Regarding "takes 60 votes to accomplish anything..."--- In fact it only takes 51. 60 is merely needed to invoke cloture and end the filibuster. So lets say FAA reauth only gets 55 votes (5 dems vote no). That doesn't mean they'll let the repubs filibuster. Reid can call a vote for cloture at any time, and those 5 blue dogs (or whatever they call themselves), may very well vote YES on cloture even though they voted NO on the bill. That is the real power of the super-majority.