Subject: Re: Democratic senators fear getting ‘hammered’
My idea was simply to abstain in the votes. Don't vote "yes" in support. Abstain. Then pummel the Reps about the ACA, and other things making their lives more difficult, next summer during the mid-term campaigns.

They can't really do that.

I mean, they could. They don't even need to abstain. The GOP has a majority, after all. They actually could all just vote against the bill in the Senate. As long as no one filibustered, the bill would pass by a simple 52-48 majority (Paul would vote against it, I think).

But that would never happen. There's no way they would ever get every single Democratic senator to agree not to filibuster.

If it's filibustered, then the Republicans need eight affirmative Democratic votes (again, assuming Paul votes against). Which means the Democrats have to affirmatively help them over the line.

The filibuster isn't based on senators present, but 3/5 of the entire membership of the Senate - so it's always 60 affirmative votes, no matter how many are in the chamber.