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 ...
‘Just huffing and puffing , trying to force moderate republicans into caving...’
I really believe that you’re right. This reconciliation nonsense is simply another trial balloon, one of many that the WH has released in the last week to try and find SOMETHING that’ll work for them. I’ve never seen a WH look so clueless in my life.
They need to pass this before Kennedy dies. that way they can blame it on the dead guy.
“By Any Legislative Means Necessary”
Merely means “We the People” will have to use “All Constitutional Means Necessary” to preserve our freedoms from these nut jobs....
That “nuclear option” issue had to do with Dem. filibustering of Bush’s judicial nominees. The Rats protested loudly about it, then the Gang of 14 agreement came in on judges.
How intellectully honest are these Democrats on filibusters? They were all in favor of having the filibuster option when they were in the minority. Now that they are the majority, they think the filibuster shouldn’t be used, or be used on this healthcare monstrosity?
I prefer intellectual honesty in all politicians, Dem. Rep, or other parties. If a filibuster is a good legislative tool, then it’s good whether Dems. or Republicans are in charge. Then it’s good whether the Senate is controlled by the same party as the president or not. The view of the filibuster should not change depending on which party is in control, or what the specific issue before the Senate is.
At least, that’s true if we’re being intellectually honest. If we won’t be intellectually honest then the Democrats will push anything through and damn the Republicans.
Well, Obama himself said he wants opponents to sit down and shut the blank up, and stay out of the way while he cleans up the mess.
They don’t need the Moderate Republicans. They need their own Democrats first. No Republican is holding this up.
And ACORN and the usual suspects would be surrounding his house.......
“The damage could easily be undone after the 2010 elections since most of this monstrosity will not be enacted until 2013.”
Unlike taxes, executive orders, etc., this is an entitlement, like Social Security and Medicare. It’s my understanding that it can’t be rolled back, which is why the Left is so desparate to pull the trigger now. The foundation will start to be laid long before 2013 and this is their last best hope to get this rammed through.
Surely you jest...........
Please no one misunderstand me. I am not calling for violence, but if they try this, there would be armed insurection in the streets.
A Democrat would say that was out of order, the Chair would rule in his favor, the Republican would object, then it would go to a vote. 51 Senators can change ANY rule or parliamentary procedure.
Not really as the each are unprecedented means to by-pass the time honored collegiality of the Senate and obliterate any minority considerations ....
The maddening thing is that the Pubs WILL NOT stand up against the cheating liar RATS and the RATS couldn’t care LESS about the republican “minority rights”. They will run rough-shod over the Pubs and the American public and we have NO DEFENDERS in government!!!
Intellectual dishonesty? How about out and out dishonesty.
(I’m not disagreeing with you, just venting.)
So, what's new? Like father like son.
No...I don’t think so. Although more people are getting involved with this issue, I think the public would pretty much sigh and roll over.
At least until those health care consequences start landing on their front doorsteps, THEN when somebody’s wife, mother or disabled kid gets denied care, you might have some violence. But it’ll be far, far too late at that point.
“I agree, but the two twits I mentioned have been on my radar longer than he, and they’re the first who come to mind. Every time... “
True. Most likely Snowe and Collins will vote with Dems.
One thing everyone is forgetting about reconciliation - it can ONLY be used if the bill expires within 10 years. Remember the Bush tax cuts and the fact that they had to expire in 2010? That is because it was passed via reconciliation.
Unless Obamacare has a sunset provision of 10 years, it can’t be passed with reconciliation.
I guess if they lock out the 40 Republicans then it can pass with 31 votes in the Senate.
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