How would reconciliation affect the 2010 Mid-Terms?

[Padfoot]

How about among independents, a key group that Obama is struggling to hold onto.  This is the group that looks for bi-partisanship more than Republicans or Democrats.  If the Democrats spit in the face of Republicans and thumb their nose at bi-partisanship and "go it alone", to borrow a phrase from the Bush years, will that destroy Obama's image of trying to reach across the aisle that he campaigned on.  Will that hurt the Democrats or affect the make-up of the Congress in anyway on November 2, 2010?

I think voters will have long enough memories to recall that most Republicans balked at passing ANY sort of health care reform and, with a few exceptions, did not reciprocate good faith efforts at bipartisanship.  Yes, Democrats will probably end up "going alone" but voters will realize it was because of Republican stubbornness, not Democratic partisanship.

[Padfoot]

How about among independents, a key group that Obama is struggling to hold onto.  This is the group that looks for bi-partisanship more than Republicans or Democrats.  If the Democrats spit in the face of Republicans and thumb their nose at bi-partisanship and "go it alone", to borrow a phrase from the Bush years, will that destroy Obama's image of trying to reach across the aisle that he campaigned on.  Will that hurt the Democrats or affect the make-up of the Congress in anyway on November 2, 2010?

I think voters will have long enough memories to recall that most Republicans balked at passing ANY sort of health care reform and, with a few exceptions, did not reciprocate good faith efforts at bipartisanship.  Yes, Democrats will probably end up "going alone" but voters will realize it was because of Republican stubbornness, not Democratic partisanship.

Hmmmm... 60 votes in the Senate, 256 in the house... Yep, it's definitely Republican's fault if nothing passes

Ummm... you should read more carefully.  It wasn't a question of whether it passes because it will pass.  There is no doubt in my mind that Democrats are going to pass some form of health care reform.  I never said anything about blaming Republicans for killing health care reform.

The question is how will it pass and what affect will that have on the midterms.  Will Republicans kick and scream and force the Democrats to use procedures like reconciliation in the hope of painting the Democrats as big government villains in 2010?  Or will moderate Republican voices step up resulting in at least some degree of bipartisanship perhaps giving Democrats a step up in 2010 and/or risking their own reelection?