Primaries are nice, but they are in difficult states.  If I was Reid, I'd make it clear that they only way that they keep their seniority in the caucus to vote with the party on the key votes.

Otherwise, say goodbye to any hope of ever chairing another committee.

>They promise one thing (no strings attached in this case) then change the rules on you.

It was pretty clear that when "we" enacted TARP that "we" didn't want that money to be given out as bonuses.

And everything was rush rush, got to save the economy.  Ok, "we" handed over a pile of cash with out a great deal of contingency planning because there wasn't a lot of time.  They shouldn't be surprised that "we're" all very unhappy about being gamed.  And that we aren't be gamed.  

Personally, I don't see why the tax rate for bonuses given out in companies that accept TARP funds be set at 110%.  I suspect that there would be rush to return our money.

that Obama willing TO-GO-ALL-THE-WAY and send a sternly worded letter.  

After hearing endless comments from Wingnuts about how the Democrats are always in disarray, I have to say I'm really really REALLY RRREEEEAAAALLLLYYYY enjoying the circle firing squad that the GOP has become.  

when it comes to gall.

Yeah, they need to wander around in the wilderness for 40 years or so... until all the current Republicans are dead.  Then maybe.

Anyways, I'm greedy, forget 61 seats, I want 67 seats.

> I think this was Obama's play all along.

Yeah, after 8 years of Bush, he's got to retrain Congress to you know... actually govern. Right now, this is definitely looking like win/win, unless you're a Republican.

that unlike half the GOP Senate, McCain has to actually go to St. Paul to accept the nomination, right?  Bummer for him.

I don't believe the Constitution permits recall elections, sadly,   One of the few points the FF's missed.

So about needing that 60 votes threshold.  It isn't like needing 60 votes to prevent a filibuster is craved into the Constitution, nor is the filibuster for that matter.  It's part of the rules of the Senate that reauthorized at the being of each session.  

And I suspect (and god forbid it happens in my lifetime) the next time the Republican rule the Senate, they'll neuter the filibuster to their advantage, so I say beat them to the punch.  If we only end up with 57 Democratic senators, I say we change the number of votes needed for closure to 57 and just let the Republicans whine while we clean up their mess.