President Lieberman played his Dem caucus card and effectively killed the medicare compromise.
The President was OK with this compromise, in fact encouraged it.
With that compromise -I argued that the current proposed Senate bill should be defeated - really, what is being argued here is using the reconciliation to pass a better bill. A bill that bypasses the 4-5 obstructionists in the Democratic party as well as the 40 in the G-NO-P party.
There were these three posts where my favorite blogger points out, among other things, that George Bush got a lot done and never had more than 55 Senators.
Meanwhile - President Obama’s secret back door deal is upheld with Big PHARMA as the drug reimportation amendment is defeated. Essentially locking in higher drug costs for Americans. Our two Senators, Schumer and Gillibrand voted to kill this amendment.
Joe Lieberman tried to explain his rationale, there were other posts about killing the bill, cute commercials and a decision point. What does the Democratic base do now?
Our potential hero? Ben Nelson of Nebraska comes out against the bill. Ah “Hope” that we can finally play hard ball. Well, not so fast, in exchange for covering Nebraska’s Medicaid cost, and adding anti-abortion language, Ben Nelson comes on board. Oh, the cost? the Public Option is killed.
Then there was language about those life time caps that - may not be lifetime caps. Well, SEIU comes out, stomps their feet as they prepare to fall in line and in the end it doesn’t matter - Ben Nelson’s vote is secured in the Senate and Majority Leader Reid says he has the votes.
Massa gets some well deserved credit for calling out the the Health care reform process. Remember Massa was there before a lot of people.
So what do we do now ? There is a cost of being taken for granted and the next steps start with looking towards the future by looking at the past as discussed in this Bill Moyer’s show featuring Rolling Stone editor Matt Taibbi and Economist and American Prospect Editor, Rob Kuttner.
We will have more as it all sinks in, but it begins with a little more audacity and a little less hope.
More Federal level
Citigroup gets special consideration and doesn’t have to pay taxes so they can pay record level bonuses.
The House redirects TARP funds. It was close, but worth it.
Ah, Copenhagen and climate change. 80% CO2 reduction in 40 years in a non-binding agreement with no milestones. Does anyone care? Maybe delay isn’t denial but it is pretty close to derail. Wouldn’t want to shift manufacturing away from China, now, would we?
No. Profits over people. Cheap goods from the metaphorical “China” where Mother Nature may not have a vote, but certainly will have the last laugh.
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