Wheeling In The Cots: A Winter Snow Emergency--And An Absentee Lieberman--Is Complicating Democrats' Health Care Push

Sen. Byrd can't be there either.

Also how long before a Republican says "See, God doesn't want healthcare passed!"

Are they filibustering and leaving town for funding for the troops?

Don't they only need 50 votes in the morning? I thought Saturday (tomorrow) was the defense spending bill, for which cloture has already been invoked. And then Reid introduces his health care bills for cloture votes beginning Monday. No?

They dont need Joe Lieberman or Robert C. Byrd until Monday morning. Thats when they are going to file cloture on the managers amendment if they introduce it saturday morning. They should have enough votes to past the defense appropriation bill. only need 51

Joe the warmonger can't sacrifice his holiday to vote for funding for the troops.

That would make a good commercial.

The first health care vote is not until Monday so I don't see the problem of Lieberman not being there over the weekend.

They need to kick that neoconservative turd's lazy butt to the curb. Strip him of his chair and toss him to the GOP.

For Gods sake Lieberman! You live in Connecticut where snow is routine.

Get your ass back down to DC and do your work.

And stop complaining that you have to work on weekends.

What do you think the rest of us Middle Class people have to do?

I'm sorry, but this is an absolutely crappy article by TPM if I have to find out in the comments that only 50 votes are needed until Monday Morning and you are making it out to be a big deal that Lieberman went back to CT. I want to read analysis not outrage.

You want to give a 100% pass to an observant Jew not working the Sabbath (Friday Sundown to Saturday Sundown).

This weeks portion is Genesis 41:1-44:17

Joseph having been brought our prison tells Pharaoh that his dreams of cows and corn mean a coming prosperity (Clinton) and then disaster (Bush). I am sure there is something in there...

He sure is pious when it suits him, isn't he?

Just saw Reid go off on the gop saying they turned their backs on the troops in wartime.

I don't think I have seen him so angry.

I hope he finds G-d this weekend.

Problem? I see no problem. If Republicans vote against funding the troops, use it against them, just like they did to Kerry and others.

As for delaying this disaster they're calling health insurance reform, don't just delay: kill it dead. There's a reason health insurance stock prices have risen precipitously over the past weeks. There's a reason they're sending each other emails congratulating themselves on their win. That's because holding a gun to people's head to force them to buy what they can't afford is madness, and subsidizing the difference with no const control is even loonier than Medicare Part D.

No public option or Medicare buy-in? Then no mandate. Obama himself offered that if we could solve health insurance by requiring people to buy it, we could solve homelessness by requiring people to buy homes. But sadly for America, the corporate Clintonista sell-your-soul-to-the-highest-bidder Third Way Terry MacAuliffe brand of influence peddling has gripped our President by the short hairs, and he's proven he just doesn't have it in him to ask them to let go.

Rahm Emanuel, Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson run the nation for the ststus quo, and Hope ain't got nothin' to do with it.

Well, The maintenance and clean up crew in Senate stated they were glad Lieberman was going to be out of town, because they were tired of picking up chicken feathers from under his desk!

Unless there is something in it for Israel Liarman/Briberman can go home.

http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/senate_needs_to_eat_their_own_dog_foodhealth_care_package

Please sign the petition. The senate needs to eat their own dog food. The Senate, House, Whitehouse and all government employees need to eat their own dog food. The Senate should give up their comprehensive health care packages that they get to keep even when they leave office. The one that pays for their viagra and their pre-existing conditions (like spinelessness, stupidity, corruption and greed) along with their medical conditions that we all share but don't get the luxury of having covered (as the Senate does), like blood tests, hysterectomies, cancer treatments and yes even abortion (hypocritical Republicans aren't giving up those benefits).

We want real regulation of this disgustingly greedy insurance industry we have today, accountability for their corporate wastefulness at the patients and doctors expense. We suffer from "Death panels" today...everytime our treatments are rejected, our prescriptions aren't paid for and our premiums go up. Mr. Obama, Mr. Liberman, all you cowardly Democrats and obstructionist Republicans...you need to eat your own dog food. You need to give up your health care packages and be subject to the same facist Insurance Industry bailout you are making the rest us pay for.

What's good enough for the American people is good enough for you.

You need to go without insurance until this problem is solved.