General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "But we couldn't *possibly* have gotten single payer!" [View all]JoePhilly
(27,787 posts)They did try ... they just didn't do it on TV for you.
Try to recall these facts.
1) Lieberman campaigned AGAINST Obama and for McCain in the 2008 elections. McCain was going to appoint Lieberman to be SecDEF.
2) Lieberman was not going to run again, and he had said so. He also knew that a 7 figure job with a think tank would be waiting for him if he prevented a public option. Guess where Lieberman is today. Hint, in a 7 figure job with a think tank.
3) Lieberman's nickname was "Senator from Aetna".
Now, again I ask you ... as President what leverage do you have to flip Lieberman from a NO to a YES.
Don't feel bad when you can't come up with a coherent path here ... no one can, and I've been challenging folks with this exact set of facts going all teh way back to when this was actually happening.
The best attempts so far (1) use the DOJ to blackmail him, (2) tell him you will cut aid to Israel if he won't vote YES. Those are 2 stupid ideas, but they might have gotten his vote.
I doubt you can do better.
Well, can you?