And intercourse the penguin!
You see the thing is that we live in a republic. The advantage to being a republic is that it allows a small fraction of the populace to actually be able to intimately acquaint themselves with the nuts and bolts of an issue and vote on it in a much more wise way than some asshole on the internet who thinks he knows what he’s talking about, but really doesn’t.
But since there are so many different issues, within the realm of just the elected representatives they form committees amongst themselves so that some of them really can learn the most arcane and real-world information about an issue.
So now you can cry conspiracy, or you can just assume that you’re an asshole on the internet and the public option–at least as proposed–sucked.
Jon Stewart did a great piece on this last night:
I especially liked the bit about bears with chainsaws for paws.
This is all just kabuki theatre. Enough Democrats are bought and paid for by the insurance industry, including Obama, that they’re not going to support the public option with other than occasional words.
Enough about me, what do you think about me?
My favorite part was how the finance committee couldn’t pass a public health care option but this same committee did manage to fund abstinence-only education. WTF? Do we have to drive out to D.C. and smack these Democratic weenies upside the head?
Yep. I understand Blanche Lincoln (D?-Walmart) was instrumental in that one.
Once again, Rockefeller stands firm for meaningful health reform. He s introducing an amendment to the Senate Finance Committee that will require health insurers to spend at least 85% of every dollar of premium on actual health care.
I saw that adorable character on a very special episode of Mr Rogers.
I just want to say fuck Joe Lieberman, fuck him hard.
This douchebag says he will side with the Republicans if they choose to filibuster should the public option makes it into the final bill, thus preventing the Democrats from invoking cloture.
I guess this is the reward those spineless Democrats get for letting him stay in the caucus and keep his Homeland Security chairmanship even after he endorsed McCain.
This country really is being run by pussies.
Traitor Joe.
If he doesn’t like the bill then vote against the bill, but to not allow the bill to be voted on is bullshit. Yes I know all about filibuster and its fine tradition, but this bill has been subject to negotiation and has been worked on over and over and to not allow a vote on it is criminal in my mind.
Yeah…he’s with us on everything but the war(s).
And healthcare reform (i.e., whoring for the insurance industry).
And presidential candidates.
And…
If he does that - I see no reason why Reid should allow him to keep his chairs. Let the Independent caucus by his own self.
If you don’t support the party on procedural matters, you don’t belong in the Democratic caucus!
Back in Dec, I thought that the Joe-mentum should have lost all his Dem privileges from stumping for McCain. The arguments to leave him be weren’t very convincing, but I figured his colleagues that wanted him to keep his seats would smack him down if necessary. Evan Bayh and Co. deserve a big, “I told you so.” But I suspect they’re silently cheering him on.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Reid has the balls to strip him of his chairs. I’m sure he’ll just utter the usual bullshit about how Joe stands with them on a host of other issues. He’s among the most spineless of a spineless bunch.
Someone should take a closer look at his boxing career. He’s suspiciously good at taking falls…
Sorry - I don’t count “I’m a goddammed wussy,” as a reason.
Well, on the bright side, at least filibustering encourages the Republicans to read.
The public option is not dead. It was part of a couple bills ,not all. It actually has momentum right now.