GOOD ADVICE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – AT 7:46 A.M. ET:  As the Democrats wallow in their scandals, more and more each delightful week, the health "reform" package they've dropped on us moves forward.  President Obama seems determined it get it through, no matter what it takes or who it hurts.  But a Republican is giving him good advice.  From Roll Call:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) predicted dire consequences for the Senate if Democrats move forward with a tentative plan to try shut down GOP amendments during this month’s expected debate on a health care reconciliation bill.

Saying the move would be “catastrophic for the Senate,” Graham in an appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation pleaded with Democrats: “Please don’t do this. Just please.”

Very shrewd.  Republicans are focusing on the fact that Dems plan to go around Senate rules, and hoping this will outrage the public.  There are signs in polling that these Republicans are right.  Graham isn't being kind.  He's being smart, something that's nice to see on our side. 

But retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) acknowledged that Democrats are seriously considering using a rarely used Senate rule prohibiting “dilatory amendments” against Republicans when the reconciliation bill, which otherwise cannot be filibustered, comes up for debate.

Though the Senate overcame a GOP filibuster of its comprehensive health care reform bill and passed a bill Christmas Eve 2009, Democrats lost their filibuster-proof 60-vote supermajority when Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) won a special election to fill the seat of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.).

As Mark Steyn pointed out in a column we quoted yesterday, the Democrats have become fanatical on this.  They'd rather go down politically in 2010 and have this huge bureaucratic monument to their presence, hoping it can never be repealed.

House Democrats have indicated a willingness to pass the Senate measure, but only if separate budget reconciliation measure is passed by both chambers to make changes to the Senate bill.

COMMENT:  Obama says he wants a vote by March 18th, and he may get it.  No one really knows what will happen.  There's a general feeling that Nancy of Frisco doesn't have the votes in the House, but arm twisting works very well on recalcitrant Democrats.

We'll follow this closely – one of the most profound political dramas of our time, and one that can change one sixth of the nation's economy, essentially placing it under government control.

March 8, 2010