The intensity of debate on health insurance reform is building towards a climax as public and blogosphere pressure increases rapidly on the President and both Houses of Congress. In particular, Harry Reid is facing intense pressure, reportedly from the Administration, Nevada Democrats spurred on by blogosphere-generated telephone campaigns, progressive interest groups, and both progressive and […]
Pressuring Harry Reid For What?
October 23rd, 2009 · Comments Off on Pressuring Harry Reid For What?
Tags: Politics
I’m Still Seeing the 60 Vote Frame
October 20th, 2009 · Comments Off on I’m Still Seeing the 60 Vote Frame
In my last post, I railed against the 60 vote frame and outlined the “nuclear option” procedure which allows escape from that requirement for passing reform and also makes clear that the frame that 60 votes are necessary is at best a half-truth, and at worst a lie. Of course, I didn’t expect that post […]
Tags: Politics
Make Democrats Take Responsibility For the 60 Vote Frame
October 16th, 2009 · Comments Off on Make Democrats Take Responsibility For the 60 Vote Frame
A number of diaries at Firedog Lake today, frame the coming phase of the legislative process in terms of the need for 60 votes to get cloture and pass the PO. For example here’s a quote from one of today’s diaries by David Dayen: “Left out of this story is the fact that any amendment […]
Tags: Politics
He’ll Deserve the Credit, He’ll Deserve the Blame
October 16th, 2009 · Comments Off on He’ll Deserve the Credit, He’ll Deserve the Blame
He’ll deserve the credit, he’ll deserve the blame, and Harry Mason Reid, not Nikolai Ivanovitch Lubachevski, is his name. And don’t let him try to tell you any differently, because it’s just not so. Here’s the way things can play out now. Harry Reid, under cover of merging the Senate HELP and Finance Committee bills, […]
Tags: Politics
Deficit Neutrality and Bull Shit
October 15th, 2009 · Comments Off on Deficit Neutrality and Bull Shit
ralphbon asks: ”In the days and weeks following 9/11 did any legislator insist that we bring the perpetrators of that slaughter to justice, but only if we do it in a deficit-neutral fashion?” I thought this was a great question and merited creating lots of variations and also some statements about “deficit neutrality.” So, here […]
Tags: Politics
The Tip of the Democratic Spear?
October 11th, 2009 · Comments Off on The Tip of the Democratic Spear?
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Alan Grayson’s been making waves lately. His calling out members of the Republican Party as “foot-dragging, knuckle-dragging neanderthals,” was good for a laugh. And then, when they howled and demanded an apology, he refused to apologize to them, but, instead, said that he […]
Tags: Politics