Sixty votes in the Senate? Not so fast. There aren’t 60 Democrats in the United States Senate. There are actually 58 Democrats and 2 Democratic caucusing Independents (Sanders and Lieberman). Senator Kennedy and Senator Byrd are facing ill health and both can’t be considered sure locks for Democratic votes if they aren’t in the chamber. But there’s more… add into the mix approximately 6 moderate/conservative Democrats and a handful of others who like to be “independent” and that magical 60 looks closer to fifty-something. It’s still a majority, but not quite as super.
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Good point about the independents! I have just posted on the Senate, suggesting that it reform is needed. To read, pls see http://euandus3.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/the-u-s-senate-what-is-it-really/