Senate Republicans Block Own Amendments on Health Care Bill
By scarce Wednesday Jul 15, 2009 5:45am
[YouTube]
Republican efforts to roadblock meaningful health care reform take on the fantastic and bizarre at times, and this example of Theatre of the Absurd is no exception. MyLeftNutmeg, a Connecticut blog, puts their silly manoeuvres into perspective:
This is a revealing moment from Monday's markup of the health care bill in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee that illustrates the level of procedural obstruction Senate Republicans are willing to rise to in order to impede its progress and in the hopes of killing its momentum.
At the opening of Monday's hearing, Sen. Dodd asked Sen. Enzi (R-WY), the ranking Republican on the committee, if he would agree to accept by unanimous consent a total of 64 Republican amendments. After a whisper from an aide, Enzi, a little perplexed and not a little embarrassed, refused to allow the 64 Republican amendments to be accepted, lowering his voice to mumble, "I think some of our members want votes on some of those." Dodd's visible exasperation and disbelief is priceless.
Sen. Enzi's pitiful performance here is visual proof of the aim of Senate Republicans - which is not to have their amendments heard, voted on, and accepted, but rather to drag out the legislative process as long as possible on health care reform. And they have many reasons to want to do so, as Brian Beutler at TPM notes:
if Congress enters recess with weeks of work left to do, party leaders may have to make a call; and those who oppose passing health care through the reconciliation process -- Republicans and some Democrats -- might be trying to run out the clock -- to call leadership's bluff, or, at the very least, to touch off a game of legislative chicken.
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Once again the Repubs prove they are the party of nothing, who stand for nothing and will accomplish nothing. True to form I guess.
let the repuKKKes file 64 amendments, while Dems submit 13. I hate these fucking politicians, both parties.
jeebus tap dancing ka-riste on roller skates!
These people are just pwned punks! Politicians! ptuuiie!
The repubs stand for obstruction of the Obama administration, and once again, they are accomplishing a great deal in this regard
Enzi looks embarrassed by his own party's actions. He should be.
just wow... unfrickinbelievable!
.
All about nothing.
And to think we're paying for these bozo's salaries.
Gawd...
Yeah, but they all enjoy the benefits of government healthcare.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXh4EuJa2TU&fe...
the amendments out if they don't like them and piss on them Pukers also
And lord knows that if there is anything that Obama loves more than a good speech, it is bipartisanship.
Dumbasses so accustomed to saying "no" that they even say it to their own legislation.
..."Wells Fargo Bank Sues Itself" √
Snip - You can't expect a bank that is dumb enough to sue itself to know why it is suing itself.
Yet I could not resist asking Wells Fargo Bank NA why it filed a civil complaint against itself in a mortgage foreclosure case in Hillsborough County, Fla.
[ http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/al-l... ]
if they call themselves if they'll return their call.
I can just see some guy with the phone in his ear and his cell phone in his other ear and caring on a conversation this way.
...doesn't really bother me that much. I know this bill, whether passed or not, will be a massive fail anyway. If we aren't talking about universal single payer, we aren't getting reform so who gives a shit?
Letting those pricks do whatever they want is what got us into this mess. WE have to stop it, nobody else will.
The question is how.
- Opt out of taxes, which are used to benefit corporations via direct subsidy, waging of war, etc.
- Opt out of health insurance and pay your own way. When the payments stop coming in the health insurance companies will collapse.
- Be politically active. Put money into grass route campaigns supporting political change.
...have spoken out very loudly about wanting universal health care and it's not even on the fucking table.
The corporate bosses won't allow the puppets in congress to do what's right and nothing we do is going to change that. They have made that abundantly clear. The reality is that democrats are only marginally better than repugs. If we don't load up the congress with more progressives like Kucinich and Feingold, nothing is ever going to change.
Yesterday the Democrats were having their celebratory back slapping party to announce their new "Health Care Reform" legislation.
There was Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
Both heaping praise upon and honoring Congressman John Dingell (D-Michigan).
And his father -- John Dingell, Sr.
John Dingell, Sr. represented Michigan's 15th district for 22 years until his death in 1955.
John Dingell, Jr. has represented the district ever since.
But not once during the press conference did anyone mention that it was John Dingell, Sr. who first introduced a single payer bill in Congress in 1943.
I guess they think we're just not paying attention to the FACTS.
I love the smell of a republican meltdown in the morning. The look on Enzi's aide behind him is priceless.
If we get any effective health care reform out of this it will be a miracle.
They own the committees, the process and the votes.
The GOP is simply a hemorrhoid on the asshole of the Congress. Rub some Preparation H on these swollen anuses, and move the fuck on.
The Dems have a simple choice. Reign in the insurance companies, the AMA and the pharma companies, pass a comprehensive health care bill that insures EVERYONE, pay for it from the windfall that millionaires and corporations have been reaping for the last 30 years, and move the fuck on.
Otherwise, they can risk finding out just how pissed off the American public is.
Anyone see the CPI lately? Gas has gone up considerably. Of course, the media and the politicians won't talk about it.
As an outsider, i doubt the USA will ever have any type of fair, comprehensive health care. The greedy assed pigs are at the trough and they wont give up the golden goose. Greed always trumps the collective will and good of Americans. Makes me laugh when they talk of fining folks who wont accept being driven into the willing arms of the insurance weasals. Fucking pathetic.
I concur and agree wholeheartedly with your take on this.
Seems the republicans would be happy to give everyone a tax cut and a Band-Aid.
Are you nuts. Band Aids cost money!!!
Oops, my bad.
For each?? no no no no! (rethuglican answer to everything) a roll of multi-use duck tape to be divied out in 1" strips till the roll is used up then... nothing - ya got yer peice of duck tape! what more do ya need? ...And what were saying? Ah yes! no no no no no no no (ad nauseum) ~ I wish they would all break out in giant hemhoroids, anal cysts, and ingrown nose hairs!!!!!!!!!
Socialists!
Purple heart band-aid
we all become health care workers and treat one another?
There that settles it.
17 are for insurance companies, 17 for big pharma, 15 for private hospitals and 15 for specialists. Huge dispute from the senators that are bought by the private hospitals and the specialists on getting their fair share of the giveaways.
...getting those numbers from ron?
I should have added a "snark."
...you were quoting from a source. Wouldn't doubt that you're very far off the truth though.
Hartford, Connecticut...
Where the belly of the for-profit health insurance companies live.
The senators have their health care coverage "recessed" until they get back to work.
This dick-off* is really something else.
*I'm a bigger dick than you are.
This is priceless.
Dodd is looking at him like "you know how the Senate works right?".
GOP idiots.
Health Care, Health Insurance, & Pharma
3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America: $6,910,000
6. Pfizer, Inc: $6,140,000
12. American Medical Association: $4,240,000
18. American Hospital Association: $3,580,000
19. Eli Lilly and Company: $3,440,000
37. America's Health Insurance Plans, Inc: $2,030,000
39. CVS Caremark Inc: $2,005,000
47. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: $1,800,000
49. GlaxoSmithKline: $1,780,000
63. Merck & Co: $1,500,000
65. United Health Group, Inc: $1,500,000
69. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Inc: $1,460,000
76. Novartis: $1,347,134
87. Abbott Laboratories: $1,260,000
89. Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP: $1,250,000
92. Medtronic, Inc: $1,238,000
A lot of dough to influence 100 people.
Maybe someone should start a private citizen's fund to compete with corporate bribes ... it's criminal, but that's how criminals operate.
It's called "taxes".
These disgusting, corrupt members of Congress will do anything to slow down the process....kicking and screaming like brat babies all the way to the American People.
Such a disgusting party of thugs.
That is one of the funniest things I have ever seen the republicans do...
Forget Dodd.
The comment and look on Enzi's face is far more interesting. He appeared to be extremely embarassed by his own party.....
This party should be deemed unhealthy for a prosperous nation, like a fungus upon an otherwise healthy oak tree.
He's continually shown that he's bought and paid for - 100%
on the United States of America. This is it people. I sure do hope I am dead long before the USA falls into the shit hole its right wing consevative citizens are hell bent on digging for us. The next couple of elections will be telling as to the country as a whole, and the attitude it is willing to take. Bad times are traditionaly hard for the party in charge and I must admit Obama's obfuscations on certain policies are troubling to me a progressive Democrat and my frustrations toward both sides just keeps building every day. If our political system is not reformed soon , tomorrows USA will look more like todays Italy than Ancient Rome. We had a good run but our politics and our ignorance are truly holding us back. We cannot dilute the pure white race quick enough to save America. Mideval Europe suffered through the dark ages with the black plague and America is going through its on dark ages with the infestation of the White Plague.
Frankly, from a social standpoint, it would be an upgrade for the US to resemble today's Italy (politically it is another matter).
However, I agree that for most intents and purposes... if we keep getting the perennial "no" from the GOP, and "maybe next time around if you behave" from the Dems... we will be truly done as a society. Or at least as the democratic republic this country was founded as. The current system is dangerously close to the corpocracy (aka fascism) defined by another famous Italian: Mussolini.
This is almost as pathetic as the democrats taking single payer off the table. Almost, but not quite!
The senate can debate until the cows come home, and as long as single payer is kept off the table, we might as well kiss our unhealthy asses goodbye!
The only thing that is going to change the way things are done in this country is massive demonstrations and civil (sometimes uncivil) disobedience (i.e. riots) in the streets. Until the American people are willing to get off their asses and hit the streets, the bosses of industry will dictate what gets done in every branch of our government. The saying "money talks, and bullshit walks" is true. Look at the money the insurance industry is spending to call the shots here. These blogs and our comments represent the bullshit. As long as we do nothing but talk, we won't be heard. Actions speak louder than words folks. It is time to hit the streets, throw some rocks, and scream to the high heavens. GET IN THEIR FACES. Until that is done, we are all screwed!
It really doesn't matter what congress does. Dems, Repubs, whatever. Nothing is going to change anyway, at least not anything that benefits you and I. But there will be a lot of back slapping, congratulations, and government claiming that greatness was achieved. Meanwhile, life goes on.
More high powered hi jinx and laugh a minute antics from the GOP.
Those wacky Republicans...They want debate against their own amendments just to waste time.
Is anybody in charge over there? I mean, seriously... are there any rules of conduct or ethics that apply to this? Can you morons please stop wasting the citizen's time with your little parlor games?
These oeople sold out to the higest bidder.
They take bribes just like Randy Duke Cunningham.
They need to pay the same price for their wrong doing.
Here is a list of elected people taking payoffs to cheat the American people and the amounts of bribes being taken. This is just from health care and insurance.
It is mind boggling to think how much these people are taking from others!
Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $4,026,933)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $2,833,731)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $2,758,468)
And when you just go right to Big Insurance, the non-presidential candidates who got the biggest legalized bribes were the 7 senators who have been tasked with the job of killing single-payer:
Ben Nelson (DLC-NE- $1,196,799)
Max Baucus (DLC- MT- $1,184,113)
Joe Lieberman (DLC- CT- $1,036,302)
Arlen Specter (R-D- PA- $1,035,530)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY- $981,400)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY- $929,207)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA- $884,724)
We need to investigate and prosecute these criminals now. Severe jail terms are in order for these criminals!
I am sure there is much more and it needs to be stopped.
Obstruction the mark of this Republicans. First they put up these amendments in which wastes time then they block them. Games at the cost of the American people and it needs to stop.
What concerns me even more is the Blue Dog Democrats who are standing in the way of the President and the American people. These Democrats need to step up and stop this nonsense. Listen whatever your personal reasons are YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING ABOUT. The American people want health care and all your nonsense is just showing us how you no longer work for us but for YOURSELVES.
I would love to see this taken through the reconciliation process and passed. This is may be the only way the American people FINALLY GET THE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM THEY SO SORELY NEED.
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