“Al Franken’s recount victory in Minnesota’s US Senate race gives the Democratic majority its 60th senator — but no guarantee that the new ’supermajority’ will hold on tough votes on energy, healthcare reform, and war. That 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster by the minority party has been Exhibit A in fundraising appeals on both sides of the aisle throughout the 239-day recount in Minnesota. What the red-flagged e-mail appeals didn’t say was this: It may not matter. Take Jimmy Carter — the last US president with a filibuster-proof majority, at least on paper. President Carter came into office in 1977 with a head count of 61 senators in the Democratic majority, but it didn’t ensure him the votes to jump-start a morose economy or move White House tax and welfare reforms.” (07/01/09)