First, for those of you who missed the ’70’s….for whatever reason, there was a comic who went by the name of Raymond J. Johnson Jr. Ray J had a shtick in which he gave you every combination of his name except simply, “Johnson.” :
Today, Al Franken met with Harry Reid and they talked to the press. During his portion of the comments, Franken brushed aside the notion that he was the 60th Democrat Senator that so many have been breathlessly awaiting. Instead, the humble, self effacing servant, Al Franken, simply wants to be known as “The second Senator from Minnesota.”
Like Ray J., you can call him the 60th Democrat Senator, you can call him the second Minnesota Senator, you can even call him Senator Al Franken (shudder). Whatever you call him, you also have to call him the tipping point for the Republican Party.
I’ve pointed out time and time and time again that from a vote on policy standpoint, it didn’t matter whether the Democrats had 58, 59 or 60 Senators. The fact is and was that there were 2 or 3 “Republican” votes up for purchase or up for a flexible interpretation of principle on nearly every major issue to face the Senate. You want proof? Show me anything of substance that has failed to pass the Senate without Democrats voting against it!
With 58 or 59 Democrats there was always the convenient yet farcicle argument that folks like Olympia Snowe had to vote for some bill, let’s say the stimulus bill, not because she believed it was good policy for her constituents but that “something had to be done.” Thus, in the spirit of “bipartisanship” Senators like Snowe would vote with the Democrats to pass legislation.
With 60 Democrats, Snowe no longer has to compromise her “principles. With 60 Democrats, the only reason for any Republican to vote with the Democrats is if that Republican believes and agrees with the principles of the particular bill.
So why is this a tipping point for Republicans? Simple. From this point forward, the veneer will be off of the excuses that “moderate” Republicans have used. Further, the veneer will be off of Republican leadership’s excuses that they provide for these “moderate” Republicans votes. If Republicans can not force the Democrats to take unilateral votes on issues like Cap and Trade, health care, potentially a second stimulus, than there is no longer any reason for the Republican party. If the Republicans can not unify against clearly bad policy for the nation when they have nothing to lose and principle to gain by voting against it than I predict that Conservatives will abandon the Republican party.
2012 is a long, long way away. If the Republicans think that over reaching by the Democrats will give them an opportunity in 2012, they had better pay attention to 2010. 2010 could be an opportunity for Republicans but only if they give us a reason to vote for them.
Update: 2:54 PM…Um , sorry, had the wrong video link in this…it’s right now!
Can we just call Franken a douche, instead? Look at it this way, when the Dems completely frak things up, who will they blame? The magic number ensures they can’t blame anyone but themselves.