(and by cover, I mean about as much cover as a baby blanket on an NBA player. It’s not like they got Jim DeMint to sign on), this could really work out in our favor.

They are desperate to have some sort of bi-partisan support, even if it means one “GOP” Senator. Any bill they draw up will cost a fortune and will do nothing to lower costs. Whether or not it includes a public option, I agree there are too many pitfalls that the ultra-lefties will pull them into and force them to lose Snowe (and Collins, if she’s semi-serious). That would be a disaster for them and a big victory for us and the nation.

I agree that her vote can work in our favor, but I think she’s just going to fall in line with the rest of the Democrats when the time comes.

She is now an important voice on this process, and my guess is the Democrats will have to give her what she wants (like posting the final bill 72 hours before it’s voted on, final bill scored by CBO, etc.). The public option also seems dead DOA.

My biggest fear is the Democrats will get the 60 votes for cloture, but then 8-10 spineless Democrats will then vote against the final bill. They can use the excuse “I voted against the bill, but I voted to keep the process going” nonsense. The cloture vote IS the vote, period.

I don’t think Democrats will get away with it on election day, and any Democrat Senator that votes for cloture or the final bill that comes from a red or purple state will most likely be knocked off.

…the other Maine sister, Susan Collins, is also reported to have signed on. Great…. Why do the people in the Northeast tolerate this?

Join the RedState Strike Force

Well, in Maine’s case (and I hope someone from Maine will respond and give us their views) my guess is that conservatives in Maine are too superior to bother with mundane Party grass roots involvement. Or perhaps they’re simply outnumbered. It would be interesting to know what percentage of the precinct committeeman slots in the Maine Republican Party are vacant.

For example, on election day in November, 2008 in Maricopa County, Arizona, there were about 694,000 registered Republican Party voters. About 6,350 precinct committeeman slots existed to represent their interests within the Republican Party. But fewer than one third of those slots, 1,989, were filled.

Common sense tells one that there has to be at least 4,400 good conservatives in Maricopa County out of the approximately 692,000 registered Republican Party voters who were not precinct committeeman. If they were told how easy it is to become a PC, and how powerful that office is in terms of electing the Party leaders and voting to endorse the candidates in the Party primary elections, I’m confident they’d come into the Party and cause a conservative TAKEOVER of the Party.

That’s what I’m working on.

Thank you.

ColdWarrior
http://www.theprecinctproject.wordpress.com

They don’t need Snowe, or any of those other 8 senators to actually vote for the bill. As a matter of fact, they could lose a couple more and still be fine. They only need the so-called centrists to vote for cloture, and they only need that once. Once they have established cloture, they can then re-insert whatever language they want through an amendment with only 50 votes plus the VP. For that matter, they only need 50 for final passage too. What’s more, the so-called moderates can still claim they voted against the bill when they run for re-election, even though their vote for cloture made it possible for the bill to pass.

I honestly think our best chance is in the house, where EVERYONE is up for re-election next year, and they can’t hide behind procedural excuses by saying they “voted for it before they voted against it”, or vice versa. I think there are probably about 40 Dems who are smart enough to know that a vote for final passage equals a likely job loss for them next year.

when you’re naive.

Dan Perrin: “Want to [do some liberal thing]? Snowe is at no.”

Um, no. She SAYS she’s a maybe. I don’t believe her. I don’t believe the 8 blue dogs asking for 72 hours. I don’t believe any of those lying, greedy, power hunger b@stards. They will vote for it unless we put the ever-loving fear of the GOD into them, by making it absolutely 100% crystal clear that if they vote for this massive budget-busting expansion of government power, it will not be THEIR personal power. Because they will not only lose their job next November, but will also be turned so toxic that none of those cushy lobbyist/think tank jobs will be anywhere in their sight. No friendly parachute for self-sacrificing take-one-for-the-team Dems (and RINOs). They’ll have to go back to Peoria and get a REAL job.

THAT’s what these brahmins are afraid of. Make ‘em fear it.

That’s the only way any of them WON’T vote for this thing. “Snowe is at no.” HAH. It is to laugh.

That the media would make her yes vote in committee, which may or may not give her some leverage to hold the bill from moving left on the floor, to crow about Republican involvement and basically tout it as a sign that the legislation is a done deal?

Respectfully, regarding Snowe, this is the inner sanctum, technocrat, odds making nonsense that keeps people from seeing the forest through the trees and obfuscates the issues.

Let’s start with facts; Snowe votes with our caucus only when in suits her personal needs. This act, like many others is motivated by Snowe’s infernal attempts to raise her own status with the Washington elites, including President Obama. Full stop.

I don’t buy for one second there is a bundle of intellectual, deliberate calculations in this move. Look at her history; past is prologue.

By the way, I noticed in all the coverage Snowe is getting how she repetitively talks about the Republicans alternative bill.

Snowe’s move in point of fact, actually gives Democrats cover for decisions they should make on their own- as opposed to saying- “Oh, well you know we have to consider Olympia’s support because we don’t want to lose that bipartisan support all wrapped up in one vote”. Ya, sure.

If Snowe would actually explicate what is so attractive in this bill her constituents would be appalled. Does she remember anything about Dirigo Care? Obviosuly not.

Look, IMO this is a great, informative piece. But the Snowe defense is just superfluous. We really need to stop eating our young by getting rid of the cannibals.

One or two Republican votes, a.k.a. Snowe and Collins, is hardly what I’d call bipartisan support. But Obama lies constantly, so no surprise for him claiming bipartisanship from two RINO’s, for bills that have had zero Republican input.

Snowe and Collins prefer to think of themselves as “moderate” Republicans. “Liberal” is what comes to my mind.

I did send Ms. Snowe an email addressing core principles for healthcare reform. Attempting to completely redesign a working economic system is totally outside the scope of what is permissible by Congress. It’s beyond their level of expertise.

I read Baucus’ vapor bill. There are some very insiduous items in it, that are intended to lower the costs of healthcare. He is attempting to control everything — supply, demand, costs, quality, and quantity of healthcare. It’s impossible. It’s a Socialist’s wet dream.

There are simple solutions to make the healthcare system better, that don’t involve centralized gov’t control micro-managing every aspect. At every turn, competition should be encouraged by loosing the reins and restrictions on people to act. Not one of the various bills presented by Democrats does this.