Howard Dean: “Kill The Senate Bill”

Plumline ^ | 12/15/09

[LdSentinal]

In a blow to the bill grinding through the Senate, Howard Dean bluntly called for the bill to be killed in a pre-recorded interview set to air later this afternoon, denouncing it as “the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate,” the reporter who conducted the interview tells me.

Dean said the removal of the Medicare buy-in made the bill not worth supporting, and urged Dem leaders to start over with the process of reconciliation in the interview, which is set to air at 5:50 PM today on Vermont Public Radio, political reporter Bob Kinzel confirms to me.

The gauntlet from Dean — whose voice on health care is well respsected among liberals — will energize those on the left who are mobilizing against the bill, and make it tougher for liberals to embrace the emerging proposal. In an excerpt Kinzel gave me, Dean says:

“This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.”

Kinzel added that Dean essentially said that if Democratic leaders cave into Joe Lieberman right now they’ll be left with a bill that’s not worth supporting.

Dean had previously endorsed the Medicare buy-in compromise without a public option, saying that the key question should be whether the bill contains enough “real reform” to be worthy of progressives’ support. Dean has apparently concluded that the “real reform” has been removed at Lieberman’s behest — which won’t make it easier for liberals to swallow the emerging compromise.

[PapaBear3625]

The Dems see how public support for the bill is in the dumps, but they don’t want to piss off the radical Left and their SEIU buddies. It could be that Dean is looking for a face-saving way to let the bill die.

[newguy357]

I’m rather amazed that E-Aaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhh Dean is opposed to Obamacare

Sure, but read his words: his opposition stems from it not being socialist enough. Things are getting psychotic....

[drierice]

Dean: “Kill The Bill!”??

But... but... doesn’t he know this is an HISTORIC bill, like everything must be with this administration? /total sarcasm

[wolfcreek]

Dean: “Trust me. I’m a DOCTOR”.

[Bruinator]

You think they are toast now, if they use this option they will be burnt toast, because reconciliation is only used on bills of a budgetary nature. So let em do it. Break their own rules, then it will be mob rule.

[malkee]

Here's a more thorough look at CBS.

Relevant quote: "Under the process of reconciliation that Dean is advocating, Democrats could overcome a Republican filibuster and pass a bill with just 51 votes. There may be enough senators in support of the public option to pass the measure via reconciliation. The reconciliation process, however, is limited to bills that pertain to budgetary matters -- so while the Senate could use it for any provisions that impact the budget, they would have to pass other reforms, like insurance regulations, in a separate bill. Democratic leadership has indicated they are not interested in using reconciliation for health care reform. "

[samtheman]

Welcome2thejungle, you’re NOT in agreement with Dean. Dean wants MORE socialism in the bill, which is not your position at all.

Dansong, Dean did NOT grow a brain. He’s braying for more socialism. If he ends up helping to kill this monstrosity it will be a good thing but it won’t be because of anything resembling BRAIN in that thick skull of his.

[Vision]

He wants to start over so they can use the nuclear option and not need 60 for a public option.

[Islaminaction]

Their house is crumbling.

[drierice]

“Their house is crumbling.”

Yep, the Democrats are really coming face to face with the hypocrisy in their own party. They’ve believed the Democratic and MSM lies for so long. The final, hardest Democratic lie to overcome is that conservatives are supposedly all ‘evil.’

Well, as the old saying goes, “a conservative is a liberal, who’s been mugged.”

[devolve]

[LibFreeUSA]

BEFORE ANYONE APPLAUDS HOWARD DEAN, understand that he is against this bill because now the bill is not COMMUNIST ENOUGH! He’s against it for entirely the OPPOSITE reason that we are against it.

[potlatch]

That is really cute devolve. You’ve been busy.

[snippy_about_it]

I think some of the above posters missed this :

A huge problem right now on FR imo. One of the reasons quite a few long timers have steadily stopped posting here. We used to read the articles before we posted in order to hold intellegent debate or just to comment with some authority. We have many now that just jump in and based on what the first few posters say they just mimic. You can clearly tell they haven't read the article.

[devolve]

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Thanks potlatch

Lot’s of material to work with for that one - Still frame versions made too

[potlatch]

I like animation best.

[devolve]

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I know!

That one has your JOKER face/eyes going nuts!

[potlatch]

Yeah, it turned out cute like that. Kinda - - catches the eye -

[holden]

Since they're so cock sure they can ultimately have a bill--some bill, any bill, brought through a reconcilliation process without involving any Republicans, if necessary, starting negotiations informally even now shouldn't cause any such Dhims heartburn, as they're likely telling themselves "it won't be for naught."

I don't think for a moment Dean is doing anything other than pointing to the fastest possible track for 0bama-death-care. If a bill is passed, the Dhim conventional wisdom will be that any needed changes (read: public option, abortion coverage, etc.) will be easier to pass subsequent to the by-then-spent public outrage.

HF

[devolve]

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My first Version had three (3) times the filesize!

Loading time was a tad like eternity!