svjim's Blog

svjim Commented on Obama: AARP's Support On Health Care Is 'No Small Endorsement' by Jillian Rayfield

2009-11-05T21:42:27Z

The AARP endorsed Medicare Part D because it did bring some relief to senior citizens. They have also worked for the repeal of the doughnut hole and frankly lobby quite effectively for their members. The AMA has obviously reached the point where they realize that the system is broken and something needs to be done. A good many doctors actually care for their patients.

svjim Commented on Pelosi Whipping House Health Care Plan--Including Robust Public Option by Brian Beutler

2009-10-21T16:26:38Z

It is really hard to read what is going on over in the Senate. Are Reid and Obama just playing low so a bill can get through the Senate and then patched up by the House or are they really the spineless jelly fishes that they appear to be in public.

It really is looking like if the Senate can get anything out, then in conference committee the House is going to have the upper hand. It is only going to take 50 votes in the Senate to pass the bill coming back from the conference committee. So all those Senators who favor the public option, but just can't bring themselves to vote for it because there 'aren't enough votes' will actually get to vote for it.

Once the bills get to conference committee we will know the true color of the Senate or for that matter Obama. Can he govern or will he tie himself up in bipartisanship efforts with an opposition that is only interested in his defeat.

svjim Commented on McAuliffe On Public Option's Chances: 'Probably Not, No' by Evan McMorris-Santoro

2009-10-16T22:04:58Z

I am beginning to believe that we are all too worried about what gets passed in the Senate. If health care reform gets passed in the senate with anything that can be called a public option, trigger, opt out, co-op, what ever, then the house is in the driving seat. The house is going to insist on a strong public health care option and Pelosi has the leadership and strength to make that happen in the conference committee. A bill out of the conference committee is only going to take 50 votes plus the VP in the Senate.

Everyone seems to be assuming that what comes out of the Senate is what is going to be come law. What Reid needs to do is just to get anything he can out of the Senate so the House can modify it. So if a trigger gets the bill out of the Senate, I'm all for it because it is going to be modified in conference. Give Snow her fifteen minutes of fame and then let the real hero step forward, Pelosi.

svjim recommended Do I Have the Politics Wrong? by Josh Marshall

2009-09-08T15:55:25Z

svjim Commented on Nancy Pelosi: No Way Health Care Bill Passes House Without A Public Option by Brian Beutler

2009-08-21T03:01:44Z

I agree with you 100 per cent on Pelosi. She has not been the problem, it has been the senate and the wimpy leadership of Reed. The Whitehouse hasn't helped a lot either. I don't know what is up with the President. I just haven't seen the passion in him that is needed to get this done. He is driving his supporters crazy with this continual talk of bipartisanship when the other side clearly only wants to kill health care reform.