Obama hails 60th Senate vote for health care

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Jubilant Democrats locked in Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson as the 60th and decisive vote for historic health care legislation Saturday, putting President Barack Obama's signature issue firmly on a path for Christmas Eve passage.

At the White House, Obama swiftly welcomed the breakthrough, saying, "After a nearly century-long struggle, we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in the United States of America."

In the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid smiled broadly when asked if Nelson's decision gave him the 60-vote majority necessary to overcome solid Republican opposition. "Seems that way," he said. The Nevada Democrat agreed to a series of concessions on abortion and other issues demanded by Nelson in daylong talks on Friday, then informed Obama of the agreement in a late night phone call as the president flew home from climate talks in Copenhagen. . .

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/business/20091219_ap_obamahails60thsenatevoteforhealthcare.html

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I have decided that I am for it. Get it passed, and get it to conference.

[msongs]

1. didnt ben nelson (R-NEbraska) demand no conference changes? nt

[Vincardog]

4. How can two different bills be reconciled without changing something?

[razorman]

19. Since this bill hasn't even been written yet, that's a minor obstacle.

[dkf]

2. This makes me want to hurl.

[gateley]

3. ...

:grr:

[Earth_First]

5. So rather than pass real and meaningful reform, we are going to pass something to meet the deadline?

:sigh:

[tan guera]

53. Obama has asked for an up or down vote

in the Senate. I guess that means it's the end if this happens.
This is exactly what Obama wants and has wanted all along IMO.

[jefferson_dem]

6. ...

:applause:

[DURHAM D]

7. Good grief:

"After a nearly century-long struggle, we are on the cusp of making health care reform a reality in the United States of America."

Does he really think we are that stupid - we are not, after all, a bunch of stupid Republicans.

[EFerrari]

10. Yes, they do think we're that stupid.

[shadowknows69]

48. I may be too stupid to pull the voting lever then.

[Wardoc]

88. I know I am. I am also going to be too stupid to give them any money.

Nothing from me until 2011 if this bill passes, and only then if they make moves to repeal this.

[choie]

11. some of us ARE that stupid. nt

[PassingFair]

16. LOL n/t

[EFerrari]

18. LOL.

[superconnected]

23. They've thrown a curve, we don't know what the new bill is to know if there's anything supportable.

Reid better have something damn good up his sleeve so this stops looking like highway robbery like it did yesterday.

[Jefferson23]

41. I would love to believe that, but when has Reid ever had anything up his sleeve

that turned out to be a positive?

[Wardoc]

89. He doesn't have anything us his sleeve, but he certainly does have something up his ass. The..

insurance industry.

[bc3000]

54. A mandate is not "extending coverage to 30 million"

so, yes, they do think we're stupid.

[dflprincess]

64. He was speaking to the insurance companies who own him

As far as we're concerned, he (and Congress) still think we have no where else to go in 2010 or 2012 and that we'll continue to fall for pretty speeches.

[dhpgetsit]

8. When are we going to have real election reform, and ban corporate lobbying

so we can pass something that REALLY puts people ahead of corporate interests?

[AndyA]

12. Exactly! That is the root of all the evil, IMO. n/m

[Uncle Joe]

17. There will need to be a netroots/grassroots effort to pass a Constitutional Amendment;

outlawing corporate lobbying, the Congress will never pass it.

I believe Congress can't be bought but they can damn sure be rented.

[smalll]

69. Don't say that. If people started to seriously work on banning corporate lobbying,

the end result would probably be some kind of bill that would require all communication from advocacy groups to Congress be done only through the services of "qualified" lobbying firms! Forget the "Call Congress Right Fucking Now!" threads -- they'd be actually illegal (or at least incitement to illegal activity.)

If DUers wanted to express their opinion to Congressmen, we'd have to have Hill and Knowlton on retainer.

Don't laugh. The argument would probably go something like this: corporate lobbying is a problem, so what we need to do is force EVERYONE to do their lobbying through the firms corporations generally use, so those firms won't have to rely so much on lobbying for corporate interests, and would be more free to lobby for other interests.

[Vidar]

9. A triumph for Obama & the rich over the poor.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wtmusic]

14. I am for it too.

Get it to conference (although not much will get changed there).

Sign it into law. Return to it in 2010; renew the bid for a public option after the country has had time to warm to it.

This is going to take some time, folks.

[petersjo02]

15. I agree with you

This bill is Tom Harken's "starter house."

[EVDebs]

37. The GOP will have a field day with 'fines' if mandatory insurance scofflaws (unemployed) goes forwar

Just sayin'.

[Wardoc]

90. And what happens if they don't? Or worse, what happens if...

the GOP takes over in 2010 and revises it? After all, the House controls funding.

It is not unimaginable that the bill either won't change or won't change in the way you assume.

[ixion]

20. freakin' ridiculous... this is a most unpopular thing

and they're dancing around like it's a victory of some sort, which is just going to make people more pissed off.

The dems are going to suffer at the ballot box in 2010 and 2012, in my opinion.

[Rage for Order]

21. Thank GAWD it passed!!!

:sarcasm:

[Endangered Specie]

22. I am somewhat suprised so many people are against this...

You do realize, that political reality dictates that we are not going to get much of what we would really like. But its better than nothing, and I think it would be really really hard to make things worse given how bass-ackwards our system is.

Like many things, health care reform is going to take alot of steps... We didn't get complete desegration, anti-discrimination, and civil rights in one bill either ya know (and we still ain't done on that front, either; just ask a gay person)

If you want a better bill next cycle, like me, then gear up for 2010, if we can get a couple seats in the Senate, we could get alot more done. I for one look forward to seeing Burr (R-unning to the bank) get the boot.

[mystieus]

25. I wish these same whiners were out there during the townhalls before those nuts took our messages.

[Bluenorthwest]

45. So tell us which Town Hall meetings you attended

and what you said and did there.

[ima_sinnic]

91. yeah, those town halls were sooo useful, and so well planned out

the congresspeople had such strong messages for the teabaggers, in terms of DETAILED IDEAS for a truly innovative plan that would guarantee health coverage to everyone, and they had so much input and support from Obama, who was constantly on the air, either himself or one of several spokespeople, addressing the myths and rumors and distortions the minute they arose, a squad of rumor-squelchers, the same way he did during his campaign, that the teabaggers were put in their place --

oh, wait a minute -- I guess that was in that other world where "change" happens and "Yes We Can" doesn't me "No We Can't"

[Bluenorthwest]

29. In 2010 I have no one to replace but traitor Democfrats

who are voting for this discriminatory, confiscatory piece of crap.

[mystieus]

44. Keep in mind some of these people are trying to start in-fighting amongst the netroots and dem party

[FreakinDJ]

59. The Dems will most likely lose quite a few seats in 2010

Squandered Political Capitol on the "Peanut Butter Spread" theory for the Stimulus Bill

What we are seeing here in the HCR Bill is again fall out from Nancy's Bill

[Odin2005]

65. This senate bill makes us SERFS of the insurance companies

I tried to be patient, I really did, but the gutting of the PO, lack of cost controls, and the anti-choice freaks trying to push their misogynist agenda all while the White House told us to STFU and bend over was the final straw.

A mandate without a strong PO and strict regulation is FASCISM.

[mystieus]

24. Thanks dems in the Senate. I'm not risking another republican in the WH before we get this done.

We can build on this.

[ixion]

28. LOL... the irony of that statement

This is going to cost the dems the majority. I hope you find it worth it.

[mystieus]

30. No, it will not.

[ixion]

32. uh, yeah, it will

mandated crap insurance or a considerable fine is not going to sit well with people.

[shadowknows69]

50. We're going to lose huge.

[shadowknows69]

49. +1

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mystieus]

27. Shouldn't that be "fuck the GOP" some of you are so childish.

[Lars39]

31. Didn't read the article, did you.

[mystieus]

33. Oh, the GOP voting yes now? we got single payer? public option? ... thought not.

Its all their fault and I will never lose sight of that.

[Lars39]

36. Obama is salivating over this piece of crap bill just to say he has a victory.

Despicable.

[mystieus]

42. He acknowledges its not "perfect" but we live in a democracy. GOP is dead set against any reform

[marasinghe]

67. either the groupies haven't read it, or they're suffering from aggravated spousal abuse syndrome.

interesting that there's almost no comment on these phrases in the o/p:

"... Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid smiled broadly when asked if Nelson's decision gave him the 60-vote majority necessary to overcome solid Republican opposition. 'Seems that way,' he said. The Nevada Democrat agreed to a series of concessions on abortion and other issues demanded by Nelson in daylong talks on Friday, then informed Obama of the agreement in a late night phone call ...".

congress & the white house are smiling all the way to the bank; and we are the circus clowns keeping 'em amused.

[JVS]

56. What do the republicans have to do with this bill?

[QUALAR]

34. Obama Photo Op Signing

If Obama signs an insurance reform bill that mandates that everyone must buy private insurance without a public option, he will alienate at least two-thirds of the 30,000,000 newly insured. Spotting his 2012 opponents 20,000,000 votes will be almost impossible to overcome and, if there's a tie, I'll vote against the "Change We Can Believe In" shell game that Obama has demonstrated in just about every important issue.

During the campaign a Canadian minister reported that Obama aids advised the Canadian government not to pay any attention to Obama's anti-NAFTA rhetoric, but Obama denied that it happened. Well it turned out that the Canadian official was right. This is very similar to the report that the White House had made a secret deal with Big Pharma a few months ago, but Obama immediately denied the report's accuracy. Well it's pretty evident that a deal was made and Obama has spent more time lecturing progressive Democrats and praising those who have sold out to special interests.

If the above situations are indicative of Obama's management style, we will be subjected to three more years of disillusionment. Obama better start fulfilling his campaign promises or he'll end up a One Term Wonder for sure.

[mystieus]

38. Another conspiracy from the netroots, Chris Matthews was right.

[EVDebs]

40. No, Rahm Emanuel did the dirty work and it isn't a 'theory' either. nt

[Iowa]

47. Another troll from the corporatist camp. Howard Dean was right.

[EVDebs]

39. Yep, It'll be Dennis Kucinich in '12 and the GOP will push for Ron Paul

and Paul wants to destroy Social Security.

[EndElectoral]

35. Is this to be called the Nelson-Lieberman bill?

[Jefferson23]

43. LOL, it should be. n/t

[Ozymanithrax]

46. Now they can pass it and send it to the conference comittee...

to combine the bills.

About time they got of their duffs and did something.

[mystieus]

52. Yep, We can build on this.

[kjones]

70. Where's the community?

This community...

I guess it is a little ungrounded to expect a massive sudden change. To expect it
all at once is almost fantastic optimism in an environment (politics) that rarely
warrants it.
It is also true that no one here, or anywhere, seems to have seen the whole
hand so to speak.

Regardless, it's a little out of our hands now anyway other than to make our opinions,
of any variety, known (which they certainly appear to have been) and wait on the results.

I think we can all agree that most, if not (hopefully) all of us, are attempting to form
opinions with helping people in mind, despite the limited information at hand. It as though
we were given a fist full of puzzle pieces and told to describe the picture. Someone pulls a
blue piece and is sure it's sky, as sure as his neighbor is that it's sea. Maybe some
have been goaded into argument simply to defend their egos, and maybe some among us are simply
out to rile things up...
but most have the goal in mind...to get the ball rolling towards something that will give more
people, and ultimately all, the help they need.

Maybe the bill is a good bill. Maybe it won't do a lot, but it will serve as a launch point for
something greater. In that case, it is to reform's benefit that we as a community retain some
amount of cohesion.
Then again, maybe the bill really is going to cause more harm than good.
hmm.
Well, in such a case, it think it would again seem to benefit reform if we keep some cohesion.
At least it would present unity of some sort.

I have seen a lot flying back and forth, people shouting (to the extent that text on screen can
shout) at one another.
Aren't we on the same team? Isn't it possible we each just analyzed the information a little
differently?

This goes beyond this thread and similar OPs of each opinion, and you each know if this applies to you,
but why not exercise a little civility people.


(I would have posted this as my own OP or thread, but it seem you can't post unless you've been here long enough.)

[glinda]

51. merry F_(&*(&%*^$ Christmas. I get to go to jail

[bc3000]

61. I'll see you there

Unless of course the courts rule that mandates are unconstitutional.

[fasttense]

71. So will Keith Olbermann. He vowed not to buy health insurance or pay the fine. n/t

[Jamastiene]

73. I'll be there too.

The rest are going to have fun building enough prisons to hold millions of people.

[keitai]

55. I have a question.

What are the chances of sneaking the public option through the conference? I am not American so don't know everything about the American political system. I am guessing the senate is the house of review so it holds more sway in the final bill. Is there any chance of getting Medicare expanded or a public option in there?
I doubt it happening though as if they were smart they would pass all the stuff in that bill and then expand Medicare coverage through budget reconciliation. However not being honest dealers, I can't see them doing that.

[DebbieCDC]

57. We are on the cusp of creating a huge pile of shit

This better die in the conference committee (if it gets through the Senate)

[Jamastiene]

74. +1

[dana_b]

81. +2

and they'll be so proud of themselves for creating this huge pile of shit.

I don't think it will die, unfortunately.

[DallasNE]

58. I Applaud This Agreement

Let's get it passed and on to conference. While it is less than half of what I would have liked that is still a whole lot better than zero. Improvements can be added in future years. I do still want to see CBO numbers on this.

[El Supremo]

60. Future years??

Then the 'Pukes will control Congress.

[DallasNE]

80. How Negative Of You

The 2010 elections are nearly a year away. A lot of positive things will transpire in those months. Democrats will add seats in the Senate. Now is not the time to throw in the towel.

[PSPS]

62. This is obama's "catastrophic success"

[New Dawn]

63. More like the 60th vote for Fascism.

Forcing people to buy a product/service from private companies is fascist economics.

[Odin2005]

66. The state has no right to force me to buy the product of a corporation.

Fascism is right.

KILL THIS BILL!

[Jamastiene]

75. Exactly

[truthisfreedom]

68. We do these things in baby steps, people. We may not be able to get exactly what we want now,

but eventually, crawling forward, we will pass the finish line. Everybody at DU expects Obama to sprint to the finish line, but reality is, Congress is a turtle.

[totodeinhere]

77. I'm OK with baby steps. But this bill is stepping backward, not ahead.

Sure it says that the insurance companies cannot deny coverage for preexisting conditions. But their lobbyists made sure that they would be able to price people with preexisting conditions out of the market so in effect that ban will for all practical purposes still be in effect.

Yes, it provides subsidies to low income people which are supposed to help them afford to buy that mandated insurance. But even with the subsidies many poor and middle income people still won't be able to afford it, and even if they can scrape together enough money it will amount to a big windfall for the health insurance companies. Plus it will involve so much daunting paperwork to apply for the subsidies that many poor people might not have the wherewithal to apply for it.

This is just maddening. They have the votes to take a good bill to reconciliation and pass it but they won't do it. Why? Is it because they've been paid off? I think so.

[BolivarianHero]

72. Strom Thurmond and the Dixiecrat Boys must be thrilled...

40s: Filibuster used by Dixiecrat racialists to shit on workers.

50s and 60s: Filibuster used by Dixiecrat racialists to shit on minorities.

2000s: Senator-turned-President who would have been fucked over by the filibuster in a past life would rather protect the right to filibuster than the rights of women.

Kind of pitiful to see "progressive" Democrats bought and sold by the insurance industry and the religious right.

[Jamastiene]

76. It is going to be a crappy next 3 years.

And more, as long as Democrats always cave first, never truly fight for civil rights, and always try to sell it afterward as something "historical."

I am already sick of the word, "historical." They are claiming everything they do is historical. Shit, the probably think it's historical that they brush their teeth in the morning, the way they are acting about it. It's hard to believe this is the Democratic Party any more.

[disndat]

78. Senator Sherrod Brown is for it

this morning on CBS Face the Nation. That is good enough for me. Elinor Clift is for it on McLaughlin Group and said Sen. Ted Kennedy said "Take what you can get and build on it.' That should be good enough for all the angry DUers.

[WriteDown]

79. A virgin sacrifice would also be something we could build on....

and it would hurt less people than this bill.

[disndat]

83. Sen. Brown is as big a

health care reform advocate as there is in the Senate. At least I am willing to wait to see what develops before I blow up the Senate and WH.

[wordpix]

85. the fact Sherrod Brown is for it counterbalances Dean & NOW - I'm in wait & see mode

I don't like it when something's rushed because otherwise, "catastrophe is on the near horizon." Too many shades of the Iraq War there.

[laughingliberal]

86. ROFL! Some people build on volcanoes. Virgin sacrifice would help their economy.

How can you oppose a bill that would help that many volcano dwellers? They have a right to make a profit!

[dana_b]

82. "That should be good enough"

well its not. I do not trust any of them. Because Sherrod Brown supports it I should?? Look, I have a decent Senator named Barbara Boxer and she supports it too. I called and wrote to tell her how strongly I disagree with her. Most people here don't follow any politician blindly anymore. We know now where that gets us.

[laughingliberal]

87. Yes, there are some honorable people who will vote for the bill

But the knowledge of the amazing political pressure they are under to vote for it does make it hard to blindly follow just because they hold the right principles most of the time. Russ Feingold will vote for it but he has not backed off his statement that this was the bill Barack Obama wanted to begin with.

[joshcryer]

84. Holy shit at the unrecs.

I am not enthused by the bill as many of you, but damn.