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Snowe Says She Opposes Medicare Buy-In Idea
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
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Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) says a Medicare buy-in approach will be a hard sell with her. She told reporters this afternoon that she's not inclined to support the idea, currently being discussed by liberal and conservative Democrats seeking a compromise on the public option.
"We looked at it...we evaluated that, because it's an attractive approach. This has appeal...but we examined that issue this summer and a number of issues cropped up."
She's expressed her doubts to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "I told him I have concerns," she said. "The Medicare buy in is problematic."
A reporter asked if that meant she's not inclined to support the idea. "Correct," she said.
Snowe's vote isn't strictly necessary to pass health care reform, if all 60 Democrats stick together. But Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) says he's not going to play ball if his abortion amendment doesn't pass, and Majority Whip Dick Durbin says that's probably not going to happen.
Snowe said she's also opposed to a separate idea--demanded by liberals in exchange for the public option--to include people up to 150 percent of the poverty line in Medicaid. It seems pretty clear that she's broadly opposed to the compromise Democrats are forging.
Now the question is, What will Lieberman say? Stay tuned.
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Hyla Brook
December 8, 2009 1:23 PM
What is this woman FOR? Seems like every proposal that's stronger than smacking the insurance industry with a wet noodle doesn't interest her.
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gizmo
December 8, 2009 1:26 PM in reply to Hyla Brook
A Citizen's Definition of Congress--
A place where middle-aged and elderly white millionaires decide what is best for the rest of us.
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Lalo35adm
December 8, 2009 1:28 PM in reply to gizmo
And to think that they call themselves Democratic Majority....
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JohnW1141
December 8, 2009 3:07 PM in reply to Lalo35adm
Lalo,
they are the Democratic Majority, and notice how diverse they are in so many ways.
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Bruce Webb
December 8, 2009 3:13 PM in reply to JohnW1141
Lalo if Republicans actually believed in democracy this would be a done deal by now. And last I heard Snow wasn't caucusing with Democrats. So your point is more than your usual level of stupid. Which is quite the feat frankly.
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Rick
December 8, 2009 4:39 PM in reply to Lalo35adm
Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is part of the Democratic majority?
Suggest you up the wattage on your light bulbs there.
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aikbay
December 8, 2009 1:47 PM in reply to Hyla Brook
I can tell you what she and Blanche Lincoln,Mary Landrieu,Joe Lieberhole, and Ben Nelson are for. They are for a ten year trigger of a state opt out public option which can only be accessed if you make under $25k for a family of four and have no other insurance available (including supplemental insurance which would pay out a max $20K of benefits total over a four year period)and you would not be able to access it unless you didn't have any coverage for six months(thus guaranteeing you would be dead if you had some pesky expensive chronic condition.) Also too the trigger is only if 75 percent of states do not cover 75 percent of their populations. That is what Senator Olympia Snowe would agree too and her republican wingnut colleagues are complaining that she's compromising to this awful level because their version of compromise if getting rid of medicaid completely with turning medicare into a medicare advantage program completely with medical tort reform with $10k medical expenses maximum and ofcourse no legal fees. Also too, Joe Lieberhole doesn't like this compromise real well either because,well, because he want's something to complain about.
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diamondjoe
December 8, 2009 3:08 PM in reply to aikbay
Exactly. She's not interested in compromise, she only wants to block reform while appearing 'sincere' and 'responsible'. If Democrats are to succeed at all they may need to become more partisan, not less.
Perhaps Obama would have better luck if he called out the Senators in question, explained their arguments using their words, and then rebutted them publicly and thoroughly. This could work with Lieberman (via Matt Y.):
I'm not at all convinced that playing nice and compromising with an obstructionist Congress will get the President anything going forward. Might it be a better strategy for Obama to take a stand on the Public Option and argue for it publicly and fiercely? Voters might respond to a strong, moral President who fights with conviction for what he believes.
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expatjourno2
December 8, 2009 4:22 PM in reply to diamondjoe
Voters might respond to a strong moral stand in favor of genuine health care reform. The watered-down public option? Probably not.
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slb
December 8, 2009 3:24 PM in reply to Hyla Brook
LOL! My very first thought after reading the headline was, "Do Republicans know how to start a sentence with anything besides, 'I oppose...'?" Jiminy Christmas!
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Maine Independent
December 8, 2009 3:50 PM in reply to Hyla Brook
She's for more money from the health care lobby, of course.
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Frank Chow
December 8, 2009 1:28 PM
I think the MAINE problem here is still believing she is in favor of honest reform.
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calchala
December 8, 2009 1:29 PM
So wait....we have a better chance of getting BEN NELSON to support this versus Olympia Snowe. What kind of bizarro world are we living in? At this point, assuming Ben Nelson doesn't follow through on his bet to fillibuster the bill over abortion, he's our best bet.
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Shrubbit
December 8, 2009 1:33 PM
"a number of issues cropped up"
SUCH AS....???
Brian, did you or anyone follow up and ask her what the issues were? That would be real, um, whatchacallit... um.... journamalism.
Just wondering what the hell she's talking about. It would be nice to know.
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Maritza
December 8, 2009 1:35 PM
It really matters what the CBO says more than anything. If the CBO gives it good numbers perhaps she could be persuaded.
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CranialRectalLoopback
December 8, 2009 1:40 PM in reply to Maritza
The PO scored great, she don't give a shit. It's her donation score that matters, and it ain't good with the public having options.
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Mateo123
December 8, 2009 1:58 PM in reply to CranialRectalLoopback
B-I-N-G-O.
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SqueakyRat
December 8, 2009 1:39 PM
Shorter Olimpia:why can't we all just get along and make lots of money?
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CranialRectalLoopback
December 8, 2009 1:39 PM
Can we please get this hag before a Death Panel already? Maybe perform a postpartum abortion?
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david1225
December 8, 2009 1:42 PM in reply to CranialRectalLoopback
I love the level of the discussion here. It's about 80% invective, 20% insight.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:05 PM in reply to david1225
I think it is more like 90% invective, 10% patting the others who write the same exact invecting on the back.
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CranialRectalLoopback
December 8, 2009 3:10 PM in reply to david1225
I'm shooting for 100% invective, since insight plays no part with Snowejob.
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LarsThorwald
December 8, 2009 2:03 PM in reply to CranialRectalLoopback
Really good comment. Like something Glenn Beck would say.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:06 PM in reply to LarsThorwald
Except Glennie doesn't know the word "invective"
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mcrose68
December 8, 2009 2:40 PM in reply to Cal Gal
And Glenn would have to cry a little. because . . . .
well, it's never really clear why Glenn is crying.
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slb
December 8, 2009 3:30 PM in reply to Cal Gal
And if he did, he likely wouldn't know how to spell it.
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CranialRectalLoopback
December 8, 2009 3:14 PM in reply to LarsThorwald
Except that it does point out the absurdity of Death Panels. Snowe's of Medicare age, she has a public option, she should already be subject to Death Panels. As for the abortion comment, most people don't appreciate what I consider to be a darkly humorous play on partial birth abortions. The Right like to play it like as the baby is birthing the liberals are whacking the baby's head off. You know, Taliban-like. They may have prevented partial-birth, but they don't seem to mind after birth abortions, which is basically what the death penalty and war represent.
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The BBQ Chicken Madness
December 8, 2009 1:46 PM
No one apparently asked if she would FILIBUSTER a plan with the Medicare buy in. #mediafail
No one apparently asked a follow up for her to elaborate on the "number of issues" she mentioned. #mediafail
And the last line indicates that even this site doesn't care about these important questions. #tpmfail
Let's try to step it up, Brian. I understand the need for speed and all...but try to not just be a stenographer next time.
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Shrubbit
December 8, 2009 1:59 PM in reply to The BBQ Chicken Madness
Thank you, I agree 100%. Major failure to not adequately address the substance of her position. Even worse to not even mention any attempt at getting a follow-up. If she declined to answer follow-ups, WRITE THAT so we know what's up. Basic journalism.
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Cool Blue Reason
December 8, 2009 2:29 PM in reply to The BBQ Chicken Madness
Right. She is "not inclined to support" all kinds of things. But that statement, if we are to take it on face value, is a hell of a lot softer than her position on the opt-out public option, which she said she would actively block.
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acf_ma
December 8, 2009 1:47 PM
This is what Snowe does. She pretends to have the veneer of bipartisan cooperation, but in reality, when the time comes to pull the lever on a vote, she votes the opposition, all the while wasting the time and resources of the majority.
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Moose49
December 8, 2009 1:54 PM in reply to acf_ma
Bingo! It's what Specter did before he switched parties. It's what all of David Broder's darlings do -- talk about bipartisanship and vote with their party whenever it actually counts.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:06 PM in reply to acf_ma
Is the same Snowe whose vote was necessary to pass the stimulus?
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:08 PM in reply to masanf
I think that was Collins. The Ladies of Maine switch off tag-team style with one being the designated "moderate" on one big issue and the other on the next.
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Moose49
December 8, 2009 2:12 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Actually, I think they both did. Of course, that was only after they conditioned their votes on slashing federal aid to state and local governments which makes them responsible for much of the layoffs, reduced services, higher tuition and other disasters the state fiscal catastrophes have inflicted on Americans. The net impact of their involvement in any key piece of legislation is almost always negative.
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cmaukonen
December 8, 2009 1:51 PM
Snow Job is what she is. A regular Fem Fatal of the right. Glad I don't live in Main. Bought and payed for by the insurance lobby.
C
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masanf
December 8, 2009 1:52 PM
WHy do you people even bother to act like you are debating anything? Any time anyone opposes the health care bill, for ANY reason, the response is always the same: "He or she is being paid for by the insurance industry".
When a senator mentions cost the people here (most do anyway)act as if cost is no object, because evidently, multi-trillion dollar deficits and huge generation-spanning debts are just plain swell as are confiscatory levels of taxation. Honestly it seems the people here believe that cost should never be an issue for anything, as if the government can just print and spend money, free of consequence, you know, just like normal people do in the real world.
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Shrubbit
December 8, 2009 1:54 PM in reply to masanf
This person is a troll. Ignore.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 1:57 PM in reply to Shrubbit
Yeah, because you can't be bothered with anything that doesn't reinforce your world view. It's called an echo-chamber, and you are in one. Congratulations.
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Shrubbit
December 8, 2009 2:00 PM in reply to masanf
LEAVE.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:03 PM in reply to Shrubbit
Boohoo, am I making you mad Mr. Echochamber?
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:04 PM in reply to Shrubbit
And I gotta tell you, I wasn't going to leave until I saw your message in all-caps. That really convinced me.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:09 PM in reply to masanf
Um, actually, the CBO has rated the Senate plan as REDUCING the deficit.
Better trolls, please.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 3:46 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Please read the CBO report. The deficit is reduced for a multitude of reaons, all gimmicky.
1. The doctor fix is not included
2. The benefits don't kick in until 2014, four years after the taxes start
3. Physician reimbursement rates are slashed by 23%
Anyone who actually read the report would be able to detect the CBO's skepticism that the deficit will actually be cut dripping off every page. The CBO EXPLICITLY states that it doubts the majority of the called for cuts will ever occur because they are politically untenable.
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lousgirl84
December 8, 2009 3:01 PM in reply to masanf
If you don't like it here - leave!!!!
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dswx
December 8, 2009 3:18 PM in reply to masanf
How classically naive. You hypocritically ignore the *cost* of not having health care reform! Both to individuals and the cost to the nation.
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JohnW1141
December 8, 2009 3:19 PM in reply to masanf
masanf,
truly, and if I were you I'd leave and not come back!
That'll show 'em.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 3:43 PM in reply to JohnW1141
It might, but staying will show them even more, so I am going to have to reject your advice. Sorry.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 4:45 PM in reply to masanf
If you believe what you write, then I assume you would be in favor of permanently rescinding the Bush tax cuts, force funding the two wars on to the budget, and cut back drastically on the size of the military component of the government, right ?
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Moose49
December 8, 2009 1:53 PM
Did anyone bother to ask her WHY she says she's got a problem with allowing people 55+ to buy in to Medicare? Or WHY she's against expanding Medicaid to people up to 150 percent of poverty?
I'd love to hear whatever twisted, convoluted explanation this out-of-control egomaniac came up with.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 1:56 PM in reply to Moose49
One question: who is paying for all these "expansions"?
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Moose49
December 8, 2009 1:59 PM in reply to masanf
The Medicare expansion is a buy-in. People age 55-65 would pay the full cost of premiums. There would be no federal expenditure. The Medicaid expansion would save money because the people affected would all receive subsidies if they bought their insurance through the exchanges, and Medicaid is cheaper than private insurance.
So if she cites fiscal concerns for her opposition, she's as full of shit as Lieberman when he says public option would bankrupt government.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:08 PM in reply to Moose49
Yeah, because I am sure the level of premiums paid from one of the sickest portions of society will match the level paid out. If that were the case, this would be pointless.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:11 PM in reply to masanf
You know, if you're just going to continue to spout nonsense instead of recognizing that the Senate plan has been scored to SAVE money (sorry if my use of caps to gain your attention has hurt your thin skin), then you really don't deserve any kind of response, even one of name-calling.
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dnegri
December 8, 2009 2:15 PM in reply to masanf
Were do you get that 55-65 are the sickest demographic? Sounds like a Frank Luntz talking point to me.
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JohnW1141
December 8, 2009 3:11 PM in reply to Moose49
Moose,
Snowe is tired of Nelson and Lieberman getting all the limelight, she wants her share.
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Moose49
December 8, 2009 5:06 PM in reply to JohnW1141
Astute observation.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 1:53 PM
And please, spare me the whole "you people" thing as if it is some devastating gotcha
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Shrubbit
December 8, 2009 1:55 PM in reply to masanf
Ignore this troll.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:02 PM in reply to Shrubbit
Wow, you are one persuasive debater. It seems you are a member of the "ignore everyone who disagrees with me" school of thought. Bravo.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:12 PM in reply to Shrubbit
You are so right. I'm going to now.
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Hussein Stemper
December 8, 2009 2:18 PM in reply to Cal Gal
+1
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masanf
December 8, 2009 3:41 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Good for you.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 4:47 PM in reply to masanf
In the immortal words of Dick Cheney, why don't you go fuck yourself ?
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robertecrump
December 8, 2009 1:54 PM
NOTE to Majority Leader Reid: Reconciliation - Use it or lose as you face an already uphill battle to return to the millionaires club in 2010.
NOTE to ConservaDems and RepublicansLite: Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:01 PM in reply to robertecrump
Reid is already toast. Threats at this points are meaningless.
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robertecrump
December 8, 2009 3:10 PM in reply to masanf
That very well may be true but if so then all the more reason t fall on one's sword rather than die like a dog on your knees.
On the obverse, passing a bill may be the only way to eke out a win. Senate re-election campaigns overwhelmingly favor the incumbent no matter how bad the polling data looks now.
I personally would like to see the guy win in 2010 just so we can replace him with Dick Durbin. Imagine the thought - a liberal democrat from a rock solid blue state as majority leader as opposed to another Daschle or Reid.
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nyjosh
December 8, 2009 1:58 PM
I am seriously starting to hate our system of government. Nobody brings any other options to the table. They just know that they are against a PO or for it. Cant there be another option or cant we find a happy medium that works for the people?? I am not entirely sold on the PO, but i am sold on the fact that Insurance Cos. and their lobbyist only care about their profit. When it comes to the health and well being of the citizens of the U.S cant we take profit out of it. Lets pay the Doctors and pay the hospitals for services rendered, and take the insurance cos. out of it
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slb
December 8, 2009 3:40 PM in reply to nyjosh
The Senate has become seriously dysfunctional, I'm afraid. The rules that worked when collegiality was the norm don't work at all now that collegiality has been pretty much thrown out of the window.
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Maritza
December 8, 2009 2:00 PM
I actually think that Snowe can be convinced based upon the CBO numbers.
If the CBO numbers are bad than many of the moderate Dems are NOT going to go for it but if the CBO numbers are good than there is a chance that she can be convinced.
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rscarcpac
December 8, 2009 2:06 PM in reply to Maritza
The debate has been so far from anything rational up to here and you still hope that they can be convinced?
The only thing that could convince them is the assurance of being reelected and the assurance that noone will ask them, millionaires, to pay more taxes.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:05 PM
"Snowe's vote isn't strictly necessary to pass health care reform, if all 60 Democrats stick together or if the Democrats would just go ahead and pass health care reform through budget reconciliation."
There, fixed it for you.
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rscarcpac
December 8, 2009 2:08 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Unfortunately there are not even 60 democrats with Lieberman obviously planning on running as a republican the next time.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:16 PM in reply to rscarcpac
That's my point. Budget reconciliation needs only 51 votes. Why the leadership is willing to make bad compromises to gain 9 unneeded votes is a mystery to me. Remember COBRA? (I used it when I was laid off.) the BR means Budget Reconciliaiton. The Bush Billionaire Tax Giveaway was passed by budget reconciliation. Reminds me of a stalled car. The driver needs to wave his arm out the window and shout "Go around, go around!"
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dnegri
December 8, 2009 2:25 PM in reply to Cal Gal
BR could only pass those parts of the BIll that are not directly related to the Budget.
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slb
December 8, 2009 4:02 PM in reply to dnegri
It's the other way around, I believe. Anything not directly related to the budged would be susceptible to a point of order challenge.
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slb
December 8, 2009 4:04 PM in reply to slb
"budget" rather. Why is it that typos only become visible AFTER you click on "Submit"?
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Cool Blue Reason
December 8, 2009 2:35 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Actually, it's "Continuation of Benefits Reconciliation Act". But your point holds.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:24 PM in reply to rscarcpac
That's my point. Budget reconciliation needs only 51 votes. Why the leadership is willing to make bad compromises to gain 9 unneeded votes is a mystery to me. Remember COBRA? (I used it when I was laid off.) the BR means Budget Reconciliaiton. The Bush Billionaire Tax Giveaway was passed by budget reconciliation. Reminds me of a stalled car. The driver needs to wave his arm out the window and shout "Go around, go around!"
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:26 PM in reply to Cal Gal
Have absolutely no idea how this posted twice. My apologies.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:09 PM
It is absolutely hilarious to read posts from people detailing how efficient Medicare is, evidently unaware that this "super-efficient" program is scheduled to go bankrupt in eight years.
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Bruce Webb
December 8, 2009 3:26 PM in reply to masanf
"It is absolutely hilarious to read posts from people detailing how efficient Medicare is, evidently unaware that this "super-efficient" program is scheduled to go bankrupt in eight years"
It is absolutely hilarious to read posts from people who know fuck-all about how Medicare is actually financed and what the relation between that financing and the Medicare Trust Fund. "bankrupt" is a bullshit PGP talking point. As long as Medicare is collecting FICA then Part A can continue to pay for services at some level, Trust Fund exhaustion just lowers that level fractionally, the notion that Medicare just stops is just morons repeating moron talking points. Moreover the HI Trust Fund only affects Medicare Part A, its exhaustion would have no impact at all on Part B (Physicians) or Part D (Drugs).
Like most trolls you are an ignorant blowhard repeating shit you read in your own echo chamber who then projects his own faults out onto the opposition. Not everyone from the Left who comments at the various parts of TPM gets everything right every time, but there are enough that do to make your petty content free jabs so laughable.
Define 'bankrupt' in context and in terms of effects on outcome. You can't. Because all you know apparently came to you via NRO's Corner.
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Bruce Webb
December 8, 2009 3:32 PM in reply to Bruce Webb
Plus you Goof. In this context efficiency is measured by the cost of administration compared to the overall level of expenditures, efficient operations result in savings to an EXISTING funding stream, if that funding stream is inadequate to fund the services delivered even if there were zero admin costs and so 100% MLR/efficiency, the system goes cash-flow negative. Or in your terms 'bankrupt'. That doesn't mean it was not efficient, just that it was under resourced.
You are not even confusing apples and oranges here, more like apples and rocks, you don't even understand (or can't express) the basic concepts here.
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drwu
December 8, 2009 2:10 PM
Get rid of the filibuster rule--restore democracy-marginalize the Liebermans,Conrads, etc.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 2:12 PM
But even more hilarious are the people who are ripping as an uncompromising bitch the very same woman whose vote was absolutely essential for the stimulus bill to pass.
But since I raised an inconvenient truth somebody better tell me to leave because my views differ from theirs.
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dnegri
December 8, 2009 2:17 PM in reply to masanf
A stimulus bill that you complained about. So who cares what your opinion is? And the fact that she is uncompromising on this bill is either true or not, based on this bill and no a previous vote.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 3:39 PM in reply to dnegri
Yeah, because my complaints somehow change how this supposed opponent of all compromise voted. I would call your reply lame but that gives it too much credit.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 4:42 PM in reply to masanf
Perhaps what this really says is that she's pragmatic when it comes to money, but not when it comes to the health of individuals. After all, who benefited from the bailout ? Was it aimed at little people or primarily at bankers and members of the investor class ?
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nyjosh
December 8, 2009 2:21 PM in reply to masanf
I agree but it would help if other R's could come to the table with something constructive or atleast an alternate proposal. Its terrible that we dont have a single R other than the senators from Maine working in good faith to repair our broken health care system.
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mass_murdock
December 8, 2009 2:22 PM in reply to masanf
We like you here! Don't get so down on yourself! You are part of the team, part of what makes TPM so great. Keep it up!
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slb
December 8, 2009 4:10 PM in reply to masanf
And getting that support required watering the bill down to minimal effectiveness. So I, for one, am only mimimally grateful for her "support".
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Rich in NJ
December 8, 2009 2:13 PM
Fuck her.
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Cal Gal
December 8, 2009 2:24 PM in reply to Rich in NJ
ooooo. bad imagery.
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Powkat
December 8, 2009 2:17 PM
Please don't feed the troll.
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Rich in NJ
December 8, 2009 2:27 PM in reply to Powkat
Do you consider yourself a troll?
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dnegri
December 8, 2009 2:23 PM
Ping pong continues. Just look at the story hadlines on this site: Snowe opposed to Medicare buy-in; Lieberman could support it; Carper says Showe has been very helpful in public option negotiations; Nelson will oppose if it doesn't have his abortion amendment....ping pong ping pong.
Question: Would Nelson really dare be the one vote to kill HCR over his failed amendment?
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nfbloch
December 8, 2009 2:26 PM
Wish dems could stop screwing around and just go for reconciliation. This is ridiculous. By the time they're through the "reform" won't be any better than what we have now, maybe worse.
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Rich
December 8, 2009 2:38 PM
When will be rid of this woman?
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rbeats
December 8, 2009 2:39 PM
What a coward.
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tosh
December 8, 2009 3:02 PM
I'm Shocked!
The White House, Harry and the ConservaDems force the Progressives to admit they'll pitch the PO over by leading them on that there's some alternative compromise... only to show as always that there is no compromise with them.
Reconcilliation time.
John
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VictorLH
December 8, 2009 3:14 PM
When will the Democrats figure out that Snowe is a republican just as nasty as the others? All she's doing is using the Democrats to get publicity to fool her constituents into thinking she is thoughtful and moderate. Give her credit, she is smart by doing so.
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Kuyleh
December 8, 2009 3:16 PM
Is anyone surprised?
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tommyo
December 8, 2009 3:22 PM
Thnaks again, idiot Senate Democrats and Obama, for you're complete fucking up of health care reform.
From Reid and his, and fellow clueless Senate supporters who elected him leader, refusal to interfere with Baucus's decision to grant equality on his committee to the GOP to their empowering of Lieberman (including their incredibly spineless refusal to strip this scumbag of his committee chairmanship)Nelson and Snowe by taking reconciliation off the table to Obama's nowhere man act they have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
I'm sick of these losers. The GOP will be delivering these assholes a thumping in 2010 and they have earned it.
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slb
December 8, 2009 3:26 PM
Bottom line: Olympia Snowe is opposed to health care reform, she just doesn't want to come out and say that.
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masanf
December 8, 2009 3:40 PM in reply to slb
Because, evidently, opposing this particular terrible bill means one is opposed to the entire concept of reform. Sure thing.
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slb
December 8, 2009 4:15 PM in reply to masanf
Can she propose a better alternative? Evidently not, because she had plenty of opportunity to do so as one of Baucus's vaunted Gang of Six. I have seen her say little except to express what she DOES NOT approve. Any time someone comes up with an option that just might work to get the bill passed, Snowe does her best to shoot it down.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 5:21 PM in reply to masanf
Your reasoning is missing on a few cylinders. This bill, if you have the intellectual honesty to admit it, is the best set of ideas both parties have had during this past year to reform the insurance system. The fact that the overwhelming majority of those ideas come from the democratic side is not in any way due to the fact that the republicans were not invited. If you were to say otherwise, then I would have to call you a liar. That said, there is no other approach in existence at this point, and to argue as you seem to that we should ditch this as a bad bill and start over is about as intellectually dishonest on its face as it gets.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 4:22 PM
Snowe doesn't know what the fuck she thinks, and I don't even know if Snowe thinks at all. I agree with slb, she flat out opposes any kind of reform, but I don't believe it's because she holds any kind of principled position.
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expatjourno2
December 8, 2009 4:28 PM
That vicious, murderous, piece of shit. I'd like to spit in her face. All she wants to do is deprive ordinary Americans of affordable health care -- no matter how many of them keep dying from lack of affordable health care, no matter how many children keep dying from lack of affordable health care. She is Stalinistic in her attitude towards human life. A sociopath.
And for what? So that one segment of the economy, the health insurance business, remains as profitable as possible.
Obama, of course, thinks she's oh-so-constructive because he, unfortunately, is a goddamn idiot.
That is a woman who never should have been born.
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rbe1
December 8, 2009 4:37 PM in reply to expatjourno2
I'm sympathetic with your perspective and your anger; however, I believe you need to consider that the majority of senators are fully as disconnected from feelings for their fellow beings as she. There are a lot of sociopaths of varying degrees in the US Senate. They may not be flaming examples like a Jeffery Darmer, but they are people whose stations in life exempt them from feeling a connection with so-called ordinary people (I would exempt Ted Kennedy and a few others, however). I have pretty much the same feeling about the members of the Supreme Court. The House of Representatives has, I believe, a pretty good sized group of normal human beings, thank goodness. The House may be the last bastion of a conscience for the country at a national level. As for the presidency, I don't see much evidence for a conscience, but I'll wait a little longer.
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celldumceen
December 8, 2009 6:13 PM
Who are we kidding? The GOP isn't negotiating in good faith! They won't agree to anything! The point here is to drag this thing out and hope it dies a slow painful death!
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OxamzRazor
December 8, 2009 9:39 PM
What the hell is this woman for? I would love for Reid to throw down the gauntlet and say, "I'll give you 10 days to come up with a petter plan than ours. If you can't you have to vote for this one."
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