The dangers of getting to 60

Images: Senators Edward Brook (R-MA), Charles Percy (R-IL), Jacob Javits (R-NY), Charles Mathias (R-MD)


Not age.  60 votes in the Senate.


On November 8, 2008! I posted this message on Talking Points Memo under the headline The Filibuster-proof Senate Trap

60 democratic votes in the Senate is a potential trap when we have a Democratic majority in both houses.

What we want to do is move the center left.

We have just succeeded that way.

We need to rehabilitate the Republican center, thereby isolating the right.

We need to focus on bringing Republicans with us.

The super majority required to close debate in the Senate is thus a valuable tool because it requires that we work to broaden areas of agreement and of respectful disagreement.

In other words we want to work with the party of Lincoln against the party of DeLay.

Two days before that, under the headline cock-eyed optimist, I posted this:

“I think this is going to be very liberating for Republicans in Congress.”

With Democrats firmly in control of both chambers of CongressRepublicans have a chance “to get back on offense.”

- Sen. John Thune, a South Dakotan who is eyeing a leadership role in the new Congress and is seen by some in the party as presidential timber.  

Now we haven't done too well in separating the Republican center (such as it is) from the right.  Of course all that remains that could be called centrist Republican is Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, and Joseph Lieberman. And a gaggle of "centrist" democrats like Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu.

But, as Justice William Brennan said, the most important ability of a Supreme Court judge is the ability to count to five.  And as Louise Halper used to say the head of the Junta is the last guy to sign on with the coup planners.  All of which is to say that the deciding vote always has the most leverage.

Barack Obama hoped to restore an era which he personally never saw: a day when Charles Percy, Edward Brooke, Charles Matthias, and Jacob Javits were Republican senators for whom a Democrat could vote without pinching the nostrils. What is missing this time is the key to success in negotiations:  the desire to reach an agreement.

Unfortunately Republicans found John Bethune and the tea-baggers to be liberators, and lost any desire to agree.