Democrats enjoyed a greater majority in both houses of Congress than either party has had in decades. Even without 60 (but the Democratic Caucus in the Senate had 60). But one example is that Obama didn't need 60 to pass real healthcare reform. All Democrats needed was 50 plus Biden (reconciliation), which is what they did in the end anyway. But Democrats did it, reconciliation, for a corporate-pork-laden bill with no cost constraints that doesn't provide affordable quality medical treatment for anyone, much less everyone (what they were put into office to get).
Democrats also have refused to exercise the discretion that Senate Rule 22 allows: Making Republicans actually filibuster, instead of just threatening to do it.
Rule 22 gives the SenateMajorityLeader the discretion to actually make the call. Filibustering is hard on those soft, pampered bodies. HarryReid has refused to make them do it, letting them merely threaten. Reid should. Americans love reality TV. 'Survivor-Washington, DC'.
The few times Reid has forced Republicans to actually filibuster, when Democrats have really needed whatever the issue was (like when Jim Bunning threatened to filibuster over extending unemployment benefits), Republicans caved.
Reid lets them merely threaten. Still. All that talk about changing filibuster rules, and nothing has come of it. Senate rules can be changed at any time, and not just at the start of a new Congress - It can be done at any time (see page 6 - http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/45448.pdf ).
Nor is there just one way (or even two or three or more ways) for Democrats to get bills passed despite Republicans' obstructionistic tactics. But first they have to want to do it, with the fierce urgency of now (don't click on that link, don't watch it, if you aren't prepared and can't bear to have your cherished illusions about Obama destroyed).
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