Why doesn't Harry Reid force an old-fashioned filibuster that could make Republicans look silly? Because he can't.

The Senate Majority Leader must get 60 votes to start the health care debate -- which he aims to try on Saturday -- and he'll need that many again when it comes time to try and stop the debate for an up-or-down vote.

So why not make Republicans really filibuster, provoking the spectacle of marathon speechmaking? Because it's just not that simple.

Under Senate rules, filibusterers need to do no more than call for endless rounds of quorum calls. The only drama for television would be watching successive roll calls, and that's nothing like the Hollywood scenario we saw with Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

No, as we point out in today's Video Trail Mix (produced by CQ-Roll Call's Andrew Satter), Reid is doing all that he can do -- collect 60 votes for a super-majority that allows a final vote.

Meet Up with Craig and Helen Thomas
Get a signed copy of "Listen Up, Mr. President"
Saturday (11/21) 1:00-3:00 PM ET
American History Museum, Washington DC

Craig looks at how attack ads seem to have backfired in Tuesday's elections.

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Thursday (11/5) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC)
(TV simulcast on FOXBusiness)

It's not like this president is the first to target unfriendly media. Video Trail Mix looks back at other presidential media wars.

Craig defines the hysterical pundit syndrome. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

In this Trail Mix Video Craig ponders the advent of "czarism" in the White House. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Craig on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann"
Tonight (9/15) MSNBC 8:50 PM EDT 

The futility of trying to "fix" Afghanistan could be seen 35 years ago in one of John Huston's best films. Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter.

It's a dubious honor to be sure, but only one more day of voting left to elect Craig the official FishbowlDC Class Clown.. http://bit.ly/2sNIY0

Now on Politics (Un)Seriously:
Uncle Sam Meets Helen Thomas

Craig proposes the Trail Mix Health Plan for making Co-ops work. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter).

New on the Trail Mix Blogroll: 
Carol's Southern Spice (ct)
Liberator Campaign (Patton's Boston Regiment)
Same Time Tomorrow (Sean Holton, aka "Lard")

 

In the dark recesses of Trail Mix headquarters, Craig comes up with an intriguing theory about the return of the Clinton brand and what it means for the next presidential election.
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

If lawmakers really want to pass health care, they would work through their August recess. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Friday (7/31) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC) / WJZW-FM (DC)
(Simulcast on RFD-TV)

Craig answers those who complain that President Barack Obama is making us more like Europe. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

In this Trail Mix Web Cam video, Craig touts Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's empathy for the broken-ankled.

 
Craig tries to keep up with the President on yet another trip abroad. Who needs Air Force One when you have Green Screen One (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter).

A video tribute to Thomas Jefferson, author of The Declaration of American Independence (July 4, 1776). Read by Bill Barker of Williamsburg, VA. Edited by Craig Crawford.

Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found

Happy Holiday Trail Mixers!

In this Trail Mix Web Cam, Craig gets all worked up about plans to tax soft drinks for health care.

 
Abandoning family values in their own lives is one way for GOP leaders to expand their base beyond social conservatives. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Craig shares his quit-smoking strategy with Pres. Obama (and anyone else who's ready to kick the habit).

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Wednesday (6/24) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC) / WJZW-FM (DC)
(Simulcast on RFD-TV)

Join the campaign to establish
Liberator Status for Patton's Boston Regiment

How to Add Your Comments on Trail Mix

 

Craig laments the fall of GM with his matchbox cars.
(Trail Mix Web Cam)

Craig on "Imus in the Morning"
Thursday (6/4) 6:30 AM EST
Listen Live: WABC-AM (NYC) / WJZW-FM (DC)
(Simulcast on RFD-TV)

In this Trail Mix Web Cam, Craig looks at how Republicans are promoting fear of released terrorists.

Follow Craig on Twitter, Facebook,
The Huffington Post, and You Tube

Craig explores politics in the garden.
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

See last year's Garden Video

Craig explores the Cheney-Obama death match (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Stress testing banks inspires Craig for a rare at-home workout. Anyone can pass if the test is easy enough. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Coming Saturday on Trail Mix:
Craig's Real-Time Video Coverage
of the White House Correspondents Dinner

Craig to preview White House Correspondents Dinner
Tonight (5/8) MSNBC "Countdown" 8:55 PM ET

Craig pays homage to the show 'Mystery Science Theater' during President Obama's 100th-day press conference. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Craig looks at how the rise of Earth Day boosts environmental politics. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Live Online Discussion

Earth Day, Wednesday April 22 @ 2 PM ET
Explore energy and climate change policy
in a live online discussion with CQ's Coral Davenport
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION NOW

Even as Craig's Peace Dove starts a new family, the hawks are circling. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Meet the Trail Mix Peace Dove (as seen in today's video)

Click photos to enlarge

Craig and Keith Olbermann tracking Sarah Palin (MSNBC, 4/8)

If the G20 Summit were a tasty stew, what would it look like? Craig finds out, but keep your Pepto-Bismol handy!
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

How To Comment on Trail Mix 

Craig says that a snub at Tuesday's primetime press conference was another blow to the already struggling newspaper industry.
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

The follow-up question is back at White House press conferences -- and President Barack Obama might come to regret it.

The White House press corps used their follow-ups to push the President to the point of anger over skeptical questions about how his ballooning federal budget plans could possibly cut the deficit in half, as he has promised to do.

It was a follow-up about Obama's delay in showing outrage about AIG bonuses -- asked by CNN's Ed Henry -- that produced a terse rebuke from the President: "Because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak."

Obama's barb probably served him well before the live audience, but it was not much of an answer. And given the evolution of his administration's handling of the AIG matter since his original remarks -- from vowing to stop the bonuses to urging the Senate to put the brakes on a House plan to tax them -- it seems worth wondering if the President really did know what he was "talking about" when he first spoke on the subject.

Things went much more smoothly for Obama in his first press conference last month. Only one reporter even tried to ask a follow-up and the President cut it off without an answer.

Still, give Obama credit for already setting a more regular pace of press conferences and for accepting more follow-up questions than his immediate predecessor ever did.

In today's Video Trail Mix, we review the Republican Party's first 50 days in the Age of Obama -- and we find that the GOP is all over the map.

Democratic Party efforts to paint Rush Limbaugh as the head of the oppposing party are nothing new. In Video Trail Mix, Craig looks at an old tactic called the 'straw man' strategy.
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter

In today's Video Trail Mix, Craig ponders how governors could lead the way for a GOP comeback.

Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter

Listening to the politicians debate economics, Craig flashes back in a tribute to the ABC television thriller, "Lost."

Follow Craig on Twitter

Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter

The payroll tax cut portion of President Obama's stimulus package will give each American worker about $13 a week. Craig finds that in one of the nation's glitziest neighborhoods, that won't buy much.

Make Your Own Hard Times Video (Deadline Feb. 19)

Follow Craig on Twitter

Craig with George Stephanopoulos and others on yesterday's WMAL panel

Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter

Trail Mix "Make Your Own Ode" Contest

The songs and movies of the 1930's had a unifying effect on the country during the Great Depression. We want to see your contributions about today's crisis. Sing a song, read a poem, a monologue, perform a skit -- whatever you do best (yodeling is allowed). Make your own video and put it on YouTube. Send the link to trailmix@cq.com by Feb. 19 and we'll feature our favorites in a future Video Trail Mix.

Craig is on MSNBC Friday (2/6)
9:30 and 11:00 AM EST (times vary)

Follow Craig's "Tweets"
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Craig looks at horror stories being spun about the President's economic recovery plan. (Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)

Craig says there are multiple reasons the inauguration of Barack Obama will be historic. He uses dolls to illustrate his point.
(Produced by CQ's Andrew Satter)