Watch the live feed below of The House’s historic vote on the HCR Bill and join the live blog below (I keep one window open with the feed and blog in a second window, minimizing them to put them side by side):
Today’s Historic House Vote on HCR – LIVE FEED AND BLOG
RECENT POSTS
I Believe in God, But I Hate Religion Part 2
The thought of eternal suffering is a significant motivator for those who are strong in their religious beliefs. It is also conducive to those who push various religious doctrines on their congregants to keep them in line.
People Are Stupid
“Democratic republics are more likely to perish through misuse of power than through lack of it.” — Tocqueville Democracy in America . It’s as if Tocqueville looked into the future.
I must say good night friends , but I will leave you with this thought from the latest CNN poll:
It’s just day one..
Nighty Night
Good night, my friend. The numbers will go up the more that is revealed.
I think these numbers just solidify that this is a center right nation until we realizes it really isn’t when people vote according to their self interests. It also shows how much courage Dems have who voted for HCR.
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Killer quote from Nancy Pelosi, about Mr. Orange (Boehner):
“Some people will do anything for the insurance companies.”
Health Care Reform in under 4 and a half minutes
Starring Obama as the King
Demint as the black knight
“Have at you!” one of the funniest scenes ever.
Obama will have to watch his legs
😆 Didn’t even have to play it Patsy and I started to laugh!!
It fits !
Heh! “It’s only a flesh wound!”
My daughter insists I post this one
Star Wars Version
😆 I’ve never seen this, loved it! Thank your daughter for me!
Yup, they’ve got these for all the classics!
The LOTR’s one is one of the best.
“Coward running away, come back I’ll bite your legs off”
See my comment to KQ below 🙂
Yep. DeMint is really a scare
They will just have to bleed to death
“Ya yella bastard!”
My favourite movie when I was 12! My parents thought it was a history movie!
I can’t make this up.
I saw this somewhere else and thought it was perfect:
Can’t get enough of that waterloo!
He will regret the day ….
but no
he is doubling down on that chit !!!
http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/03/demints-waterloo.php
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7756
Here you go Patsy
Love it !
This will never get OLD !!!
Great quote.
Those French are amazing !
A short Napoleon history. Waterloo?
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/kristol-complicates-napoleon-metaphors.php
What a snappy dresser
that Nappoli Dude was!
OK, kids Quiz time:
I stole this, but who did say this and when , last week, yesterday? Mitch McConnell, Jim Demint…?
For the answer, if you must: http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2010/03/the-specter-of-alf-landon.html
Hey, my Pal! I confess. I had to cheat to find out that it was Alf Landon who uttered those cranky words!
I have two wishes:
1. May the Repubs of 2010 be as successful as Alf was in their efforts to repeal Progressive legislation.
2. May the same landslide that buried Alf, bury whomever the Repubs dig up to run against our Pres in 2012.
From the song: “What’s It All About, Alfie?”
“Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie,
Then I guess it’s wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie,
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there’s a heaven above, Alfie,
I know there’s something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in.
I believe in love, Alfie.”
Think we could substitute “Johnny” (McC) for “Alfie?”
And now I’m afraid I’m going to have to call it a day. How does it happen that we no sooner say “hello” than it’s “good-bye”? These days are flying by faster and faster and I know it couldn’t possibly be because I’m moving slower and slower…. 😉
Wow, never would have gotten that.
I bet Alf did not have a US Birth Certificate. Dems need to campaign confidently on HCR. Most people will eventually respect accomplishment over failure.
Seriously, need a soda warning for that. Just the other night I nearly choked for real at something [Cartman interviewed by NPR].
This was about as hilarious to scroll down to.
*Hide the CATS!*
😆 KQ, I forgot all about that Alf!
Surely he and his brother, John Boehner, were separated at birth.
They share that orange “color that does not occur in the natural world.”
(Will never forget how Obama cracked up himself at that line he delivered at the White House press corp dinner…so funny!)
😆 OK, KQ, but did you know? The script today is such an echo, I had no idea when I read the blog.
I didn’t know what Alf Landon had to say but I know Reagan repeated the same socialism script during the Medicare fight and the GOP that opposed Truman’s plan when on and on about socialism then as well. My steadfast rule is conservatives are always on the wrong side of history.
No, KQ, they are always right! You may enjoy this blog by Yglesias ( I enjoy his writing, often a little chuckle.)
I love when they say things like SS is a ponzi scheme while it’s been solvent for over 70 years and far into the future.
McCain?
Bito I was right and I did not cheat. He is such an idiot, I knew it had to be him.
Remember?
You know, I think you may have noticed that Senator Obama’s supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about Western Pennsylvania lately,” McCain told the audience in the town of Moon Township. “And you know, I couldn’t agree with them more.” I couldn’t disagree with you. I couldn’t agree with you more than the fact that Western Pennsylvania is the most patriotic, most god-loving, most, most patriotic part of America, and this is a great part of the country.”
OK I got it wrong, I was sure it was McCain
I was thinking McCain too.
They don’t learn anything from history- do they?
No, it would appear not, they got their Waterloo. If you look at the lyrics, it fits the circumstance to a T
🙂
Ah,Sue, but you didn’t really get it wrong. It’s just the same echo. SS, Medicare, ….
Ah Bito, I was sure it was gramps. He was mumbling about dems losing their seats, I think he better start worrying about his own seat. That JD guy might beat his ass.
I called my Rep.’s (Gabrielle-Gabby-Giffords) office today and thanked her for voting FOR HCR. This is the thanks she got from some in her district.
And, can you blame her and those in her situation for holding off on announcing their vote until late?
I thought about thanking her too, but hadn’t gotten around to it.
Seriously, we all need to do this!
I just sent her an email. Sorry, I know phoning is more standard, but, I’m like that. 🙂
Khirad, If she would have announced last week–I can’t imagine what would have happened to her office and staff.
Now I understand her holding off. Sheese, someone may have used that “dropped gun.” Just saying.
Yup, this was my thinking on another representative from my old district, as well.
Turns out I was right – and he kept silent until the last minute for the same concerns – though Gabby is the only incident I know of so far – besides the Slaughter one preceding the vote.
Anyone remember me fearing this stuff?
They seriously think the Republic is tearing apart.
They are just completely oblivious they’re the ones doing it…
Ed Schultz is talking about how this will be a boon for small business which is so true. 35% tax credits now and 50% in the future. Now people can start small businesses and hire better talent up there with the big corporations.
Ed had a real turn around on this bill. Which is good — I think he actually influences the way a lot of people look at things.
Small businesses will survive with this bill. And new ones will be able to start up. People will be able to quit jobs they don’t want and start their own companies. It’s freedom. Imagine — we were all being held hostage by insurance companies. Who would want to preserve that system — except insurance companies???
I know this sounds like I am getting carried away, but anyway:
I understand Einstein’s theory of relativity only very dimly. I think the same can be said about the way I understand Obama. He is a political theorist and leader almost on the level of genius. Or maybe it’s simply that the message of hope, combined with good and decent policy is in the end, an unbeatable combination–one that will prevail. There have been other principled leaders with good intentions, but he is beyond that. Or maybe it’s just time for the fortunes of America to turn for the better. I don’t know, but this guy is somehow very special.
I think he’s special simply because he doesn’t aspire to be in the in-crowd. That makes a person different. He’s all about the job, not about the cache. When he says he doesn’t care if he’s a one-tern president, I think he means it. He’s all about helping people.
He just happens to be a really smart guy.
When really smart people put their minds to something, they usually succeed. But it’s unusual to find smart people in politics who are all about community service. People in politics are usually about the entitlement — the feeling of “I know best, I’m going to do this and that.” Obama asked *us* to make things happen. He believes in doing things from the ground up. That’s rare in politics. Especially in the office of president.
The theory of relativity only applies to the unstoppable force impacting the immovable object. It’s a mass/energy equation.
Rhambo is the unstoppable force in this case.
I’m watching him too, KQ. And he is doing the right thing to highlight the benefits for small business. That was one of the main reasons Nancy Pelosi said last night, her one word description of the bill was “Opportunity.”
But watching him, I have to chuckle a little. He was so angry and frustrated with Obama last month. He was one of the purists, although he tried to tone it tone at times.
Here is a highly cynical reaction to the passing of HCR, or Obamacare according the haters, (link below) forwarded to me by a former colleague with whom I have a rolling debate. He, the colleague, happens to be an ultra reactionary.
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/archives/2109-Health-Care-Arbitrage-Obama-And-The-Dems.html
excerpt:
” * If you refuse to buy health insurance, you will be fined on a sliding scale that amounts to 2% of your AGI. So if you make $100,000 a year, you could be fined $2,000 for “refusing” to buy insurance.
* You cannot buy a catastrophic policy any more. The “cheapest” acceptable policy will cost somewhere around $15,000 for a single person, and over $20,000 for a family. This is, for most people, more than five times the maximum possible fine – each and every year. The law makes it effectively impossible to maintain an existing catastrophic policy as they “renew” every year, and should any change be made you are then forced to buy something “acceptable” in the law (or pay the fine.)
* When the “pre-existing condition” bar comes down you cannot be charged more or denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
* I fully expect 20-50% premium increases immediately, and for the next three years sequentially, in all existing policies. This is precisely what the banks did in front of the CARD act becoming effective, and it will happen here as well. That is the cause of the short-term rocket shot in the health-related stocks this morning.
* In addition the capital gains tax changes will do severe damage to capital formation immediately, and these changes will become especially severe starting in 2014. The market will anticipate these changes and react accordingly, although you certainly wouldn’t know it today.”
Further, “Forget it folks – this is the end of the health industry in America, and I will be looking for the recognition in the market (as expressed by technical analysis on the stocks in this sector) that the efficient market will come to the fore.
The intention of The Democrats (and liberals generally) in this legislation is clear and impossible to hide – they intend to completely destroy private health care in favor of a fully-government-run single-payer system. The efficient market guarantees this outcome given the law they passed, and they know it.”
so the solution for some seems to be that they will do whatever they think they can get away with to circumvent and profit from the system, even if it means debilitation of that system.
These people are parasites and have no sense of community or social responsibility.
Breaking news: Rep. Lynne Woolsey (D-CA) will introduce a public option bill tomorrow as the President signs the existing health care reform bill!!!!!!
C’Lady, haven’t a few other Reps and a Senator or two already introduced a PO? Why is her proposed bill any different?
That’s terrific. Has Nancy promised to bring a PO bill to a vote?
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God, I love that David Plouffe is back!!
Cher, I didn’t see this post.
We are definitely of one mind when it comes to Plouffe!
I can’t stand Firebagging trolls.
Help me out with the proposed PO options.
I can’t stand them ’cause all they do is whine as if this is already all over and final. Doom and gloom bullshit. I want help to prepare a standard C&P response. Give them information, and myself into as well, to get of their whiny butts and pursue the things they claim they support. Seriously, they piss me off, the smug purist assholes.
Otherwise, how is everyone? 🙂
I hear that DeMint’s Facebook is being inundated with ABBA. I haven’t checked myself, though.
Khirad, do you mean the leftie extremists? They are my pet peeve as well.
‘This bill should have been killed! Then America would have taken to the streets and we’d have REAL HCR!’
‘Insurance stocks going up.’
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They live in a world crafted of their own fantasy.
I’m serious e’cat they are really getting on my nerves and I’m exhausted from responding to them individually. If they want to C&P crap, I’ll have my own prepared statements as well.
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This is what I used yesterday:
Two conflicting memes from the Right and the Left:
1) Government takeover
2) Corporate gift
Both agree in scrapping the bill and “starting over”.
Latter’s critique I sympathize with, BUT they should support Senators Sander’s and Merkley’s PO to be introduced within the month or explain how we can “start over” or build off of nothing to improve this in the future – not only speak of legitimate mistakes that were made. This is not cynicism. It is fatalism. Stop whining, start working to primary conservadems, or to improve this bill after passage, or explain why that isn’t feasible – but starting over from nothing IS? If it isn’t obvious by now, there were too many forces against single payer. This will not be easy. It is frustrating and disheartening. But, if all I hear is whining and no constructive goals – you are no better than a friend of Norquist and Repubs and will be treated as such.
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I want to scrap this and craft an accurate, bullet-proof reply.
I don’t know how you can reason with people who don’t want to live in the present or reality.
Whining about what should have happened is as deluded as Repubs claiming death panels.
There are no time machines, the America we are living in now has HCR passed. The whiners’ choice is to either work constructively towards adding a PO and Single Payer in the days ahead or throwing themselves on the floor and continuing a tantrum that is getting more irrelevant and pathetic every day.
Khirad and AdLib – I totally agree. At the health forum yesterday, one of my friends who is a total single payer fanatic just would NOT deal with the impending vote but kept saying it “only” covered 32 million people. He kept insisting it would leave OUT the newly unemployed who probably raise that figure to 46 million. I finally got exasperated and said the bill did not have numbers but conditions and that it would help everyone without health insurance. I then reminded him this is precisely how Germany and Switzerland started. He pooh-poohed that saying we “should” know better.
Well, we aren’t there yet. Single payer needs a new name (and at the state level Medicare doesn’t work) and a LOT more advocacy and education for ordinary people. I’m working my butt off in CA for the bill, but we are not going to get it nationally save through incrementalism. That is how America WORKS. We aren’t France and England and places that have wage and incomes policies, national planning, etc. We ARE different in our sense of self and government, and it’s no use banging one’s head against it. Smart cookies look to how one works with what one has.
Don’t whine! Organize!
I believe it’s time to put LSD in the water supply and blast Break on Through from the Doors.
I know of no other way to get people to pay attention to reality.
Better yet, sell Alice B Toklas Brownies at the next CPAC, TeaParty Rally or Value Voters Summit
Khirad
Thanks, Cher. 😉
Health insurance companies where hurt but providers are better off now. People like me will have insurance so the hospitals and doctors won’t have to write off our bills because the insurance company will have to pay them. So if you look at the composite healthcare stocks providers went up insurance went down.
Yeah. I was providing Khirad with a reply to those firebaggers who claim this bill sucks because the Ins. co. stocks went up.
For profit insurance no some day they will be competing with a large not for profit entity some day but for the companies that play it smart their are profits to be had but just not the unmitigated profits they made before. Companies like FedEx, UPS compete quite well with the government. They just need to understand this change is permanent and the companies that adapt will prosper.
It’s a center left bill in that order. But that’s a hell of an achievement in a center right country.
“I didn’t get everything I wanted from the political process!”
“Why can’t I get everything I want?”
When has anyone ever gotten everything they wanted from politics. Do you think the extreme right wing really actually got everything they wanted under Bush?
There are a ton of those types at HufPo. It’s gets just as old as the troll rants.
Nope Bush wanted to privatize SS remember. The tax cuts were also about a third smaller than Bush wanted and they aren’t permanent.
Bush’s heaviest lift was passing Medicare Part D which Republicans hated.
So know not only did Bush not get everything he wanted by a long shot he did things the right wing hated.
The PO is not alive anymore, Khirad. It was in the reconciliation master bill for about 15 hours, then eliminated in the Amendment that is what passed in the second major vote yesterday.
Reid has promised to raise it very soon, and WE who lobby understand that there ARE the votes to pass it, but getting past filibuster will be, as always, highly difficult if not impossible. We cannot do reconciliation since there is one bill per year, and we just did it. But if Reid has any gumption, he will call for filibuster to be the “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” version – reinstating the “be on your feet and keep talking with everyone else locked in” status it used to have.
Filibuster as a “oh, by the way, I’m filibustering and off to Aruba, see ya” is obscene. Let’s make PROCESS an important part of our advocacy? These things have to mean something, not just be forms of obstruction for obstruction’s sake alone.
CL, are you absolutely sure about the PO language being amended out? Did you get some inside confirmation of that?
and, if you are correct, wouldn’t the PO being brought to the floor of the Senate by Leader Reid fall under the Byrd Rule allowing it to be up for a simple majority vote? It would have a positive impact on the HCR law, which is the main criterion. Of course, they would probably need a CBO score to ensure that this was indeed the case.
Hi Sanity – yeah, sorry to say, it’s out. I have the 153-page amendment that eliminates ALL the original Reconciliation Bill language that had the PO in it. Once the Amendment trumped the original bill, the PO and some other provisions (allowing undocumented immigrants to purchase insurance in the exchange) were dead for the time being.
Now – you raise a MOST tantalizing issue with the Byrd rule – but since it is not part of the reconciliation act (one per year is all we get)it can’t pass that way. HOWEVER, I wonder if you’re on to something crucial if it’s an AMENDMENT to that act and could fall under the simple-majority Byrd rule? Clearly a PO has major budget savings implications!
VERY clever, Sanity – I will check that out! I freely admit that while I understand a lot about CA political process, Congress baffles me with its arcane rules. I will definitely toss that out to my allies and see what happens! WISE words from you, and many thanks! I will keep you all posted.
well, if you are correct it is out and we only get to bring one reconciliation amendment per year, then I say bring up the PO in 365 days from the time 4872 is passed by the Senate and put it up for a 50+1 vote. We waited 100 years to start reform, we can easily wait an additional year to improve reform with the PO.
That is certainly the most probable option, but if you’re right about this as an amendment to reconciliation and it can be passed with simple majority – then WOW! I just don’t know those rules and will ask around about that.
If so, if you’re right, then we don’t have to wait a year. Reid said he’d raise it SOON, and I’m thinking he might not have said that if it were to be filibustered, so you really may be on to something.
Keep the hope!
well, just like the CBO estimates for 4872 essentially ensured that 4872 could be legally passed by reconciliation, I think a CBO estimate will also be needed to add the umph necessary to pass a PO as a reconciliation action item as well.
Reply to below-can’t click anymore!
I think you’re quite right, and that the CBO could make a solid case for a PO inclusion as a responsible budget issue!
Oh, so maybe they have a point…
That doesn’t mean it can’t be raised in the future, though, right?
These are things I want to get right.
Definitely WILL be raised – Reid promised. See Sanity’s recommendation below. I will check that out because if it can be passed by majority vote and not blocked by filibuster, that would be HUGE.
The PO is alive every time the budget comes around.
I just don’t think they’ll every break up a filibuster especially when Dems lose some seats in the midterms.
From what I understand the Dems are not going to take up anymore tough votes this year. Dems are for the most part going to work on a couple small jobs bills and be in campaign mode. That’s why I knew Dems had to pass HCR now or never.
I love Aruba. We took a cruise from there once. Have loads of fun!
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I would like to see everyone have access to exchanges with a non-profit option, preferably a Medicare type option.
I just don’t see the PO as that big a deal if only the uninsured have the option to buy it. Like I said it could become a dumping ground for high risk patients.
I never was pollyanna on this reform as some people think. Insurance companies are going to try and game the system and test it for loopholes. But the most horrible practices they use today will be eliminated.
Not to sound too conservative but it forces insurance companies to compete in a hostile regulatory environment. The NYTs had a good article. The providers who teamed up with this reform are going to be the big winners in this, but the insurance companies not so much.
KQ, In today’s WH press conference, Gibbs stated that the President expects to sign a financial reform bill before years end. Wishful thinking?
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/03/noam-chomsky-in-the-veal-pen.php
http://rawstory.com/2010/03/noam-chomsky-health-bill/
So…has fat boy left the U.S. yet?
Last thing I heard, he was refusing to pay the extra on two 50 kilo suitcases filled to the brim with OxyContin and Viagra. Sarah Palin is stuck in traffic on her way to help him out, signing autographs for her yet unwritten second book titled “All I know, I learned from my moose – 10 easy steps to con people out of their money.”
So, unfortunately, I was very busy tonight.
Did I miss anything? 😀
Nah. Business as usual.
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Cheers back to you, BT. It has been historic and an affirmation that hope and change are indeed more than slogans.
Wonder if Palin will again mock the majority of American voters with “that hopey changey thing”?
Thank you from me, the professional agitator! I woke to the reports that the supporters of the bill outside the Capitol yesterday were a couple of nuns. Period. NO word at all about the hundreds carrying signs, “People of Faith for Health Care”. When the Dems crossed to the Capitol from the House office buildings, they came as a group, and walked over to this crowd, shook hands, hugged, and were cheered on by those who’d been tireless in support. Did you see THAT anywhere? The faith and secular groups supporting the bill were utterly ignored in the media as if their presence were totally without merit. So THANK YOU, BT, for thanking them and all of us including yourself for working so hard to do what is good for all people.
CL, are there letters we can right to the faith community. I intend to write every single congressperson who voted for this bill — as well as the President. I’d like to write the faith community as well — they are among the unsung heros of this victory.
I think maybe a few letters to the editor about the misleading media coverage may be in order, as well.
Hi and thank you, nellie!
The single biggest supporter who organized us all is Faithful Reform in Health Care. (See http://www.faithfulreform.org – right hand column has all of the linked-in state and national organizations. The letter has more of the local groups that weighed in.) The Executive Director is a tireless woman REv. Linda Walling.
A letter to her would be circulated to all:
Rev. Linda Walling, Executive Director
Faithful Reform in Health Care
3000 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115.
You will see that the reform effort was supported tirelessly by the United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, NETWORK – those pesky nuns who turned Stupak (heehee) – American Muslim Health Professionals, and two major Jewish groups the names of which I forget but are on the sidebar. There are a number of state groups also on the sidebar.
Faithful Reform helped write position papers for the Congressional Black Caucus and, I believe, the Progressive Caucus. We don’t do this from a “religious” view but definitely from a moral frame.
The media have totally ignored us, and the numbers are in the millions of people of faith supporting health reform. My organization alone had hundreds of thousands actively writing, visiting, phoning, emailing Congress. Yesterday I met several people at the synagogue who are on MY mailing list – who knew?
Look – the religious right is a lot more interesting than we are. I know that! But we DO make a difference on policy AND civility that this nation sorely lacks. I got a fair number of clergy to go to town halls last year. They reported how important it was to have “collars” there to calm things – at which point the TV cameras all left.
So yes, nellie – in addition to letters to the faith community, it IS critical that the MSM start acting like reporters instead of the National Enquirer. Brute stupidity is NOT the only story!
Thanks for caring. It means a lot to me! After all the years of work toward this victory, I do feel both elated at the results and a bit like the Maytag Repair Man! So your concern makes my day!!!
“…. it IS critical that the MSM start acting like reporters”
How true c’lady but unfortunately this is a trend that has spread across the western media – it has become increasingly hard to find, even in the print media, any organization that reports more than sundbites/headlines/if it bleeds, it leads let alone indulge themselves in investigative journalism. Whatever happened to the glory days of the Washington Post – sad, sad, sad 🙁
What you and others in your organization have done has been admirable almost to heroic proportions. And I bet you will not be resting on your laurels or even taking a well-deserved break – right??
Hi MIghtywood – thank you for the kind words! I do have today off – still in my jammies – but back at it tomorrow.
I agree about the MSM, but the way the religious right got its hold was berating the media and its editors, and I’m thinking we will have to do the same. Nice does not mean wimp!
Many of my activists are older and many retired. NEVER underestimate what a legion of blue haired progressive women and old men with trusses can do. They crack me up with their feistiness!
The media will rue the day they thought we were disposable! My folks don’t holler – but they do keep coming BACK. Sometimes they bring cookies, but they DO keep coming BACK.
Sam Stein of Huffpo admits the media
Gotta give him partial credit for that. He was one of the WORST.
Sam Stein should go hide in shame for the OUTRAGE! and HYSTERIA! he and HP have been generating for months and months now.
E’cat and Nellie– Do you think for a moment he will change his tune? I wouldn’t bet on it!