Historic health care legislation moves forward for debate in the Senate.
Historic health care legislation moves forward for debate in the Senate.
The Senate voted along party lines tonight to avoid a GOP filibuster and move forward with debate on historic health care legislation. The final vote was 60-39, with Ohio Republican George Voinovich not voting. The AP reports that the “spectator galleries were full for the unusual Saturday night showdown, and applause broke out briefly when the vote was announced. In a measure of the significance of the moment, senators sat quietly in their seats, standing only when they were called upon to vote.” Full debate will begin after Thanksgiving.
Immediately after the vote, the White House put out a statement saying, “The President is gratified that the Senate has acted to begin consideration of health insurance reform legislation.” RNC Chairman Michael Steele complained that “a number of moderate Democrats sacrificed their principles to give Harry Reid a victory that brings America dangerously closer to having a government-run health care system.” Igor Volsky has been following tonight’s debate over on the Wonk Room.
If the first procedural vote is delayed until Saturday, Voinovich won't be around Washington to participate. He's got an anniversary to observe -- his 30th since being elected Cleveland's mayor in 1979 -- and he's going to spend it with his old team. It's not that Voinovich's vote won't matter, but he's in the "no" column already, and Reid needs 60 "yes" votes just to move to the next procedure.
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Now is the moment for President Obama to get involved. This is his signature domestic priority. It will define his Presidency and I think it will also determine what he will accomplish over this term and, hopefully, a second term as well.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:39 pmHe needs to spend some of that hard won political capital for this fight. Its time.
whew. thank you.
wondering – could voinovich have been a hero (of sorts) with a yes vote?
what was that about?
and steele talking about sacrificing principles… ha!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:41 pmI don’t think so Katy. He was going to vote No on clouture. So it was no loss.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:43 pmIs the Thanksgiving holiday a recess? I think the prez should use recess appointments.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:46 pmI really can’t beleive it got this far. NOW it is time to dig in. The Front Groups, Big Business will do EVERYTHING to kill this. We must be vigilant.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:46 pmyep – thanks for that update…
November 21st, 2009 at 8:46 pmso, he’s just a chump after all… should’ve known…
It’s about time since this has been going on [causing heartburn and headaches for months]! We can only hope it will not be so watered down as to be hardly worth the effort when all is said and done.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:49 pmMr. Steele–every Republican sacrificed all of the people who don’t have health care in their state. The reason–to obstruct the President of the United States. I think it’s called–cutting off your nose…
November 21st, 2009 at 8:49 pmLOL! I bet Dick Armey and all the other dick-weeds who tried to kill this thing are spitting blood. This is a victory. Spin this MSM!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:54 pmThe Republican fear mongering has begun. Fox is putting on one Republican after the next and they are making all the same arguments that we have heard before. Let Steele lead them to their glorious defeat while they hold fast to their principles. The health care bill may become the Republicans albatross just like the Medicare vote in 1965. It would be gratifying to see the Republicans become a permanent minority for the next 40 years.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:54 pmYep. George Voinovich has checked out. He’s given up on trying to legislate and has effectively retired a year in advance, sticking around to collect a government paycheck and socialized healthcare benefits.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:54 pmWhere are the trolls? I will LOVE rubbing their noses in this!
November 21st, 2009 at 8:55 pmJust got off the phone with my dad — poor guy. He’s a ClusterFOX viewer who actually thought they were voting final passage of healthcare reform tonight. My dad is 71 years old, a very successful retired stockbroker, completely agile mentally, but completely zombified by ClusterFOX and his blind, GOP loyalty.
I love my dad, but sometimes it’s REALLY PAINFUL to have to deal with the aftermath of the twisted fcuks who trade in fear and misinformation on ClusterFOX.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:57 pmJ.@13, You and I have a lot in common. BOTH of my parents are Faux News loyalists, although my father won’t admit it anymore. I beleive he is also a closeted Glen Beck fan. Now THAT is depressing.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:01 pmI just heard a clip if McDepends derisevly “informing” the Senate that Lincoln, Landreiu and Nelson would vote for clouture. It was really embarrassing…for McCain. Time for him to go.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:05 pmIt is most important to nail this one. It will completely cause wingnut heads to explode and will maginalize the GOP for the next generation.
Let’s get on with it.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:07 pmWe have a troll lurking voting us down.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:09 pmObamaCare would mean a tax on listening to country music.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:12 pmWhere did everybody go? Do I offend?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:13 pmAs RNC trolling director, I’m trying to call in my trolls for a full-force Saturday session, but each and every momma answers the phone saying sonny’s in a coma or bathing in Cheetos. It’s very depressing tonight.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:15 pmhe Grand Obstructionist Party will now bemoan the end of society as we know it … simply because they are afraid of a debate in which they will need to defend the merits of their “protect the status quo cause the corporate lobbyists say so” mentality.
Wait for it… wait for it…
November 21st, 2009 at 9:17 pmP.D., I’m on the phone with one of my brothers, trying to plot an intervention for my dad, who desperately needs to be rescued from ClusterFOX’s fear obsession.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:17 pmWell GOP, it’s just you and me. Got any Cheetos?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:18 pmWhew.. One down and almost close to the finish line. It figures the Party of No voted against the HCR. I hope their constituents pay attention to the GOP votes come elction time for those that are up for re-election in 2010 and 2012.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:19 pmBus in more folks, throw $1 billion of people’s premiums per day at lobbbying, get this thing moving, private whores. Get moving. Lobby yourselves into bankruptcy for all I care.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:19 pmJ.@22, I hope you and your brother are successful. As for me? I won’t even bother. I’m sure I’ll hear all about how we are going to Hell and falling into Fasism in the middle of our Thanksgiving meal.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:20 pmP.D. says:
Well GOP, it’s just you and me. Got any Cheetos?
I’ve seen my trolls do lots of … creative things with Cheetos, and I’m not sure I’d want to eat those again, let alone feed ‘em to a lib.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:22 pmJ@13 and P.D.@14, my father is in his late 80s and has become quite progressive over the years. He’s gotten so intolerant of the Faux Crowd that he actually punched a Faux Frothing golfer. Now, Dad’s behavior was wrong for starting a donnybrook at the golf course, but inside I’m smiling.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:23 pmGOP@27, LOL! I guess I should thank you?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:24 pmI wonder if one of my favorite sites, Red State, is a chem lab gone haywire right now?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:26 pmI am appalled at what this vote represents.
It’s been only twenty years since Ronald Reagan personally demolished the Berlin Wall, defeated the Iranians, faced-down the tanks in Tiannamen Square and delivered us from the evil of unionized air traffic controllers.
And now with this vote it is as though Ronald Reagan’s sacrifices were all for naught!
Is this what Ronald Reagan fought-for in the skies over Germany in WWII?
Did he liberate the camps of Dachwitz and Aschvau just because he happened to be there?
Did he invent the atomic bomb so that the United States would lose to the Evil Empire and its TIE-Fighters?
Did the greatest President EVER singlehandledly save the world from EVERYTHING just so some democratically elected senate supermajority could decide to nitpick over how many billions in guaranteed profits health-insurance companies would be allowed to earn?
I think not!
If Ronald Reagan’s memory neans anything to anyone at
all, (including Reagan himself), then America should take a stand against this infamy and just say no!
Or America could say “I don’t recall“–because that little phrase has been proven to stop just about anything.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:27 pmJim Wolf359 says:
“Now is the moment for President Obama to get involved.”
I believe President Obama is very involved, and pacing himself quite well.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:28 pmIt’s not his job to whip a lethargic legislature into doing their jobs.
This is only the first of crucial domestic policy, I believe he is well prepared to tackle, and is tackling, others, namely energy and climate policy and financial reform.
Looking at the face of it, he has accomplished a lot in less than a year in office.
We will see significant results from these policy shifts in the next three years, enough to guarantee a second term, and leave the republican party as a permanent minority.
P.D.,
YourWelcomeCare
November 21st, 2009 at 9:29 pmObamaCare would tax any erection lasting longer than four hours.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:31 pmSkyler@28, That’s amazing. Good for your Dad. LOL! Although I’m not so sure about the punching, but hell, an 80 year old? I’m glad he got so much spunk.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:32 pmP.D.@35, My dad is damn near 90 and lives in… are you ready?
KANSAS!
November 21st, 2009 at 9:35 pmnoseeum says,
I don’t disagree with that. I guess its just my frustration with Harry Reid showing. He did it again tonight after the vote. Said that Schumer was working with Landreiu on a trigger option, contrary to what Schumer said. I want the President to try and stiffen Reid’s backbone. He has to stick to his guns on the Public Health Option w/o a trigger.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:36 pmSkyler@36, LOL! I guess the is hope for the Red States after all. By the way, the Freepers are going nuts. I love it when their Pea Brains explode!
November 21st, 2009 at 9:37 pmThe private insurance companies have been using the “trigger” option as if there’s no tomorrow.
I’m sorry, which trigger were we talking about?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:39 pmP.D.@38, I can’t go over to the Red site; there’s no brillo eye rinse in the house.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:39 pmJim Wolf359 says:
November 21st, 2009 at 9:40 pm“I want the President to try and stiffen Reid’s backbone.”
He will, I believe he’s done it already…
I wonder where the trolls are? Busy licking their wounds or Cheetos?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:40 pmFrankly, P.D., you pissed us off with your rationale and humanity. If you guys would start bowing to teh man every now and then we wouldn’t devolve into a pack of wild animals at the drop of a pin.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:41 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
“ObamaCare would tax any erection lasting longer than four hours.”
Make Big Pharma pay the tax.
It’s taxing enough for the common man.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:42 pmThe concept of a prior condition defining the availability of access to health care is very new. My mother had a birth defect that involved a thickening of her eardrum and the procedure for correcting the problem was entirely experimental. She was not eligible for insurance until she married my dad when she was in her early 20’s. She went into the procedure nearly deaf and obtained near normal hearing until her mid 60’s without electronic assistance. She was able to obtain this coverage in 1939 because insurance was not rationed because of need, it was delivered on the basis of need.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:43 pmP.D. says:
“I wonder where the trolls are? Busy licking their wounds or Cheetos?”
They’re applying a masticated Cheetos plaster to their lacerations in an attempt to staunch the bleeding.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:45 pmP.D.’s right. I was just over at Red State peaking around. They are having a collective melt down of epic proportion. I don’t think they’ll be bothering us tonight as they thrash about in the muck.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:49 pmWe are the party of new ideas [Michael Steele walks across my computer screen].
We can scrap this thing and start over. We should give a tax cut to the insurance companies and have churches all across America pray for the insurance companies to cut their rates in gratitude.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:49 pmLOL! I guess my rationale and humanity can be a negative if you look at it a certain way. I beleive in empahty, social justice and equality, I imagine that would make me a ‘Socailist’, ‘Commie,’ ‘Liberal’, or ‘Marxist’. I can live with that.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:50 pmWhat troll does not have a grandparent, mother, father, son, daughter or grandchild. The soulless person(?) who voted down #45 would certainly fill the bill!
November 21st, 2009 at 9:51 pmThere is a troll in here, he just won’t appear. He’s been voting us down. Maybe he realizes we’ll crush him.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:52 pmThere’s at least one lurking about, Jim Wolf…
LOL
November 21st, 2009 at 9:53 pmSit in it, vote down coward…
LOL
I am fed up with you liberals thinking government should be for the people for non-conservative reasons. You have irked us and we’re going all out.
Page 500 of the bill mandates the family dog see a vet before a human can see a doctor.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pmSorry Walt! That was me. I wasn’t paying attention when I clicked on the post.Sorry about that. Good Post btw.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pm“grandchild.” s/b “grandchild?”.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pmWalt, They have no empathy. NONE. The will watch as the poor and needy die in the streets. I gave up reasoning, conjoling and downright preaching and they turn a deaf ear. They are souless.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pmCorn is our healing and our happiness. Corn is our health care. Corn, corn, corn!
Your mother loves my niblets.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:55 pmOh! Who is the Phantom Troll lurking about behind his/her/its keyboard? Show yourself jerk.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:56 pmI say start the thirty hours of debate now and hold the vote at 4 AM Monday morning. Why waste any more time?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:57 pmJim@59, He won’t. Trolls are a cowardly bunch.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:58 pmChildren of the Corn says:
“Corn, corn, corn!”
A corn dog in every hand, and a corn ho…
nevar mind…
November 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pmMy trolls must be working w/o even clocking in. I guess they hate the shit out of people for free.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pmIndeed they are P.D. Okay gang, I’m gonna take a break for awhile. Going to go watch some Drum Corps DVDs I just got yesterday. see ya in awhile.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:01 pmJ. Fred Smug@ 13
Same situation here. It pains me to see my parents, both in their 70’s, lucent and I always thought of above average in intelligence to be so gullible… what ever fox says, it has to be true.
imagine the anger these people are going to have when one day they finally wake up and realized they were played as a fool.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:02 pmYou ungrateful staff trolls vote down THE BOSS from four vote-ups back to zero???
One identity I get a hold of is one name struck on the payroll. I AM THE F UCKING BOSS, TROLLS!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:03 pmWhat really kills me is that other nations care about their citizens. They care for their welfare. They realize the benefits of having a healthy, educated populice. Why not here? Our kids can’t afford college. They have no job security. They have no future. Health Care should be a right. Not only available to the rich. And that is just what the GOP wants. That’s immoral.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:04 pmJim,
November 21st, 2009 at 10:04 pmEveryone is allowed at least one mistake in a lifetime. I may have exceeded that quota, mostly spelling errors! ;=)
had enough says:
“imagine the anger these people are going to have when one day they finally wake up and realized they were played as a fool.”
Imagine when they re-incarnate into an inner city ghetto…
November 21st, 2009 at 10:06 pmCheck your office chair for tacks before you sit down,
November 21st, 2009 at 10:08 pmGOP REALLY mean…
P.D. – and not to mention, bumping up tuition rates until you leave only well-off kids dumbs down the student body and leaves the humble, bright kids on the sidelines. Terrible for the future. What’s going @ UC is that kind of threat.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:08 pmhad@65, you are right. THEY are Fools. All these years the Repugs promised to get rid of abortion. They didn’t. They used the Religious Right to gain power. And they still haven’t learned that they were working with Big Business to screw everyone over.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:09 pmHey Trolls:
ppphhllllbbbbbbbbbbbb!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:10 pmnoseeum says: It’s not his job to whip a lethargic legislature into doing their jobs.
Well he could have made it his job (like Lynon Johnson).
BUT it’s clearly not the way he does things. As painfully and obviously misguided and naive as I’ve found his bipartisan ’schtick’ I have to remind myself of the usual consequences of presidential bullying–it can create resentments and presidents can get very comfortable to exercising power in that way pretty quickly.
We also have to remind ourselves of the incredibly complex and serious responsibilities he volunteered to take-on.
I’ve been researching the general progression of US national politics from 1860 to the present and I am particulary struck by similarities between our present and the Great Depression era, as well as, more importantly the significant differences between them:
Hoover happily inherited the fiscal policies and economic philosophies of fellow Republicans Harding and Coolidge and fully intended to continue them. At the same time the Democrats offered no opposition in financial matters as they were also inherently against federal economic controls.
The chickens came home to roost for Hoover when Wall Street crashed, and Roosevelt’s subsequent election was inevitable ( though still not to be minimized given scale of the win).
Obama’s situation would appear to be similar (it could have been Hillary, but it was bound to be a Democrat) except unlike Roosevelt’s Congress, Democratic control of the Senate is nominal and the House majority is still less than Roosevelt enjoyed, and neither are as solidly faithful to the Party as a whole as was the case in the past (for both Democrats and Republicans alike).
Furthermore though the 1929 economic collapse was surely worse in general than the present situation, at least Roosevelt wasn’t also handed two of the longest foreign wars in US history to deal with at the same time, along with the demands of a much more complex foreign policy in general and many more legal and social considerations to contend with than Roosevelt had to face.
Them’s the sobering facts, and we should all appreciate the context of Obama’s administration.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:11 pmGOP, That’s why it is so exciting to see these KIDS fighting! Hell, in France, if you piss off the citizens, they will be torching cars. Refreshing, ain’t it?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:12 pmnoseeum says:
Check your office chair for tacks before you sit down,
GOP REALLY mean…
November 21st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
My office surveillance system is already smashed out as of the time of this post. It reminds me of the day the exterminator lays his traps, and the next morning you find cockroaches laying everywhere.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:15 pmOSTL, conservative guy, TTTC…please do tell us oh paragons of virtue, pro-life ideology…why you oppose putting life over profit?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:17 pmP.D. says:
GOP, That’s why it is so exciting to see these KIDS fighting! Hell, in France, if you piss off the citizens, they will be torching cars. Refreshing, ain’t it?
And for all the right reasons, not for rubber-chicken props like FreedomWorks.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:19 pmIf republicans hate government so much then why do they want to be in charge of it? It’s like hiring a vegan to be your butcher.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:20 pmLOL! Not one troll yet. Umm… Unless you count the Corn guy. I don’t know where his allegence lies. I guess with corn. If so, Power to the Corn!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:20 pm5th Estate says:
“Well he could have made it his job (like Lynon Johnson).”
I pondered editing that statement, but let it ride.
Barack Obama walks a razors edge, in many ways. He inherited a horrendous mess, Bush/Cheney and their crony corporate capitalists nearly bankrupting the nation.
Not to mention the futile invasion of the Middle East.
As time goes on, and the nation begins to rehabilitate itself, he will have more clout, and may be able to apply more pressure.
So much goes on behind the scenes that we see and hear so little of, I’m choosing to give the President the benefit of the doubt, and instead call out the lackluster legislature and their corporate owners for their sluggardly self-centered ways.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:22 pmUSC@77, They are probably still crying about the injustice of having to take care of the poor and middle class. You know, the virtues of actually BEING a Christian.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:23 pmP.D. says: GOP, That’s why it is so exciting to see these KIDS fighting! Hell, in France, if you piss off the citizens, they will be torching cars.
I think that’s because the French kids aren’t allowed to have guns, so they damage property instead of people (what guns are best at) when they get disaffected.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:25 pmAlso burning cars in the street adds a certain je ne sais quois of le dramatique and teatre de rue. :D
“Umm… Unless you count the Corn guy.”
It’s Doug Hoffman, re-counting his kernels, hoping he’ll have enough to pop.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:26 pmHey, kids, I am 68. I only care about my kids and their offspring. Sometime in the next 50 years, I will be beyond caring.
Health is the only thing that we can pass on to future generations. securing wealth is like sand passing through ones hands. Education and health should be our only goals.
Passing on wealth will only diminish your seed (Look at G W Bush). The struggle for survival is the key to survival of the fittest.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:27 pm“I’m in my own private Idaho. I was against health care until I got a corn…”
November 21st, 2009 at 10:30 pmTape a potato to it, and call me in the summer.
noseeum says:
[5th Estate says: “Well he could have made it his job (like Lynon Johnson).”]
I pondered editing that statement, but let it ride.
If i ever get asked the earnest question “do you think you made any mistakes?” (as the [press fruitlessly asked Bush on numerous occasions), I’ll be able to say:
“Well, I misspelled Lyndon Johnson’s name once, but noseeum let it pass, so no, I don’t think I made any mistakes, and how dare you for asking!”. :D
November 21st, 2009 at 10:31 pmWow! No trolls. I’m amazed. They really must be in a tizzy. Good.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:32 pmDid someone say recount the kernals? Well, there are four regiments in a division, so that would make four colonels and, just in case you’d like to know, one major general.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:35 pm“Well, I misspelled Lyndon Johnson’s name once,”
November 21st, 2009 at 10:38 pmI pondered that as well, but let it pass…
we’re all understandably a little giddy tonight.
;)
I guess I’m the only chick here.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:42 pmP.D. says:
USC@77, They are probably still crying about the injustice of having to take care of the poor and middle class. You know, the virtues of actually BEING a Christian.
Oh yeah, heaven forbid they show the Christian values they claim to espouse…because every sperm is sacred unless you were orgasming over someone’s suffering…
November 21st, 2009 at 10:46 pmHow about a vote to end the “socialized” medicine of the repiggie congress critters?
That useless garbage just gets us paying for more corporate wars and corporate privileges.
They are all useless flotsam and jetsam.
Why do so many of them continue to use the very thing they condemn?
How about a list of medical procedures for which our tax dollars are wasted on these varmints?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:47 pmOhh.. oohhhhhhh…
oh jeezus!!!! oh gawd!!!!!!
oh! oh! oh! oh! ohhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
uhmmmmmm………….
hmmmm…
oh… oh goodness!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:47 pmoh! oh! it’s the second coming!!! oohhhhhhh!!!!!
R-Mike Johanns said earlier today that 97% of bills that have made it past this procedural vote have made it to law.
40 out of 41 – he said..
that’s pretty good odds.
November 21st, 2009 at 10:48 pmP.D.,
November 21st, 2009 at 10:52 pmSend an anatomically correct picture and I will deliver a judgement! No chicken feed, just pussy!
I LOVE Carrie Prayjohn
November 21st, 2009 at 10:52 pmDid someone just use chicken feed and pussy in one sentence?
November 21st, 2009 at 10:56 pmP.D.,
November 21st, 2009 at 10:58 pmI was only kidding – If offered, I would not know what to do with it!
No, I’m here. Got here late and was reading the comments.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:01 pmThe “folks at FOX Nation are having to deal with their own trolls tonight.
Here’s a comment from one of the genuine FOX Nationalists:
“All of the republican states need to sucede….Then we can sit back and watch the libtards destroy themselves.”
The first part of that comments suggests that bipartisanship is possible and full of the promise of mutual benefit.
The second part suggests that the front-porch rocking-chair industry is going to boom in the new Confederate States of America. Also I’m upgrading tumbleweed to “outperform”.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:04 pmP.D.@93: Nope, XX over here.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:08 pmCornHOLE
FOAD you ignorant punkass troll
November 21st, 2009 at 11:13 pmThey said:
No to Medicare
No to Social Security
No to Civil Rights
No to Job Programs
No to extending Unemployment Benefits
No to Government Oversight
No to Minimum Wage
No – at every crucial time in history.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:14 pmNo.
every time their vote was needed.
They simply said No.
… move forward with debate on historic health care legislation.
now, who would ever vote against that… against debate… who?
who even had to think about it?
befuddling…
November 21st, 2009 at 11:21 pmThe opponents of the Public Option are the dingalings who cheered on the War in Iraq.
Goddamned garbage, the whole lot of them…
November 21st, 2009 at 11:26 pmJim Wolf359 says:
… Drum Corps !!!
big fan myself! most familiar with the MARCHING BANDS, while my kids were in high school and college (ILLINI)… but enjoy the Drum Corps immensely!
w00t!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:27 pmHow did CNN cover this vote? Well, they boasted “obviously the pressure from the left wing of her party finally got to Blanche Lincoln”.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/21/senate.health.bill.expect/index.html
What about Olympia Snowe, who voted to advance the bill out of committee but voted against allowing debate on the bill. That is a tough vote to defend. CNN choose to overlook this side of the isle and the pressure exerted there.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:28 pmAnd the Republicans vowed and predicted it wouldn’t get this far!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 21st, 2009 at 11:51 pmFar Out!
Thanks Amanda for putting this up on a Saturday night. You guys are great.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 amDallas@110, President Snowe’s reasoning for voting No tonight:
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:15 am
D’oh, forgot the link: http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1109/Why_Snowe_voted_no.html
Why Snowe Voted No.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:17 amMichael Steele complained that “a number of moderate Democrats voted based on their principles to give Harry Reid a victory that brings America ever closer to having a health care system that isn’t controlled by the health insurance racket.”
Oh. He didn’t say that?
Sorry, must have dozed off and was dreaming.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 amI got this letter in response to an email I sent:
I do heart Rep. Blumenauer.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:13 amYou all should watch this… really damn funny!
And the comments beneath are worth a read through as well.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:14 amThis is such a colossal waste of time. They should use reconciliation and be done with it. Obama has already been accused of not caring about the two party system; and, those minds will never be changed. Waste, waste, waste.
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:49 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hi Slabby!
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 amThis is great. But I knew this. :)
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:03 amSlappy where did you learn that you’ll get free health care? Rush Limbaugh’s ass?
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 amYay!
Free mental healthcare for sloppy!
YAY!
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 amSorry Slabby, a log in the eye is a pre-existing condition.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:08 amForget the repugs. Let’s start saving lives and make life for people.
Do your realize that people have to give up their life insurance policies, their payout from legal suites and only allowed to have 4K (single) in the bank to receive SSI?
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:38 amSlappyBeggerino drops by to beg us for more pity. There is no pity for him. His post will go to the sewer but he cant help himself. His compulsion to beg for pity is worse than any crackwhores. Sure he is pathetic and stupid but he is also old and cliched. No matter how much he begs no more pity
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:36 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
So Slappy, you’re for HCR if it benefits you, but you’re against contributing to the care for anyone else?
You are not just a whore, but a self-centered whore.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Sloppy, is your mother or boyfriend/girlfriend fat? We pay for your f9uck ups. We pay for your stupidness and your clean air/water.
We pay for your ignorance. Your contribution to your fat family is exactly 1 bloody cent. You act as though you pay for it in full. This is why you don’t belong in the US.
You don’t know why people are fat. Stop being so stupid.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 amThat popping sound you hear is the sound of insurance company execs breaking out the champagne.
One-Termer
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
SlappyBeggerino
Begging us for pity. There wont be any pity but pitywhore he is he cant help himself. Begging is just what he does. He is too stupid for anything else so he drops by and begs when he cant help himself any longer. God Beggerino is pathetic
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 amsloppy you don’t make sense and you don’t pay for fat people yousilly rabbit.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:07 amHey Slabby, what’s the weather like this morning up there on
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 amCant Bluff?
Saturday night’s Senate Vote Just to have a debate on Healthcare, was a small victory for the “agents of change” democrats)and reflects very poorly on the state of the Party of No & Fear that they would not even allow a debate on this issue (so much for the title of being the greatest deliberative body)!
It is noteworthy, that the Party of No & Fear, also fought against Social Security Reform and Medicare, and true to form or color, they are fighting against healthcare reform today! It seems sadly true that in the GOP Party, we do have the bestCongress money can buy!
Thank God for the Agents of Change…., because realistically we really do need Change!
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:01 amThis is the closest we’ve gotten to enacting universal healthcare since the failure to expand Medicare back in ‘65.
The bill is undoubtedly going to be butchered over the next couple of weeks (i.e., public option likely to be significantly weakened or removed) UNLESS the progressives in the senate go on the offensive.
Also, we get some weird trolls on saturdays. Children of the Corn was just confusing.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 amI think, if the Republicans are going to filibuster everything, that the Senate should switch its rules so that 41 votes were required to maintain a filiibuster (instead of 60 votes being required to break a filibuster).
Couldn’t the Senate change this by a simple procedural vote?
The current system makes it too easy for them. If they want a filibuster, make them do the work. Put the focus on them.
Right now, we take their 40 votes for granted while we struggle with our blue-dogs. Make them take our 60 votes for granted while they struggle with their RINOs. Show how our blue-dogs prevent progress every time they stray.
The number of votes would stay the same either way, but if they had to consistently corral 41 votes whenever we asked, they’d bear all the stress of the situation, and they’d pay more for their obstructionism.
Is this gaming the rules? Yes, but far less than what we experienced 2000 – 2008. If such a system had been in place, there is much harm that we could have prevented.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 amwhere are all the cancervatives on this issue? eating crow or committing suicide because with this vote they have come to realize what a marginalized, regional, ineffective little party they’ve become?
my what a long way they’ve fallen since pigboy rove announced he was creating a 30 majority.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:57 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
141. growaspine,
Quick! Find a Beck podcast before America socializes your Nazism!
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:44 amgrowaspine says, “the only thing historic about this vote was how far America has come from being a democracy.”
If you don’t like living in America any more, please leave our country. And don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:05 amAttention all teabaggers. Look at your heating and/or electric bills. See that figure of between 8-20 bucks, that amt is for the poor. You socialist fool.
HAHAHAHA
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 amthe only thing historic about this vote was how far America has come from being a democracy.
Elected officials governing by majority vote? That’s not democracy! Everybody knows that real democracy is when a mentally retarded woman runs the country from her Facebook page (when she’s not busy walking out on book signings)!
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 amgrowaspine,
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 amgofcukyerself
love,
America
America is not a democracy…it is a Republic. The people vote for the policy makers, and the policy makers vote on the policy.
To see the problems with a pure, majority rule, democracy…just look at California…with its ability to make law by Ballot Initiative. California is practically a failed state….because the people can’t agree to compromise on Solutions.
The real problem is that many of our elected representatives think they work for political contributors.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:24 amYou’re right and you’re not right, GAS. It wasn’t much of a democratic vote, but are you blaming Democrats?
I’d be looking over at the Republicans and wondering why they have been performing so poorly. Too poorly to consititute a proper majority in COngress to make this feel more like a “democracy”.
The way I see it? The candidates from the GOP were weak, and when they got voted out of the Congress, people like you, GAS, started to blame the Democrats for corrupting democracy within the Congress.
Perhaps if the GOP was a party of something other than “No!” there would be more democracy behind this vote.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 amOh, and good morning, Olby Sucks.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:39 amI guess that minority of 39 is really irrelevant like I have been saying. Sit down and let the big boys run the government wingnuts. Work on your acceptance of your place on earth. You lost again. You are insignificant and acting silly as obstructionists and your teabagging is stupid.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 amWe really hate the poor and those who’ve been driven into poverty as a result of our policies. This bill is a jaub killer.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 amgrowaspine says:
the only thing historic about this vote was how far America has come from being a democracy.
This is a typical response. What makes you think you have a monopoly on what is a democracy? Our democracy worked last November and a new president was elected with a mandate to change the status quo. You are the undemocratic one because you cannot abide by majority rule.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:18 ampags2 says:
growaspine says:
the only thing historic about this vote was how far America has come from being a democracy.
This is a typical response. What makes you think you have a monopoly on what is a democracy? Our democracy worked last November and a new president was elected with a mandate to change the status quo. You are the undemocratic one because you cannot abide by majority rule.
Be wary pags2, this cat has claws!
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:36 amBe wary growaspine, your response was not only too short, but fell short.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 amgrowaBRAIN
STFU. You are an ignorant brainwashed moron. No one is afraid of you and no one cares what Rush told you to think.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 pmcats also have sandpaper tongues that tickle when they lick.
oooh!
that tickles, g.a.s.!
:o
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 pmOh and I suppose that cat is double pawed as well….
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:37 pmDefenders of Glenda and Faux are no different than defenders of the Nazis. Fact.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:04 pmI’m confused. Beck’s inspired about the Chinese way.. So what was his great big fuss about Anita Dunn inspired by Mao quotes all about?
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:59 pmIt’s time to kill this bill once and for all.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:01 pmIt’s time to kill this bill once and for all.
It’s time to kill something, but that some thing is not the HCR bill. Wanna take a guess and see what my answer is? It’s…THE GOP!
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 pm