TPMDC
Stabenow 22nd Senator To Join Public Option Push
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
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Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has signed the letter urging Senate leadership to pass a public option through reconciliation, Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee just announced on MSNBC.
Stabenow is the 22nd senator to do so, following Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) earlier today.
The letter, written by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), will be sent to Majority Leader Harry Reid. Prominent Democrats who have already signed include Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Robert Menendez (D-NY). You can read the full list here.
More than 100 House members have also signed onto the letter.
The White House, asked for comment today, said it is up to Reid whether to go for the public option. But a leadership aide told TPMDC last week that they would need strong support from the White House to do so.
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dndobson
February 22, 2010 6:37 PM
And why won't the administration show stronger support for their own idea? I'd really like to know what's up with that?
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philogratis
February 22, 2010 7:22 PM in reply to dndobson
Because he doesn't want to blow up delicate negotiations between Nancy Pelosi and the Blue Dogs on whether they will vote for the Senate bill.
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loudprogressive
February 23, 2010 12:37 AM in reply to philogratis
The WH publiclhy supporting the public option makes it more of a guarantee the public option would make it to a vote, not less. They used that excuse last time around and it makes even less sense now than it did before.
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trblmkr
February 23, 2010 8:39 AM in reply to loudprogressive
Sen. Menendez will be interested to know you've moved him to the New York caucus...
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Thornhill
February 22, 2010 6:37 PM
I don't understand why Obama still won't support the public option. Given the lousy poll numbers, now is the time to go for broke and keep the base happy.
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Viva!America!
February 22, 2010 7:09 PM in reply to Thornhill
Yeah, I don't get why the president won't play himself again and support something that the senate will probably once again strike down. No clue as to why he doesn't want to get anyone's hopes up, again.
Either way, the Left will blame him because the Senate won't step up.
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FreeRider
February 22, 2010 7:37 PM in reply to Viva!America!
Jay Rockefeller has just come out against the public option through reconciliation.
Obama knows this PO push ain't going nowhere and it's not worth getting punked again.
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eratosthenes8
February 22, 2010 7:42 PM in reply to FreeRider
Why?
Do you have a link?
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FreeRider
February 22, 2010 7:46 PM in reply to eratosthenes8
It's too early to ask you to admit you were wrong about the Dems giving up on HCR but I hope you're practicing.
Here's the link.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/22/rockefeller-not-inclined_n_472393.html
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eratosthenes8
February 22, 2010 8:45 PM in reply to FreeRider
If it turns out I was wrong, I will be HAPPY to admit it.
Thrilled. Ecstatic, even.
Obama and the Democrats getting something done? It'll be a real pleasure to admit I misjudged them.
Also, thanks for the link.
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loudprogressive
February 23, 2010 12:43 AM in reply to eratosthenes8
Freeride is a troll. Of course he doesn't have a link. The White House is ignoring the most popular reform for healthcare
(see I DO have links: http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/poll-public-option-way-more-popular-than-senate-health-bill/ ).
Its like the giant elephant in the room everyone is just holding their breathe, waiting for the WH to acknowledge. It would be a huge mistake - and guaranteed turnout killer - if the WH ignores it. They don't want voters to throw their hands up in disgust. Its not that easy to win back voters once you've lost all credibility.
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lousgirl84
February 23, 2010 11:13 AM in reply to loudprogressive
Look, FreeRider is no troll. Let's clear the air here. FR just happens to be more informed than most of you and cuts through the bullshit
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FreeRider
February 23, 2010 12:09 PM in reply to lousgirl84
Hey, Lousgirl! Pay not attention to LoudMouthProgressive. He's too stupid to close him mouth in the rain. Perhaps that's why he didn't see the link I provided.
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druidity
February 22, 2010 8:44 PM in reply to FreeRider
Well, they don't call him "JelloJay" for nothing!
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wbgonne
February 23, 2010 10:29 AM in reply to FreeRider
You applaud Obama only AS LONG AS he advocates for the bill the health insurance companies want. You don't care about the policy merits, the people's unwavering support for the public option, or the political benefits for the Dems if they enact the public option through reconciliation. It is now clear that you are not an Obama supporter. You are a public option opponent. You are an insurance company troll.
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FreeRider
February 23, 2010 12:07 PM in reply to wbgonne
Are you back to tell us how Democrats never defied LBJ--except for the 20+ who voted against civil rights and led the filibuster?
Maybe you're here to tell us how LBJ would have destroyed any Democrat who opposed hiim--except Robert Byrd who led the filibuster on civil rights and then became majority leader?
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ohyeathatsright
February 22, 2010 7:30 PM in reply to Thornhill
Obama has to play this very carefully. 3 days before a well executed PR play for televised healthcare debate is not the time to "go for broke".
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loudprogressive
February 23, 2010 12:49 AM in reply to ohyeathatsright
Forget PR stunts. If he doesn't include the public option how is he going to get House votes? How will he avoid majority-busting losses due to weak momentum in the base? Is he seriously going to sacrifice who-knows-how-many seats in the House and Senate just to NOT include a public option. Considering the potential losses we're looking at it seems worth it for the entire Democratic leadership to lean on the one or two DINO senators and get it passed. To not do so, in the name of a PR event, seems insane to me.
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mans_best_friend
February 23, 2010 12:11 AM in reply to Thornhill
Right. Because keeping the base (i.e. YOU) happy is more important than actually passing a bill.
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wbgonne
February 23, 2010 10:35 AM in reply to mans_best_friend
You are an insurance company troll, just like FreeRider. Any real Democrat or real Obama supporter would be advocating forcefully for the public option at this point when it has been demonstrated over and again that the public option exceedingly popular with Democrats, Independents and even 1/3 of Republicans. You don't want Obama, the Democrats or the nation to do well; you want the insurance companies to get what they want.
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ottis
February 22, 2010 6:39 PM
You go first...No you go first. Come on lets get it done.
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Nutter
February 22, 2010 6:41 PM
Can I hear a FUCK YOU OBAMA from the diehard healthcare reform supporters now? Come on. I know you wanna.
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bluebell
February 22, 2010 9:03 PM in reply to Nutter
No reason to get angry. No reason to vote for him next time either.
Feel free to continue with "bash the base". It will be very on message soon. Ah, what would they do without us radical liberals to blame for everything?
But keep those cards and letters coming DNC! I surely do love the opportunity to reply.
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Nutter
February 22, 2010 9:11 PM in reply to bluebell
I see. All that time when a public option was viable...and even that Medicare buy in plan....I did not hear people you guys telling Obama to fuck himself. (Snark) Keep deluding yourself with promises broken that he never made and still telling him to fuck himself when he did fulfill his promise.
And yet here we are with the public option back in play...I don't see you congratulating him. What makes you any different than a teabagger?
You can be angry at me all you want, but you can't deny anything I said.
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AJM
February 22, 2010 10:42 PM in reply to Nutter
And what role do you contend that Obama played in the revival of public option?
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Nutter
February 22, 2010 10:58 PM in reply to AJM
I am basing it on your definition. When Obama was not involved in the bill, he is blamed for the mess. When it is suspected he tried to weaken it, they told him to fuck himself. When he tries to reconcile differences, he is called weak and slow. Based on this blame him for everything mentality, it is only fair to give him credit for this.
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AJM
February 22, 2010 11:43 PM in reply to Nutter
You mean that when things happen despite his inaction and ineptness he should get credit for it? WTF
That you think we are wrong in our accusations against Obama does not give him karmic credit for the accomplishments of others.
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wbgonne
February 23, 2010 10:36 AM in reply to Nutter
Please stop whining.
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FreeRider
February 22, 2010 9:41 PM in reply to bluebell
Since you {supposedly) left the Democratic party a year ago, why are you being solicited by the DNC?
How many times will you be caught in the same lie? Have you no shame, bluebell?! LMAO!
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AJM
February 22, 2010 10:44 PM in reply to FreeRider
There are a lot of former Democrats who continue to get a lot of those letters .... quite a number of them probably didn't vote in Massachusetts.
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FreeRider
February 23, 2010 12:40 PM in reply to AJM
Uh-huh.
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Viva!America!
February 22, 2010 7:11 PM
I'd like to remind readers that at the beginning of O's term, Harry Reid commented that Obama is not his boss. So, ah, yeah, Harry you don't need to wait for his approval.
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Tosh
June 6, 2010 10:46 PM
If it turns out I was wrong, I will be HAPPY to admit it.
Thrilled. Ecstatic, even.
Obama and the Democrats getting something done? It'll be a real pleasure to admit I misjudged them.
Also, thanks for the link.
m65 kamagra
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