Republican Hypocrisy on Health Care

[MrJayremmie]

Rachel Maddow absolutely nails this piece. I'm not a fan of hers, but this is good stuff, IMO.

[video=youtube;4dnbQOL39BA]

It makes me laugh a bit inside. Hell, even Yahoo had an article on their homepage about John McCain's ridiculous proposition -- I mean, it isn't that bad, but HIM proposing it at a time when Democrats control congress and are threatening to use reconciliation makes me laugh. Especially considering the republican record with using reconciliation, and John McCain as well.

Politics as usual from the right.

Speaking of the right's usual politics, did anyone see this piece from Politico about the right wing having an e-mail uncovered telling them all to use scare tactics to get votes and raise money?

It was on Yahoo's homepage with a teaser saying: "Embarrassing leak for the GOP -- Leaked memo puts Republicans in hot seat"

Politics as usual. Let us not forget their "Waterloo" e-mail. What a joke. They could give a shit less about anything but getting re-elected and being in the pockets of the big corporations so they get their pockets lined and have a nice job after they are done with Congress. Both parties are a joke, but the Republicans are so ridiculous it is just funny as shit.

 

[maxiep]

Luckily, I've never heard a Democrat say something like "They're going to take away your social security". Scare tactics are used on both sides. Stop pretending it's only one side that's done it.

And if you think a process called BUDGET Reconciliation should be used on the most sweeping piece of legislation since Welfare in the 1960, then that's your right. However, you should know that one of the authors of the Budget Reconciliation bill thinks differently.

Here's part of the text Sen. Robert Byrd sent to his colleagues:

"I oppose using the budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform and climate change legislation.... As one of the authors of the reconciliation process, I can tell you that the ironclad parliamentary procedures it authorizes were never intended for this purpose."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2009/04/byrd-i-support-the-byrd-rule.php?page=1

 

[Eastoff]

I don't know if the reconciliation is a good thing, but it is a disproportionate amount of filibustering in the last 10 years (both parties)

 

[maxiep]

I don't know if the reconciliation is a good thing, but it is a disproportionate amount of filibustering in the last 10 years (both parties)

I love the filibuster. I'm in favor of a government that takes ideas from the broad center. It's one of the reasons I like divided government. If a bill has to be broad-based enough to get support from both sides of the aisle, then it's probably a decent reflection of the people.

Using reconciliation in a way not intended for a piece of legislation this large just stinks.

 

[barfo]

And if you think a process called BUDGET Reconciliation should be used on the most sweeping piece of legislation since Welfare in the 1960, then that's your right. However, you should know that one of the authors of the Budget Reconciliation bill thinks differently.

Here's part of the text Sen. Robert Byrd sent to his colleagues:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/documents/2009/04/byrd-i-support-the-byrd-rule.php?page=1

And here's what Byrd has to say about that quote.

It has been said that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. In the Daily Mail's March 2 editorial regarding health care reform legislation, "Using reconciliation would hurt Democrats: Choking off debate is no way to muscle through health legislation," the newspaper's misunderstanding of congressional procedures misinforms readers who, in rapidly increasing numbers, find themselves unable to obtain or afford medical insurance.

The editorial correctly quoted me as saying in the spring of 2009 that using reconciliation to enact a huge health care package would "violate the intent and spirit of the budget process . . .".

I believed then, as now, that the Senate should debate the health reform bill under regular rules, which it did. The result of that debate was the passing of a comprehensive health care reform bill in the Senate by a 60-vote supermajority.

I continue to support the budget reconciliation process for deficit reduction. The entire Senate- or House- passed health care bill could not and would not pass muster under the current reconciliation rules, which were established under my watch.

Yet a bill structured to reduce deficits by, for example, finding savings in Medicare or lowering health care costs, may be consistent with the Budget Act, and appropriately considered under reconciliation.

With all due respect, the Daily Mail's hyperbole about "imposing government control," acts of "disrespect to the American people" and "corruption" of Senate procedures resembles more the barkings from the nether regions of Glennbeckistan than the "sober and second thought" of one of West Virginia's oldest and most respected daily newspapers.

My commitment to protecting the best interests of all West Virginians and the American people remains as firm and consistent as my devotion to observing the necessary and essential Senate rules and procedures intended to guarantee debate and the airing of diverse views.

Robert C. Byrd

Washington, D.C.

bolded part bolded just because it amused me.

barfo

 

[ABM]

".... (from the nether regions of Glennbeckistan....)


bolded part bolded just because it amused me.

barfo

Hmmm.......I dunno..............."nether" doesn't quite strike me as being part of the regions of GBistan.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9659056

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey regained her throne as America's favorite TV personality in 2009, but conservative TV and radio talk show host Glenn Beck made his debut on the annual Harris Poll, coming in second place.

Beck, 45, who hosts a Fox News channel political TV show as well as the nationally-syndicated talk radio program "The Glenn Beck Program", fared well with Republicans, Independents and those over 64 years-old in the annual Harris Poll of favorite television personalities, released on Monday.

It was the first entry for Beck on the poll that Harris has conducted since 1993............

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

I love Rachel Maddow!

 

[Denny Crane]

It's sad what's happened to McCain since 2000. At this point he's a bitter old man who's a sore loser.