So stop wasting everybody’s time with pretending that you want Republicans for anything but cover and pass your cursed health care rationing bill.
Actually, that’s pretty much what he said:
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Thursday dared Democrats to try a one-party push to overhaul the nation’s health care system.
Steele told reporters that he thinks if Democratic senators think they have the votes, they should try a tactic that would allow them to get around a bill-killing filibuster without the 60 votes usually needed. Steele said he didn’t think Democrats would do it because of potential voter backlash.
“Get it to the floor. Up or down, baby,” Steele said at a news conference at the state GOP headquarters. “Put it on the table. And if you don’t think you’ve got enough votes to get to 60, you’ve got the nuclear option. You’ve got 51.”
(Via Hot Air Headlines)
Democrats who are surprised by this shouldn’t be: this is the natural and inevitable result of the Democratic House leadership deciding to freeze out House Republicans in writing bills this session. That particular bit of hubris then means that we feel that we’re under no obligation to give the Democrats political cover for a blessed thing now – and if the Democrats are feeling upset over that, well, good. They should direct that upset towards the people who actually caused it – which is to say, Pelosi, Hoyer, Murtha, Waxman, Frank, Obey, and every other House leader who let their sense of entitlement and need for petty revenge override their good sense.
Of course, what will actually happen is that upset Democrats will try to take it out on senior citizen protesters again. Although they’re probably running short of nasty names to call them, at this point…
Moe Lane
PS: As a special note… if you thought that the DNC’s response to that statement by Steele was milquetoast, struck precisely the wrong tone, and was probably delivered with hunched shoulders and no eye contact: yeah, you weren’t the only one. Funny, yes?
Crossposted to RedState.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
I agree
djdigdoug (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:15AM EST (link)Time to stop pretending Dems want a bipartisan agreement and just do whatever it is the want to do! Time to sh*t or get off the proverbial pot!
They'll be too busy trying to keep Walt Minnick in office, djdigdoug.
Moe Lane (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:26AM EST (link)Shouldn’t you be busy helping with that, by the way? I mean, really, you don’t expect us to care any more about your opinions than your own party does, right?
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This should be a constant drumbeat.
Big Apple Infidel (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:09PM EST (link)Steele and the RNC should be continuously pounding the media with commentary about the total lack of bipartisanship as a deliberate tactic by the Democrats, particularly by Reid in the Senate and Pelosi in the House. The Dems have done everything possible to lock the Republicans out of any debate regarding legislation and most people are unaware of this.
It is a totally cynical attempt at capitalizing on their takeover of government by completely excluding opposing viewpoints and must become a major campaign issue for Republicans in 2010.
Greetings from occupied territory!
"(S)ense of entitlement and
Lammo (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:23AM EST (link)need for petty revenge override their good sense.” – - assuming all of their years inside the Beltway and feeding at the trough haven’t already obliterated any molecule of good sense they had when they came in the door.
My only concern is that if they actually take Steele up on the challenge and twist enough arms/bribe enough tools to get this monstrosity through it will be one mother to get it repealed.
Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (John Corapi, The Black Sheep Dog)
One nitpick, Chairman
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:28AM EST (link)The Constitutional option, aka the Nuclear option, was for judicial appointments from the executive calendar, on the grounds that the Senate is instructed to give its advice and try to give its consent or not.
It was never meant for ordinary legislation.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
But it could still be used right Neil...
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:39AM EST (link)I mean…he’s not wrong is he?
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
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He is and he isn't
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:46AM EST (link)He’s wrong in that what we proposed, couldn’t be used for this.
He’s right in that the Democrats could probably get the rules changed to eliminate the filibuster entirely, for all time. But I doubt have get the votes for that. Probably even fewer votes than they have for the government option in the medical rationing bill.
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“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
They've been considering treating it as a budget reconcilliation
Achance (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:57AM EST (link)needing only a simple majority and which can’t be filibustered. Wrinkle, is that only true appropriation items can be treated as reconcilliation matters. Any member could object to a provision s/he considers to be programmatic being considered this way and the Senate Parliamentarian has to rule. That could be a messy process and either the bill gets gutted of its programmatic provisions or the Parliamentarian and the majority caucus have to take the political heat for a cram down.
In Vino Veritas
I Think They'll Lose Too Many Votes If They Try The Latter
IJB Friday, August 21st at 11:10AM EST (link)Even people like Byrd (if he’s actually there to vote, which is probably unlikely) would vote against having non-budgetary items in reconciliation. I suspect there are at least 10 or 11 Democrats who would similarly object to something that unseemly.
It’s much more likely that they’ll split the bill – put the specific budget-related health care stuff in reconciliation, and try to pass the regulatory part (including the public option stuff) as a separate bill.
I suspect, however, that that won’t work for the Dems either…
But if they only use budget-related items
rec0n Saturday, August 22nd at 12:51AM EST (link)don’t they have to re-visit said items on a yearly basis, and meet budget requirements or make appropriate changes to the legislation? I read an article somewhere re: this pitfall, and appropriate changes would pretty much have to meet the approval of whomever is reviewing the budget…right?
Ok...so it was just the naming...
Aaron Gardner (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:59AM EST (link)I agree with you on the second point. As far as the naming goes, although it is a different procedure I have heard many referring to it as the Nuclear Option. It’s almost become a general term.. Another interesting instance of the Leftists trying to co-op our language while applying a wholly different meaning. Thanks for point it out. I really wish there was a better way to combat the bastardisation of our language.
conform and celebrate diversity….or else!!!
“We’d be much better off if We The People had desired small government enough to keep it.” acat
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Gee, Michael. Will you guarantee those giving "cover" won't get our money?
Marcus_Traianus (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:32AM EST (link)Just askin.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
He Doesn't Need To - No Republican Will Vote For This
IJB Friday, August 21st at 11:11AM EST (link)At the core, it’s not in the craven self-preservation interests of any Republican, even Snowe-types, to vote for this.
Heck, that’s even true of somewhere between 50-70 House *Democrats*!!
It wasn't just the House who locked out the GOP
bk (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 10:36AM EST (link)Except for in Baucus’s Committee, no Democrat in the Senate had anything to do with any Republicans either. And Baucus did it over objections from Reid.
Pelosi thought she could roll the Blue Dogs for the umpteenth time and Reid figured he’d have a few of the usual suspects like the ladies from Maine throwing in the towel in short order. When these didn’t work out, Pelosi and Reid couldn’t admit to the truth (Dem infighting), so as usual they had to make up a lie and blame the GOP for the Dems’ inability to unite.
I would like them to use the nuclear option now.
jeffreywturner (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 11:11AM EST (link)Honestly, outside of this one issue, I would like the Dems to be forced into changing Senate rules to eliminate filibusters. You know they will if they have to anyway, and it would be nice if they would, so that way the GOP can pass things with a bare majority when they gain one. If it is left to the GOP in a crunch, they won’t do it because they have too many members who treasure “comity” over all else. (think gang of 14)
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
Hey, I like the filibuster
Neil Stevens (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 11:13AM EST (link)I’d have opposed the Constit utional option if it applied to ordinary legislation.
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No Republican
arcman46 Friday, August 21st at 11:35AM EST (link)should vote for this fiasco, or anything else BHO proposes. Make the Dems own what they are trying to do.
typical liberal tactic
fjrealamericans (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 11:58AM EST (link)Blame everyone else.. It’s never their fault..
I read the white house actually hasn’t brought the Repubs into a “bipartisan ” meeting since April.
Seems their whole game plane was to exclude, but blame the Repubs.
I think they sadly underestimated the American public.
F & J Real Americans.
I think the Dems should just "WEE WEED UP"
securitymom (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:23PM EST (link)Whatever the heck that means. I was going to ask my three year old neighbor but he is off to preschool.
“Security Mom/Grandma”
Yeah really.
TNJim (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:34PM EST (link)“Whatever the heck that means.” Must be some kind of Hawaian/Chicagoan/Indonesian/Kenyan slang.
I’m sorta leaning toward it meaning “pi**ed off” but when it comes to the TOTUS/POTUS who the heck knows.
Amazing how the "brilliant orator" that is Obama
janis (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:40PM EST (link)manages to come up such Shakespeare-level sayings, isn’t it? Somehow makes words such as “strategery” look quite learned–not to mention decipherable.
Obama can go after talk radio until the cows come home, but Drudge is just flaying him alive almost daily by headlining stuff like this.
When they take his teleprompter away.....
DavidS1787 (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:42PM EST (link)he is just about speechless!
Then we need to take it away more often. nt
janis (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 12:46PM EST (link)Just not too often.
TNJim (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 1:04PM EST (link)Some funny moments have happened when there’s a glitch of some kind, such as when the operator has a lapse and forgets to advance it or when it breaks. But David’s right, the real BHO comes out when the TOTUS isn’t in use.
urine will eventually kill weeds - the problem is in the aiming - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 1:01PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
lol!!!! It totally sounds like a 3yo nt
mom2oneson (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 1:46PM EST (link)All republicans should remain in their Districts/States
Tbone (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 1:21PM EST (link)holding real townhall/stadium meetings should this nonsense ever come to a vote.
They shouldn’t even be in DC. They should be where the real people are, Home.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
I just gotta throw it up
devCharles Friday, August 21st at 2:19PM EST (link)Props to you, Michael Steele. Seriously. I’ve been waiting for the GOP to say something like this. You guys have the votes. Senate and house. Get it done.
“If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism.” – Ronald Regan
"Democratic House leadership deciding to freeze out House Republicans in writing bills"
Return to Revolution (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 3:29PM EST (link)Almost forgot they did that; I never looked up the source until now:
http://republicanwhip.house.gov/blog/2009/06/developing-democrat-abuse-of-power.html
Out of hand Constitutional fetishist
He' a man with Steele Ba!!s
texas214 (Diary) Friday, August 21st at 6:02PM EST (link)While there has been a lot of worry over his selection to head the GOP, this was exactly the right moveon his part. When your facing a bully you don’t run and hide, you stand up call them out, and hold your ground.
Whether we win or lose on the issue Americans appreciate this type of bravery. Thats the problem Zero and the Dem’s are having, they stand for big government control, but can’t bring themselves to say so.
Word for the day, Bravery!
Pretty much it.
rec0n Saturday, August 22nd at 1:19AM EST (link)My opinion they’re screwed no matter what they do now. They’re just screwed. The public has had a faceful, the Lib’s are frothing, and unless they pull some (more) really MAJOR fraud next election – they’re screwed. I’ve attended my town hall and written my letters, but most of the time I was just smiling this August. I knew they couldn’t handle real scrutiny, but the speed at which they’ve committed political suicide kind of surprised me, I have to admit.