Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Historic and Dangerous Senate Mistake (by Bill Frist)
Wall Street Journal ^ | Feb 25, 2010 | Bill Frist

Posted on 02/25/2010 5:09:14 PM PST by SmartInsight

Americans want bipartisan solutions for major social and economic issues; they don't want legislative gimmicks that force unpopular legislation through the Senate. Thomas Jefferson once referred to the Senate as "the cooling saucer" of the legislative process. Using budget reconciliation in this way would dramatically alter the founders' intent for the Senate, and transform it from cooling saucer to a boiling teapot of partisanship.

Mr. Reid was right to rule out this option when this saga began last year. He would be wise to abandon it today.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; bhohealthcare; billfrist; frist; gop; gophealthcare; healthcare; obama; obamacare; reconciliation; reid; wsj
We'll see if the Dems will come to their senses -- it doesn't look like that now...
1 posted on 02/25/2010 5:09:14 PM PST by SmartInsight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

As I watched today i was wishing Dr Frist was still in the Senate...


2 posted on 02/25/2010 5:11:00 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

Americans want bipartisan solutions for major social and economic issues; they don’t want legislative gimmicks that force unpopular legislation through the Senate.
:::::::
The DemoRATS do not give a damn about what Americans want or need. All they care about is RULING OVER AMERICANS AND AMERICA. And that is very different from “governing”.


3 posted on 02/25/2010 5:11:19 PM PST by EagleUSA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight
A question?

If this monstrosity can be passed with 51 votes through reconciliation, couldn't it just as easily be repealed with 51 votes through reconciliation if Obama is defeated in 2012?

The dems would be wise to remember that...

4 posted on 02/25/2010 5:14:11 PM PST by apillar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EagleUSA

“The DemoRATS do not give a damn about what Americans want or need. All they care about is RULING OVER AMERICANS AND AMERICA. And that is very different from “governing”.”

You got that right!

Poll Shows Most Americans Oppose Using Reconciliation To Pass Health Care Reform

http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?Id=1222909

“According to the poll, which surveyed 1,009 adults on February 23, 52% of Americans oppose using reconciliation to pass health care reform compared to 39% who support it.

Note the poll was of “adults” — if they had polled voters, there would have been even more opposed and fewer in favor.


5 posted on 02/25/2010 5:22:19 PM PST by SmartInsight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

THE HOUSE IS KEY. THE VOTES ARE NOT THERE. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS PASS THE ORIGINAL. THEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT WEEKS AGO.


6 posted on 02/25/2010 5:25:41 PM PST by GUNGAGALUNGA (Democratus Suckus Teatus is the Latin root for Democrat and it means to tax)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight
Thomas Jefferson once referred to the Senate as "the cooling saucer" of the legislative process. Using budget reconciliation in this way would dramatically alter the founders' intent for the Senate...

The 17th Amendment dramatically altered the Founders' intent for the Senate.

The Senate used to be elected by the State Legislatures. This meant the Senate represented the interests of the several states. The House of Representatives was elected by the people, its numbers based on population, to represent the interests of the People. There were inherent balances in such a system which are lacking now.

7 posted on 02/25/2010 5:28:43 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

Well .. there has been rumbling all week that Pelosi doesn’t have the votes to pass Obamacare.

If that’s true .. the health care stuff is toast!


8 posted on 02/25/2010 5:37:06 PM PST by CyberAnt (Our RIGHTS are given to us by GOD; not Congress or the President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: apillar

I think it could be, especially since it wouldn’t be fully in effect then.


9 posted on 02/25/2010 5:49:14 PM PST by Ikemeister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Smokin' Joe

Yep. The people voting the Senate was a big mistake. It is dumbing down fast now, eg: Franken.


10 posted on 02/25/2010 5:58:46 PM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight

The very first sentence is incorrect... Americans want the gooberment to BUTT OUT!

LLS


11 posted on 02/25/2010 6:08:42 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (hussama will never be my president... NEVER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibLieSlayer

“The very first sentence is incorrect... Americans want the gooberment to BUTT OUT!”

Excellent observation!


12 posted on 02/25/2010 6:31:47 PM PST by SmartInsight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: apillar
The DEMS are overly desperate to pass some form of this bill because of all the "paybacks" that are written into it. They owe their contributors big time. You have to believe that unions are all over them demanding the perks that they were promised.

One example. A portion of the Senate bill dolls out $10,000,000,000 (billion) for "reinsurance". It just so happens that a person qualifying for this perk is extremely likely to be a laid-off union worker. So, the minute they pass this unsustainable mess, the money begins to flow to the unions. We will never get the money back, even if the bill is rescinded by the next Congress.

13 posted on 02/26/2010 3:42:29 AM PST by REPANDPROUDOFIT (General, sir, it's ok to call me "ma'am"!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: apillar

I think Reid set it up so that there would have to be 67 votes to repeal it. I wouldn’t see why that would be written in stone though.


14 posted on 02/26/2010 4:46:58 AM PST by goldi (')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SmartInsight; Kaslin

Thank you SI. I am not alone in my opinion, Kaslin.

LLS


15 posted on 02/26/2010 5:06:19 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (hussama will never be my president... NEVER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson