The Hill chronicles the seemingly epic battle in the senate where the GOP had 29 amendments defeated before finally getting one sending the bill back to the House for minor revisions. But the fact that it’s all kabuki to fool the voters is made clear in the description
In contrast to floor speeches delivered during the afternoon and on Tuesday, Wednesday night’s voting was often marked by levity and was rarely tense. At one point, after Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) gave a tongue-in-cheek speech in favor of one GOP amendment, Democratic Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) responded by teasing Roberts over the University of Kansas’s recent loss in the NCAA basketball tournament.
The evening’s mood suggested a foregone conclusion; Republicans privately conceded that the bill was on its way to passage and said they weren’t surprised at the overwhelming defeat of their amendments. Democrats, meanwhile, celebrated by munching on lobster rolls from Legal Seafood in their cloakroom in honor of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who had championed healthcare reform for much of his 47-year career.
The way they all voted was as choreographed as the House voting
Nelson, who has come under fire from the conservative base of his state for his support of the healthcare reform effort, supported the GOP the most — on 20 out of 29 votes as of the 3 a.m. adjournment.
Nelson said he had informed Reid of his votes beforehand.
And what of the way those amendments were defeated? remember,Republicans have a 41 majority in the Senate?
Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.) proposed preventing Medicare cuts, for example, while Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) proposed striking all special provisions for states in the bill and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) proposed an amendment to prohibit any taxes for middle-income families. Gregg’s amendment failed, 42-56; McCain’s proposal failed, 43-54, and Crapo’s failed, 43-56.
Looks like the GOP was hardly trying. In spite of help from Democrats who needed to foil their voters
Democrats Evan Bayh of Indiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Nelson of Nebraska strayed frequently from their party during Wednesday night’s voting. Bayh, who is retiring, crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans 10 times. Lincoln, who faces a tough re-election race, supported Republicans eight times. Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia also bucked his party three times.
But at least they got a funny headline in Washington times
However, reading about the Viagra amendment I laughed less
“If this bill goes through without this amendment, your tax dollars are going to be paying for Viagra for child molesters,” Coburn, a medical doctor, said on the Senate floor as he introduced his E.D. rider.
In other words, when it comes to men, the objection to sex drugs being part of HCR goes only to sex offenders.
Unlike Contraceptives – ruled out from the stimulus at Obama’s request, or Jane Crow EO – hitting ALL WOMEN, law abiding or not
All senators felt safe in voting for show only. After all they knew that Mitch McConnell made it impossible for any GOP amendment to pass
Mitch McConnell did exactly that when he entered a unanimous consent agreement with Harry Reid about how to proceed on the health care bill. McConnell knew that agreement was going to make it impossible for Republicans to amend the bill and would put it on a fast track toward passage. McConnell accepted an agreement brilliantly designed by Reid that required 60 votes to pass an amendment.
So, while the Heritage Foundation brainchild is foisted upon us by the Democrats, they are all laughing at the very notion of Democracy.
Voters are being deceived and betrayed by their reps on both sides on the aisle, while being kept at each other throats for electoral purposes.
Update
Obama Democrats VS Tea Party Republicans: A Fake Fight Over Fake Health Care Reform
The fifteen month running battle between Obama Democrats and tea party Republicans was never much more real than televised professional wrestling. Like the opposing wrestlers, both sides work for the same bosses, for Big Pharma, Big Insurance, and the biggest medical providers. The real health care fight waged by the Obama administration has not been against Republicans, who never had the votes to stop, let alone dictate or pass anything.
The administration’s effort all along has been to pass the worst bill possible, with the greatest amounts of corporate welfare and loopholes, and the fewest protections for patients, while silencing, neutering and coercing the voices of most Democrats, who have favored some form of single payer, or Medicare For All from the beginning.
and the conclusion
In health care, as in war and peace, as in the environment and education, as in the rights of women and immigrants, the First Black President’s historic role is clear. His job is to smile and speechify and neutralize the left on every front, while taking the country further to the right than his white Republican predecessor would ever have been able.
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4 comments
March 25, 2010 at 2:21 pm
HT
I used to believe that good would overcome evil. Guess I was naive, or else I never realized being born female was evil. No wonder I am and have been for most of my life an atheist. I reject any and all persons trying to personify my being as eveil.
And quite frankly, I’m a better person than a helluva lot of churchgoing folks that I know, however, while church is a part of it, it’s a minor part, they are useful stooges to cover the true malefactors., if only they knew.
The real malefactors don’t really have any other concern other than to line their pockets and gain control, hence enhancing their power to gain more money and more control. These people don’t give a good gosh darn about anything other than their own power – much like the robber barons, although I think these guys and gals have surpassed those old guys. WRT to the suppression of women, it makes sense – the majority of the populace. What better way to disable all potentially powerful resistance, then to diminish more than half the populace, and mobilize the rest of the populace to fight any and all of their concerns?
Sorry for droning on, but this is so very, very dispiriting.
March 25, 2010 at 3:57 pm
edgeoforever
It is. And yes, we, women are evil. Periodically, every month we kill eggs – so it’s only fair that righteous men punish us. (also the fact that half of us are actively working against their own best interests doesn’t help either)
March 25, 2010 at 4:11 pm
HT
Edge, I fear this situation. Even the churchy men don’t realize that they are being used, forget about the women. This is the 21st centurry version of the roman coliseum- but today we don’t have lions against gladiators, we have men and women for freedom, against men and women who are controlled by whomever wields that magical marketing branding, whether it be church, state, or other. It’s frightening, because most people don’t recognize what’s happening. Perhaps I’m nuts, but this is a takeover by the major multinational corporations of the sovereignity of many countries by utilizing whatever tool is necessary, and if that involves pitting people against people, so much the better. Turmoil and uncertainty is how these folks gain power.
Best go back to lurking – I suspect my tinfoil hat needs to be adjusted.
March 27, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Obama’s Romenycare: a tip to faith based abstinence too « Not Your Sweetie
[...] I ony have one question: I know there was a big fight over giving Viagra to felons. It didn’t pass, BTW as Reid thought it was not serious (not as serious as abstinence) he [...]