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Moderate Dems: GRRRRR
Fuhgeddaboud da Blue Dogs for the moment. It's the moderate Dems in the House that are farking us over right now in the HCR debate. And it's that old bug-a-boo abortion that is the major sticking point.
40 Dems line up against federal abortion funding in healthcare bill.
Lead by Bart Stupak (D-MI)
The Republicans are giggling.
Here is C-SPAN video and closed captioning transcript of Stupak's interview yesterday where he discusses his perspective and responds to phone calls and e-mails during the program.
Now the Heritage Foundation is distorting Stupak's stance by cherry picking blurbs from last weekends Cheyboygan, MI townhall to make it seem he will torpedo the entire bill if he doesn't get "an opportunity to vote on an amendment stripping abortion from health care reform" That isn't true. The Heritage Foundation is lying.
I hope everybody on Capitol Hill is happy because they've just given me a headache. So, I'm sharpening the tines on my pitchfork just in case. In the meantime, I'm repeating my mantra....
We will get significant HCR
We will get a decent public option
Lobbyists will burn in hell
It is written.
40 Dems line up against federal abortion funding in healthcare bill.
Lead by Bart Stupak (D-MI)
The Republicans are giggling.
Here is C-SPAN video and closed captioning transcript of Stupak's interview yesterday where he discusses his perspective and responds to phone calls and e-mails during the program.
Now the Heritage Foundation is distorting Stupak's stance by cherry picking blurbs from last weekends Cheyboygan, MI townhall to make it seem he will torpedo the entire bill if he doesn't get "an opportunity to vote on an amendment stripping abortion from health care reform" That isn't true. The Heritage Foundation is lying.
I hope everybody on Capitol Hill is happy because they've just given me a headache. So, I'm sharpening the tines on my pitchfork just in case. In the meantime, I'm repeating my mantra....
We will get significant HCR
We will get a decent public option
Lobbyists will burn in hell
It is written.
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HI Flowerchild, I saw Bart on Chris Matthews tonight and he hedged a little when Chris asked him if he would try to block the entire health care bill over the abortion debate. He did say he wanted to see the health care bill pass, but he would work toward stopping it if the Hyde Amendment was in any danger of being overturned.
Bart is my congressman and I admire him very much--on most issues. On this one, he and I differ, but I know where he's coming from. He's a strong Catholic who boards in the notorious C Street house when he's in Washington. He has said he just sleeps there and doesn't know anything about the goings-on of the extreme Right-wing religious that calls that house their home, but I have to believe a smart man like him knows exactly what goes on there.
I want to believe the best about him, I really do, because I haven't seen any signs of him having been corrupted by Washington. But if he throws a wrench in the health care cog now, I'll have a hard time forgiving him.
His claim that most people agree with him about public funding of abortions just doesn't hold water. But even if it were true, I don't see anything in the current bills that would suggest overturning the Hyde Amendment. Am I missing something?
October 28, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's my Representative too, Ramona. His is a big district!
For the most part, I'm happy with him. He does a great job with environmental issues. You know, of course, that the upper parts of Michigan are Republican Red. You and I are probably the only blue specks on the map. So, I am not surprised at his reluctance to support a bill that supports money for abortions. The thing is, abortions are not now publicly funded and have not been since 1976 and. It will be worked out, I'm sure, because even Obama has said he does not want publicly funded abortions made available. It will be handled by the private insurers.
If he does end up voting against HCR, he will lose his Dem supporters. But, I wonder if it will make a difference? He's a Dem that Repubs vote for.
October 28, 2009 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
But I think what they are saying is that any subsidies to help taxpayers pay for private insurance that includes abortion coverage constitutes using federal money to pay for abortion.
The ultimate aim, I think, is to strip abortion coverage from ALL insurance policies, private policies as well as publicly-funded ones.
October 29, 2009 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ramona,
If the C Street house were a house of ill repute (I'm not saying it isn't), would you believe him when he says "...he just sleeps there and doesn't know anything about the goings-on..."?
October 29, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apparently, they are working to adapt the Hyde amendment to please Stupak and Co.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65173-dems-looking-to-adapt-hyde-amendment-for-health-bill-to-placate-pro-life-members
October 29, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am saying the mantra Flower:)
At least Senator Reid and Senator Durbin said they will keep the option of using reconciliation open if they feel it is necessary to get health care reform passed. I am confident that the House will work through it's hurdles. I would like to see the senate bill stronger if they are going to use reconciliation anyway.
We will get significant HCR
We will get a decent public option
Lobbyists will burn in hell
It is written.
October 28, 2009 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except I don't believe in hell so I say
Lobbyists will get what they deserve.
October 28, 2009 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
So it is written. So let it be done.
October 29, 2009 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent.
I was going to write that, but wanted to check all the comments first. agreed.
October 29, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q&feature=fvst
I'm a human being goddamn it.
I want you to go to the window, open it, and scream:
We will get significant HCR
We will get a decent public option
Lobbyists will burn in hell
October 29, 2009 8:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gads, I should not burst your bubbles on Harry Reid, but here's my take:
Reid is up for re-election, so he is being very careful on this. I think that since he KNOWS he doesn't have the votes (barring some come-to-jesus moments for Blue-dogs), he can now at least say that he tried, hoping to appease the Left a bit, and satisfy the right by all the caveats of opt-out, and other watering-downs of a Public Option.
The amendment-offering debate on the Senate Floor, both now and after whatever-comes-out-of-conference, will be Pure Political Theater, except for those legislators who really give a damn about the future of health care for us plebians.
October 29, 2009 8:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think that Congress is disappointed Obama is not one of theirs so they are keeping HCR hanging around so that it fails at just the right time, just before the next elections, so no one has confidence in the Dems at that point, and in their disappointment stay home and let the GOP take back Congress? It is clear that HCR has a majority of people favoring it with a PO. It is clear that the GOP has a demographic of 20% self-identifying as GOP. So this Congress is so far from representing the American people as to be irrelevant. Congress and the WH are catering to a party that is dead, but doesn't know it yet. There are no signs of life.
October 29, 2009 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, dear; I'm not sure what you're asking. Did you mean 'Republicans' instead, Obama is not one of theirs? If so, of course the delaying tactics they are using are designed to help them. And the Blue Dogs. There are now FIVE dems who say either they won' vote for cloture, or won't commit. If the White House cared enough, they could sure make them some Offers They Couldn't Refuse. But remember that it was Rahm's strategy for the DLC to draft moderate/consevative Dems to get elected. This is partly the result.
According to David Pluffe's new book, Obama ALMOST CHOSE Evan (the asshat) Bayh as his running mate!!! He is totally in the pockets of the Health Insurance industry.
I am glad the HOuse seems more interested in true HCR at least, but it is hard to say what they will settle for. The opt-out crap has me worried: Okay, now, the states can choose WHEN to opt out? Before a program gets going? Within 6 months? And the less people who are permitted to choose one, the less effective it could be.
Sad thruth is, so many don't care, cuz they don't have to care. The Blue Dogs, Lieberman, and the Republicanc can lie, and run lying ads against it. My husband is in Nebraska right now, and told me about the ubiquitous ads challenging Ben Nelson to "keep his pledge, no new taxes, and why would he hurt seniors, haven't we sacrificed enough already?" crap. My father-in-law believes the ads. Grrrrr!
October 29, 2009 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I'm talking Congress. I'm expanding your suggestion that Harry Reid is supporting the PO for theaterical purposes, and there may be others making a show when their interests are more attuned to the lobbyists then to the constrituency. Given the underwhelming support of Obama's agenda by the Dems, and their ineffectual practices with legislation despite a solid majority, I will, at times, question where their real motivations lie. I think many are disappointed that the election did not turn HCR into a cakewalk.
October 29, 2009 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's also about Lieberman and Evan Bayh and who knows-who-else-soon opposing cloture. Both of them are heavily subsidized by Insurance, both their wives are on Health insurance boards, own lots of health insurance stock, etc. Ahhhh....corporatocracy! The smell of fresh green money comin' in...!
Here is Buffy for you, flower:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AjaVyyveig
October 29, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, I think I just remembered that you have dial-up. Here are the lyrics to The Big Ones Get Away:
Hey, Baby I just got back from town
where the bribes are paid
Honey, they turned my offer down
they say the deal's already made
So now Igotta stand and watch
while it all comes down
and the buzzards and the hawks
and the judges and the mob
circle around
Now if I were the queen of all the world
I would 90 in chains just to see you free
of the ropes that bind you
and the role you play
and the pride that hooks you
while the big ones get away
Love junkies wanna change the world:
it quickly stays the same
Money junkies hire all the smart ones
Power junkies run the game
One step at a time
Polarity Hill
If the bad guys don't get you Baby
then the good guys will
With angels on the take
and the gangsters in the yard
Hey don't the wars come easy
Hey don't the peace come hard
Now if I had a way to reach the sky
I'd grab that crescent moon
wield it like a knife
save you from the lies
From the ropes that bind you
and the role you play
and the game that hooks you
while the big ones get away
October 29, 2009 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Migwetch, Wendy. I didn't know she had a new album out. Album...hahahhaha. How old am I? Do you think I could get the Victrola to play one of those new fangled CD things? ;o)
October 29, 2009 5:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know that I would classify these Democrates as "moderates." On this issue, at least, they are CONSERVATIVES.
I am getting really tired of the anti-abortion Taliban in this country.
October 29, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stupak is a moderate that serves a conservative district. I classify him as a moderate on the conservative cusp....he wouldn't get elected in this region if he were not. But, perhaps on this issue, Conservatives would be the appropriate title. I have only a partial list of the 40 and have not had time to research every name as to where their political views lie, but some of them are Blue Dogs, who are the bona fide Dem Conservatives.
October 29, 2009 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see you... :)
October 29, 2009 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink