The Senate Republicans have filibustered the minimum-wage increase. You’ve got to hand it to them: they have no compunction in blocking something that they don’t like, regardless of whether someone says it is popular or not. They aren’t cowed like the Democrats were over habeas corpus.
But that doesn’t mean that concerted political action can’t help cow them. Take a look at the list of those GOP Senators who voted with the Democrats: Coleman, Collins, Warner, Specter. Notice something? Sure: three of the four are up in 2008, and two–Coleman and Collins–might have tough fights on their hands.
That means that Sununu of New Hampshire and Smith of Oregon, both of whom are up in 2008, and in blue states, might need to hear from their constituents in the next few days. And loudly. If Carper shows up and votes for cloture, and Johnson recovers and votes the same in a few months, that gets us to 58 votes if Sununu and Smith are effectively pressured.
Perhaps Moveon.org, which did a great attack ad on McCain in New Hampshire, might want to reserve some of their air time to let Granite Staters know how little Senator Sununu cares about their interests. Who knows? Maybe North Carolinians should know the same about Elizabeth Dole. Any other Senators who are up and who should be reminded whom they work for?
Attack.
