Yeah, but Lieberman’s little stunt here makes it that much more difficult. I trust Pelosi and the House to pass a decent bill, and I still think Reid will pull through. (Reconciliation, if nothing else. It makes things messier, but should still get the job done.) Its just that this throws a kink into things which we’d be better off not having, all so Lieberman can be a dick*. I think Steve Benen’s explanation here is apt: appeal to Republicans because Dems sure as hell won’t vote for him in 2012.
ETA- *I can see the political reasons he’d do this, but it feels like a dick move, and besides, we’re in the Pit.
How about I trust the Progressive Caucus to ensure we aren’t totally screwed over. Although even that is a tall order. Maybe the best that can be said is that House Progressives have finally shown some backbone. Even then, they aren’t saying they’ll kill a bill w/ a mandate but no public option…
Let’s just say I’m about as happy with the party as a Democrat can get. Damning with faint praise and all that.
Ah. Joe Lieberman. I knew I would find him in the Pit. A man so two-faced, I fully expect to wake up someday to see the headline: “Lieberman Beaten to Death by Own Jowls”.
They should bring it to a vote. Then if the repubs filibuster, make them carry it out. Let the repubs stand up and show the people how badly they are bought off by insurance companies. If the repubs don’t have the guts to filibuster, then 51 votes is all that is needed.
And don’t bring a watered down bill to the floor. It was weakened to get repubs on board. Fuck them. If it is too weak it will not work and the repubs will shout" I told you the government can not run anything" . Just do it right.
It doesn’t really matter. The irony of it is that Lieberman, as a senator, has GOVERNMENT-FUNDED INSURANCE. Government-funded insurance that’s MUCH better than the relatively barebones public option he’s threatening to help filibuster.
Put your big insurance company donors’ money where your mouth is, Joe, and opt out of your Senate Fatcat Insurance Plan! It’s a public option, after all, and that obviously can never work.
This should be public knowledge of ANY and ALL bills and who gets money from where. That sort of transparency certainly would stop a lot of the corruption filling Congress.
I think he had a point on that one, though. Pelosi and the House aren’t as bad as the Senate, but they can and do screw over liberals and progressives plenty.
That said, I’m content with her today. The bill could be better, but seems decent, according to summaries. (link to the PDF at the top)
You are wrong on the whole conservatism thing, though, Sam
Let no other business come to the floor either. How long would they have to the stomach to keep it up? It would be interesting to see how that would play out.
We are requiring everyone to purchase health care and go to private insurance companies to do it.
Also, I’m pretty sure they will start taxing employer-subsidized health insurance as income for you. This means, what, about a $2000 fed tax increase for these families…plus more state?
Say what you will about congressional Republican caucuses (Cauci?), but I know for a fact that they’d strip someone* who shilled for Obama of chairmanships and probably expel them from the caucus. And they’d be entirely correct to do so. Why we can’t take the hint that the Joementum won’t even bring lube is beyond me.
ETA- *An Independent. I can see them just severely reprimanding a Repub member and making life hell for a while.
JOEBUCK20 was right. The watered down horrible bill will force people to buy insurance. That is the wrong way to fix the system. The insurance companies have too much power. Even this diluted system was a difficult bill to pass. We are doomed.
