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News & ArtsWednesday, September 16, 2009
Politics Fuck "Bipartisanship"
Posted by Chicago Fan on Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 11:19 AM
We've got to just keep saying this till Democratic "leaders" (that'd be those idiots cowering in the front of Fox News, unable to read poll numbers or remember elections that show what the majority of the American people want) hear it:
Fuck bipartisanship. The Republicans lost. There is absolutely NOTHING to be gained by negotiating with Republicans. As they did with the economic stimulus bill back at the start of the year, the Republicans will demand changes be made, Democrats water down a good strong bill to attract Republican support, and then the fucking Republicans will vote against it anyway.
On health care, if Baucus and his middle of the road asswipes eliminate the public option and make health care reform "acceptable" to Republicans, guess what? Out of fear of the Limbaugh-led base, none of them will vote for it anyway, and the reform will be less effective because of Democratic spinelessness. The goddamn Senators Baucus negotiated this brilliant compromise with are already saying they cannot support it, as are several Senate democrats.
Pass the strongest bill possible. Endure the filibuster—eventually, their vocal cords or bladders give out and you can actually pass things in the Senate with just 51 votes! You don't need 60! And when the next election campaign comes along, you will win.
2
If you truly believe this, you should have supported Hillary. Obama has said from day one that he is all about bipartisanship.
8
@2 Ah yes, because Hillary Clinton was so successful with healthcare reform in the past. (Not to mention the fact that she raised the most in campaign contributions from the insurance industry in the presidential election)
But hey- At least if Hillary Clinton were president, you'd get a pony for Christmas!
But hey- At least if Hillary Clinton were president, you'd get a pony for Christmas!
9
I'd be a huge fan of a single payer program but I've gotta say...some of the other reforms are more important right now, and success in legislating them could help LEAD to a more secure single payer system in the future.
11
all the bipartisan talk is merely political posturing intended to give olympia snowe cover. she, and she alone, is the bipartisanship. the only vote they think they'll get.
12
Bi-partisanship has to go both ways. Republicans do not negotiate in good faith, therefore they should be marginalized. FDR new this, he ignored Republicans, reveled in their hatred and negotiated within his own party. Obama should take that page from FDR's playbook, ignore and marginalize the opposition and find consensus within. Republicans are too extreme to work with anymore.
13
YES THANK YOU. repugs could give two shits about bipartisanship. we should feel the same. WE WON AND THEY CAN SUCK IT. argh!
and YES to dan! bipartisanship means negotiation on BOTH SIDES, not just one side caving to the other.
sorry for all the yelling. hmm.
and YES to dan! bipartisanship means negotiation on BOTH SIDES, not just one side caving to the other.
sorry for all the yelling. hmm.
14
I would instead say "Fuck partisanship". I don't want to choose between being labeled a commie anarchist or a fascist fundie. Why can't we just have political opinions without the political orientation? All that does is causes a huge waste of time and money as people file themselves along party lines and bicker ideologies and not ideas. The majority of Americans may support single payer healthcare, but regardless, the majority of "the right" will not support a "left" idea on principle...
15
Dems know the right thing to do. Public option is what they promised and they better deliver. Get rid of Baucus. He's rotten with corruption.
19
I'm beginning to think that healthcare is to Democrats what abortion is to Republicans. Seeing each issue resolved removes a major campaign plank for the parties and as long as they have their rallying issues, they dont really have to do anything about them. Republicans NEED abortion to be legal so they can campaign against it and whip up the electorate. Dems NEED a screwy healthcare system so they can do the same with their constituents. And come 2010, when there is no majority control by either party, maybe, MAYBE some legislation can get passed or there will be the same gridlck that has stifled gov't for decades.
20
I agree. You know what's more effective than writing that here? Writing to your representatives.
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welc…
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in…
and the president
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Know what else would help. Write to the Blue Dog Democrats. Pretend your in their district if you want. Tell them what you're telling us here. Write them every damn day! Remind them that 70% of the public wants a public option. Remind them that 3 of 4 Dr's want a public option. Don't cave to the Republican'ts.
Republicans have NOTHING useful to say on health care reform. I'm a big fan of bipartisanship but in this case it's worthless. They're going to do everything they can to water down the bill and vote against it anyway. I say push and push hard. Fuck Republicans. Write your reps and president. Repeatedly!
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welc…
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_in…
and the president
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Know what else would help. Write to the Blue Dog Democrats. Pretend your in their district if you want. Tell them what you're telling us here. Write them every damn day! Remind them that 70% of the public wants a public option. Remind them that 3 of 4 Dr's want a public option. Don't cave to the Republican'ts.
Republicans have NOTHING useful to say on health care reform. I'm a big fan of bipartisanship but in this case it's worthless. They're going to do everything they can to water down the bill and vote against it anyway. I say push and push hard. Fuck Republicans. Write your reps and president. Repeatedly!
22
Ramming the bill through with reconcilliation is not a silver bullet. It works great for parts of the bill which directly affect the budget (i.e. expanding medicare and medicade, funding tax credits for individuals, assessing penalties or rewards for employers to provide insurance).
However, due to the Byrd rule, it doesn't work so well with writing policies(i.e. public option/pre-existing condition ban/insurance exchange). Plus those 51 democrats must have the balls to keep on voting to overturn the parlimentarian ad nauseam. It would just make the public option in to swiss cheese. Unless Sen. Reid is the smartest fucking guy in the universe and can lawyer his way around these issues.
However, due to the Byrd rule, it doesn't work so well with writing policies(i.e. public option/pre-existing condition ban/insurance exchange). Plus those 51 democrats must have the balls to keep on voting to overturn the parlimentarian ad nauseam. It would just make the public option in to swiss cheese. Unless Sen. Reid is the smartest fucking guy in the universe and can lawyer his way around these issues.
23
21
That's just it- we got CREAMED in the election, I expected we would end up goo in Obama's treads as he rolled all over us.
But Obama and the Democrats have been such feckless pussies that it's like- we rule!
Obama has let the Teabaggers bitchslap him around and the actual Republicans just have to knit their brow crossly and Obama totally caves.
It has been totally better than if McCain had won.
Plus even democratic pollsters say we will make big gains in the midterm elections.
I'd say Obama has been a pretty sweet President for the Right...
That's just it- we got CREAMED in the election, I expected we would end up goo in Obama's treads as he rolled all over us.
But Obama and the Democrats have been such feckless pussies that it's like- we rule!
Obama has let the Teabaggers bitchslap him around and the actual Republicans just have to knit their brow crossly and Obama totally caves.
It has been totally better than if McCain had won.
Plus even democratic pollsters say we will make big gains in the midterm elections.
I'd say Obama has been a pretty sweet President for the Right...
24
There will never be health care or any kind of reform in any sector. The government is owned by Wall street. Why do you think we bail them out time and time again without repercussions?
"Capital must protect itself in every way: Debts must be collected and loans and mortgages foreclosed as soon as possible. When through a process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and more easily governed by the strong arm of the law applied by the central power of leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders. This is well known among our principle men now engaged in forming an imperialism of capitalism to govern the world. By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance..." J. P. Morgan.
I saw this on another site and it was an epiphany.
"Capital must protect itself in every way: Debts must be collected and loans and mortgages foreclosed as soon as possible. When through a process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and more easily governed by the strong arm of the law applied by the central power of leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders. This is well known among our principle men now engaged in forming an imperialism of capitalism to govern the world. By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance..." J. P. Morgan.
I saw this on another site and it was an epiphany.
25
@2 has a point. Hillary already has the experience fighting republicans on healthcare and has been through the process once already. She's also not afraid to fight back at them.
Hopechange seems to be about assuming that the other side is playing fair. And the only gays that are worthy of understanding and support are the Donnie McClurkin variety.
Hopechange seems to be about assuming that the other side is playing fair. And the only gays that are worthy of understanding and support are the Donnie McClurkin variety.
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