Just heard on Randi Rhodes:
Looks like the conferees on the senate side will be:
Chris Dodd
Tom Harkin
JD Rockefeller
Max Baucus
Harry Reid
I get two things from this announcement:
1) This is a group that is strong on reform, so perhaps the final bill will look more like what we’re hoping for. I haven’t heard any news about the House side, but given that the House bill is a really strong bill, there’s not as much to worry about.
2) Reid thinks they’re going to pass a bill in the Senate.
Sorry this is so short! I thought it might be of interest.
I first want to apologize to everyone here. This is something I don’t do.
FUCK YOU Nelson!
FUCK YOU LIERbman!
FUCK YOU Rethugs!
FUCK YOU rule 22
Didn’t fix anything. I am still pissed.
Sorry, friends.
b’ito, there is only one thing about this post that you should apologize for:
the fact that you apologized!
That’s a glimmer of hope because their will only one true conservative Dem on the panel. But I would not get my hopes up because now Nelson is holding the healthcare bill hostage.
OpenCongress is running this article on what happens in conference:
What Happens After the Senate Passes Their Health Care Bill?
nellie,
I’m sorry, but all of this reminds me of a mating dance between penguins in the Antarctic. I can give the penguins a break because eggs and offspring are in the balance.
But the Yahoos in the Senate? I refuse to cut them the same slack. These guys are juggling the lives of millions of uninsured men, women, children, and the elderly. It’s not a game and it’s time they did the job we’re paying them to do. They weren’t sent to DC to do their thing, but to do ours.
Well — we can only fault them so much. It’s our job to pick people who aren’t total douchebags. And we don’t do that. I mean, who votes for somebody like Orin Hatch or Mitch McConnell? Californians voted the Governator into office and he bankrupted the state.
I can get pissed off at our congress, but I get more pissed at the voters.
Geez, Boomer, you’re on fire tonight! 🙂
Dinner with friends, uplifting conversation, and Italian Red Wine — “Super Tuscan.” Yumm!
And this is what Chris Matthews thinks of people here:
MATTHEWS: I don
b’to…
I gave up on Chrissy a long time ago. He puts his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. He vacillates so much, I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I could throw him.
He is a suck up, brown nose, and opportunist. That said, I am going to watch and then send him a personal note letting him know I am not a troublemaker, I am older than he, and he really has no clue.
Sorry, I used to like him and thought he had meaningful interviews. Dropped him like a hot potato after he let Anne Coulter loose, let her get our of control, and didn’t have the cajonnes to shut her off.
Mann Coulter has the cajonnes! 🙂
LOL!!
Did you see him fall all over himself during the campaign? That’s when the S hit the fan for me.
better than Chris spitting and drooling over candidates. Matthews is past his prime. He needs to go.
He lost me at, “I get a tingly feeling up my leg…”
Stroke? One could only hope.
b’to…
Thanks, and this is what I just sent to Hardball:
“Dear Mr. Matthews:
1. I am 60 years old.
2. I am female.
3. I work full time and have health benefits.
4. I am not, let me repeat, NOT a troublemaker.
5. I have been around much longer than you, and have seen what the haves have done to the have nots. It’s embarrassing, despicable, disheartening, mean, disingenuous, and any other negative adjective you choose to add.
6. For the Senate to basically screw up this bill because of their loyalties are with the Insurance and Pharma Lobby and NOT their constituents is a disgrace not only to the character of each Senator, but a slap in the face to every individual he/she is SUPPOSED to represent.
I could go on Mr. Matthews, but if you at least made it to #6 without deleting this email, then I’m pleased. Think about it sir. You and many of your pundit peers are the problem and not a solution.
Sincerely,
boomer1949/PlanetPOV.com”
I love it that you used the planet pov address LOL
Sue,
I thought about it — hesitated — thought about it some more. Considered using my real name, and thought it might be more beneficial to have them check out the Planet. At least they’ll realize I’m not alone and there are many others with similar opinions..and more important? We’re not HP. 🙂
Boomer, I hope he gets a bunch of “fan mail like that.
Some how I don’t think they will all be as polite as yours. 😉
b’to,
a couple more glasses of red and I can be extremely impolite. 🙂 He has become an absolute jerk. Finger in air, which way is the wind blowing and how will it help MY ratings? Duh!
Good for you boomer ! Excellent e mail. You’re inspiring me to write to him as well.
boomer, you’ve inspired me as well. I have a few words for this cocktail party wannabe. The thing about Chris Matthews — he takes criticism to heart. He deserves a lot of “netroot” mail for those very poorly chosen words.
Been reading and just sent an email to Senator Franken thanking him for putting a sock in Senator Eyore’s mouth. Best laugh I’ve had all day.
I appreciated Al cutting him off though I imagine millions of Americans would love to cut him off, one way or another.
In his fucking shorts.
Nah, much worse. However, I doubt there’s very much underneath those shorts. 😉
Ooops! Who said that? Not I, she said with a grin!
no, you did say it and I am with you. Kudos to Franken and screw mccain and lieberman, but it was funny. mcsane so outraged at his friend’s cutoff LOL
boo hoo for McSane.
It’s about time for a shake up. Just because “it’s always been done this way” doesn’t mean it isn’t time for change. Jeeze, it isn’t rocket science.
Senator Eyore (my nickname for him) is loyal to no one but his wallet. He has been bought and paid for by all those Insurance HQ lobbies in CT. Screw the voters who put him inside the beltway. The voters don’t have millions.
Good evening All,
Been out to dinner with friends and just came in. Something going on? Have enough chains been rattled? I’ll keep reading, but does anyone have a brief synopsis?
Hi boomer, mostly still following the ups and downs of health care, and considering the question of whether the bill in its current form deserves our support. Also getting a chuckle out of Franken vs. Lieberman in the Senate. Good to see you here!
Kesmarn,
Thanks for the update.
Franken and Eyore…saw it. What a hoot and it’s about time someone put a sock in his mouth. I even sent a note to Franken thanking him. Too cool!
I wish Sherrod Brown was a conferee — my Senator. Thank Dog the man is in touch with his constituents.
Just sent a note to the White House as well. Admonishing them for admonishing Dr. Dean. I’m a staunch supporter of President Obama, but please. Someone needs to be the voice of reason and to allow the RW and Senator Eyore to railroad this bill into something unrecognizable gives me a migraine and a massive pain in my lily white.
Sherrod Brown is awesome, boomer.
And I appreciate the role that Dean is playing here…even if it’s nothing other than being the Bad Cop who reminds people of what could happen if things get any more stupid. Like you, I support the President, but I also have a lot of respect for Dean because he has a huge amount of experience in health care…and not just as a doctor!
kesmarn,
Sherrod is beyond awesome; he gets it, he listens. He also realizes who he represents and he can’t be bought. Common sense — fantastic character trait. I know this guy can sleep at night and he deserves it.
When you consider Sherrod Brown, my favorite eccentric: Dennis Kucinich, and Marcy Kaptur (celebrated by Michael Moore in “Capitalism” as one of the few Reps who gets it, regarding banking) Ohio has some impressive people in Congress. I don’t think any of them could be bought off–even with billions!
Dennis is out there, but makes a hell-uv-a lot of sense. Unfortunately, he doesn’t belong to me. I’m stuck with a Repug (Pat Tiberi). I gave up writing to him months ago. Pointless and a waste of my time. I will, on the other hand, campaign AGAINST him when he is up for reelection.
Also wish Crispy Critter (guess who?) was my Rep. would campaign beyond 100% to see the tan guy lose. Yuck!
My sister lived in Crispy’s district for a while. Hoo-boy. Very rural. Very white. (Crispy’s the brownest person there.)
He’s an idiot.
7:36 and the Senate is still in session!
Cute little puppet show about our friend Joe, from moveon.org:
http://pol.moveon.org/lieberman_socks/?id=18345-15246125-DQC1Uvx&t=2
If at any point we cannot get past the 60 votes, I say Reid should lock them all in, keep them there day and night save bathroom breaks, and bring in whatever the Senate Dining Room is serving, no special orders. If the conservative Dems won’t grow up and Republicans are being obstructionist, well, then, let’s do the traditional American way – the HARD way, the “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” style.
Bets are on about who’s the first to cave. I say Coburn when his hair spray fades? Any takers?
Anthony Weiner was just on MSNBC and said the same thing. “Make ’em filibuster.”
As far as bets on who caves…. Hmmmmmmm. When neither Mitch McConnell nor Lindsey Graham is able to grow a grizzled-looking Jimmy Stewart beard after days of being locked in, it will be a revealing moment. They might have to call it quits.
My bet is Miss Lindsey.
Make them stay during the holidays. I said that when CA was having the budget issues last year. My husband thinks I am mean LOL.
I agree Sue. They seem to have forgotten who they work for.
They certainly have. I hate to see the polls next year……………..
Sue, CQ is reporting that they may be in session Christmas Eve and the week up to New Years eve.
good, let them suffer a bit see how they like it. alot of my friends have been suffering without healthcare
Feed them all the “Senate Bean Soup!”
That’ll git ‘er done.
With a side of boiled cabbage.
I would be willing to make a run to Taco Bell to get carryout burritos for all the Repubs. They might need to be aged in my car for a few hours before they would be at their “flavor peak,” though.
Bathroom breaks? Make ’em pee in a bucket. The women included.
The only problem is that Reid does not have the power to put aside rule 22.
Hey Nellie – This is SUPER – Baucus is in trouble over his girlfriend, so he seems lately to have kept quiet. I have been surprised he has not sided with Nelson and Lieberman, so maybe he has more little secrets he’d not like to draw attention to? Or perhaps he’s seen the light. In CA we turned SIX Blue Dogs, so it CAN happen!
I think I just breathed again, and short or not, I THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this! I’m off shortly to do an interfaith presentation on where we are on health care, and you gave me more to say than, “Well, duh. Dunno.” I really appreciate it!
The more information that comes out about Baucus and his girlfriend, the sleazier it gets….
Yeah -but unlike his Republican counterparts, he has the decency to shut UP!
Was it just me, or did he really look like a deer in the headlights when he was standing behind Prez Obama at that photo op earlier this week? No smugness on his face at that moment, that’s for sure.
Thank you nellie for moving MB, I fell asleep, sorry. 🙁
My pleasure — it’s my favorite blog. I hope you had a good rest. As a lifelong insomniac, I love falling asleep unexpectedly. And think it should happen as often as possible. 🙂 (except when at work or operating heavy machinery)
Thanks nellie, I had no sleep the night before and couldn’t rest during my day yesterday. I was wide awake until about 10:30, closed my eyes for a few minutes and fell asleep hugging Mac.
How’ are you feeling today, Kalima?
All the better for sleeping nellie, thank you for asking. 🙂
Thank you nellie for the update. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed while I respond to sign petitions with moveon.org etc..
This is encouraging. Only one serious Blue Dog — Baucus — and I guess they had to include him because he is the Finance Committee chair. I like Rockefeller and Harkin on it.
Thanks for posting, nellie.
Except for Baucus, a good collection of Senators. Have you heard anything about the possibility of a Repub demand that the entire bill be read aloud?
I believe they can’t since it was posted within the window they had demanded, and whatever comes out of amendments and changes will also be posted. They can do that with only options that are immediate and unposted such as Sanders’. I’d love to have people do that to them and see how they like it.
Thanks for clearing that up, c’lady. Your knowledge of the workings of the system (byzantine, they are!) is so helpful.