Fox's Van Susteren claims Dems might use "nuclear option, which is slang for ... reconciliation"

Faux Noise and the insurance companies, and the Conservative lobbying groups wind people up with a lot of misinformation and launch them at Democratic members of Congress to voice their opposition to plans that might actually help them, if they bothered to learn the details. Then Greta gets Kyl to poo-poo the Nuclear Option, a term coined by Trent Lott for a technique pioneered by Republicans to stomp down Democratic opposition during the halcyon days of the Republican majority. When Democrats use their tool against them, they scream bloody murder. Ah, too bad. Maybe the next time you get into power, which I hope is a long, long time from now, Conservatives/Republicans will be more careful about the tools you create to squash your opponents, even if it is only out of self-interest. (I won't call it enlightened, since clearly the Conservatives aren't.) We (53% of the 70% of registered voters who voted in the last election) gave the Democrats a mandate to work on health care and getting us out of Iraq. It is high time they remember that. This majority of the people that Kyl speaks about actually favor the plan once they find out what it REALLY says, instead of the distortions being fronted.

Weren't the Republicans openly and proudly threatening to use the "nuclear option" a few years ago? Even if this were the same thing (it isn't) why was it OK for the Reps then but it's not for the Dems now?

Rachel Maddow did a good segment explaining the ridiculousness of the Republican senators... although her basketball analogy was kind of silly... kind of Beck-ish Rachel

Why have we accepted this Republican created "Filibuster" rule that the Republicans have abused ever since they became the minority party.

The Constitution says to pass a bill in the Senate you need 51 votes... really 50 right now because the Vice-President casts the tie breaking vote.

This 60 vote nonsense came to being because of the obstructionist Filibuster rule that used to require the opposing minority to actually hold the floor by speaking continuously, thus interrupting the senate activities. Senate Rule 22 made it easier for them by allowing them to just announce a filibuster causing the same effect. That rule should be appealed. We have made it too easy for a 40 person minority to stop a bill, if they want to use these parliamentary rules to be obstructionists, let's make them stand up and speak... non-stop... for days. Let's get them on CSPAN and see their faces as they pass the baton between those who want to be obstructionist.

This rule has subverted the constitution which only a majority of the Senate. The Mr. Smith Goes to Washington glamour of the filibuster is gone... it's become too easy.

"Van Susteren" is slang for "another Moonie Republican tool."