Reid reassures the left Lieberman is on board
Democratic Underground Latest Breaking News — ... the Democratic legislation after Reid (D-Nev.) announced he had included a government-run health insurance plan in the bill. But sources said Reid’s staff is telling liberal interest groups that Lieberman (Conn.) has assured Reid he will vote with Democrats in the necessary procedural vote to end debate, perhaps with intentions to change the bill. “Lieberman keeps assuring Reid that he’s OK,” said one source. “But he’s one of those characters — you never know with Joe. Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/66005-reid-reassures...

Lieberman won't filibuster, reaches "private" understanding with Reid
Open Left - Front Page — Last week, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced a merged health care bill including an opt-out public option. The next day, Senator Joe Lieberman threatened to vote against cloture on any health care bill with a public option. the same day, Reid promptly brushed off the threat, saying that "Joe Lieberman is the least of Harry Reid's problems." Now, sources claim the two Senators have reached a "private" understanding to let the bill go forward: Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry ...

The Note's Must-Reads for Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Note — ... LINK The Associated Press' Erica Werner: "2 tough health care issues remain in the House" LINK The Boston Globe's Political Intelligence: "GOP representative says health bill scarier than terrorists" LINK Politico’s Patrick O’Connor: “GOP health bill focuses on lower costs” LINK The Hill's Molly K. Hooper: "House GOP set to release healthcare bill" LINK The Hill's Alexander Bolton: "Reid reassures the left Lieberman is on board" LINK The Hill's Mike Soraghan: "Pelosi picks up centrist ‘yes’ votes in House" LINK ...

Lieberman Reportedly Agrees Not to Join Health Care Reform Filibuster
Politics Daily — ... Two sources say that Sen. Joe Lieberman has privately agreed with Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on health care, The Hill reports. Last week, Lieberman said he would join Republicans in filibustering the bill if it included a government insurance option. His spokesman said Monday that nothing had changed since his statement last week, but Reid has been assuring liberal interest groups that Lieberman has said he will vote with the Democrats to end debate. ...

Health Assurance
The Page by Mark Halperin — Getty The Hill: Lieberman is privately telling Reid he has nothing to worry about.

Lieberman's 'Private Understanding'? A Public Denial. -- By: Kathryn Jean Lopez
The Corner on National Review Online — The Hill has reported that Joe Lieberman "has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter." ...

A vanity exercise?
Political Animal — ... . That afternoon, reporters asked Reid about the likelihood of a Lieberman betrayal. "Joe Lieberman is the least of Harry Reid's problems," he replied. Does Reid know something about Lieberman the rest of us don't? Actually, he might . Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The unpredictable Democrat-turned-Independent last week publicly stated he would join Republicans in filibustering the Democratic legislation after Reid ...

Independents’ Day: GOP has high expectations, but indie energy may rule
The Note — ... One less obstacle? "Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter," The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. ...

Tuesday Linkage
The Political Carnival — I wish MSNBC would find some different theme music for elections. I'm like a damn Pavlovian dog, jumping every time I hear it. Possible therapy for long erections Poll shows Salt Lakers most liberal of Utah cities and towns Video- Worlds fastest man adopts fastest cat Inventor who claimed to have seen Nessie dies The Hill: Reid reassures the left Lieberman is on board Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a ...

Report: Lieberman Won't Filibuster Health Care After All
TPM Election Central — ... is expecting Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to vote with the Democratic majority to close debate and move to a final vote when Reid's health care bill hits the Senate floor. Lieberman's public promises to join a GOP filibuster of the bill because it contains a public option are just his attempt to influence the final bill, the sources told the newspaper -- in reality, Lieberman is not a threat to an up or down vote on health care reform. One Reid source, from The Hill's report: "Lieberman keeps assuring Reid that he's OK...But he's one of those ...

ThinkFast: November 3, 2009
Think Progress — ... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has reportedly reached a “private understanding” with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) that would ensure the Connecticut senator does not block a final vote on health care reform. “Lieberman keeps assuring Reid that he’s OK,” said one source. “But he’s one of those characters — you never know with Joe. ...

A Deal with Lieberman?
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire — Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) "has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform," The Hill reports. ...

“Lieberman is totally insincere.”
The Mahablog — ... There’s word today that Senator Lieberman is saying he won’t join a Republican filibuster of the health care bill after all. Harry Reid and Lieberman have reached a “private understanding” on the matter, Alexander Bolton says at The Hill. ...

Lieberman's Office: There Is No Deal On Health Care, He Will Still Filibuster Public Option
TPM Election Central — ... Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-CT) office is shooting down a report in The Hill that Lieberman has reached an understanding with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to not block health care reform. ...

I Still Say F U Lieberman
Delaware Liberal — Color me skeptical: Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter. The unpredictable Democrat-turned-Independent last week publicly stated he would join Republicans in filibustering the Democratic legislation after Reid (D-Nev.) announced he had included a government-run health insurance plan in the bill. But sources said Reid’s staff is telling liberal interest groups that Lieberman (Conn.) has assured Reid he will vote with ...

Capital Eye Opener: Tuesday, November 3
Capital Eye — ... NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) is getting heat from the left and the right in the debate about health insurance reform. Today, she will get a private meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the bill. As Talking Points Memo notes, Lincoln's not the only Democratic senator who has recently had face time with the president. So have Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and James Webb (D-Va.). Relatedly, The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has reached a ...

Lieberman Backing Down?
The Note — ... Has Joe Lieberman been bluffing?  An article in this morning's The Hill newspaper says Lieberman has "reached a private understanding" with Harry Reid that he won't block a final vote on a health care bill.  ...

Lieberman Agreement?
MyDD — Last night The Hill reported a secret agreement to secure Lieberman's cloture vote on health care reform. Today TPM has Reid's office denying it: Reid spokesman Jim Manley told us: "There is no such understanding. We hope to have his vote in the end but we are not there yet." A leadership aide also told us: "Senator Reid is speaking with Senator Lieberman and all members of his Caucus. To say that there is some 'understanding' about votes at the end of the process is preposterous." I wouldn't put too much weight in the ...

Harry Reid reassures left Lieberman on board
The Political Carnival — ... Wow, what a generous gesture! We so owe Joe! He deserves 4 more chairmanships now, because he is just. That. Awesome: Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter.We can always count on Traitor Joe. He's the swellest! But sources said Reid’s staff is telling liberal interest groups that Lieberman (Conn.) has assured Reid he will vote with Democrats in the necessary ...

Lieberman Denies Hill Report
Taylor Marsh — ... This soundly rebuts The Hill report that Sen. Lieberman had reached a “private understanding” with Reid on the filibuster. ...

Lieberman Camp Denies Hill Report
Taylor Marsh — ... This soundly rebuts The Hill report that Sen. Lieberman had reached a “private understanding” with Reid on the filibuster. ...

FDL Action Health Care Update: Tuesday (11/3/09)
Blue Commonwealth - Front Page — ... "Majority Leader Harry Reid has reached some sort of secret deal with Joe Lieberman (I-CT)," adding that "if Reid sells out the base again to appease Lieberman, he has much more to worry about than trying to get 60 votes for cloture."  You can say that again. ...

ThinkFast: November 3, 2009
The Hollywood Liberal — ... .” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has reportedly reached a “private understanding” with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) that would ensure the Connecticut senator does not block a final vote on health care reform . “Lieberman keeps assuring Reid that he’s OK,” said one source. “But he’s one of those characters — you never know with Joe.“Maine could become the first state to endorse gay marriage by popular referendum” today “as voters head to the polls to decide whether to repeal a recently-passed law legalizing unions between people of the same gender.” Following the ...

Sen. Lieberman “will oppose cloture on a final bill,” as Pelosi Forces Her Members to Walk the Plank
RedState — ... on either the cloture vote on the motion to proceed or on the cloture vote on the bill. What if the House votes and the bill dies in the Senate? How will the vulnerable, behind in the polls Democrats in the House feel then? Some are pointing to The Hill article today that cites liberals who have been repeating promises that Reid has said Lieberman has made to not kill the bill. On the other hand, Senator Lieberman’s spokesperson has been clear on this point, as The Hill article states: “Lieberman’s spokesman said Monday that nothing has changed ...

Lieberman Pledges To Filibuster House Bill: The Public Option Is ‘Unnecessary’
Think Progress — ... . But a few days later, the Hill reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office was confident Lieberman would “vote with Democrats in the necessary procedural vote to end debate, perhaps with intentions to change the bill.” Today, Lieberman made it clear where he stands. ...

Feel the Joementum
Political Animal — FEEL THE JOEMENTUM.... There was a report this week that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), despite threats of joining Republican efforts to kill health care reform, has quietly told the Senate Democratic leadership that, when push comes to shove, ...

Lieberman Pledges To Filibuster House Bill: The Public Option Is ?Unnecessary?
The Hollywood Liberal — ... . But a few days later, the Hill reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office was confident Lieberman would “ vote with Democrats in the necessary procedural vote to end debate, perhaps with intentions to change the bill.” Today, Lieberman made it clear where he stands. It isn’t really Lieberman’s “conscience” that is driving him to oppose the public option — more likely it’s his ego (since he told reporters that he likes feeling “ ...