Rockefeller and Schumer may be trying to publicly put pressure on Reid to include the public option, or preparing to their explaination to supporters on why they failed to secure a public option.

I doubt it’s the latter, because no one will really want to hear their explanations if the public option isn’t in the final bill.

If the public option isn’t there, all the attention – and rage – will be focused on Reid and the White House, as well as on Baucus, and the Democratic Party will pay for their moral failure and pathetic, failed leadership in Nov 2010.

If the public option isn’t there, it won’t be good for the country and it won’t be good for any Democrat in the House or Senate next year.

Harry is right where we want him – out there on a limb all by himself. He’s done enough harm to us – let’s see him step up to the plate and do some good. I have no sympathy for his whining.

Selise,

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/wbur-posts-and-stories/2009/03/state-wins-first-legal-challenge-to-individual-mandate/

Read through the comments. Like I said…. This is not healthcare reform! Even with a public option, mandated insurance is gross and the lack of a public option is even worse. Wall Street’s influence and extraction of wealth from the American people who are being boxed in by insurance corporations while the fed and state politicians protect their interest, to our detriment, is reprehensible! For those politicians who actually do get it? Thank You!

Jonathan, I agree that Harry is on the spot and will be to blame if there’s no PO. But I have a different take on how things will play out

If Rockefeller is correct, why wait so long to get a bill through the committee? Why not just pass any old thing and fix it later?

Why are we leaving the house out of this? If Nancy will not allow a vote on a bill that has no public option, the senate bills are meaningless. They only think they control the process. On most issues, the public goes quietly into that good night. On this issue, that will not happen. The house is aware of that. How badly will the election be if the goop’s vote against a health insurance bill? It will make 2008 look like a good result for them. Harry knows he can’t even return to Nevada without armed guard if he kills the public health care that he probably now realizes he has to make a right for everyone. No member of the house is going to be re elected if they vote against the bill.
If there is no moral compass in the senate due to their election cycles, there is in the house. They know how badly they are going to be chewed. The poor dogs and the goops are begging their senators to kill this before they have to vote for it to stay in office.
Isn’t it time we fund elections by the state? Clearly, bribery is not a good model for democracy.

I do like the spot that Reid is now in. He’ll have to find his nads or face the consequences. Knowing now that he alone can put the public option into the bill and without triggers, should be reported all over the interwebs today and until a bill is passed. We are not going to settle for some bullshit triggers or any other stupid ideas from the blue dogs. Reid can either do what’s right or, face the blame. I’m glad that Shumer and Rockefeller have finally come out publically and done so. Let’s see if Maxine Waters and other Progressive House members will come out and do the same. I’m sick of the big Vagina that is Harry Reid!

“Tell Senator Reid to Lead. THE TIME IS NOW!”

Contact info for Reid and the White House at this diary post.

Harry Reid is facing a tough choice. If he kills the public option to please a handful on conservative Democratic senators, he will face a tough election being branded as the man who singlehandedly killed the public option.

As leader Harry will bear much of the blame but all Dems are going to pay the price if they blow this, including the ones who supported a PO, because their party controlled both chambers and the WH and the only “reform” they could get passed was a private insurance profit protection program.

The only reason Rockefeller voted on the bill in committee was so It might get fixed later.

OK, if we know the pressure is building on Reid, why not make it impossible for him not to include it? Why doesn’t FDL start a campaign to raise funds for an ad drop in Nevada by early next week asking, “Will Harry Reid stand by you and fight for the public option?” Or is it too late?

Pelosi will have a PO. If house and senate have one going into conference it will be in the final bill. If the house has one and the senate does not it could possibly not end up in the final bill.

What is needed is a hit list of senators and congresspeople to deny re-election to, Let it be known that they will be targeted. Unions have already said they will not support their opponents.

Reid has appeared as a pathetic little hand wringer while allowing the insurance and bank boys have the best pickings. Let him twirl now.
My partner and I are fairly close to registering as independents who vote with the Dems. because the Democrats for the most part have never known someone who worked for a living. I used to think that the Republicans in their cloth coats were the only people who never knew working people but this year has shown me that I was naive.
We must struggle to get public elections financed only by tax payers-what is going on now is disgusting and so very visible-the only truth tellers are Senator Sanders of Vermont and Congressman Kucinich of Ohio-the rest of them save for the new senator of Minnesota are so afraid that their banker friends, their insurance friends, their corporate friends are listening they never say anything except: this is complicated this is hard. Please!!!!

Good Morning Jon and Firedogs,

caught something yesterday that had a serious whiff of Veal Pen cheerleading wrt Reid’s, um, efforts on the PO – which made me think he’s gonna insert triggers or something equally ineffective and call it a PO

“prominent progressive figures” doncha know

or maybe it was an attempt to just take some pressure off him

TPM is reporting that Reid is working ‘behind the scenes’ to get a PO into the bill.

The reason that makes some sense to me is that it sure appears the healthCo’s have overplayed their hand by putting out bogus ‘reports’ the day before the Finance Committee election.

Also, the way that Baucus wouldn’t even allow Wyden’s amendment to be voted on made a mockery of ‘fairness’ and claims to fundamentally restructure health care.

Add that to more Americans realizing by the week how anticompetitive the health care monopolies are, and how weak most state regulators are, and you have a lot more public sentiment for serious change.

Plus, without a decent public option, Obama’s stock is going to head south with many activists, IMVHO. So the Dems are in a position where they’ve been publicly bullied by healthCos, Baucus does not look trustworthy, and the only people in Congress who actually appear to know what they’re talking about: Wyden, Schumer, Cantwell, Rockefeller, are all for a public option of some kind.

(Conrad knows what he’s talking about, but tying costs to Medicare is obviously politically toxic in his particular state. But that simply underscores the need for genuine reform.)

Reid will do the right thing only if pushed. The people who could really put the most pressure are those from Nevada but he probably doesn’t pay any attention to them either.

I’m going to make a wild guess that the majority of his campaign donations don’t come from groups favoring a PO.

TPM – sources ??

and if you read that comment thread, notice how many are willing to drop their reservations or need for accountability at the mere possibility of a little good news -

Remeber one thing. In most states you need to be a registered Dem to vote in a Dem primary. If you want to throw crappy dems out of office, the priamry process is VERY important

can we stop kidding ourselves for a moment, and admit that if Obama wants a public option in the Senate bill, there will be one? This isn’t, and never has been, Reid’s decision. Obama made no effort to get a public option included in the bill that came out of Finance, and unless he makes an effort to get a public option in the bill introduced on the floor of the Senate, its not going to happen.

Blaming Harry Reid is all well and good, but the its the White House that is the real problem here, not Harry Reid.

You are so brilliant :)

actually ratty, Mr Reid needs him some Labor cash and boots on the ground for his re election efforts. – Teamsters and SEIU may sell out, but to date AFL-CIO is holding strong for a real PO and his most influential constituency: Culinary Workers has had a recent rapprochement with AFL-CIO – so his troubles are compounded. yeah, I’m really broken up about it

That’s insulting to vaginas!

I don’t get why everbody thinks that pols like Reid and others will pay a big, fat price at the polls if they vote against the PO. I live in a fairly informed region and as I cruise around I find that the Average Joe has only the vaguest notion of what is going on in this battle. They can be easily distracted, like always.

Still, what has to happen for Reid to wuss out on the PO?
1. He has to go against the stated wishes of many prominent Sens. such as Rockefeller, Schumer, Kerry,
2. He has to go against the majority of the Senate and democratic Sens.
3. He has to be willing to go to war with the House Progressives and Pelosi assuming they stand tough.
4. He must be willing to put the entire left base of the Democratic Party into a mouth frothing rage and devoted to revenge.
5. He must be willing to endure the scorn of virtually ALL the media at this moment except for Foxshit News.
6. He must be ready to jeopardize his and his son’s political careers (unless he tries to run to the right in Nevada-questionable.)

Obvious answer: Muddy the waters with a weak (perfectly suited to Jellyfish Harry) PO and call it all good. Fiscally responsible etc. Watch for it.

I’ve often noticed a Pollyanna tendency in the TPM comment threads.

Aw shucks, yer joshin’ me. I’ve always knowed I ain’t one of the sharpest crayons in the box.

Phoenix Woman has a fresh post up for our edification: “NYT: Objectively Pro-Bachmann”

What I find even more revolting than spineless (and ball-less) Democrats like Reid is the MSM still chanting the mantra about how the “final bill will have no PO” — saw it again last night but I forget who it was (a NYT’s reporter I think, but last night was a long time ago for me!).

The MSM has been trying to kill the PO ever since it was first mentioned and hasn’t let up since.

Makes you wonder what kind of healthcare THEY have, doesn’t it? Or, maybe they paid to shill for the corporate aristocracy (more likely).

Disgustingly obscene.

I have an obscene question: is Olympia Snowe in the mix as #60 to break a filibuster because Reid and the Dem leadership are assuming that the Great Troll of Stamford may actually filibuster his own party? It seems to me that we only need Snowe if one Dem joins the rethug filibuster. And who else would do such a historically unprecedented thing (filibustering one’s own party)? If so, could our entire national healthcare reform strategy now be predicated on Joe Lieberman being a traitor to his own party? If the filibuster is the issue, then Snowe shouldn’t matter unless at least one Dem deliberately crosses the aisle to join a filibuster.. and I cannot even begin to imagine who else that Dem would be. In which case, all of these compromises to Snowe could really be to enable the Dems to get around the Lieberman problem. If this is at all true, wouldn’t it just be easier to get it over with and expell him from the caucus altogether??

Several of us liberal Democrats here in NV are starting the discussion about sending Harry packing in 2010 should he fail to include the HELP PO in the final senate bill. We`re even discussing supporting his GOP rival to get Harry out of the leadership since he can`t lead for shit. It would be bad for us here in NV, but better for the country.

QUESTION TO ANYONE: Is Durbin next in line to lead the Senate Dems? If so, one could make a strong argument that Durbin would be better positioned for leadership (at least for liberals) since he does not live in a swing state like Reid does. If not, then who is? Or how could we find out? It wouldn`t be worth the effort if we end up replacing one bad leader with another one.

My partner and I are fairly close to registering as independents who vote with the Dems. because the Democrats for the most part have never known someone who worked for a living. I used to think that the Republicans in their cloth coats were the only people who never knew working people but this year has shown me that I was naive.

I have made that decision also though, unlike some states, I will be able to decide on election day which primary to vote in. It continues to be a dilemma for me. I do believe the Obama/Emanuel/DLC are attempting to do what Reagan did in cleansing liberals from. the GOP. The White House is increasing in its opprobrium and attempts to silence the Democratic liberal base. In Georgia for me it makes sense at this point to succumb to it and work at forming a more vocal liberal interest group. This could be huge in the South if there is threat of substantial African Americans bolting the Democratic party.

Perhaps, formidable, the big media “players” have members on their boards of directors who also sit on the boards of those who have an interest in killing rational and reasonable solutions, and not just a single-payer health care system or even a so-called “public option” to another massive giveaway to the corporate Ari$tocracy ?

There is a hidden, interlocking series of “relationships” which do more to determine “what” happens in our world than most citizens realize.

This “networking” system suffers from excessive inbreeding and depends upon what could, reasonably, be termed “conflicts of interest” in order to “function” smoothly AND profitably.

Just a thought.

;~(

DW

Reid has done all he wants to do in the Senate as far as I can se. He cannot “advance” any further so being Senator for Life is his only option other than taking the money and bailing while he can. His Mormon buddies will make sure he is well cared for and as surely as eggs came first Harry gives not a sweet fig about Nevada or the US, he only cares about his own welfare.

Durbin is next in line, as it were, but that means nothing to the pragmatists in the Senate that must answer only to their corporate masters. Who is the next most easily bought will e the “winner” and that surely will not be Durbin.

caught something yesterday that had a serious whiff of Veal Pen cheerleading wrt Reid’s, um, efforts on the PO – which made me think he’s gonna insert triggers or something equally ineffective and call it a PO

Jon,

I believe Reid’s primary concern is to avoid harming his chances for reelection, so I don’t think he’s likely to discard the public option. Since I’m not familiar with the senate rules, I don’t know what his options are. Assuming he wants some form of the PO in the bill to avoid committing political suicide, do the rules limit him to including the PO provision, as passed by the other committee, or do they permit him to change it? Do they limit his authority to necessary changes, so that the overall bill is internally consistent? That sort of necessary, but limited authority, makes sense to me. What doesn’t make sense is a rule that would allow him to rewrite the PO, for example, adding a trigger or an opt-out provision. Presumably, those remarkably bad ideas could be offered as amendments after Reid completes his task.

I’m probably mistaken about the scope of his authority under the rules, however, given Rockefeller’s comment that Reid can choose between his PO option and Schumer’s weaker one.

Can you give us a quick rundown on Reid’s authority under the rules, or a link to the rules so I can figure out the answers?

Thanks, Jon. I appreciate your efforts and your work product.

If the Honorable Senator Reid bungles this (without the Public Option), I will be one of the many who will vote for any progressive in Nevada to replace him!

“It would be bad for us here in NV, but better for the country.”

Now that is true “fall on your own sword” patriotism. I’m a little skeptical that the Senate would put in place a true liberal with guts, but I am no expert on the Senate. Can anyone out there help this person?

I hope what Sen. Schumer and Sen. Rockefeller are doing will help encourage Sen. Reid to put a strong public option in the bill.

Another thing that may encourage Sen. Reid is his recent promise to Nevada residents.
Link to Oct first article
“We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president’s desk,” Reid said in a conference call with constituents, referring to some kind of government plan.
“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 has a personal history that also may make him more likely to support a strong public option. He was raised poor in a small cabin with no indoor toilet or hot running water. His father was an alcoholic miner. His mother took in laundry from the local brothels. When his mother lost her teeth she could not afford dentures until Sen. Reid went out and earned the money. When he says he wants to help the poor get affordable healthcare, I believe it.

I read some posts from people I assume are Democrats that say they hope Sen. Reid gets beaten by a Republican. I don’t agree with that at all. Maybe he is not the Leader they want, but it is possible that he could be replaced as Leader by someone even more conservative. Also, it is not required that he continue to be the Leader forever if he is reelected.

Sometimes it is good to remember that you get more flies with honey than vinegar. Threatening Reid at this time is not necessarily a good thing at all.
Here’s the note I emailed to him earlier (thanks to the person who provided the link to his email):

Majority Leader Reid, I thank you for your service to the nation. I know it is difficult herding cats in the Senate, with or without 60 votes, and you have done a fine job as Leader.

On health care reform, I believe you are personally in a unique position at this auspicious moment in time. You have the power to ensure that REAL reform happens, and without a strong public option, it cannot.

I urge you to insert a provision for a strong public option for health insurance in the bill you take to the floor, and take appropriate measures to ensure its passage. The outpouring of gratitude and support for you will be overwhelming.

The president and your Democratic colleagues in Congress (and hopefully, some Republicans as well) will share in the appreciation, but history will remember that, when the chips were down, Leader Reid is the man who stood tall, and did what was best for both the people of his State and of the United States. People will remember that YOU made meaningful health care reform a reality in America.

The hopes, dreams, and aspirations–dare I say the lives–of so many Americans are now in your capable hands. It is certainly a great responsibility, but one I am certain you will fulfill.

Thank you for considering my perspective, and best wishes in your deliberations.

Regards,

I think you’re missing the point. Yes, the White House doesn’t want a public option, because if it did, we wouldn’t be having this fight. However, the form of the final bill is up to Reid – the White House is pushing Reid one way, and we are pulling him the other.

Reid is now between a rock and a hard place. This is a campaign to make it more politically expedient to include the PO rather than exclude it.

hey Jon,

Big Orange has the video

My worry is that campaign donations are no longer a concern. His chances for reelection appear to be evaporating, though I have to think that delivering the public option would help him turn this around some. So I worry whether a cushy job with an AHIP member has been mentioned anywhere.

;-))

Quite a story. For all of our sake, let’s hope the man and his history meet the moment.

Nicely said. I almost choked up.

So let’s say Reid loses his seat over killing the public option — won’t he just have some very fat consulting and lobbying positions waiting for him, just like his predecessor Daschle?

Probably, but his son is also running for governor, which is another pressure point.