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The blame for the death of the public option should not fall on Joe Lieberman. Joe Lieberman’s relentless campaign against the public option has not helped the cause, but Joe Lieberman never had the power to truly kill the public option.
Joe Lieberman has never made a secret about his desire to bring down the public option. We knew this a week ago, we knew this a month ago, we knew this several months ago. Harry Reid must have known this whole time that he would never get Joe Lieberman’s magical 60th vote on a bill with a public option. Yet, Reid claimed at the time that Lieberman was the “least of my problems.” We now have proof that that was ridiculous claim.
When Harry Reid added the public option to the merged bill, he must have had zero intention of making sure the final reform package contained a public option. If he really wanted the public option, he would have used reconciliation, or at least threatened to, instead of constantly saying, it was “off the table.”
I would call this move of adding a public option pure theater, but it was, in fact, far more malicious. By adding the public option and dragging out debate until late December, Harry Reid made sure there would not be time to use reconciliation.
I understand why much of the progressive base is angry at Joe Lieberman for what he is doing to the Senate health care reform bill, but you should really be angry at the people who gave Lieberman his power. If Reid had gone with reconciliation, Joe Lieberman would not be writing the bill as we speak. This is what happens when the progressive base believes one of Reid’s worthless promises that he can handle things.
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Word.
May I add that the WH probably had a heavy hand in taking reconciliation “off the table”?
This is what I keep saying……… Lieberman isn’t the problem here. He lacks any power on his own. His ONLY power comes from what Reid, Emanuel and President Obama give him.
No, our problem goes far deeper than Lieberman. He’s just a distraction.
Come on just a while back Liarman was saying he supported a “Medicare buy in” He is a master liar with no conscience. Go listen to that clip over at Emptywheels
This is a guy that they think that they can flip is vote the way they did with Landreau. Joe campaigned against the Obama team. I do buy your part that it should not be too much of a surprise. Just his arrogance and smugness really gets under my skin.
Now, John, can’t we bad mad at both of them?
But see the front page – no dearth of anger at Reid here.
So I got a question for you Liberals… what is so “Progressive” about public health care? It’s nothing new. Several other countries have it. And it sucks. So how is this progress?
All three: Lieman, Reid, Obama (& Co.) And no, there is no dearth of anger toward any of them.
And the punches keep coming
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/506262/a_sucker_punched_harry_reid_throws_in_the_towel_on_real_reform
enate Majority Leader Harry Reid is, famously, an ex-boxer.
Put an emphasis on “ex.”
As the health-care debate made its way to the Senate, the chamber’s top Democrat refused to take tactical steps that would have allowed for the passage of meaningful legislation with a majority vote.
No, no, no, Reid argued. He did not need to alter the filibuster rule that required 60 votes to act.
No, no, no, Reid argued. He did not need to consider using the budget reconciliation process that Republicans had employed to move controversial legislation when they were the majority party in the Senate.
No, no, no, Reid argued. He could use the power of persuasion to get the chamber’s 58 Democrats, two independents and maybe even a few Republicans to vote for real reform.
Reid was convinced that he could wrangle the likes of Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman and Nebraska Sort-of-Democrat Ben Nelson into a super-majority that would matter. And why not? He had protected Lieberman, in particular, when other Democratic senator’s had questioned why an active campaigner for John McCain’s 2008 Republican presidential run should enjoy the benefits of seniority and membership in the majority caucus.
Besides, Reid bet, he would have the muscular presidency of Barack Obama to help him get the job done.
Reid bet wrong.
Lieberman is just the circus clown. My wrath is entirely reserved for the ring leaders:
Obama
Reid
Pelosi
In that order. Followed closely by every fucking Democrat who willingly lets Lieberman hijack the party platform they dishonestly sold the voters. One Senator has limited power to wield unless the rest of their caucus wrings their hands and lets him. This whole sorry display is total horseshit. Obama got the legislation he wanted. And Congress served it up to him on a platter. They don’t give a damn about their constituents, the public welfare, or their fucking oaths of office. Useless, each and every one of them to a man/woman. I have had it with the apologists. This is a shocking failure of leadership. Capuano had it exactly backwards this morning, it’s not the members of Congress who are screwed, it is the public. We are screwed.
IMHO, he’s much more than a distraction. He’s got a main role in the theatre of the absurd. He plays it well.
To be sure. But look at who is allowing Lieberman to hold the main role, and THAT’S where our problem is.
“but you should really be angry at the people who gave Lieberman his power.”; AND ,PEOPLE, YOU CAN THANK OBAMARAHMA FOR GIVING LIARMAN HIS ‘POWER’.
Why choose? I can be angry at more than one lying scumbag of a corporatist false-flag “Democrat” at a time!!!
FunnyWheelieDiva
thank you Jon!
I kept making this point about Reid on FB again and again last night – probably looked like some spamming troll
I don’t give a good god damn if Joe Lieberman unmasks his horns and reveals his serpent’s tail on Pay Per View – Reid, et al handed him the C4
How about if we blame Reid and Lieberman and Emmanuel and — top of the list, the most spineless president since Calvin Coolidge — Barack Obama.
Don’t blame Harry Reid
Blame Barack Obama
“PRESIDENT” RAHM EMANUEL SHOULD RESIGN ASAP!-BLAME HIM!
He forced poor Harry Reid to swallow a VERY bitter and almost useless pill known as the Senate Health Care Reform bill.
Mr.“Real” President Obama- Stop handing over these extremely important decisions to Rahm. He is killing your Presidency.
Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa
I LOVE it!! :) I haven’t used a signature line in years. Can I quote you as my sig line on other boards?
I look at who is allowing Lieberman to hold that main role and I see Israel/Usa/Uk/Dutch interests. I see Oil,Rare Earth, Diamonds,Water.
Don’t blame Harry Reid, blame Obama. He did not have Harry’s back, even when Reid asked for it. Don’t forget, Obama sent Rahm Emanuel to the congress to tell Reid to cut the deal with Lieberman. It did seem to me in the end Reid tried to get the public option but was not backed up by this White House, so, since Obama is the President and never bothered to back Reid in this fight, blame Obama!
You as well as so many others here make great points. They knew a while back they did not have the votes. Reconciliation three months ago.
All the signs were there.
That does not discount “Traitor JOe’s” actions.