Ellington

Things are starting to get interesting in the healthcare legislation. From ABC's the Note, Jonathan Karl is reporting that word is now that Harry Reid may well include the "public option" in the bill that he presents to the floor of the Senate, suggesting that the whip count might allow him to get 60 votes to end a GOP filibuster of the bill even if he only ends up with 51 votes, ultimately, to pass the bill. Procedurally, this would cover everyone's butts in the process:

And Democratic critics of the public option would get a chance to go on-the-record with their opposition by voting for an amendment to strip it from the health care bill. Under Senate rules, such an amendment would need 60 votes to pass. And while there may not be 60 votes in favor of a public option, there are also not 60 votes against it. So, it would remain in the bill.

Here's what's interesting to me...are they really going to filibuster? Are GOP senators going to stand up there and read from the Bible and the Constitution and filibuster their little "Mr. Smith" hearts out in order to keep people from getting better access to healthcare? When the polls read that a majority favors a public option and a super-majority favors reform of healthcare insurance, it'll be interesting to see if there's a bluff to be called over this whole filibuster thing.

Meanwhile, the AHIP is cutting loose of their "bi-partisan" support for healthcare reform, telling the GOP that the Democrats in Congress are "the enemy" and that there is "absolutely...no reason Republicans should ever vote for this thing."

Is that good advice? The used to call the GOP the "cocktail party" back in the days on FDR because all it tried to do was obstruct Democrats in the interest of their corporate backers. Is that the wise play this go-round?

Previous Comments

ID

152869

Comment

At last it's gonna be a showdown at the UN-OK Corral, the House and Senate. Barry Steve has finally put on his whip-ass britches and is locked, cocked and ready to rock. This is going to be as ugly as old, ugly and decrepit southern males fighting off Civil Rights, the New Deal, Christianity, Humanity and Common Decency to carry on their evil ways. This time they will have the open assistance and undying loyalty from GOP members beyond the Southern borders and male gender. We will get to see the repugnant party at its finest with Anne, Rusty, Michelle (not the Obama one), Sean, Michael, and Bill refereeing and Foxinizing or foxifying the whole process. We won't have to wonder who and what they are any more. Assuming any doubt is left. Indeed the GOP Senators, Representatives too, will use the Bible or anything else they can use to maintain their backward and unprogressive ways. Ace told me recently the problem he has with republicans is they will steal the breath from a corpse one minute and preach the Sermon on the Mount a few seconds later. I protested his characterization and he implored me to just look back and think. Upon doing this I was rendered unable to argue further to the contrary.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-10-26T17:41:00-06:00

ID

152871

Comment

It will also be interesting to see what Gene"the secret republican" Taylor will likewise do. Perhaps he'll finally openly declare his loyalty to the GOP. Unfortunately, there are 4 or 5 more Democrats just like him. They call themselves Bluedogs, I think. Yet, I know they're just yellow and the grand ole party type. The proof is in the pudding o deeds.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-10-26T17:54:49-06:00

ID

152885

Comment

What's going on? None of my republican comrades want to play ball about the public option any more? I guess I'm tantamount to the Saints right now. I've been kicking booty so long and so decisively that no one wants to play football with me anymore. Healthcare reform with the public option is on it's way! Did y'all hear about the pilots missing the mark by 150 miles? Now they're claiming they were playing on the internet. Rumors are spreading that they were stroke-backing or sharpening each others pencils while flying the friendly skies. I hope not. That kind of carrying on at high atmospheric conditions will get somebody killed.

Author

Walt

Date

2009-10-27T16:48:09-06:00

ID

152925

Comment

Walt, those pilots were asleep. They could not have argued that long before going to physical blows - enough to let the stewarts know that something was going down. That's the way we do it where I'm from. On a more serious note, I'm glad to see the public option considered. This is really the heart of the bill or at least it should be. It's the folks who don't have insurance from a host of reasons (1)pre-existing conditions (2)job loss (3)sick but unable to qualify for disability/medicaid and the list goes on. I was so tired of all of the wrangling with Ms. Snow. It was about time to melt her behind. Now the focus in on Leberman. He is soooo predictable. It is time to strip the stripes off of this zebra: He is really a conservative repub.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-10-29T09:38:52-06:00

ID

152929

Comment

Why are conservatives trying to convince people that we should be beholden to insurance companies? What do insurance companies have to do with providing healthcare other than being the middle men and jacking up prices so they can make money? Conservatives and some Democrats are more concerned with the health of insurance companies than they are with individual's personal health. Why should my main concern be if an insurance company loses business or does not make enough money when I am trying to provide healthcare for me and my family? The insurance company does its very best to deny me and everyone else every opportunity it can to access healthcare. The very notion that a "public option" is bad is ridiculous.

Author

Goldenae

Date

2009-10-29T10:07:08-06:00

ID

152931

Comment

Goldenae, it's that old saying that: "I can't give up the chicken because I need the eggs." This is the game that Conservatives and Blue-Dog Dems are playing. They don't want to loose their financial pocket liners from these insurance giants. They continue to drink from these cups and although the milk is becomming bitter, they are addicted and feel that they can not kick the habit.

Author

justjess

Date

2009-10-29T10:26:17-06:00