If the Republican position was so principled, why did they fold Wednesday?

HCR passed the Senate the same way bills have passed the Senate for years... even under Republican rule. I bet they would call that "democracy," at least when they're in the driver's seat. You can't argue FOR some Senate rules (filbuster/cloture) and AGAINST others (reconciliation, for instance) in the same breath... it's inconsistent. Either following the arcane rules of the Senate is the American way, or it is not. Pick one.

You should check that 75% figure. HCR has gotten more popular of late. Update your figures from a recent poll, dude.

"START with a good strong bill through negotiation" means cutting a backroom deal that the public doesn't get to see. The question is: Are you for or against such backroom deals? Either what the Republicans tried (and failed) to do was just as bad as the Cornhusker Kickback, or both were fair game. Take your pick -- they're both backroom deals.

Also, hate to break it to you, but what they wanted to start with was a much weaker bill. Check any analysis of their 20-page summary in the news, if you don't believe me.

The Democrats agreed to one compromise, that they had already thrown under the bus two weeks ago (when Obama came out against it). Doesn't sound very much like the Republicans "won" much of anything. They caved. Deal with it, it happens.

-CW

Think of it this way: if the Republican ideas for amending the bill are so wildly popular with the public at large (they're not), then why can't Republicans introduce them in the floor fight?

What you call "ram-rodding" a bill through, by its proper name, is "democracy" or perhaps "majority rule" or even perhaps "the American way."

There was NOTHING democratic or American about the way CrapCare was ram-rodded thru..

I hasten to remind you, 66% of Americans support this effort.

And 75% of Americans were against CrapCare.. So, apparently, public support shouldn't enter into the argument.

All the GOP wanted was to START with a good strong bill thru negotiation and then make it better thru debate.

And I consider that a very logical position. Especially when we consider what happens when Congress starts with a BAD bill and then make it worse thru backroom deals and unethical parliamentary maneuverings..

In other words, the GOP is trying to prevent another CrapCare fiasco..

The Democrats should be THANKING the GOP... :D

And, apparently the tactic worked because the Democrats have agreed to a host of compromises...

Michale.....

Dude, take a breather.

Seriously, let some fresh oxygen into your brain.

What the Republicans were aruging for was the ability to make backroom deals -- like the Cornhusker Kickback -- before the bill made it to the floor. Would you really like me to dig up the language you used against such backroom deals back then to prove to you your own hypocrisy on the issue?

Think of it this way: if the Republican ideas for amending the bill are so wildly popular with the public at large (they're not), then why can't Republicans introduce them in the floor fight? In full light of day? Why are they so SCARED of this? Why are they so TERRIFIED of making their case to the American public that they'd try to make a "Cornhusker Kickback" type of deal BEFORE the bill got to the Senate floor?

The answer is: the GOP is for (1) protecting Wall Street, (2) backroom deals, where their fingerprints can't be seen on the watering down of regulations, and (3) WEAKENING regulations.

Otherwise, they'd be happy to have this fight out in the open. Their desperation to keep these arrangements in the dark should tell you something.

What you call "ram-rodding" a bill through, by its proper name, is "democracy" or perhaps "majority rule" or even perhaps "the American way."

I hasten to remind you, 66% of Americans support this effort. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

- CW

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/36485.html#ixzz0mPpBNf3Y

So, let me see if I have this straight...

Wanting to fix a bad bill and make it better is "Anti-American"...

But ram-rodding a really crappy bill thru Congress by hook or by crook, a bill that 75% of Americans DON'T WANT...

Now THAT is the American way???

Is THAT what you are saying, Harry???

I said it before and I'll say it again...

The mid-terms simply cannot come fast enough for this country...

Michale.....

Reid Hits Pause Button on Immigration
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/reid-hits-pause-button-on-immigration/

Looks like the real Harry Reid is back.. :D

Michale.....

Michale.....

-David

...Stan