It's about time this fiasco has ended. 60 votes, I wonder if Harry Reid will man up and lead the Democratic Party now?
Yes, there is a 60 senator majority... but don't forget that there are still those DLCers, Blue Dogs, DINOs and the Whatevers who don't always follow the party line.
It'd be nice if Reid would grow a pair, or a spine. Or both.
It's also true (unfortunately) that Senators Kennedy and Byrd are very, very ill and unable to come to the floor (though Kennedy did get carried in on a stretcher last year when it looked like he might be needed as the sixtieth vote on a couple of pieces of legislation.)
The good news is that they slipped into one of the earlier votes this year a clause that will enable them to use reconciliation (needing 51 votes) for healthcare if they have to. Just the simple fact that they put that in there might induce Republicans to negotiate instead of just try to hang tough.
I hear you about Senators Kennedy and Byrd, Eli.
91 year-old Sen. Byrd has been released from the hospital but will still be recuperating at home.
And Ted hasn't been in D.C. for about three months, although he is working on some of this health care stuff at his home.
A few reasons I can think of for any politicians - especially Republicans - being against health care for everyone in this country are their own selfishness, their pompous self-importance, and their heartless greed. And, pretty much, they are the same ones who have no problem with spending trillions on war and giving tax break welfare to the rich.
Why can't sick Senators unable to travel to Congress vote by visual phone in a teleconference or similar set up over the internet? This is the 21st century?
This needs to be change pronto now that we have 60 votes in the Senate. Maybe our newest Senator could introduce the bill?
I think Ted will travel if he needs to. The man cares for this nation and is a patriot.
He would travel.
One thing I wonder though--
Both Massachusetts and West Virginia have Democratic Governors.
With all due respect to two lions of the Senate, if they are that sick maybe it might be time to resign and let another Democrat be appointed to replace them.
Commenting by HaloScan
