Historic vote looms on Capitol Hill today
It’s a big day, perhaps even a historic day on Capitol Hill today as the House opens floor debate on the health care bill. Lots of drama, intrigue and horse-trading as Nancy Pelosi tries to herd at least 218 cats — aka Democrats — onto the “Yea” side of the yeas and nays. (The Republicans say they will vote unanimously against the bill.)
So, if your favorite college football team is getting waxed and you can’t bear to watch any longer, you can switch over to watch democracy in action on C-Span all day and into the evening. Paul Kane at the Washington Post has a good “viewers’ guide” on the day’s proceedings.
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664 comments Add your comment
jconservative
November 7th, 2009
10:23 am
Representative Jim Marshall, Democrat from the Macon area, has announced a NO vote on the House bill.
There are sure to be other NO votes from the Democratic side.
I would vote NO because I see nothing in any bill that addresses the pending crisis in Medicare/Medicaid in the next 10 years. Sweeping the dirt under the rug accomplishes nothing.
Go Jackets & Dawgs!
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
10:34 am
Good, new thread, thank you, Jay, now it’s back to nasty as normal around here! A time and a place for it all…
getalife
November 7th, 2009
10:42 am
The dems in red districts will vote no, the bill will pass with 218.
LSU will beat Alabama.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
10:44 am
All right, let the good times roll–Barney Frank’s latest, here’s a good one for the snicker snicker crowd…whoo, whee! And he claims he “didn’t know” what his partner was up to? Unh, huh, sure. What kind of relationship is that? Of course, Barney’s got his on problems here with the cat herding and the more pressing issue of this bill and I wish him luck there, but let’s do be fair and balanced in our snicker snicker…
Joan
November 7th, 2009
10:44 am
If you want to call this Democracy go ahead. But those lunatics in Congress are certainly not representing the people that put them there, except maybe Pelosi since she comes from the land of fruits and nuts. The passage of this bill will prove absolutely that government and those in control have taken off on “a frolic of their own” as they say in the law. They are no longer our agents or stewards of our faith. God help us all.
AmVet
November 7th, 2009
10:46 am
Off topic but damn encouraging…
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/11/05/kiss.wounded.soldiers.cnn
And in that clip they’re playing their best (IMHO) tune ever…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpRIQ_8ufqg
Brad Steel
November 7th, 2009
10:48 am
One of the few bright spots in the American health care morass: longevity expectations if you are over 65.
Hmm, that’s the same time Medicare kicks in. Coincidence? – no way.
I hope congress will move health care and our social safety net into the 21st century. Or maybe we can stay in the triangular hat, tea party era.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
November 7th, 2009
10:49 am
Um, this is socialism in action.
A “democracy” of The People and For the People would be concentrating on employment, the economy and deporting ragheads that openly admire the jihad.
Alas, we have this, instead.
Nothing Is Free
November 7th, 2009
10:51 am
Doing it on a Non-News day.
Making it take affect after Obama has ran for a second term.
It stinks. And it really stinks bad.
Thank God that this is just the House. Getting it through the Senate where there are much fewer legislators involved will point a huge spotlight on anyone voting for the bill. If the democrats can’t do it in the dark, where no one can blame them, it won’t pass.
They may not like personal responsibility, but their voters WILL hold them responsible for the votes they cast.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
10:54 am
AmVet–
@ 10:46
Igen! Es beszél magyarul!
Kiss? Now why doesn’t that surprize me?
AmVet
November 7th, 2009
10:54 am
And for all of you Yankee haters (and lovers), here’s a reason to dig Johnny Damon, the son of a Vietnam vet, for his work with that same organization…
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/content/view/373/919/
@@
November 7th, 2009
11:05 am
ABM:
My daughter, too, was reading at three. While whole language was the preferred method in kindergarten, my early attention to phonetics put her at a fifth grade reading level in kindergarten. Her teacher was astounded.
Unbeknownst to me, it’s benefited her greatly in her graduate studies. Transposing words into phonetic language. Both of her roommates are speech pathology majors. They can’t grasp it. It comes natural to my daughter.
Recent studies have shown that infants can better grasp phonetics/words because they respond to auditory and visual stimuli simultaneously.
Whodathunkit?
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:10 am
@@
Mine were reading at three, too. So was I. Same reason. We’re finally getting back to it in the classroom and us old f*rts are having to teach the teachers…whole language was a fiasco…
getalife
November 7th, 2009
11:13 am
I like Damon and thought he was the missing link for a Yankees come back. Saw him on Cribs and his wife is smoking hot. A very happy man.
Obama has them working on Saturday and making history again.
The right are using the same arguments they used for Social Security and Medicare.
It will have the same outcome.
@@
November 7th, 2009
11:18 am
Nothing is Free:
I’m outta here after this comment. I was delving into what goes on behind the scenes when selecting a candidate…Dem or Rep. What I found most interesting was the different way constituents respond.
Dems? Go along to get along. It’s all about the party/collective. Baaa aaaa
Conservatives? A resistance to being led by politicians. Principles are what drive us. Freedom from government interference being the most important.
Just my perspective. 2 cents and NOW……I’m outta….
getalife
November 7th, 2009
11:20 am
Getting ugly already with gop trying to disrupt the process.
#1 Foxy Lady
November 7th, 2009
11:22 am
Fixing the health care system is gonna be another big win for President Barak H. Obama.
SUCK IT LOSERS!!!
Bruno
November 7th, 2009
11:24 am
“:-OMG! I LUV’D that Springsteen, “She’s the One”. Had me dancin’ with a capital “D”.
“Thanks for the heartwarming story…gives you pause to think about our own petty little “problems,” doesn’t it?”
Thanks for the shouts, @@ and josef.
“Django Reinhardt’s music”
Django was one of Jerry Garcia’s musical heroes and cited him as a big influence and inspiration.
Kamchak–Good job with “The Living Years”
AmVet–Sometimes it’s like your in my living room pulling out my favorite CDs. Awesome Elton John selections, a couple of my favorites.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:26 am
BRUNO
Django Reihardt was also a big influence on BB King…
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:28 am
Fixing the health care system? This is a kiss it, make it all better, put a band-aid on it, take two aspirins and call me in the morning. Better than nothing, true, but not by much…
Bruno
November 7th, 2009
11:31 am
“Fixing the health care system is gonna be another big win for President Barak H. Obama.”
Unfortunately, the approach taken by the Democrats isn’t going to fix anything except the wallets of the insurance companies. The #1 problem in our health care system is waste and fraud. A Price Waterhouse audit recently put the figure at 55% of all dollars spent on health care. Forcing everyone to purchase insurance at the point of a gun does nothing to address this. If single-payer is the goal, then be honest and put single-payer out there for a vote.
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:31 am
ROLL TIDE!!!
josef
No snicker, snicker before noon!!
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:35 am
ABM–
Gotcha! But what am I to do with all those snicker snicker bars left over from Hallowe’en?
Bruno–forgot…Jerry Jeff Walker named his son Django…
Bruno
November 7th, 2009
11:35 am
ABM–Any opinion that Alabama can cover a (-7 1/2) spread today? I’m leaning toward LSU, but have a hard time betting against Alabama.
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:36 am
Bruno
That’s scary if the PWC figures are anywhere near correct. If you add in the overhead costs with that, there’s gotta be room for the ins companies to overhaul the system on their own without gov’t intervention.
What needs to happen is that citizens need to band together themselves and fight the system. Start co-ops and networks where the citizen can take care of each other and avoid the middle man altogether.
Bruno
November 7th, 2009
11:37 am
Gotta run and get my picks together. Here’s an oldie but goodie for everyone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbJciFPDJ7I
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:38 am
Bruno
I don’t know about that spread. I’m thinking it’s going to be a nail-biter. I’m predicting LSU on the short end by no more than 3.
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:39 am
josef
After noon, it’s ok to break out the snicker, snicker. But just like anything else, do it in moderation. Too much of anything is never good for you.
Bruno
November 7th, 2009
11:40 am
“I don’t know about that spread. I’m thinking it’s going to be a nail-biter. I’m predicting LSU on the short end by no more than 3.”
I’m thinking along the same line, barring an outright upset. For some reason the Tide O has cooled off despite no major personnel changes. Their D is tight, but LSU will likely score around 21 points, I think.
AmVet
November 7th, 2009
11:45 am
B, glad you like that Reg Dwight stuff. For a few years he was amazing…
He just didn’t haven’t the staying power this guy did.
From 1972…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG5VEYAqnQw&feature=related
And from 2008..
We didn’t want no trouble
But trouble’s what we have
You call it paranoia
And have yourself a laugh
And avoid the confrontation
Until some other year
Somebody call the boys cause there’s no men in here
Some are unready, some are unwilling
Some are still able but ain’t got the feeling
Talking real loud at the back of the crowd
I’m calling you by name to bite the bullet
Manup
http://www.lala.com/#song/1657606195417222896
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:46 am
ABM
Right you are! Gotta keep that cute and sweet to a minimum!
BTW–so, you’re working with her on phonics? That’s the way to go in my opinion…there’s a great deal to recommend to tried and true…
Common Sense/Block #23
November 7th, 2009
11:48 am
“Too late for the ballot box,
Too early for the revolution.”
Common Sense/Block #23
November 7th, 2009
11:51 am
P.S. “Off Topic” ………..
Every soldier killed or wounded at Ft. Hood should receive a purple heart. This was just another battle in the War on Islamic Terrorism.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:52 am
ABM put it best on election day…too far to the left, swing right. Too far to the right, swing left. The problem is there’s nothing in the center to catch and hold and that’s too bad. That’s where most Americans are (not me, but then, G-d forbid, I should ever be in power!).
TW
November 7th, 2009
11:53 am
Why did we have to wait for the Dems to get control before we moved to fix healthcare?
Why didn’t the right do something about this earlier in the decade when they were green-lighting everything else that tickled their fancy?
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:56 am
josef
Not really focusing on phonics, but it kinda works out that way. She just picks up on everything. She’s like her daddy though, she can’t get enough of books.
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
11:58 am
josef
I thought about drafting a letter to all moderates in Congress regardless of party affiliation about forming a third Centrist party and saying to hell with the other two. I think between moderate Repubs and Blue Dog Dems, we could turn that idea into a game changer.
Fair to Middling
November 7th, 2009
11:59 am
But, the GOP has an alternate health care plan. Their plan would extend coverage to an additional 3 million people by 2019. That only leaves 52 million uninsured while lowering the cost of health insurance for some by as much as 0 percent. And, the Republican bill will reduce the deficit over a 10 year period by 68 billion while the Democrat bill only reduces the deficit by 104 billion over the same time frame and extend coverage to most of those 52 million US citizens that the Republicans claim that we simply cannot afford to cover.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
11:59 am
ABM–
Children who see their parents reading see it as a just another part of life. If the parents don’t read, generally neither do their children. “Our children learn more by watching us than they do by listening to us” holds true…
@@
November 7th, 2009
12:00 pm
Oops! In my crocs (oh so ugly) and on my way out to the yard. Can’t let this one go without commenting.
KISS Gene Simmons…..he is conservative to the bone when it comes to the U.S.’s foreign policy and fiscal responsibility. For an old guy, I find him hot…hot…HOT!!!!
If I can find it, I’ll bring an online response he published to some pacifist that questioned his support for the War in Iraq….complete with strong profanity.
Yowzah!
Later…
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
12:06 pm
ABM @ 11:58
I agree wholeheartedly and now with this increasingly rigid polarization which is alienating great chunks of society would be a good time. The narrow agenda ridden (of whom I am one) have hijacked the two parties and have squared off against each other like two playground bullies and it would be fun except for the fact that their playground is the lawmaking arena…
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
12:07 pm
josef
“Our children learn more by watching us than they do by listening to us”
I’ve found that out recently. Anytime she sees sports on tv now, the ABD pumps her fist in the air and chants, “Go, go, go…” It’s both amusing and astonishing at the same time. It doesn’t matter what sport either. I’m just amazed that she knows the difference between sporting events and non sporting ones.
Angry Black Man
November 7th, 2009
12:11 pm
That you admit to being a part of the narrow agenda ridden says a lot about your character. I think we could turn you into a moderate.
I see nothing wrong with people having an agenda and working to get their agenda heard and acted on. My problem is when you try to force your agenda on everyone even if it’s to their detriment. When the Constitution says “to form a more perfect union”, I don’t think it wasn’t referring to personal implications but to finding the best solutions for the country as a whole. It seems as if we’ve gotten away from that in the last 30-40 years. We need another “greatest generation” to bring that focus back.
jconservative
November 7th, 2009
12:13 pm
“But those lunatics in Congress are certainly not representing the people that put them there.”
Wrong. Yes they are representating the people who put them there. A big portion of the citizens of this country want a big government health care system. Their congressmen will vote as they wish them to vote, unless an individual congressman feels he can lead his constitutents to another position. Few have the guts for that.
Fair to Middling
November 7th, 2009
12:16 pm
During the Industrial Revolution, workers who got sick didn’t earn money, so they formed what they called “friendly societies.” These were cooperatives into which workers paid monthly premiums, pooling their resources so they could continue the cash wages of workers who got sick. Those cooperatives became what are now called “sickness funds” in Germany.
Around the same time, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were stirring up the masses with their tracts, including “The Communist Manifesto.” To Otto von Bismarck, the so-called Iron Chancellor of Germany, it seemed that the only way to stop the growth of communism was to take the wind out of its sails by giving low-income people the things they craved — health care, education and a social safety net in general. So in 1883, he passed the Imperial Insurance Order which made it mandatory that all workers up to a certain income threshold pay premiums to such sickness funds. The R.V.O. still governs German health care, although it’s had a thousand amendments in the meantime.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
12:23 pm
ABM
Some of my opinions scare ME! The Unmentionable said of me, “just because he’s not looking for compromise doesn’t mean he doesn’t think it’s the best idea.” I’m perfectly happy being a part of the agenda-ridden since, be we left or right, it is us that the compromising should be listening to Take this healt care bill for example. I’m not at all happy with it. I want free, universal health care and won’t be satisfied until…but that puts me on the fringe and I know it. Then there are those who want the government out of it entirely, just as lunatic fringe. Somewhere in between is where most Americans are and that, using your choice of phrases, is where lies our more perfect union.
getalife
November 7th, 2009
12:23 pm
LSU by three.
Geaux Tigers.
The cons are following the progressive model of getting rid of moderates.
Establishing term limits by purging the corrupt politicians should be the goal but this is as close as it will get. Go cons and progressives. Purge away.
josef nix
November 7th, 2009
12:30 pm
getalife
I agree on term limits and I think so does a comfortable majority. The problem is in getting the hawgs sloppin’ at the trough of the public coffer to agree and they’re the ones making the rules…a third party with term limits as a major plank of their platform would catch the public’s attention…
ROLLERGIRL
November 7th, 2009
12:35 pm
It will pass in the House, it will stall and die in the senate, and all the blue dog types who voted for it in the house …having been left out to dry by pelosi hussein obama…will be defeated as we will spend whatever it takes to do so
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
November 7th, 2009
12:36 pm
Well, here’s what we need to do about health care. Zero. Nothing.
I’m with the rest of the Conservatives here. I got mine and if you ain’t got yours it’s your fault. You made Bad Decisions and need to take Personal Responsibility.
Now if I was to loose mine I might could feel diffrent. But I ain’t lost mine so I say let the freeloaders fend for theirselfs. If a few die, well, that’s the way the old cookie crumbles. God didn’t guarantee you three score and ten years. Besides, we got two wars to fund and we can’t afford to throw away money on things that let people live.
Have a good Saturday everybody.