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Now that the Minnesota Supreme Court has ended the long count on the 2008 Senate race by awarding the seat to Al Franken, Democrats - at least on paper - have the power to pass whatever bills they want, without a single Republican vote.

Nothing would be a bigger mistake.

Franken, the loud-mouthed former comedian, will be the 60th member of the Senate Democratic caucus - just enough for them to cut off any filibuster threat if they can muster all their own members. With the solid majorities in both houses, the Democratic leaders, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, could dismiss Republican objections to any bill.



Scholars will also make the point that when complex legislation like this is being shaped, the substance will likely be improved when ideas are contributed from both sides of the aisle. Back in February, when the White House was searching for 60 votes to end debate on the economic stimulus bill, Obama was rescued by three Republicans - Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who later switched to the Democratic Party.


The second big win came just days ago, when the House for the first time passed an energy bill limiting future discharges of environmentally dangerous carbon. The vote was 219-212.

For all the attention paid to the concessions made to hold the Democratic defections down to 44, few noticed that if Obama had not been helped by eight Republicans, his margin might have been wiped out. Those eight who defied their own leadership, with their Senate counterparts, they will be crucial again on health care.

To ignore them would be really dumb.

David Broder's e-mail address is

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