Single Payer Health Care Plan Dies In Senate

[NikolaC]

Source: Associated Press

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 14 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The liberals' longtime dream of a government-run health care system for all died Wednesday in the Senate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont vowed it will return when the realization dawns that private insurance companies "are no longer needed."

Sanders, an independent and socialist, said his approach is the only one "which eliminates the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste, administrative costs, bureaucracy and profiteering that is engendered by the private insurance companies." His remarks drew handshakes and even a hug or two from Democrats who had filed into the Senate to hear him.

Sanders acknowledged the proposal lacked the votes to pass, and he chose to withdraw it after Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., exercised his prerogative and required Senate clerks to begin reading the 767-page proposal aloud to a nearly empty chamber. After three hours, they were 139 pages into it.

The political theater came as the White House and Senate Democrats sought an agreement with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., to become the 60th supporter of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul — the number needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_overhaul

---

A bit of a snarky article, but at least Sanders tried and is not going to give up.

[izquierdista]

1. I wonder what the snarker will do

when his health insurance becomes unaffordable, declines coverage, or refuses to pay.

[xchrom]

2. Just think a lovely political marriage

Between Nelson and Obama.
Can donnie mcklurkin singing the praises of this
reform be far behind?

[Sparky 1]

3. Love Bernie! I've been calling congress to tell them vote no on Insurance company welfare. More ..

I called and wrote both my senators and my representative. Then I also contacted Dr. Howard Dean and Russ Feingold to thank them. Then I contacted Harry Reid to ask him to kick Traitor Joe out in the alley with dog food; no more caucusing with us. Then I called Nancy Pelosi to thank her for having the public option and to ask her to thumbs down on anything that doesn't include a good strong public option.

Have you? Please do!

[FiveGoodMen]

4. ...many citizens die in their homes.

(from whatever they can't get treated)

[juajen]

20. I'm in danger of that as we write.

I have a badly infected tooth and cannot afford dental care. In this land of ours, how many people, do you think, die because of lack of dental care? Yet, we hardly ever see it mentioned. BTW, I don't need your sympathy, just please be aware of this horror that is affecting thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of people, as well as regular horrible health problems.

More attention needs to be paid to this travesty, and the greed of dentists every where. I hardly ever hear of a dentist doing pro bono work, though I'm sure there are some, though certainly not enough to make much of a difference. I see it all the time; very sad people who will not get hired for a job because of the condition of their teeth, let alone how people judge them when they see how bad their teeth are. We are a very judgmental society, and this is one of the things I hate the most.

When I win the lottery, I'm setting up a free dental health clinic for the poor, especially to help the unemployed, and the sick. Unfortunately, there are people in this world who have that much money, but rarely ever spend it on these human beings. They will be judged.

Edited to add: I apologize, as I didn't mean to hijack this thread. I just needed to say that.

[maryinthemorn]

5. Another sad day for Americans.

[chatnoir]

6. Bernie going off after removing amendment

Vid at link

http://wonkette.com/412780/bernie-sanders-yells-at-mean-old-tom-coburn

[Dr.Phool]

7. Guess what? I've already resigned from my County DEC.

I'm changing my registration to Democratic Socialist.

After the drug re-importation bill vote, I'll never vote for another Democrat again. And I'm 57 years old. I've voted straight Democratic ticket my entire life.

And I don't think I'm the only one.

[54anickel]

8. Thanks Doc! I'll check it out. I already like what I see at the Labor link! n/t

[fascisthunter]

9. I may look into changing my registration as well

this political party is useless.

[dreamnightwind]

11. Yes, that was a pretty indefensible vote

I can see how it would have a "last straw" effect on some people. Good luck with the Democratic Socialists, I'll look into them in my area, though I won't change my registration, I want to vote in Dem primaries.

[Dr.Phool]

15. If I find someone worth voting for in the primaries, I can change back.

I am after all, a former Democratic Congressional candidate, and I know a lot of people. I'll only switch back for a progressive.

[Jefferson23]

10. Thank you Bernie, for being a human being with a conscience.

Thanks to some of the others too, like Feingold. And YOU Obama, should be ashamed of yourself.


White House as helpless victim on healthcare



snip, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), among the most vocal supporters of the public option, said it would be unfair to blame Lieberman for its apparent demise. Feingold said that responsibility ultimately rests with President Barack Obama and he could have insisted on a higher standard for the legislation.

"This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don’t think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth," said Feingold. "I think they could have been higher. I certainly think a stronger bill would have been better in every respect."

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/

[2Design]

12. so the congress critters are going to give up their socialist health care this year n/t

[husky92]

13. Truly a Sad Day...

As some other people have said, it is a sad day for America. I'm sure all the right wingers with their media cheerleaders were gloating about a victory. A victory for who? Big insurance and giant corporations. When will these ass holes on the right figure out they are getting it stuck up their you-know-whats by these companies. Instead they focus on the Democrats and Socialism. I guess these ass holes don't mind paying thousands of dollars a year for health insurance as long as the government is not involved or if it's a Democratic idea. The Republicans in the House and Senate ought to be ashamed by their behavior on this. You mean to tell me the two parties couldn't get together to come up with an agreeable plan to help Americans. No, the rethugs stalled, lied and roadblocked everything the Democrats proposed. They used their conservative puppets (Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.) to spread their lies and they did it for one simple reason -- to make President Obama look bad and defeat him. They used the socialist ploy and their dimwitted followers drank the Kool-Aid. Look at how they showed up at those rallies to "learn" about the healthcare plans. All they did was disrupt and shout down anyone who actually wanted to hear what people had to say. The rethugs many times didn't even make an attempt to speak to their constituents. Thanks for thinking of the American people assholes!!

[Garam_Masala]

17. The only REAL victors are Big Pharma & Big Insurers n/t

[Dr.Phool]

14. I was just out in the garage looking for my old Dean for America sign.

If I can't find it, I'll make my own.

[dreamnightwind]

16. Now you're talkin'!

Dean works for me too.

[jwirr]

18. They are going to reach the day when they will see what they have

done out of fear was exactly what they should have done. Thank you Bernie for trying to help us. We will remember.

[DrZeeLit]

19. I am so PROUD of my Senator -- Bernie Sanders! Bravo! What a stand up MAN!

I know that many members of the Senate would not take a stand on one or the other of many ideas such as "public option," or "buy-in," or "trigger," or "single payer."
They wouldn't say where they stood.
Because they didn't want to "be wrong." The fear of "being wrong" in their minds equates to "losing the next election."
Fear of "being wrong" leads them to relinquish their balls.

Well, Senators --- LOOK!!! Bernie Sanders took a stand, stuck his neck out, showed No Fear -- and he will be re-elected in a landslide the next time he's up for election.
Nobody in Vermont cares about that b.s.
We care that our Senator steps up for US. We care that our Senator takes a stand and is honest and takes no money from the insurance lobby.
We truly care about that.
Bernie is clean and Bernie is working for us.
Thank goodness.