Joe Biden: Eric Cantor Told Me, 'I'll Lose My Position' If I Cut A Debt Deal With You

Obama's great big giveaway to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries was passed through reconciliation.  50 +1.  Lieberman wasn't needed.

And Republicans didn't filibuster; they threatened to filibuster.  

Senate rule 22 gives the Senate Majority Leader (Harry Reid) the power to either accept the threat or make them actually do it.  Whenever Reid has made them do it, whenever Reid has called the GOP's bluff, they've crumbled.  Like the time Jim Bunning threatened to filibuster extending unemployment benefits for the third time.  Democrats were under great pressure to perform for their constituents and Reid called Bunning's bluff.  

Bunning folded and unemployment benefits were extended.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost