From Fox News, October 27, 2009. “Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-Independent from Connecticut, said Tuesday that he will not vote for a healthcare reform bill that includes a government-run insurance plan. This means that as things now stand, Democrats will not have enough votes to pass healthcare reform with a so-called public option unless Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) can pick up unexpected GOP votes. Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine), the only Republican to vote for

“I am no longer going to throw my vote away by giving it to the party,” he vows, confirming Gingrich’s fears of independent challengers splitting Republicans in purple districts into conservative and moderate camps next year and handing the district to the Democrat. In fact, I thought of Beck and his “In or Out” litmus test (which he touched on briefly tonight) while writing this post last week. Given his activist ambitions, it’s easy to imagine him using his show to encourage and promote a va

* Do Dems fear a 2010 election day overshadowed by “Obama’s recession”? * Another prominent Democrat has pulled out of left-leaning pro-Israel group J-Street’s big conference, which is under assault from the right. J-Street spokesperson Amy Spitalnick confirms to our reporter Beth Marlowe that Senator Kay Hagan has pulled out as of this afternoon. She’d been on the conference’s host committee, and she didn’t give a reason for dropping out. * A House aide tells me no decision un

-By Warner Todd Huston Roll Call is reporting that the $250 billion extension to the Medicare physician payment program was defeated in the Senate today. Reid couldn’t even get a simple majority losing in a 47 to 53 vote. Naturally Democrat Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev) blames the Republicans. Reid complained that the loss was a result of “activities and actions by the Republican-dominated Washington.” Seriously. A “Republican dominated Washington”? Did Harry Reid miss the fact that th

Don’t you think? There are definite problems with having a bicameral legislature: WASHINGTON – For Democrats determined to get a health care bill, Sen. Roland Burris is like the house guest who couldn’t be refused, won’t soon be leaving and poses a plausible threat of ruining holiday dinner. Suddenly, he can no longer be ignored. The Illinois Democrat, appointed by disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, says he’ll only vote for a bill to provide health care to millions more Americans as l