Former Obama transition director Podesta pushes Reconciliaton and gives up on Lieberman

[WI_DEM]

The issue, Podesta said, is whether Lieberman "is trying to get to 'no' " on health care. He said Democratic congressional leaders were surprised by Lieberman's negative language Sunday on the emerging Democratic plan.

"I suspect musty folders on reconciliation got dusted off this morning" on Capitol Hill in the wake of Lieberman's comments. "If you don't have Lieberman and you don't have Nelson, the question is whether you can get Snowe and Collins." He said the Democrats were "very close" to 60 and might still be able to get there.

On Lieberman: "I've given up on him" -- that is, on trying to figure out what he will do.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2009/12/lieberman-adds-new-twists-for-health-care.html

I now think Reconciliation is the way to go. Obama can say with justification that he spent months trying to work with Republicans and jerks like Lieberman and they were unbendable, and now is the time to get it done.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. It is about time everyone who is not a repuke gave up on him.!!!!

[HughMoran]

2. Luck Fieberman

:mad:

[watercolors]

3. Lie=berman just wants to be in the headlines all the time

It's time to put him in his place and quit playing his game. Get over him he is a disgrace as a senate member!

[Demoiselle]

4. YES!

[bluestateguy]

5. Accodring to this Rahm is calling for reconciliation (Ooooh, big evil Rahm)

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/12/14/white-house-senate-dems-divided-over-reconciliation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_politicalticker+(Blog%3A+Political+Ticker)

Washington (CNN) – As the White House rushes to the finish on health care reform, fissures on the best way to get there are developing between the White House and Senate Democrats.

Two sources have told CNN that White House Chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has been asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to use the budget process known as reconciliation to push through health reform – and that Reid has rejected that request.

The procedure, which can only be used on budget measures, would allow Senate Democrats to bypass the 60-vote threshold required to end debate on the current bill, and pass the proposal by a simple majority – but would require major changes to the legislation.

Reid’s resistance, said the sources, stemmed from concern that adoption of the strategy would spark major political pushback from Democrats facing re-election next year.

more

[mzmolly]

6. And let's insert a ROBUST public option while we're at it!

;)

[whathehell]

7. Right!