tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post263815780332463083..comments2024-01-03T05:23:36.046-08:00Comments on The Citizens: Barack Obama Isn't MagicUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-63658574197307502662010-02-02T09:27:05.477-08:002010-02-02T09:27:05.477-08:00I'm sorry, RBR, but I just can't stand it....I'm sorry, RBR, but I just can't stand it. We passed a bill in both houses, with a supermajority in the Senate. Both bills are broadly acceptable to the party as a whole. For the love of God, just pass the Senate version in the House. <br /><br />There are 10 seconds left in the game, we just scored a touchdown, and all we need to win is kick the extra point. Why the heck would we call a Time Out and consider a forfeit?The Law Talking Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17886791396468512490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-2890365030182912542010-01-27T06:53:14.868-08:002010-01-27T06:53:14.868-08:00"At this point, the "major concessions&q..."At this point, the "major concessions" appear to be doing nothing more than what the GOP is willing to vote for and what McCain governed on."<br /><br />I hate to dredge up this spat again, but I don't think it is realistic to assume that had the GOP won in 2008 that we would see this bill at all. The GOP had 6 years to enact their version of health care reform and I think it is safe to say that they did... that is they did nothing beyond a big give away to Big Pharma. <br /><br />In other words, I think our choice is not between "watered down Republican" reform and "real Democratic reform" but between watered reform and nothing at all.<br /><br />If the Democratic left doesn't make every concession they need to to get their foot in the regulatory door here, they will be setting up another decade of watching the Republicans continue to use health care regulations to had out subsidies to their corporate buddies.Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-64289969501853526812010-01-26T04:27:47.313-08:002010-01-26T04:27:47.313-08:00Actually, I wouldn't bet my ass on that, LTG. ...Actually, I wouldn't bet my ass on that, LTG. And here is why... http://www.lvrj.com/news/45387987.html <br /><br />Ried is in the fight of his life in a conservative state. He would be doomed if he looked to be "caving in to the liberals." Now, Nevada isn't Utah but if you look at its electoral history, when Republicans win they win by larger margins than those rare cases when Democrats win. <br /><br />But really, you are just speculating that Obama could strong arm Ried with such a show. You can't KNOW that it would work and there are good reasons to believe it wouldn't work at all. <br /><br />In my opinion, Ried is doomed either way. So he may as well do right by his party and use reconciliation. But he won't. <br /><br />I know most people seem to think the legislative branch is subservient to the President. But this view simply does not reflect the reality of the power relationships as set out in the Constitution. Yes, when a particularly centralized party is in power, they can short circuit the constitutional relationships a bit. But the Democratic party is not such a party and never has been. <br /><br />If I recall, I warned of this kind of problem with Ried when he was selected. I said it was dangerous to make a senator from a conservative state the majority leader. If I remember correctly, I warned that there might come a time when Ried would be forced to chose between a major Democratic party goal and getting reelected and we might not like the choice he made.Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-14048532254453294022010-01-25T14:02:46.369-08:002010-01-25T14:02:46.369-08:00This exaltation of the legislative branch has to b...This exaltation of the legislative branch has to be toned down a bit. Sure, Obama cannot force his own party to act in a particular way, but he wields enormous power and influence. If Obama lined up 51 Democratic Senators with him in favor of reconciliation, you bet your sweet ass that Reid would join them. Obama has the power to set the terms of the public debate over health care. He can empower Reid to use reconciliation by urging it. The real problem is that Obama wants Reid to pay the price for it and the political capital, instead of demanding it and using his own political capital to achieve it. Hence my accusation of cowardice. Reid didn't want to use reconciliation while the President talked of bipartisanship and implicitly threatened to strike a bipartisan-type deal (like baucus' committee bill) to triangulate himself from Reid/Pelosi. Reid needs, at least, the exhortation of the White House to show to his fellow senators as the reason for his behavior. Obama failed to give him that. and tomorrow at the SOU he will abandon health care altogether.The Law Talking Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17886791396468512490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-41366740158043043512010-01-25T13:04:29.476-08:002010-01-25T13:04:29.476-08:00The information here is great. I will invite my fr...The information here is great. I will invite my friends here.<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-42706973102913603002010-01-25T08:17:54.689-08:002010-01-25T08:17:54.689-08:00When you put "middle" and "major co...When you put "middle" and "major concessions" in quotations like that are you implying that what people say is the "middle" isn't really? Or that the concessions aren't really concessions? <br /><br />Let me ask you this. Suppose Obama committed his political capital to either trying to bully Lieberman and Nelson or trying to bully the liberals in the House and they still refused to cooperate. From what I can gather that isn't far from what he did. He - admittedly privately and covertly - tried to lean on both sides and neither really was willing to give much. That's why it dragged on for so long. <br /><br />When you say "its just cowardice" what do you mean? Do you mean that Obama et al are afraid of some backlash and that his fear is unfounded? Or are you saying that they are afraid of a backlash and that this fear is reasonable but the backlash should be risked anyway? <br /><br />Also, when you say "ram it through." Are you talking about using reconciliation? If so, then that's what I think they should do but that not a decision that is up to Obama, it is up to the Senate Majority Leader - who is running for reelection in a state that is considerably more conservative than most Democratic constituencies. Suppose Ried is the coward rather than Obama. What can Obama do to FORCE Ried to use reconciliation?Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-13067957244795655852010-01-25T07:40:58.512-08:002010-01-25T07:40:58.512-08:00It's just cowardice, RBR. With more political ...It's just cowardice, RBR. With more political tools in their pocket than any administration since LBJ - and more ideological unity than at any time since FDR - the Obama/Reid/Pelosi group is dealing from weakness and cowardice in all these issues.The Law Talking Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17886791396468512490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-41681975361901964272010-01-25T07:38:00.281-08:002010-01-25T07:38:00.281-08:00Um, yes, RBR, but the current Senate Bill contains...Um, yes, RBR, but the current Senate Bill contains unbelievable concessions to the "middle" - so much so that the left is refusing to pass it in the House (that is why Pelosi can't just ram it through). They ARE governing from the center. Governing from the left would be trying to get 50 Senators on board for single payer and having the VP's tiebreaker ram it through on reconciliation. <br /><br />At this point, the "major concessions" appear to be doing nothing more than what the GOP is willing to vote for and what McCain governed on. In other words, letting the minority rule. And a tiny minority at that.The Law Talking Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17886791396468512490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-12249927500637299352010-01-24T12:36:56.990-08:002010-01-24T12:36:56.990-08:00I seem to remember that, after the 2008 election, ...I seem to remember that, after the 2008 election, you (might have been someone else on the blog) said that the Democrats had to govern from the center. Making major concessions on health care reform is what that looks like.Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-66648124106455426092010-01-24T12:35:13.717-08:002010-01-24T12:35:13.717-08:00But the difference between a Republican and a Demo...But the difference between a Republican and a Democratic president may lie in the over representation of rural interests. That gives an inherent structural advantage to Republicans. It's easier for them to get lots of seats without becoming overly ideologically diverse. Remember, the Republicans were able to do a lot in party (not entirely though) because several Democrats went along with it or at least defended them (ala Lieberman).Raised By Republicanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03461006522141969925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6762928.post-39759054003217753372010-01-24T07:52:29.096-08:002010-01-24T07:52:29.096-08:00When Brown won in Massachusetts, Obama had options...When Brown won in Massachusetts, Obama had options. He could have gone on TV and said, "We are going to pass the Senate bill, now!" Instead he gave in and agreed to "scale back" health care reform. This is what is so irksome. The early surrender. Why not put it all on Pelosi's shoulders and force HER to bear the brunt of failure if she can't whip the house? Presidents are not impotent. George Bush got a lot of legislation passed with smaller majorities than the Democrats have now. Because he played hardball.The Law Talking Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17886791396468512490noreply@blogger.com