Lieberman Rules Out Voting for Health Bill

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — In a surprise setback for Democratic leaders, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, said on Sunday that he would vote against the health care legislation in its current form.

The bill’s supporters had said earlier that they thought they had secured Mr. Lieberman’s agreement to go along with a compromise they worked out to overcome an impasse within the party.

But on Sunday, Mr. Lieberman told the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, to scrap the idea of expanding Medicare and to abandon the idea of a new government insurance plan, known as a public option.

On a separate issue, Mr. Reid tried over the weekend to concoct a compromise on abortion that would induce Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, to vote for the bill. Mr. Nelson opposes abortion. Any provision that satisfies him risks alienating supporters of abortion rights.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/health/policy/14health.html?_r=1&hp

[LakeSamish706]

1. When are the Democrats going to learn that they can't trust Lieberman?

Get rid of the guy, period... He is nothing but a useless A**hole.

[Pirate Smile]

24. How? Dems did kick him out in the Connecticut primary. The Connecticut voters elected him though.

The only difference is we could have him caucusing with the Republicans instead of the Democrats. We would still have to deal with the asshole.

It sucks but we should blame Lieberman instead of everybody else for him being a dick. He is such an bitter, disgusting excuse for a person. It is infuriating.

[quakerboy]

29. That is nice for the insiders

But for the rest of the country that just sees 60 democrats in the senate, that is a distinction without difference. IF we booted him out and he joined the pubs, at least the news could stop saying we have 60 democrats in the senate when we do not. And the fault for obstruction could be clearly laid at the feet of Republicans.

[No Elephants]

62. I also blame the Democratic bigwigs who gave Lieberman financial support and

appeared with him during the primary, then abandoned Lamont when Lieberman lost the primary.

Joe's traitorous tendencies had become apparent before that primary. They should have known better.

If Dems cannot get Joe to commit to a fillibuster vote, the point of giving him chairmanships and caucusing with him escapes me. I think the illusion of having 60 votes while not being able even to avoid or end a fillibuster hurts us more than helps us.

In other words, as usual, Democratic voters are up the creek without a paddle and there is PLENTY of blame to go around.

[seeinfweggos]

71. +1000

and i believe asshole is the word you are looking for. harry ried needs to grow an actual spine and shitcan this guy from his chairmanships.

[Goldstein1984]

2. But of course...

When are the Democrats going to get tired of having their chains yanked?

Now find a way to punish Lieberman. His vote isn't worth kissing his ass in public.

[liberal N proud]

3. Like there was ever a chance

[47of74]

4. Someone needs to tell Reid that...

...Senator Liebermann (R-Aetna) is a useless piece of excrement and that all his committee assignments should be taken away from him right freaking now.

[LakeSamish706]

10. And they should stop him from caucusing with them as well.

Just throw his useless ass under the bus.

[AlbertCat]

42. Someone needs to tell Reid that...

But they're good buddies, y'know....

[tularetom]

5. Is there ONE redeeming quality to this piece a shit?

I'm almost glad that Gore got fucked out of the presidency because it kept this pitiful little man from being a heartbeat away.

I said ALMOST.

[PhilosopherKing]

6. Joe is a "big-money" whore

Time to use Reconciliation for no other reason to stick it to him and pass a "real" bill.

[Botany]

7. pass the thing w/ 50 + 1 votes (Joe Biden) and dare the republicans to ....

.... filibuster it.

Lieberman is a douche nozzle.

[AlbertCat]

41. YES!!!!

Make them filibuster it. And I mean actually do it, not just threaten to. Nowadays, just a threat of a filibuster and everyone throws up their hands and moves on. NO.... NOT THIS TIME. It's a win win. Make them stay night after night.... let the American People see the Repugs filibustering a bill that 80% want. After a while the filibuster will stop and then just vote with 51+. I'm sure no one will want to continue the actual filibuster after a couple of days. I mean...Jesus....it's what we pay you guys for! If the Repugs want to actually filibuster in 3-d...then let them. Bring a good book to read and out-stay them.

[Mz Pip]

8. This is breaking news?

:sarcasm:

Lieberman is all about staying in the limelight. He wants the attention and will hold his breath and stomp his feet until he turns blue in order to get it.

I lost all respect for him when he was shilling for McCain. I can't stand the man now. I wish he would be removed from any postions of power in the Senate. Fat chance.

[CatWoman]

12. and how is this a "surprise setback"?

[Mz Pip]

25. A surprise

would have been if Lieberman said anything different. Surprise my ass.

[groundloop]

9. I wouldn't have expected any less from Joe

Reid needs to do two things. First is to finally strip Traitor Joe of his chairmanships. Then he needs to split healthcare reform into two bills, one with the non-controversial stuff that can get past a fillibuster, and everything else needs to be crammed down Joe (and his repuke friends) throats with reconcilliation.

[mvd]

60. Yes! Good idea IMO

The bill is already way too weak considering we have the House, Senate, and the Presidency - and certainly any more compromise is unconscionable.

[truthisfreedom]

11. Of course he's turning on the Democrats. Joe "Lucy" Lieberman.

[shraby]

13. It's too bad the health care of millions of people hang

on this one dude's ass. He'd better rethink his position or he might not have one after his next election. If he can dictate the terms, we no longer have a democracy where majority is supposed to rule. We now have a dictatorship and the dictator is Joe Lieberman.

[PSPS]

14. Frankly, who really cares if the bill passes?

Here's what's in jeopardy:

A "public option" that's neither public nor an option to private insurance. Plus it forces people to buy a defective product -- private health insurance.

"Expand Medicare" that merely dumps an adverse risk pool onto the taxpayers while private insurance reaps bigger profits.

There are a lot of reasons to dislike "President Lieberman," but this so-called "reform bill" isn't worth saving anyway.

[WriteDown]

16. That's what I'm wondering...

Who really wants to save this thing.

[Teaser]

37. I support the bill(s)

as do many here. You do not dictate our opinion.

KTHXBYE

[Nite Owl]

15. A surprise setback?

I'm surprised they are surprised. They live in a totally different world.

[Vermontgrown]

20. So true.

Seems like I can sit up here in Vermont and see way more than the people in Washington can see going on right on their own doorsteps.

[Nite Owl]

26. Your Senators seem to see it too!

Maybe Vermont has something to do with it. We don't live far and visit often, it is a special place.

[2Design]

17. I am bored with these over stuffed, over paid, over benefits congress people living on the dole from

taxpayer while voting against us

[David__77]

18. So then let them filibuster, then ram it through anyway.

Surely, this can be rammed through somehow.

[msongs]

19. obama campaigned for Lieberman, let Obama deal with him nt

[saigon68]

21. Joementum and the Chimp

[Buns_of_Fire]

55. The look..... Of love..... Is on..... Your face.....

I'm sorry. Every time I see that picture, that song pops into my head.

Come to think of it, though, Dusty Springfield WOULD make a better Senator. And she's not even alive.

[Pirate Smile]

27. Of course, everything Joe Lieberman does is President Obama's fault.

:eyes:

[DRoseDARs]

22. Put everything he personally wanted out back in, pull everything he wanted out, & tell him to ef off

Enough. Fucking enough.

[unkachuck]

23. Happy Hanukkah....

....traitor joe!!

....I'm sure the sick, dying and injured people of Connecticut with no health insurance will appreciate your stalwart and noble position in this holiday season....

....your compassion for your fellow man is breath-taking and overwhelming....may the Good Lord bestow upon you all the just rewards you have coming....you piece of shit.

[Gregorian]

30. Scrooge you, Joe.

Your post sums it all up for me. Some guy in Congress making a bunch of cash off the companies he helps out at the cost of those who need help so much.

Sick.

[muntrv]

28. Democrats need to rule out Joe Lieberman. He's a repuke.

[Jester Messiah]

31. But will he allow it to come to a vote at all?

If he votes No on conscience, I can accept that he holds a different view. If he won't even let it come to a vote, then he can fuck right off.

[laughingliberal]

44. He won't. He's said since the blended bill came out of Reid's office he has no problem filibustering

with the Republicans. Basically, if it has one hint of anything he doesn't like (meaning anything that might help an average citizen) he'll block it from coming to a vote.

[superconnected]

32. I still can't believe Gore ran with this guy.

[Faygo Kid]

33. He is being well compensated, no doubt, for his traitorism.

One of the worst senators in U.S. history. A man without honor or decency. Haven't we seen enough by now to know what the scumbag is all about? When is a Dem senator going to call for his head?? Have you no sense of decency, sir?

[bc3000]

39. All the best calls for decency

include a picture of your opponent screwing a donkey.

[beyurslf]

34. How many times can it be said--Strip him of his chairmanships and kick him out of our

caucus. Every Dem who votes against cloture needs the same punishment.

[laughingliberal]

43. Yes! Why is this disgusting piece of human waste in our caucus at all?

He rarely votes with us. He campaigned against our president. He has said he plans to campaign for more Republicans. Why should he be enjoying any of the benefits of the majority?

[beyurslf]

56. We let him because we needed his vote if we were going to get to 60.

Then he doesn't even bother voting with us when we need the 60th vote? Screw him! Throw him out and make him beg for scraps like the minority party. It is high time we play as dirty as they do.

[laughingliberal]

59. Correct. He's benefited us not at all and still sits in his treasured chairmanship nt

[Nictuku]

49. That is possible (strip him of chairmanships)

.... but not until the next congress session.


Same thing for changing the filibuster rules.

It can be done by the majority's rules committee, but only at the beginning of a new congress.

He should be publically embarrassed, and then abjured.

[BobTheSubgenius]

35. How does this malevolent little weasel get away with it?

Honestly, the way Dem. leadership caves into this SOS is stunning. Cut him loose, take away his chairmanship and try to get him back to pyramid marketing, or whatever it is he's cut out for.

[mrbarber]

36. Joe Lieberman reminds me of Grima Wormtongue

[ramapo]

38. Senate Democrats are as useless as Republicans

I am just totally disgusted with these SOBs. And Lieberman is just a POS. Unbelievable (well sadly not really).

[keitai]

40. Anyone who followed him from the start should know this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/28/opinion/main3886727.shtml

It's not so much that he praised Buckley in death (Buckley was reasonable compared to most of the conservative blowhards doing the rounds these days), it's what he wrote after he wrote about Buckley's death while working on a new piece of writing. This is what has made Joe Lieberman suspect from the start.

[laughingliberal]

45. So, now can we do HR 676 under reconciliation? nt

[tomhayes]

46. Nuclear option

Do it NOW!

[tinrobot]

47. Yup.

[Vidar]

48. A "surprise setback"? H e does this every other week.

[Arrowhead2k1]

50. What the fuck is up with Connecticut voting for this guy all the time?

They're like the black sheep of the north east.

[CTLawGuy]

51. Republicans

they put him there in the first place and they saved his ass in 06 by abandoning their candidate.

[boobooday]

52. I hate you, Joe

I even cussed you in my dreams last night.

[Buns_of_Fire]

53. *sigh* The guy is SO predictable. Unfortunately, so are the Senate Democrats.

Look, Harry, I'm not from Nevada and I'm not one of your constituents, but here's my advice:

Call FerretFace into your office. Ask him just what WOULD he support, if anything.

When he says, why, give all the money to me and the insurance companies and another committee chairmanship would be nice too, just listen respectfully. When he's finished showing you the 8x10 glossies he has of him smooching the tush of every rebubbalickin who winks in his direction, just say:

"I understand. Now we know the terms. Thank you for your time, Senator. By the way, at the next Democratic Caucus, don't bother showing up. You won't be admitted. And don't count on any party support next election. There's the door, and have a nice day."

As he gets up to leave, add: "Oh, and you can drop off your gavel with the secretary on your way out."

Lather, rinse, and repeat as appropriate with Nelson, Lincoln, and Landrieu. Add a few more, even. The meetings, if done right, will be nice and short.

And if any of them decide to join the rebubbalickins, so what? It's not as if they're doing one hell of a lot for the DEMOCRATS at the moment.

Yes, I know the arguments about the majority getting to set committee assignments and the voting for Supreme Count confirmations, and all that good stuff. All true. But after all this, do you REALLY trust any one of them? Do the party leaders stand for ANYTHING any more?

Enough with the carrots. It's time to pull out the sticks, Harry. Heavy, thick sticks with rusty nails driven through them. Find your inner LBJ and go with it.

Honestly, a "majority" you can't use isn't really a "majority" at all, is it?

[47of74]

61. Harry Ried is so spineless that even if Jesus Christ asked him to do something

He wouldn't do it.

[Buns_of_Fire]

69. Alas, I fear you are correct.

We need a whole lot more Bob LaFollettes and Alan Graysons -- and a lot fewer Harry Reids and Joe Liebermans.

Part of the problem is that the Senate is so damned "clubby." If most of the members caught another member raping their daughter, they'd still refer to them as "My Good Friend from West Bofunk, who I fear has had a lapse in judgement."

Personally, I'd like to see a few vigorous pummelings about the head and shoulders right on the floor of the Senate. I understand Harry Reid was a boxer in a previous life. If he won't channel his inner LBJ, at least he could channel his inner Rocky Balboa. Eye of the Tiger, man, Eye of the Tiger...

[Algorem]

54. make him majority leader.that'll make him play ball,by cracky!

[t0dd]

57. And in other news.. Reid rules Out Passing Reform with 60 votes, will use Reconciliation

:rofl: if only..

[dgibby]

58. Why don't the Dems just lower the # of votes needed to pass a bill.

As I understand it, 60 is an arbitrary number, so why not just change it? Harkin's already considering a bill to get rid of filibuster, so why not add this to it? And while they're at it, outlaw the ability of one Senator to place a "hold" on appointments, bills, etc. The Senate is the most dysfunctional entity in government, and needs a major shakeup. If the rules were modified/changed, then assholes like Lieberman wouldn't wield so much power, and maybe, just maybe, we could actually get the People's business done.

[No Elephants]

64. Sane measures will NOT pass. The Senate rules on 60 votes and fillibusters

became rules for a reason.

Both parties want to be able to obstruct when in the minority, even if that defeats the will of a majority of American voters.

It is up to voters to organize to get things changed, but Ameridan voters seem to lack the will. I am amazed we ever managed the American Revolution.


"GEORGE GOEHL: This is an incredible opportunity to turn a tragedy into something good. So, if we can get it together, and I really think is not about the Congress. This is not about the President. This is about the people watching this show and other Americans saying, 'Enough is enough.' And I'm going to move from my seat out into the streets, from fingers on a keyboard, boots on the ground, and get out there." Whether that means calling the Members of Congress. Whether it means organizing a little protest in front of a bank. Whether it means making a YouTube video and cutting up your credit cards and posting it and sending it out to your friends. If people get engaged, we can win this fight. And that's happening. There are actions planned all across the country in 25 states over through the end of the year. And then as next year comes around, you'll start to see more events like the showdown in Chicago.

BILL MOYERS: How can people watching find out how to be in touch with you? What how can they know what you're doing?

GEORGE GOEHL: Sure, they should go to the website, ShowdownInArerica.org. Which will give them ideas around what's happening around the country. And ways that they can plug in and be a part of this movement.

BILL MOYERS: And Heather, how do they reach Americans for Financial Reform?

HEATHER BOOTH: OurFinancialSecurity.org is our website. And also they can link up with various organizations that really are in every state, whether it's National People's Action or U.S. Action or Center for Community Change. Whether it's their trade union. Whether it's their religious institution. There are ways that we can combine altogether. The Civil Rights organizations. And be much stronger together in this gathering storm. "

[samsingh]

63. HERE'S THE ANSWER FOR REID to END THE FILIBUSTER BULLSHIT

yes, i know i'm shouting. but i'm sick and tired of creeps like lieberman and his ilk hijacking an imperative program for millions of people who need healthcare.

The Senate should assemble a bill for the people - expand medicare, build a public option, and remove favorable status for insurance companies.

Then the Senate should stop all business that is non-essential until the mid term elections. With our other majorities, we can at least count on fairer elections than in the past. Let the voters pick the next senators and see if enough come on board to overcome the fillibuster.

In the meantime, demote lieberman and any other obstructive blue Democratic Senators.

[Roland99]

65. LIEberman was on CBS yesterday morning and Bob Schieffer LET him lie!!

LIEberman was saying this bill will increase the deficits when the CBO has stated otherwise.

Bob never questioned him on it.

[harun]

67. Bob should have called him out on the lie and asked him why

he supports wars in Afghanistan and Iraq when they adding much more to the deficit than Health Care reform ever could.

[Roland99]

68. Damn that "liberal" media!!

ugh

[classysassy]

66. The old good cop bad cop

B.S.,come on folks can't you see we are being duped again.Most if not all of the senators are bought and paid for by big business,as long we keep sending the same crooked critters back to Washington,the same results.

[damntexdem]

70. Go to reconciliation.

And kick LIEberman off all committees, not just out of his chairmanship.

The Senate can act without his vote if they have the courage to do so.