Chuck-ing Health Care
We're in the grip of election fever here in DC. Could (gasp!) Jon Corzine lose the governor's race in New Jersey? What might a Bob McDonnell victory in Virginia mean for Republicans? For that matter, what could a Doug Hoffman win in the NY23rd mean? But, just in case you forgot, there is still a national debate going on on heath care reform. Here's a look at one of the main players: Chuck Schumer.
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1
Thanks, Jay. I just read your piece (after checking politics home page to see if I had made the “featured reader's comment”. I didn't. Again. Also.) Did you interview Schumer? Other commenters might ask in snark; I'm serious, just looking for extra info. he might have told you. Do you think he is the real leader for pushing the PO, or is Reid? Speaking of other election stuff, did he contact Dede Scozzafava about endorsing Owens? Thanks, and have a fun evening (parties?).
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1.1
I chose not to interview Schumer. For a man famous for being a publicity hound, he's hard to get to these days. Getting a couple of quotes on Reid was like pulling teeth.
I don't think Schumer called anyone in NY23... Now, Rahm on the other hand...
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1.2
…thanks, Jay. I'll bet Rahm's been busy on the campaign trail. I hope that when you next interview him, the High Sheriffs will let you quote him *verbatim*. Keep his blue language as is, no editing! And thanks for your stories.
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1.3
Jay Newton-Small:
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Thanks so much for responding to commentary.
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Schumer is not calling his version a loss yet, well I am.
My conclusion is based on the continuing inability of the Democratic party to come to any sort of REAL agreement on the core issues in the Health care plan, and also even from the article itself by JNS, it is clear that Schumer is just politicking.
“Yet Reid isn't sure he has the votes to bring this bill to the floor, and it's looking unlikely that he'll have enough support to overcome a Republican-led filibuster. Snowe has said the inclusion of Schumer's provision makes it "difficult" for her to vote yes. Senator Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has said he cannot vote for the bill as it stands, and moderate Democrats such as Indiana's Evan Bayh, Nebraska's Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas have voiced reservations.”
So where is Schumer getting this optimism from?????
Oh well, it is politics as usual he is posturing for better gains and ranking within his party by proposing some public option in another "modified" “plan” that is almost certain to fail.Seriously, the Democrats need to get their act together. The near certain losses in tomorrow's key elections, I hope, will give them the kick in their behinds they need to shape up.
This whole Health care Debacle is looking like a microcosm of the current culture of the Democratic party; a complete lack of compromise or an understanding of the basis for expeditious decisions on this bill -- no cohesive leadership or common purpose! Truly sad, sad, sad!
LM
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3
Jay, why are the odds good that the Public Option will fail? Do these grandstanding Senators not read polls?
Why do you insist on calling them moderate and not conservative?Schumer is right about the democratic base not being happy if the Public Option does not pass, and evidently a lot more people as the polls show. Why do not the conservative Senators see that? I think they will learn a lesson on how much more exposed their behaviour is now with the Internet. The Democrats need to not worry about bipartisanship and pass a bill that is good and pleases the American people not Corporations. I kind of have a feeling that if they do not pass the Option the Republicans will use it against them in 2010.
Thank you as I did learn some things about Schumer I did not know.
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3.1
I do think some version of the public plan will now make it in to the Senate bill. The question is: how strong of a plan? Given where the mods are, I don't see Schumer's version passing. But I think a Carper plan fro an opt-in could pass (even Jon Kyl praised this version). Or a Snowe trigger. But the Senate will need to take Schumer's version to the brink to prove to everyone they don't have the votes before they settle on a plan B.
JNS
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I'm often impatient with people who complain incessantly that the Congress is in the pockets of Corporations and Lobbyists but the fact that they're having a difficult time passing something that is actually quite popular among voters indicates that the complainers are probably right.....
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4.1
The problem is not passing something that is quite popular with the voters. The problem is the mountain of unintended consequences that will result of passing something popular. Congress whether they publicly admit it know mist will not be pleasant and once passed it will never be recalled only mutated.
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4.2
mountain of unintended consequences
If what you say is true then the law can be repealed with significantl;y less fanfare and aggravation than it's taken to draft it. After all, if the consequences are bad, then we can all agree and fix the problem. Unfortunately the problem with the bill isn't that it will be bad, it's that people will like it and want to keep it.
All the arguments I've seen against the HCR have relied on either gross mischaracterizations or (as you provide) unnamed, unspecified fears. No one complains about what the bills say. They only complain about what they might mean.
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To someone who's actually sympathetic to pro-free market arguments, I'm still waiting for someone to present one...... -
4.3
I'm often impatient with people who complain incessantly that the Congress is in the pockets of Corporations and Lobbyists
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Interesting. I thought it was well documented how much money gets shoved into Congressional pockets on a monthly basis. -
4.4
how much money gets shoved into Congressional pockets
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Yes, but the real problem is that a half-million dollar ad buy actually influences more voters than voting for the legislation desired by your constituents.
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It's not just the volume of cash. It's the fact that broadcasting lies is depressingly effective. -
4.5
I don't deny that what you brought up may be a problem, but when I see things like how much money Baucus gets from the health care industry, or the lockstep support of Israel our politicians maintain, it sure feels like their campaign coffers count for a lot more than the populace's needs.
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4.6
Government setting rules of who must participate, how they participate and what an insutrance company can and cannot do is hardly free market.
And please hold your breath for Congress to repeal or change anything that will go wrong in the bill. I believe Bill Clinton is till waiting for the Medicare reform he was promised. And the cost and fraud is now how much? And oh yeah, to make it budget neutral, Congress will eliminate Medicare fraud.
If this passes, Congress will be on to some other part of the economy to screw up until this bankrupts the country which then will be too late and the inevitable answer will be.. wait for it TAX the RICH.
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4.7
inevitable answer will be.. wait for it TAX the RICH...
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As opposed to the Republican preferred- borrow from China!
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I hate to say it but the allergy to taxes accompanied by an addiction to spending is a nationwide phenomenon. Your party is particularly dishonest on the subject and you seem to lack the sophistication necessary to separate slogan from reality. Too bad no one has the courage to address it. -
4.8
Last I checked Obama is President and Dems run Congress and they recently raised the debt ceiling. The blame Bush and the Repubs given the porkulus, cash for clunkers et al is at best disingenuous. As is your assertion "your party is particularly dishonest on the subject".
We had elections last year where Demos were swept into office running as conservatives (speaking of dishonest) and could not spend money fast enough. And they continue to be dishonest using the delusional canard as you do that this debt and deficit is the Repubs and Bush's fault and his alone.
Check your mirror before you get too sanctimonious on being dishonest.
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5
Jay, could you or one of your colleagues provide an inside analysis of why the threat of the filibuster has become sufficient, politically, to overcome the optics and politics of a real filibuster? Personally, I'd like them to make their case.
I don't get it, and I pay a LOT of attention.
In short, why not make them filibuster?
Sign me,
Fundamentally pro-filibuster, but not pro-filibuster threat stopping the process.
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5.1
Hey John,
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There is actually a twitter meme #makeemfilibuster (link) started by Karen Tumulty that is garnering support to do just that - - encourage the "fragile flowers of the United States Senate" to "man up" and actually f-buster on the Senate Floor, or STFU.
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Contrary-wise, it's also a call for Sen. Reid to grow a pair and move legislation to the floor instead of retreating to his happy place whenever he counts more than 20 Senators (10 piddies and 10 tootsies) aligned against him... -
5.2
I agree with kbanginmotown -- KT has long been challenging Reid to force the GOP to actually filibuster. I'm afraid given Reid's precarious reelection prospects, bold moves like those are probably not high on his list of things to do. Plus, his style is much quieter -- as his peeps told me for the story I did on him last week, he's much more of a consensus builder than an arm twister.
JNS -
5.3
I also would greatly appreciate said analysis.
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A House Republican health-care bill wouldn't seek to prevent health-insurance companies from denying sick people insurance, Minority Leader John Boehner said Monday.
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...[and]...
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Republicans also wouldn't prevent insurers from ending policies once an individual becomes seriously ill.
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Grayson FTW -
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This is why you have nothing to fear. The media is totally in the backseat with Barack Obama. Obama wants health care, government run health care passed.
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This list shows the support.
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No other individual or topic gets as much coverage as does Barack Obambi. And, you think the media, especially THIS media has your back. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! -
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Rusty is shocked, SHOCKED, that the President is the most written about topic.
But GOP+Republican= 63 and Democrats = 60
Oh well to dumb to worry about, off to vote.
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8.1
Early and often as Dems are apt to do.
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8.2
LOL@freeinpa.
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I wonder if Corsine has a few thousand absentee ballots stuffed somewhere? Seeing that he coordinated legislation for NJ to have so-called "3rd party transporters" of the absentee ballots passed during his previous term.
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I am sure with ACORN that things will be on the up and up in NJ. It's not like this is Chicago. Oh wait, after Chicago, NJ has always been the most politically corrupt place in the country. -
8.3
rusty
In Camden, NJ they had 500 absentee ballots for the Presidential election. They have over 3700 already. Looks like Corzines margin of fraud is increasing.
But let's hear the lectures from the left here about honesty and lying.
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And here we have the stand-up truth-bearers performing their usual tricks.
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"to(sic) dumb" Never fails when I internetsult. Ha.
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The GOP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Corporate America.
The fact remains that big insurance by refusing care to patients and reimbursement to doctors over typos has ticked everyone off. They have a monopoly over the whole process and a well financed lobby team (including Lieberman's wife) and representatives on both sides of the isle.
A friend of mine recently laid off just he and his spouse is paying $2,500.00 dollars a month for his COBRA. Health insurance costs more than his mortgage. Anyone taking up the insurance industry's cause doesn't know what they are talking about.
If you think the insurance companies are going to voluntarily lower their cost while having a monopoly over the process – you are being disingenuous …Over 60% of all US bankruptcies are attributable to medical problems. Most victims are middle class, well educated and have health insurance - (The American Journal of Medicine)
The insurance companies and their representatives in Congress would love to perpetuate a business model that is crippling our overall economy – a bunch of great Americans aren't they?
90% of the wealth concentrated in 1% of the population is no way to run a country but a heck of a way to establish a royalty ruling class. Yacht sales can not sustain 350 million people. I'm for the public option, competition and a level playing field or break up the big insurers like we did AT&T.
Paul Burke
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