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I knew Chuck was angling to get Reid out of the Majority Leader spot last year, but I didn’t know he was trying to unseat him:
A Senate Democratic aide tells me that folks aren’t too happy with the news that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is negotiating a public option “trigger compromise with members of the caucus.
“He went on his own to talk to Landrieu about the trigger option,” the aide says. “That’s rather unseemly, especially for Schumer to have reached out to Landrieu before we had the vote. It’s very inappropriate.”
Obviously there are plenty of reasons for plenty of people to say they’re upset about this. But the fact that Schumer began these discussions before today’s vote does seem notable, given that Harry Reid was supposed to be negotiating for the votes.
The majority in the country want a public option. The majority in the Senate want a public option. The OVERWHELMING majority of Democrats in the Senate (and everywhere else) want a public option.
Harry Reid can use reconciliation to pass a health care bill in the Senate with a public option.
Reid has the 51 vote majority he needs. He needs to wrest control of the Senate from the handful of corporatists trying to deliver health care reform to Blue Cross and PhRMA. If he won’t, it won’t be Ben Nelson or Mary Landrieu or Chuck Schumer who will pay the price. There’s nobody to lay the blame on.
It’s Harry Reid’s fault. And Mr. 38% JAR will have to wear it.
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True, but I doubt most of them know how weak it is, and that they’ll never have access to it.
Don’t worry, Reid will use reconciliation for the public option – it’s that or no bill. All this sturm und drang is for the purpose of excusing him for using reconciliation. Schumer’s trying to figure out how to get the last 5 on board, not how to make 55 Senators give up on the public option – that would be impossible.
At what point can Reid invoke reconciliation and at what point is that option foreclosed?
Harry Reid can use reconciliation to pass a health care bill in the Senate with a public option.
But … but .. but .. “The Spawn of Tim” Russert was telling Mrs. Greenspan that it’s all kabuki and Reid has his bases covered now. He can show those DFH’s he tried and they’ll be happy.
Jake Russert or whatever his name is the reason most law firms have rules against nepotism. I saw that but he admitted it was just “a theory he heard”, and failed to cite a single mainstream Democrat Senator who didn’t think that theory is a joke, because of course no such Senator exists.
Yeah. there’s enough blame to go around but right now it all comes down to Harry.
jeez. they’re scaring us with breast cancer survivor story — my wife would have died if this was law.
um….horseshit
This is all theater by the Democrats to try to save Reid’s seat. The corporatists don’t really care about the public option. They’ve already crippled it. They certainly are not going to risk chairmanships and other priorities over this. Reid just has to publicly give them an ultimatum, and the Conservadems will fold like lawn chairs.
Couldn’t agree more that Reid will be to blame. In fact, I’ve blogged about it here, here, here, here, here, and here.
Thanks for joining the party.
“most of them know how weak it is, and that they’ll never have access to it.”
Exactly.
Of course, the obscure object of desire — [a|the] [strong|robust]? public [health insurance]? [option|plan] — is never really defined, which is part of its continued and mysterious potency. Robert Reich:
Of course, if the word “public” is in there, then “progressives” can declare victory! Yay! It’s all about the meta!
Why the heck not strip out the few good parts from the bill and junk the rest?
Any public option supporter can force Reid’s hand by simply denying the 60th vote for any weakening. Then his choice will be reconciliation or nothing.
Someone made the point the other day – I think it was Harkin – that reconciliation would be the province of Max’s Finance committee.
I have not fact-checked this.
As someone who’s been blogging so much longer than me, Lambert, I look to your successes for examples.
How is that campaign for single payer going — did you ever convince the people who cosponsored it to actually vote for it? Or were you just content with completely alienating everyone over here from your cause by being hostile and condescending?
What? He’s for single payer?! What a sell out! Personally I’m for fully nationalized health care tomorrow, and consider single payer advocates a bunch of sellouts!
Thanks Jane So Schumer is underming the PO
WTF is up with Schumer? willing to sell justice, truth and the American public’s health care options down the pike to move his own personal agenda forward. Oh yeah he voted for the 2002 war resolution, Kyl Lieberman amendment, Mukasey etc etc.
Why not hammer Schumer for this?
True, but in any case, Chuck Schumer is a sleaze. And Harry should not waste his kisses on Landrieu. What she and Lincoln and Nelson are doing is nothing short of treason to democratic ideals and the millions of people who elected Obama. If 4 holdouts can deny health care for 44 million people–and still call this country a democracy–well, just pass the kool-aid.
Harry should not waste his kisses on Landrieu. What she and Lincoln and Nelson are doing is nothing short of treason to democratic ideals and Obama’s promises. If 4 holdouts can deny health care to 44 million, and still call this country a democracy, then just pass the kool-aid.
The liberal Senators, including Harkin and Rockefeller, jumped ship on using reconciliation by mid-week last week. So that removed any credible power maneuvering from those in Senate closest to progressive point of view:
http://www.truthout.org/11200903
Hoping for Cloture: Senate Liberals Drop Reconciliation Weapon In Fight for Health Reform
excerpt:
A veteran health reform advocate told Truthout that he had an even gloomier view if the threat of reconciliation isn’t brandished now by strong Democratic champions of the public option. “There is a dangerous game of chicken going on,” he said. “If any of the four [Senators Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Joseph Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln] won’t allow a vote to happen, it’s my understanding that Reid and the White House are thinking of substituting a weaker bill with a ‘trigger’ or whatever.”
He concludes, “It’s important that reconciliation be kept on the table.” Right now, though, it doesn’t even seem to be in the room.
My question:
What should progressives do now?
As I posted below:
What signs are there Reid is now willing to use reconciliation?
The liberal Senators, including Harkin and Rockefeller, jumped ship on using reconciliation by mid-week last week. So that removed any credible power maneuvering from those in Senate closest to progressive point of view:
http://www.truthout.org/11200903
“Hoping for Cloture: Senate Liberals Drop Reconciliation Weapon In Fight for Health Reform”
excerpt:
A veteran health reform advocate told Truthout that he had an even gloomier view if the threat of reconciliation isn’t brandished now by strong Democratic champions of the public option. “There is a dangerous game of chicken going on,” he said. “If any of the four [Senators Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Joseph Lieberman and Blanche Lincoln] won’t allow a vote to happen, it’s my understanding that Reid and the White House are thinking of substituting a weaker bill with a ‘trigger’ or whatever.”
He concludes, “It’s important that reconciliation be kept on the table.” Right now, though, it doesn’t even seem to be in the room.
My question:
What should progressives do now?