Oh no! President Snowe doesn't support an opt-out public option!

Does President Snowe still support triggers?

President Snowe wants to write the whole damn bill herself.

she never said she supported an opt-out in the first place She always said she supports TRIGGERS

She won't join the Republicans in filibustering an opt-out bill. That's for sure. She knows how the wind is blowing in Maine. Her constituents strongly support a public option.

I would not count on Senator Snowe for anything. I think that the democratic caucus has to make it clear to everyone in the caucus that if they support a filibuster against a majority vote that they will pay dearly, despite the fact that it would be political suicide.

I can't believe how much time they are wasting in people who are not going to do 'anything' to help get reform passed. It's just plain stupid!

People in Lieberman, Conrad, Nelson, Landrieu, Bayh,and who else? terrritory need to camp out on their doorstep and make sure they understand that at the very least they better allow and up or down vote on health insurance/care reform.

Someone should point out to the Democrats that, when you weaken a bill to covet Republican support, and the Republicans (predictably) slap you in the face, YOU DON'T LEAVE THE COMPROMISE IN THE BILL!

Think about what's being discussed as the likely outcome. All the various carrots and sops and capitulations that the weak-as-water Democrats gave to Presidents Snowe and Grassley and Lieberman... and the response is "Nope, I'm just as recalcitrant as I was 2 months ago"... and the Democrats aren't doing what they should be doing, which is saying, "Oh, you don't want to play ball? Fine! We'll craft a bill WE think is good, and you guys can whine about it on the sidelines!"

P.S. Ask Olympia Snowe or any other Republican who mocks healthcare reform by saying "Nobody's read the bill! Where's the bill"? if they read the Patriot Act before voting on it...

President Snowe.......are you threatening to Veto the bill!?

I have no problem with "centrists" waiting for the CBO to score the bill, it should be scored so we can point out what's good and bad in the bill.

It's time to remove anything that was put into a bill simply to attract her.

I changed my mind afer it was edited I see that they are holding the bill hostage until it is to their liking. Man these Senators piss me off.

What part of "Snowe is a Republican" does the WH and Senate not get? In today's GOP, there is NO such thing as a sensible Republican. Forget her and the rest of them. It's time to twist arms among the Democrats for a Bill with a good PO. If they ever want anything for their state from now on, make them vote with the Party on this one. If the WH doesn't do this, we will know that they are simply playing us.

Maine is a blue state, Olympia. And the people of your state support a public option.

I used to think I wanted to shake this nonsensical woman by the shoulders. Now I realize I've just wanted to shake the shoulders of the wafflers who capitulate to her. Holy crap, she's holding the nation hostage because the rest of the mealy mouthed legislature allows it!

Time to give up any dream that Snowe might behave reasonably when it comes down to a vote.

To quote that old Thin Lizzy song: "If that chick don't want to know, forget her!"

She's no dummy. She knows the opt-out thing is just a political move to try to screw Retardicans.

7000 people a day are falling off the unemployment rolls. Calculated Risk predicts soon 10,000. How many of them are still carrying health insurance? Nice idea Jon Kyl had to hold up a vote to extend benefits so he could think about it a little bit. He and Snowe should put a show on the road and tell the public why they only have their best interests at heart. Oh, sorry. I guess you have to HAVE a heart, first.

This really is excellent news for the public option.

Thank you very, very much, Olympia dear, for showing your hand well in advance of the cloture vote.

Now we can shred the Finance Committee bill and bring the HELP bill directly to the floor.

Healthcare is a Human Right.

Healthcare is a moral issue.

These rich old bitches and fuckheads who oppose giving their fellow Americans the chance to live a life without bankruptcy, misery, and death should forever be branded in out minds as something less than fully human. They are corporate whores without souls or a conscience. I saw and interview with Ms. Snowe when asked if she supported a tax on the super rich to help pay for insurance for poor and working people she breathed out the most cold "no I am not" I have ever heard. In America where the rich have gotten so filthy fat and rich like no other time in our history they still feel absolutely nothing obligates them to care if other suffer and die in the service of their personal fortunes.

I despise them all with the greatest passion.

Rot in Hell you greedy bastards. Rot in Hell.

I saw a poll yesterday somewhere that claimed that Democrats in Maine like Snowe but, Republicans don't. I thought this can't be right but, if that was true, they'd better poll the Dems again because I don't they like her very much now. Again, if that VAGINA known as Harry Reid would just tell these blue dogs to get in line or get the hell out of this party!

It is a shame that the White House and Senate Democraps allowed this overrated Senator from Maine to frame the health care debate.

At this point I don't think it matter much what Snowe has to say. If Nelson can be convinced to vote for an opt-out public option there is little need to attract a lone Republican.

There will be 60 Democratic senators by the time the final bill comes to the floor. I'm sure not all 60 will vote for the final bill, but if anyo of them join the GOP to filibuster they will be toast. Even jinkin' Joe.

There is nothing 'centrist' about what Ms Snowe is attempting to do.

She is being pretty blunt about it because she knows it is gaining traction. She wants to maximize her leverage. That is why she voted for the SFC bill so it could be shaped to her liking, this undermins her leverage because now all 60 Dems can coalesce around the idea.

Hey, it's almost winter. Time for the Snowe to fall. Ohhhh! Rimshot.

Olly isn't negotiating in good faith. She's doing just what the Republicants want her to do - stall, hem, haw, delay, obstruct, while playing like she's going to vote for it. And she may yet do so, she may not be the only republican who does so. But right now, her job is to muck up the process and try to throw as many wrenches in as possible.

For the Party of No, she's just another foot soldier. She's not the maverick or the bipartisan shield that Reid and company want.

It'd be nice if the democrats could figure that out and forge ahead without her. She and the other republicans had their chance to engage in this process and add to it. Instead, they are trying to derail it. If Reid & Co would understand that the Republicans, including Olympia Snowe, have 0 interest in seeing this bill pass, they would be much more capable of moving forward.

Let her and the entire GOP filibuster.

MAKE THEM TALK NONSTOP FOR WEEKS IF NECESSARY.

ooooooh the scary filibuster!!

like i give a toss what snowe thinks. we dont need you, lady!

those 60 dems in the senate better get that public option, i dont care if its opt out or opt in, just get it in the bill, and vote for it!

snow is toast, either ways. if she wants to vote against healthcare for the uninsured, its her electoral loss.

At this point I'd rather complain about my public healthcare than complain about having none at all.

What about this don't these people understand?

They missed their opportunity to regulate this industry and now they want some perfect piece of legislation that solves all the healthcare problem. Too little too late.

I think an imperfect bill weighted towards access for all (instead of the insurance lobby) is the only way forward.

It's either that or single payer. I really really want single payer - its really a civil rights issue, if no one can have more access, more luxuries or more availability than everyone else - then we move towards more equality overall.

Finally, no healthcare bill should treat dental care separately. Teeth aren't some accessory, they are integral to one's health and have been shown to wreak havoc on immune systems when not treated.

F.U. senator snowe.. nobody elected you POTUS.. you and your republican party can go straight to hell

Can we please start ignoring her now?

The Republicans are out of it. They've been out of it all along. An entire summer's worth of time was wasted simply getting her (unneeded!) vote to move the bill out of committee. Why are we pandering to these people, again?

Why'd the Dems try to work with this dippy one any way. She's a mean bag of cat litter to begin with. I know a lot of Maine citizens who say she's a personal terror. Maybe I know the wrong people, but haven't heard much good about her. I live next door to Maine. How's she get elected? Anyhow, quit giving her so much publicity!

It's nice to see someone is looking out for us. She realizes that the PO will lead to US bankruptcy in the long run. A better approach would to be take on the pertinent issues one at a time and not ram a complete overhaul through.

Remember that the most important issue facing any politician is their RE-ELECTION. They will only vote for legislation that they can use to get RE-ELECTED period.