Ah, the politics of fear.
The entire Democratic Senate caucus is headed to the White House on Tuesday afternoon to talk health care with President Obama, just as the administration urges Majority Leader Harry Reid to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman, who is emerging as the skunk at the party for supporters of the massive package to create a new entitlement.
[snip]
Congressional staff familiar with negotiations said the White House is strongly urging Reid to work with Lieberman to eliminate the Medicare provision.
But Reid and other Democratic lawmakers are said to be furious that Lieberman publicly called for the elimination of the proposal before members received an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on the cost of such a plan.
More accurately, the politics of being afraid. The White House is afraid that they won’t get something that they can call a win (our B+* President hasn’t actually had many this year); the progressives are afraid that their own base will descend upon them with torches and pitchforks if there is no progress against the hated foe; and Red State Democrats are afraid that if they keep on this course they’ll be interacting with the 112th Congress as lobbyists. It should be one sockeldanger of a meeting tomorrow.
Moe Lane
*Ahem. ‘Surprisingly tasty.’
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Lieberman is a classic scapegoat.
redneck_hippie (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 6:10PM EST (link)Does any body believe he’s the only contrary vote? The whole blame it on Lieberman thing is too convenient. Obama knows a yes would hurt Lieberman politically and has it out for him. If Obama can defeat Lieberman and also get health care and get Lieberman out of the senate, he would give himself an A+.
Democrats Scared Of Coming Home Empty Handed
crosley (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 6:22PM EST (link)Early on, it was conventional wisdom that Democrats were certainly going to be able to get significant changes to our health care system with their lopsided majorities, the only question was, “How bad will it be?”
Now, I’d be surprised if they get ANY bill passed with the words “Health Care Reform” on it.
My fear though is that Lieberman will compromise just to show he’s not really a Republican, but it will still be a bad bill, but minus a Medicare expansion or Public Option. Lieberman’s only chance for reelection however, is to cast his lot with Republicans. Liberals will never forgive Lieberman for this. If he alienates both groups by agreeing to some awful compromise though, he’ll lose in 2012.
That's What May Save This Bill; Republican Goals Moving Forward
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 6:29PM EST (link)Pure fear of getting nothing may save this Bill. If the Left capitulates to Snowe, Nelson, Lieberman, … Republicans should work to make sure the Bill is designed so that it may be easily repealed, defunded or gutted in the future. That starts with preventing new bureacracies and minimizing new entitlements. The connector isn’t that big of a deal. We have it in Mass and its a small scale operation that is managable.
whatever these boobs pass WILL be a threat to our freedom
blownawayin5 Monday, December 14th at 6:45PM EST (link)…whether we know that up front or find it out after it’s passed and someone actually reads it, they simply won’t be able to help themselves. They may be forced to take half a loaf for now, but the left is very adept at incrementalism and rest assured this bill WILL advance the ball.
I see on FNC that they’ve announced that the “public option” is “dead”. BS….
Senators are hiding...
karenfromny Monday, December 14th at 6:50PM EST (link)Code Red Rally is tomorrow Tuesday 12/15 1:30pm. Send a message to Congress. And it just so happens that the Obama calls the senators for a meeting. Are these senators afraid to face the voters…
Here what they are afraid of:
anotherindyfilmguy (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 9:54PM EST (link)Lieberman defeating the “O” in the 2012 primary elections.
Santorum? Well, at least he’s not Romney…
http://www.zazzle.com/enemy_of_the_statist_tshirt-235977043035297478
They will definately pass something.
jeffreywturner (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 10:00PM EST (link)The Dems will pass something, anything, just to avoid admitting defeat if for no other reason.
It is looking more and more likely however, that whatever they pass will be mostly symbolic and light on the substance, because they can’t muster the votes for a real substantive bill.
“Life is too short, can’t we all just eat pork and kill some terrorists?”
The dems will try to pass something
izoneguy (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 10:06PM EST (link)that will just screw everyone so that they feel good.
The dkos day-care blog is in an uproar. Many are claiming that they will never vote for a democrat again…..
We can only hope that change is coming….
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
Change can't come soon enough
antisocial (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 11:45PM EST (link)They are screwed either ways – whether they pass the bill or don’t. Actually the best route for them is to gut the bill altogether. That will actually cut the losses. They can always blame it on Republicans and Lieberman. And start with their “whining” trick.
We won’t let them breathe if the bill is passed. Folks will pay taxes and not get anything until 2013. Maybe 2014. Time for democrat-mongering.
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
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What is to be done?
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No. You can’t – Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!
As long as they don't pass anything that creates brand new entitlements
AKSteveB (Diary) Monday, December 14th at 10:42PM EST (link)(e.g. “Public Option”, expansion of Medicare), we can deal with it in 2013. I’m starting to just be plain exhausted by the “now we have a public option, now HCR is dead, now we’re doing something else” stuff.
Hell is other people – Sartre