That is, after Jan 21, 2009 when the Republicans declared war on President Obama?
Answer -
From Sept. 25th 2009 to 12 Feb, 2010, when the most votes the Democrats and Independents (if Sen. Joe Lieberman decided to vote with the Dems) could muster was 58. Sen. Al Franken's Wisconsin seat was contested until July 7, 2009 and Sen. Ted Kennedy left the Senate Floor for the last time in early June, 2009; his democratic placeholder did not take office until Sept. 25th.
Since Scott Brown (R) won the special election for Ted Kennedy's seat and took office the next February, that pretty much clinched it for the Democratic Party managing to progress anything in the Senate afterwards. So during the window, if Lieberman was onboard with a bill, there might be no filibusters in the Senate for 5 months. Lieberman spent a lot of time in the Republican camp after the 2008 election, so he made sure his corporate interests were protected and from what I remember, he was pretty much instrumental in watering down bills that might make it to the floor so much that any chance of truly Progressive legislation during that window of opportunity was pretty much disappointing. Remember the debacle of the Affordable Health Care Act and HAMP? The legislation that was supposed to protect Consumer interests and punish recklessness in the Financial sector? That was Sen. Lieberman's doing.
The Tea Party backers pretty much purchased the House in 2010 aided to low voter turnout (disgusted progressives making a protest "no confidence vote" against halfhearted measures with their feet) and the obvious race baiting to the Republican base.
Haele
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