Pontifications
Filed under: Judiciary— Patterico @ 7:02 am

I have sometimes heard Democrats complain that Republicans have better party discipline than Democrats. This complaint is wrong, and the showdown over judicial filibusters is a perfect example of why.

Consider this simple mathematical truism: 55 is closer to 60 than it is to 49.

Say that out loud, and think for a second about what it means.

It would take just 5 Democrats to vote for cloture to break any given filibuster of a judicial nominee. But 6 Republicans would have to break ranks to kill the “nuclear option.” (Vice President Cheney could and would break a 50-50 tie in Republicans’ favor.)

Voting for cloture is a way out of this controversy, and it wouldn’t require any Senate rules to be changed. If just 5 Democrats would break ranks, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

So why are we always hearing about the 6-7 squishy Republicans who may balk at the nuclear option? Why are they constantly being interviewed and asked how they would vote? Where are the squishy Democrats? Why aren’t they being asked why they won’t vote for cloture?

I think the answer is simple. There aren’t any squishy Democrats. Or, if there are, it doesn’t matter. Their party’s leadership has them in line.

If only Republicans could find leadership like that . . .

patterico.com
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