Health Care Reform Will Pass The Senate

I know a lot of people are fed up and angry about the health care negotiations in the Senate. So am I. But I'm not willing to throw my lot in with those who want to "Kill the Bill" and have nothing. Because apparently we're never going to get everything we want in this country, not as long as we have the big insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, and other assorted criminals dictating policy. And they're not going anywhere soon. So we may as well get what we can get.

Am I happy with President Obama? Not entirely but I'm not entirely unhappy either. He might just be pragmatic enough to know this is what he was going to get, no matter how much he twisted arms and kicked butts. Still, it'd be nice to see him throw some muscle around occasionally.

As for Harry Reid, I guess if we assume he has the same troubles as everyone else, the fact that some of our Democratic senators are just naturally recalcitrant, he probably did what he could do as well. So apparently they're going to get something done. And I believe that something is better than nothing.

One reason, it gives us something to build on. If we simply started over, then there's no guarantee we wouldn't get something worse. Hopefully, we can tweak what we have and make it better over time.

I wanted a lot more. But when it comes to these guys in the back pockets of special interests, of course we're not always going to get what we want.

Next time let's have fewer Republicans and more Democrats in Congress. Then our chances of negating crumbs like Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman will be greater. The bigger our margin, the less influence these cretins will have.

Obama's Lack Of Fight

How can the president just sit there and take this? Why does he have a lack of fight?

WaPo: On the other side, Democratic strategists worry that progressives, disgusted by the big money bank bailout and disillusioned with President Barack Obama's lack of fight on issues such as a government-run health insurance plan, might keep some people from voting. That could cost Democrats seats up and down the ballot. [My bold]

Why doesn't President Obama fight for us? It's bizarre.

Now Harry Reid is suggesting they might not get health care done this year!

The time for extracting one's head from one's posterior is now.

Harry's Doing The Right Thing

I hope.

I want the public option in the health care bill. And that's what Harry Reid says is going to happen on the Senate side.

Now, just to get it by the obstructionists among the Republicans and even among the Democrats. If they get in the way, kick 'em. And take names.

I read somewhere where it said "only" 16-18 million people would benefit by the public option. ONLY? That's a lot of people!

Harry, Vaporize The Republicans NOW

There's an interesting story that Harry Reid plans to pull out all the stops, even to "vaporize" his Republican opponent in the Nevada Senate race.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is prepared to run a sharply negative campaign if that’s what it takes to win reelection next year, with a top adviser predicting that the Nevada Democrat will “vaporize” his Republican challengers with attack ads.

I like that kind of fighting spirit! Go for it!

But here's an idea. You're already in the Senate, leading the majority Democrats against the Republicans. How about vaporizing the Republicans now? Right where you are. It seems from the outside looking in like there's an awful lot of congeniality and playing footsie going on. Don't do it. If we have them against the ropes, knock them out. Don't wait for the election to do what you ought to be doing now!

Reid: Support Public Option or You're Out

This is a good headline at TPM: "Progressives To Reid: Support Public Option Or You're Out."

It's quoting some unspecified progressive group, whose thought is, If we can't depend on Harry Reid to work for Democratic goals, what's the use of having him in office? And that's a great question.

Of course having Democrats in office is good over the long run ... for such things as the Supreme Court, etc.

But when it's time to play ball, you need to play ball. And if we can have a 60 member majority in the Senate, a Democratic House, and a Democratic president, and still not get anything done, then you're time has come.

Harry Reid has been a huge disappointment.

Harry Reid Trailing

Harry Reid is trailing his Republican competition in the 2010 polls.

Ordinarily this would be bad news. If Harry was any good.

As it is, we might conclude, give in to the Republicans and they still won't like you. And the Democrats, of course, we expect better.

Could it be that Harry will get the message between now and 2010? I thought this guy was an ex-boxer. What was his record? Was he ever known to fight back?

C'mon, Harry, we'd appreciate some actual Democratic governing while you're still around!

Dump Chuck!

"Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) wants (you guessed it) yet more time to reach a health care compromise on the Senate Finance Committee."

What - in - the - world - do - we - care - what - Chuck - Grassley - wants?

Is there any human way to get something done in the Senate without this guy as a roadblock? How is it that when the Democrats won big in 2008 that Chuck Grassley became all powerful?

Could we please have some action from Harry Reid and the Democrats that resembles something that would show that we indeed won the election?

When I heard about our side bringing a gun to a knife fight, I thought that meant we were ready to rumble. Not ready to capitulate every day of the week.

Now Grassley doesn't think we can get healthcare in September ... probably said in his stupidest lumbering voice ... And I could guess October is off the table, and don't expect much in November, and December is definitely out ...

Dump Chuck Grassley! The idea that this clown has a veto over the will of the people is a joke that's gone on long enough.

Harry Reid and The Senate

Healthcare reform is dragging on. It seems a long time ago that they were trying to get a bill before August. Now it's maybe before Christmas.

But it sounds like Harry Reid is still putting the threat of reconciliation out there:

Discussing health care, Reid told the crowd of several hundred that he would prefer bipartisan legislation on health care reform rather than a bill with only Democratic support. Reid said he planned to "work for a couple of weeks" at giving bipartisan efforts a chance when Congress reconvenes in early September. If Democrats' olive branches fail with Republicans, though, then Senate Democrats will go ahead with a reconciliation process that requires just 51 votes rather than a filibuster-proof 60 votes, Reid said. The move would allow Democrats to pass a bill without any Republican votes.

I would guess about the middle of September, the Republicans will ask for "an extension," will propose a "back to the drawing board" kind of thing with "pledges of bipartisanship." Reid will accept this as a good faith gesture. The actual goal of getting anything done will be extended virtually indefinitely, till after the first of the year, then perhaps March, or July at the latest. By then Reid will finally notice the Republicans' scheme. Of course they will have been undermining the efforts continuously throughout this whole time, obvious to all but Harry.

Then when August of 2010 rolls around, we'll be in the full swing of the midterm election and it will be too late. Then the Republicans will suggest we wait till January when the new senators and representatives are seated. And you get the idea ...

Does the Senate ever get anything accomplished? I suppose I could look it up. But have they done anything in the last two months besides vote on Sonia Sotomayor?