Bayhpartisanship: A Glimpse Into Democrats' Aversion To Political Hardball

Anyone actually care what Bayh (D-Wellpoint) thinks? Let's see a show of hands.

Yes evan our side did complain and the rethugs did it anyway, turnabout is fair play you miserable scumbag!

Yes evan, our side did complain about reconciliation and the rethugs did it anyway, turnabout is fair play you miserable bribe taking scumbag! And as for popisoning the well, since the scum with R after their names haven't voted yes for anything all year long it is disingeuous to assume they suddently will be struck with a desire to help peoples lives.

Bayh's suggestion is a recipe for policy and political disaster. Repubs are not gonna vote yes on anything except filibusters from now until November.

Okay Evan, let's see if I've got this straight.

Republicans, acting in rigid lockstep enforced by threats and bullyin, escalate use of the filibuster and procedural holds to wage an utterly unprecedented campaign of obstuction. They use them to block the Democrats, not merely from enacting their agenda, but, actually to undermine the ability of the elected government to govern at all.

But if Democrats use a procedural tool from the same set of rules that enables the filibusters and holds to overcome the filibuster to enact one single thing key piece of their agenda, it will "poison the well" and undermine bipartisanship.

The Democrats will be the ones poisoning the well of bipartisanship.

That's the thing about Bayh. You're constantly wondering if he's really that effing stupid, if he thinks we're that effing stupid or whether he's so dumb he thinks we're dumber than he is.

How can you poison the well after it's run dry? There is NO cooperation to be had from the Republicans. They're not exactly subtle about it. What's really saddest about American politics these days is people like Bayh who make lying to their constituents the bedrock action of their jobs.

Bahy knows the Republicans will not have not and are not planning to voted for anything as long as this Prsident is in office, and that's just fine with Bayah, that gives him cover while reaping millions from Big Pharma, BIg Insurance and Big Business,

his wife is as someone stated earlier is on the BOARD AT WELLPOINT INSURNANCE COMPANY

Bayh is not going to do anything to impact her job or his millions he's getting from that industry.

Dems must do RECONCILLIATION TO EVEN EXPOSE THEIR OWN WHO ARE IN THE POCKETS OF BIG INSURANCE BIG PHARMA AND BIG BUSINESS

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT THIS EXPOSURE AND AT THE SAME TIME SAVE LIVES AND OUR STRUGGLING FAMILIES LIVELIHOODS.

The Blue Dogs oppose reconciliation because it robs them of their swing votes, and therefore also their outsized influence over the final product.

You can now put Evan Bayh in the "Obstructionist" category!

Republicans will walk away if the Democrats play hardball?

This is an actual statement from a Democratic Senator?

Bayh's latest excuse for blocking any progress on healthcare reform is just that: an excuse and a bullshit one at that. Does anyone really believe that it is possible to "poison the well" with the Republicans who are currently filibustering every single Democratic initiative that comes before the Senate. What a load of preposterous bullshit! It's like saying that you should be nice to the bully next door and not stand up to him in hopes that he won't take your lunch money if you just bow down and kiss his ass. Of course, anyone who ever dealt with a bully knows that the moment you bow down it becomes certain that you'll get an ass kicking every chance the bully gets. Bayh should be ignored and primaried as soon as possible. He is a whore to the insurance industry and no Democrat at all.

Q: What's the difference between Evan Bayh and a sphincter?

A: A sphincter has a purpose.

As with any bully, it's seriously time to call the bluff of the Republicans. Dems should press ahead, go on a mass multi media barrage and let the conservatives try to talk themselves out of not being obstructionists.

Bayh is still smarting from his failure to be selected as the vice-presidential candidate. While Wellpoint is probably big on reasons for being an obstructionist, do not discount the power of revenge.

Obama needs to be more LBJ and less Jimmy Carter. Bayh means nothing - call his bluff.

I don't Bayh and the Conservadems are alone. That's just what John Kerry's office told me yesterday on the phone (cue the Kerry Boosters to launch an attack/defense).

If their SOTU reaction and McCain's interview this morning are any indication, Republicans may -- even with 10% unemployment -- try to oppose or attack a jobs bill...

McCain was asked about President Obama's demand for a jobs bill this morning, and he simply attacked a new jobs bill as a "stimulus bill":

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6150210n&tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.1

[The part about the jobs bill is in the last 20 sec or so of the video. McCain also attacked Democrats for the lack of bipartisanship, suggesting that Republicans have been left completely out of the healthcare process.]

"Bayh says he sees a real prospect for bipartisanship on those issues, but that Republicans will walk away if Democrats play hardball on health care."

He can't be serious.

The Republicans will oppose anything right now. They'll oppose tax cuts, tax incentives, additional aid to Veterans.

We've heard this crap before. All that Bayh wants to do is protect his own ass. With Pence out of the game, his ass may have been saved, so essentially he just wants a wide berth within which to coast to victory.

He's not anti-(political) war. He's just on he other side.

The Senate served up a pile of crap for a healthcare bill, one essentially written by the insurance industry, and the Republicans deride it as a "government takeover of healthcare." They're not going along with anything, and have said as much. Grassley said he'd vote no even if it gave him everything he wanted...said it out loud to a reporter. Forget Republicans...let them implode on their own.

But these Dems like Bayh that are suggesting we have to tone it down on the policy end because the Republicans might not go along are just using the Republicans to cover their own asses. They're not worth listening to.

Bayh is not a progressive and never was. I'm to'd he's apparently become more moderate to conservative than when he thought he was going to be Hillary's VP, but that was mainly posing. Plus, the odds of electing a progressive anything from Indiana to anything above dog catcher state wide is squat. Too many small towns in the south of the state who still freak out every time a "colored" (any color other than pasty pinkish with a sunburned neck)gets lost on the way to Louisville. You know, Mike Pence country.

Anyone whose lived in Indy should know Indiana is and has been an insurance friendly state for a long time. The 465 runs past a huge number of insurers on the north side of town, the Pacers play at Conseco Fieldhouse, and it has such a complex set of caps and procedures on med mal claims that most lawyers don't want to take claims on - they aren't worth enough in fees, even when the injuries are massive.

Evan Bayh:

"The problem with reconciliation is that it runs a real risk...of poisoning the well on progress on some of these areas"

President Obama:

"To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills."

Yes, that means you Senator Not-Worthy-of-Your-Father Bayh.

Wait, if passing Healthcare by circumventing the filibuster is sooooo damaging to every other important item on the horizon, why is it that only corporate Dems like Bayh are so worried about the consequences? It seems more like Bayh is making a specious argument to justify why only an absurdly corporate-friendly bill can be passed and that reconciliation should be avoided because the GOP will think it is mean and then they will stop being so helpful.

I don't buy that there is any way to work with the GOP for the remainder of this Congressional session. It is hardball or nothing, and I personally am tired of nothing.

Bayh is either deluded, or lying. I don't really like either option--Max Baucus is a scumbag, but at least an *honest* scumbag, by comparison--but I certainly don't see an option 3.

This is what we're dealing with with regard to our *allies*. God save the Union.

I think the real consequence of giving the GOP obstructionists a victory on HCR is, if they can stop this they will stop everything. They don't care about the country they just want the power and access to govt money to disperse to cronies that comes their way when they run the show. Give them a victory here and they'll just keep doing the same thing until they're back in charge. Pass HCR without them and you force them to engage. Especially if HCR is successful and popular.

Evan Bayh has been running on his father Birch's reputation ever since he entered politics. Birch Bayh was an honest-to-god liberal Democrat; a rarity in Indiana, but not unkown.
My personal opinion is that Evan Bayh is simply lazy. His name alone is worth enough votes to get him within striking distance of winning in any election. If he actually voted for and supported the Democratic agenda, he would be forced to justify it to his constituents. There are more than enough voters in this state willing to be convinced by a sitting senator that what the Democrats are trying to do will benefit them. But that would mean expending some energy on Bayh's part and, apparently, THAT is just too much to expect.
It's easier for him to outspend any opponent, whether in a primary or the general, continually reference his father during speeches, and let the average (uninformed) voter believe he's carrying on the family tradition.
As for "Sen. Mitch Daniels"? Doubt it very much. Even if Bayh should whole-heartedly support the present adminstration's legislative agenda. Few Republicans are that upset with Bayh (why should they be?) beyond his having a "D" behind his name and very few people, of either party, are enthusiastic about Daniels. Nor is Daniels a particlarly good campaigner. During a Senate campaign he would undoubetedly be asked about the shanbles our real estate tax system is in, the state's relieance on a 7% sales tax, the outsourcing of state contracts, selling the rights to the toll road, and, at present, the 3+ billion-dollar "emergency" fund he's refusing to touch while the state faces lay-offs due to declining tax revenues. He have to support all that during a senatorial campaign and I don't think he could do it.
If Daniels runs, there is a bright side: in order to beat him, Bayh might actually have to run as a Democrat. Imagine that!

Instead of Conservadems or Blue Dogs, can we call them Tea Party Dems?

How about calling him Senator Bought.