Harry Reid wimps on Health Care: Demand that he "stays with no delays" in August until a bill is done
By John Amato Thursday Jul 23, 2009 6:00pmHere's Harry Reid telling us it's time to get serious on health care. Well, WhenTF is he going to get SERIOUS?
Harry Reid is caving to the pressure from the do no nothing Max Baucus caucus and says that he's fine with no bill being voted on before the August recess.
WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday abandoned plans for a vote on health care before Congress' August recess, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama's ambitious timetable to revamp the nation's $2.4 trillion system of medical care.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., delivered the official pronouncement on what had been expected for weeks, saying, "It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through." His words were a near-echo of Republicans who have criticized the rush to act on complex legislation that affects every American.
Reid told reporters the Senate Finance Committee will act on its portion of the bill before lawmakers' month-long break. Reid then will merge that bill with separate legislation passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee earlier this month.
The process will be difficult since Finance, led by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is seeking a bipartisan deal while the health committee bill was passed by Democrats on a party-line vote.
We need to call his office (202 224 3542) repeatedly to demand that they get a bill done and voted on by the August recess or they should forfeit their vacations because they have an obligation to Americans across this country to get it done. Here's what's at cost if we delay while these House of Lords take their royal time off:
Some in Congress are talking about delaying health care reform for another three weeks through the August Congressional recess. Just to put a fine point on it, over three weeks in America:
- 143,250 people will lose their health insurance coverage [pdf]
- 53,507 people will file for bankruptcy because they can't pay their medical bills
- 1,265 people will die [pdf] because they lack coverage
There is a real human cost of even a few weeks in America without health reform. And there is no logical reason for the delay
.
Does Harry Reid want Americans to suffer while they go water skying and play in their sandboxes? Please contact his office and tell the leader of the Royal House to stay at work. (202 224 3542) Nancy Pelosi has taken my advice and will cancel the August recess and now President Obama has come out and said that he wants them to work.
a senior administration official said Reid's announcement does not change Obama's timetable, with the president still wanting House and Senate votes before the upcoming recess.
Who is really the president here, Chuck Grassley?
As Digby says:
The article makes it sound like Republicans asked for a delay, and Reid AGREED to it.
Should we just let Mitch McConnell be Majority Leader at this point?
...I should mention that I haven't seen reports of that Baucus/Finance Committee/public option deal anywhere else. Things are very fluid and I still feel that most stakeholders in the debate are resigned to something called "public option" in the final bill. Whether it's good or not remains to be seen. But conceding the recess and allowing the Finance Committee to delay and dictate the terms is unconscionable.
And don't forget to sign the petition by Midnight to make sure the House does their jobs too.
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This ass clown even _talks_ like an insurance salesman. I don't want guaranteed health, INSURANCE, you damn corrupt fool. I want universal health CARE.
Because your dying countrymen can wait.
harry reid's word is as
limp and flacid as his intentions.
a blade of grass in a breeze
has more backbone than he does.
Given the statistics quoted above, that represents a lot of human loss while he enjoys his "wwll deserved" break.
What a spineless sack of crap! Reid might as well do a reverse Specter and come back from the recess as a Rethug.
'Course, then again, maybe he's using the time off to try and grow a pair...
It is too late for Sen. Reid to "grow a pair".
He wouldn't know a set of balls if they tripped him going into the Senate Office Building.
......as a result of Reid's lack of leadership and lack of urgency regarding health care reform plus his catering to the right-wing nuts who want this defeated? A normal human would not be able to sleep with this on his mind but, then again, these are not normal people.
sadly, I agree.
We need someone in there with some balls.
Reid caving in to Republicans is simply a conditioned response...from a battered spouse.
Reid makes a perfect "battered spouse"
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Harry Reid wimps? Say it isn't so!!
Next your going to tell me Nancy Pelosi's beard is due to one too many face lifts.
It appears she's only had a very bad "brow lift".
(Less "down time").
Gutless Fuckers
I would like to vote here and now that we remove the word "milquetoast" from the English vocabulary and replace it with the word "reid".
Milquetoast is a classy word - it's subtle and completely useful.
Reid is not.
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Then why does Reid keep letting Republicans and Blue Dog fake Democrats kick sand in his face?
Not much of a boxer. Not much of a Senator. Not much of an American.
We've got to do better than Harry Reid.
He hasn't taken near as many falls in the ring as he has in congress.
...pounded in his face. He certainly seems to love it now.
They're NOT the Blue Dog Dems.
They're the Blue Cross Dems
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who rose to his position by dumb luck (time/seniority).
It's the good ol' boys club...and it just happens to be his "turn" at the helm.
Barbara's a better Boxer than Reid.
Nothing like making conservatives actually work. It goes directly against their nature.
What was the crowning achievement of the do nothing 104th Republican congress? the renaming Washington National airport after St. Ronnie?
Thanks for the encouragement offered in earlier posts, but it's hard to see how it's not just plain over. Obama requested the votes before the recess and with all his political capital and even with a 60 vote threshold in the senate, it could not get done. That gives the various groups and Repub figures opposed to health care reform three full weeks to use their echo chambers like Fox News to trumpet their opposition. It gives Republicans like DeMint, Kristol and Steele the ability to crow about their ability to win a delay.
Reid is a lunatic if he believes the things agreed to before the recess with stand after the break, given the momentum of the opposition. Really, history will not record a worse majority leader.
America will not get meaningful HC reform, it will be a long, slow year and a half until the midterms. I would remind asshats like Reid that elections are fluid and it will be on his head when the nation witnesses a Repub party that shows surprising strength in 2010. With no signature accomplishment to point to beyond the stimulus, Obama is destined to join Bush 1 and Carter as one term wonders. Romney? Palin?
I'm just glad I have my Canadian passport. I love you Obama, but your party blew it.
But don't lose all hope.
These schmucks are returning to their home districts and most, if not ALL, of them will get an earful from the locals.
I can guarantee you the Congressman from my district (Rep. Olver, (D) The Berkshires), will be getting an earful/eyeful.
He may be singing a "different tune" after his little "recess".
"SINGLE PAYER....NO RETREAT! NO SURRENDER!!!"
awesome...but I ain't holdin my breath!
Like I say, Obama will stroll through this term and handoff the Presidency to Hillary and Bill. The deal is cast in stone. You betcha. Stall, stall, stall,.....
This guy is a good example of what is wrong with the Democratic Party. Weak and spineless. No balls...no ethical standard at all...and NOT looking out for the American public, only his own little self interests of "getting re-elected". Time for a turnover in NV.
Disgusting!
the "leaders" of our party? They get handed a mandate from the people as well as the people's rebuke of Con ideals and what do they do? Cave to the fucking Cons every damned chance they get!!
Reid and Pelosi are the two holding us back the most. They should be in charge of their Chambers but instead every little nobody freshman talks shit to them and tells them what to do.
Reid and Pelosi, YOU ARE FUCKING PATHETIC!!! DIE ALREADY SO WE CAN REPLACE YOU WITH SOMEONE WHO WILL ACTUALLY FIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!! GOD, I HATE YOU!!
mailbox is full at reid's office
Well if they can pretend that people aren't dieing, losing their lively hoods, and other things because of there inaction when it comes to health care then aren't they already on vacation? That seem like a nice little place to be where people are happy and no one is suffering I want to go there for my next vacation. They don't need another vacation they need to get back to helping we the people with the down right criminal insurance companies and health care industry.
March on this mother fucker.
MARCH
NOW
TODAY
GO OUTSIDE AND SCREAM.
MARCH
NO ONE IS FOR US.
vacation...riding the gravy train into a fully paid retirement with health care for all.
I guess Reid can make them stay in session, but I don't think that will ensure whatever piece of crap bill comes out of the committees will be passed in both houses anyway, or will really solve the problem.
Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing for all these Congress Critters to go to their home states/districts and get some in-your-face, one-on-one time with the people they're supposed to be 'representing' (I was gonna' say "serving", but that's never happened in my lifetime).
If enough uninsured, under-insured, bankrupt, jobless, homeless people show up at their state offices or homes, maybe they'll have a better understanding about what the Will of the People actually means. I can hope.....
g me?
Or is Dancing with the Stars on?
WE NEED TO MARCH NOW.
My baby demands it.
Or someone else will take care of it?
Iranians have more guts than the average American fat ass citizen.
Sorry if My Fat ass can't abandon my ailing mother and my three nephews to go match a few thousands miles. Fuck you. Insulting us people who can't go is not going to help a god damn thing. All it does is Make people not want to go because assholes like you will be there waiting.
It's a given that most Americans are politically ignorant and apathetic. Even "huge" demonstrations attract only a tiny percentage of Americans.
Your response was completely unnecessary, unless you consider yourself an "average American fat ass citizen," since that is who The Carpenter was referencing.
If you are an average fat ass American, then The Carpenter was correct about you and you have no legitimate gripe with what he or she wrote. If you have valid reasons for not being actively involved, then The Carpenter wasn't talking to or about you, so once again you have no legitimate gripe.
Your comment -- "All it does is Make [sic] people not want to go because assholes like you will be there waiting" -- is silly and reflects the thinking of a child. If you have the time and other necessary resources, then failing to get involved because you don't like someone (or that person's attitude) is ridiculous. In my experience, people who say things like this are more than likely looking for an excuse to not act. We heard it constantly during the presidential campaign -- Hillary supporters weren't going to vote for Obama because they didn't like some of his supporters.
So, why not reconsider your response. If you have legitimate responsibilities that preclude your marching, fine. No one expects you to abandon an ailing mother (if the time required to march would actually harm her), but that isn't the only way to be positively involved.
I think The Carpenter's comparison of Americans to Iranians was a waste of time. Our situations are very different and it isn't necessary to hold up the Iranians' behavior as a model to demonstrate that the American people, for the most part, are lazy, apathetic slugs when it comes to important political issues. There are many objective measures of our failings that don't depend on the behavior of anyone else.
It can't be I'm simpley tired of these big mouthed jackasses that call the rest of us names because we can't at the drop of a hat march on washington. Nice to see you defend the guy above who is dismissing people who call or write you know things they can do since they have to take care of others. Also you can go right ahead and try to pretend he/she was talking about just a small group of We the people, I'll be over here in reality were he basicly said anyone that will not march is a lazy fat ass.
I got a better idea why don't you stopping defending people who seem to think it is just laziness that is stop us from marching. I'd love to march on washington But I can't just like most of us here in the USA. We have Jobs and/or people who count on us. Calling those that can't march names and trying to paint us as some how not willing is not going to help anyone.
I read what he/she said it seemed to me the comment was limited to people who don't act, but could, not to those who can't (for whatever reason) act.
Who's pretending it's a small group of people? I'm not. In reality, it's a huge group. Remember what percentage of Americans can't be bothered to vote. That's something virtually everyone could do if it were important enough.
I'd attribute it as much or more to apathy and ignorance. I suppose lazy people are more likely to be apathetic and ignorant.
I wasn't defending the other person as much as I was suggesting you relax and don't take something personally if it doesn't apply to you. For financial and health reasons there is no possibility of my marching in Washington, D.C. However, I will certainly do what I can to march locally. I know how I feel about these issues, so I don't read myself into a statement like the one to which you responded so angrily. If you want to curse people out for being disgusted with the level of commitment most Americans demonstrate about serious issues -- even those involving life and death -- that's your prerogative. Personally, I think it's a waste of time. There is a tremendous amount of crude and vulgar invective tossed around on the Internet, and very little of it accomplishes anything beyond making the commenter look bad. However, I think it is fair for people to rail against Harry Reid for his spineless, non-leadership; against Republicans for their general insanity and dishonesty; and at most Americans for their lack of commitment and involvement. If the American people really wanted substantive, progressive health care reform, they could get it. That's because the computers in D.C. would be crashing under the load of millions of emails; the offices would be searching for storage space for the millions of snail mail messages inundating them; and every time a politician appeared at a public forum he or she would be greeted with thousands of angry, jeering protesters. But that isn't happening. And the failure is not because everyone has to take care of a sick parent. There are more than 200 million people in the US over the age of twenty. That is more than enough people to stun sleazy politicians into submission if only a small percentage is consistently active on important issues. They're not.
And I see this as largely a matter of perspective. If you really do have an ailing mother (many people do) and others who depend on you, then you have nothing to be defensive about -- and that is how your comment came across to me. I'd like to see the level and tone of Internet discourse elevated significantly. That's why I try not to use vulgar language (in name-calling) and generally try to keep things civil.
I was a delegate for Obama at my county convention (I couldn't go further because of a scheduling conflict); I did volunteer work for his campaign despite serious chronic illness; and gave him money, despite being unable to work. I did all that because I felt it was vital that McCain not be elected. By election day I had some serious reservations about Obama and they have mostly deepened since January 21. When I have voiced dismay at some of Obama's policies or actions, I've been cursed and accused of all manner of perfidy, including being called a troll, a Republican, and a PUMA. All by people whose sole contribution to the election of Obama was to cast a vote. There are countless people like that in both political parties and they poison public discussion. Even so, I refuse to get in name-calling matches with them. I'd rather stick to issues and substance.
Only you know what you truly can and can't do. And you owe nothing to people who you believe are questioning your commitment. On the other hand, you don't have to contribute to the lowering of the standards of discourse. As Abbywood says in the following comment -- "don't be angry." Save your anger for people like Reid, Baucus, Feinstein, and the many other Democrats who are not representing the needs of their constituents. Do what you can, and don't worry about general comments in blog forums.
I will represent you when I go to NYC on Tuesday, July 28th to deliver thousands of petitions to ABC protesting the fact that they are consciously censoring any discussion of Single Payer in their health care coverage.
Don't be angry! Do what you need to do! The rest of us have your back (and your nephews and mom's).
Abbybwood, R.N.
kick ass Abbywood!
But I can't go to the doctor to get my ears checked because I can't get health insurance because my congreesman needs August Off.
Fuck. That. Running.
If his VMbox is full, then e-mail him:
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
I just did. You don't need to be poetic or anything; just say you want him to stay and work through the August recess if he needs to, in order to get the health-care bill done.
I just did, too (thanks for the link). Funny thing, though; it felt sorta' like pissing into a 40 MPH headwind. Oh well, so much for the theory of representative government, eh?
I just sent my polite but blunt letter to my Senator, Harry Reid, requesting that he require the senate to remain in session and that he dispense with the 60 vote cloture rule and force the Republicans to filibuster.
Let's see if we have even 51 Democratic senators that will do the right thing.
E-Mail the White House instead. Tell Obama to sign an executive statement rescinding the health care of each and every one of them.
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N/T
Single payer's good enough for them, but TOO good for the likes of us!
FUCK THAT!
Great,Leave it to jellyfish spine to throw a wrench in the works.
We allow these horn toads to blow smoke up our collective asses at election time and then lay back and piss and moan while they rape us. Do ya' think anything might be wrong with that? Just a little maybe?
Isn't it time for US to do something about these unfeeling, despicable ingrates that we are allowing to rob us blind? They are going to work it out that the pharmas, the hospitals, the insurance co's, anyone that makes a buck off our suffering, winds up making more so that these crooks that we elected line their pockets - MORE!
And we'll keep dying, losing our homes, losing our life savings, our families will continue to suffer - - and they will laugh all the way to the bank who, btw - will be doing the same things to us.
Pathetic...
March on them I say.
They should go on vacation. But ...
Obama needs to immediately sign an executive statement rescinding the health care of each and every one of their sorry asses - no exceptions.
Until they have to join the ranks of the rest of us - the crisis is entirely an abstract for them. Most of them don't even regard this as a crisis. Yet they're the ones deciding about the issue that is destroying American families by the thousands - every month - right now.
Yes - I know they can afford the expensive health care out there. Fine - let them spend their vacations looking for a policy and finding out what the market is really like.
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REID is as useless as LIEberman. Only difference is that Reid has no huevos, or backbone. At least LIEberman has convictions and will stick to them ewven if I don't agree with any of his convictions he still stands up for them... REID, not so much!
Please inform Senator Reid.
...because he is so unpopular back home. He's got to return to Nevada and try to figure out how to boost his approval ratings.
And, no, it would never occur to Harry Reid that the way to boost his approval ratings is to be an effective leader in the Senate who gets legislation vital to the well-being of his constituents enacted into law.
More than likely, he'll go back to Nevada and meet with his big donors so he can amass a campaign war chest that will allow him to create ads that present him as an effective leader in the Senate who gets legislation vital to the well-being of his constituents enacted into law.
Harry Reid is the "Brown 25" of 2009.
But he won't do anything to gain credibility, like PASSING LEGISLATION BENEFICIAL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
I'm not screaming at you, just furstrated to the point of bad spelling.
Reid is a useless pathetic wimp and is as big a problem for Obama and the Democratic party as the corrupt self serving corporate dog "Dems" , all need to be purged from the party . With " leadership " like this who needs adversaries ? When will the Dems ever get their act together ?
Spineless jelly fish is the universal, or consensus description of REID on here tonight, but seriously folks, what else could we expect? That's been his M.O. for the last 8 - 9 years. Throughout the BUSH admin all we got from this MORMON JACKASS with his slimy UNDERBELLY and spineless back, was some sort of neutered BEHAVIOR and literally NO ACTION, or confrontation whatever. No fight at all. REID just rolled over and let the Republithugs do whatever. He was totally INTIMADATED by their every move. His excuse was, "WWe have no power." What the phuck is his excuse NOW?
Stop trying to act like everyone wants this. The more people hear about it, the less they want it.
It sounded good until they heard the details and what would actually happen.
Take your time Congress, let the American people find out what this bill is all about. Anything less would be irresponsible.
Brillant, what a brillant move by Reid! He gave the Repubs the month of Aug to "ACTUALLY" come up with a plan! No more excuses,no more holding up blank sheets of paper,no more holding faux press conferences claiming that in a few days the Repubs will introduce their plan, it's over now! Come Sept "The Excuse Express" will finally have sputtered to a stop!
The "Party of Negativity," the "Party of No" will finally have met it's own Waterloo!
he hasn't fooled anyone in a while.
They have to get back to their states so that they can get their face lifts and penile implants paid for by the Cadillac med insurance that we buy for them.
when i went to 538 today i knew they were talking about C&L
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/07/health...
So once again Harry shows amzing weakness. The repubes don't need anymore seats in the senate as long as the waekest leader in the history of the senate is in charge. I have been saying it for years, HARRY and NANCY MUST GO. Certainly the dems have others in line that can show more passion and power. Why have a majority when you act like you fear the minority.
Maybe it's working. It's just after 8:00 AM here in KC and his phone is already swamped.
Keep it up!!!!!
I don't know how this spineless excuse for a man ever made it to the mic in the first place. Boneless chickens can't walk, I guess.
Yup! the other day in the big lets get behind BACK-UP Reid I went one step further, I sent him a email telling him that he and CAVE IN Pelosi were going to do that. All I can say is BACP-UP thanks for proving me right you are sorry and GUTLESS.
watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biTdTvg6K7w&fe...
we get guys like OUT of congress. they spent there life sucking the life out of the American people.
"It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through."
WTF?!? Reid, what kind of Majority Leader *are* you? I know we're not right-wingers, but a LITTLE attention to phrasing, "framing" and spin might not hurt us, you know? Why would you characterize it as "jamming something through"? That makes it sound like you're criticizing the behavior of your own party and your own President, dummy!
Harry Reid is a Republican. Let's not kid ourselves. Bill Maher had it right: the Democrats are the new Republicans (led by the Blue Dogs, of course)...
Thom Hartmann has a weekly show with Bernie Sanders calling in. First hour Fridays (it's 9 am Pacific time).
Today Bernie was explaining the level of corruption that congress has reached. He mentioned that thousands die every year for lack of health insurance (I forgot the number but he quoted it), at the same time Congress accepts $$$ 3 MILLION $$$$ A DAY in bribes to keep the show going.
I am sure Reid is keeping this going because it is so LUCRATIVE TO THE SENATORS. They are filling their coffer with bribes while the people sharpen their pitchforks.
Tell you what. Somebody out there in Nevada and Montana better get off their flabby butts and oust these turkeys. We the people will not travel to or do business with you guys until you do. GET IT?
Now keep this in mind: How many of US have to die for lack of health care while these traitors continue to collect bribes? Imagine if the $3 Million a day went to the medical needs of these people who will otherwise die? Hmmm. Does that make these senators murderers?
Oh wait, they already ARE murderers. Remember the WARS they start? They're just bringing the death home again.
We need to jump on election reform just as hard as we are on HEALTH CARE. Which means DON'T LET UP. DON'T LET UP. CALL YOUR KRITTERS AND RAISE HELL. KEEP DOING IT. The President is actually requesting that we do so.
Why do the Dems always have to shoot themselves in the foot? Time for the Democrats to unite and get it done. there is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588
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