Byrd proposes renaming health care bill after Ted Kennedy.

[cal04]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/26/byrd-kennedy-health/

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) issued a statement today, saying that his “heart and soul weeps at the lost of my best friend in the Senate, my beloved friend, Ted Kennedy.” Byrd also encouraged Congress to carry on Kennedy’s fight by passing health care reform and naming the legislation after the late senator:

In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.

In May 2008, Byrd gave some touching remarks about Kennedy, who had just been diagnosed with brain cancer:

Other lawmakers are now invoking Kennedy’s “spirit” to continue the push for health care reform. Today on CNN, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that Kennedy’s absence is already being felt. “I think we may have made progress on this health care issue if he had been there. He had this unique capability to sit people down at a table together — and I’ve been there on numerous occasions — and really negotiate, which means concessions. And so, he not only will be missed, but he has been missed.”



video at link
Robert Byrd On Ted Kennedy


Byrd: Rename health care bill for Kennedy
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0809/Byrd_Rename_health_care_bill_for_Kennedy.html

[Lorax7844]

1. Now we have to make sure that the bill deserves to carry his name

[redqueen]

5. Good point.

It has to have a public option.

If only we were discussing the renaming of a reconciled version of HR.676 and S.703. *sigh*

[Dr.Phool]

24. Sadly, I think poor Teddy will be rolling in his grave.

When they name some butchered, discombobulated, half-assed, insurance industry written bill after him.

He deserves better than that. His Senate companion bill, "Medicare for all", to H.R.676 would have been perfect.

[TicketyBoo]

25. Amen to that.

If it's a watered-down, do-nothing bill that just hands more money over to the insurance companies, I'm sure he wouldn't want his name on it.

[redqueen]

2. I think that's a very popular idea, and I hope it happens.

I also hope Byrd has come around on having a public option.

[VMI Dem]

4. I didn't know Byrd opposed one.

Interesting.

[redqueen]

6. No, he didn't AFAIK... he just hadn't come down one way or the other.

Perhaps he has since I last read about it, but that's his latest position that I know of - undecided.

[WI_DEM]

3. I think Byrd will vote for a bill with a public option.

[Xenotime]

7. This is a good and bad idea.

Good: Something needs to be done to honor him and healthcare
Bad: Fucktard Rush Limpballs called it EXACTLY on Mar 6th of this year.

Naturally, I hear now that the fatwad is GLOATING that he was right.

[HughMoran]

8. Byrd is the right person to ask for this

I'm glad he did so immediately - a man of his stature makes the request carry that much more weight.

Let's do this for Ted.

[Zoonart]

10. Just what we need

In death, teddy is giving us the gift of momentum that will
not be turned back by fear and obfuscation. Now the bill bears
his name and we must DARE any Democrat to deny his legacy. God
Bless you Teddy.

[jwirr]

9. Good I just emailed both of my Senators asking them to push for

a real reform bill in honor of Senator Kennedy.

[Barack_America]

11. If Byrd asks for it, I cannot disagree.

But I do hope that they make it worthy of Kennedy's name.

[Hatchling]

12. Oh, Crap.

Already it starts:

"Today on CNN, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that Kennedy’s absence is already being felt. “I think we may have made progress on this health care issue if he had been there. He had this unique capability to sit people down at a table together — and I’ve been there on numerous occasions — and really negotiate, which means concessions. And so, he not only will be missed, but he has been missed.”"

Now the Right is going to claim that Kennedy would have conceded on the Public Option. This is total crap!!

[HughMoran]

14. This gesture is supposed to get us beyond this negative partisan bickering

Think postive - enough with the negativity already on the day of Ted Kennedy's death.

[Jakes Progress]

16. mccain lost his soul years ago.

There is an express ticket to Hell just waiting for this already dead person to stop breathing.

[WeDidIt]

13. And Byrd will now vote for it in reconciliation

because it would be a tragedy for a bill bearing the name of his good friend should die over a filibuster.

[Mr. Sparkle]

15. Thats is a very noble gesture, but ...

I would prefer they get the best damn healthcare bill in honour of Ted.

[Old and In the Way]

17. Couldn't agree more, Senator Byrd.

A fitting capstone to a truly great career of public service.

[applegrove]

18. I really think this is a great idea.

[Odin2005]

19. TEDDYCARE!

:D

[baldguy]

20. +1

[Swamp Rat]

21. LOVE IT!!!

:loveya:

[Odin2005]

22. You're Welcome! You should make a pic for that, Swamps!

:D

[usregimechange]

27. For the record I stole it from you

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. And this is what some of us said last night

Good going Senator, we are in line behind you, as long as this has a STRONG public option.

[usregimechange]

26. Teddycare...