There are several Americans who honestly thought they were going to get some meaningful health care reform. I was never one of them, but whether you thought so or not, over 3-in-5 Americans do not want what has been dreamed up by Harry Reid.
First, he works out backroom deals and twist arms, dishonoring his office. He buys the 60 votes he needs to cut off debate, because the one thing he cannot have - and still have it pass on Thursday morning at 8:00 - is for anyone to discuss what is in the bill.
Then he refuses to publish it, and even Obama is OK with this. After all, this was only one of many campaign promises the President has dishonored (like the no new taxes on the middle class that are in this bill). Come to think of it, the presdient also promised us C-Span where the debate would be held for all to see. Oh, but then there would have to be debate for us to watch it.
No one has read the entire bill because parts of it are still being written.
Bill Nelson of Florida lets his voice mail fillup and doesn't empty it - what a great way to avoid taking calls from your constituents. This is not the first time this has happened in the past couple of months.
Washington, DC was in the throws of a 2' snowstorm Sunday night, and the city was all but shut down. That didn't stop Reid from holding a session for the Senate and a late hour (1 am) vote to get his baby on the road to passage. See the pattern hear - Sunday afternoon sessions, a 1 am vote, and an 8:00 am vote? Won't get much discussion that way - by design.
And now, it appears that in the rush to just get something passed, Nancy Pelosi may just accept the Senate version and get her minions to pass it. This would eliminate the conference process and exclude many legislators (of both parties) who have been counting on this time to reveal some of the thousands of warts in this bill and rectify some of them or toss it out in favor of something better.
Two things are certain. Our government is out of control, and they like it that way.
Oh, one more thing is certain. No one is allowed to question Mr. Reid.
Get used to it, comrade.
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That has become the American way...If you can't get what you want up front...there is a back door to be busted into!
William,
American ingenuity is one thing. Strong-arm tactics is quite another. :)
Steve
Steve ,It is amazing, every one and their brother was lining up against President Bush over the patriot act (whick Obama kept in force) but now we have lost the right to even be told what the govt is doing, our President is giving away our sovreignity, and our senate and congress are not answerable to anyone and the sound of silence is deafening
An 8am vote on Christmas Eve ? What's the rush ?
Linda Metallo, Re/max Impact, Lockport, Il.
Doesn't anyone even wonder where all the money is coming from to do this? The media reports trillions of dollars involved (without documentation) and no one says a word...
Steve,
Thanks for the post. how do you feel, comrade? the government is going its own way? Not a surprise. If they are allowed to do it, they will dictateit.
Very sad, very frustrating
Hugh,
Don't forget that he is apologizing to everyone in the world, too. :)
Steve
Linda,
Someone is going to melt - or collect a huge bonus. :)
Steve
Shoshana,
There is no money. This cannot be funded without funny money. :)
Steve
Jon,
I wouldn't rule out a dictatorship. :)
Steve
Nevadans will have plenty of questions for Reid in 2010. It's going to be a very interesting mid-term election all across the board.
Whether or not 3 in 5 Americans don't want "what has been dreamed up by Harry Reid" depends on which television "news" station you watch and how the question is asked. Like all polls, you can get the answer you want simply by asking the right question.
You obviously hasn't studied American history, both federal and of the many states, because "backroom deals and twist[ed] arms" are part of parcel of the negotiating and compromising process of politics. Read about any Chicago mayor for the past 200 years, New Orleans and Louisiana politicians for at least 100 years, Texas politicians, including Presidents Johnson, Bush, and Bush, Reagan's presidency, and on and on.
Reid didn't get 60 votes to cut off debate. Just the opposite. He got 60 votes to proceed to debate, to avoid a filibuster, which is not a debate in any sense of the word.
It's hard to publish something that is still being negotiated. Duh on that one. I have watched the debates and votes on C-Span, so maybe we have better local programming here than they do elsewhere.
It's interesting that 99 Senators showed up for discussion and voting. There are only 100 Senators to beging with, so those are the only people who need to be there. If I have to work until the wee hours of the morning, there's no reason why our politicians can't!
Only the minority party leaders consider our government out of control. I've been a registered Republican since 1976, and I don't consider our government out of control at all. There are many checks and balances in this great system of ours, including voting everyone out of office if there are enough people unhappy, just like we did in 2000 and 2008.
John,
I hope the question the ask him is how soon he can pack. :)
Steve
Russel,
You are right that there are enough checks and balances in our government - but only if they are observed and allowed to work. At present they are being subverted and ignored at every turn. :)
Steve
Steve
We need heath care adjustments in the country but not this bill. I get in late tonight and heard about the eye marks and what will be needed in congress to make an adjustment to the bill if it passes.
History will have the final vote on the congress and I believe history will not look favorly at the congress.
PS: the majorty of the voter in country do not want the bill passed.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
Lou,
Thanks. This is a major mistake because it is only marginally about health care. It is control pure and simple. :)
Steve
Steve- How does one handle a situation where our liberties are being taken away from us? They all made fun of the tea parties and dismissed them. What will happen when we stand up again in greater numbers?
Greetings comrade. That phrase used to be a joke, now it rings of truth.
Larry,
I think it's going to take even greater numbers or some candidates who get it that we can run for office. There are a few brights spots in the 2010 campaign. :)
Steve
Kevin,
Isn't that chilling? :)
Steve
Steve, the founding fathers gave us provisions to deal with a perverted, out of control government. I'm afraid in the end it may be the only option remaining.
Steve The good news is we have a chance to strike back as long as we put new people in there that are truly concerned about our future
"Broke but not broken" will become the call to reform next year...Who will answer?
Jon,
I'm more and more convinced that we never should have passed the 17th Amendment. Without that there never would be this health care. :)
Steve
Karen,
I agree - Harry Reid's attempts to bulletproof his decision notwithstanding. :)
Steve
Gary,
If you mean our spirit is not broken I agree, If you mean the system it is extremely broken. :)
Steve
Whatever happened to the transparency and openness that was promised us by the new administration? What happened to "draining the swamp" that was promised by this Congress?
Lane,
Promises are easy to make but hard to keep without integrity. :)
Steve