51-49

Has a way of clarifying everything. Kent Conrad of North Dakota simply wanted an amendment providing disaster relief to battered farmers and ranchers in his state. The majority denied it. He fought back.

SEN. CONRAD: I've been advised that the other side may intend to raise Rule 16 against my amendment. I would just ask them before they make that judgment...if were going to get treated this way...they should be prepared for me to play hardball, too...if others are going to give us short shrift...then I am prepared to play hardball, too.
Little Ricky stood up and issued his point of order.

...this is how emergency disasters have been dealt with year after year after year...what I am seeking to do is get a vote...now they can deny the vote, at least tempoorarily, but if they think that is the end of the story they are wrong, we're going to be back. Look, if my colleagues are going to invoke Rule 16 on this measure...[and] prevent a vote, then things are going to get very tough around here. I know the rules of the Senate, and if people think they can just ramrod things and prevent farmers and ranchers in this country a vote on desparately needed disaster assistance, then this body is going to slow way down. So my colleagues can use their rights and I will use mine. Let there be no doubt about what the result will be. This place will have a hard time functioning...

This is why the current Congressional lame duck session will live up to its name. Republicans have only one way of negotiating - push right through the opposition. And that Democrats will say "go ahead and try it, and prepare for two long years." And with Mr. 31% in no position to use the bully pulpit, it's clear that the fears, while well-founded, of Republicans being able to ramrod through dangerous legislation in the lame duck session will amount to little. Democrats, for the first time in a while, have something over on the Republicans. And they're not afraid to use their newly acquired power.

So if you want to get anything done in this session, or in the 110th Congress, on both sides, then compromise. It's what the people want.