tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post6762279376899094019..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Can They Pass DonkeyCare By Reconciliation?AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-69231001020994435162010-03-05T16:11:47.755-05:002010-03-05T16:11:47.755-05:00Thanks Patti!Thanks Patti!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-62549907059996475822010-03-05T10:20:07.476-05:002010-03-05T10:20:07.476-05:00andrew, i link'd! this article today.andrew, i link'd! this article today.pattihttp://www.notawonk.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-32145850743002970722010-03-04T01:03:12.729-05:002010-03-04T01:03:12.729-05:00You're welcome Crispy. I hope it helps!You're welcome Crispy. I hope it helps!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-61090198469474467222010-03-03T14:44:35.418-05:002010-03-03T14:44:35.418-05:00Thanks again, Andrew. A very enlightening summary...Thanks again, Andrew. A very enlightening summary!CrispyRicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07302075204880024936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-61191446889384620622010-03-02T23:28:41.438-05:002010-03-02T23:28:41.438-05:00We'll see Stan. Nothing is certain in either ...We'll see Stan. Nothing is certain in either direction. All we know for sure is that it's going to be close.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-81940475428181394242010-03-02T16:25:44.757-05:002010-03-02T16:25:44.757-05:00Reconciliation, though convoluted, and was never d...Reconciliation, though convoluted, and was never designed to deal with something as large an all encompassing as healthcare, however, I still think they will try it. As Jed said, this is their Holy Grail the ultimate power grab, a Bolshevik’s wet dream. Though a Kamikaze mission…I still say they get something through.StanHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07395708786509590321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-48185953045551985232010-03-02T15:53:56.906-05:002010-03-02T15:53:56.906-05:00Here in San Francisco, we refer to Pelosi as "...Here in San Francisco, we refer to Pelosi as "The Lemming Leader." And she doesn't even have to follow her fellow Democrats over the cliff.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-86937553947704791572010-03-02T15:09:56.020-05:002010-03-02T15:09:56.020-05:00P.S. LOL -- smaller format! I don't know wha...P.S. LOL -- smaller format! I don't know what she means. I've been wondering lately if she isn't just choosing words because they sound good.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-79614518985814973412010-03-02T15:08:53.308-05:002010-03-02T15:08:53.308-05:00Bev, I saw that, and I think your instincts are ri...Bev, I saw that, and I think your instincts are right -- if he had the votes, he wouldn't need to court Republicans.<br /><br />I doubt he'll get any though. I think they've made this bill so poisonous that it's highly unlikely any Republican could support it now.<br /><br />But, like you, I will hold my breath!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-68179687570097265232010-03-02T15:08:50.945-05:002010-03-02T15:08:50.945-05:00I just read that according to San Fran Nan, the ne...I just read that according to San Fran Nan, the new healthcare bill will be "much smaller". Do you think they just went to a smaller font size or what?BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-33499004128933426812010-03-02T15:07:32.800-05:002010-03-02T15:07:32.800-05:00Joel, Honestly, I'm not sure in either directi...Joel, Honestly, I'm not sure in either direction. She definitely has made a lot of enemies, even on the left, and she certainly hasn't gotten them anything. I guess we'll have to wait and see.<br /><br />On the one hand, I'd love to see her dethroned. On other other hand, she's been our strongest asset.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-42200003289571784862010-03-02T14:55:19.623-05:002010-03-02T14:55:19.623-05:00Andrew,
Are you sure? Do you think the Liberal De...Andrew,<br /><br />Are you sure? Do you think the Liberal Dems will still be happy with her? She got in by a squeeker. I don't know if she can duplicate it. <br /><br />They might be doubly unhappy with her. Losing the majority and NOT getting any of the Democrat plank through this last Congress. She has made quite a few enemies close to her to get her position. So far, all she has to show for it is a Private Plane loaded with alcohol.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-36701431085826932962010-03-02T14:49:17.367-05:002010-03-02T14:49:17.367-05:00This just in - Barry is considering adding in some...This just in - Barry is considering adding in some of those Republican ideas to the zombie..er...his healthcare proposal - <br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100302/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare <br /><br />Doesn't indicate which ideas, but he'll let us know tomorrow. Another indication that they don't have the votes yet. {{still holding my breath}}BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-3989955789216901232010-03-02T14:41:23.090-05:002010-03-02T14:41:23.090-05:00Joel, Excellent analogy, and you may well be right...Joel, Excellent analogy, and you may well be right. If she either loses the majority or gets really close to losing the majority, I could easily see a leadership challenge. The only question is going to be if enough "moderates" are left after the election to vote her out?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-37421757632112365682010-03-02T14:05:21.361-05:002010-03-02T14:05:21.361-05:00Andrew,
I think of it as more like the High Comma...Andrew,<br /><br />I think of it as more like the High Command in Hitler's Bunker. Some of them were willing to blow up Hitler because of principle.<br /><br />I am beginning to believe that Pelosi is going to be voted out of the leadership after November. I don't think she will be totally stripped from power, but I don't think she will have this much sway over her fellow Democrats.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-69584185706133460112010-03-02T13:58:58.391-05:002010-03-02T13:58:58.391-05:00Lawhawk, I think that every day that this thing dr...Lawhawk, I think that every day that this thing drags out, they are losing more and more people. If they wanted to do this, they had to do it fast before people had a chance to think about it. But I truly don't believe they had the votes they needed.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-46696045536403160962010-03-02T13:56:16.459-05:002010-03-02T13:56:16.459-05:00Joel, Very astute. I think that in politics, peop...Joel, Very astute. I think that in politics, people tend to view the other side as having a singular motivation. The reality is that each side has people that span the political spectrum. Right now, the Democrats are dominated by their left flank, but that doesn't mean that all of the rank and file fall into that line of thought.<br /><br />I do believe that some Democrats are better defined as old-school liberals, who believe in limited government, but do want to it to help solve problems. They can't see this bill as anything good, though they may agree with some pieces.<br /><br />I think the problem with this bill has been all along that the hard left (i.e. Pelosi and the leadership) simply decided they were going to ram through the biggest, most far left thing they thought they could force on their own members. That's come back to hurt them because it alienated the public and their method of ramming it through cost them the flexibility they needed, and it made enemies.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-42361000319656044312010-03-02T13:50:10.457-05:002010-03-02T13:50:10.457-05:00Jed, Thanks. There certainly is cause of optimism...Jed, Thanks. There certainly is cause of optimism in that it appears they just can't get there from here. But, like you say, they will keep trying because this is their Holy Grail. So people need to keep calling the Congress and attending rallies and just generally making this as hard as possible on the Democrats.<br /><br />And you're right, until the Republicans take back the entire Congress, this always remains a threat.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-65420188056007716622010-03-02T13:48:20.807-05:002010-03-02T13:48:20.807-05:00Bev, I agree with you -- we really aren't safe...Bev, I agree with you -- we really aren't safe until this thing dies.<br /><br />Give us an update on Texas if you get the chance! :-)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-5876914602600849332010-03-02T13:44:28.476-05:002010-03-02T13:44:28.476-05:00Here is a thought, Could it be that the rank and f...Here is a thought, Could it be that the rank and file Democrats in Congress really don't want this type of goverment takeover?<br /><br />So far, it has been politics as usual in Congress. People accusing back and forth ad nauseum. But something is amiss. I am starting to think, reluctantly, that some of these Democrats are being stubborn out of principle not just thinking about their chances in November. I mean some of these guys have got to know their re-election chances are nil. <br /><br />Why? Why not give the electorate the digitus impudicus and vote it in? Yes, I do know, most of them are pragmatic, but not all of them. Some of these Democrats won't vote for a goverment takeover, no matter what.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-27954310923921887392010-03-02T13:44:14.259-05:002010-03-02T13:44:14.259-05:00A very nice post, Andrew, but I am with Bev. Healt...A very nice post, Andrew, but I am with Bev. Healthcare is THE holy grail for Dem's and they are like a ratty little terrier or the Chinese coming over the hill in Korea; they just never seem to stop trying. As I said recently, I'll breath easier when the good guys control both houses. That said, all that you say is certainly cause for optimism.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-17919347390304525672010-03-02T13:17:45.477-05:002010-03-02T13:17:45.477-05:00I agree with all you say, but I am still going to ...I agree with all you say, but I am still going to hold my breath until this zombie of a bill finally dies.<br /><br />On a side note - Interesting doings in Texas primary today.BevfromNYChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953050916932306270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-82298824299336310752010-03-02T12:53:38.932-05:002010-03-02T12:53:38.932-05:00Andrew: Just when you thought it was safe to go b...Andrew: Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water . . . . I genuinely don't think they can pull this off, no matter how hard they try. Still, until I see them throwing the dirt over the casket, I'm not going to relax completely. There is one possible ploy left that they could try (even though I don't think they will, and if they did try, they'd probably fail).<br /><br />Still, they are determined to get something out of this by hook or by crook, so I'll link back to my January 22 article for reference: <a href="http://commentarama.blogspot.com/2010/01/we-dont-need-no-stinking-reconciliation.html" rel="nofollow">We Don't Need No Stinking Reconciliation</a>. If we suddenly see them taking two seemingly inconsistent votes, we'll know what they're up to. It's a last feeble attempt to avoid the Byrd rule that their own hero and former Grand Kleagle came up with.<br /><br />I'm completely with you on your conclusion, though. I think the Republicans will remain united, wavering RINOs have gotten the message, and blue dog Democrats aren't going to throw themselves on their swords for Obama or Pelosi.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-47903509461764568772010-03-02T12:48:38.037-05:002010-03-02T12:48:38.037-05:00EricT, Welcome. I agree with you. There is a str...EricT, Welcome. I agree with you. There is a strong chance that they will simply try this no matter what, though it really does appear that they just don't have the votes. . . and the odds are that their ability to get the votes will start to fade more and more every day.<br /><br />Still, that's no reason to be complacent, because they could still of a lot of damage if they get this through.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-81844217258632123932010-03-02T12:47:24.230-05:002010-03-02T12:47:24.230-05:00ACG, I think that's the problem with the think...ACG, I think that's the problem with the thinking that the Democrats will go this course.<br /><br />They've really let this devolve to the point that voting for this thing will be career suicide.<br /><br />I think Pelosi would still love to ram it through -- it fits her ideology and she's in a safe district. But for the 200 or so Democrats who are not in safe districts and who aren't as ideological as Pelosi, this has professional suicide written all over it. Add in that their efforts would be wasted when the bill expires, and it begins to look like pointless suicide rather than noble sacrifice.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com