Harkin: 'There's Enough Good In This Bill' Without Medicare Buy-In

Why can't we just kick Joe out of the caucus, change the Senate rules to gut the filibuster as per Harkin and go back to the original bill?

Only takes one filibuster and a straight majority vote.

This is why people don't take liberals seirously. Instead and STANDING AND FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT Harkin is trying to RATIONALIZE his pure and utter capitulation to Joe LIEberman.

I sincerely hope that when Lieberman dashed in, he was met by 56 other caucus members prepared to pummel him with bars of soap at the end of tube socks. I say 56, because I can't imagine Lincoln Nelson or Landrieu would have participated.

At this point it's clear he is going to say anything or do anything to scuttle the bill, no matter what. Maybe it's because the insurance & pharma companies own him, maybe it's because he wants retribution from the left, maybe it's that he despises Obama and wants to make sure he fails. But whatever it is he's gotta be - absolutely GO TO BE - cut off at the knees.

And yeah, I never thought I'd say it but the filibuster should be killed. We're in dire straits right now and will simply have to live without it down the road when the Repubs regain congress.

Evan, the word is defeatist, not defeatest.

Fuck the useless, pathetic Democrats and the Senate Democrats in particular. Forget them as a party.

They are worse than having Republicans because they replace the reform that only they can deliver with fraudulent, no-substance bullshit meant to placate the public without really changing anything.

Whether it's health care or financial reform they are complete frauds.

Dont' donate to them. Don't vote for them.

Vote for any third party. It's better than being jerked off, lied to and let down by these bastards. The country cannot afford their quisling, weak, corrupt sell-outs any more.

I am so angry at the Democrats right now, I could spit. Screw them and their fundraising appeals. Fuck them all.

It is quite simply amazing that anyone is surprised that this is happening. It became obvious weeks ago that the Obama administration couldn't care less about what was in this bill, as long as something, anything, passes and they can declare "victory". It seemingly doesn't even matter that this bill will force individuals to buy insurance from the very same companies liberals and the Obama administration have been denouncing for months.

The most interesting part of this whole debate still lies ahead. It will be quite the spectacle to see how fast those who insisted that a public option be present come out of the woodwork to claim a bill without a public option and a Medicare buy-in is still a great bill. I give Raul Grijalva, Russ Feingold, Bernie Sanders and Roland Burris about two days before they change their minds; it may be sooner because of the absurd and arbitrary Christmas deadline set by the Democratic leadership.

They can get this thing passed and come next session pass the Medicare add-in and PO if the public pressure is there. If Harkin is in line, so are all of them.

Thanks for caving, Tom. Much appreciated.

Wait for Ben-Ben, Blanche, Mary and Senator Wellpoint to get their pounds of flesh via amendments. We've haven't even begun to see how watered down this pile of shit will be.

John

Harkin may think it's good enough but he should try being 60 years old and lose his job due to the company closing down. There is no COBRA when a business closes; there is no insurance for the 60 year old and there's sure no employers standing in line to employ older workers. We are screwed any way you look at it - not young enough to enjoy the eventual benefits, not old enough for medicare. I guess we'll just die off quietly. What other choice do we have?

Too bad for Harkin. I actually thought he had a spine, i guess i was wrong.

Drop the PO and the mandate. Set up the exchanges and subsidies.