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   Dan Savage, the brilliant and foul-mouthed sex columnist, has become one of the most important ethicists in America. Are we screwed?
 The federal government is supposed to issue new rules about debt levels for students in for-profit colleges. In the meantime, the states are working on their own regulations.
 Washingtons budget hawks want to decimate the federal workforce to shrink the deficit. It will have the opposite effect.
 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
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October 21, 2009
'CENTRISTS' CAN STILL SCREW EVERYTHING UP.... Three months ago, when there seemed to be some momentum towards passing health care reform before the August recess, a group of Senate "centrists" -- two Republicans, three Democrats, and Joe Lieberman -- said it was time to slam on the brakes. They didn't have an especially strong case, but any hopes of an expedited process immediately came to an end. Three months later, there's quite a bit more momentum on reform. "Centrists" have decided to start chatting again. That's not a good sign.
Now, it's hard to be critical of what the centrists are proposing, because at this point, they're not proposing anything. For that matter, I can't blast their strategy, because it's not at all clear that they have a strategy. But to pass a meaningful, ambitious, progressive health care reform bill, the majority will probably need 60 votes to overcome Republican obstructionism. Some of those 60 oppose a public option, and are now chatting with Republicans about how "concerned" they are. No good can come of this. —Steve Benen 3:10 PM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (26)
Comments
They get on T.V. and get tons of attention, feeling powerful and important. All that matters is their egos. Posted by: Go, Sestak! on October 21, 2009 at 3:16 PM | PERMALINKWhat Go, Sestak! said These guys have obstructed the process, then acquiesced, and are now jonesing for the spotlight again. There is no strategy. Posted by: inkadu on October 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM | PERMALINKNo good can come of this. Unless one of them has a virulent form of swine flu. Posted by: ron mexico on October 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM | PERMALINKWhy do we need 60 votes to overcome obstructionism, when nearly every expert agrees that we can pass robust legislation, essentially Medicare for all, via reconciliation with 50 votes plus Biden? The risk isn't in using reconciliation. The risk is in not using it and getting a watered down bill as a result. I'm sick of this 60 votes meme. In this case, it's entirely false. Posted by: Chris on October 21, 2009 at 3:30 PM | PERMALINKquite frankly, i think ron wyden, my senior senator, is just insane. he makes me ill and i dont have the health insurance to get a remedy. he can go to hell... Posted by: neill on October 21, 2009 at 3:32 PM | PERMALINKUnless one of them has a virulent form of swine flu. -ron mexico They all have excellent health care, so the impact would be minimal. Besides, I read on the internet that H1N1 only affects people with a soul. Posted by: doubtful on October 21, 2009 at 3:37 PM | PERMALINKSurely, if the Dems can screw this up, judging from history, then unfortunately they will. Why don't these 'centrist' Dems ask themselves how many repigs were siding with the Dems during the Bu$h and Dick debacle? How many times did the repiggies sabotage important "conservative" legislation by siding with the minority? The answer is never. They literally cut off our microphones and shoved us in closets when we Dems spoke out. They told us to go "fuck" ourselves. They destroyed thousands of emails and shredded documents. They made the US Justice Dept. a laughing stock, as well as the OLC. They spied on activist groups who support democratic causes. But side with the Dems...against their own party? Never. We need this! Don't fuck it up Dems. You wont' get another chance for a VERY long time. As the public option goes, YOU go. Mark me words. Posted by: In what respect, Charlie? on October 21, 2009 at 3:41 PM | PERMALINKThe Centrist need to pay attention to If the Democratic candidate does NOT vot for public option, M'care Part E then that De,ocrat candidate will not have my vote; the Democratic party will not have my vote either. No Public option NO VOTE/ The exception si Lyin' Lieberman. He will never have my Connecticut vote again Posted by: MLJohnston on October 21, 2009 at 3:44 PM | PERMALINKThey don't need sixty votes to pass the bill. They need fifty + Biden, and a way to give the Dem "centrists" enough cover (or force them) to vote for cloture. There's a difference. Posted by: dr. bloor on October 21, 2009 at 3:45 PM | PERMALINKDon't waste time complainign about them-write to them now and often and demand that they vote in the best interests of their constituents and resist the corrupt corporate lobbyists. Only we can keep up the pressure that might counter all those $$. Posted by: sue on October 21, 2009 at 3:54 PM | PERMALINKSince there are so many Americans without jobs, a few million of them now have the time to march on Washington-with pitchforks- to straighten these a-holes out. With special attention to Joseph Lieberman's concern about the bill's "impact on real people. . ." Posted by: DAY on October 21, 2009 at 4:02 PM | PERMALINK[Joe Lie] said centrists are "very concerned" about the bill's "impact on real people." That's the same "real people" that Hillary referred to during her campaign ("lobbyists are people too" was the exact quote, as far as I remember). Just in case anyone had doubts :) And Neill, @15:32, The WSJ's description of Wyden's position is a tad murky, possibly misleading. From all I've seen of his direct quotes, his "concerns that the measure doesn't promote enough choice for consumers and competition for private insurers" means he wants a strong public option as that -- currently missing from the Finance Committee's bill -- "choice". Sure, he wants to tamp down on costs, everyone does. But his way is to go for the cheapest plan - the Public Option (Part E, People's Choice, what have you). I may have misunderstood what I'd read but I wouldn't get sick all over him just yet :) Posted by: exlibra on October 21, 2009 at 4:10 PM | PERMALINKHeh. NPR ran a bit on Morning Edition today, noting that the public was overwhelmingly in favor of a public option. Of course, this confused and disturbed NPR, so they got Bernie Sanders (avowed Socialist) and Roland Burris (corrupt and extremely temporary) to speak out FOR the public option, and the crowd of "centrists" you mention above to bloviate against it. Of course, the antis got about 5 times as much coverage. God forbid NPR should ever represent the public against the Village. Good luck with that next pledge drive, you bungholes! Posted by: biff3000 on October 21, 2009 at 4:11 PM | PERMALINKA friend of mine grew up in the same town as Lieberman. Her brother was in his high school class. He said Lieberman was an asshole even back then. Doubtful, love your comment about the soul. Maybe it's time to call in Buffy Summers. Posted by: Nothing But the Ruth on October 21, 2009 at 4:13 PM | PERMALINKSo Bayh, Landrieu and Wyden will actually FILIBUSTER the bill??? I don't think they will, but if so, I say go ahead and make them. I want to see Evan Bayh stand on the floor of the Senate speaking all night against healthcare reform... Posted by: Ohioan on October 21, 2009 at 4:16 PM | PERMALINKThey meet to see if they can find ways to stop reform and justify it in the public's eyes. also on that npr segment, joe, the "liberal," said this: "If I decide in the end the bill that is about to leave the Senate is gonna do more harm than good, then I won't vote for cloture at that point." npr noted: "In other words, Lieberman might be willing to help Republicans filibuster a health care bill when it comes up for a final vote. " Posted by: dj spellchecka on October 21, 2009 at 4:35 PM | PERMALINKI'm tired of being "worried" about these assholes. If they vote against cloture and support a filibuster, they need to worry about ME. Posted by: bdop4 on October 21, 2009 at 4:38 PM | PERMALINKI wouldn't worry about Wyden. He wants his provision included (and it's a more liberal provision than even the House bill) so he goes to these chats to get some TV time. Btw, there are no 50 votes for 'Medicare for all'. The rest do it to appear important and maybe get some concessions later. Posted by: LB on October 21, 2009 at 5:17 PM | PERMALINKSnowe's beguiling smile Gee, I wonder who helped positioned Snowe as the voice of moderate reason? TPM screen shot-- 7:39 PM Mountain, 10/13 HuffPo screen shot-- 7:39 PM Mountain, 10/13 The only thing Big Media loves more than a food fight, is bringing out the sane moderate in the middle as the voice of reason. Get ready America. Here comes the Joey and Snowey show. And yes they really do have your best interests in heart. They are the sane ones in the middle... Posted by: koreyel on October 21, 2009 at 5:23 PM | PERMALINKEvan Bayh is going to make me break my word. I swore I would never again vote for a Republican for any office, ever, until the end of time. But if I'm going to have a Republican junior senator anyway, I'd rather have one who's at least got the guts to be honest about what he is. Posted by: Tropical Fats on October 21, 2009 at 7:38 PM | PERMALINKWyden is no centrist trying to stop the bill. He has a very specific agenda to get his own amendment into the bill that will open the health insurance exchanges, including the public option, to everyone. It turns out some conservatives and centrists like this idea as well, as it really does promote competition. Wyden is playing a very dangerous game, but he really is one of the good guys in this debate. I just worry it will blow up in his (and our) face. Posted by: Mark on October 21, 2009 at 8:09 PM | PERMALINKWhere are these "centrists" you speak of? Single payer is "left" ... no reform is "right" ... center is the public option plan mixed with various industry friendly measures to water it down. Posted by: Joe on October 21, 2009 at 10:05 PM | PERMALINKRather cool site you've got here. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything connected to them. I definitely want to read a bit more soon. Pretty interesting blog you've got here. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything connected to this matter. I would like to read more on that blog soon. Post a comment
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