Posted on 08/19/2009 1:24:08 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
Amidst questions of whether or not any Senate Republicans will support a health care reform bill, Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., today said that the “White House and the Senate Democratic leadership still prefer a bipartisan bill.”
The Reid spokesman said that “neither the White House nor the leadership have made a decision to pursue reconciliation,” the somewhat controversial legislative process by which a bill is introduced in such a manner so that it requires merely 50 votes instead of 60 to proceed to a vote, thus removing the threat of filibuster.
Manley said that “we will not make a decision to pursue reconciliation until we have exhausted efforts to produce a bipartisan bill.”
“However,” he cautioned, “patience is not unlimited and we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary.”
“By any means necessary” is a phrase popularized by Malcolm X (demanding the rights of African-Americans to be respected in society), though it is thought to have originally been penned by French existentialist Jean Paul Sartre in his play about assassination “Dirty Hands” (in a line demanding the end of class).
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.abcnews.com ...
Never mind the fact that it would take a couple of Dem defections to prevent a cloture vote. Which shows that opposition to this monstrosity is what is bipartisan.
There is no doubt where the Dems hearts and souls desire lie..
This nation would do well to flee the DEms embrace of socialism without regard the costs.
“White House and the Senate Democratic leadership still prefer a bipartisan bill.”
Yep, they want a bipartisan bill so they can share the blame when this whole thing goes belly-up. The best thing the pubbies can do, at this point, is get the hell out of the way and let the libtards do what they will; and make damn sure the world knows the DhimmiRats OWN THIS GARBAGE.
Any Republican who sides with the administration on this one needs to resign from the party and join the leftists.
It’s time to take back the country.
Reconciliation (a/k/a 'the nuclear option') is hideously unprecedented for any such purpose.
What's with MSM reporters, anyway? No self-respect nor respect for the truth. None at all.
patience is not unlimited ..
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Copy that , HaRRy.
Dingy Harry you are about to follow in Tom Dashole’s footprints. This will only cement your shoes.
Bingo old Chap.
Sounds undemocratic. Why don’t they just say we have the votes, instead of any means necessary
Just huffing and puffing , trying to force moderate republicans into caving...
Don’t count on the Republicans to be in lock step in the Senate...
If they do us that tactic the Republicans can demand under parliamentary procedures that all bill be read in their entirety on the floor of the Senate.
While there might be a bill that could be struck that a Republican could support, the so-called public option would be a non-starter for any conservative as well as anyone who describes themselves as a Republican. Any expansion of "free health care" is counter to ever principle of the Republican party platform, since it's inception.
As you point out, anyone (Ms.'s Snow & Collins) who votes for this is not, nor should they continue to call themselves, Republican.
I would add, that I don't believe any bill that garners even a minimal amount of Republican support should be without some kind of comprehensive and sweeping tort reform.
This would be great! I hope the dems do shove this down our throats.
The damage could easily be undone after the 2010 elections since most of this monstrosity will not be enacted until 2013.
Make our day Hairless Weed!
My point was that the Dems don't need GOP votes to overturn a filibuster. So it has nothing to do with GOP opposition, and EVERYTHING to do with recalcitrant Dems.
Go ahead Harry we will be waiting with the tar & feathers when you walk out of the Senate building
Never fear. They will attempt to do just that. Regardless of what the people want. Total control.
If a Senator dies of old age while the bill is being read, does it start all over with a fresh reading after a replacement is appointed? Not to ill-wish anyone, of course...
Is that before or after the vote is taken?
Also...be prepared...if they do this with Obamacare, they’ll do it with amnesty too.
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