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Bayh: Dems Don't Have The Guts To Use Reconciliation

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:14:54 PM EST
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Via Jon Walker, Evan Bayh:

If the people [who] want the public option in its fullest form are just adamant about that they can always just get that with fifty votes.

Bayh opposes all forms of a public option. So when he says that, he is laughing in the face of President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Leader Reid.

When Evan Bayh is calling you a wimp, you know that you are weak.

Speaking for me only

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    Bayh: Dems Don't Have The Guts To Use Reconciliation | 38 comments (38 topical)

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    Actually, it sounds to me like he'd really like to (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by steviez314 on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:25:06 PM EST
    not be on the spot for a cloture vote either.

    Indiana (none / 0) (#16)
    by christinep on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 07:01:12 PM EST
    In the background: Lake and other northern Indiana counties. If a Democrat is to win in Indiana, that individual has to win convincingly in the north as well as strongly in Indianapolis and Evansville. Well, the north has strong unions (car-related & otherwise).  They care very much about health care reform as we all know. Naptown has a demographic configuration that would heartily favor health care reform. At this point, Sen. Bayh does have an interest in getting a better tax deal for some of the health-care manufacturing components based in Indiana. Remember, tho, the Bayh family (with father Birch Bayh) has very close relations with Labor going back to Walter Reuther. Seriously, I see no way that Senator Bayh would endanger that close relationship. (I normally don't get too emotional about a particular Senator's wonts, but this is one case I would bet on.) In the final analysis, Senator Evan Bayh--like his father before him and his late mother, who had a very strong interest in health-care reform dating back decades--will not let us down at cloture.

    Parent
    Oh, I sure hope you're right (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 11:07:48 PM EST
    As a Boomer who went through the wars in the '60s, it kills me to see the son of Birch Bayh being such a jerk so much of the time.

    Parent
    I appreciate (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Steve M on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:40:40 PM EST
    Sen. Bayh's acknowledgment that reconciliation is a perfectly acceptable option.  I knew he was on our side.

    Heh (none / 0) (#34)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 11:09:21 PM EST


    Parent
    Evan Bayh (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Doc Rock on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:50:51 PM EST
    What is so disappointing to me, personally, is that I spent many hours working in the campaigns of his father, Birch Bayh, and also Indiana's other Senator, then, Vance Hartke. How far this apple has rolled from the tree!

    I didn't know rotten apples rolled (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:52:04 PM EST


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    The apple & the tree (none / 0) (#17)
    by christinep on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 07:06:41 PM EST
    Tho I live in Colorado lo these many years, my college days were in Indiana. I too worked on Sen. Birch Bayh's and Sen Hartke's campaigns in Bloomington--as precinct committeewoman, delegate, etc. (What stories we could tell, say what?) One thing I would say--see may comment above--is that a number of family and other practical Indiana demographics convince me that the apple will be very close to the tree. It will be alright.

    Parent
    New post up on front page of Kos (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by magster on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:57:44 PM EST
    that Reid, Schumer and Durbin have all made statements within the last week that budget reconciliation is still an option.  The statements weren't very strong, but enough to remind people that reconciliation is still on the table.

    I like the typo...Evan Hayh (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Dadler on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:58:57 PM EST
    He certainly is Hayh -- on corporate cash.

    If this is the case (none / 0) (#2)
    by lilburro on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:26:45 PM EST
    then I don't see why Pelosi can't put out a Medicare+5 robust PO tomorrow.  I don't see why the air has come out of that balloon, and why the leaks are suggesting it's going to be negotiated rates.  Other than evul Blue Dogs.

    God, the past two days have p*ssed me off.

    BLue Dog (none / 0) (#7)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:01:20 PM EST
    fundraising is waaaaaaay down. Saw a post yesterday at public integrity or some similar site.

    Parent
    As it should be (none / 0) (#18)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 07:50:16 PM EST
    They want the people to struggle to pay their bills, they can struggle to keep their jobs. That arrogant attitude they have that this economy, medical costs, personal wealth protections don't apply to them needs to get a swift kick.


    Parent
    Wonder who's no longer (none / 0) (#23)
    by BackFromOhio on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:40:39 PM EST
    giving $ to them who did in past?

    Parent
    I would expect the democrats, especially, (none / 0) (#24)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:47:03 PM EST
    will be struggling to get the donations from the middle class that they once enjoyed (they do add up fast). You can be sure the insurance industry will be punishing them if they don't do this to their satisfaction, though.


    Parent
    I'm one of them... (none / 0) (#36)
    by suzieg on Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 03:01:53 AM EST


    Parent
    Lots of information about unemployment (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:29:40 PM EST
    and distressed industry in Elkhart, Indiana.  These people aren't pushing E. Bayh for a "robust public option"?

    Evan Bayh seems to be representing (none / 0) (#4)
    by Anne on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:36:28 PM EST
    the interests his wife represents as a director of Wellpoint and Dyax, as opposed to representing the other however-many-millions of constituents he has in Indiana.

    And, I'm sorry, but I'm not all that sure that Obama isn't at least snickering a bit himself; sure, he wants a bill, but he really doesn't care if it has any kind of public option.

    Evan Bayh should refrain from commenting (none / 0) (#6)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 05:54:55 PM EST
    about and/or voting re HCR, given his wife's employment.  Ridiculous.

    Parent
    If pols had to recuse (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by coast on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:24:15 PM EST
    themselves from voting on bills for which they may benefit financially, I think a lot of votes would have the chamber half full.

    Parent
    I don't think he can recuse himself. He still (none / 0) (#8)
    by steviez314 on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:01:53 PM EST
    counts as a sitting Senator, and thus 60 votes are still needed for cloture.

    But at the very least, he should vote for cloture and then vote "present".

    Parent

    He can be a "did not cast a vote." (none / 0) (#9)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:02:55 PM EST


    Parent
    Obama can tell him how to do that (5.00 / 5) (#11)
    by Cream City on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:38:09 PM EST
    from his experience of having a pulse -- a present vote -- in the state legislature, hmmm?  

    Parent
    And (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by jbindc on Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 07:25:03 AM EST
    having a wife who worked in the health care industry whose job it was to convince poor people to go elsewhere for treatment.

    Parent
    He needs to make an affirmative vote for cloture. (none / 0) (#10)
    by steviez314 on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 06:07:48 PM EST


    Parent
    When I was younger (none / 0) (#19)
    by Carolyn in Baltimore on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 07:55:51 PM EST
    calling someone a chicken was a dare. You would then have to do the risky but courageous thing. I wish the rest of the Party would see it that way.....

    So everyone (none / 0) (#20)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:00:31 PM EST
    now acknowledges that Obama is a wimp.

    What's the next step?

    Gore Vidal opines we thought during (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 09:14:55 PM EST
    the primaries experience matters.  And it does.

    Parent
    The Potomac two-step. (none / 0) (#21)
    by oldpro on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:23:11 PM EST
    Wanna dance?

    Parent
    Scrap Health Care (none / 0) (#26)
    by SOS on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:54:56 PM EST
    Come back to this when we have an honest President and Congress willing to do serious reform.

    Parent
    you're joking, right? (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by kenosharick on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 09:04:32 PM EST
    Cause by the time that happens I will be long dead. I will soon be unable to afford insurance and that means- heart attack? Oh, well; I'll just take an asprin and go to bed.

    Parent
    I'm hoping to just drop dead (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by SOS on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 09:10:31 PM EST
    It's about the only robust option I have.

    Parent
    Honestly (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 10:39:17 PM EST
    do you think this current piece of garbage legistlation is going to do that? It's going to do absolutely nothing other than cost you more money because you are going to have to buy junk insurance. Tell me how that's a good thing?

    Parent
    I seriously think (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Steve M on Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 12:17:55 AM EST
    some of you folks have just flat-out jumped the shark with your predictions of how horrible and worthless this legislation will be.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 29, 2009 at 05:22:08 AM EST
    I'm just going on what I've read. So unless all the news sources are incorrect then this is really bad legislation.

    Parent
    The Latest (none / 0) (#25)
    by SOS on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 08:47:29 PM EST
    AP. House Democrats reached agreement Wednesday on key elements of a health care bill.

    "The final product in the House, reflecting many of President Barack Obama's priorities, includes new requirements for employers to offer insurance to their workers or face penalties, fines on Americans who don't purchase coverage and subsidies to help lower-income people do so. Insurance companies would face new prohibitions against charging much more to older people or denying coverage to people with health conditions."

    Okay whatever

    This sounds (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 10:47:52 PM EST
    like the worst bill possible.

    Parent
    Figures . . (none / 0) (#29)
    by SOS on Wed Oct 28, 2009 at 09:11:41 PM EST
    "Scores of lobbyists were "cordially invited'' to attend the event in e-mail messages sent Wednesday by Speaker Nancy Pelosi."

    That just about says it all.  

    Parent

    Bayh: Dems Don't Have The Guts To Use Reconciliation | 38 comments (38 topical)

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