Our nation is slowly heading more towards socialism, and from there maybe even communism. I don't know what's in store in the future, but if things keep going the way they are, it won't be good.

Agreed. Thank you. That does change the context.

When I have time I will return and post what I can find about secretive voting, special security comittees etc.

I believe it is called something like "the gang of seven" who vote on black ops and special black project funding etc.

Folks, it's this simple: The Senate RULES are merely about decorum. The "Filibuster" is more a tradition of what they honor and is NOT a Constitutional rule or even a law that must be followed. The Senate, merely honors its own rules by tradition.

Everything, that is now being done to pass Health Care -- is something that was done many, many times with the Republicans and George Bush. Their fat tax-cut for Billionaires was squeaked through. 3AM appointments -- people given a permanent government appointment via "Recess" when politicians are leaving for holiday. It's all been done.

The main problem is: the Democrats are spineless, and they don't make a stink when the Republicans and News Media lie. That's the main support for their nonsense and "facts" -- just bald faced lying. Republicans don't have the moral high ground, haven't passed one bill I can think of in 30 years that HELPS the American worker, and if we are keeping score, are slightly more Corporate and crooked than the Democratic party.

Our economic crash is likely coming, but the difference is; do we want a parachute when we hit? In the first "Republican Great Depression" America was a major exporter, we had large farms, we had self-reliance and a can do attitude. We can all skip a few meals, but can we really survive our own self-righteous whining and forgetting that we can solve problems together?

Our Democracy, is the only real power between us and everything else with power; foreign nations, multinational corporations, and coordinating our efforts for the common good. The REAL PROBLEM, is we've forgotten that government is NOT the problem -- it is US. And we let Robber Barons convince us we can trust the wealthy and government will always fail. Then they bribed, manipulated, and educated a whole generation of Politicians to prove to us just that.

>> I don't like the Health Care Bill at all, but that's not the point here. The Democratic House and Senate are the elected representatives we have -- and they are using the process to pass a bill -- it isn't any more EVIL than that. But the Media is so manipulated, it's a "conspiracy."

All the Democrats need to do, is enter the Senate with the same number of people to vote YEA as the Republicans have to vote NAY. When the Republicans vote against cloture (coming to a vote -- so voting on whether everyone is ready to vote), the Democrats can tie the vote. Thus, Joe Lieberman can break the tie, and send the bill to resolution -- no nuclear option required. Is it a trick to get around the roadblocks? Sure. But the Republicans are interfering with the Democratic process once again and the Filibuster was never intended to be used to CONTROL the political process -- so THEY have interfered with the Democratic process by using cheap tricks.

High time that the Democrats start being as underhanded as the Republicans if they are going to be accused of it anyway.