Several Dem Reps Ponder Becoming Pseudo Republicans.

[Clio the Leo]

...by joining the Republicans in voting AGAINST the Senate bill.

CALL THEM! I'm inserting their phone numbers into this article.

Okay, first up: Here are a few quick updates on where the House Dem whip count is on health reform, none of them great news for Dems as three former Yes votes are now undecided…

here was some confusion today about the current position of New York Rep Michael Arcuri, 202-225-3665 a former Yes vote, and a spokesperson confirms to me that he’s Undecided.

That’s both good and bad news for Dems: The GOP today announced he was now a definite No, based on this local interview. But the spox, Jay Biba, assures us he’s still undecided pending what the reconciliation fix looks like.

Still, not great for Dems: A Yes is firmly in the Undecided camp.

Reps Dan Maffei [phone] and Bill Owens [phone] of New York also move from Yes to Undecided.

Dem Rep Dan Lipinski of Illinois, [phone] a former Yes, will now vote No if the Senate bill doesn’t have Stupak-like language.

If any of these four become No votes, Dem leaders will need to make up for it by flipping a previous No to Yes. No movement in that direction today, at least not publicly.

Indeed, Rep Larry Kissell [phone] of North Carolina, who was rumored today to be mulling a switch from No to Yes, is not changing his position, spokesperson Haven Kerchner confirms to me.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/terrorism/happy-hour-roundup-175/

[jenmito]

1. I hate to point this out, but quite a few people here agree with them!

And I bet they'll use those phone numbers to tell them to keep opposing the bill.

[HughMoran]

4. Fellow Dems who want to ensure I can't afford insurance when my Cobra runs out

Nice people I thought were for helping the average American...

[denimgirly]

9. The bill is a Insurers Dream -- but sadly, if the bill doesnt pass Dems will get Slaughtered in Nov.

The bill is terrible and does more harm than good but seeing as how democrats will take a serious beating even more so if they dont pass something so as to have some kind of victory i am reluctant to say this but i say pass the damn thing. It is unlikely we will come back to fix any of it and will be in the hands of not an empathetic future president but one that finally comes to terms with the numbers that america will be broke in the following 5 years if they dont while under his/her watch.

If the bill doesnt pass democrats will suffer greater loses this year (they will still lose seats no matter what) but interestingly if it doesnt pass, although repubs will gloat and cheers, it will just make the pesants even more angry an maybe finally they will come out with their pitch forks and fire everyone and demand real campaign reform so as to rid the real problem: corruption.

[jenmito]

10. Then why did all health insurance stocks drop after Obama's HCR rally today? n/t

[denimgirly]

11. Have you looked at 52-week amounts? They're WAY up!

All stocks go up and down daily...it is the course of a year that determines anything. The heatlh industry is very happy. If the bill passes expect a jump again.

Seriously, let's make a small friendly wager...if the bill passes i am willing to go on record to say that the stocks of the 5 big health corps will be up the following day...If i am right then i suggest you donate $5 to Anthony Weiner (a strong proponent to true competition and real change for Health care reform). If you win then i will donate $5 to whomever you like. PM me and we can set things up! BTW, if the bill doesn't pass then dont worry i wont consider that a win by me...that is not fair.

If anyone else is willing to make this same wager please PM too...i will take up to 20 more people -- at least this is for a good cause -- and hopefully REAL CHANGE.

[Uzybone]

25. DUH...almost all stocks are WAY UP over the last 52 weeks

The DJ is up over 50% in the last 52 weeks. Stop with the disingenuous spin.

[vaberella]

21. Exactly. That's what I've been seeing. n/t

[depakid]

2. If they do, they can say bye bye to their seats

Of course, it would have been more compelling if what they were opposing had the more popular and elements included.

[angelicwoman]

3. Opposing the bill from the left is not similar to opposing it from the right

It's bad logic to think that way.

Those opposing the bill from the left are simply too left-wing to vote for it.

It is a fallacy to say that something is good because it lies in the center of two extremes.

Imagine a vote to go to war with Nicaragua. Those in the left oppose it for being immoral, while those on the right oppose it for not going far enough (i.e. not using nukes to wipe out the entire Nicaraguan population).

In the case above, would the left-wing Congressmen be akin to "pseudo-Republicans"?

The scare tactic employed by the pro-Mandate crowd is to pretend that the most right-wing elements of congress are so much like the left-most ones.

[jenmito]

8. The result is the same. That's what counts. n/t

[vaberella]

22. +Infinity...that's what some here don't seem to get.

In the end no one cares about the motives---it's the result. Many Americans appreciate what's in this bill because there are a lot of good things.

[IndianaGreen]

5. The Senate HCR bill is corporate crap!

A big bailout of Big Health Insurance at our expense.

[Raine]

12. That's for damn sure. nt

[O is 44]

13. Not true.....

Insurance companies that do not comply with the new regulations will not be able to offer their services on the exchanges that will be opening up. Pre existing conditions will be addressed along with outrageous premium hikes. Many people will be helped. I think many with your line of thinking are letting your rage at the insurance companies hinder you from seeing the good in this bill. The status quo is not sustainable.

[jenmito]

6. Then I wonder why intrade went up 10 today to 58 for the chances of HCR becoming law

by June: http://www.intrade.com/

[DrToast]

7. Who would have thought the final sticking point would be the House?

It seems like the Senate is ready to go and now we're waiting on the morons in the House.

[O is 44]

14. I know, I am so sick if these people...

vote already.

[maryf]

15. Yeah mandate everybody give to the insurance companies and

make sure they tax our health care benefits! Meanwhile, people will still die...and more profits will be made...Argh!!!

[O is 44]

16. Not true, but keep repeating that n/t

[vaberella]

23. I don't know. They're like attention craving babies.

If one gets too much attention the other waits it's turn to demand as much attention before going ahead. Bickering babies.

[onpatrol98]

17. I'm Sorry...The Bill Sucks!

I'm sorry. The bill sucks. There are a dozen different reasons why the bill sucks. I like the president. I'm sorry his bill sucks. But, I think they messed up this one. Once passed, I hope it does help a lot of people. But, I had hoped for real reform. I think our premiums will continue to go up. I think people will continue to be uninsured. I think people will still die because of the lack of reform. The saddest thing of it all...we will have sold the farm to pay for this toilet swirler, and there will be no more borrowing from China to get real reform. They're making every effort to dump our currency every chance they get.

But, hey...maybe this will produce a winner for democrats in Washington. So, mission accomplished. We showed "dem der repugs or repubs" or whatever we're calling them this week. Maybe they'll keep their majority. I really think this is the only thing that concerns them.

I hope it goes a lot better than I think it will. I really didn't see things playing out this way.

[maryf]

24. hear, hear...nt

[Radical Activist]

18. Lipinski is from a liberal area and has token opposition. WTF is his problem?

There's no excuse for having a blue dog in a seat that represents part of Chicago.

[suzie]

19. You left out Dennis Kucinich.

[ShortnFiery]

20. Good! The Senate Legislation is a HORRID Bill.

Albeit the GOP opposes it for different reasons ... I'm glad it has a chance to be defeated.

Without SINGLE PAYER, this horrid bill is NOTHING MORE than "a gift" to the Insurance Cartel and Big Pharma.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

26. I wish you had worked so hard --

targeting the Blus Dogs -- the real "Pseudo Republicans" who have kept genuine healthcare reform from the American people.