RealClearPolitics has the key parts of Dodd’s statement in a video clip here and CBS News reports the Trillion Dollar President’s approval rating has hit a new low — 46%.
Senator Dodd (D-CT) gives his normally rambling comments, among them:
“If this is all about surviving politically, then we’re missing the whole purpose of what we’re supposed to be doing,”
which is ironic and easy for him to say because he just announced his retirement. Dodd was widely seen as one of the most unlikely to win re-election. He has visibly aged.
Rob at sayanything.com notes Sen. Dodd is really saying that what the public wants is irrelevant.
The CNBC print article about Dodd’s statement reports that Senators Lieberman and Lincoln are taking a close look at what changes are going to be made in the House — which may be whose “one or two votes” Senator Dodd is talking about.
Dodd also made reference to the Progressives being unhappy. Over at The Corner, Robert Costa reports a senior GOP staffer saying:
“They’re working over the progressive caucus, Big Labor, and other Lefty groups to convince them that a bad bill is better than no bill. They have no margin for error, so they’re doing everything they can to unite groups who dislike the bill.”
The Progressives, I have been predicting, will show some steel if they do not get what they want, and Costa’s post shows some behind-the-scenes-evidence of it.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
Man I hope you are right.
davidstone Tuesday, January 12th at 6:26AM EST (link)If there was ever a time I would be happy to be wrong it is with this monstrosity known as the senate health care bill. The progressives first have to actually do it before I will believe it. George Will has written that history always repeats itself, until it doesn’t. Hopefully, progressives rolling is not repeated here.
A good question though is if they walk away from this bill, then what? Do the dems listen to Dean and figure they are going to get pounded in the mid terms anyway so put together a different bill with a PO and use reconciliation? Will they just walk away from health care entirely if the progressives shoot the hostage? They have a chance to grow government and expand the welfare state now and this opportunity may not come again for a very long time. Will the dems just walk away?
If it goes down--that's it.
writeblock Tuesday, January 12th at 12:37PM EST (link)No way they’ll revisit this issue in an election year. Nor would reconciliation do them any good–since anything that passed would have to be reaffirmed in five years or else die–like Bush’s tax cuts. So they don’t want to go there. It was always just a ploy, never a real consideration.
They must go through the Senate
Dan Perrin (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 7:48PM EST (link)60 vote routine again, and writeblock is right, no way on reconciliation.
i believe something will pass
bags64 Tuesday, January 12th at 6:39AM EST (link)likely won’t be something we’re happy w/, but won’t be something the leftists are happy w/ either.
the dems will pat themselves on the back, blame the republicans for being the party of “no”, and hail this as a huge victory for obama/pelosi/reid. what leadership.
meanwhile, back on the ranch….
I think it will die
Dan Perrin (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 7:49PM EST (link)and nothing will pass
The problem for the Dems has become strategic
Dan Perrin (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 6:43AM EST (link)not tactical.
Their health care jihad has hurt them so much politically that are beyond do we do it and lose.
They are at, if we don’t do it will we lose less?
The answer is yes, and the Progressives have the best shot at being the ones that kill it and save enough face for the Dems that they can have a shot at competing in the 2010 elections.
They are on a jihad, and they are not listening to anyone, Trumpka, Charlie Cook or what is happening in Massachusetts.
It is laughable. Pelosi and Reid and Obama are killing the party.
The question is...
writeblock Tuesday, January 12th at 12:47PM EST (link)does the House still have enough votes to pass it, given the Senate changes? And what about Nelson, Lincoln and Lieberman if it changes too much in conference? Nelson can try to repair his damaged image by voting it down next time around. Lincoln might do likewise, not liking the backroom deals. Lieberman is not doing well in CT polls. Voting this down could give him the boost he needs with Republicans and Independents. It really IS hanging by a thread.
The backroom deals and pressure is what
davidstone Tuesday, January 12th at 2:12PM EST (link)has always concerned me. I just have a very hard time picturing democratic hold outs maintaining their NO vote behind closed doors one-on-one with Reid, Pelosi, Rahm, and Obama putting enormous pressure on them, pleading with them that the state of his Presidency and the future of the democratic party hangs in the balance, and offering all kinds of buy outs and guarantees (“we will give you whatever you need to survive…and if, God forbid, you still lose, we will hook you up with a multi-million dollar job or a spot in our cabinet or …”).
Hopefully they will.
They have some very serious problems
Dan Perrin (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 7:50PM EST (link)in the House on many issue and political fronts.
They'll find a way to surgical stitch it back up
jeannieology (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 10:12AM EST (link)trust me.
www.jeannie-ology.com
Exactly...
erod (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 11:33AM EST (link)This is just more pandering from Dodd (or he’s really scarred, doubt that) – they know what they’re going to do. Ram this bloody thing down our throats and make us like it.
BUT…
I’m hopeful that a Brown victory would put the fear of G-d into them. If a Dem can lose in MA they can lose anywhere. If Brown wins they might scurry like rats from a sinking ship in a wave of retirements and possibly a slew of no votes on Obamacare. Remain hopeful, if they push this thing through it will be their undoing and yes I’m confident that some of this garbage can be repealed if we have strong conservative leaders and a supermajority in 2012.
Maybe...but...
writeblock Tuesday, January 12th at 2:32PM EST (link)…they’re beginning to feel the tremors of an earthquake. That’s a scary feeling. It certainly concentrates attention.
I meant to say...
writeblock Tuesday, January 12th at 2:34PM EST (link)I agree.
Electing Scott Brown is the best chance for us to stop this madness. nt
erod (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 3:15PM EST (link)Electing him is only half the battle
bk (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 3:17PM EST (link)getting him certified and sworn in is the other.
100% Correct nt
erod (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 3:32PM EST (link)Exactly...
erod (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 11:33AM EST (link)This is just more pandering from Dodd (or he’s really scarred, doubt that) – they know what they’re going to do. Ram this bloody thing down our throats and make us like it.
BUT…
I’m hopeful that a Brown victory would put the fear of G-d into them. If a Dem can lose in MA they can lose anywhere. If Brown wins they might scurry like rats from a sinking ship in a wave of retirements and possibly a slew of no votes on Obamacare. Remain hopeful, if they push this thing through it will be their undoing and yes I’m confident that some of this garbage can be repealed if we have strong conservative leaders and a supermajority in 2012.
"hanging by a thread" = "would barely pass today"
bk (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 2:37PM EST (link)Correct? If not, how would you interpret it?
I don’t see where his comment tells us anything we didn’t already know, or at least I don’t see why it’s anything to gin up any more optimism than we (some more than others, right Dan? haha) may have had previously.
Yes, that is how I read it
Dan Perrin (Diary) Tuesday, January 12th at 7:55PM EST (link)the key is how swiftly or no Pelosi moves.
Slow = big problems.
government
sarge324 Wednesday, January 13th at 7:37AM EST (link)the people are speaking out.the government didnt hear them and pushed this tax layden freedom stealing bill that will put us in lock step with the socailist.the people are the country not the congressmen and senate who voted for this corrupt bill.vote out all them out in 2010 save our country.