ATLANTA— Harry Reid got the 60 votes needed to bring “health care reform” to the floor of the Senate for debate. But the unequivocating announcements yesterday by Blanche Lincoln (D, Arkansas) and Mary Landrieu (D, Louisiana) that they would not support a bill with a public option may well have signaled death for Barack Obama’s top domestic priority. They said their votes were only to bring the bill up for debate and they will be demanding that amendments be made to remove the public option from the bill. This makes passage seem impossible, given liberal senators are likewise stating they will not vote for a bill without a public option.
The yawning chasm between the left and right wings of the Democratic caucus over the public option might prove too wide to bridge. Because of these disputes, there is no certainty that Harry Reid will be able to muster the 60 votes necessary to end debate over this bill and pass it into law.
Hurray for these courageous Democrats for putting country over party, and for possibly stopping a bill with a public option that would surely be disaster for our health care and economy.
TennesseePaul
Stephen VanNuys
Brooklyn Daniel
The Freedom Thinker
As was thoroughly publicized in real journalistic outlets, Mary Landrieu was bought off by Harry Reid with a $300 million dollar taxpayer-funded contribution designated to further inflate the massive amounts of “aid” already sent to enrich Louisiana politicians under the guise of repairing the human and structural damage caused by hurricane Katrina. I am not so sure that her word can be considered reliable.
I’m afraid that the same can be said for Maine’s two Senators, particularly Olympia Snowe.
I do fervently hope and pray that enough Senators with a smidgin of common sense and fiscal responsibility, from both parties, exist to derail this enormous mistake and have the tenacity to make actual reforms that will benefit the general public and not the special interests and the ideologues of the far left.
Let us hope that they hold firm and do not pass this monstrosity
I truly hope they are sincere. I am skeptical though. This type of tactic is used time and again. “Look at me Harry, I am not playing well until I get what I want…” Having faith that a politician is going to do the right thing is like sleeping with a tiger. It’s not if you will be eaten, it’s when.
Our economy is threatened by our growing health care bills. We can’t afford to do nothing.