Which makes this assertion from Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer that they have the votes to pass ObamaCare that much more confusing. There’s no indication that Blue Dogs are any happier today than yesterday, the leader of the conservative Democratic coalition himself says there is “a long way to go”, opinion polls are growing gloomier by the day, but suddenly there are votes the pass the sucker? Sounds like a bluff intended to get waverers on board to me.

Anyhoo, back to Durbin:

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that a pre-recess vote on healthcare reform is unlikely.

“We’re going to take a little longer to get it right,” Durbin told The Hill when asked about the oft-stated goal of a vote on or before Aug. 7, when a monthlong Senate recess begins. “Initially we had hoped for a full vote by then, but I don’t think it’s going to be possible.”

You know why? Because they simply don’t have the votes.

Moderate and conservative Democrats are a tad bit concerned about the $1.5 trillion+ cost of the monstrosity; they see polls that show the public now fully against this measure and disapproving of how Democrats are handling the issue; and they have this odd thing with wanting to stay employed past 2010. Democrats now literally have voters laughing at their assertions during pro-Obamacare meetings. So the votes aren’t there for ObamaCare.

Then there’s this:

The realities of the Senate’s next few weeks makes Durbin’s position understandable. The Senate Finance Committee is now not expected to finish its markup of its healthcare bill until next week, at which point it would have to be reconciled with the version passed last week by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

What is likely, according to Democratic aides, is to have the unified version of that bill introduced on the floor before the recess, even if it is not brought to a final vote.

But approximately 80 amendments are expected to the bill, which would take up several days of debate.

A post-recess vote wouldn’t simply put this off until September. Even after both chambers pass their respective legislation — hardly a guarantee at this point and looking less likely by the day — the bill need to be reconciled in conference. Both chambers then have to pass the reconciled legislation again. Even assuming everything going smoothly for liberal Democrats — again hardly a guarantee and becoming less likely by the day — you’re looking at mid-October.

Tonight’s press conference with Obama should be interesting…