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Senate GOP Decides to Improve Health Care Bill so it Can Pass

By: Erick Erickson (Diary)  |  November 30th, 2009 at 09:10 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

This is frustrating.

The Senate Republican Conference is giddy that its first amendment to the health care legislation is to preserve the bloated Medicare bureaucracy. The Senate Democrats want to do what they always accuse the GOP of doing and cut Medicare. The GOP is apparently giddy at the opportunity to rub the Democrats’ noses in their Medicare cuts.

So now the GOP is using its first amendment to reaffirm the Democrat theory that Medicare cannot be cut and cuts even to the rate of growth of Medicare are also wrong.

The GOP could have, by chance, offered up the Stupak language, which has not yet been inserted. The GOP could have offered up an amendment to split the Democrats up front. The GOP could have done nothing and moved on to let cloture fail, thus killing the bill. Instead, Democrats and Republicans will no doubt join hands and vote to put the money back in Medicare, making it a grand bipartisan exercise.

What next? A GOP amendment to guarantee breast cancer screenings in the legislation?

Having started from the presupposition that the health care legislation is going to pass, the GOP seems to be signaling it will work to “improve” the legislation just enough to overcome a filibuster.

The legislation has 57 votes already. The GOP does not need to offer amendments to improve the bill — they need to bring it to a vote and kill it. Preening for cameras and favorable press coverage is going to get the bill to 60 votes and a signing ceremony.

*Yes, I realize these are all motions to recommit the bill to committee, which will never pass. So they aren’t trying to improve the bill, this a pure messaging/posturing exercise, but it doesn’t help to stop the bill. Since I assume we’re trading amendments (one GOP amend vote, then one Dem, and back and forth) every lame GOP recommit amendment we rush to do gives Dems another chance to fix their bill and cobble together 60 votes.

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COMMENTS

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  • Old_Crow
  • http://dezignworx-ae.com tsquare

    We are never, ever, going to make it through the next 3 years with the ban on profanity in place.

    @!#$!%^!# who is the !&!#%! brain donor behind this?

  • Ausonius

    Which might be an insult to those with moron I.Q.’s.

    Or as Sally Field infamously gushed: “You like me! You really like me!”

    D.C.-itis infected Republicans want the Dems and the NY TImes and the Washington Post to like them.

    But the voters will not like them: I suppose in the short term the D.C. RINO’s will get to go to fancy restaurants and so on, thanks to their moronism.

  • nessa

    nt

  • WarEagle01

    I guess I didn’t realize we had such stupid people in the Senate. Because this is stupid.

  • DONTREADONME

    these guys are IMPOTENT. Yes, I know what it means and these guys are absolutely full of PRICELESS incompetence

  • dvdmsr

    Stupak or nothing (no amendments).

  • DONTREADONME

    situation. Lefties have the D’s, “bipartisan” R’s and utter ignorant bliss makes it so.

  • mbecker908

    Kennedy at the bottom of the river.

  • http://www.bloggybayou.com muckraker

    and it is getting darn hard to convince a lot of Tea Party members and independents (who are conservative) to register and vote republican. I am making headway by telling them it will help Rubio in the Primary and is the only way to stop Crist.

    But If Republicans don’t actively work to KILL THIS BILL, it will be no sale for me and I am afraid it will be Crist will win here in 2010.

    Last republican executive meeting we had, 17 people registered that month as Republican, 6 a democrats and 150+ as independents. It used to be republicans had the independent numbers cause we are the most Red County in the state…. If this is happening Statewide, Rubio will lose the Primary.

  • SteveLA

    Erick,

    So you are saying that a strategy to expose the true cost of Obama care and to keep Democrats from playing the hide the true cost game is a bad thing? I’d think that appealing to, or rather setting up an argument where R’s are seen to be protecting Seasoned Citizens from the evil Democrats who want to cut their beloved trips to Country Kitchen and Medicare would be a good thing.

    Are Democrats stupid enough to try to balance the books for Obamacare with Medicare cuts and risk PO’ing the voter block that always votes, Seasoned Citizens?

    I suppose as a matter of strategy R’s could have as others have stated gone for introducing a Stupack sort of no government tax dollars for abortions amendment, which also gets lots of support, but they went a different way it appears. It looks like a different move but does it achieve the same ends as making Obama care too expensive without raiding Medicare which will kill the bill in a different way?

    A case of different paths to the same objective, who knows what the Starategery really is.

  • michigan

    Senator McConnell on the radio recently stating that the strategy would be to kill the bill, not amend it to passage. What the heck is going on?

  • JustLeaveMeAlone

    is that these clowns are completely and utterly clueless. They should have to live outside of DC for at least ten years to de-program.

    THIS is the reason that many conservatives are considering a new party. Republican idiocy.

  • michigan

    they are really doing us a big favor imposing on us what they will probably be exempt from. I’m not sure about a “new” party, but there needs to be serious eradication in the Republican Party for sure. Term limits come to mind, short term limits.

  • jeffreywturner

    Don’t we all remember how they tried to pass the “Doc fix” separately in order to make Obamacare appear a half-trillion dollars cheaper?

    Anyone who is honest and knowledgeable on the subject has to be aware that the spending under the proposed amendment is going to happen anyway. Given that reality, why not go ahead and attach it to Obamacare and make Obamacare an even tougher pill to swallow for Democrats who claim to be fiscally responsible?

    As a matter of fact, I’d say push for an amendment to make the entitlement provisions of the bill to take effect at the same time as the revenue raising provisions do. This would take away the trick they are using to use claim that the bill is deficit neutral by using 10 years of revenue to pay for 7 years of spending.

    This will make the bill tougher to pass, not easier.

  • aesthete

    in tow. JK, but barely.

  • jeffreywturner

    Republicans should not push for inclusion of the Stupak language in the bill.

    Actually, Republicans need to make sure Stupak is NOT in the bill if they want to defeat it.

    The reason for this, is that on final passage, there are a few Democrats who will vote to kill the bill if the Stupak language is NOT included. However, despite the saber-rattling of the lefties, NONE of them are going to vote to kill the bill simply because Stupak IS included.

  • aesthete

    is still straddling the threshold between single and double digits.

  • SteveLA

    jeffrey

    So what happens with Democrats who vote to not protect Medicare from cuts to fund Obamacare? Do Seasoned Citizens up and smack the heck out of them? That to me is a great pressure point to push Democrats on.

    It’s the same sort of pressure that the Stupack amendment creates, however the pressure is coming from Seasoned Citizens and not with those who strongly object to public funding of abortion. I’m probably of the mind set that Seasoned Citizens scare the heck out of politicians more than any other group, so maybe that’s why this strategy.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    McCain should be reading this, since I wrote it for him is his Comity Whore pals.

  • jeffreywturner

    Look folks, I agree we should try and make the bill worse in order to kill it.

    However, how much does it really matter what amendments are added in the Senate?

    It is all going to be decided in conference anyway.

    The Dems will change the bill however they need to in the Senate, so they can get it passed the first time around, then they can basically rewrite it behind closed doors in conference. Conference is SUPPOSED to be for the sole purpose of ironing out difference between the House and Senate versions, BUT, we know that provisions are often inserted and removed in conference, even on things that were already identical in both versions.

    For instance: the Stupak language is in the House bill. Even if the Senate passes a bill that includes that exact same language, the final bill that comes out of conference could have it removed if the conferees so desire.

    I think it is a forgone conclusion that the Dems are going to say whatever they have to and agree to whatever amendments they have to in order to pass something in the Senate and get to conference. The real tests will come when they decide what to report out of conference for final passage.

  • E Pluribus Unum

    well, by that I mean he doesn’t listen to any REPUBLICANS. Too busy getting himself massaged by his “friends across the aisle”.

  • tazzmax

    to vote all the bastages out ASAP!

    The RINOs are trying to out “scumbag” the “scumbag leftists”.

  • nessa

    It’s way outdated now but, “do you know what it would take to re-unite the Beatles?”

    “Three more bullets.”

    It could work for the Senate, it just requires more ammo.

  • anotherindyfilmguy

    1. The Republicans get to be the “We support your Medicare” protectors to those who are in need etc instead of being portrayed as the “evil SOBs trying to cut your SS and Medicare” etc… for the older folks on SS and needing Medicare this puts the light on the Dems as the “bad guys trying to cut you off while giving away everything to everyone else” etc…

    2. It punts the bloated monstrosity into committee again where it might also be mugged, beaten and clubbed to death… and if/when the Dems let it die in committee they can be painted as not willing to keep Medicare etc…

    3. If the thing goes back into a committee it can die there… hopefully…

    4. If the “Finance committee” regurgitates it with no cuts in Medicare then it can be attacked as even more bloated by the fiscally responsible (if they can be found in DC)…

    5. If the “Finance committee” regurgitates it with cuts in Medicare then it can be attacked as “destroying Medicare” and killed by Republicans posing as the “saviors of our seniors” etc…

    6. It can die in committee if no one wants to be painted as “the one vote that put this back into the Senate”…

    Just a few thoughts…

  • redtillimdead

    Eric for Congress!!! (GA-08)!!

  • 1stRichard

    Healthcare is not listed in the Enumerated powers Article I, Section 8. Some argue the general welfare but this is the heading Article I, Section 8 and not an Enumerated Power. Some argue the commerce clause but is your body interstate commerce? Some argue the 14th Amendment would lead to a crazy slope where you could say everyone should have the exact same everything. Arguing common Defense would be almost impossible to pass Necessary and Proper. Even if you want to argue case law, Linder vs. the United States, Lambert vs. Yellow, Oregon vs. Ashcroft, or Conant vs. Walters, all have similar judgments that government has no authority in healthcare.

    If the Senate Republicans want to add amendments then the first should be anyone voting yes for anything Unconstitutional and illegal shall go to jail.

    But this is not to say the federal government has to stay out of this completely, such as the interstate commerce clause but there are many restrictions that must be and not normally followed. It must be for the general welfare, general means everyone and no man, nor corporation, or association of men, have any other title to obtain advantages, or particular and exclusive privileges, distinct from those of the community, than what arises from the consideration of services rendered to the public. The power to regulate is not the power to prohibit all but making conventional. It is only the power make regular, enforceable only by dispossession and not of life or liberty.

    We have separation of powers for a reason and it was so drafted in to the framework of our government. It also separated the costs, the federal government provides national defense and must never get in to national entitlements to the few. This separation made us the strongest nation in the world, even if the federal government collapsed the local governments could survive. The federal government has limited enumerated powers and the remainder and majority of power shall to the states but mostly to the people, the individual. Our schools, local police and fire, all the essential services belong to and directly funded by the states but mostly to the people, the individual. Now we have the federal government entitlements competing with the national defense of the country, so noted they are talking a war tax now. Do you really want your healthcare competing with the national defense of the country?

    Funding is literally a matter of life or death and could be between our troops or you, and do you trust congress to make that choice? Furthermore, do not be so naive that the manure would never engage the rotary oscillator somewhere in the world at some point in time, a mistake we must not repeat. There is turbulence ahead, Iran, Afghanistan, North Korea and much more. We have turbulence now and it is called jobs, we need jobs to pay for our own healthcare and not pay for healthcare for those without a job.

    It is hard to believe the Senate Republicans do no see the protesters that are close to breaking down their doors there, and boiling tar and gathering feathers for when they go home. This is not something to be giddy about.

  • nessa

    After watching one stupid move followed by another, being betrayed by RINOs time and time again I cannot make my brain believe that there is any plan or strategy behind this. No plan outside of the uncontrollable desire to be seen aisle crossing and maybe getting invited to the White House and a pat on the head from the NYT. Where did they suddenly get such strategy, some real life “Flowers for Algernon” is the best the GOP could hope for.

  • Menlo

    Orin Hatch said from the start he would be offering such an amendment.

    Rest assured, it has not even a slim chance of passing the Senate with 50 votes, let alone the 60 needed, even if all Republicans were to support it.

    This will NOT be an issue for the Senate as it was for the House as all but two or three Senate Democrats are united against it.

  • danielbdp

    Kind of going along with anotherindyfilyguy…though I also dread D.C.-itis may have eaten Repubs integrity and/or brain cells…

    We shall find out soon one way or the other.

    Qn: Can the Reps get someone less utterly boring than Mitch McConnell to lead the debate? What about the two docs? (someone suggested this before on this blog) The guy just fails to spark any enthusiasm for the opposition IMHO…

    Cato’s article http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/11/27/obamacares-cost-could-top-6-trillion/

    Their $6T estimate falls short of the historical under-estimation error by the CBO, as documented by self-same Repubs here?

    http://src.senate.gov/public/_files/graphics/FederalSpending1.pdf

    Repubs should pursue a dual strategy of loading popular “patient protections” (Medicare funding, Stupak minimum, etc.) and insisting Dems drop unpopular job killers (small bus. taxes, mandates, etc.) which would further bloat this beast into oblivion.

  • danielbdp

    Kind of going along with anotherindyfilyguy…though I also dread D.C.-itis may have eaten Repubs integrity and/or brain cells…

    We shall find out soon one way or the other.

    Qn: Can the Reps get someone less utterly boring than Mitch McConnell to lead the debate? What about the two docs? (someone suggested this before on this blog) The guy just fails to spark any enthusiasm for the opposition IMHO…

    Cato’s article http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/11/27/obamacares-cost-could-top-6-trillion/

    Their $6T estimate falls short of the historical under-estimation error by the CBO, as documented by self-same Repubs here?

    http://src.senate.gov/public/_files/graphics/FederalSpending1.pdf

    Repubs should pursue a dual strategy of loading popular “patient protections” (Medicare funding, Stupak minimum, etc.) and insisting Dems drop unpopular job killers (small bus. taxes, mandates, etc.) which would further bloat this beast into oblivion.

  • Menlo

    While the Bobbsey Twins from Maine may have an excuse, we must ENSURE that NO other Republican votes for cloture on ANY amendment that will eliminate or weaken the so-called “public option.” We must even go so far as to count such a vote exactly the same as voting for the bill itself.

  • nessa

    you might need to cut back on the prophesies. Its creeping me out.

  • cump

    Okay, first off, I am against this bill, but have a different take on it, other than just fiscal irresponsibility. Two months ago, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine (a couple months late), mammogram. A subsequent fluid biopsy confirmed it was cancer, and the idiot surgeon told my wife (a middle school volleyball coach) that it was confirmed cancer, while she was on a bus with a bunch of 7th grade volleyball players on the way to an away game. The insensitive outdated moron, then scheduled her for a lumpectomy the next week. Yep, insurance at the ready!
    Now, this quack general surgeon had a couple of things going against him, 1) his lack of professionalism, 2) his inability to follow standard cancer treatment procedures, and 3) his practicing cancer treatment in a medical world that has passed him by (read new technology and new methods).
    We quickly fired him, and found a GREAT breast cancer specialist (at a cancer rated hospital), who mandated specific steps be taken…IE, MRI, Core Biopsy, cat scan, and then surgery (in her case…a double mastectomy vice a lumpectomy). This surgery took place 5 weeks ago, and we are now beginning chemotherapy in 10 days…followed by radiation (probably), yes, life is hard sometimes.
    Now Eric, free breast cancer screenings are okay by me, offered through current medical insurance providers…or through hospitals, but not a government takeover of our health industry. Here are some of my problems with the bill. 1) My wife’s life was saved by early mammogram detection…you see, she is under 50, and according to the gov’t panel, screenings should not be undertaken before 50 years of age (while not in the bill, it would be a gov’t standard rather quickly). 2) I do not believe we would be able to ‘fire’ a doctor, and replace him/her with another at a moment’s notice. 3) We got our cancer tests accomplished in an unbelievable quick amount of time (about 2 weeks <after firing the first surgeon)..under a gov’t plan, I have no doubt it will take months, and people will die. 4) I believe the gov’t plan will degrade the quality of care we would receive at a hospital. 5) It costs way too much.
    I can go on, but I believe I have already used up enough space, if anyone is still with me.
    I am one of many who wrote back to the GOP, letting them know I am withholding my money, and with this information above, I will be donating that money to breast cancer research (susan g. koman) instead…GLADLY!
    Now, we need an insurance overhaul…for example, more competition, the ability to transfer to a new carrier WITH PRE EXISTING CONDITIONS (breast cancer patients switching jobs for example), and simplified billing. That I would like to see. And lastly, no insurance provider should ‘have’ to provide for abortions, and as a taxpayer, I should not have to ‘fund’ them.

  • Spartan4Life

    They need to make this thing toxic.

    Any Generals up there or just a bunch of 2nd Lieutenants?

  • countessolenska

    I’ve never seen anything so cynical in my life! I can’t believe I used to like John McCain. Do Republicans really think they’re being clever here?

  • jeffreywturner

    Are you saying that Republicans should support or oppose the Stupak language?

    Remember how few Dems it will take to kill the bill.

  • http://www.scottbomb.com scottbomb

    Wow. How much can 3 more possibly cost? We’re doomed.

  • JustLeaveMeAlone

    A whole bunch of stuff has taken place over the past year that is clearly in violation of the Constitution.

    And, to be fair, it’s hardly the first time in the history of our nation that the Constitution was tossed aside in the interests of “getting something done”. It’s just the latest and possibly most dangerous iteration.

  • Menlo

    While some sources have tried to change public perception, the reality is that the bill actually has a greater or equal chance without the amendment than with it, particularly in the Senate.

    It is really irrelevant though. Anyone who thinks the addition of Hatch’s amendment might be able to get more than 3 Democrats’ votes in the Senate is delusional.

    The ONLY realistic chance Republicans have to help stop it in the Senate is to vote NO on amendments removing or weakening the “public option.”

  • dudette

    these fools out of the Capitol so they can’t vote? Can we block the doorways have a hippie sit in?

  • RedBeard

    This latest posturing (and frankly, pandering) by the DC Republican elite is just another sign that the Republican leadership is happy to ignore the Supreme Law of the Land.

    The entire “health care” debate would be moot in Congress if a simple majority were to publicly recognize that the federal government has no authority, NONE WHATSOEVER, to be doing any of this.

    But thanks to generations of leftist propaganda, corruption of the educational system, and the resulting rise of the permanent entitlement class, we are, for lack of a more polished word, screwed.

  • dvdmsr

    - nothing as in not buying health insurance. But earlier they didn’t seem to remember that ex post facto laws & bill of attainders were prohibited by the Constitution too. You’d think someone who supposedly taught constitutional law would know better. Of course he does, which itself suggests he’s counting on most Americans being ignorant, just like any con man.

  • RedBeard

    Hmmmmm…….. not a bad idea, actually.

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    McCain HC – AUG 09 — McCain HC Townhall details, another sell-out pre-declared!

    … and it appears other Senate Republicans are all complicit, as I don’t hear much objection.

    The usual lip-service campaigning was given to that it should be killed and the process started over (in the name of BiPartisanship Disease) with our ideas/ideals: Cross-State line portability (which States will resist giving up Mandates/Controls), Tort reform min. 50Billion, PreExisting condition exclusion (guaranteed issue) elimination (not allowed in MI, enact that Nationally), post/transitional employment coverage (modifying COBRA and HSA/MSA accounts to NOT ZERO OUT each year so multi-year savings can/will PAY FOR OWN COVERAGE while between jobs), (avoiding the HR3200/HR3926/HR3590 consequences/fact) More Govt. regulations and paperwork will DRIVE UP not reduce costs and bring us more Lawyers and Office Administrators to deal with it NOT Doctors, etc….

    Mooncalves led to the Slaughter…. yet again…. following “Senator Aricept” (John McCain) off the cliff.

  • sarge324

    no matter what the american people will win.and this bill will perish if the rep.stick to their guns.the people will win as long as we vote.in 2010 and 2012 we have to remember who voted for and against this mon

    we will be heard in 2010 and 2012.ever yes vote must be voted out.then we will get our country back.the superme court is the health care buster.you see they have to abid by the constitution.we must vote the evil out to give us a chance to live free.

  • The_Gadfly

    As Erick points out, the Dems WANT the medicare program preserved. They DON’T want Stupak. Pass Stupak first, then pass something that forces them to talk about the true cost of the bill.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    I said this in response to the ridiculous, single front strategy. Which in part says;

    So death of a thousand cuts by legislative obfuscation is the strategy? What is the objective? Do we expect to metagrobolize Democrats brains so they wander aimlessly until the next election? It sounds to me like the same people that helped construct our venture into the wilderness are responsible for the latest foray into self-immolation.
    It is clear that all Democrats and so-called independents including Joe Lieberman have their asking price. So, I would say that someone grotesquely underestimated the opposition and our future picture is bleak- not terminal or predetermined, but bleak. Eventually, Democrats will probably pass some version of healthcare destruction irrespective of how long it takes, and in the process perhaps garner votes of Republican outliers like Snowe.

    You know, as well as I do, there are many of the same Republican faces in congress that led us into the wilderness. Do you believe all of a sudden they will get religion and worship at the conservative altar? Don’t be so silly.

    These same cancerous Republican denizens are watching the Democrats self-destruct. In the meantime they lie in wait, these so-called “moderates”, ready to once again destroy our party with their foolishness and liberal leaning philosophy. It does not matter to them that our populace is undertaking a wholesale rejection of liberal, socialist philosophy. They will cloak themselves in Tea Parties and populist ideals; all the while, feigning agreement. Then, when their support is needed the most these Republicans will sleep with the enemy under the make-believe banner of truce and righteousness. They are the epitome of betrayal and treachery- not to be trusted.

    Remember;

    There are lazy Minds as well as lazy Bodies.
    Tricks and Treachery are the Practice of Fools, that have not

  • The_Gadfly
  • mschmitt

    .

  • mschmitt

    “insert Chappaquiddick joke here”, but “.” probably conveys almost the same meaning, I think.

  • dajeeps

    1stRichard, Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. This should be the grounds upon which it the bill is killed and it is quite sad that our constitution is so conveniently forgotten by those who are sworn to protect and uphold it.

    You are correct that our bodies are not interstate commerce, however banning state prohabitions on purchasing insurance across state lines would certainly be within the power of congress to enact, as well as applying anti-trust laws to the health care industry. Any bill that does anything beyond the power to make interstate commerce regular should go down in flames.

  • muffin

    One in DC and one in prison.

  • Richard Mullins

    So I’m really thinking that this more like a stall tactic instead of something to weaken to the bill. They haven’t taken a vote on the Tax portion of the bill(HR 3590) and it looks like the bill isn’t going to be voted on this year. So please, slow down on the alarm bells for public option.

  • Richard Mullins

    So it can’t stand muster in the same way HillaryCare was determined to be unconstitutional.

  • penguin2

    Second, your personal story is an excellent and IMO, accurate description of how our present health care system works, contrasting it with what would happen if the government takes over delivery of health care.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/29/late-cancer-diagnosis-kills-thousands

    The statistics we have in the country indicate one in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. Now, maybe it is due to my peer group, but the women I know, and I know at least 4, all have been diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40′s. People need to be very much aware, that the government will use any “study” to support whatever they need it to support. Rationalization for decreasing screening will help them cut costs. When one is diagnosed with cancer, then the “Death panels” will determine treatment.

    As you mentioned the Susan G. Koman Foundation, which many of us have thought was only involved in breast cancer cure and care, I want to note a diary that TNJim recently posted. There apparently is a connection between the Foundation and Planned Parenthood, who knew?

    http://www.redstate.com/tnjim/2009/11/05/if-you-thought-planned-parenthood-pushed-abortions-prepare-to-be-vindicated/

    Best wishes to you and your wife as you share this difficult journey together.

  • bs

    Just when I thought he might be worth supporting in the primary, he screws us over again. To heck with him – my support goes to his primary opponent now.

  • penguin2

    the comments of TNJim’s diary where ‘Read Chesterton…’ brought up the connection of the Koman Foundation and Planned Parenthood. There is some good info there.

    Take care.

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    did you see him on C-SPAN with his lame Amendment to recommit for discussion? Senator Aricept is doing his usual ReElection Campaign dance of “look at me, I can spout some Conservative points” while doing NOTHING, really, to stop Obamaocare train on its path to being crammed through – he is (obviously) just real happy he doesn’t have to cross over Party lines to be one of the ones to help pass it but can instead do the minimum (for re-election grandstand purposes). No Stupak challenge, No REAL Amendment with CONSERVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM, nope – just a “CYA” Amendment and coast on auto-pilot.

    +McCain HC – McCain HC Townhall details, another sell-out pre-declared! (with more comments 306-7+ here and here w/ limited Video)
    +McCain (R-Aricept) “Senator Aricept” (John McCain)

    Yes, McCain MUST BE CHALLENGED IN HIS PRIMARY: AZ Candidates

  • http://www.ssce.net/Web-Articles/Web-articles-indexed-authors.html#authors-l JLenardDetroit

    I watched it and the LACK of any real opposition, just lip service….

    First, the Democrat Amendment — forget who (female) it was from — touched on the HHS sole control to alter requirements of plans going forward – BUT as it related to the whole Women’s Health-Care Services and the Mammogram fiasco that I’ve been ranting and raving and expecting others to get up in arms about (seemingly to little avail) (+Mammography scandal – Mammography scandal – Obamaocare will kill women / +Die In – Horowitz calls for Cancer Die In sessions from Female TEApeaters). More must be made of this by our fellow Conservatives and even our lame/Moderate Republican Senators.

    Dodd, of course, first thing pulled the Pelosi and invoked Senator Dead Kennedy. Further went on to inform us of the great and important work Senators have done in renaming a Conference room after Dead Kennedy!!! (+Kennedy Bill – A Teddy Kennedy HC Bill Republicans SHOULD SPONSOR / +an aside, Kennedy seat hypocrisy – MASS looks to ex-post-facto change Law to appoint Dem. to Kennedy seat / +another aside, Obama LAST KENNEDY Bro?!?! – Chrisy Matthews declares Obama last Kennedy brother)

    We heard several times about how the $490 Billion in Taxes, Fees, Penalties, Requirements, etc, all take place immediately and the Coverages not beginning until 2014. This, of course, is how they are warping the (supposed) low cost with 10 years of GOVT. money and power grab for only 6 years of Costs! NO-ONE, however, provided any discussion that related that to the numb-skulll Politically Brain-dead masses who need it spelled out in a simple analogy for them (which is why I try to keep coming up with those lame/simple quotes and other analogies to cut through the knee-jerk reaction of them hearing a Rep-Talking point and spouting back out a Dem-Talking point (pre-recorded message practically)). One such Analogy, IMO, would be to relate this HC funding scam to the Housing Crisis Mortgage Meltdown scheme the Democrats gave us. It is about the same HOUSE-OF-CARDS (yes, double-meanings pun intended) as this is. People having 10 years of Employment Income but paying for only 6 years of House payments those first 10 years — then the next 10 (unaffordable/unsustainable) having 10 years of Income with the full 10 years of FULL PAYMENTS! (CRA and the deregulation Lies plus Duplicity Votes) That is something the most brain-dead of Liberals can even grasp!!!!

    I have been watching and covering these things first hand, not getting my info 2nd or 3rd hand…..
    HC Townhall Lies – Townhall HC distortions/propaganda
    +More Townhall Hi-jinks – More HC Townhall Hi-jinks
    +Townhalls 3 – HC Townhall: Like Hollywood, Democrats used new Actors to replay the same Script.
    +Townhalls 4 – HC Townhalls: Steny Hoyer (D-MD) edition.
    +TH5/Mandates – HC Mandates – How ’bout some others? Welfare Warranty? College Coverage?
    +HR3926 – HR3926 – more of the same – access to the HR3590 Reid plan here
    +HC summary – HC issues summary
    +Mammography scandal – Mammography scandal – Obamaocare will kill women
    +Die In – Horowitz calls for Cancer Die In sessions from Female TEApeaters
    +Trigger scam – Public Option Trigger – will be attached to fully loaded gun
    +Stupak sham – how the Stupid (er.. Stupak) Amendment was all a sham vote
    +Medi-Adv – Dem’s target Semi-Privatizede Medicare plans (Medi-Advantage and Medi-Gap Coverage) for elimination
    +Snowe vote – Snowe’s (Gang of Sicks) vote wasn’t needed to move HC fiasco from Sentate Finance Committee (simple 50% majority would have done)
    +Baucus Markup details – Baucus Mark-up details
    +(GangOfSicks) (er… Six) – The Senate HC “Gang Of Sicks” (formerly 7, but Hatch left and that didn’t have the fun play on words ;-) lol)
    +Public Option / Medicare-E – sole focus on Public Option is a mistake that sets up Lib’s for another Liberal Incremental-ism step to complete HC Takeover
    +Illegals exclusion – don’t fall for the “Illegals Excluded” half-truth (details here)
    +DieQuickly – Dems: ‘Rep plan: Die Quickly’ – counter to “Death Panels” – EPIC O-FAIL again — baseless Welfare Reform attacks repeat
    +Tacks – No HC Taxes, it rolls on
    +No Tort Reform – Moe Lane’s Diary: Dean admits why there is No Tort Reform in ANY HC legislation
    +Kennedy Bill – A Teddy Kennedy HC Bill Republicans SHOULD SPONSOR
    +an aside, Kennedy seat hypocrisy – MASS looks to ex-post-facto change Law to appoint Dem. to Kennedy seat
    +another aside, Obama LAST KENNEDY Bro?!?! – Chrisy Matthews declares Obama last Kennedy brother
    +McCain HC – McCain HC Townhall details, another sell-out pre-declared! (with more comments 306-7+ here and here w/ limited Video)
    +McCain (R-Aricept) “Senator Aricept” (John McCain)
    +Harry/Louise – Harry & Louise want you to pay for their Head examinations?
    +Clunker portends – Cash4Clunkers portends the HC fiasco in so many ways… Basic math!!
    +Free icecream – ObaMaoCare: The Free Ice-cream analogy
    +DC plans drive up costs – DC HC compromises will cost you MORE not less
    +Flag@ – Flag-whitehouse.gov is down, but are the unlawful (same old trickery) actions going on via WH:RealityCheck? AND HealthCare lies still being peddled? (hint: YES, to both)
    +Obama’s “My HC plan” Lie – Obama’s HC dodge, quoting a non-existent and/or not in consideration Plan
    +ultimate HC Q: – The ultimate HR3200 Q: Will Fetus’ about to be Aborted qualify for End Of Life counseling, or is that reserved only for Seniors about to be effectively Euthanized by/from Rationing?!?!
    +Angry mob script – Democrats and MSM keep playing the Angry Mob script
    +Townhalls primers: here, here, here, here, here, and HC issues summary here

  • mtnrunner2

    Any bill that contains anything other than deregulation of the health care industry should die the death it deserves by not passing.

    Unfortunately, many Americans are unaware of the destruction increasing public interventions will actually cause. They are being boggled by numbers and shifting names and proposals. It’s a shell game with very serious consequences.

    Other Americans are willing to sell out everyone’s rights for the ILLUSION of security (because public health care will make things worse in both practical and moral terms). Frankly their opinions don’t matter, because nobody has the right to impose their policy views on others and force certain health care choices or force funding using expropriated money.

    Public health care is morally outrageous and practically destructive, and must be stopped. Since the health care sector is heavily regulated, real reform means free markets, not more of the intervention that is slowly strangling the industry.

    Jeff Montgomery
    http://funwithgravity.blogspot.com

  • cump

    Astonished is a good word to describe my feelings upon learning that a group I thought to be noble in the fight against breast cancer, the Susan G. Koman Foundation, allocates a portion of their funding to Planned Parenthood. This fact, I did not know, but on investigating many sources, including the Redstate diary, I sit dumbfounded.
    The Susan G. Koman Foundation was, in my opinion, started with the best of intentions, to save lives. However, as with many ‘big money’ businesses that do not hold true to their values, they partner with the ‘devil’ in a mistaken belief that they can maintain control over their input. I now believe SGK sits in partnership with a group that diabolically opposes that which I thought SGK stood for….life, and the fullness of it.
    May I share an article I dug up which sums up my new ‘sad’ point of view toward the Susan G. Koman Foundation….”In September of 2004, Eve Sanchez Silver, a breast cancer survivor and charter member of Komen’s Hispanic/Latina Advisory Council, resigned from Komen, stating, “As a Christian and life affirming citizen I can not reconcile the Foundation’s decision to affirm life with one hand and support its destruction with the other.” www.bdfund.org/breastcancer.asp
    At this point, I will now find other avenues to rid the world of this disease, and to ward off the potential higher risk of breast cancer that my daughter has now incurred.
    Again, Penquin2, thanks for your well wishes.

  • AngryMatt

    http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1209/Nelson_to_offer_Stupaklike_amendment_.html?showall

    GOP should be all over this volunteering to help craft this provision and to fully support it. It won’t get enough votes for cloture or up/down and a vote on this will be a good storyline that Republicans aren’t “obstructing.”

    People want healthcare reform and they want it soon. They just don’t want what’s in this bill. It’s actually a fine line to tread since many, many polls that show the unpopularity of this bill also show that the public thinks the GOP is not working enough with the other side. The polls ALSO show that the public doesn’t think the Dems and Obama are doing enough to make the bill appealing to the GOP.

    So, how do you capitalize on that? Obstruct without “obstructing.” Do what Erick says; put up divisive amendments you know never will pass and pledge to support them wholeheartedly. The Dems can’t call this bluff without turning the left into an even larger ball of rage, so they vote it all down. GOP looks like it’s really trying hard to improve the bill, Dems look like bullies, health care “reform” becomes less popular.

    It’s really freaking simple and I would hope even the amateurs running the show in D.C. for “our side” could execute this plan.

  • jeffreywturner

    In the Senate, there are probably 3 Dems who support the Stupak language, and 2 Republicans who oppose it. That makes for about 41 Senators in favor of it.

    Clearly it doesn’t have majority support in the Senate.

    However, my line of thinking is that most Dem Senators know that the bill won’t pass the House without Stupak, so 10 or 12 of them will vote for it, even if they don’t support it. What do you think?

  • Menlo

    It can actually only pass the house without it, and the Democrats would vote it down even if it could not since that will be addressed at conference. Moreover, it would need the support of at least 19 additional Democrats (22 total) to pass.

  • leehazel

    There should be NO GOP amendments or any other GOP pen track on this health care Liberal Wet Dream.

    Let the Liberals live or die with this thing as 100% theirs, nobody but them.

    The GOP will commit the remainder of their suicide if they so much as hold this piece of Monumental Theft in their hands.

    There is more than one reason that McCain is not President but probably the biggest reason of all was his moronic insistence on “Bipartisanship”.

    PC is Thought Control
    Lee

  • tonywarren

    What is wrong with this picture? Citizens want the bill killed, not the new and improved version. I am more determined than ever now to become a Precinct Committeeman and get the GOP back on track.

    The Precinct Committeeman position is the best kept secret in all of politics and the most powerful one. It is free and the only requirement is that you love your country enough to become involved. This is the best way to give yourself and your neighbors a voice that will be heard.

    Attend a party meeting in your county and find out about this chance to direct your energy into something relevant. Nationwide, only 1/2 of the precinct positions are filled. Give yourself the chance to represent your family and neighborhood by becoming a Precinct Committeeman.

  • chbroussard

    …and be sure to write a note on WHY you’re not donating to them every time they send a fundraising letter. Tell them you’re sending your money directly to conservative candidates. However, I doubt it will get through to them. You just can’t fix stupid.

  • chbroussard

    If these people register as Independents, can they vote in either primary or can just registered Reps/Dems vote in their primaries?