So far today, Robert Gibbs, Valerie Jarrett and Olympia Snowe are talking BIPARTISAN BILL...

[polichick]

Gibbs said that's what the prez wants. (Morning Joe)

Jarrett said that the prez "wants to bring everybody together." (Andrea Mitchell's show)

Snowe (just on msnbc) said that she is against the public option but, based on her recent meeting with him, President Obama is very flexible and she thinks a bipartisan bill is possible and will stand up better.


The next few days should be very interesting.

[Old Studentka]

1. Hoy!

:argh:

[Captain Hilts]

2. I want a bill that passes by one vote, not by 15. nt

[polichick]

13. Me too. nt

[depakid]

20. Any bill that passes by that amount is going to be poor public policy

[polichick]

21. The Simulus only had 3 Republican votes - do you consider that bad policy? nt

[depakid]

24. Yep- thanks to Republicans and DINO's it was poor legislation that ended up

full of ineffective tax cuts -and worse, it slashed federal revenue sharing to the states (which might have been the single STUPIDEST thing that could have been done, except that it also slashed pandemic preparedness funds- IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC).

Contrast that with Australia's stimulus legislation that not only kept the nation out of a recession ENTIRELY -but has kept unemployment to 5.6%

[polichick]

26. I agree that it would've been much better without the Republicans...

That's why I don't care if we have them this time.

[Better Believe It]

28. Republican Senators ripped up the House bill and wrote the conference bill.

[Xipe Totec]

3. So is she willing to accept the public option in a spirit of bipartisanship?

I just want to know what the Republicans are bringing to the bipartisan table.

[polichick]

8. She asked the prez to "take it off the table" and frowned when...

...she was told that it's not off the table, that he will support it tonight. Hard to tell if she'll go along with it.

[Xipe Totec]

9. It takes two to Tango

and I'm not seeing any compromise from the bipartisanshits.

[polichick]

11. True - I'd like to think we can count on Snowe, but who knows. nt

[babylonsister]

18. Shumer might not either... "We Should Still Look Seriously At 50-Vote Bill"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/chuck-schumer-we-should-s_n_280906.html

[avaistheone1]

4. I want a strong public option. I don't give a crap about a bipartisan bill.

[katandmoon]

5. So it all hinges on what a repug senator from the low population state of ME wants

That's democracy all right.

Not that Obama gives a rat's ass.

[Hansel]

12. In total the gang of 6 represent 3% of the population.

It is really pretty disgusting.

[high density]

19. Sorry

I have been old enough now to vote against her twice with no success. The media is infatuated with her up here.

[Marsala]

6. One Republican is a pretty ridiculous definition of "bipartisan"

Also Snowe may find herself joining Specter if she dares to be the sole Republican responsible for Obama's most important priority succeeding. The Repukes will see it as high treason.

[global1]

7. I'm Thinking They Have To Play Out This Bipartisan Issue As Far Down As ......

they can. I believe that they know that they won't get Repugs to vote for anything that they come up with. They just want to show that the Repugs are the ones that are holding any health reform back. Once they've exhausted every ounce of bipartisanship - they will take it through on 'reconciliation' saying that they had no choice and blame the Repugs.

I'm thinking that is the strategy.

Also - I'm thinking that the public option will be laid out tonight to be only for small businesses that don't have membership in any group and are forced to pay high premiums because they are buying only for themselves or a small group of people. It will be sold as a way for small businesses to get a reduction on their premiums. This will be the foothold into a 'public option' program that can be expanded upon at a later date.

[polichick]

10. Could be strategy - it's obviously the message today...

But I do think President Obama really wants a bipartisan bill and will try to get one if possible.

I think it matters much more to him than it does to us.

[Parker CA]

32. I completely agree. If they say bipartisanship is done before they know they can get what they want

then they will get nothing and this entire effort will be for naught. Obama and the admin will continue the bipartisan rhetoric until the very last minute when Obama has all of his pieces in place to make things happen. Until then, they will say what they need to say to continually marginalize the GOP.

[Clio the Leo]

36. that's exactly it

and it's clear from the "what ideas do YOU have?" language that the wh has been pushing lately.

this is a SET UP, pure and simple.

[Blasphemer]

14. One Republican does not a "bipartisan" bill make

They'd be lucky to get one and the concessions (including this trigger nonsense) they would have to make to get even one, aren't worth it.

[polichick]

16. I agree - we got three for the Stimulus and gave up way too much for those votes. nt

[fadedrose]

15. I don't recall Olympia Snow running for President..did she win? nt

[polichick]

17. Like it or not, she's had the president's ear. nt

[katandmoon]

22. And I'd love to know why SHE has it, instead of people who, you know, VOTED for him

But Obama has made it crystal clear that we are all as expendable to him as Rev. Wright was.

[polichick]

23. He seems to want to please his enemies more than his friends...

imo a little therapy is in order.

[WI_DEM]

25. Obama always says he's for a bi-partisan bill.

[polichick]

27. True, and I think he means it too. nt

[LSparkle]

29. So we get a crappy bill with minimal Thug input ...

What good is that? Obama and Co. can tout their "bi-
partisan" credentials all they want but if they only
get marginal Thug support, Crypt Kicker McLame will
still scoff at it, Fixed Noize will make hay for days
over it and we end up with NO REFORM. This is turning
into a NO-WIN situation.

Obama needs to put down "Team of Rivals" and pick up
Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography of FDR -- THAT'S the
book he should be focusing on, not all this kumbaya
bullshit.

[polichick]

30. I agree 100% nt

[DebbieCDC]

31. Gibbs was on NPR this morning doing his weasel act

:puke:

[Thrill]

33. Bipartisan really means getting conservative Democrats on board.

Thats the reality

[polichick]

34. Blue Dogs do seem to be in a whole other party. nt

[ej510]

37. Obama is a borderline blue dog himself; which is why he wants repuke support.

Obama wants the insurance to finance the 2010 and 2012 elections.

[polichick]

38. It does seem like it - especially since he chose Rahm as right-hand man. nt

[BeyondGeography]

35. Correct...Conservadems and progressives cover a pretty broad spectrum of views

The challenge all along has been our own party. But pretending Obama has a magic wand and 60 banked votes in the Senate is so much more exhilirating.