A blizzard warning remains in effect until this evening after an accumulation of about 10 inches of snow overnight n Washington. Photo by Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images.)
by Mark Silva and updated with president's statements.
It's snowing so hard on Washington today that they are grounding all buses and surface trains. It's not going to stop anytime soon.
There's already a foot of snow on the ground, and it's falling so thick that the path is covered with a half-inch of snow before the shovel reaches the end of the walk.
This may sound like no big deal in climes such as Chicago or other Northern realms -- and in Nebraska, a state that has a certain relevance in Washington today -- but it hardly ever snows like this in the nation's capital.
"You know that I am from Chicago,'' President Barack Obama said today at the White House, "so let me first say that with the place where I live covered with snow I'm finally starting to feel like home.''
It's lovely, the silence.
Yet this hasn't stopped the Senate's Democratic leaders from pressing for passage of a health-care bill before Christmas.
And the word today was that Sen. Ben Nelson, the Nebraska Democrat who has represented one of the toughest-to-get votes for a bill, has agreed to sign on.
The Senate has 60.
"These are not small changes,'' Obama said today of the Senate's health-care legislation nearing a vote. "These are big changes. They're fundamental reforms. They will save money. They will save lives. And I look forward to working with the Senate and the House to finish the work that remains so that we can make this reform a reality for the American people.''
Obama, who has been "optimistically cautious'' about getting a Senate vote before Christmas, is home from Copenhagen and bound for Hawaii with his family soon for a Christmas vacation.
See the president's full statement today on both the health-care legislation and his work on climate change in Copenhagen, and a wire report on the Senate situation below:
As for us, we were out with our grandchild playing in the snow, and that's where you'll find us Sunday -- two-feet deep.
It's beginning to look....
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) is pictured outside the Capitol following his agreement to support the health care legislation that fellow Democrats are pushing in the Senate. (AP Photo by Harry Hamburg) The West Wing and White House pictured by Mandel Ngan (AFP / Getty Images.)
THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT TODAY ON HEALTH, CLIMATE:
"You know that I am from Chicago, so let me first say that with the place where I live covered with snow I'm finally starting to feel like home. And I am sorry to drag you guys out in this weather, but I wanted to speak briefly to you about the significant progress that we've made on two of the major challenges facing the American people: the crushing cost of health care and our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels.
On health care, with today's developments it now appears that the American people will have the vote they deserve on genuine reform that offers security to those who have health insurance and affordable options to those for do not. And so I want to thank Senator Harry Reid and every senator who's been working around the clock to make this happen.
There's still much work left to be done, but not a lot of time left to do it. But today is a major step forward for the American people. After a nearly century long struggle we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in the United States of America.
As with any legislation, compromise is part of the process. But I'm pleased that recently added amendments have made this landmark bill even stronger. Between the time the bill passes and the time when the insurance exchange gets up and running there will now be penalties for insurance companies that arbitrarily jack up rates on consumers. And while insurance companies will be prevented from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions once the exchange is open, in the meantime there will be a high risk pool where people with pre-existing conditions can purchase affordable coverage.
And a recent amendment has made these protections even stronger. Insurance companies will now be prohibited from denying coverage to children immediately after this bill passes. There's also explicit language in this bill that will protect a patient's choice of doctor. And small businesses will get additional assistance as well.
These protections are in addition to the ones we've been talking about for some time. No longer will insurance companies be able to drop your coverage if you become sick and no longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for treatments that you need.
Under this bill families will save on their premiums; businesses that will see their costs rise if we don't act will save money now and in the future. This bill with strengthen Medicare and extend the life of the program. Because it's paid for and gets rid of waste and inefficiency in our health care system this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade. In fact, we just learned from the Congressional Budget Office that this bill will reduce our deficit by $132 billion over the first decade of the program, and more than one trillion dollars in the decade after that.
Finally, this reform will make coverage affordable for over 30 million Americans who don't have it -- over 30 million Americans.
As I said before, these are not small changes. These are big changes. They're fundamental reforms. They will save money. They will save lives. And I look forward to working with the Senate and the House to finish the work that remains so that we can make this reform a reality for the American people.
I also want to briefly mention the progress we made in Copenhagen yesterday. For the first time in history all of the major -- the world's major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change. After extremely difficult and complex negotiations this important breakthrough lays the foundation for international action in the years to come.
This progress did not come easily and we know that progress on this particular aspect of climate change negotiations is not enough. Going forward we're going to have to build on the momentum that we established in Copenhagen to ensure that international action to significantly reduce emissions is sustained and sufficient over time.
At home, that means continuing our efforts to build a clean energy economy that has the potential to create millions of new jobs and new industries. And it means passing legislation that will create the incentives necessary to spark this clean energy revolution.
So even though we have a long way to go, there's no question that we've accomplished a great deal over the last few days. And I want America to continue to lead on this journey, because if America leads in developing clean energy, we will lead in growing our economy and putting our people back to work, and leaving a stronger and more secure country to our children. That's why I went to Copenhagen yesterday and that's why I will continue in these efforts in the weeks and months to come.''
THE WIRE ACCOUNT OF THE SENATE'S HEALTH-CARE BILL:
By Laura Litvan and Kristin Jensen
Dec. 19 (Bloomberg News) - The U.S. Senate is poised to pass the most sweeping overhaul of the nation's health-care system in four decades after Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska decided to join his fellow Democrats in supporting the measure.
"The lives of millions of Americans will be improved," Nelson said of the legislation during a news conference today. "Lives will be saved and our health-care system will once again reflect the better nature of our country."
A final vote may still be days away as Republicans employ every procedural tactic they have to delay. Senate leaders had described Nelson as the chief holdout among Democrats, who control the chamber, and Nelson told reporters he believes the rest of his party is ready to back the legislation.
Nelson struck a deal last night with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that satisfied his demand to keep federal subsidies from being used for abortion. That was the last sticking point after Reid worked to make last-minute changes to win over Nelson and a range of other Democrats.
Reid's plan would cover 31 million uninsured people and reduce the federal deficit by $130 billion over its first decade, a Democratic aide said. The plan, now being read on the Senate floor, would cut the deficit by about $650 billion during the second decade, the aide said.
House Bill
Like the $1 trillion measure passed Nov. 7 by the House, the Senate plan would require Americans to get health coverage or pay a penalty. It would expand the Medicaid health program for the poor, set up online insurance-purchasing exchanges and provide subsidies for those who need help buying policies.
To pay for the expansion of health insurance, the Senate bill relies on hundreds of billions of dollars in savings from the Medicare program on the elderly. It also contains a new tax on high-end insurance plans.
Reid needed Nelson's support for Democrats' top domestic priority because they have no backing from Republicans. Passage of the bill will require all 60 votes controlled by Democrats to cut off stalling tactics from Republicans who say the measure would raise taxes, hurt insurers and widen the federal deficit.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer said a final Senate vote on the measure could take place by Dec. 24 even if Republicans exhaust all their procedural rights to delay it. It then would have to be reconciled with a version passed by the U.S. House and signed by President Barack Obama.
'Shoulder to Shoulder'
"All Senate Democrats stand shoulder to shoulder with President Obama," Reid said during a news conference at the Capitol today.
Nelson warned that his vote isn't guaranteed if the bill changes much in negotiations with the House.
He said his support is based on an understanding "that there will be a limited conference between the Senate and the House." If there are big changes that affect the agreement he's reached, "I will vote against it," Nelson said.
The legislation would set up an elaborate accounting procedure to prevent the use of any government funds to finance abortions covered by private insurance sold on the new online exchanges. It would segregate premiums paid by the beneficiary from any federal tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, or premium subsidies given to low-income consumers.
Nelson said the new language would allow the 12 states that ban abortion coverage in public plans and the five that ban such coverage in both public and private plans to continue doing so. The proposal would also require health-care exchanges to offer at least one plan that doesn't cover abortions.
Public Option Alternative
The Nebraska lawmaker and other Democrats had also objected to a plan to create a new government-run program, or public option, to compete with private insurers such as Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna Inc. By eliminating that provision from the bill, Reid was able to win over holdouts including Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
As an alternative, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which oversees benefits for all civilian federal workers and members of Congress, would contract with private insurers to offer multistate plans on the insurance exchange.
Nelson won another prize for his state, with additional Medicaid costs to Nebraska being absorbed by the federal government. Reid said he had been working for weeks on the provision and said it was a "minor part" of the negotiations with Nelson.
All About 'Compromise'
"A number of states are treated differently than other states," Reid told reporters. "That's what legislation is all about. Compromise."
The states - except Nebraska - will have to pay 10 percent of the additional costs of Medicaid after 2017. Before that the federal government will pay 100 percent.
Among the other revisions: As soon as the legislation is enacted, children couldn't be denied insurance coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition, the summary said. Patients could also appeal decisions to deny a coverage claim to an independent board.
Reid's proposal would also force insurers to give consumers rebates if they pay less than 85 percent of premiums for medical care to beneficiaries in group plans or less than 80 percent in individual market, according to a text of the legislation.
Expenses such as taxes and fees could be deducted before calculating the percentage and the health secretary could grant exemptions if the law threatened to disrupt a local market, the bill said.
The bill also drops plans for a levy on cosmetic surgery, proposing instead a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning booths.
Plastic surgeons joined forces with companies led by Allergan Inc., maker of the wrinkle smoother Botox as well as silicone breast implants, to fight the proposed fee. The 5 percent "Bo-tax," as it was jokingly dubbed, was projected by Senate Democrats to raise $6 billion over 10 years.
With Reid unveiling the bill, the senators will take three votes separated by 30-hour intervals over the next week, assuming Republicans use their procedural delays.
Comments
It is my opinion that every democrat that votes for this health bill, should start looking for another job in the next election.
Posted by: Gus Freschi | December 19, 2009 1:38 PM
LET'S SEE IF NELSON'S VOTE STICKS AS WELL AS THE DC SNOW.
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http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2009/12/19/nelson-on-board-for-now/
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 19, 2009 1:45 PM
The latest health care bill is the perfect compromise bill...everyone hates it. Unfortunately, we are the ones who are going to have to live with it and pay for it. Time to vote the bums out.
Posted by: Milly Vandella | December 19, 2009 1:58 PM
Merry Christmas! Now comes the mash-up of the two bills. Hoping it has just what we need for those without...
Have fun in the snow!
Posted by: lochnessmonster | December 19, 2009 2:00 PM
As a citizen of Illinois I am disappointed in Senators Durbin and Burris.
From what I understand Senator Landrieu obtained 300 million dollars for her State to pay medicaid bills in the future.
Senator Nelson had written into the health care bill that the Federal government will pay all of the medicaid bills in Nebraska forever.
I believe that Senators Burris and Durbin should not vote for health care until Illinois receives 300 million dollars plus the Federal goverrnment pays all of Illinois' medicaid bills forever.
Posted by: Pat H | December 19, 2009 2:02 PM
The dems are about to step off a re-election cliff the likes of which we have never seen in this country. They are about to pass the single biggest piece of garbage ever against the will of roughly 60% of the public. Even if passed, it will ultimately be found to be unconstitutional as the government can't force each individual to purchase a good or service. If they are so proud of this bill why are they sneaking by when no one is looking? Hmmm.
Posted by: Tom | December 19, 2009 2:45 PM
Well, apparently the Demoncraps look forward to playing the Grinch who stole Christmas this year. They will pay a heavy price come November though, which the Demoncrapic leadership knows full well will happen.
And, so Mark is going to play in the snow with his grandchildren. Perhaps one of the biggest snows ever in DC history. Damn that global warming!!
Posted by: John D, still right, as usual | December 19, 2009 2:48 PM
The Democrats don't have 60 votes for "health care". They have 60 votes for
a tax and spending, with "health care" only the excuse for the taxing and spending.
As can best be seen by the taxing and spending they used to rent Ben Nelson's vote.
Posted by: Let us keep the money we worked for! | December 19, 2009 2:52 PM
HAHAHA!!!
With all the problems the Dems are having they still aren't going to have to worry about the Repub party in 2010 or 2012. The teabaggers have already taken care of that problem for them.
Teabagger Party More Popular than Republican Party:
.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/12/07/tea_party_more_popular_than_republican_party.html
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Posted by: Former Republican | December 19, 2009 3:30 PM
Republican Congressman who oppose universal health insurance should immediately relinquish their federal health insurance. After all, these members of Congress have long enjoyed taxpayer-subsidized health insurance, a privilege that they apparently believe tens of millions of working, uninsured Americans and their families don't deserve.
If Republicans don't think being uninsured is a big deal, then they should go right ahead and try it out. And if they really believe a public plan is such a bad option, maybe they can persuade their parents to give up Medicare too.
Posted by: Republicans hate blue collar workers | December 19, 2009 3:32 PM
101,000 Americans die UNNECESSARILY each year because of lack of access to basic medical care that they would get in most other industrialized nations.
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http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jan/Measuring-the-Health-of-Nations--Updating-an-Earlier-Analysis.aspx
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And believe me, if there were any polls favorable to the Republican cause of denying healthcare to everyone, the Republican minions would be linking to them all day long. Instead, all they have is a handfull of anecdotes that they get from Druggy Rush and that clown Glenn Beck etc.
Posted by: Thank God I'm NOT A Consevative Idiot | December 19, 2009 3:36 PM
For 6 of the last 8 years the Repubs had complete control of everything. My insurance premiums doubled in that time span. I don't give a rats arse what the Republipuke party thinks or wants. Their only motivation is to protect the insurance companies and corporate America.
Posted by: Xena | December 19, 2009 3:39 PM
Our health care system is disintegrating. Today, 46 million people have no health insurance and even more are underinsured with high deductibles and co-payments. At a time when 60 million people, including many with insurance, do not have access to a medical home, more than 18,000 Americans die every year from preventable illnesses because they do not get to the doctor when they should. This is six times the number who died at the tragedy of 9/11 - but this occurs every year.
In the midst of this horrendous lack of coverage, the U.S. spends far more per capita on health care than any other nation - and health care costs continue to soar. At $2.4 trillion dollars, and 18 percent of our GDP, the skyrocketing cost of health care in this country is unsustainable both from a personal and macro-economic perspective.
It always makes me laugh when I hear people say they want to preserve "insurance choice" in this country. What choice do you have when you work and are nominally "insured," but your insurance coverage doesn't pay for anything you need? Are you then going to have the ability to run out and purchase extra coverage on the wages you make? Well, I guess you have the "choice" to rob a bank or maybe win the lottery to pay for it, but that's about it.
Republicans and their rich oligarchy supporters (Healthcare CEO's and Lobbyists) will do anything to kill a good healthcare bill because they know people will like it and when that happens their electoral goose will be cooked for generations - if it's not already.
Ask yourself this:
If your employer announced that you were going to be laid off tomorrow because of the economy, and if you wanted to continue your insurance coverage by COBRA, it would cost of $915 a month (the average cost), how long would you be able to keep yourself and your family covered?
Nationally, COBRA coverage costs around 83% of the average unemployment benefit....and that's just fine with the angry old rich white guys who make up the Republican party, but the rest of us here in the real world can't afford it.
.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09010/940941-28.stm
The insurance crisis could be your problem, tomorrow, through no fault of your own, as it has for millions of hard working americans in the last few months.
Posted by: ComeAsYouAre | December 19, 2009 3:43 PM
Americans Can't Trust Republicans With Medicare
You want a simple message to counter dishonest Republican fear mongering on healthcare? How's this, Republicans want to do away with Medicare. They've always wanted to take it away, and if they get half a chance in the future they'll get rid of it then. It's not hard to find examples of them saying so in their own words since Medicare started.
Saint Ronny Raygun in the 60s: "if you don’t [stop Medicare] ... you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free."
Republican Bob Dole openly bragged in 1996 that he was one of 12 House members who voted against creating Medicare. "I was there, fighting the fight, voting against Medicare ..."
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http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/07/29/medicare-44/
GOPer nutjob/ "guru" Newt Gingrich said of Medicare, "We don't get rid of it in round one because we don't think that's politically smart, we don't think that's the right way to go through a transition, but we believe it's going to wither on the vine." He then went on to propose cutting Medicare by 14% and forcing millions of senior citizens to seek out private HMOs or go without, all to help make sure Medicare would 'wither on the vine.' And it continues right into present day.
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http://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/16/us/gop-s-plan-to-cut-medicare-faces-a-veto-clinton-promises.html?sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=all
Roy Blunt: "You could certainly argue that government should have never have gotten in the health care business, and that might have been the best argument of all, to figure out how people could have had more access to a competitive marketplace."
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http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/radical-roy-blunt-it-would-have-been-best-if-medicare-and-medicaid-never-existed
Former Republican House Majority Leader the Dick Armey reaffirmed this week on MtP that he thinks Medicare is "tryanny" and if that's not worrisome enough, he wants to "phase out" social security too.
Republicans want to do away with Medicare because they're against government healthcare, always have been, always will be. That's a core plank in GOP ideology, they hold it as dear and precious as some holy theology. Just yesterday, when asked about government healthcare, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said the "government is a predator, not a competitor" and went on to note he wouldn't vote for any healthcare reform bill as a matter of conservative principle, even if it has everything he wants in it. So when a Republican talks about "reform," says we must "get the government out of healthcare," pitches convoluted tax schemes and private accounts for the affluent, or spits out terms like "socialized medicine," like a dog whistle they all mean the same thing: getting rid of Medicare.
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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/2009/08/sen-grassley-on-health-care-the-government-is-a-predator.php?ref=fpblg
Forget about grandma being unplugged, grandma won't be able to afford being seen, much less be able to pay for hospital admission. Grandma is on her own. All so that conservative zillionaires and their Republican congressional lackeys can save an extra 0.0145 of their gross, bloated paycheck, the same flat rate we all invest to keep millions of senior citizens alive and healthy today.
Posted by: DarkSyde | December 19, 2009 3:45 PM
THERE'S A CAPTION CONTEST. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE GOT!!
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http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/12/19/obama-returns-from-the-copenhagen-global-warming-conference/#more-14304
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 19, 2009 3:55 PM
Step Right Up and Take the Republican Purity Challenge!
Just 10 questions to prove that you're a real Republican! Don't mess this up or Michael Steele will give you a hiphop makeover!
I've heard a lot about the Republican Purity Test. Heaven knows we can't have people masquerading as Republicans just so they can join "The Fellowship." Apparently the Republicans are too busy keeping us safe from real health care, keeping gays in their place and dousing flag burners to write the thing. Good citizen that I am, I wrote a 10 question test to help the wavering hone their Republican skills.
Click here to take survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VQF7DNW
Don't worry about finding your score. They'll get back to you.
Posted by: Annie M | December 19, 2009 3:57 PM
Mark, you should run down the streets yelling, "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas ol' man McCain!" ala Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Healthcare Reform Bill."
Posted by: Tell The Truth | December 19, 2009 4:09 PM
WACO REPUBLICAN PARTY: WHO NEEDS HISPANIC REPUBLICANS?
It seems that it would be essential to attract young people and people of color to a political party, especially if you want to grow a political party in a rapidly demographically changing state like Texas. However, the McLennan County Republican Party seems to believe that there is no need to adapt to these demographic changes because of the success they have enjoyed in the past.
"The big question since the GOP lost the Latino vote in the 2008 presidential election has been: How serious are Republicans about including Latinos in the GOP? The answer, fresh from the heart of GOP country...is not at all!"
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http://www.latinalista.net/palabrafinal/2009/12/waco_hispanic_republican_group_sends_gop.html
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According to an article in the Waco Tribune-Herald, conservative activists created the Hispanic Republican Club of McLennan County to reach out to Latino, African-American, and young voters. Part of the clubs stated mission would be to fill the vacancies in the 40 out of 92 precincts that lack precinct chairs. Many of the precincts that have vacancies are in predominately minority areas. However, the McLennan County Republican Party chairman M.A. Taylor does not consider it important to fill those vacancies, and apparently does not think that minorities hold conservative views.
"They think because there are 92 precincts in McLennan County, we need to have 92 precinct chairs. What they fail to understand is about half of those precincts are minority precincts, and you’re not going to find any Republicans in them."
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http://www.wacotrib.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/12/07/12072009wacHISPANICCLUB.html
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The organizers of the Hispanic Republican Club, Duke Machado and Bert Hernandez, have also created a new web site, GOPisforme.com, and are attempting to use the internet to reach out to minorities locally and build the party. The internet has played an important role in politics, and in the 2008 election then Senator Obama raised $500 million online. According to the Washington Post, 3 million people made 6.5 million donations to the Obama campaign online, and 6 million of the donations where $100 dollars or less. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have also become a significant part of the political activism. However, Taylor apparently does not consider it important to utilize the internet to expand the reach of the party.
"He wants to start this Web site thing and have Hispanics subscribe to it, and that whole approach puzzles me. What’s this going to do to build the party?"
The chairman of the Tejano Democrats in McLennan County, Robert Aguilar, made a statement that he appreciated that Republicans reaching out to minority voters, but he didn’t think they would attract many followers because of their positions on immigration and other issues. This speaks to the tone deaf attitude that the Republicans in Texas have taken when it comes to issues that affected minorities, specifically Latinos.
According to an article in the El Paso Time, during the upcoming year Republican lawmakers are going to make an issue of the costs of providing services to undocumented immigrants. Three committees in the Texas State House of Representatives, which receive their assignments from Republican House speaker Joe Straus, are in charge of reviewing several border issues during the time between legislative sessions. Expect that during the Republican primaries that candidates will be making an issue of illegal immigration, and while they may be speaking to their base they will further alienating Latino voters
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http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_13942059
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Posted by: Maria | December 19, 2009 4:17 PM
Today's Republican Party, Hipper Than You Are, Homie
Today's Republican Party, It's the Republican Party of TODAY!
First click the sound track and wait 15 seconds for the bass to kick in
http://popup.lala.com/popup/432627090802213176
then, Roll Picture
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/gallery-steeleinterns1.jpg
NOW close your eyes and imagine the adventures they'll have
But wait, there's even more GOPer hiphop makover
You want some of this? I know you do
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/gallery-steeleinterns2.jpg
You feeling it? I be feeling it
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/gallery-steeleinterns17.jpg
I got your back. Yo I got it.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/gallery-steeleinterns7.jpg
And now just the ladies. Ladies in the house say yeeah.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/images/gallery-steeleinterns14.jpg
Get down an raise the roof now y'all college Repubs, raise it.
http://www.indecisionforever.com/2009/12/11/michael-steeles-funky-fresh-photos-with-his-interns/
Posted by: Foshizzle Baby | December 19, 2009 4:36 PM
I think that we all knew that Senator Nelson would eventually take the bribe and toe the line with the rest of the socialists. Unemployment, Global Warming, Health Care, Snow, the democrats are just R-E-L-E-N-T-L-E-S-S. 2,000+ pages of socialist crap.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | December 19, 2009 5:06 PM
Nelson's deal is unconstitutional.
Article 1 Section 9 part 6 of the Constitution:
No preference shall be given by by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one state over another...
Article 4 Section 2:
The Citizens of each state shall be entitled to all the Privileges and Immunities of the Citizens in the several states.
Posted by: Tom | December 19, 2009 5:57 PM
WOW, I SEE THE LEFTIE COPY/PASTERS ARE BACK SPILLING THEIR REPEATED DRIVEL. NICE WORK, LADIES!!!!! THAT'S HOW YOU CHANGE THE GAME. TRY 2010, NOW THERE'S . . . A GAME CHANGER. HAVE FUN WITH THAT!!!!
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 19, 2009 6:02 PM
Does anyone out there remember the presidential campaign? Nobama promised transparency, he also said it would be a new Washington that things were not going to be handled in the same, and he would not have any lobbyists in his administration, and no one making under $250,000.00 a year would see not one dime of new taxes. Well he is going to let the Bush tax cuts expire, which in fact will increase most everyones taxes. So after all is said and done all that has been accomplished is the cool aide drinkers have elected the biggest liar in America. Its really the same Washington D.C. of back room deals and payoffs I hope everyone out there has a good memory so we can finally get rid of the dead weight on both sides of the isle in 2010.
Posted by: Paul | December 19, 2009 6:26 PM
Putting aside for the moment the questions about the bill, is there no outrage at the bribing of Nelson by party leaders? Can a senator's vote be bought so easily? I feel embarrassed.
Posted by: A Once and Future Skeptic | December 19, 2009 6:27 PM
The earmarks that Landrieu and Nelson obtained in this bill make "the bridge to no where" appear to be small potatoes!
Posted by: Pat H | December 19, 2009 6:29 PM
Have I read and heard correctly-- Nebraska and Maine will be given free medicaid in exchange for their senators 'yes' votes--and the rest of the states will have to pick up those states' medicaid tab? If true, I see a Supreme court case. What happened to Rolland Burris saying no 'yes' vote w/o a PO? What did he get? The Obama admin. seems to have learned to bribe for votes just like the lobbyists that bribe him and all the senators and reps. Citizens will now just pay the penalty for not having the expensive for-profit health insurance, or they'll go to jail and let the state pay to raise their children, then they'll all still be treated at ERs for free anyway. The main thing was for Obama to take and tax the working American for 40% of the worth of the insurance plan his or her employer gives. Obama's group cut deals with the Rx and health firms long before the write ups started. Many new independents and republicans will now be spawned. New name--OTP Obama--One Term President Obama. Obama is a fraud. He was against a mandate when he ran for pres. Hillary was the one who stated she wanted the mandate. That's one of the reasons I didn't vote for her. If Hillary would have lied, SHE might be president today. Most people really, really, EXTREMELY dislike being lied to--especially when it comes to their income and theft of that income.
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Funny, a couple of the main people who will have helped Obama kill off the middle class--basically America--are Jewish--Emanuel and Lieberman--and they can go to Israel to live and get a free basic package of health care. Funny, too, that free Israel health care comes, in part, from all the billions of dollars America still pays Israel--3 Billion/year plus tanks, weapons and ammo--and that country is a very well developed democracy on its own with a higher % of engineers than America. Way to go for Obama's Jewish Chicago buddy (Emanuel) and his Jewish Senate mentor--hug--hug--(Lieberman). Don't say, gosh, when times get bad, they blame the Jews. No. Just look at the facts. Look at the main saboteur and traitor in this health care "reform" debate and look at who controlled and outlined things during the lead up to the HCR debate.
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The critics are correct--Obama is not a real American--at least in spirit. But, then, neither was W. Bush.
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Boycott Connecticut, Maine and Nebraska. I've already boycotted Texas. Don't give money to traitors or to the electorate who put them in office. Boycott Illinois, too. When Obama and Emanuel go home, let them not be too full of themselves since they bribed and sold America--and American citizens out to the Rx and health corporations.
Posted by: Vivian | December 19, 2009 6:39 PM
***********************************************************
WOW, I SEE THE LEFTIE COPY/PASTERS ARE BACK SPILLING THEIR REPEATED DRIVEL. NICE WORK, LADIES!!!!!
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 19, 2009 6:02 PM
_________________________
Yeah, who do they think they are anyway? Copying and Pasting and attention seeking posting in all CAPS for your right wing lunatic fringe overlords is your job, right, Teresa?....I mean 'Bobby Mobbie'....or whatever it is that you're calling yourself at the moment. ;-)
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http://upload.democraticunderground.com/store/2009-07/winners/party-of-no.jpg
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HAHAHA!!!
Posted by: K | December 19, 2009 6:46 PM
HEY SILVA: WE DON'T AGREE ON POLITICS, BUT ENJOY THE SNOW. FAMILY . . . AND HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. SERIOUSLY.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 19, 2009 6:57 PM
IT'S NO WONDER NO ONE TAKES THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SERIOUSLY ANYMORE!
Republicans had control of the country for most of the Bush years, during which time median income dropped, food stamps rose, health care got worse - and the only group to do well were people who made more than $ million a year, all from Bush's tax cuts. I could add that these same conservatives trashed the Constitution, mortgaged our future to China, bungled one necessary war and lied us into a totally unnecessary one.
"Irresponsible" and offensive are quotes from John Thune and Tom Coburn, responding to Harry Reid's speech from the floor this morning, in which he compared the GOP's obstructive tactics (on health care this time) to those used to slow the end of slavery, women's suffrage, and civil rights.
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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/reid-spokesman-republican-fake-outrage-hard-to-believe.php?ref=fpa
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It's no longer just El Lardo Limbaugh and the Weepy Beck, no longer the RNC Chairman, no longer House backbenchers playing teabagger. It's GOP senators, the people who are supposed to be the adults, the wise men of the country, the ones who address each other as "my good friend" and "esteemed colleague" because courtesy is a tool of the trade. It's these people who are now behaving like crazy Wingnut elephants on a rampage.
Posted by: MOBBY BOBBIE | December 19, 2009 7:00 PM
@ Paul 6:26 PM,
What do you care? You voted for that 100 year old dumb old man (McCain) and his idiot sidekick (Palin).
Put a sock in it Wingnut crybabies!
Posted by: LEFTIE COPY/PASTER | December 19, 2009 7:07 PM
NOT SURPRISINGLY, NUTJOB GLENN BECK CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY VALERIE JARRETT MIGHT BE MAD AT HIM !!!!!
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http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-cant-understand-why-valer
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On Bill O'Reilly's Fox News show, Glenn Beck made his weekly appearance and was shocked to learn from O'Reilly that White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett was upset with him, and wanted to know why Beck was after her.
Beck either feigned amnesia, or he's a complete psycho who manages to obliterate any memory of his vicious verbal assaults on various individuals:
This kind of stuff is why Whoopi Goldberg called Beck a "lying sack of dog mess." Because Jarrett has been a regular pinata on Beck's show. How many times has he played that tape of Jarrett praising Van Jones? I've lost count, actually.
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http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/ladies-view-rake-glenn-beck-over-coa
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More importantly, it was just Sept. 30 when Beck devoted an entire twenty-minute segment to attacking Jarrett, placing her at the epicenter of the vast conspiracy or black radical Marxists who had infested the White House
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http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-zeroes-his-latest-white-h
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Posted by: BACK SPILLING THEIR REPEATED DRIVEL. NICE WORK, LADIES!!!!! | December 19, 2009 7:27 PM
Probable the biggest Congressional Payoff in History.
How low can Congress get.
How low can our President get letting something like this happen.
Posted by: Inky | December 19, 2009 7:30 PM
Get lost 'Bobby Mobbie', no one likes you or any of your Wingnut sock puppets you dittoheaded freak.
Posted by: everyone else | December 19, 2009 7:31 PM
The name of the Bill" Let's have Drugs"
Yay!!!!!!!!!
Everyone vote for the drug Bill?
Liitle Johnnie who can reason for himself asks?
"But, what kind of drugs" "Are they good for you? What do you have to do to get them? Are they legal? Is it a good thing or......
is it the big bad guys who are always lurking around my school trying to make deals and money at the expense of my freedom and liberty?"
Posted by: Krist | December 19, 2009 8:05 PM
Leading Nations with Universal Coverage like Britain, France, Canada, Japan, etc. spend far LESS money on health care (10% of GDP) than we do (16% of GDP), they cover everybody, bankrupt nobody, and they live longer, healthier lives. In the USA, we spend far MORE money for a worse system that bankrupts millions, denies coverage to millions more, and we live less healthy, shorter lives.
To protect the status quo as Republicans have for years is insane. Why protect a wasteful, failed, costly ripoff?
Posted by: KAG | December 19, 2009 8:30 PM
Why protect a wasteful, failed, costly ripoff?
Posted by: KAG | December 19, 2009 8:30 PM
I'm not clear from your statement are you talking about life in general, or Obama?
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | December 19, 2009 10:26 PM
I see cabin fever has set in early. Happy Holidays to the Swamp Staff and everyone on here AND their loved ones!
Posted by: Jaws, John D's, not so straight, cat | December 19, 2009 10:45 PM
Obama's HCR rip-off of American citizens, all the bribery, and its gift to the insurance industry will make many want to live more on the barter system and to increase financial 'creativeness' to a greater degree than the recession ever has done. It's the principle of having to endure a corrupt government. Laws made by corrupt lawmakers are bad laws and make citizens restless. Don't say the executive branch has nothing to do with the laws being made now. The R.s and D.s are equally guilty of screwing us and forcing all to reevaluate what we would be prepared to do in order to financially survive the government's corruption.
Posted by: Vivian | December 19, 2009 10:59 PM
SPEAKING OF WINGNUT DEAD-ENDERS WHO LIE (DEATH PANELS) ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM...
2010 Republican Presidential Front-Runner Sarah Palin Goes On Vacation. And Quits.
There are days where the punchlines really do write themselves:
Sarah Palin released a statement yesterday announcing that she and husband Todd have cut their Hawaiian vacation short, after some controversy over a McCain campaign visor Palin wore with former running mate John McCain's name blacked out with a Sharpie.
The mini-flap began when the pop culture/gossip icons over at TMZ published photos of Palin sitting in Hawaii wearing a McCain visor with the McCain logo blacked out using a marker.
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http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/16/sarah-palin-john-mccain-visor-black-marker-election-attack-book-alaska-going-rogue-barack-obama-hawaii-bikini-photos-photo-picture/
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This led to the fairly understandable supposition that Palin was taking a little shot at her former ticket mate, resurrecting all the stories of the 2008 campaign about tension between Palin and the McCain campaign apparatus.
Not so, protested Sarahcudda:
“I am so sorry if people took this silly incident the wrong way. I adore John McCain, support him 100 percent and will do everything I can to support his reelection."
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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30699.html
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So why black out the McCain brand on the visor? To just about every media outlet she has discussed this with, she gave the same rationale: she was trying to "go incognito."
Heh. Yeah...right. And like the rest of us, Roy Sekoff isn't buying it:
"I don't [believe her], because her t-shirt said 'this is America and if you don't love it, get the hell out'... so that's always a good way to be incognito."
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http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Sarah-Palins-Visor-Ignites-Media-Firestorm-Ruins-Vacation-1960
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Psst....Hey, Sarah! Here's a wild...some might even say "rogue"...thought: if you want to be nondescript, you always could purchase a plain black visor at any one of a couple of thousand tourist shops on the island. Hell, you might not even had to have left the Honolulu or Kahului Airports to do so.)
After the TMZ story broke, and the political outlets quickly lapped it up, Sarah Palin went to a familiar tactic: she quit, cutting her vacation short while complaining the press had made it impossible for her to enjoy her time at leisure.
As potentially clever as Palin's hat trick might have been, it has led to an outcome that is pure comedy. She actually quit a vacation. And, for someone who has spent much of the last few months desperately seeking adulation and celebrity on a protracted book tour, the complaint that she had to curtail her vacation because too many people were noticing her rings rather hollow, does it not?
Posted by: Lonnie9999 | December 20, 2009 12:40 AM
In Republican-land, women may speak only AFTER they have been given permission by men to do so.
Congressional Republicans, once again, made the country proud during the health care reform debate,.....Not!
Members of the Democratic Women's Caucus, at the outset of the debate over health care reform, took to the floor of the House.. .and House Republicans decided not to let them speak.
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http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/gop-objects-40-democratic-women-inser
Stay classy, Republicans...
Posted by: Anita W | December 20, 2009 1:01 AM
Can somebody explain how Sen. Nelson's actions (selling off his vote) is any different than what Blago is facing charges for? To me they seem eerily similar. Actually, Blago's actions didn't jeopardize an entire country!
Posted by: Tom | December 20, 2009 1:07 AM
REPUBLICAN JIM INHOFE GOES TO COPENHAGEN AND MAKES A COMPLETE FOOL OF HIMSELF!!!
Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe is the Grand Poobah of deadender right wing nutjobs in the Senate, and is probably the leading Global Warming denier on Capitol Hill. On Friday, he proved yet again why he is nothing short of an embarrassment to the United States. Using taxpayer money he flew to Copenhagen with no schedule, no plans or arrangements made, and did little more than put on a right wing sideshow for anyone who would listen. He found the European press a little less accommodating than the corporate media lap dogs here in the good old USA:
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http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/republican-jim-inhofe-goes-copenhagen
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COPENHAGEN — "Sen. Jim Inhofe flew across the Atlantic and — on little sleep — braved the snow, the cold and the dark to deliver his skeptical message at the international climate conference.
What he found when he got here: a few aides and a single reporter. “I think he’s going to be a little disappointed,” one of his aides remarked."
- And when Inhofe was finally able to find a few reporters to listen to him, he went full on lunatic fringe:
“We in the United States owe it to the 191 countries to be well-informed and know what the intentions of the United States are. The United States is not going to pass a cap and trade,” Inhofe said. “It’s just not going to happen.”
A reporter asked Inhofe: “If there’s a hoax, then who’s putting on this hoax, and what’s the motive?” “It started in the United Nations,” Inhofe said, “and the ones in the United States who really grab ahold of this is the Hollywood elite.” One reporter asked Inhofe if he was referring to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Another reporter — this one from Der Spiegel — told the senator: “You’re ridiculous.”
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http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30769.html
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Posted by: former Republican | December 20, 2009 4:22 AM
LOOK OUT, THOSE TEA PARTIES MIGHT COME BACK AND BITE YOU!!!
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"The most striking result in the NBC/Journal poll is that the Tea Party movement has a net-positive 41 percent to 23 percent score. The American public is in a populist/conservative/libertarian mood"
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DEFINITELY **NOT** IN A FAR LEFTIE LOONIE LIBERAL MOOD.
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | December 20, 2009 9:24 AM
Hey, everyone, I have the perfect, dream ticket, for the next presidential election, for the Republican-Libertarians. I know this is a little premature, but how does " Crash " McCain and " Quitter " Palin, sound !!?? " Crash " promises to re-pay America for the six downed jets, from his wife's largesse and Sarah promises not to quit, this time !! I think we got our selves a couple of wieners, don't you folks !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN, IN OUR ARMED FORCES.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | December 20, 2009 9:50 AM
django...
I think that we all knew that Senator Nelson would eventually take the bribe and toe the line with the rest of the socialists.
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money talks, my delusional friend. it is just a matter of outbidding the corporate fascists in the "healthcare industry" LOL
Posted by: free to watch the GOP implode | December 20, 2009 10:59 AM
"Oklahoma Republican James Inhofe is the Grand Poobah of deadender right wing nutjobs in the Senate, and is probably the leading Global Warming denier, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....irrelevant, irrelevant, irrelevant.....told the senator: “You’re ridiculous. Posted by: former Republican”
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Hey Silva, do you even screen these things? Isn't this a part of the ("Comments aren't posted immediately. They're screened for relevance to the topic") Swamp comments poliicy?
How relevant is that rant?
Posted by: MAJMark | December 20, 2009 11:16 AM
Just another sale out by our Congress and paid for by lobbyists. Funny thing is Reid has the most ex-aides working for health care on this bill as lobbyists.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | December 20, 2009 12:44 PM
I knew I would find the silly comments from DonF - he should be happy about Heath Care - and he is again on the attack - what a lame person
Posted by: LostinSeattle | December 20, 2009 1:14 PM
...If they are so proud of this bill why are they sneaking by when no one is looking? Hmmm.
Posted by: Tom | December 19, 2009 2:45 PM
I'm sorry have you been alive for the past year or what? Sneaking by? You're joking right? Geesh you neocons are realy deaf dumb and blind. You neocons who have been predictinng this will never pass I say to you WAH WAH!!!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | December 20, 2009 1:41 PM
As a citizen of Illinois I am disappointed in Senators Durbin and Burris.
From what I understand Senator Landrieu obtained 300 million dollars for her State to pay medicaid bills in the future.
Senator Nelson had written into the health care bill that the Federal government will pay all of the medicaid bills in Nebraska forever.
I believe that Senators Burris and Durbin should not vote for health care until Illinois receives 300 million dollars plus the Federal goverrnment pays all of Illinois' medicaid bills forever.
Posted by: Pat H | December 19, 2009 2:02
Durbin was greedy, today's Tribune showed all of the
Lobist that he was involved with in Passing Obamcare, probable political donations will be available for his pocet and not the State or Taxpayers.
Posted by: Inky | December 20, 2009 7:24 PM
Congrats on passing the Healthcare tax. Now, we get to pay years of taxes with no benefit to anyone, only to prop up the failed Medicare system which will also be cut. And, then there is the other 20 million that still aren't covered.
It's a win, win, win for Democrats. Yea!
This is "reform"? It's a joke.
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | December 20, 2009 10:15 PM
I have a suggestion for Obama since he and his economic team are so found of outsourcing, Emanuel, Farell, Rubin, Summers, etc. These "economic gurus" are responsible for outsourcing millions of good paying jobs to India and China. So in that same economic spirit, Let's outsource Congress to China. The Chinese are much more fiscally responsible, and are interested in creating jobs. They would do a better job for America than the clowns we have.
NO? Why not? Obama believes that outsourcing is good for America. OH, it's only good when it's your job, not mine or my supporters.
Also, outsource the terrorists to China. I think that they would find a quick and easy solution to the problem.
NO? Why not? If you think that they are worthy of "free trade," then they surely wouldn't have any human rights issues. Right?
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | December 20, 2009 10:34 PM
django...
I think that we all knew that Senator Nelson would eventually take the bribe and toe the line with the rest of the socialists.
#####
money talks, my delusional friend. it is just a matter of outbidding the corporate fascists in the "healthcare industry" LOL
Posted by: free to watch the GOP implode | December 20, 2009 10:59 AM
-------------------------
John E.
Yes it certainly does. I saw Mary Landrieu this morning in her brand new, red, Porky Pig suit. It was quite the fashion statement. Ben Nelson superficially seems more sophisticated than that, but in the end he is just another socialist with a different price tag. Harry Reid negotiates the price and any of them can be rented out for the flavor of the moment.
This is surely good representative government, doggy-sty.., oops, democrat-style.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | December 20, 2009 11:19 PM
The obstructionist GOP has made a joke of the Senate. Their only motive is returning to power, screw the country.
The political scientist Barbara Sinclair has done the math. In the 1960s, she finds, “extended-debate-related problems” — threatened or actual filibusters — affected only 8 percent of major legislation. By the 1980s, that had risen to 27 percent. But after Democrats retook control of Congress in 2006 and Republicans found themselves in the minority, it soared to 70 percent.
The party that rubber-stamped every Bush effort to borrow and spend has no credibility and no clue.
Posted by: Deltoid | December 21, 2009 12:28 AM
It’s high time that EVERYONE get access to healthcare without imposing costs which prevent many from living healthy lives. The public option is really what is needed here and without caps on coverage. This legislation is FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE CORPORATION OR HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY. Anything less is a travesty.
Posted by: debt help | December 21, 2009 4:48 AM
The only reason "approval" ratings have dropped for congress, has nothing to do with party affiliation. It has to do with "inaction". Most people want some form of health care reform, including a limited public option. They've just been pissed it's taken so long.
When this passes, and it begins ti take effect, the people will realize the fearmongering and lies of the tea-baggers was typical right-wing hot air.
And with the economy starting to come back, jobs will begin coming back in the middle of next year.
By November 2010, another landslide for the dems.
Posted by: David J | December 21, 2009 6:47 AM
The no funding for abortion is all good and well, Nelson. But then you better not use my taxes to execute any convicts either. It's called "consistency". If you don't want taxes going for one thing that may be against someone's conscience, then that has to go for everything.
Posted by: syj | December 21, 2009 6:54 AM
Posted by: Paul | December 19, 2009 6:26 PM
A typical republican lie. Obama promised he would roll back Bush's tax-cuts to the level they were before. So that they don't unfairly favor the wealthy. Everything he said was right upfront. And middle class taxes will NOT go up. But keep spinning away. Your party will be in even deeper problems next November.
Posted by: David J | December 21, 2009 7:07 AM
Despite fumbling the expectations game, this is still a major victory for the president. He promised a health care bill and he delivered. That's an aspect that cannot be understated.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | December 21, 2009 7:56 AM
The voters will show their displeasure next election.
Then all you doubters will have to face the fact that the majority does not approve of your Democratic party or the President. I can't wait to see the comments then. Enjoy being on top for now, it will soon be over fast. People are tired of Reid, Pelosi & Obama.
Posted by: wingnut master | December 21, 2009 8:55 AM
20 inches of "Global Warming" hit D.C.
And the government shuts down.
If the Feds can't manage snow, why would anyone think the Feds could manage your health care?
Posted by: Bruce | December 21, 2009 10:36 AM
john d who thinks he's right:
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And, so Mark is going to play in the snow with his grandchildren. Perhaps one of the biggest snows ever in DC history. Damn that global warming!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FYI there's an active el nino occuring in the Pacific which will continue to impact our weather both here and the eastern seaboard.
Posted by: writerofwrongs | December 21, 2009 11:51 AM
this health care bill be for or against it look at what those scumbs did to achive it. i laugh at the libs when they complained about bush(and he was idiot) they have the same kind of kind of scum but guess what they are even worse. Everbody call you senator and demand that your state gets the same perks that ben nelson and mary landrieu got for there states. I know i am
Posted by: ron | December 21, 2009 2:26 PM
20 inches of "Global Warming" hit D.C.
And the government shuts down.
If the Feds can't manage snow, why would anyone think the Feds could manage your health care?
Posted by: Bruce | December 21, 2009 10:36 AM
Youre such an ass man! The whole east coast practically shut down! Get a life in reality.
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | December 21, 2009 5:27 PM
this health care bill be for or against it look at what those scumbs did to achive it. i laugh at the libs when they complained about bush(and he was idiot) they have the same kind of kind of scum but guess what they are even worse. Everbody call you senator and demand that your state gets the same perks that ben nelson and mary landrieu got for there states. I know i am
Posted by: ron | December 21, 2009 2:26 PM
Don't forget Illinois scumbs.
Posted by: Inky | December 21, 2009 10:28 PM
Okay let's look beyond party lines. Let's look at ideologies; liberals 20%, Conservatives 36%, and the rest made up of people not affiliated with either party. Liberals support the healthcare tax-and-spend bill by a wide margin. Where conservatives and others not affiliated with either party overwhelmingly oppose the bill. Congresspeople must now return to their districts and face the music of the own making. As more and more information is coming out about this so-called reform bill we see that the congresspeople that voted for it sold us out. 66% of the people believe that their taxes will be going up, and the quality of their health care will be going down.
They keep stating that this bill will save money. Once more, the crooks in DC, pass the buck to states. It will cost Florida and California near $100 billion in Medicare cost increases due to this bill. That is one way the crooks in DC hide the cost increases. The other sleight-of-hand by the crooks in DC is to start the new taxes tied to this bill next year and not start providing services until 2014.
So you one in five( loony left) can go about tooting your horn for now. The educated and non-liberals of this country are starting to get more informed on this and other issues that this Congress is trying to pass. This past summer and fall a new movement was started and has only grown larger sense. Even though the Senate will pass this bill it's a long way from becoming law. It will be challenged in the courts(just using tactics that the liberals use) to see if it's constitutional. The fun has just begun.
Posted by: CrooksInDC | December 21, 2009 10:41 PM
This latest development demonstrates once again that , when it's a choice between principles and dollars, Democratic politicians reliably choose the latter. Nelson, who adamantly insisted he would not support any legislation allowing for federal funding of abortion in the healthcare bill, stoically holding out until the last minute, changed his mind pronto after accepting the Medicaid bribe.
Posted by: 4gb sd card | December 21, 2009 11:42 PM
101,000 Americans die UNNECESSARILY each year because of lack of access to basic medical care that they would get in most other industrialized nations.
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http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jan/Measuring-the-Health-of-Nations--Updating-an-Earlier-Analysis.aspx
Posted by: Thank God I'm NOT A Consevative Idiot | December 19, 2009 3:36 PM
Well, you are not Conservative, but you are an idiot. The only way to get TIMELY care to more people it to have MORE DOCTORS to provide that care. IF you put more people into the system AND you disincentive new doctors from entering the system by cutting their pay (that means what the government now will pay them for you liberals who cannot figure anything out for yourselves) you will soon have a higher patient to doctor ratio. The countries with the lowest unnecessary deaths have the lowest patient to doctor ratios. I know this is hard for you liberals; too bad you should have actually completed your own homework in math class. Do you understand? We have fewer doctors than many other countries. That makes healthcare more expensive, and it also limits the AMOUNT of care that can be given.
IF you want to lower healthcare costs we need more doctors for one thing. But, please I don't want you High School dropout flunkies operating on anybody, OK? You will have to leave that to someone that can pass math class.
So, now you math geniuses, IF you add more patients to an already crowded system WHAT do you think will be the outcome?
A. It will create or save 3 million jobs.
B. Doctors will work for free, putting in 14hr days in order to avoid making over $250,000.
C. More people will die from unnecessary and preventable reasons due to the HUGE cuts in Medicare, the lack of doctors, and the longer waiting times for critical operations, but that's OK because it will save us a few bucks.
D. It doesn't matter, it's George Bush's fault.
I know that I have to GIVE you the answer. There's no way that you will ever figure it out, so the answer is C.
Posted by: Free to Watch Whatever I Want | December 22, 2009 5:54 AM
Damn that global warming!! ~ John D.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FYI there's an active el nino occuring in the Pacific which will continue to impact our weather both here and the eastern seaboard.
Posted by: writerofwrongs | December 21, 2009 11:51 AM
--------------------
So, writerofwrongs, IS El Nino a man caused event?
If it IS, that would be a ‘Yes’, would the culprit be:
(a) The Military-Industrial Complex
(b) ExxonMobil
(c) George Bush, Prince of Darkness
(d) Unnamed Republican Capitalists
(e) Other
IF it is NOT, that would be a ‘No’, then:
- How does Cap and Tax, Kyoto, Copenhagen, or any other form of Environmental Lunacy change anything?
- What is it that we need to be doing to get the weather that we want when we want it?
Have to ask, because it damn sure isn’t clear to me in my limited ability to understand this load of crap called Global Warming as to how the weather can be better managed to everyone's mutual satisfaction. I can tell you that I personally prefer cloudy days.
Posted by: Django - N Exile In/Around the 30th Parallel | December 22, 2009 1:16 PM
The voters will show their displeasure next election.
Then all you doubters will have to face the fact that the majority does not approve of your Democratic party or the President. I can't wait to see the comments then. Enjoy being on top for now, it will soon be over fast. People are tired of Reid, Pelosi & Obama.
Posted by: wingnut master | December 21, 2009 8:55 AM
Um I have news for you loser, the voters are the ones who put these people in power last November and knocked your sorry ass loser pary out!
Posted by: Scot S. Blakeley | December 22, 2009 2:02 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091220/sc_afp/lifestyleclimatewarminganimalsfood/print
Silly Liberals: which has a larger carbon footprint?
a) an SUV
b) One month's worth of Algore's flatulence
c) a mid-sized family pet
d) one Jeremiah Wright sermon
e) the fall-out from a Bill Ayers IED
Hint: Time to put down Rover.
Posted by: Holy Kyoto, Batman | December 22, 2009 4:20 PM
Try this again; link did not reproduce in entirety.
Better show this to the Polar Bear huggers, STAT!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091220/sc_afp/lifestyleclimatewarminganimalsfood_20091220202508
Posted by: Holy Kyoto, Batman | December 23, 2009 5:31 PM
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www.onlineuniversal.com
Posted by: coetsee | January 22, 2010 12:04 AM