Like For Real Done

Nancy Pelosi and the house voted on the reconciliation bill a second time after the senate passed a slightly altered version of it yesterday. The slight alterations caused it to be sent back to the house for a revote.

"They're done. For good, this time. Tonight, the House took Congress' final health care vote, when it passed a reconciliation bill fixing problems with the reforms that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday. The final tally was 220-207. The changes will take effect as soon as Obama signs this sidecar package into law, which could come as early as tomorrow."

Woo Hoo!

Dems Hit Their Stride, GOP Totally Lost Theirs

Dems are quickly shifting their attention to the Wall Street Reform. A bill dems now totally own because again, the GOP did not participate in making the bill. But it is going to be much harder for GOP to filibuster a bill that most everyone wants. After passage, the dems will then move onto immigration. The dems have definitely hit their stride when they needed to.

GOP, however, is totally flailing around not knowing what to do. Now that they have lost out on taking partial ownership of a popular bill, Wall Street reform, they are totally screwing unemployed people over with this:

"Coburn is blocking unanimous consent on extension of unemployment benefits, just as Bunning did a few weeks ago. Only this time, Coburn's not alone -- the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other members of the Republican caucus have joined with Coburn, promising to block billions in unemployment benefits just as the Senate is set to leave on a two-week recess."

Who is giving the GOP advice right now? They are trying to stand up for financial responsibility on the backs of unemployed, under insured, down on their luck Americans. What are they thinking? Its almost as if when they didn't get their way on Health Care they are going to burn the place down. I remember a six year old at the school playground. When playing basketball and he was losing he would start pouting and eventually say "I am taking my ball and going home." Sometimes, I feel the GOP never matured out of this stage.

Ironic History Of Health Care Law

This is just bitter sweet. It turns out the current law, signed by Obama, was originally a republican plan. (Read the article. It is a good one.)

"Substantial numbers of Republicans had always favored reform, even archconservatives: 20 years ago, the Heritage Foundation's Stuart Butler came up with a plan to provide universal coverage, paying for it by replacing the tax-exempt status of employer-provided health benefits with a system of progressive tax credits. In 1993 the Republicans, led by Senators John Chafee and Bob Dole, who never forgot that his life was saved by government health care, offered an alternative that many, including me, thought was better than the Clinton Administration's proposal. It became the basis for the universal health plan passed in Massachusetts by Governor Mitt Romney. Massachusetts, in turn, became the basis for the federal plans offered in the 2008 campaign by Hillary Clinton and later adopted by President Obama."

They are so politically motivated, repubs will vote against their own ideas. Sad People.

W Bush Still A Childish Boy

I still cannot believe, for eight years, we had a spoiled little brat as a President. The man is a black eye on America. Check out the video of him and Clinton together in Haiti. Watch Bush wipe his hand on Clinton. Douche bag.

Dems The Target Of Hate After Passing Health Care

Well, this should come as no surprise but yet I am surprised. It seems that angry right wingers, in their frustration with the health care bill passing, have turned to vandalism. Not only have they been smashing in windows of dem offices, there's this:

"Federal and local authorities are investigating a severed gas line at the home of U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello’s brother, discovered the day after Tea Party activists posted the address online so opponents could 'drop by' and 'express their thanks' for Perriello’s vote in favor of health care reform."

Why does this surprise me? I still cannot fathom how giving people access health insurance causes such hate. The GOP has a real problem on their hand and it is starting to boil over.

Update: Now death threats.

And This

And This

How The GOP Can Lose Politically On Repeal

Good quote find on how the GOP might not want to tout the "repeal" message too much.

"If the Republicans now keep health care in the spotlight by trying to repeal it, they will be the ones independents voters see as having skewed priorities and they may start to pay the price. Yes, repeal will play well with the base. But focusing on that has a high potential to turn off independent swing voters who have been leaning toward the GOP but are sick of the health care debate and want Washington to be more focused on something else."

So this says what the Dems have to do. keep a jobs bill in the spotlight.

Obama Signs Health Care Bill

History made.

State Repub Attorney General's Launch Lawsuits

Who really knew the stupidity the repubs would go to to take away people's health care benefits. From the Post

"Less than 24 hours after the House of Representatives gave final approval to a sweeping overhaul of healthcare, attorneys general from several states on Monday said they will sue to block the plan on constitutional grounds.

Republican attorneys general in 11 states warned that lawsuits will be filed to stop the federal government overstepping its constitutional powers and usurping states' sovereignty."

Jesus, these people have no moral compass. It is ALL politics ALL the time with them. You lost! Get over it! Move on!

They really think they can run with this. Well, it is up to the dems to educate the public about the bill and how it is going to help America out.

Interesting Thoughts On The Health Care Bill

Good rundown of quotes about the bill. Check it out.

"Now that it's done, Barack Obama will go down in history as one of America's finest presidents."

"Republicans had bet that throwing everything into killing the bill would result in the bill's defeat. The entire strategy was predicated on killing the bill. Now that the bill has passed, it means that the health care system has been fundamentally changed, and there's no way -- and there will not be the votes -- to repeal it."

"Hard fought victories don't deplete political capital; they build it. And political wins themselves often have a catalyzing effect that shapes political opinion far more than we realize."

Health Care Reform Bill Passes

This is the holy grail for dems and they got it. Amazing day for dems. While there was no public option, there were laws implementing fairness.

Some highlights:

-Insurance companies can't deny coverage due to previous conditions like cancer.

-Insurance companies can't drop someone b/c they got too sick.

-Gives 32 million more Americans who didn't have health insurance access to insurance.

-closes medicare donut hole (a hole making seniors pay for some drugs.)

-creates insurance exchanges allowing states to combine and promotes competition between insurance agencies

That and much more. Check out the Times website.

What's next. The reconciliation bill. Two bills were passed on Sunday. One goes to Obama to be signed. The other bill (reconciliation fix-it bill) goes to the Senate to be passed. It's chances are very good.

For the GOP they totally gambled and lost. They are now spouting "repeal" which is the most asinine thing I have heard of in a long time. Take away peoples insurance and safe guards. They are really digging their hole as deep as possible.