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Obama To Meet With "Gang Of Six" Finance Committee Members On Health Care Tomorrow
After suggesting very strongly that Democrats will not allow frustratingly slow health care negotiations on the Senate Finance Committee to drag long into September, President Obama will meet tomorrow with the six senators on that committee who are drafting a compromise reform bill.
According to Roll Call, the meeting--which will include chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), as well as Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and Kent Conrad (D-ND)--is set for 11:15 a.m. It comes at the end of a week-long health care huddle, and a day before the Senate is scheduled to adjourn for August recess.
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Brian
You think Obama is going to ask for the credential regarding their knowledge about Health-care because of what Grassley said about him today? Maybe Obama should bring some billboards of his own to show the gang of six, and how tired many Americans are of their obstruction.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-4-2009/chuck-grassley-s-debt-and-deficit-dragon
August 5, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well that's big. I'm guessing either Grassley and Enzi are going to be storming out claiming he blew up a deal they were this close to reaching or some people here are going to be screaming "sell out!" by the time it's done.
August 5, 2009 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm betting on your first scenario (Grassley and Enzi emerge fuming and claim that Obama destroyed their months of "progress").
August 5, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. Seems unlikely they could possibly be seen to be for any kind of reform now that the Party has unleashed the teashirts.
August 5, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he'll ask to see Grassley's birth certificate.
August 6, 2009 2:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why even bother to go through the reconciliation process? Take a page from the REpublican playbook and tell them that health care reform deserves an up or down vote and that if they insist on using the fillibuster, the majority will take the nuclear option after which they will pass the reform bill on a straight majority vote anyway.
August 5, 2009 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats don't need to use reconciliation if they stay together for a cloture vote.
They have 60 senators. Up to 10 could ultimately vote against the bill and it would still pass.
August 5, 2009 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tempting to see this as belittling Baucus. Obama needs them *all* in this meeting?
August 5, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope he does take a heavy-handed approach with Baucus. For God's sake, what have they been doing in that conference room these many months?
Max: "What do y'all want to do today? Did we watch all the John Wayne DVDs yet?"
August 5, 2009 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. I'm with ya.
August 5, 2009 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Obama asks him what he meant today when he said that after insurance reform Ted Kennedy wouldn't be getting the care that he's getting now.
Stay classy, Mr. Grassley!
Can't wait for the tweets tomorrow.
"U got some nrve demanding we come to WH.!!!"
August 5, 2009 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Horrible attempt to type like Grassely. You spelled way too many works correctly.
August 6, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's what I think is going to happen tomorrow. Obama will use a tactic that he's used since his days as a community organizer. He'll let each of them have their say and he'll mostly listen. He'll do this knowing that the Republicans and he strongly disagree on the structure of health care reform. The Democrats in the room already know what his expectations are for them. He stated that pretty clearly today. What the Republicans will get is a say, but not anything substanitive. Without a say they would feel cornered. This could help defuse some of the inevitable criticism that will come the President's way from the Repubs. The tactic also serves the same purpose for the conservative Dems involved. He'll ask all of them to find common ground, but they won't because the Repubs don't want to. Bottom line - he wants to neutralize his opposition.
August 5, 2009 11:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
August 6, 2009 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Based on the news and commentary this morning, as far as a public option or dethroning the insurance and drug companies, it's over. Next move? Save up some change for your health care. You're going to need it. As for the economy? Won't it be fun competing with countries that have health care worked into their economic infrastructure? For those writers getting ready to publish the whys and hows of the defeat, you know where to start.
August 6, 2009 9:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pish and tosh! Take a deep breath and stow the gloom and doom for now. This thing is far from over.
August 6, 2009 9:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not doom and gloom. It's anger. It was anger in the first three months of Obama's administration when he stopped talking about health care. This battle should have started in earnest months ago. Then we wouldn't be looking at this August mire of Republican delight. He squandered the greatest chance in American history to get real health care for average and poor Americans.
Don't tell me, by the way. Why don't you address your concern to Lawrence O'Donell. Did you happen to catch his remarks on MSNBC this morning?
Should Lawrence O'Donell "take a deep breath and stow the gloom and doom?" Yes. That's it. Tell him to be quiet. That will solve things. I wish you dream posters would address DIRECTLY the political heavy weights rather than me.
August 6, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me guess, single payer or nothing. Take a chill pill and get into reality. You'll feel better. And oh by the way, stop listening to the mainstream media. They'll only make you feel worse. I like Lawrence O'Donnell but his meme on health care reform has been gloom and doom almost from the get go. Remember his point of reference - the 19994 failure of the Clinton health care plan. It either clouds his thinking or he's just trying to stir the pot.
August 6, 2009 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I state again for the record that I believe you are an astroturf progressive. A paid fauxgressive agitator. You are the reason Nader got so much rightwing front money to tilt at windmills.
August 6, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
You think I'm paid to post here? Wow. It's obviously personal for you, not political. If this were about politics, you'd be taking on the poster who agree with me, which you are not doing.
August 6, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Excuse me if I mistook your meaning in your original comment. I thought you were stating your own opinion. If you were expressing anger at the cynicism of some talking head on MSNBC by restating their cynical take on it, it didn't come across that way - but if that's how you meant it, I apologize for my reaction. BTW, in my experience, don't look to MSM talking heads to provide any useful perspective on this whole process.
August 6, 2009 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unfortunately, this will probably be another cheerleader meeting. He'll assure them he knows they're working hard. Sure hope I'm wrong.
August 6, 2009 9:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so too. If only I'm proved wrong on this and there IS healthcare on the other side !
August 6, 2009 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I fear that Obama will do a Harry Reid impersonation and, in the name of the fantasy of bipartisinship, defer to the wishes of these representatives of 3% of the population.
I've had enough of his unwillingness to fight for the interests the people who voted for him. The only persons whose interests he seems willing to fight for is the banking industry.
August 6, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink