Filibuster: a form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body whereby one attempts to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a proposal by extending a debate on that proposal.
Of all the campaign promises Barack Obama made while running for the presidency, healthcare reform was of the highest priority. Since his election, he has diligently worked to keep that promise, and around Christmas time it seemed as if it were all but a done deal … until now.
The wheels could come off the president’s reform bus – and ultimately his legacy — if Republican Scott Brown defeats Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race being held today. The bulk of President Obama’s agenda depends on Democrats’ filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate, which would disappear if Brown wins the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
Both former President Bill Clinton and President Obama have joined the Massachusetts fray by doing some last minute stumping to try to prevent what, mainly, Obama would consider a career catastrophe. If he thinks he’s having hard days at the office now, just wait till he gets to work tomorrow if Coakley loses.
For all the blue states, this would be a big deal … it will cause an immediate shift in the Senate and Democrats would lose their majority, Michael Collins, Chief of Staff for Congressman John Lewis (d) told rollingout.com. If the shift happens, “the house would have to accept the Senate version of the reform plan to avoid conflict and immediately send it directly to the president to sign before the new member is sworn in. That’s just about the only way to get it passed.” Such a hasty move could ultimately leave constituents on both sides of the fence disappointed.
The cards are stacked against a democrat win, accordingly to preliminary polls, but stranger things have happened. Polls close at 8 p.m. in one of the biggest special elections in history. –gerald radford
