Comments on: Specter Urges Dem Unity on Cloture; Reid: Thanks for Doing My Job http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/ Politics for liberal newsgeeks Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:33:20 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: letsgetitdone http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54801 letsgetitdone Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:59:50 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54801 I don't know. But barring a Presidential veto, <a href="http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/9817" rel="nofollow">Reid has the power to get a robust PO through the Senate.</a> And then he has the power to rig the conference committee to also favor a final bill with the PO. I don’t know. But barring a Presidential veto, Reid has the power to get a robust PO through the Senate. And then he has the power to rig the conference committee to also favor a final bill with the PO.

]]> By: letsgetitdone http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54800 letsgetitdone Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:53:21 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54800 Thanks for pointing this out, Eve. I'm glad Specter did this, but I, too, don't think he can be trusted. Not that he's a Republican. In his youth he was a liberal Democrat, but couldn't run as one because the machine politicians had all the opportunities locked up. So, he ran as a Republican in order to advance in politics and remained a Republican because that was the thing to do to stay in power. Arlen likes power, and having an impact on things. If he can have that as a Democrat he'll stay a Democrat. Otherwise not. Moving on to the 60 votes business, I think we ought to stop giving credence to the idea that the Democrats need 60 votes to get health care reform or anything else through the Congress. The Democrats in the Senate have the option of getting rid of the filibuster for good. It only takes 50 votes plus Joe Biden's to <a href="http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/9408" rel="nofollow">implement "the nuclear option."</a> If they do that, no more filibuster. No more need for 60 votes ever. They bear the responsibility for not doing that, and retaining their impotence. We need to start pointing out that they need only 51 votes to keep all their promises of change, and <a href="http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/9434" rel="nofollow">if they fail to keep them that it's their fault</a>; not the fault of a mythical 60-vote barrier that exists only because they choose to maintain it. Thanks for pointing this out, Eve. I’m glad Specter did this, but I, too, don’t think he can be trusted. Not that he’s a Republican. In his youth he was a liberal Democrat, but couldn’t run as one because the machine politicians had all the opportunities locked up. So, he ran as a Republican in order to advance in politics and remained a Republican because that was the thing to do to stay in power. Arlen likes power, and having an impact on things. If he can have that as a Democrat he’ll stay a Democrat. Otherwise not.

Moving on to the 60 votes business, I think we ought to stop giving credence to the idea that the Democrats need 60 votes to get health care reform or anything else through the Congress. The Democrats in the Senate have the option of getting rid of the filibuster for good. It only takes 50 votes plus Joe Biden’s to implement “the nuclear option.” If they do that, no more filibuster. No more need for 60 votes ever. They bear the responsibility for not doing that, and retaining their impotence.

We need to start pointing out that they need only 51 votes to keep all their promises of change, and if they fail to keep them that it’s their fault; not the fault of a mythical 60-vote barrier that exists only because they choose to maintain it.

]]> By: wiseass2147 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54796 wiseass2147 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:23:30 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54796 Yay Specter! Wow, i can't believe i typed that. I hope he votes for clouture like he's implying. Oh, sure if you live in PA you hav every reason to vote him out next year, i just hope he dosen't kill the PO. We'll see. Yay Specter! Wow, i can’t believe i typed that. I hope he votes for clouture like he’s implying. Oh, sure if you live in PA you hav every reason to vote him out next year, i just hope he dosen’t kill the PO. We’ll see.

]]> By: cybermome1207 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54747 cybermome1207 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:21:34 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54747 Eve, Well I am in Pa...and do not trust him for one minute For "normal" constituents ie..those of us that don't have big $$$$ forget ever getting a call, a letter back fhom Specter. His staff is rude, if you are lucky enough to get a live person. He has again charmed everyone here in Montgomery County. I just went to a dinner for my State Rep Larry Curry who was being honored. Specter introduced Larry; he had about 10 minutes to talk. 11 of those minutes went spent talking about what a great Democrat he is.<strong>Specter NOT Larry</strong>.. Its always about him..I won't vote for Specter. Lee Eve,

Well I am in Pa…and do not trust him for one minute

For “normal” constituents ie..those of us that don’t have big $$$$ forget ever getting a call, a letter back fhom Specter. His staff is rude, if you are lucky enough to get a live person. He has again charmed everyone here in Montgomery County. I just went to a dinner for my State Rep Larry Curry who was being honored. Specter introduced Larry; he had about 10 minutes to talk. 11 of those minutes went spent talking about what a great Democrat he is.Specter NOT Larry..

Its always about him..I won’t vote for Specter.

Lee

]]> By: tbau http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54745 tbau Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:46:51 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54745 reid trying to save face reid trying to save face

]]> By: SomeGuy http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54742 SomeGuy Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:58:10 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54742 Will Sen. Reid keep his word to to Nevada residents? "We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president's desk," Reid said during a conference call with Nevada residents. "I believe the public option is so vitally important to create a level playing field and prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of us." Sen. Reid Oct. 02, 2009 http://www.lvrj.com/news/reid-any-reform-will-have-public-option-63234542.html Will Sen. Reid keep his word to to Nevada residents?

“We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president’s desk,” Reid said during a conference call with Nevada residents. “I believe the public option is so vitally important to create a level playing field and prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of us.”
Sen. Reid
Oct. 02, 2009

http://www.lvrj.com/news/reid-any-reform-will-have-public-option-63234542.html

]]> By: Leen http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54741 Leen Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:43:52 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54741 Hey we did get Senator Sherrod Brown here in Ohio by pushing hard. And I really think Sestak is as stand up as they get Hey we did get Senator Sherrod Brown here in Ohio by pushing hard. And I really think Sestak is as stand up as they get

]]> By: coral http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54738 coral Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:53:59 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54738 Absolutely. Reid need some schooling. Now. Absolutely. Reid need some schooling. Now.

]]> By: bailey2739 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54737 bailey2739 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:37:47 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54737 Interesting that nobody's brought up what Spector did to Anita Hill? That was one of those moments I will NEVER forget. But, I agree with Jon, I made a similar comment on this site about Schumer the other day. That is how big this fight is. It's monumental, it's about whether the Democratic Party deserves to survive. Fo me it's simple, if we don't get a strong healthcare bill witha strong public option I say the Democratic Party should shut down, close its doors. It will NEVER again be able to "argue for the people". In the meantime, YES, remember Anita Hill, but also that tough votes reqquire sacrifice by all. Interesting that nobody’s brought up what Spector did to Anita Hill? That was one of those moments I will NEVER forget. But, I agree with Jon, I made a similar comment on this site about Schumer the other day. That is how big this fight is. It’s monumental, it’s about whether the Democratic Party deserves to survive. Fo me it’s simple, if we don’t get a strong healthcare bill witha strong public option I say the Democratic Party should shut down, close its doors. It will NEVER again be able to “argue for the people”.
In the meantime, YES, remember Anita Hill, but also that tough votes reqquire sacrifice by all.

]]> By: joanneleon http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/10/15/specter-urges-dem-unity-on-cloture-reid-thanks-for-doing-my-job/#comment-54733 joanneleon Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:16:42 +0000 http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/?p=3436#comment-54733 Specter voted with Bush 95% of the time. Specter didn't become a Democrat because he wanted to, it was because he had to. The first week that Specter was a member of the party, he revealed a lot about himself. He said he wouldn't support a public plan. He said he'd never be a loyal Democrat. He said he thought McCain/Palin was the better choice. Specter flip-flopped on the unions on EFCA. The only reason Specter is acting and voting the way he is now is because he has a serious primary challenger. Specter made it clear that his primary goal is staying in the Senate. If he's elected in 2010 he will have no reason to be loyal to the Dem caucus anymore. I can't imagine why anyone would trust Arlen Specter. You have 30 years of history to go by and instead you're going to use the last six months as your gauge? I think the last eight years are a much better indicator of who the real Arlen is. Specter voted with Bush 95% of the time.

Specter didn’t become a Democrat because he wanted to, it was because he had to.

The first week that Specter was a member of the party, he revealed a lot about himself. He said he wouldn’t support a public plan. He said he’d never be a loyal Democrat. He said he thought McCain/Palin was the better choice.

Specter flip-flopped on the unions on EFCA.

The only reason Specter is acting and voting the way he is now is because he has a serious primary challenger. Specter made it clear that his primary goal is staying in the Senate. If he’s elected in 2010 he will have no reason to be loyal to the Dem caucus anymore.

I can’t imagine why anyone would trust Arlen Specter. You have 30 years of history to go by and instead you’re going to use the last six months as your gauge? I think the last eight years are a much better indicator of who the real Arlen is.

]]>