Do the Math, Fools

Charles Schumer's public option amendment went down 13-10. Baucus says because the Dems don't have 60 votes in the full chamber, he can't support sending the bill out of committee. What the fuck is that all about? If he and Conrad had switched from "Nay" to "Yay," the public option would pass Finance 12-11 and health care reform would be headed into mark-up with every version featuring some form of public option. From there it's a short drive to 51-vote passage, and then you make the Republicans filibuster. Haven't these guys ever heard of an "upper-down vote?"(sic) Truth be told, what they are afraid of is having to vote with the Republicans to filibuster the public option in an open hearing on the floor of the Senate. America is watching, you calculating bastards.