Grassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’
Grassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’
On MSNBC this morning, Norah O’Donnell asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, “what needs to be in” a health care reform bill “for it to be bipartisan.” After saying it needs to be paid for, Grassley declared, “We need to make sure that there’s no public option.” When O’Donnell double-checked that Grassley was saying that a public option was a dealbreaker for Republicans, he replied, “Absolutely.” Watch it:
By claiming that a public option would destroy bipartisanship, Grassley is ignoring the preferences of a strong majority of Americans. Earlier this week, a New York Times/CBS News poll found that a public health insurance option (which would lower costs and improve quality) is supported by 72 percent of Americans, including 50 percent of Republicans.
Additionally, Grassley’s antipathy to a public plan flies in the face of his own constituents. In May, the Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found that 56 percent of Iowans support a public plan:
More than half of Iowans support a public health insurance plan, and almost half of the state’s residents who aren’t already insured say they would consider enrolling.
The Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, conducted March 30 to April 1 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, showed 56 percent of Iowans support creation of a public plan, 37 percent oppose the idea and 7 percent are unsure.
During his press conference yesterday, President Obama indicated that a public option was not “non-negotiable.” In a meeting with Senators yesterday, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly said that the White House wants a “bipartisan” plan and is “open to alternatives” on the public plan.
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“In order to make sure that health care reform sucks for the people and greatly benefits the private insurance carriers, we need to make sure there is no public option.”
There Senator. I fixed for you.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:25 amIn a meeting with Senators yesterday, White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly said that the White House wants a “bipartisan” plan and is “open to alternatives” on the public plan.
Why? Exactly why?
June 24th, 2009 at 11:30 amThe drug industry, health care providers and health insurance companies are investing a lot of money in the repubs (and blue dog dems)to “insure” that the flow of medical dollars will not be altered by some pesky competition. There will be no change until the majority of congress fear the voters more then fearing losing their big bucks from the health care monopoly.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:30 amAt this point, I could give a rat’s hind end if the Health Care bill is “bipartisan.” People are dying from lack of affordable health care and this jerk wants bipartisanship. The American Public deserves better representation.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:31 amMr. Bungle, I think you’re missing a key component of the equation for Republicans: they know that, if Democrats succeed in passing workable health care reform (which necessarily includes a public option) their electoral prospects for the foreseeable future are in the toilet.
The Democrats who oppose it are just hooked on the insurance company money flowing into their campaign coffers.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:32 amWhat part of the word “option” do these morons not understand? It’s not as if the current health care financing system would be completely replaced by a public system — it just gives us one more option!
Obama needs to stop talking nice and call these GNOP stooges out for what they are — the great defenders of the for-profit health insurance companies, who are scared to death of the competition (and thus, their reduced profits) that a public system would provide…
June 24th, 2009 at 11:32 amSooooo…bipartisan now means…do it OUR way, even though we are the minority? Dems need to grow some balls, dammit.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:32 amIt’s called a public “option”, not a requirement.
If the option will be as bad as the Republicans say it is, then no one will “opt” for it.
What are they so afraid of?
June 24th, 2009 at 11:33 amIf I wanted the Republicans to make policy I would have voted for Republicans last November. Healthcare reform does not exist on a national level without a public option. If the Republicans do not want to discuss a public option they are by definition against meaningful healthcare reform. You cannot come up with a bipartisan solution when one party does not see a problem.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:34 amNow the insurance companies take a big part of the health care dollars. They make money off your illness. They have administrators that make decisions about what benefits you get or don’t get. With a public option there will still be administrators making decisions, but those administrators will be responsible to a political structure. If there are problems elected representatives will be available to help. With insurance companies you have no way to influence there decisions, they are not responsible to the policy holder they are responsible to the stock holders and the corporate board. Now people may say you can use competition within the industry to and take a policy from another company, but if you have an existing condition, that is not an option, you would never be able to switch companies. You are stuck with the insurance companies decisions. I would rather depend on the decisions of someone I can influence, rather than someone I cannot.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:34 amDogfather,
Well said.
FDR called these people “Economic Royalists” and straight up blamed the economic power holders for the countries woes in the early to mid 30’s and the people loved him for it. For some reason in modern times we don’t like to call people what they are. Too much political correctness on ur side of the aisle these days.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:34 amYou got it wrong old man. In order for there to be healthcare reform, there must be a public option, bi-partisan or not. You guys are thieves at the trough and we have you figured out.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:36 amRepublican-to-sane dictionary:
“Bipartisan” = “Give us everything we want.”
June 24th, 2009 at 11:36 amSorry Mr. Grassley, but when 72% of Americans want a public option, that means a lot of Republics want one too. So no public option won’t be bi-partisan, it will be the Republic way. And since you guys lost the last election, you no longer get your way (hopefully).
June 24th, 2009 at 11:38 amThen screw bipartisanship and ram the public option down their fu*king throats. They would do no less were the roles reversed–and did, during the long Shrub nightmare.
Even a majority isn’t enough to put some courage in the Democratic Party! What tools!!
June 24th, 2009 at 11:41 amAt what point do the Dems in DC remember that they’ve won the majority of seats in the House and Senate in both of the last TWO congressional elections?
Why is anyone even listening to Grassley?
Clearly the mainstream media are trying to maintain the pretense of debate so that they can continue to hold up single exemplars that go against the majority way of thinking and call it “balanced.”
June 24th, 2009 at 11:41 amAs Rush Limbaugh made very plain long before this so called debate was kicked-off, to the RpubliCons “bipartisan” means ” do what WE say and give us what WE want”.
I fail to see why Obama continues with his appeals for bipartisanship when the GOP has made it clear from the day after the election until now that their entire raison d’etre is to obstruct EVERY SINGLE POLICY being proposed by the White House and the Democrats.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:43 amRobust Health Care Reform is the Moment of Truth for Obama and the Democrats
June 24th, 2009 at 11:43 am
stewarjt Says:
In a meeting with Senators yesterday, White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly said that the White House wants a “bipartisan” plan and is “open to alternatives” on the public plan.
Why? Exactly why?
I am so hoping that this is a strategy on President Obama’s part so that he can say, in the end, that he did his best to bet a bipartisan bill but the Republics wouldn’t cooperate. I see no reason why Obama would be bending to the Republics will after the recent poll that showed even 50% of Republicans want a public option.
If Obama lets us down on health care reform I will be done with him.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:44 amImportant Technological Breakthrough:
The compact marble machine
June 24th, 2009 at 11:51 amDear Senator Bought and Paid for By Big Pharma and the Death Insurance industry.
STFU, do a headcount.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:53 amBilbo – so are millions of other Americans. When you run on “YES WE CAN” you cannot afford to weasel out on what you promised, especially when the public overwhelmingly rejected mclame/palin.
We need find a way to build dialog about change – Today, Americans overwhelmingly want it (3 out of 4), so no excuse for not delivering.
The billions spent on “economic stimulus” are not improving unemployment and Obama himself says the worse is yet to come.
I am not saying it’s right, but it is a fact that he will get blamed and his policies will be deemed failures.
Please, everyone, think for a minute what that means – IT WILL LET THE GOPers BACK INTO THE RACE. Many do not grasp the significance of not doing everything we can to make meaningful healthcare reform happen.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:55 amThere’s that squeaky sound again
Good thing we are ignoring it
June 24th, 2009 at 11:56 amMany self-proclaimed “progressives” that do not understand the rich heritage of achievement the Progressive Movement had on our nation don’t get this.
I will respectfully disagree with any well-stated position, but have nothing but contempt for those that want to steal the legacy of progressive ideals and now proclaim that meaningful healthcare reform is not a “big deal” and that progressives don’t actually have to take stands on these types of socioeconomic issues.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:57 amGrassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’
well, that makes it easy then: we need to make sure it is NOT bipartisan.
.
speaking of msnbc, did anyone see the new a.m. guy on ed schultz yesterday? yeesh! another obnoxious loud-mouth azzhole, it seems…
not sure if he opens for joe, or tops it off, but it doesn’t seem right for morning…
June 24th, 2009 at 11:58 amTranslation- A public option will cut into money for me from Insurance Companies.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:59 amYou can’t be bi-partisan with a party of no. They only know one way and that is their obstructionism way. These people never learned to play well or work well with others and they are not going to learn when they are eighty years old.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:59 am“Considering” removing public option is nothing less than selling us out – it goes against the vast majority of Americans.
This will have serious consequences and is likely to give the repugs a shot in the arm because obama continues to fracture his base.
More importantly, right or wrong, people are not going to let him blame chimpy and the repugs for everything.
The opportunity for change is NOW!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:00 pmThat squeak is repetitive.
Sounds like a distant whiiiiine.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:02 pmThe Simple Answer to America’s Health Care Crisis: Medicare for All
Of course, some moron will pull out a dictionary, disregard the context of the term, and proclaim that being “progressive” actually means you stand for nothing.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:02 pmRedefinitions are underway:
“Bipartisanship” means the reds and blues sucking up to their for-profit health care sponsors.
“Public plan” means a nonprofit alternative, i.e. not government run like Medicare. The White House caved yesterday on this. Obama and his White House Health spokesman referred to a nonprofit insurance plan, not a government run one.
http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/06/obama-led-democrats-plan-to-cave.html
June 24th, 2009 at 12:03 pmAre not both Medicade and Medicare both public plans? So where is Grassley coming from with his line in the sand over a public option. I just don’t get it.
The real hang up is financing. Period. Everything else is smoke. Healthy people don’t want to pay for sick people. Little do they realize that in a few years they will be the sick people and they too will be forced to choose between buying medicine and buying food. That is the doing nothing option — a broken system forever.
Young people need to view this as a pre-payment for their health insurance costs for the later years when they need it and can’t afford it. Make no mistake, those days will come. Statistics show that the leading cause of bankrupcy is related to health costs. This is a moral issue that society needs to grapple with. Without this people are stripped of their dignity. Are we really that mean-spirited as a nation?
June 24th, 2009 at 12:04 pmGreat point Dallas
Nice to hear thoughtful discussion rising over the incessant whining of the gnats.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pmSpreading the Wealth Around to the Insurance Industry and Friends
June 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Screw Grassley AND any other politician who says this. The facts are clear, our elected officials do NOT want a public option only because their money masters, the health care industry, the pharmaceutical companies and the American Medical Association do not want us to have a public option.
Isn’t it funny how the republicans say a government ran health care system (public option) would be a disaster yet they are all on a government ran health care program paid for by we the taxpayer and you never hear them complain about their health care.
It’s plain and simple, the voices of the American people will be ignored again not just by the republicans this time but by the democratic majority and President Obama as well.
As Bill Maher said “If President Obama and the democrats can’t push through what the people want now, when the republican party is at it’s lowest point….than when????”
Memo to the democratic party: You are either with us or against us, which will it be???
June 24th, 2009 at 12:08 pmHealth Insurance Insider to Testify Before Senate
Former Executive Warns Congress: Don’t Be Fooled by For-Profit Industry’s Misleading Campaign
Washington, DC – Wendell Potter, a former health insurance industry insider, will testify before the full Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday June 24, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. EST, exposing the health insurance industry’s resistance to needed health care reform.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
But did Grassley bring Barbie dolls to the explanation?
June 24th, 2009 at 12:09 pmLatest 10 Videos of Dem Senators on Health Care
June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pmDallasNE Says:
Healthy people don’t want to pay for sick people.
But we already do… every time they end up in the emergency room.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pmA third of the population of Iowa is on Medicare and doctors in that state don’t want anything to change their reimbursement rates because they are making money with the current system. Plus, you’ve got a state full of born-agains who run the entire political apparatus in certain counties. This is Ground Chuck Grassley’s base and he plays these flat-earthers’ ignorance like Clapton plays guitar. He needs to be schooled by Obama now before his ignorance is spread by the MSM.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pmThen it’s time for Grassley to go home – for good. He is bringing NOTHING to the options table in terms of ideas and ways to proceed…
The old adage ‘Lead, follow or get out of the way’ applies here. Grassley has outlived his usefulness.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pmRepublicans and blue dog Democrats care; they care about the health of, tadah… corporate greed, specifically, corporate greed in the health “industry.” Greedy American insurance companies are scared that when the public option non-profit federal health insurance plan becomes law, there will be a 21st century version of the Oklahoma land rush, with millions of people switching from private health insurance plans into the new federal public option health insurance…
O/T: President Obama murdered some sixty Pakistanis attending a funeral yesterday with his drone/missile strike. He killed more people in one day than the Tehran tyrants killed in a week. Heck of a war crime, President Obama.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:11 pmSource
Source
June 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pmAt least there are, for the most part, they aren’t selling us out in the House – so why is Obama signaling today that he may accept no public option?
House Democrats push health care reform plan</strong>
It is one thing to sell out your constituents – after all, that is what we have often seen. But selling out the folks in the trenches that are working on your behalf?
That is not acceptable, because with a little support, the folks that are working on this in the house can make meaningful reform happen.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pmHmm… a thread about something other than health care — Another Joe complains.
A thread about health care — Another Joe complains.
Say… did the sun rise on the east this morning, by any chance?
June 24th, 2009 at 12:14 pmGrassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’
There it is:
Grassley could not be clearer: In order to have viable public healthcare, we need to eliminate the republican party.
Works for me…
June 24th, 2009 at 12:14 pmbeing almost summer, the gnats are coming out in full force
June 24th, 2009 at 12:16 pmGo figure.
Finally, a thread on health care, and Another Joe is STILL pissing and moaning.
STFU.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pmunfortunately, the mods seem to be on vacation
June 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pmRepublican-to-sane dictionary:
“Bipartisan” = “Give us everything we want.”
I say, screw the bipartisanship. When the Rethugs were in power, they never gave one freakin’ thought to bipartisanship, they just shoved their agenda and that of King George down everybody’s throats, and crowed with victory everytime they did it. It’s time the Democrats stopped trying to play nice and grew a pair. The Rethugs are the unrepentent school bullies who will stop at nothing to get what they want. It’s time for the Dems to step up to the plate and do what the American people elected them to do. 72% of US citizens want a public option at the very least, if not single payer healthcare. DEMOCRATS, DO WHAT WE HIRED YOU TO DO OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES IN 2010–YOU’RE FIRED!!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pmThanks, Obama. How about taking care of the people who need help? I’m quickly becoming disillusioned by the Business as Usual approach of this administration, and, quite frankly, I feel betrayed.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:18 pmRepublicans couldn’t be bothered with bipartisanship over the previous 8 years but now that they are politically irrelevant, it is of the utmost importance? What a pathetic joke. They destroyed American liberties, started an unprovoked war against a country that didn’t attack us, deregulated the financial system to the point of economic depression purely for the greed of the entitlement class while families suffered, and NOW they want to work together?! Their idea of bipartisanship is merely to ensure continued unethical profits for the insurance industry at the expense of American families.
If Obama concedes the public option, his presidency is effectively null and void going forward. He will not get re-elected. He will not have helped American families. He will effectively maintain the corproate-based status quo.
THIS is the defining moment of his presidency, whether he realizes it or not. THIS is the moment of truth for him. Just as G.H.W. Bush had his on the morning of Sept. 12th when he squandered the support of nearly every country around the world by not chasing bin Laden and the terrorist who actually attacked us, but instead chose to invade Iraq.
That decision defined his presidency and THIS one will define Obama’s.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:20 pmIt doesn’t seem to be about health for repubs, more about anti-choice. They are really encouraging more control by someone else over personal decisions by taking out a public option. They don’t want us to have the freedom to choose and want to force everyone to use the for-profit machine.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:20 pmrepublic fascist party “healthcare reform”: no public option, keep the status quo, make private health insurance a federally enforced requirement for all citizens.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:20 pmNot just the Republicans like…
Charles Grassley
Judd Gregg
Johnny Isakson
Michael D. Crapo
But Democrats as well…
Harry Reid,
Jane Harman,
Christopher Dodd (Dodd’s wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd, serves on the boards of four health-care companies)
John Kerry
Source
This is a bi-partisan problem…seems like no bi-partisan solution…
June 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pmLet me plainly say that if there is no public option which can lead to a single payer plan then I will not vote for any incumbent. So throw a wrench in works if it’s looking bad. It’s better to have a revolt than any health insurance company.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:23 pmI have to admit, the Republicans are right about one thing:
When the public option is available, most people will tire of being ripped off by the insurance corporations and choose it, which will, in effect, put the insurers out of business.
Obviously they don’t believe in the “government can’t do anything right” mantra they spew, or they wouldn’t fear competition that, in their “minds”, would be ineffectual.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:24 pmANYBODY in Congress who receives money from insurance cos. and/or drug cos., or any other health care industry entities, have a HUGE conflict of interest here, consequently they shouldn’t even be involved in any decision-making here, even remotely…
it’s so obvious what Repugs’ motivations are here, it would be comical if there weren’t so much at stake…
June 24th, 2009 at 12:24 pmI’m glad Obama is working on this. It looks like it will get done by October.
The debate is healthy.
For one thing, it exposes the incompetence and corruption of the right wingers and, at the same time, outs the Dems that oppose it.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI hate to be so negative towards President Obama and the democratic party because I voted for Obama and thought with a democratic majority in the house and senate, we would finally see some real change on issues that have been ignored for 8+ years.
Instead I’ve seen:
Government for corporate bail outs
Government against helping the American people
Government for the health care industry etc,
Government against the American people and a public option
Government continuing the Bush war
More troops heading to Afghanistan, no end in sight in Iraq
President Obama refusing to go after the Bush administration for war crimes and allowing torture and continuing with the Bush pushed FISA bill.
President Obama waffling on the closing of Gitmo
President Obama not staying true to his word about transparency in government by blocking the release of “who” visits the White House.
President Obama allowing the same crap that got us into this financial mess to continue…Anyone calling for the re-enactment of the Glass-Steagall Act?
We have truly become a nation with a one party political system. This system (the beast)has a right wing and a left wing and both wings are beholden to their masters, the beast, which is the corporations, the banks, Wall Street, the Oil/Energy companies, the health care industry, the War industry……..we the people are so phucked!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pmGrassley: “We need to make sure that there’s no public option.”
Hey – that’s great Chuck! I’m all for it as long as the following takes place: All members of congress including yourself, will have their current taxpayer funded medical benefits replaced with the exact same plan/benefits you have in store for we “the little people.” What’s good enough for the serfs is good enough for the noblesse right?
Just saying . . .
June 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pmThere are four decision processes.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:32 pmFirst, the Left overpowers the Right and the Left plan is implemented.
Second, the Right overpowers the Left and The Right Plan is implemented.
Third, the Right and Left compromise and a new plan down the middle is Implemented. Fourth, neither side overpowers the other and neither side compromises. THIS IS DONE ON PURPOSE TO KEEP THINGS THE SAME.
The Republicans do not have swing things to their Parties position to win. They simply have to divide public opinion and divide the Democratic Party to win.
I see this being done in these opinion forums. A majority clearly wants change. Keep alive the division of a public plan or not and nothing will change.
Proud…as much as I’m unhappy with the democrats so far, they were a MUCH better option than continuing on with the republicons in control. If we had McCain/Palin in office right now we would already have seen our economy collapse and see more deregulation. Sorry, the dem’s suck but the republicons suck sh*t
June 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pmThe dems that oppose this reform should be targeted for unemployment.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:35 pmYes, I agree. I was dealing with the perception so many healthy people have. They just don’t realize that they are already paying in the form of higher taxes for that emergency room care.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:35 pmFreeMarketLiberal Says:
Achieving the Radical Left wing agenda by posting another article about a Republican. How’s that working for ya?
Just great. You may note that almost all of the articles at TP have always been about stupid things Republicans say. But thanks for asking.
Also, the public healthcare option is hardly “radical” unless you’re using 80’s slang there.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pmin case anybody still has doubts on how retarded these folks are regarding health care policy should check out
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Mzk2ZDhmYjYwYjU1MjYyYjg0MzBiYjE1Nzg4OGUzZjc=
this retard thinks the solution is to FURTHER DE-REGULATE THE PRIVATE INSURANCE INDUSTRY… (yeah, right.. I suppose so they have even more freedom to deny treatment to their policyholders so they can line up their pockets and those of their stockholders.. so they have even more freedom to deny coverage to folks who are already sick..) man.. what a bunch of pathetic ignorant neanderthals..
in no other modern democracy could these retards and their backward, profits-above-all-else ideas win elections….
June 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pmRescind all Congressional health care until single payer is passed.
Iran has universal health care, for God’s sake…
June 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pmI am beginning to wonder if this isn’t just a brilliant chess move on President Obama’s part. First he asks for a CBO assessment of health care reform that doesn’t include a public option. And now he is acting like he’s open to dropping the public option. He has since asked the CBO for an estimate of costs with a public option. I’m sure that cost is going to be much lower. So, if the public is clamoring for a public option (72% of Americans including 50% of Republicans is a very loud clamor) and he has tried bipartisanship and failed, he can then just say “I tried, but it didn’t work, so we’re going for a public option”.
Maybe his end game is actually single payer health care. Because that’s the cheapest option of all. If we take all the money currently paid into the for-profit health insurance system and apply it to putting everyone on Medicare, it’s going to cost way less and be much more efficient.
I’m hoping this is his plan. If it is, I have to say it’s brilliant.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:41 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I’m hoping this is his plan. If it is, I have to say it’s brilliant.
Zeus’ balls! I hope you’re right.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pmDallasNE sez: Are we really that mean-spirited as a nation?
Hate to be cynical, but Yes.We.Are. I am appalled at the things I see on TV and read in the papers and online: the general gist of it seems to be “I don’t give a damn about anybody but myself. Screw the blacks, immigrants, poor, ‘foreigners’, non-Christians(?), gays, Jews, Muslims—pretty much everybody who’s not white, Christian, rich and old (and, sadly, male). More and more of these crazies have been coming out of the woodwork since Obama became POTUS and, admit it or not, the right wing radio and TV channels began their 24/7 hitman job on him. And don’t give me that crap about “free speech, words don’t incite riot or hate,” yadayadayada. Dr. George Tillman was killed by a man who was a devout listener and follower of programs like Rush,O’Lielly, and Hannity ans their extreme right wing screeds, and the guard at the Holocaust museum was killed by a white supremisist, to name only 2….I could go on. We are a nation of fearful haters who want to eliminate anyone who is “the other”, and that attitude is fueled by people like those on Fox, and like “Dick” Cheney, who is lately working 24/7 to undermine any attempt to foster peace and make this country one with some sense of financial equality and one where “all men are (truly) created equal.” Their motto is: “I’ve got mine, You get your own, damn the torpedos and full speed ahead.”
June 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pmCan someone, anyone, tell me when in the holy f-ing hell “bipartisanship” became the standard for passing legislation?
I don’t remember the likes of David Broder and David Brooks gnashing their teeth when the GOP literally locked Dems out of meetings.
I don’t recall the media pushing for it when the GOP gavelled meetings to an end before Dems got to even speak.
And I sure as hell don’t ever remember the GOP giving a damn about bipartisanship when they held secret meetings with industry execs in violation of federal law.
So not only am I interested in knowing when bipartisanship became the ultimate goal, but when it started to mean, “Giving the GOP whatever the hell it wants, regardless of what the American people want or need.”
Sweet lord–aren’t these asshats our REPRESENTATIVES? So why are they not representing us?!
June 24th, 2009 at 12:46 pmMark D: Can someone, anyone, tell me when in the holy f-ing hell “bipartisanship” became the standard for passing legislation?
When the Republicans lost their majority in the House and the Senate. Their motto is “Do as we say, not as we do.”
June 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pmIt’s time for Iowans to put Grassley out to pasture.
It would be much like his current job, where he sits among piles of shit while bellowing sounds he thinks are words.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:49 pmSo nearly 80% of Americans are Radical Lefties, including 50% of self-identified Republicans?!
Sweet! Maybe we can actually take care of the sick, elderly, children, and the poor instead of making the top one-half of one-percent even richer and fostering a “screw everyone else if I got mine!” mentality in this nation.
Me likey …
June 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
What is it called when those serving in Government, who were elected BY the People, so as to be representatives FOR the People, and are OF the People’s concerns, don’t?
My gut calls it something other than a Democracy.
.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:50 pmYes Dylan Ratigan is another right wing tool following Joe Scarborough in the morning. I guess MSNBC is picking the other side.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pmMark D:Sweet lord–aren’t these asshats our REPRESENTATIVES? So why are they not representing us?!
Poor baby! Hasn’t anyone told you how Washington works? Lobbyists bribe, Representatives take. Ergo, Representatives work for Lobbyists. Case closed.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pmAnother Joe is posting under two names this morning, at least two. Another Joe = Stateofthedivision.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pmObama must stop pandering to these Repubs who care nothing about him and apparently nothing about the country or Americans. 72% is a very strong endorsement of Obama’s plan. The only ones pushing & endorsing Repubs non-plan are the whining, bullying Repubs themselves.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pmCampaign finance reform! Lobby reform!
Anything less will only enable the retention of the status quo.
Corporatism rules America.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:56 pmProud must be taking FAKE PROGRESSIVE lessons from Another Joe.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:00 pm.
OF, FOR, and BY the Corporations…
.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:03 pmWhy don’t the Dems just use the “budget reconcliation process” to bypass the Rethuglicans since they want to keep the “privatize social health care” that many Americans can’t afford?
June 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pmIt’s bad enough when the minority party obstructs legislation desired by an overwhelming majority of the poulace but when a pack of greedy DINOs hop on the regressive bandwagon it’s time to replacing these incumbants and start funding true Democrats in 2010 to take their place. The DINOs are far worse than the Republican Party IMHO as they should know better. They act as though they care about their constituents while taking fat checks from the HC Industry. 2010 can’t come soon enough progressives! Let’s show the DINOs that we aren’t f@cking around!
June 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pmBipartisanship means something if the minority party has ideas as weighty as the majority. The republicans are ineffective, crass, arrogant and stale. They’re whole shtick is revenge against the people that voted for closing their liquor shop of drunken power. They’re not about representation, they’re about taking health insurance paid with OUR money and making money (through stock holdings) off the overpriced and inefficient private insurance WE have to buy – and the same farts want to tax that to boot!
Let’s get a hold of things — the GOP is a fringe, extremist minority. The status quo is getting people’s hopes down while they rack in the benefits of their perches. They don’t believe in the political process giving people what they want. At best, you’ll get narrow and reluctant action.
We must not allow this reform to become a symbolic passage and signing ceremony. My rep is Walter Jones (R) and Sens. Hagan (D) and Burr (R). I need to start writing.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:10 pmProud Says:
Remind me again which party is in the majority.
Are you asking for another beatdown? This sounds like you’re actually siding with the liberal wing in pushing the Dems to steamroll Republicans. Duly noted. If they should ever get the spine to do so, I assume you won’t be complaining about it, right?
June 24th, 2009 at 1:14 pmLet’s hope his ass is Grassly next election.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:21 pmBoiled down: if health care reform doesn’t include either single payer or a “public option” then it’s not health care reform. Without that, they might as well not even waste their time passing anything.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:24 pmIf I want to build a house, I don’t seek “bipartisanship” with arsonists.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:31 pmSTFU, Grassley.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pmYour party of NO has brought us to the brink of economic collapse; engaged us in two wars; allowed energy companies to determine their own federal programs; allowed public health to deteriorate to the point where people are going bankrupt due to an illness. Why in hell should we listen to you — more importantly why should Obama listen to you.
Go to hell.
trosor
June 24th, 2009 at 1:37 pmtahn you
If Obama once again compromises, ie capitulates to the national Republican minority, on something as vital to economic and physical health of this country as national insurance then I think we need to make sure he is a one term president. Making a public option negotiable is shameful and not why I voted for him.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pmAlso, please write and call your congresspeople! This is important and Obama is failing us.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:04 pmtypical repiggie…
June 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pmElBruce Says:
Boiled down: if health care reform doesn’t include either single payer or a “public option” then it’s not health care reform. Without that, they might as well not even waste their time passing anything.
I agree ElBruce. Without that it’ll just end up being cost-cutting measures that will give the insurance companies excuses to deny certain tests, treatments or procedures and they’ll just end up putting more profit in their pockets.
I can’t see the insurance companies lowering premiums for any reason other than to stay in business.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pmIt is time for Obama to go over the heads of the people in Congress. He needs to take his health care proposal to the people and let them pressure Congress. Obama needs to stop trying for bipartisan support because it will not be coming. However, some conservaDems and Republicans will feel the heat if their constituents start bombarding their offices. Obama also needs to get the state government officials on board with the plan.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pmThis is why your government doesn’t want single payer;
The Washington Post revealed almost thirty key lawmakers helping draft landmark healthcare legislation have financial holdings in the industry, totaling nearly $11 million worth of personal investments.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has at least $50,000 invested in a healthcare index.
Republican Senator Judd Gregg, a senior member of the Health Committee, has up to $560,000 worth of stock holdings in major healthcare companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck.
The family of Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman held at least $3.2 million in more than twenty healthcare companies at the end of last year.
Senator Kerry, John Kerry, and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry hold at least $5.2 million in companies such as Merck and Eli Lilly.
Get the picture???? WHAT A RACQUET WHAT A FU**EN RACQUET!!!!
Taking it to the streets might be the only way to open up the eyes of your elected officials…..I wounder if the AMA AND THE REST OF THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY WILL GIVE THE ORDERS TO SHOOT????? Concidering they run the government????
June 24th, 2009 at 2:34 pmObama does seem to be working this way: put forward a cautious, centrist-seeming position, extending s hand to the Republicans. The Republicans bite it off. Obama shakes the remnants of the plasticine hand out of his sleeve and moves further to the progressive side.
There are a bunch of leaks like this one: “Rahm Emmanuel is rumored to have said…”
I’m not certain that this is the strategy they’re using–but it’s good strategy: allowing the Republicans to damage themselves, build up more evidence for support, and reinforce his image as careful and studied.
I don’t altogether trust Obama–I don’t think he’s a raging progressive wearing a clever disguise.
I think he’s careful about his liberalism. That’s not the same as being weak. I Think it’s the result of the University of Chicago.(my school and grad school.)
There is an lternative to the public option: a series of laws that would make ‘pre-existing conditions illegal, make denial of doctor-approved procedures illegal, make insurance truly portable, and supplement unemployment insurance to support health insurance.
In short, regulate the hell out of the industry and force them to act fairly.
The advantage of that is that there would be a tremendous inducement never to let the Republicans back into power.
But I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. That 58% of the Republicans want the public option speaks volumes. It doesn;’t matter what your politics are: The current system is broken, and people are scared. to. death. and it’s not just individuals: It’s also Most other american corporations. are being hurt by this as well.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:40 pmObama needed to show strength in the face of GOP obstructionism, because that’s the only thing they know. He’s given them several chances to show their bona fides. Yet, he has no problem catering to their desires while showing “spine” by screwing over the Progressive base. Democrats do have spine, they just have spine when it comes to “standing up to” the “MoveOn crowd” and they actually brag about it.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:21 pmWhen the Republicans had control of Congress, “bipartisan” meant “whatever the Republicans want.” Now that the Democrats have control of Congress, “bipartisan” means “whatever the Republicans want.”
June 24th, 2009 at 3:40 pmNo public option, no Grassley in Congress after the next election
June 24th, 2009 at 4:23 pmAs the dems and an apparent supermajority of voters want a public plan, wouldn’t the good senator’s words translate to :
If its gonna be bipartisan, then the dems have to drop their ideas and do it my way ?
June 24th, 2009 at 6:22 pmSee what Obama says about the “public plan” during his Health Care infomercial on ABC tonight. Health care and gay rights may be the two issues that finally turn the media against Obama–at least according to this Newsy report.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/leaving_the_fold
June 24th, 2009 at 6:52 pmamerica is a very very selfish nation.
capitalism breeds individualism
individualism breeds yoyo= your on your own
americans spend one trillion on a unwinable war and say little
but billions for health care they resist
until americans realize they are an imperialist country little will change in america
I mean demos also not just repubs are imperialists
look at a demo congress supporting this illegal war in iraq
time to drain the swamp in wash
beck has that one right
“Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty which are embodied in one maxim: the fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate” Bertrand Russell.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:08 pmWho the hell is Grassley, I don’t remember voting for him, in fact, if I remember, Republicans are in substantial minority status, and if the Dems would grow a pair of balls, they could easily do this (health care) and stuff it up the collective GOP ass for years to come and completely marginqalize them. Complete the job George Bush has started and make these fools the enduring minority that they deserve.
June 24th, 2009 at 10:02 pm(shrug) Ok. It’s not bipartisan then. Done.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pmGrassley and Party are a bunch of morally , intellectually yes Patriotically Bankrupt Political hacks. Every day their part become more shrill, irrational and irrelevant. THey show themselves as Hypocrites almost Daily ( just yesterday Gov., Sanford), dangerous unthinking and UN Patriotic fools, the President Of the Unties States Was called Nazi by at least Repub. Leaders yesterday . . . again ! The only way to be bipartisan with these people is to do things there way and ONLY there way. 80%, probably more Do Not Agree, In Fact Specifically DisAgree With Grassley and Company. WE voted for CHANGE , OVERWHELMINGLY ! IT Is Time For the Democrats to do the will of the People, Do THe Jon THEY WERE HIRED FOR, BLOW Right Past Grassley’s line in the sand . . . NOW ! Many have already started looking for New Democrats , just in case these turn out to be defective !
June 25th, 2009 at 8:12 am“Grassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’”
No, that makes Health Care being only Republican.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:04 amCOMPROMISE
I think that the compromise would be to have the Public Option:
1) Negotiate rates that all other plans could depend on, as a maximum, that way the private plans would be able get the same rates as the public plan, except if they wanted to spend the time to get even less expensive rates on their own. — This would allow the public plan to have bargaining power and the private plans to benefit from any rates that were negotiated.
2) Bill and keep records for the private plans in addition to their own plan. — This would allow the centralization of records, thus a way to analyse result, one form for most, as well as a subsidy for the private plans.
3) Not get any subsidy, thus the public plan rates would be set based on the cost of medical care plus the administration costs.
The public plan would have some benefits, e.g. its administration costs would be low, but the private plans would benefit from these low costs also and be assured that they would be charged no more for medical care than the public plan.
Note: To get this administration and rate subsidies, the private plans must
a) Be open to all, at the same rate.
b) Cover all treatment, at least that is covered by the public plan
c) Share any savings with the clients for effective treatment or preventative care even if that treatment is purchased outside of the local area.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:30 amGrassley must be smoking something illegal, Like “GRASS.”
June 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pmThank you..
Sesli Chat
June 26th, 2009 at 5:07 amSesli Sohbet
Sesli Chat
Sesli Sohbet
Sesli kent
SesliChat
SesliSohbet
Why are you people wasting your time writing to this blog when you should be writing to Grassley to tell him to stop his ridiculous opposition to the public option?
June 28th, 2009 at 6:33 pm