Klein and O'Donnell: Dem leaders TERRIFIED of public option movement

[polichick]

Ezra and Lawrence were just on Keith's show - they've been talking with people on the hill today.

Senate leaders and the White House STILL want to be bipartisan.:crazy:

[Writer]

1. Seriously - FUCK the hearsay. n/t

[FreakinDJ]

3. Seriously

[polichick]

5. It's reporting when they are talking with the players...

Ezra even spoke to some who signed the letter, and they say they're afraid of what will happen if they get enough signatures.

[Trillo]

52. What are they afraid of?

What are they afraid terrified of?

Terror terror terror! It's like a broken record (remember those) skipping in an endless repeat loop.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. "Suicide is painless. . . ."

What does it take to get the Dems' attention?


honestly. What is in the water there? Are they so involved, so self-absorbed, so blind, inside the bloatway that they can't think straight anymore?

[polichick]

10. They misread the Mass. election - still don't get it. nt

[stray cat]

11. maybe they don't want to commit suicide?

[jefferson_dem]

4. Those two segments - with Ezra and Lawrence - amounted to one major buzzkill...

:(

[polichick]

7. It really was, especially because they are both so well-connected...

They have access to major players.

[gateley]

13. Agree -- I was deflating from my recent high about Reid's statement with every

word they uttered.

I think O'Donnell is great - and he made me see, once again, that even though something may sound simple to US, it's much more complicated in the halls of Congress. I thought if we got the 50 votes plus Biden, bada boom, bada bing, it gets signed by Obama and it's fait accompli. Wrong again.k

Sigh. :(

[polichick]

16. Yeah, as depressing as it is, he really knows how it works. nt

[cultedelaraison]

6. Then the White House and Senate leadership are idiots. nt

[polichick]

8. Ezra actually said, "We are seeing a failure of leadership at the White House right now." nt

[cultedelaraison]

37. Well, this would be a big moment for President Obama to shine in front of the American people.

Let's hope he takes the chance.

[polichick]

40. It really would - and I too hope he goes for it. nt

[stray cat]

9. It sounds more like they are afraid of a huge fight and a huge fail

[polichick]

12. Yeah, they're afraid of fall-out whether it passes or not...

But it seems they're less afraid of Dem voters than they are of Republicans.

[ProSense]

14. Who is Ezra talking to? This

doesn't appear to be fear:

Breaking: Reid Signals Support For Reconciliation Vote On Public Option

Specter Signs The Public Option Letter

[polichick]

15. As I said above, he even spoke with people who signed the letter...

...and they're afraid of it passing - or rather (on edit) they're afraid of what'll happen if there are enough signatures.

[ProSense]

17. They signed the letter and are "afraid of it passing"?

That's a bit absurd.

[polichick]

18. Not really. They know voters want it...

...but aren't sure they can pull it off, causing another big fail - and they are also afraid not to seem bipartisan because they've misread the Mass. election.

[ProSense]

21. That doesn't make sense

They don't need Republicans for reconciliation so they can pursue it as an alternative. The WH is not including the public option in the summit specifically to give Republicans enough room and rope. They can't use it as an excuse for not showing.

If they come with nothing, Democrats have every reason to go the reconciliation route, even Bayh is on board with it that.

[polichick]

24. I should have said they're afraid of getting enough signatures...

In any case, the letter campaign itself gives the other side another faux reason to say Dems aren't really interested in bipartisanship - as some have already said at that meeting of wackos.

[vaberella]

46. It doesn't add up for me. I realize they may be well connected.

But I have to wonder if they're being played as well. Because the media, or the poor coverage of the health bill has helped in it's death.

[karynnj]

34. Kerry should then be very well positioned to speak to the Democratic caucus

He has publicly spoken of the anger of people - the same anger he spoke of in 2008, but he has also spoken of how the state wants the government to pragmatically solve problems. He also said - as many have - that the "deals" used to get to 60 really are not defensible. But as he listed, his Brown next to him, people want a health care plan that doesn't cancel you when you need it, that covers pre-existing conditions etc.

Someone here posted a Kaiser Foundation studied potential healthcare plan features and polled people on them. From that study, most of the elements that polled highest with people are in the House or Senate bills - look at charts 6 and 7 (I don't know how to link directly to them) http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/8042-C.pdf (The only thing that polls really badly is the mandate, which I don't think they will drop.)

[polichick]

35. It would be great if Kerry took a bold leadership role on this! nt

[sandnsea]

20. Seems more like the left wants the public option killed

All they ever do is create havoc and disrupt and discourage support whenever a positive movement gets going.

[polichick]

25. Klein mentioned that the WH and Senate leaders may use Lieberman and Nelson...

...to kill it again.

[ProSense]

28. Reconciliation?

That makes no sense. They can lose Lieberman, Nelson and 7 other Senators and still pass a reconciliation bill. Also, one of the lists shows Nelson supporting reconciliation.

[polichick]

31. Yeah, I didn't get that either - have to watch the video when it's available. nt

[CTyankee]

41. Isn't this it?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#35489146

[Jennicut]

36. That really makes no sense.

My take is the WH is afraid that people will get all hyped out again, think something will happen, and then be disappointed if they cannot get the votes. Lieberman is not needed. That is pure speculation and does not fit right. The WH will have to take it seriously if there is enough votes. There is not bipartisanship as Rethugs will not give in and help on health care. It is reconciliation with or without public option. There is nothing else.

[vaberella]

47. Think about this thing logically. If they get everyone they have can risk 9 Senators not signing on.

So in effect what can Lieberman and Nelson do. I mean logically they're estimation doesn't add up.

[Uzybone]

44. Thats what I see as well

Defeatism has infected too many of us.

[vaberella]

48. Basically, way too many purists.

Secondly they eat the bait the right loves giving them.

[karynnj]

29. But, he is not naming names or numbers

Not to mention, he doesn't speak of those who worry about passing something else or not passing anything at all.

I just had the radio on when I was running errands. It is clear to me that the RW is terrified of us passing the bill. The funny thing is the talking idiot was saying that doing so disenfranchised 75% of America because we were ramming it through before they threw half the Democrats out in November. (Ignoring, of course, that the people there now were duly elected and have the right to pass legislation, which Obama has the right to sign. Not to mention there is no basis for the "75%" and the project of throwing half the Democrats out - can't even happen in the Senate.)

But, lunacy aside, it is great that the right is concerned - that means they know something could be passed.

[vaberella]

49. Which doesn't make sense. If the right is scared, why are the Dems also scared?!

The right is scared we'll pass it without them. Then why would the Dems be scared by the same thing?! I don't understand their statements.

[karynnj]

50. i'm with you - it doesn't make sense

I would guess that what the Democrats need is a bill that is cleaned of the most obvious unfair deals - like Nelson's. It is then landmark legislation.

Then quickly pass the jobs bill.

[gateley]

19. Check out the videos when they become available. I need to hear them again

to better understand their explanations.

[polichick]

22. Me too - that was fascinating. nt

[CTyankee]

42. I just posted it. Scroll up a few posts to find...

[gateley]

55. Thanks!! Maybe I'll actually understand what he's saying this time! nt

[Jackpine Radical]

23. What'$ $o hard to under$tand here? They're about to pi$$ off an economic $ector

that controls nearly 1/5th of GDP, and they're afraid that the health insurance industry will simply go out and buy themselves a whole new set of politicians this fall.

Your votes and mine don't matter. Money matters. Think People United. Healthcare reform is about to become the first victim of unlimited corporate politician purchasing power.

[ProSense]

26. I don't think

that's it

[Jackpine Radical]

30. She talks pretty.

What action are we going to see?

It's an old trick. Talk tough to suck in the rubes, then do what the industry wants & claim you reformed them. Think Clear Skies Initiative.

[ProSense]

32. "What action are we going to see?" Apparently,

if you don't know, then your response is speculation not fact.

[polichick]

33. I'm afraid there is an awful lot of that - and there will be until...

...we have public financing and undo that Supreme Court ruling.

[polichick]

27. Yep, there's that. nt

[Phx_Dem]

38. What are they supposed to say to reporters/cable pundits, we

don't want bipartianship?

Yawn.

[polichick]

39. Well, they could say we want the public option, no ifs ands or buts. nt

[saracat]

51. Actually, at this point, yes. Elliot Spitzer said just that on Bill Maher and was applauded.

Bipartisanship is killing us.it doesn't exist and will only stop progress. but I guess it is to late to mourn what we could have done with our majority.

[Mz Pip]

43. It was so much easier

to go with the status quo when they didn't control congress. When they had less than 60 they could shrug their shoulders sadly and and tell the people they didn't have the votes.

Now that they might actually have the votes that means they might actually have to do something. No more excuses. Of couse they are scared. Change is scary, especially when you're facing re-election and the corporate powers will be gunning for you if you actually do something.

[vaberella]

45. I don't even know if I agree with that when so many are signing on to the this bill.

And the news this bill is getting, it's not realistic for the Senate to play this sort of game with the American people as a way to get Repubs to play ball. So I'll have to wait to believe this. I think they just don't want the media to get too much into what they're doing.

[polichick]

53. Wouldn't surprise me - if they're good at anything, it's smoke and mirrors. nt

[vaberella]

54. Agreed.

Most of us can attest that the Dem Senators are week and not that smart. For some reason I find the House Dems smarter. Anyway. The Dem Senators wouldn't play this game because they don't have the brains or the handle to make it successful and the building press would be hard to manage if it was all a ruse (ie push for PO). Dems would definitely be expected to lose. That's why, although I love O'Donnell, and know he has connections---I'm not too quick to agree with this.

[asdjrocky]

56. They are fucking with us.

They care nothing for the thousands of people that die every year, and all they are doing is fucking with us.

[themaguffin]

57. they just too weak to lead.

[asdjrocky]

58. Nothing to do with weak and strong.

More like money and no money.

[themaguffin]

59. but they could push forward and

yes big insurance would be pissed, but it wouldn't matter once it's law. what, they going to continue to give money to the GOP?
those in danger this year have more to be worried about if they don't pass real reform. money won't save them


It's a given that passing healthcare is not only the right thing, but the smart political thing to do.