Senate Showdown brewing over Medicare

[Clovis Sangrail]

WASHINGTON (AP) The Republican-controlled Senate pointed toward a showdown Sunday on a sweeping Medicare prescription drug bill that sparked a defiant last stand by outnumbered critics and beckoned Democratic presidential hopefuls to the Capitol to join the fight.

Despite the strenuous opposition, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein became the seventh Democrat to announce her intention to vote in favor of the measure. She said she would do so ''not because it's perfect, but because I believe it brings substantial help to people who need that help.''

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., led a filibuster against the legislation, arguing it would lead toward privatization of Medicare and warning that if they were successful, Republicans would soon be back for more. ''Social Security is next. Medicare is now,'' he said.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/327/wash/Senate_showdown_brewing_over_M:.shtml

[clarknyc]

1. Kennedy gets it.

DiFi doesn't.

[Clovis Sangrail]

2. she's out of touch

I am deeply regretting ever having voted for her.

[Snellius]

7. She didn't get it with the tax cut either

The Republicans don't want to help seniors. They want to help the drug pushers and healthplan hucksters. A Medicare bill written by Karl Rove and HMOs and pharmaceuticals and pushed by Tom DeLay? Right. They want the political capital so they can sabotage Medicare when no one is looking. It's a classic scam. You put down a quarter and win a dime and come away thinking you won.

[ramapo]

3. Another gutless wonder

Provides substantial help to corporation too.

Saw Edwards earlier on C-Span. He was great. Full of passion...

[young_at_heart]

4. Happy to hear about Edwards

Feinstein used to be my senator before we moved to NC. I just can't believe she would do this!

[Malva Zebrina]

5. I can

she represents all that is the bloviating , superficial, comical politician.

[PurityOfEssence]

15. Lady, ya got that right

Except perhaps for the bloviating part: she's so studied in her demure propriety that she can hardly rise to that. There is literally no there there with this woman; she's a wandering child of privilege who's been graced with some of the greatest career luck of anyone in the last few decades. For her, being a Senator is a classic example of the Peter Principle.

The Frumpenstein Monster is a dull ex-debutante without even a clue as to what a clue is. Although her heart is somewhat in the right place (especially since she's never actually experienced privation herself) she's spineless, feckless, lifeless, bloodless and most importantly: useless. She could have made a huge stink about the Enron crap, and she hardly even whimpered.

Look into the eyes: there's nothing there. It's not a case of stupidity, although she's certainly no intellectual giant, it's a case of personality. She's got a faint and pastel character, and that's as charitable as it can be put.

[lancdem]

6. Yes, Sen Fienstein

let's help Bush achieve a huge legislative victory a year before the 2004 election. :eyes:
That's the difference between Dems and Repukes. Members of the GOP would never do the same if a Dem were president.

[Langis]

8. Feinstein needs to grow some balls

Wait a second...:shrug:

[Snellius]

9. God, I miss Wellstone.

This is when we really need him.

[0007]

10. So do I and this is starting to look hopelessly lost

[nansocal]

11. feinstein is my senator...

and I will not be voting for her again . just when I think I can't be any more mad at her, she does something that just sends my anger thru the roof.

[w4rma]

14. She never stands with Dems when Dems *really* need her.

She is always one of the first to fold.

[Snellius]

12. Wyden is also going to vote for it

WASHINGTON (AP) - A sweeping Medicare prescription drug bill sparked a defiant last stand Sunday by outnumbered critics in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Even so, the roster of declared Democratic supporters for the bill grew to nine, when Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Ron Wyden of Oregon announced their intentions to vote for it. In less-than-glowing assessments, both ascribed a series of benefits and shortcomings to the bill, and Wyden said his decision was "a very, very tough call."

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20031124/D7V0KQMG0.html

Wyden, however, left open that he might vote for a filibuster.

[baby_bear]

13. California DUers, why aren't you on the phone?????

It's not too late to try to sway Feinstein, is it? The final vote isn't until tomorrow. You should call her office -- the more often the better. And talk to your friends and get them to call. I don't live in CA any longer, but I am prevailing upon all my friends and family to call her.

Here's her WA DC phone number:
Phone: [phone]

If you prefer to email,
http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

Please let her know that she will be letting her constituents down -- and not for the first time -- and we are watching, carefully.

The thing that really gets me about this is that it doesn't have to be rammed through like this, with it's fatal flaws, most among them the prohibition on HHS to negotiate with drug companies for decent prescription costs, like the V.A. does now.

s_m