Watching the last 3 hrs of Max Baucus and the SFC ... I'm impressed with Max Baucus

[thunder rising]

I have some experience with long protracted negotiation and Max is doing very well.

1. He keeps the process moving and on topic
2. He has called BS on Republican distortion.

So, I like the guy ... and after all the negative press, I never thought I say that.

He is just now calling BS on the Republicans and their lack of putting up an alternative, while discrediting the efforts of the Democrats

[msongs]

1. lol all that experiece sucking up to corporate lobbyi$t$ ha$ taught him $omething nt

[hlthe2b]

2. We would not be in the shitty position we are in now...

vis-a-vis health care reform, if Baucus had not sold us out. I'm glad you are impressed. I am decidedly NOT.

[Junkdrawer]

3. I guess polishing turds beats starving...

:shrug:

[napi21]

4. I HOPE he does what Dodd did on the HEALTH Committee.

The also had LOTS of ammendments to offer...280 I think. Dodd kept it moving by starting each meeting by saying we will stay here today until we complete "Item 1" or whatever they were working on that day. That way, the Pubs can't do what they did yesterday and only get through ONE ammendment. They don't want to stay until 4AM every day either!

[thunder rising]

7. They were in conference until 11:30 last night.

[napi21]

10. Yes, and MSNBC showed Sen. Bunting? sleeping whith hischin in his hands a day

or so ago. These Pubs are not real energetic guys. I suspect the long days will take their toll and sooner rather than later they'll get down to actually working instead of constantly trying to delay the issue!

[rucky]

5. Why is he negotiating?

[lamp_shade]

6. Thank you. I've watched nearly every minute for the last 3 days and I TOO am impressed with him. n/t

[thunder rising]

8. Thanks. I thought he would be a "Hatch" but in fact he's very persistent without ramming

[TayTay]

9. He is doing a good job today

The Repubs were trying to delay the vote, yet again, and try to get a headline out of this negotiation that the new legislation will curtail benefits for seniors and trim benefits for others.

Sen. Kyl all but had a meltdown and was shouting at Sen. Baucus about an unfair hearing and Dems not listening and Baucus shut Kyl down. Sen. Hatch, likewise, was told to stop delaying and stick to the topic.

It was great to see Kyl stopped from filibustering and told that he was lying, oops, misrepresenting the bill.