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GOP Girds Itself for "Minor Revolution" as Dems Prepare to Go It Alone on Health Care
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As Republicans walk away from bipartisan health care negotiations and Democrats prepare to pass reforms on their own, the GOP is sharpening its rhetorical swords ahead of a big legislative fight.
"I think that would wreck our health care system and wreck the Democratic Party if they did that," Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) told reporters during a Tuesday conference call. "[T]here would be a minor revolution in the country."
He's beginning to sound like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). Which is telling for a senator who's normally thought of as one of the GOP's less abrasive members. And though Alexander probably isn't the best source of information for what will or will not wreck the Democratic party, his dramatic words signal that the Republicans take the threat seriously.
And they're not just resorting to tough talk.
According to The Hill, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)--ranking member on the Budget Committee--has prepared "hundreds of procedural objections" to the Democrats' health care plan, should they try to avert a Republican filibuster.
(Back in 2005, Gregg argued in favor of using the reconciliation process to approve drilling for oil in ANWR. "The point, of course, is this: If you have 51 votes for your position, you win," Gregg said at the time. "Reconciliation is a rule of the Senate (that)...used before for purposes exactly like this on numerous occasions... Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so.")
Democrats, however, say they're left with little choice:
"The idea of having Grassley and Enzi negotiate in good faith is pretty much gone," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who's been laying the groundwork for a Dem-only bill for weeks. He says a bipartisan solution is not "likely to happen now."
The Republicans' overheated rhetoric may actually be a sign that they're worried a Democrat-only bill will be too effective. Let's see if that's enough to leverage one or two of them (perhaps from Maine) to play nice.
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Walter Mitty
September 1, 2009 5:14 PM
I predict there will be a bi-partisan bill that will pass that will not have a public option, but will have the Sen. Snowe public option trigger so both sides can claim they "won". If the trigger has some real teeth in it's benchmarks it's not a terrible compromise ie. if the Dems give up on the PO "now" demand, they should be able to write the trigger benchmarks.
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PorkBelly
September 1, 2009 5:30 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
My guess is the benchmarks that Snowe would insist upon for her vote would guarantee that the public option would never be "triggered".
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mcc
September 1, 2009 5:37 PM in reply to PorkBelly
Yeah, if the democrats try to call a bill with a trigger provision a "win" I don't know who will fall for it.
...this doesn't mean they won't try...
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Larry Geater
September 2, 2009 9:29 AM in reply to mcc
I would call it a win even without the trigger. Medicare was a win even though it was not universal healthcare and so was SCHIP.
If we get; must buy, must sell, no premium discrimination, no recision, and no pre-existing condition exclusions it is a win. Anything we get that is an improvement over the status quo is a win and we will just come back again and again untill we get truly universal care.
We have been working for this since the 1930's. No matter how this fight turns out the issue will come up again and again.
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calchala
September 1, 2009 5:44 PM in reply to PorkBelly
No...Snowe's an honest broker. She almost came out in favor of the public option before backing away. I would NOT be surprised if the benchmarks had a lot of teeth in them as Walter Mitty suggested. She's not Grassley or Enzi, this is a passion of hers.
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FreeRider
September 1, 2009 5:49 PM in reply to calchala
There won't be a trigger. There's no reason to bend to Snowe's will because she wouldn't be the 60th vote so why bother? They'll have to go through reconciliation anyway and since she's the only one talking about a trigger, that option is DOA.
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mcc
September 1, 2009 6:20 PM in reply to calchala
If it's a passion of Snowe's, then why continue toeing to a GOP party line that's only going to sabotage things?
What, if anything, is the GOP giving her in return for bowing to their talking points?
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 2:54 AM in reply to mcc
And she has to watch her back back in Maine: she'd better not appear to be out of step with the larger New England legislative agenda.
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JohnMcCSF
September 1, 2009 6:23 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Not a bad bet
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theone718
September 1, 2009 8:15 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Not going to happen.PERIOD.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 1, 2009 8:55 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
I think your record of making Eeyore-like predictions that turn out to be wrong will remain unbroken.
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mJJ
September 2, 2009 3:58 AM in reply to Walter Mitty
If there is no public option, there never will be a significant health care reform. I could live with a trigger public option that will allow for adequate coverage for everyone. But I do not see why Democrats do not just pass the bill since they can do it on their own - using reconciliation. As a moderate Republican I am still rooting for my own party to support the Public Option and if they do not, many of us have organized for a mass exodus from the Republican Party. I personally have experienced health care problems that have cost the Insurance from my employment and Medicare (now that I am older) for 4 heart surgeries. All this huge expense for lack of 3 dollars of sulfa drugs when I had rheumatic fever the first time at age 7. My mom was a single mom in the late 1930s and worked two jobs after my father died but she still did not have the money to take me to the doctor during that illness. I have seen first hand the abject poverty forced on people by tragic situations over which they have no control.
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markg8
September 2, 2009 11:12 AM in reply to mJJ
many of us have organized for a mass exodus from the Republican Party
Well you're sure keeping that a big secret. Why not come out now en masse and put pressure on Republican politicians to support the public option? They think their declining poll numbers are because they're not anti-reform enough.
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Docb
September 2, 2009 11:23 AM in reply to Walter Mitty
A 'trigger' is a gimme for big insurance cos...there will be no date till 2013...Must have the' public option' or the repub obstructs and the Dem knuckle draggers will be removed..
Though media is looping the 'roddy' townhalls --it is small and they are 'paid for' repub /HC people for the most part..
The repubs have made themselves irrelevant by not participating! The voter know the truth! Lamar has no hand to play --all lies all the time!
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GTFOOH
September 2, 2009 2:40 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
Interesting prediction. But can the Right go home again, after going over teh cliff to shoot down health care reform? They have been against public option, co-ops, everything except tort reform and cross-State policies. Wonder if the folks on the far right will consider it a Win.
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FreeRider
September 1, 2009 5:46 PM
Republicans are making so much noise about this because they know they can't stop it. They're hoping their tough talk will scare the Dems off. Not a chance!
This is why Obama let this play out so long. It's clear that this is the only way to get HCR.
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happycozy
September 1, 2009 10:57 PM in reply to FreeRider
Totally agree. Lamar knows the repubs won't be able to put the public option toothpaste back in the tube. He's just throwing the typical repub tantrum.
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Steve LaBonne
September 1, 2009 6:29 PM
Shorter Lamar Alexander: concern troll is concerned!
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mans_best_friend
September 1, 2009 6:56 PM
So the Republicans are revolting. Big news.
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OhSoBlue
September 1, 2009 7:10 PM
Minor Revolution?
Like what? Put that into words you J/A. Or will the Rethugs just hide behind more "We didn't tell them to do that" crap?
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fbacon2
September 1, 2009 7:20 PM
Lamar's version of a minor revolution: he might actually give up his membership and table at the Metropolitan Club and take to the streets, or at least order take-out.
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plan69
September 1, 2009 7:55 PM
What they're really saying:
"Hey Mr President, don't forget we can blow our dog whistle to the crazy right wingers with guns". Or maybe they're blowing it right now with this statement?
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TheRealFish
September 2, 2009 6:38 AM in reply to plan69
That assumes they, at some point, stopped blowing that particular dog whistle, yes?
No. As Enzi pointed out in a communique to his wing-bag constituents, he had not been negotiating with Dems in the Gang of Six for any purpose but to remove things from the health package anyway.
Bi-partisanship is a mythical construction. It never did exist, so how can it go away? I'd love to attribute to Obama some Great Majicks -- that this whole "bipartisan" talk was a bobbing hook ready to set in the jaw of the Rethuglican talking points, and being hypmotized into thinking they were just So Smart in gaming the Dumb Dems that they would relax a little in their hate and fear mongering enough that they would reveal their True Nature to the masses (that they've been gaming the bipartisan schtick all along just to make Dems accept a watered-down ineffectual piece of crap legislation). I'd like to think that was some stealth-ninja plan of his all along, but... .
Doesn't matter. That's how it's played out -- except for the new poll showing a majority of Americans have no frakking clue what any of this health reform stuff is all about thanks to the fact-free cacophony from the Corporate Mass Media (far more accurate reference than MSM, which gives them too much credit, since they are NOT "mainstream").
And that would be a problem, if the public were actually voting on this thing in November -- which we're not. So it's another fact-free "sticking point" manufactured by the CMM; another nontroversy.
Oh, yes. Dog whistles: All the while, the same health conglomerates that pay for Enzi, Grassley and Baucus's sushi have continued to call Obama Hitler and and all Dems Nazis and speak about the Death Panel issuing orders for a Final Solution for Grandma. As Rachel Maddow summed-up that particular logic thread on one of her programs (I paraphrase, since I can't assure the exact words, but this is very close): "Well, yeah. Obama is like Hitler and his health plan is a secret one to kill Grandma -- and we know what Hitler deserved, right?"
Ah, it's all of a piece. The congressional Dems need to just pull their sh*t together, and little Blue Dogs too, get something done, passed, out to the public, and hope the Secret Service can successfully protect the POTUS from the answered wing-job dog whistle clarion call.
Then we can look at where the polls are in August 2010, which would actually have some meaning and impact, where the ones right now do not.
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NewsNag
September 1, 2009 8:03 PM
Typical Republican liar, saying the opposite of what's true. If Dems pass a bill without Republicans, then health care will get BETTER and the Democratic Party will get STRONGER.
These are the two things the Republicans are afraid of. This is why they have been acting like such amoral asses. Because government CAN succeed, which goes against their philosophy of greed over all.
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 2:56 AM in reply to NewsNag
They aren't acting like amoral asses. They actually are amoral asses.
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Terry Carroll
September 1, 2009 8:30 PM
"Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so."
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 1, 2009 8:52 PM in reply to Terry Carroll
In their minds, they are the majority. They really do think "Republican" and "American" are synonomous. It's why they're so pissed off all the time, lately. They know that McCain/Palin received 100% of the vote and yet there's this foreign brown person in office. That's why they keep talking about "The American People" being angry and rising up and yada yada yada. They really think the country's been occupied by the aliens from "V" or something.
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regeya
September 1, 2009 11:48 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Well, see, here's the thing. They've seen that map of the United States showing red vs. blue in the 2008 Presidential popular election. You know, bright blue for counties which went Democratic, bright red for counties which went Republican. And when you do it that way, well, there are a lot of rural areas which leaned to the Republican side. When you look at that map, it looks like about 90% of the country voted Republican.
Except, of course, that they didn't. The map doesn't take into account population density or the ratio of red vs. blue. When you do, you get this map that's--wait for it--a purple color.
But people who see the map and get angry have made their minds up. The county's been stolen from them by urban elitists, and they're determined to take their country back. And you have these irresponsible politicians egging them on. God help us all.
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 2:59 AM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
No: When Republicans talk about "the American people," they mean only themselves, the wealthy, and the mega-corporations.
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sunnysteve
September 1, 2009 8:34 PM
Every time Gregg raises one of his 'hundreds' of procedural objections, respond with a quote of his statement in support of drilling in ANWR, then follow with a remembrance of using reconciliation to vote more than $2 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy. At some point in the hundreds of repeated recitations, perhaps one member of the media will pick it up and inform our citizenry of the hypocrisy. Perhaps not, but it's worth a try.
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 3:01 AM in reply to sunnysteve
"Is there somethiong wrong with majority rules? I don't think so." -- Judd Gregg.
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LegalCat
September 1, 2009 8:50 PM
Yes, that would wreck the Democratic party, all right. I mean, so very many Democrats would just lose every shred of respect for a Democratic legislator who failed to kiss the butts of the Republicans enough. I know I would. If my Congresscreature, Lynn Woolsey, doesn't shape up and start incorporating Republican talking points in her legislative agenda, I'll certainly be sitting out the next election, because as a Democrat, all I want out of my representatives is for them to act like Republicans.
Right. I know the Repubs occupy a different planet, but I suspect that not even THEY actually believe this.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 1, 2009 8:53 PM
Hundreds of procedural objections? Fine. Roll out the cots, makes some coffee and order some pizza.
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fbacon2
September 2, 2009 2:02 AM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
Hundreds of procedural votes. Five hundred and thirty-five members of Congress. Two final bills. One reconciliation.
One big bill signing: priceless.
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twoviragos
September 2, 2009 12:22 PM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
I agree. I would love to see the Democrats call them on their bluff and see what happens. They act all Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, when they are really Ernest Visits Congress.
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GTFOOH
September 2, 2009 4:03 PM in reply to twoviragos
That's funny!
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trblmkr
September 1, 2009 9:52 PM
If the 'bipartisan' route is finally scrapped, whatever is passed has to have protections and have enough critical mass (member population) to make a dent in the big private insurers.
Opponents' game plan will be to undermine and sabotage using all the dirty tricks in the book.
I assume the Admin and Congressional Democrats know this but we all know the old adage about assuming...
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JadeZ
September 1, 2009 9:58 PM
isnt it time the democrats learned they control the congress?
ANYTHING that gets passed will reflect on them no matter what it is called.
the republicans have one strategy, destroy the democrats.
I know these people are totally corrupt, now I see they are also fools.
and btw, there can not be any bill without a public option at this point.
Obamas horrid handling of this debate has cost the dems a lot.
any bill without a public option will only lose more progressives and independants.
Time to run the country as the republicans would if they controlled everything.
fail to pass health reform and the ywill come 2012.
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JadeZ
September 1, 2009 10:03 PM in reply to JadeZ
and btw.
what this fiasco has demonstrated so clear, is how corrupt the democrats are too.
now that they control everything they cant hide and people are seeing them as they really are.
and the polls are just reflecting the peoples anger and disgust for the party they hoped would support them.
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 3:05 AM in reply to JadeZ
I'd ask you how it feels to be full of shit, but you haven't noticed you are, so can't answer the question with anything other than befuddlement.
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HopefulPatriot
September 1, 2009 10:46 PM
Wow--the unmitigated gaul of a party who got routed in the last election! Newsflash-- many of us have been prepared for your "minor revolution" since Obama was elected. Nothing,and noone will keep us from progress. Obama is a great vessel, but we have a bench so deep that we are not only dependent on him. So bring it, very soon they'll realize that neo-cons aren't the only ones who are packing.
But me thinks a revolution of any kind would upset the corporate overlords on wall street--an unstable political environment isn't kind to the bottom line.
.
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cwnidog
September 1, 2009 11:20 PM
Oh please Br'er Fox, don't throw me in the the briar patch!
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flounder
September 2, 2009 12:52 AM
Whenever I wonder what the Democrats should or should not do, I try to find Lamar Alexander's thoughts on the topic.
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fbacon2
September 2, 2009 2:03 AM in reply to flounder
WWLAD. Would would Lamar Alexander do?
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JNagarya
September 2, 2009 3:07 AM
"I think that would wreck our health care system and wreck the Democratic Party if they did that," Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) told reporters during a Tuesday conference call. "[T]here would be a minor revolution in the country."
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
No problem: the private insurance monopoly will fund the repairs.
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Scarce
September 2, 2009 8:57 AM
A GOP Senator is concerned about the destruction of the Democratic party? Lamar Alexander has over-played his hand, such as it is.
Seems the Demcorats might be on the right track after all.
Thanks Lamar.
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MAX TARDCORE
September 2, 2009 9:54 AM
LAMAR!
Please please please run for Prexy, again.
The nation's recovery can be fuelled by generation of exclamation marks.
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Docb
September 2, 2009 11:36 AM
Desparate---love it!
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Redshift
September 2, 2009 2:24 PM
I dunno, a "minor revolution" sounds a lot calmer than what's gone on this summer...
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we r all husseins
September 2, 2009 3:57 PM
minor revolution meaning the pathetically low percentage of the population as whole who support these corporate money whores. The ring wing militia-types will come out of their trailers, waving their assault rifles, ready to "take their country back from the foreigners* who stole it".
* foreigners meaning Democrats, urbanites, and anyone whose IQ doesn't begin with a decimal point.
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