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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.
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 There arent nearly enough counterterrorism experts to instruct all of Americas police. So we got these guys instead.
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December 21, 2009
CLEARING THE FIRST MAJOR HURDLE IN THE SENATE.... At 1:19 a.m. (ET), the Senate voted to end the debate on the Manager's Amendment to health care reform. It needed 60 votes to advance, and it passed, 60 to 40. Every member of the Democratic caucus voted for it, and every Republican voted against it. (The roll call is online here.) Even as the debate continued last night, the quality of the GOP criticism has not improved.
Alexander has been around long enough to know that what he's saying is patently ridiculous. Regardless of whether one approves or disapproves of the reform bill, the odd voting times are the result of Republican obstructionism, not Democratic embarrassment. In fact, I'm confident that if the GOP caucus would scrap its delaying tactics, the majority would agree to hold the debate in prime time before heading home for the holidays. But that, of course, isn't going to happen. As Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) told reporters, Republicans feel the need to fight until the last possible minute on Christmas Eve. "There is nothing inevitable about this," Cornyn said. Reality suggests otherwise. As Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) put, "If the Republicans want to exercise every single right they have under the rules, they can keep us here until Christmas Eve, no doubt about it. But to what end, I ask? To what end? We're going to have the vote at 1 a.m. that requires 60 votes, and then why stay here until Christmas Eve to do what they know we're going to do?" The debate itself was largely predictable, but Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-Okla.) remarks stood out, as they often do: "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight. That's what they ought to pray." The veiled comment made it seem as if Coburn may have had nefarious intentions towards someone in the Democratic caucus. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) responded to Coburn by lamenting "the malignant and vindictive passions that have descended on the Senate." Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) added that he was "troubled" by Coburn's remarks, and encouraged the right-wing senator to "come back to the floor and explain exactly what he meant." Coburn did not. Nevertheless, the process continues. We talked over the weekend about the schedule, but as a reminder, the next vote is expected tomorrow morning, around 7:30 a.m. (ET), when senators will vote, up or down, on the Manager's Amendment. Unless Republicans drop their delaying efforts, the chamber is still on track for an up-or-down vote on health care reform between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve. —Steve Benen 8:00 AM Permalink | Trackbacks | Comments (20)
Comments
After last night it is all over but the shouting. I guess the Party of NO is also the Party of Sour Grapes. Any party that would vote to filibuster a funding bill fo the troops for a few days just to stop health care can be viewed as nothing but absurd. Posted by: Ron Byers on December 21, 2009 at 8:06 AM | PERMALINKWhether you believe that this bill will be good, bad, indifferent, or terrible; it is a shame that the democrat party is rushing it through. The American people need and deserve (and our lobbyists) more time to understand what is being passed. If we could slow down this process, all deserving parties could have more time to pick it apart and kill it. Indeed, Senator Coburn is hitting the right tone. If it could be delayed, then maybe God will take the senator from West Virginia as a sign of his disapproval. Perhaps, because God is a republican, he would also take a few more of the democrat senators into his embrace. Posted by: RepublicanPointOfView on December 21, 2009 at 8:09 AM | PERMALINKIt's a wonderful life... Christmas Eve? For reals? "It's obvious why the majority has cooked up this amendment in secret, has introduced it in the middle of a snowstorm . . . . -- Lamar Alexander If the God that Republican Xtians cite so often arranged a snowstorm to help the Democrats pass the bill, then maybe the theocrat party should re-think their view of Her.
So the murderous Republican hitman thug God calls down a blizzard on the East Coast, thus butchering Americans on the highways .... and now zombie asshole Tom Coburn prays for Sen Byrd's death .. all in the cause of keeping as many Americans off the insurance rolls and bankrupt. When will the U.S. government protect the American people from the zombie asshole infestation in this country? Call home the troops from abroad and begin fighting the enemy at home.
Thank goodness god would have the time to listen to his most antithetical reasoners . Posted by: FRP on December 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM | PERMALINKIf only we could reason with this god ... Its clear that the good Lord prefers the bill, despite all the praying to the contrary. Posted by: the seal on December 21, 2009 at 8:56 AM | PERMALINKAfter Coburn's remarks, John McCain jumped up to ask what has happened to the good will in the Senate, right? Right? I wonder what the GOP cliche du jour would be if it were a Republican senator who was struck down. Like Bayh, these tactics cement my sympathy in league with the Donkeys. Unlike Bayh, I'm a life-long, card-carrying Rethug. Good Gawd I despise the cancer in my party. Posted by: Chopin on December 21, 2009 at 9:05 AM | PERMALINKThe Republicans in Congress believe that God talks to them and that God answers their prayers. Coburn wasn't kidding. Probably that's what Bachmann, Demint, Brownback and friends were praying for in their Holy Roller get together. Democrats should not be afraid, but they should be angry. Coburn really was praying that some Democrats would die. Pat Rpbertson has already openly prayed for Supreme Court Justice to die, but he's not a Senator. In all seriouslness, Coburn should be censured. He was in effect cursing the Democrats, and cursing is uncivil. Posted by: John Emerson on December 21, 2009 at 9:24 AM | PERMALINKis LAMAR! suggesting that harry reid controls the weather? Posted by: mellowjohn on December 21, 2009 at 9:24 AM | PERMALINKThe American people need and deserve (and our lobbyists) more time to understand what is being passed. If we could slow down this process, all deserving parties could have more time to pick it apart and kill it. Olympia, you don't need to use a pseud, we'd all listen regardless. And giggle... Posted by: Davis X. Machina on December 21, 2009 at 9:40 AM | PERMALINKMaybe Coburn did a similar prayer back in 2006 when the Dems regained control of the Senate and was heartened by Tim Johnson's stroke. But since Johnson recovered, he must figure he needs to pray harder for God to carry out his prayers. Posted by: gf120581 on December 21, 2009 at 9:42 AM | PERMALINKAs Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) put, "If the Republicans want to exercise every single right they have under the rules, they can keep us here until Christmas Eve, no doubt about it. But to what end, I ask? To what end? Oh, come now Senator, you know perfectly well. It's because, for the master practitioners of kabuki theater, such a perfect setting and backdrop is a rare chance to elevate the art. The party of Jesus fighting to stop the gay-socialist party's death panel agenda on Christmas Eve? Doesn't get much better. Posted by: oh my on December 21, 2009 at 9:47 AM | PERMALINKI recall similar prayers last year, beseeching Jehovah for torrential rains to drown Obama's supporters at the outdoor event where he formally accepted his nomination. What happened? Beautiful weather for the Democrats, and a hurricane for the GOP. Be careful what you wish for. Posted by: Charles on December 21, 2009 at 9:52 AM | PERMALINKAll this praying to God is so anti founding framers! Republican leaders have become dangerous caricatures in our present day political discourse. I feel they are trying to run us off a cliff! -Kevo Posted by: kevo on December 21, 2009 at 10:02 AM | PERMALINKI saw Lamar Alexander on Face the Nation Sunday. He was like a lying wind-up doll that kept spewing the same string of falsehoods every time he spoke. In addition to setting the record straight, Senator Sherrod Brown said the Republicans would be fine if the insurance companies canceled Tiny Tim’s health insurance policy because he had a preexisting condition. Did we get all we wanted, heck no, but we will have more Americnas with health care. Did the insurance companies get what they wanted , heck yes. The lobbiest are so entrenced in politics that ther will be no reform of any kind until some brave souls are brave enough to take them on. I understand they can not be out lawed due to first admendment rights. They own our goverment due to sell out congress. I thought Obama was the one to help us get our country back, it has not turned out that way. Unless tere is regulation of Banks,insurance companies nothing will help us. Every congress person should have to document all vist by lobbiest and and reason for meeting. While the lobbiest can not be controled within in the law, congress can and should. Posted by: Roxie Pruitt on December 22, 2009 at 11:13 AM | PERMALINKWonderful learn, I simply handed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he truly bought me lunch as a result of I discovered it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! Anyway, in my language, there aren't much good supply like this. Posted by: sim so dep on January 27, 2011 at 7:25 AM | PERMALINKPost a comment
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