Obama is determined...

...to get his legislation through. So much so that he has asked Congressional Democrats to move his bills through without any Republican support. Obama intends to use the budget shortcut called "budget reconciliation" to get his legislation approved. GOPers are fuming...

"That would be the Chicago approach to governing: Strong-arm it through," said Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who briefly considered joining the Obama administration as commerce secretary. "You're talking about the exact opposite of bipartisan. You're talking about running over the minority, putting them in cement and throwing them in the Chicago River."

Ok, whatever it takes, Mr. Gregg. Your cement shoes are ready whenever you are. Standing in the way of progress at a time of national emergency will get you moved to the irrelevant bucket faster than you can say "obstructionist." How is this possible, you ask? Here's how.

The shortcut, known as "budget reconciliation," would allow Obama's health and energy proposals to be rolled into a bill that cannot be filibustered, meaning Democrats could push it through the Senate with 51 votes, instead of the usual 60. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton both used the tactic to win deficit-reduction packages, while George W. Bush used it to push through his signature tax cuts.

Make it so, Number One.