$$$$$$$ (0.00 / 0)

So, what exactly are Pelosi and Reid and Obama and Emanuel doing to make it clear to them that, should they fail to toe the line on healthcare reform [if it can even be called that], there will be a price to pay.

That might tell us just how committed they themselves are to changing the way the healthcare industry buys the legislation they want.

There are few more cyncial than I regarding how crony capitalism plays out in Washington. But maybe that's because so few others really follow these relationships close enough to call it that.

 

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by: george walton @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:40:22 PM CST

What do you want them to do? (4.00 / 1)

With Landrieu, I'd look into seeing if she can be forced into action by threatening to withhold any Katrina-related funds that might still need to be approved.  I believe that if you want serious arm-twisting, you need to play hardball on that level.

I'm not sure what things there are that Lincoln, Lieberman, or Nelson really want that can be threatened.

If Lieberman dies, is that as good as a yes?  Maybe we can freak him out and induce a fatal heart attack by offering to give arms to Iran.

Things You Don't Talk About in Polite Company: Religion, Politics, the Occasional Intersection of Both

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by: Anthony de Jesus @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:12:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

what price can they pay? (0.00 / 0)

Three of the four of them are better off running as Republicans...Lieberman's approval rating actually went UP since he started obstructing things.

What can Obama threaten Landrieu, Lincoln and Nelson with? I guess he can threaten to campaign FOR them.  

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by: DTOzone @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:34:30 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Lol (0.00 / 0)

He can run ads showing him smiling and proudly saying, "I'm so glad Senator Blanche Lincoln is on my side, helping me deliver budget-busting government spending, socialized medicine and homosexual pedophilia to the good people in Arkansas and across this country.  Vote to reelect Blanche Lincoln on Election Day!"

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by: liberalmaverick @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:59:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Simple George (0.00 / 0)

Just threaten two of them and Kneecap the other two.  This is what the politics about this lousy POS legislation are down to.  Call in SEIU foot soldiers, now that they don't have to lose their union insurance plan immediately, and have them do the dirty work.

Conservative......CNN news:Nopenhagen: US PRES 2 WKS LATE ATTEND 1 DAY, GORE JOURNEY BY TRAIN.

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by: Money Man @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:02:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

back to the future (0.00 / 0)

I was just being ironic. It's not what the Democratic leadership can or will do. They are deeply locked into the DLC/Bilderberg agenda. They embody crony capitalism with a capital $$$.

Only a concerted effort by the left to recreate some semblance of the mass movements of old will have any deepseated [or lasting] effect on the increasingly reactionary political climate in America.

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by: george walton @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:43:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I know George (0.00 / 0)

I know you were being ironic and I too was being sarcastic.  If you have noticed whenever any mentions changing one of these congressman's mind, they immediately mention what they can be bought for?

It this what it's down to?  Yes, I'm afraid it is.  I was formerly represented by SEIU.  They weren't much when I was in.  Just a small lobby organization trying to get unionization of our municipal workforce.  Now it is an organ of this administration and has become its army.  In the 1930's the unions fought the police and security agencies publically in the streets of Los Angeles.  This is what we want?  Go out and fight for the administration?  Fight against law and order?  I really don't think so.  This is the beginning of chaos and tyranny.

Conservative......CNN news:Nopenhagen: US PRES 2 WKS LATE ATTEND 1 DAY, GORE JOURNEY BY TRAIN.

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by: Money Man @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 19:06:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

you mean I mean what I mean you mean (0.00 / 0)

When ironies collide, perhaps?  ; o )

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by: george walton @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 21:03:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'd like to see cost containment and better coverage. (4.00 / 1)

Chris Bowers says that this bill will increase insurance coverage for 36,000 people.

This many people could be adsorbed into the VA hospital network or the Indian Affairs Health system.  It wouldn't be a burp for either system.  

People die from lack of health care.  Not insurance.  The answers are in front of us.  We should use them.  The VA buys in bulk from Pharma.  They demand prices.  Cost for one month's precription.....$7.00   If you don't have the income you can apply and get them for almost if not free.  That's just one illustration to take care of this problem and then spend our efforts on putting more americans back to work.

Conservative......CNN news:Nopenhagen: US PRES 2 WKS LATE ATTEND 1 DAY, GORE JOURNEY BY TRAIN.

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by: Money Man @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 22:02:54 PM CST

[ Parent ]

huh (0.00 / 0)

it will insure 31 million people.

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by: DTOzone @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 02:04:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The SEIU is already doing the work (0.00 / 0)

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by: DTOzone @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 02:04:03 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The Fabulous Four (4.00 / 4)

I can only hope they hold their position... even if it's for all the wrong reasons.

This bill is a disaster... and progressives embrace of it continues to shock me.

We are throwing everything we worked for... all away in one fell capitulation.

stunning.

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by: Eureka Springs AR @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:40:56 PM CST

but we'll have passed SOMETHING! (4.00 / 3)

to ensure awesome Democrats like Heath Shuler stay in office

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by: TravisDisaster @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:43:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Funny (4.00 / 1)

After all the chitter chatter about bipartisanship it comes down to the opposition of 4 Democratic Party Members.

Makes the GOP seem almost irrelevant.


"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 12:54:43 PM CST

Also (4.00 / 2)

Makes the progressives seem almost irrelevant

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by: Zugzugzug @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:22:19 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Progressives? (4.00 / 1)

What do they have to do with the issue?

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."

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by: SpitBall @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:28:08 PM CST

[ Parent ]

HCR (4.00 / 4)

It's such a crappy bill no one cares.

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by: PR @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:02:42 PM CST

Joe LIEberman is not a Democrat. (4.00 / 1)

And even the 'Lieberman for Connecticut' party has disowned him.

I'm not sure there's much left to do other than have Reid and the Democratic caucus boot him and take his chairmanship.

You think his endorser Obama will get behind that?

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by: ek hornbeck @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 13:14:55 PM CST

It's Connecticut for Lieberman (4.00 / 1)

the way I remember it is that Connecticut for Lieberman is more douchey and self-serving than the other way around, hence why Lieberman would choose it.

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by: liberalmaverick @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 18:47:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

these are (0.00 / 0)

4 senators who really don't care about re-election.  how do you fight that?  The only people they have to anwser to is their constituents in their states.  Right now, they feel confident that they are doing what their constituents and backers want.  thats why they are willing to hold strong on this.  I am inclined to believe that perhaps they have formed some sort of coalition/agreement to stand together.  Not sure what the are after.

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by: RR @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:12:11 PM CST

Breaking the four down ... (4.00 / 1)

Landrieu and Lincoln have re-election issues involved in their decision making. They're doable I think.

Anyone watching Nelson over the years can see that he's like a tick just waiting for the next ride. He needs another to stand on to be seen..

And that's where Lieberman becomes the real problem, because he does what his donors tell him to do first and foremost.
However, Joe's achilles heel is power.  He covets his Chairmanships and seniority.  They draw his donors and voters.
Without them he's nothing.
And therin lies the key to busting Joe. ML Harry Reid gave Joe his magic powers and since then has bragged all along he can handle his good buddy Joe.
He needs to put up or step the hell down.

Nationalism is not the same thing as terrorism, and an adversary is not the same thing as an enemy.

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by: worldlymother @ Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 16:23:56 PM CST

I wonder what kind of post lost election jobs (0.00 / 0)

they have been promised for selling out like this.  We need to do some scandal hunting on them.  Calling Larry Flynt!

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by: Dameocrat @ Fri Nov 20, 2009 at 07:01:36 AM CST