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PDF versionPelosi's Really Dumb Idea
by Michael Sean Winters on Mar. 16, 2010
Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to go. She has a case of Beltway-itis that is incurable and is now imperiling the passage of health care reform. How else to explain her publicly floating the idea that the House will use a parliamentary maneuver to pass the final health care bill without actually voting on it. “It’s more insider and process-oriented than most people want to know. But I like it because people don’t have to vote on the Senate bill,” Pelosi said yesterday. Hard to know whether this anti-democratic (with a small ‘d’) sentiment is more obnoxious because of its political stupidity or because it is offensive to democratic norms. Voting is what members of Congress do. The Republicans are entirely right in lambasting this calculated attempt to evade responsibility.
In the current political climate, Pelosi’s comments are profoundly stupid. It is the GOP that has been focusing on the “process,” because it is true that people are disgusted at the way legislation makes its way through Congress, especially this piece of legislation. And, whenever we are talking about the process, we are not talking about the merits of the bill. Pelosi’s words were guaranteed to land on page one, when the front page should be focused on the content of the legislation, the fact that we are so close to attaining universal health insurance, a goal that has eluded presidents from Roosevelt to Truman to Nixon to Clinton. Instead, the caption reads, “Pelosi may try to pass health bill without vote.”
Beltway-itis has plagued the White House and the Congress throughout the process. Take the public option. Had Democrats proposed that any citizen can buy into the same insurance plan that members of Congress have, the entire debate would have been different. The populism that always lies just below the surface of American politics on both the left and the right would have manifested itself in support of the provision. Instead, the GOP framed the public option as a government takeover, a charge that persists even though the public option is no longer a part of the bill.
In many ways, Pelosi has been an effective Speaker. She wins votes. But, the task of political leadership is more than winning the vote this week. It is about framing that vote in such a way that it becomes defensible in the fall’s midterm elections. If she is so blind as to the significance of her words, she should take an early retirement and let someone else take the gavel.
Is her idea as "dumb" as
Is her idea as "dumb" as throwing out the health care reform baby with the abortion-language bathwater, thus depriving countless numbers of expectant mothers who might choose to carry their babies to term, along with those babies once born, access to pre- and post-natal health care?
Because that's what it comes down to, Michael.
There is one chance to take care of those (actual and potential) mothers and their (actual and potential) children, and that is with Pelosi and the Democrats in the House and Senate doing what they must do to get health care reform passed.
There will not be another chance in the forseeable future.
At what cost must this be
At what cost must this be done? The current process is showing flagrant disregard for the will of the people and the Democratic process itself. Bribery has replaced reasoned argument and unbridled pride and arrogance dominate the motivation to pass the bill at any cost ( even that of the unborn) Anyone over the age of 20 has to be in shock, whether Democrat or Republican at the dismantling of democracy before our eyes. This is very very wrong and it will be useful for those currently in positions of power to remind themselves that when something is manually forced down a throat, it often comes right back up. C
WE NEED COURAGE! Not in
WE NEED COURAGE!
Not in Washington, but in EVERY voting booth in America.
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to go."
And she's not alone. All of those predominantly white male FOSSILS and their self-proclaimed fiefdoms on both sides of the aisle need to be swept away next November. Proof of the pudding is how many of them have seen the handwriting on the wall and are already running for cover and announcing plans to "SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES" by not seeking re-election.
Don't let the doorknob hit ya...
TERM LIMITS NOW!
YES WE CAN - get rid of them all.
Incumbents at ALL levels and in ALL branches of government OUT NOW! What do we have to lose?
NUNC DIMITTIS!
What is worse is that she,
What is worse is that she, planning to use this trick, has been speaking openly about how terrible the senate bill is. Her stated reason for bypassing the vote is that the bill is unable to get sufficient support to pass, but that if we just blindly trust her and her party, they will come up with something, the details of which they will reveal after they pass it. This is a farce.
Yes, going public with the
Yes, going public with the fact of this relatively common House maneuver was not smart, but using it probably is. It permits the members to vote for the Senate Bill by voting for the procedural motion to bring the matter before the House. Both parties have used this process before to pass a hot potato they approve of, but don't want to expressly vote for. And, for a change, the simple statement that "I did not vote for that Bill" is on the Democrat side, and the complex answer or rebuttal is on the Republican side. Sound bite world better serves the simple statement.
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs
"Speaker Nancy Pelosi needs to go.... If she is so blind as to the significance of her words, she should take an early retirement and let someone else take the gavel."
...I never thought I'd see the day when I completely agree with MSW.
ATTENTION!! - THEY NOW! HAVE
ATTENTION!! - THEY NOW! HAVE 51 VOTES FOR A PUBLIC OPTION. DEMAND PASSAGE OF YOUR! PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE!
Tell Speaker Pelosi the public option is in her hands. Sign the petition: http://bit.ly/d8MqhL
From: jacksmith - WorkingClass
Dennis Kucinich http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfuFVm6QdPU
Rep. Alan Grayson: HR4789 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy2Y5Uevisk
WE THE PEOPLE OF The UNITED STATES - DEMAND!! an up or down vote on a Strong "GOVERNMENT-run" Public Option CHOICE!
Every member of Congress that fails to openly declare a YES vote for a Strong "GOVERNMENT-run" Public Option CHOICE! before reconciliation or any other healthcare vote, will be branded a NO vote against the Public Option. And a NO! vote against the American People and the World.
KNOW THIS!! We will RIP you from Office with such political ANGER! and BRUTALITY! that they will hear the Echoes of your parting screams for a 100 YEARS! You have a CHOICE! and AND SO DO WE. The PUBLIC OPTION!!
The Public Option http://tinyurl.com/yfftf76 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj54bU0YYnk
IGNORE THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT YOUR PERIL!!
TAKE THE VOTE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eob4GJSDKY
A LINE IN THE SAND -
Call your representatives and demand an answer. Do you or don't you support a public option. Do you or don't support democratic MAJORITY RULE! We DEMAND! to know.
YOU! are dying and suffering needlessly every day http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/27055
Why we need Government-run universal healthcare ASSURANCE! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jng4TnKqy6A
My Fellow Americans and People Of The World
A strong Government-run MEDICARE like Public Option is STILL! CRITICAL!
We have had a long hard struggle to find out what would be the BEST! that this congress and the Whitehouse could do to fix our highly dangerous, poor quality, most costly, and MOST! disgraceful healthcare delivery system in the world. It is clear that congress can do much more for the American people than what is proposed so far.
It is clear that congress can pass a strong GOVERNMENT-run public option CHOICE. Available to everyone on day one. Expand Medicare and not levy any new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. LET THIS BE YOUR LINE IN THE SAND!
Lastly, there can be NO! INDIVIDUAL MANDATES without a strong Government-run MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. Or the American people WILL! and SHOULD! revolt with an all out CIVIL WAR against congress and this Government.
House and Senate progressives and the tri-caucuses should aggressively push for the inclusion of a strong Public Option, Medicare expansion, and no new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. If the obstructionist kill meaningful healthcare reform, it's failure will be on the obstructionist heads. And they will be punished and replaced.
WITHOUT A PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE, THIS BILL WILL KILL FAR MORE AMERICANS THAN IT WILL SAVE.
What is proposed in the Senate compromised bill is the worst case scenario for health-care reform. It would shift trillions of taxpayer, public and private dollars into the hands of the private insurance industry (The single most costly, deadly and dangerous product sold in America). And it would compel by law millions of Americans to financially support this oxymoronic criminal enterprise. You cant have a individual MANDATE WITHOUT A STRONG PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE!
You will have NO! realistic way of controlling cost and quality. Cost will continue soaring through the roof bleeding the American people dry, and KILLing our economy. And our quality of healthcare will continue to decline below our current ranking of "WORST! quality of healthcare delivery in the developed World".
From the very start, the American people have been crystal clear about what they wanted. And the American people are CORRECT!! They wanted a humane single payer system like the rest of the developed world has (HR676). Or at least a humane strong GOVERNMENT-run public option CHOICE!! This is what the American people gave the democrats control of the house, control of the senate, and control of the Whitehouse to do. Including at one time a SUPER MAJORITY in the Senate.
Those of you that can, should prepare now to remove every member of congress that fails to support YOUR healthcare reform with a strong Public Option, Medicare expansion, and no new taxes on workers healthcare benefits and plans. Run against them in teams if you have to. But take them out. And replace them with a strong single payer or PRO PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE candidate.
Now! is the time to bring maximum pressure on your members of congress. Contact your representatives and spread the word.
H1N1 IS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION!
I have to tell you now that the H1N1 virus is a man-made WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION! and TERROR! It is a WEAPONIZED version of a flu virus. It has swept the planet infecting millions. And causing a global pandemic that has killed tens of thousands, and injured millions.
The H1N1 virus is the product of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! It was released in the U.S. in Texas in early January of last year, but not recognized until around April 2009 in California. The reason I know this is because when it came to America, it came to see me FIRST! How sweet...
This was around the time the MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! assaulted the Whitehouse with all their devils deals to cripple and weaken YOUR! healthcare reform. Especially your right to have a single payer system like HR676 (Medicare For All) which most of you wanted.
They don't even want you to have your HUGE!!! compromise position of a strong government-run MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. To compete with their DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, MURDEROUS, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PRODUCT (The single most costly, deadly and dangerous product sold in America).
They also wanted to take away your rights to have your government meet it's responsibility to use it's full power to regulate, negotiate, and control drug cost, healthcare cost and quality. Something every other civilized country in the developed World has done for it's people. Their Greed! moral degeneracy and lack of patriotism knows no bounds.
Many of you will remember that before we knew about H1N1. I posted a open message to the President and Congress warning them to be vigilant about their health, and cautious about any medical advice they received. As I said then "they will not hesitate to try and hurt you".
The U.S. and the World have been under a BIOLOGICAL TERROR ATTACK! for over a year now. It is CRITICAL that We The People Of The United States take away control of our healthcare system from the GREED DRIVEN MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
For our own National security, and the security of the world.
A Strong, government-run, MEDICARE like Public Option CHOICE. Available to everyone on day one, with the full unfettered power of the federal government to regulate, negotiate, and control cost and quality. Would be the most workable way to deal with this global crisis at this time. Including patent suspensions as needed for national security or the greater good.
As an American I invite the peoples of the World to help us fix our healthcare crisis. And bring pressure on our government to meet it's responsibility to protect global security by controlling, and removing the corrupting influence of GREED and the PRIVATE FOR PROFIT motivations from healthcare in the U.S. and around the World.
I call on the governments of the World and the global intelligence community to track down these MASS MURDERERS, and bring them to justice. CONNECT THE DOTS! And be vigilant that they don't slip in another viral strain on you under the cloak of H1N1 sequestration.
Further, the proposed patent protection on biologic's must be stripped from the US bill. And greatly shorten/restricted, or abolished completely. This is a grave danger to humanity and global security.
We must be strong and insist that healthcare reform be done right for the American people. Or everyone loose's.
This is all I can say in a message post. I'll try to find a way to tell you more later.
God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings
jacksmith - Working Class
p.s. The so-called nominal H1N1 virus is designed in such a way as to make it more lethal to children and young adults. The medical community must be more vigilant of secondary bacterial infections in the young caused by H1N1. And remember, a viral infection is also a transfer of genetic code to you. Think about it, and be vigilant. :-(
MADAM SPEAKER, tells it like it is. :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S15BQgELDAQ
We Want A Strong Government-Run Public Option NOW!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdU4zKOgjs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-U6RV8oTMU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPIPxjLH0DQ
The Voice Of TRUTH! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIyUVltB0F4&feature=player_embedded
SHE'S BACK! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn9-ktTz2Uw&feature=player_embedded
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/30/debbie-wasserman-schultz-sen...
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/21/fixing-health-reform-through...
http://firedoglake.com/2010/01/21/ma-voters-seek-more-and-faster-change-...
http://firedoglake.com/2010/01/21/ma-voters-seek-more-and-faster-change-...
Prayer to End
Prayer to End Abortion
**Abortion is not Healthcare**
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion,
Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death
by the Resurrection of Your Son.
I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.
Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.
I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
meanwhile no matter wha
meanwhile no matter wha michael thinks we poor need health care, like in civilized nations.
by any means necessary . . .
(the cowardly small r republicans have probably secretly begged her for this as part of the "deal" in order to get off the hook of the RNC)
"...by any means
"...by any means necessary...."
Robert Bolt has the last word on this mindset:
"Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!"
It's not Pelosi who has to
It's not Pelosi who has to go. Rather, it is all of those elected prostitutes who are in the pay of the health insurance, pharma, hospital pimps who call the shots.
(With apologies to working prostitutes and pimps for associating them with the real scum of the earth.)
Pelosi and this massive
Pelosi and this massive healthcare bill both need to go! Pray that this bill that will drive our country and families into debt is not passed. St.Patrick, pray for us!
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