Senate facing potential liberal revolt on health care reform bill

[Poll_Blind]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) -- Simmering liberal angst over the Senate health care bill threatened to boil over Thursday as a critical labor union threatened a new fight over provisions that were dropped to attract more moderate supporters.

The warning came shortly after a top Senate progressive indicated he is not prepared to back the bill as currently drafted.

Senate Democratic leaders also faced continuing problems with social conservatives in their ranks. A key moderate continued to warn that Majority Leader Harry Reid's bill does not do enough to bar taxpayer-funded abortions.

The continuing discontent from both the left and right demonstrated the steep challenge still facing Reid as he struggles to unify his typically fractious 60-member caucus. If the minority GOP remains unified in opposition, the backing of all 60 members will be required to end Senate debate on the bill and proceed to a vote on final passage.

Final Senate passage would require only a simple majority of 51 votes.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/17/health.care/

[still_one]

1. Gee, maybe the message is getting through. "Don't piss on my back and tell me it is raining" /nt

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Keep herding those cats, Harry. I wonder if he has invested in Pepto Bismol stock yet?

[Vincardog]

3. Which is why we should let the Blue Cross dogs and conservadems stop the bill. Then go to

Reconciliation to pass Medicare for all and only require 51 votes.
If they can't do that they deserve to be replaced.

[still_one]

4. Of course they want to label it as "liberal" verses "moderate" /nt

[Vincardog]

5. IT is in fact Right vs Radical Right.

[still_one]

6. Your perception is right on /nt

[kestrel91316]

7. Time to exercise the nuclear option. End the filibuster and put every damned

thing we want into the bill. Hell, just add the Sanders amendment and pass the damned thing.

If we do this, Dems will have such a supermajority come next election, the filibuster would be moot anyway, and it would secure that supermajority for decades.

Fools. They are gonna piss this opportunity away. I hope they choke to death on their FUCKING MONEY. All of them.

[kestrel91316]

8. Time to exercise the nuclear option. End the filibuster and put every damned

thing we want into the bill. Hell, just add the Sanders amendment and pass the damned thing.

If we do this, Dems will have such a supermajority come next election, the filibuster would be moot anyway, and it would secure that supermajority for decades.

Fools. They are gonna piss this opportunity away. I hope they choke to death on their FUCKING MONEY. All of them.

[tomm2thumbs]

9. Call the White House and let them know - it takes very little time- Switchboard: 202-456-1414

They do listen and make notes of your comment - I'd keep it to 2 sentences - the volunteers are being inundated but they are answering.

Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Ask to leave a comment and they transfer you to a volunteer.

Use a calling card if you don't have long distance - it is worth using a few minutes to let them hear your opinion.

It is worth it, I assure you.

[maglatinavi]

12. WHITE HOUSE

Called and spoke with volunteer asking the potus not to sign the present bill and sent it back to the drawing table to form a bill with a strong public option that benefits all. the person said it will be noted. I hope so. I hope many more will call.
:fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump: :fistbump:

[cilla4progress]

13. Done!

That felt good. Thanks for the information here.

[Tumbulu]

16. I'm on hold now and will leave my comment

thanks for reminding me of this.

[mike_c]

10. stick to your guns and KILL THIS BILL, progressives!

[maglatinavi]

11. Liberals! Revolt!

Don't pass this bill! Revolt and make your stand; be for "we the people" not for the corporations! thanks Dean for bringing sense to the matter... lets go back to the drawing table and come up with REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT BENEFITS THE PEOPLE...
:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: THE ARSES OF THE SOLD OUT TO THE CORPS...

[Laelth]

14. Kill the bill. It's worse than doing nothing. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[thereismore]

15. Maybe "pro-lifer" Nelson will help us kill this bill. I am with Howard. nt

[DebbieCDC]

17. Gawd I hope so

[damntexdem]

18. The potential energy needs to be converted into kinetic energy.

But what's this bullshit: "Final Senate passage would require only a simple majority of 51 votes"? Only if cloture could be invoked. And the issue with a liberal Senate revolt is that it would take only one Senator to pull the reverse of the LIEberman maneuver -- no cloture if the abomination stays as it is, with no PO nor Medicare buy-in, no caps, a mandate without anything to make it worthwhile, and so on.

[Odin2005]

19. Kill this Insuracy Industry Fascism bill!

[stubertmcfly]

20. Potential?

I'm definitely revolted.