An ugly finale for health-care reform

Washington Post ^ | 12-22-2009 | Dana Milbank

[Acton]

Going into Monday morning's crucial Senate vote on health-care legislation, Republican chances for defeating the bill had come down to a last, macabre hope. They needed one Democratic senator to die -- or at least become incapacitated.

At 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon -- nine hours before the 1 a.m. vote that would effectively clinch the legislation's passage -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) went to the Senate floor to propose a prayer. "What the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote tonight," he said. "That's what they ought to pray."

It was difficult to escape the conclusion that Coburn was referring to the 92-year-old, wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) who has been in and out of hospitals and lay at home ailing. It would not be easy for Byrd to get out of bed in the wee hours with deep snow on the ground and ice on the roads -- but without his vote, Democrats wouldn't have the 60 they needed.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the number-two Democratic leader, went to the floor to complain about Coburn's unholy prayer, which followed an unsuccessful request from Democrats for an earlier vote because of Byrd's "significant health problems." Said Durbin: "When it reaches a point where we're praying, asking people to pray, that senators wouldn't be able to answer the roll call, I think it has crossed the line."

Actually, the line was crossed long ago, during the summer of death panels and socialists. But Democrats weren't in the best position to take the high road Sunday evening. One of their own members, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) had just delivered an overwrought jeremiad comparing the Republicans to Nazis on Kristallnacht, lynch mobs of the South, and bloodthirsty crowds of the French Revolution.

[Acton]

No one wants Senator Byrd to die, but after many years of pretending to support the U.S. Constitution, Senator Byrd has finally achieved what he came to Washington to do -- deliver the final death blow to the Constitution and the principle of limited government. This massive nationalization of the free market -- now 16%, soon to be 30%, of the U.S. economy, will require a revolution to undo -- and one that will replace the weak document that Senator Byrd pretended to defend for so long.

[WestwardHo]

They wheeled the old guy into the senate Monday morning, and wheeled him out after the vote.
Did anyone see him in the senate today?
Are they really going to wheel him in and out for every vote?
Was he actually able to vote?

[Robert A Cook PE]

The comment about “not making it” was an indirect hint to Lieberman (Lie-for-all-men?) to be stuck in CT during the blizzard.

The WashPoop is making up this story, rather than covering the real scandal of the bribes and lies inside the (unwritten) bill. Again.

[grobdriver]

Was he actually able to vote?

There better damn well be someone on our side making sure of it.

[La Lydia]

I think there is a good case to be made that he is entirely ga-ga, ill, heavily medicated, and suffers from senile dementia. Does anyone really think that a legal document he signs at this point in his deterioration would stand up in court? Therefore his vote should not count.

[Thrownatbirth]

Whitehouse wants to become the Alan Grayson of the Senate. Class act you got there, Rhode Island!

[Tax Government]

They needed one Democratic senator to die -- or at least become incapacitated.

It would be enough that a few senators be stricken with fit of conscience and Constitutional awareness.

To keep our spirits up, may one of them also throw up on-camera while on the Senate floor, preferably on someone else's shoe.

[DennisR]

Okay, let’s keep the pressure on - especially Nelson. The governor and people of Nebraska are really giving it to him. Let’s add fuel to the fire! Let him know we are not only sick of the corruption of which he is chief benefactor, but we will also be cheering for the Cornhuskers to lose big to the Arizona Wildcats in their upcoming bowl game!

Nelson
bennelson.senate.gov
Phone: (402) 441-4600
Fax: (202) 228-0012

Webb
http://webb.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-4024
Fax: 202-228-6363

Landrieu
http://landrieu.senate.gov
Phone: (202)224-5824
Fax:(202) 224-9735

Lincoln
http://lincoln.senate.gov
(202) 224-4843
Fax (202) 228-1371

Bayh
http://bayh.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-5623
Fax: (202) 228-1377

Lieberman
http://lieberman.senate.gov
Phone: 202.224.4041
Fax: 202.224.9750

[prophetic]

Its times like these when everything good is being destroyed and the EVIL seems unstoppable that GOD can step in and do the seemingly impossible.

For all the emails, phone calls, cajoling etc to our senators & congress critters and this Obama Deathcare Taxation & Govt takeover of the country the bill almost seems unstoppable. However the Bible does say that with "God ALL things are possible".

Lets not lose hope nor accept defeat but keep praying unceasingly that we will see a miracle yet!!

[prophetic]

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

[The Good Doctor]

"No one wants Senator Byrd to die"

Actually I do. I really, really do. It would be best for my kids, and I care way more about their future than his.

Come to think of it I want Harry Reid to die too. Not just because it would be best for my kids, but because I hate the SOB.

[Jane Long]

Lord, hear our prayers.

[OneWingedShark]

>>”No one wants Senator Byrd to die”
>
>Actually I do. I really, really do. It would be best for my kids, and I care way more about their future than his.
>
>Come to think of it I want Harry Reid to die too. Not just because it would be best for my kids, but because I hate the SOB.

Come now, come now... with talk like that you’re soon going to be complaining about the PS-90 because its magazines don’t hold enough ammo.

[huckfillary]

What do you mean nobody wants to see Byrd die? Speak for yourself. I want to see every senator who votes for this bill to die.

[org.whodat]

What was the name of the movie where the two guy were hauling their dead friend around. LOL

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Weekend at Bernie’s?

[org.whodat]

Found it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7P9QT7w9T8&feature=related

[Terpfen]

It was difficult to escape the conclusion that Coburn was referring to the 92-year-old, wheelchair-bound Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.V.) who has been in and out of hospitals and lay at home ailing.

It's difficult to escape the conclusion that Dana Milbank is the biggest airhead in the SRM, and that's saying something.

[torchthemummy]

The comment about “not making it” was an indirect hint to Lieberman (Lie-for-all-men?) to be stuck in CT during the blizzard.

I went to the article to see the comments to see if anyone noted that the comment was contextually hoping that a Senator would be snowed in and couldn't get to the Senate to vote. Once again Milbanks and his ilk take a harmless quote and ascribe it the most nefarious of intentions. And these are the same "journalists" that ignore the Holdens, Emmanuels and Daschles that that have advocated mass sterilization, forced abortions and rationing of health care. Please...

[God luvs America]

so dickhead durbin thinks this is over the line as does the WaComPost??? where was dickhead durbin and the WaComPost when grayson of florida was making his insane comments??