'Big Vote for Harry Reid'

" Well -- news today in health care as the full senate gets ready to gear up for its first vote. On health care reform that's gonna happen tomorrow night over the course of several hours were told. Here's a very interesting brand new Fox News poll to show you. 37%. Of Americans think they would be worse off. Under this proposed legislation that's tied with the number of people who think it will make no difference interestingly to them. Now senate majority leader Harry Reid needs the support. Every member of his caucus he cannot lose anybody he needs sixty votes to get this bill to the floor for debate that's what they're voting on here just remind you. In this passage would mean that they will bring the bit to the floor to talk about. Now some political analysts -- say that this bill this health care bell. Could wind up making or breaking the majority leader's own political future to go to the latest polls from the mason Dixon polls in October. These are the most recent -- polls that are out there showing senator Reid is trailing his GOP challenger for reelection in Nevada by 5% so he's got a tough race. -- at home let's bring in our panel Bill Kristol is editor of the weekly standard and Fox News contributor Peter maintaining as a former adviser to both the Clinton gore campaign's. And gore Lieberman campaign a welcome -- great to have both of you with us. Peter because we're talking about Harry Reid's career. Do you agree that you -- me think if he doesn't pass this bill. He could not be reelected. Well."

" No no question this is a big vote for Harry Reid and spent a lot of time and energy and expend a lot of political capital on this so certainly a lot is on the line for him. I think -- you know he's had some good news recently would land through. And Nelson. You know coming forward and saying that they would support this. And that's so you know -- a close vote tomorrow and Saturday but no question this is a big vote for --"

" It you know assistant to -- Mary Landrieu Alaska could question let me put this to bill first there's some reports out there today questioning the fact that Mary -- out. Louisiana guy gets a hundred million dollars out of this bill. That goes to Louisiana specifically and -- the language is fairly broad. But you know how -- what's your take on why and that -- came through for Louisiana right now about."

" Obviously because Maryland -- a key vote for. Senator Reid he's going to get sixty votes he needs tomorrow night my judgment to. Get cloture to move on to the bill I believe he is currently short of the sixty votes he needs to actually get cloture to end debate on the bill which will try to get for Christmas. And then pass it so. I actually think Harry Reid will be better off politically if this bill fails if he makes a good faith effort you can tell liberals I did my best. Lieberman Landrieu and -- since the end of the day on December 41 to second. Won't vote for cloture then it collapses that he could pass the smaller health care legislation -- bipartisan way next year. And go to the voters in Nevada and say you know we ended up doing some good things if this bill passes keeping tax increases on an economy with ten point 2% unemployment rate and -- really hurting. I think at this faux -- is actually it's worse for Harry Reid. "

" Yet you know it is fascinating -- I'm just like holding -- this is section 2006. Of the 2074. Page bell. And this is the language in here apparently that that would allow Louisiana to get this money and in -- clincher moment. You know the -- language when you try to read -- some of this stuff you know -- section 1905. In subsection in the first sentence by striking subsection -- have sections YA NA NA and it comes hot like that. But apparently means nice -- money for Louisiana do you read into that at all -- Mary Jane again."

" Well I know there are -- a student of history more -- and you -- as well I mean you read Robert Carroll's book master of the sudden look at Lyndon Johnson in the deals that he had to cut. To pass legislation that's what you do that's. The definition of politics is the art of compromise and that's what. Harry Reid has to -- to get this legislation. Forward and you you have to do things to work with other members of your caucus that concerns -- the other on the bill."

" I think -- people let's -- up pictures of senator Lieberman senator Snowe and Collins. They'll talk to -- in of the two main issues here that number of these people detection British say you're struggling with and one is the public option. I and the other one is the issue of abortion now and these are the folks that Harry -- going to be working very hard to pull overweight thing about those -- now."

" I think they both Saturday night as a courtesy to their leader the majority leader to let the bill cut to the -- to curtsy to the president. And then they I think several couples and at least to not vote for cloture. -- and -- Didn't -- before Christmas because they have objections the bill but the biggest thing that's gonna happen it's not gonna based on ones who votes I suspect. Will the bill continue to lose momentum of the next three or four weeks or not that's the big question it's right now on popular. But the Democrats might think you know they can live with kind of forty to fifty break and muscle it through and look at some credit for passing something. I think if the jobless number in the first week of December is bad if it's higher than ten point 2%. Just the notion that you're passing tax increases in this economy. I think by itself that might cause seven or eight -- moderate Democrats say you know what what we do it I mean and let's just let it let it fail. That doesn't mean health -- for the whole session of congress has plenty of stuff the Republicans -- for doing smaller things. It's when he ten I think that's most likely scenario."

" Yeah I admit I Peter says the bill raises a very good point here. One of the questions is not whether or not people in this country want to address some form of health care reform. -- way they think it should be the front burner issue right now and whether or not they're willing. To see any gains huge tax increases that would follow on a lot of Americans -- to paper this military -- been very up -- about."

" Well look I mean they'll build a very magnanimous about what he thinks the Democrats should do about the bottom line is is that. The democratic constituency and a you can look at a variety of different polls that says the -- Americans do believe there should be a public option you just. Whatever -- you pick you can make your own argument. And that there should be some began about health care reform so. I think there's been too much at stake too much political capital for them to play here by both the administration by Democrats not to get something done. And then once they get this done of course -- attention will turn the jobs in the unemployment figures in the other challenges the country faces so. I'm of the mind that. Democrats are power they need to show that they got something done something big like this something that hasn't been done in thirty years is a is a big big win."

" Iowa's -- both right which show would mean that did the bill would actually get to debate. On the floor as you put it felt to be courtesy. You know -- and senate majority leader but then than going could get pretty rough. Gentlemen -- is that -- the new of this Bill Kristol thank you very much after joining -- can be retaining thank you very much season."