Senate Democratic Insiders Say No Healthcare Bill Until December

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To Blue Dog Senators
Since when do you think the democratic party depends on your leadership?
The president led the democrats to victory last november. You would do well to remember this. He carried you not the other way round. His mandate was a public healthcare plan. You supported this mandate. Hoe dare you reject this mandate.
Mr President,
Now is the time to lead, not build a consensus. Take it to the floor. The american public demands no less.

Kenneth Hancock of NY 5:32PM September 29, 2009

Interesting. Where have we heard this before and relatively recently at that? I imagine that some of those on the left that are pragmatic enough to recognize this are also having some quiet "Oh S**t" moments. As in "We're waaay over committed on this."

Ray Kuntz of WI 10:31PM September 27, 2009

CONGRESS NEEDS TO SET THE "BIG " HEALTH CARE BILL ASIDE, AND WORK ON SMALLER CHUNKS - ONE AT A TIME.
TORT REFORM SHOULD PASS EASILY. FRAUD AND ABUSE? EVERYONE WANTS THAT. COST CONTROL - OH YEAH. ETC...
IF CONGRESS WILL WORK IN SMALLER CHUNKS IT WILL BE EASIER TO PASS A SERIES OF MUCH NEEDED REFORMS - AND - EASIER TO MODIFY IF THEY SCREW PART OF IT UP - AS WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY WILL!!

P. LEARDI of FL 1:40PM September 26, 2009

Why doesn't congress (as has been suggested) break the health care plan down into smaller chunks that it can sell to built-in constituencies one at a time? Trying to get everybody to agree to all the provisions of one all-inclusive bill is like trying to herd cats. It's an amazing feat if you can pull it off; but why would you bother?

Melitota of MD 5:00PM September 25, 2009

How about they suspend all healthcare benefits to congress and the senate until they pass the healthcare plan. Let them be in our shoes. I bet they rush it up then. Let them see and fear getting sick without health care of any kind.

amm of FL 1:01PM September 25, 2009

More drama today. The White House is angry with the CBO for not lying to the American people about health care costs.
Seems Elmendorf disputed an argument made by Summers, an Aide to Obama, that the administration's funding of preventive services -- such as early screenings and treatments -- would create big-time monetary savings in the long-term."
"Some preventive medicine is cost-saving as well as health improving," Elmendorf said. "A much larger share is health improving but cost increasing. And there is some share that is just terrible because it makes health worse and costs money."
"Not everything that sounds good for health is good for the budget," he added.
Interestingly enough, to bet preventative care will be save money is to bet upon the behavior of others. Human behavior is unpredictable, especially when dealing with addictions. Afterall, even the President has been unable to quit smoking and cease his own bad, addictive behaviors.

Linda of CA 8:10PM September 24, 2009

For what ever reason nobody should vote for the winner or party, They should vote for what they believe is right. Those who vote for party or for the winner should get checked out for A Brain disease of some sort because they cannot think for themselves anymore. Getting unbiased news nowadays is not easy. But if you have faith in your God or country. You can sift through the news and remove party garbage and hopefully have enough truth to make an educated guess.
The best way of course is to Belong to A grassroots think tank so you have a pool of friends who have different sources for news and information. I at onetime attended a group called “Friends of Mt. David” and as soon as something hit the city counsel agenda somebody in the group new about it and reported to the president of the group who already new most of the time.
A grassroots group will save people time and keep them better informed. Why are we not loaded up with a choice of grassroots groups?.
If democrats Pass Healthcare Reform on there own, It will be a bitter sweat victory. Bitter because we could not come together for the good of the people and good because we need Healthcare reform with a public option.
And I guess it will be bitter for those insurance companies who have to much garbage in there systems and cannot get them cleaned up in time to stay in business(not our fault).
It will be sweat because we are catching up with the rest of the world and at least with Healthcare it will no longer be “dog eat dog” or “caveman mentality” If health care passes we need to get all drug commercials off the air and let doctors do there job but make sure we get a second unbiased opinion before we take to much of there snake oil.
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 7:10PM September 24, 2009

"I have never in my lifetime experienced the total lack of trust and respect the citizens of the United States now have for all of you." Lawrence must have missed he GWB administration.
As someone who has been a blue collar worker all my life, I can tell you that these people are speaking for me. As someone that is watching the Senate Finance Committe hearings on C-Span very closely, I can tell you I can see the Health insurance industry's finger prints all over the effort to delay ad infinium the work on the the Baucus bill. It does need a lot of work. Funny how the same senators who jumped into the middle of the Schiavo fiasco are warning about the government getting in between patients and their doctors.
Democrats are not going to put this off until Christmas. This will go to reconcilliation before that happens.

LucasFoxx of WA 7:09PM September 24, 2009

Please,all of you 0ver paid, over fed, idiots in the Whitde House including the so called zars stop talking down to the folks who feed you. We may not have the fancy jobs and titles you have but we are not dumb. How much longer do you expect us to keep on paying for your keep without pushing back.I have never in my lifetime experienced the total lack of trust and respect the citizens of the United States now have for all of you. What a shame, it seem to me that most of you are hell bent on destroying the nation. Very few of you know the first thing about operating a business, you have lived on the tax payers all your life and all you think about is the next election. I will tell you something maybe you already know, you had better think about the next election because a lot of you are going to have to look for a honest job. One other coment, WE DO NOT TRUST YOU WITH OUR FAMILY HEALTH CARE.

Lawrence Aller of PA 4:44PM September 24, 2009

but those contain the biggest of issues. The public option is the focal point of whether you get "reform" or just a giveaway to corporations that most citizens from both sides will shoot full of holes with a machine gun.
As for Republicans, they are not going to sign onto anything in December any moreso than they did in August. So, OF COURSE, a Democrat-only bill is the only route there is. With that in mind, it MUST contain a public option, since real liberals cannot support anything else.
These foot-draggers might want to consider that WV Senator Robert Byrd, the 60th vote, is as much a possibility to pass away as Ted Kennedy was

Muser of NM 3:56PM September 24, 2009