Kent Conrad on MPR: "I want a strong public option, but if we don't have the votes...

[Odin2005]

...we don't have the votes"

Wow, now Conrad's joined in with Kerry about frustrated about the Blue Dogs.

[tekisui]

1. If you don't have the votes, GET the votes.

Play hardball. Threaten funding for pet projects. Threaten to withhold campaign money. Threaten to support a primary challenger. C'mon!

[Hepburn]

4. +1...n/t

[rurallib]

2. he wants a strong public option and pushes his insane 'co-op' crap?

Is Kent trying to be everything to everybody?

[bullwinkle428]

3. I thought that quote was utterly dripping with insincerity - Conrad

is completely bought and paid for by the insurance industry, and would do everything he could in power to scuttle the public option. I wanted to reach through the speakers in an effort to shake some sense into him!

[KharmaTrain]

5. Lead, Follow Or Get Out Of The Way

Either he goes balls to the wall for a public option or lets Schumer or even Jay Rockefeller get the job done.

You don't know the votes til you get a final bill...or a final draft. This is long way from a done bill...thus how do you dismiss the votes?

The Blue Dogs aren't the problem here...this is the Senate, not the House...it's the 60 votes and how Democrats wet themselves when they face a close vote. It blitzing the media and putting pressure on any Democrat (Nelson) and vulnerable rushpublicans who stand in the way. If this bill fails, let it be their fault.

[high density]

6. Well at least get the "NO" votes on record

This crap of avoiding things because it's hard needs to stop.

[MNDemNY]

7. 50 votes is all we need. Pass reform now.

With a very strong public option, empowered to negotiate prices with providers and Pharm.

[Odin2005]

8. Not while Spineless Harry is there.

[kenny blankenship]

9. More excuses for excuse makers

[NOW tense]

10. If a public option isn't passed

I will start to believe that health care is simply just a rhetorical tool to get us to vote for the (D) behind a candidate's name. The Republicans have used a similar tactic for years. They have used Anti-choice as a tool to get elected without intending to do anything about it. I am not blaming all Democrats, but I will say that even with a mandate and political capital, they still aren't pulling the trigger.

[endarkenment]

11. including like for example his own vote?

These people are so completely dishonest that there is no level of disgust that adequately describes my feelings.