HISTORY MADE as SENATE DEMS PASS HEALTH CARE BILL
24 December 2009 10:27 am by Taylor Marsh
updated below – bumped from 7:22 a.m.
… For all the historic force of the vote — Ted Kennedy’s widow, Vicki Kennedy, was in the chamber, as was the elderly John Dingell Jr., whose father introduced the first national health-care plan into the Congress almost a century ago — it has become difficult to write these milestone posts. Health-care reform, by this point, has had a lot of milestones. It has cleared five committees. It has come through the House of Representatives. It has been merged into a single bill in the Senate. It has passed through the Senate. No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far. But there are more milestones left to achieve: The House and Senate need to agree on a bill. That bill has to pass both chambers again. And then the president has to sign the legislation. Passing legislation, it turns out, is a long and ugly process. God, is it ugly. … Bad a system as it might be, it’s the only one we’ve got, at least for now. This is what victory looks like. … – Ezra Klein, Winning ugly, but winning.
Love it or hate it, it is historic, Vice Pres. Biden presiding.
In a humorous moment, when Sen. Reid was called to vote he mistakenly said “no,” but then was allowed to change his vote, with laughter breaking out, as he threw his hands up to say “AYE!” That moment is at about 1 minute into the video shown here.
Can you just imagine what the traditional media would have done if the Senate had failed? Republicans would be dancing.
Now Pres. Obama says he’ll get involved.
MR. LEHRER: Are you going to be involved in the reconciliation?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Absolutely.
MR. LEHRER: I mean, on a hands-on way?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Absolutely.
MR. LEHRER: Are you going to actually participate with -
PRESIDENT OBAMA: We are – we are – we hope to have a whole bunch of folks over here in the West Wing, and I’ll be rolling up my sleeves and spending some time before the full Congress even gets into session, because the American people need it now.
Pres. Obama to “roll up his sleeves.” Swell.
Let me add a thought about where we stand and the mess this debacle has left in its wake, regardless of the history made, which is a fact and not in doubt. Driving to a goal is not the same as truly inspired leadership, which we have not seen yet on health care.
…highly motivated people have a kind of ego determination driving them over obstacles and towards goals–nothing gets in their way. Now, most of us have been taught that this is an admirable trait… If motivation is grabbing an idea and carrying it through to an acceptable conclusion, then inspiration is the reverse. When we’re in the grip of inspiration, an idea has taken hold of us… where we allow ourselves to be moved by a force that’s more powerful than our ego and all of its illusions, is inspiration. … – Dr. Wayne Dyer, from Inspiration, Your Ultimate Calling
So far, Mr. Obama has taken ideas from others, including opposing views, then cut a deal in the middle, nothing further driving him but getting it done, as Ted Kennedy would say. But the difference between Obama and the late Lion of the Senate is that Kennedy was truly inspired by the cause of universal health care and fought for it openly, putting everything he had on the line to get it passed, even at a time when he was dying. So, whatever compromises he might have made would not have come from his ego, but in order to continue progress, with there little doubt in my mind he would have never voted against a health care in the Senate; though had he lived it wouldn’t have looked like this one.
Obama’s yet to be illustrate any inspired leadership. If he had truly fought on principles, publicly and fiercely to the bitter end, which he did not do, instead offering nonsense that he never campaigned for a public option, maybe we could have forgiven his compromises. But he didn’t, so I don’t.
“Can you just imagine what the traditional media would have done if the Senate had failed? Republicans would be dancing.”
And THAT, no matter how much we don’t like the bill passed or the screwyoudog DINOs or just about anything else should be the big storey and lesson from this gut churnning episode in near futility.
The repugnantklan’s ONLY agenda is to delay or destroy ANYTHING this President or Congress is attempting to accomplish.
There IS no Bipartisanship.
There is NO SUCH THING as “NON”partisanship in Washington DC
The repugnantklan will do everything they can, lie, misrepresent, delay, ANYTHING to see that this President and conversly AMERICA fails.
MORE lost money,MORE lost jobs, MORE lost healthcar, MORE lost LIVES. They are literally PRAYING for the DEATH of Democratic Senators and Liberal Judges and another terrorist attack HERE IN AMERICA TO RIVAL 9/11, THEIR words not mine.
One can only hope folks will look beyond the bill to the sickening reality of the fact that the repugnantklan, if you aren’t a howlling at the moon, shit house rat crazy teabagger couldn’t care LESS if you, your family or thousands of Americans DIE! In fact, if it will help them win? THEY ARE PRAYING FOR IT!
Oh yeah, and a couple of posters HERE would be dancing too.
At this point, I could care less if this bill past or not…The media has drag this fight out over health care long enough. I’m ready for it to be over with and I think most Americans would agree with me. For people out of work in this country Health Care was only second on there agenda. Lack of Jobs in this country has always been top priority with the war being third on the list. In next couple of weeks I hope health care arguing in the media takes a back seat to Jobless issues.
That’s why I put that line in the post, secularh, as it is the politics of the bill and envisioning the resulting avalanche of derision if they’d failed that prodded Senate Dems to vote “yes,” while many held their nose.
Hey Marie205 – That’s why I wrote the post below on health care not coming until Feb. The Administration has been *way* too slow on the jobs issue, which they intend to correct with what’s being called a “hard” turn to jobs after Obama signs health care into law, which no Dem will allow to fail.
So why not get it done before SOTU, considering that jobs is what matters *now*? It would be leadership malpractice after all that’s happened to not make SOTU.
Obama’s Medicare Rescue Bill passed. Barely. Once upon a time Obama told us that we must get health care insurance for that 46 or 47 million American’s who didn’t have coverage. Someone must have whispered in his ear and told him to adjust that number down to 30 million because 10 million were not American citizens and 7 million were uninsured for only a short period of time in any one year. 30 million, then, said Obama. Of that 30 million, 91% of the uninsured are below the age of 54. And 1/2 of them are below 200% of the poverty line. Only 1% of those over 65 do not have health care coverage. Although everybody begins to pay for this health care coverage begining on January 1, 2010, nobody gets any of its real benifits for 4 years or until 2014. Curious that?? Except that by 2014 nearly 50% of the ‘baby boomers’ will have already signed up for Medicare. So that newly mandated 14 million American’s above the poverty line will be doing their fair share(?) to afford those old f***s a proper health care system. And will have been doing that for 4 years. Dancing in the streets? Hardly. Just gimmie some truth. Peace
Pres. Obama to “roll up his sleeves.”
Don’t make me laugh. Another bald-face lie. The second there’s any friction he’d probably fly to Copenhagen.
As for Feingold: He claims he’s going to revisit the public option during conference. Who does he think he’s kidding?
“Obama’s yet to be illustrate any inspired leadership.” Taylor.
No inspired leadership on healthcare. On Wall Street. On mainstreet jobs, mortgages, etc.
Actually, little in the way of leadership, period.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
24 December 2009 at 9:07 am
That was basically what Bill Clinton said to the Netroots this summer. He said that even an imperfect bill must be passed, that Obama’s poll numbers will go up eventually and that Dems get to write the narrative. Otherwise, the Repubs would get to write the narrative and basically win. I guess the politics is more important than the policy. If Obama and the Congress can improve this bill each year, I’ll be okay with it. If they don’t, and the affordability/coverage goes out the window, then the Dems will reap what they have sown. I still think single payer makes more sense and is less complicated. Someone on the news this morning said when Reagan took office there were 1,000 registered lobbyists in D.C. Now there are 10,000.
Ramsgate…indeed!
On a happier note is anybody cooking today? I’m just taking a break.My smoked brisket is chilling so I can slice it and heat it with a BBQ sauce that you can only get in one town in the country…..mmmm….sweet and smokey,my cheese grits are together and waiting to be baked along with the broccoli souffle, an almound encrusted crust is chilling before I whip up the creamy milk chocolate and whipped cream filling. I will make the pear and blue cheese salad last minute and drizzle it with a pomegranate/olive oil vinaigrette dressing. All traditional favorites of my daughter.
Sammy’s Christmas stocking is stuffed and hanging over the fireplace. I made my grandpuppies their favorite homemade treats and all the cats get their favorite canned (very rare) food tonight.Pumpkin bread and cards have been delivered to neighbors and friends.
I’m set…how about the rest of you?
BBL~
The Senate got a Republican bill passed.
http://publicoption.democratz.org
Love it. Finally, America shows it really does care about health care for everyone. We have a long way to go to make it better, but this is totally awesome. I’ve been grinning from ear to ear since it passed. Cheers to President Obama for passing the most sweeping reform of health care in our history. For those of us who care about people, this was a huge victory. It is the start of the reversal of the “every man for himself, I got mine, you get yours” mentality that started during the Reagan era and has permeated our politics since then. We have turned a corner and America is returning to the compassionate country it used to be. Woooooo hoooooooooooo.
I hope you aren’t right about Obama’s principles, but there are many fights to become, and his pragmatism (working on cynicism) may serve us all well.
LBJ, much more the disagreeable schemer, left a very worthwhile legacy.
I’m not certain that he’s at all principled qnd I’ve always thought he was cynical….at least that’s the way he’s long run his political life.
Beyond that, Merry and happy to you all.
and I do me all of you.
“Although everybody begins to pay for this health care coverage begining on January 1, 2010, nobody gets any of its real benifits for 4 years or until 2014.”
Oh fer jeebus Crispies imhopless, can you possibly do a post without pulling the same tired doomsday uberanarchist crap outta yer ass? Considering there isn’t even a final BILL yet can you in your HUGE self proclaimed intelect explain how everyone is going to start paying for it Jan. I 2010?! Pretty good trick, start with holding money before there is anything authorizing it?!
But THAT isn’t enough for your sorry ass. “So that newly mandated 14 million American’s above the poverty line will be doing their fair share(?) to afford those old f***s a proper health care system.”
You have to go and piss in that light socket didn ya. Or do you figure(and with your inteligence maybe it IS a fair assumption) that you’ll never LIVE long enough to qualify?
How very repugnantklan of you “SCREW them old fu*kers, I got mine let them find their own!”
You really are a pathetic excuse ain’tcha.
Piece a work.
I just wanted to post this thought…As I read many disappointments from progressive about Obama handling of Health Care, Economy & the war; I’m left feeling these folks have a right to express there anger. However, looking back over this past year I wondered if President McCain would have handled better the war or Health Care?!!…Of Course, the answer would have been a big “NO”…I don’t even allow myself to think what a President Hillary Clinton would have been like because I have a feeling she would have done similar missteps as Obama has done. The only big difference Hillary would not have put up with the Republican bullshit like he does.
Most people I speak to have three major problems with Obama 1) He keeps failing to keep his campaign promises. 2) He often times seems too aloof and out of touch with the public. 3) He let’s problems build up before addressing them head on example, Death panels etc…
Even after saying all that I have no regrets about voting for him and never will. Obama was the only alternative we had left in 2008 outside Hillary of course.
Taylor, I understand you wanted to see like so many including me an Obama who “fiercely will fight to the bitter end for a cause”. But, Obama is not a fighter, he’s more of a deep intellectual thinker and extremely passive person. When Obama told millions of Americans during the campaign “Your the change you’ve been waiting for” he seriously meant it. Now, it all makes sense if were going to change the Health Care system truly hoping, wishing and blogging is not going to do it. With a congress hell bent on stopping change and a President unwilling to move an inch publicly in pushing a serious agenda were left on our own.
Until Americans take to the streets in serious protest over Health Care & Jobs true reform will never see the light of day. We can easily blame Obama all we want; but, in truth a big large portion of the loss fight over health care can be laid on the door steps of many millions of Americans who sat at home blogging about Health Care instead of taking to the streets over it.
Unless the Democratic congress creates a new prescription drug benefit in Part B and it gets paid for by the existing premium and deductibles and has no means test or coverage gap
Unless the Democratic congress creates a SINGLE PAYER public option
which Obama signs
I will go to the polls and not vote for President, nor Senator or Representative in 2010 and 2012 but vote on county issues only.
I will not leave the Democratic Party but I will merely keep my voting record active.
http://publicoption.democratz.org
http://drugbenefit.democratz.org
One can be intellectual and passionate and willing to work for the things in which one believes. I’m waiting for Obama to show me and everyone else that he’s got soemthing in him – or did everything just come too easily?
secularhuman, let’s talk about doomsday. Given that on December 21, 2012 this whole world is going to blow up in everybody’s face whatever date they set after that ain’t gonna make a bit of difference to any of us anyway.:) Have you noticed that Obama keeps putting everything off until after 2012? Now he tells us that Gauntanamo won’t be closing until at least 2011. For sure that will be put off until 2013. Peace
LOL fer Christmas!! Yu funny imhopless!
Piece a work
” djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 3:31 pm”
Sure hope you’re not holding your breath waitin thar djjl!
Merry, merry, you to imhopless!
It may just be my imagination but lots of times Obama seems bored.
Lake Lady, it’s not just you noticing this trait in Obama….He does often seem bored to me too….lol I been notice this two months back when the media was going crazy over Death Panels & Tea Beggars, while Obama just sat back looking like his mind was in another world. I often wonder if he’s quickly becoming tired and bored with the Presidency at such and early start. I remember telling my husband that Obama seems like the guy who could easily walk away from the Presidency with out a care in the world.
His critics are so wrong about him being power hungry, Stalin like etc…I’m not a psychologist but Obama is the kind of person who sets certain goals for himself and once he achieves them he looks to something else to do. Who knows he might happily serve one term and leave the White House to take on a new career.
Marie205 says:
24 December 2009 at 2:33 pm
Precisely. Demand Obama do it, the financial puppetmasters will then be forced to show their hand. It’s a win-win.
djjl says:
One can be intellectual and passionate and willing to work for the things in which one believes. I’m waiting for Obama to show me and everyone else that he’s got soemthing in him – or did everything just come too easily?
_________________________________________________________
See that is the problem, people keep “waiting on Obama”. When the guy keep repeating “Your the one’s you’ve been waiting for” he Freaking really meant every word…Scary, I know. I would suggest people stop waiting on Obama to take any lead. Leadership aka putting his neck out there is not his style and never was if you look at his bio. This guy has planned everything in his career path to a “T” he is not a risk taker but instead a heavy planner to extremes. I think after his second year in office most of the public will catch on to his style of governance. Regan was a dreamer, Clinton a gambler, Bush Jr. a bully and Obama is simply a planner. He is not a get out in front kind of guy.
I propose a compromise between the house and senate bills.
On the public option let every state have the public option except Connecticut, Louisiana and Montana and Nebraska.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
24 December 2009 at 3:43 pm
” djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 3:31 pm”
Sure hope you’re not holding your breath waitin thar djjl!
Noe secular – not waiting. I’m just supremely disillusioned that I was right about him. After he was selected the nominee, I just hoped I was wrong about him being an empty suit – although a popular “brand.”
“Marie205 says:
24 December 2009 at 4:28 pm
djjl says:
One can be intellectual and passionate and willing to work for the things in which one believes. I’m waiting for Obama to show me and everyone else that he’s got soemthing in him – or did everything just come too easily?
_________________________________________________________
See that is the problem, people keep “waiting on Obama”. When the guy keep repeating “Your the one’s you’ve been waiting for” he Freaking really meant every word…Scary, I know.
snip
Reagan was a dreamer, Clinton a gambler, Bush Jr. a bully and Obama is simply a planner. He is not a get out in front kind of guy.”
I NEVER could get past “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Clinton was willing to gamble for the important wins for the nation. He wanted the power of the presidency to make a real difference for the better imo. Obama is a political narcissist. imo.
djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 4:52 pm
“I NEVER could get past “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Clinton was willing to gamble for the important wins for the nation. He wanted the power of the presidency to make a real difference for the better imo. Obama is a political narcissist. imo”
——————————
Wow, you’ve just about hit rock-bottom. Where is the thoughtful, articulate djjl at? I want her back. All of this pouting and defeatist chatter is unbecoming, and very unlike you. Maybe those who are quick to call Obama an empty suit should do a bit of introspection…the left sits about hemming and hawing, yet does nothing to help their own agenda. No rallies, no organization or coalitions coming together. Just sitting around complaining about Obama not doing this or that while doing nothing useful for ourselves is the pot calling the kettle black.
I apologize in advance for my rudeness, feel free to call me an Obamabot who smokes Hopium™ or whatever…I won’t quit.
“Maybe those who are quick to call Obama an empty suit should do a bit of introspection…the left sits about hemming and hawing, yet does nothing to help their own agenda. No rallies, no organization or coalitions coming together. Just sitting around complaining about Obama not doing this or that while doing nothing useful for ourselves is the pot calling the kettle black.”
I THOUGHT that was what all the rallies and campaigning BEFORE the election was for?! I didn’t REALIZE that you had to keep on campaigning nonstop to get your OWN elected officials to do what they PROMISED they would do while you rallied and worked for them DURING the campaign.
Very inlightening.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
24 December 2009 at 5:52 pm
Normally I would agree, but the big money out there (the ones really calling the shots) don’t agree or care who’s in charge of what…they just pay Congress and other elected officials some ‘persuasion loot’ and lo and behold! we lose again.
I don’t see an alternative that will make any real difference, do you? Do you suppose the Better Democrats® everyone is touting won’t be beholden to the same power structure that has our current politicians in their pocket? I wouldn’t count on it, but that’s just my opinion, I’m all ears for a better plan.
Sandmann says:
24 December 2009 at 5:27 pm
_____________________________
Enter Sandmann, LOL. Once again, you are exactly right. The hard work of campaigning and volunteering comes second only to the harder work of pushing our elected officials to hold fast to their promises.
It has ever been thus. The FDR quote “Now MAKE me do it” is to the same effect. Also, note Bill Clinton’s address at NetRoots, already referenced by lynnette. Re: DOMA, he noted that (a) Republicans were defying him to make it an election issue by vetoing the bill, and (b) the progressives were MIA on the issue.
So there is no need to despair. As with other examples of landmark legislation, the healthcare bill will improve with time. And all the sturm and drang of compromises, death panels, etc. will recede into the farthest recesses of our collective memory.
I’m on record as saying that Obama made a tactical mistake by addressing health care first, instead of focusing on jobs. The scope of the bill has suffered as a result, and he will have to pivot sharply to the jobs issue once this is done. No rest for the weary (or, depending on your perspective, the wicked). But this is a significant achievement. Huge, as Tiger Woods would say. LOL.
Happy Holidays to all. LL, can I claim you as family? Your menu is off the chain!!!
ogenec says:
24 December 2009 at 6:23 pm
Thanks for the assist.
Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas, It’s time to shut my trap and enjoy the evening.
Sandmann
Hey, I haven’t bee4 sitting around pouting and I have never been a defeatest- I don’t know where you’ve been – but I’ve been working hard to secure what I voted for.
It’s just that I had surely thought that I was wrong about Obama – he couldn’t possibly be any worse than what I had originally envisioned him to be. Well, I was wrong and he is worse than I ever dreamed.
BTW, I don’t hem and haw – on line or in person. I also don’t take to defeat. You must not know that there are issues at play that I Find far more important than the Mr Personality President. As ogenec says – Obama must be MADE to do what he should.
Merry Christmas to all of you
God Bless you all
(you to secular – I’m sending my prayers and blessings to all- even those who don’t share my belief – but I think would be pleased to share in my good will).
Well, I’m going to throw in my very simple Christmas dinner – and pretty much my only truly extravagant meal to the year. My daughter loves this and thus is a regular for the last years:
stuffed mushrooms,
beef tenderloin – oh so easy and delicious (and extravagant)
horseradish sauce / bernaise sauce
scalloped potatoes
roasted asparagus
salad w/ homemade vinaigrette
apple tart
Please know, that we eat beef of any type less than once per week, and are meatless at least 2 days per week (hey – I love navy bean soup for breakfast).
I’ll look forward to any recipes in the coming days.
ogenec
Do you have a special recipe from your home country that you could share?
“It has ever been thus. The FDR quote “Now MAKE me do it” is to the same effect.”
Ogenec that’s one I never read before, GREAT! FDR, without question one of the trully GREAT Americans.
djjl, dinner looks GREAT! Myself I’d substitute Venison for Beef but that’s my preferance.
WE have reservations for a rest. in the city, The Chart House. Never eaten there, looking forward to checking out a supposedly high brow establishment.
Close to bed time, the muppets Christmas charol is on in the other room. Merry, Merry all!
djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 7:04 pm
I know you’re not a defeatist, or a pouter, etc. I’m trying to push your buttons and hope you regain the fire I’m used to seeing from you. I respect your perspective, and I count on you to be a reasoned voice around here. I get that your extremely disappointed in Obama’s non-leadership or policy decisions, but do we need to keep on with the ‘Mr. Personality’ type name-calling? All that seems to do is encourage a barrage of substanceless ‘ditto’ posts filled with extra-strength self pity.
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djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 7:04 pm
“As ogenec says – Obama must be MADE to do what he should”.
You don’t say.
Sandmann says:
24 December 2009 at 4:20 pm
Precisely. Demand Obama do it, the financial puppetmasters will then be forced to show their hand. It’s a win-win.
Thanks sandmann
My cup runneth over with Obama right now – it is hard to imagine that we are where we are today.
Where are you located Sandmann? I’m in Little Rock – itsy bit of snow this morning – just a dusting. That’s after 5 inches of rain in 48 hours – good thing it wasn’t colder during that rain. We’ve now set the record for annual rainfall here – by 5 inches 82.5″ – and a week to go. But it is bright and sunny now and I’m getting organized to begin cooking.
Have a great day .
djjl says:
25 December 2009 at 12:05 pm
I’m in North Carolina, no White Christmas for me this year. I’m originally from Velvet’s neck of the woods in North Dakota (Minot). I joined the USMC for 6-years and met my wife here in Wilmington, NC (approx. 50 miles from Camp Lejeune where I was stationed). It’s ridiculously humid here most of the time, but I’ve long since acclimatized.
The one this I do miss is the visual change of seasons, it’s been a rainy Christmas so far, but a good one nonetheless.
Hope you had a great Christmas.