tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post2315540752115873913..comments2024-03-20T05:19:35.526-04:00Comments on Mauigirl's Meanderings: Nice Going, DemocratsMauigirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15529827915262851910noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-22517514378071072072010-01-31T15:35:50.613-05:002010-01-31T15:35:50.613-05:00If Obama and Reid hadn't governed like Republi...If Obama and Reid hadn't governed like Republicans, the Democrats would have won in MA. I want Barack Obama in the Oval Office, not Barack Bush.libhomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537213558568338561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-91676721578129927002010-01-29T15:45:35.411-05:002010-01-29T15:45:35.411-05:00This is a lesson to never take anything, including...This is a lesson to never take anything, including an election, for granted.knoxville carshttp://www.wateautomall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-4222392610273543052010-01-26T13:45:19.359-05:002010-01-26T13:45:19.359-05:00In my mind, jobs and healthcare ARE linked. If yo...In my mind, jobs and healthcare ARE linked. If you lose your job, you often lose your healthcare benefits too. We need both!! I say in a sluggish economy, we need healthcare first, so folks are free to take on 1 or 2 part time jobs to make ends meet without worrying about full time healthcare benefits.Mnmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004472091756966173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-79532838641780112282010-01-23T18:12:07.636-05:002010-01-23T18:12:07.636-05:00Massachusetts has high unemployment too. I think i...Massachusetts has high unemployment too. I think it's 8.5% statewide.<br /><br />This number is minuscule compared states like Michigan, California and Nevada. Yet, for reasons known only to him, President Obama squandered all of 2009 on healthcare reform.<br /><br />Every poll I've seen, shows the two issues Americans care most about is:<br /><br />1. the economy<br />2. jobs<br /><br />The two are intertwined and while I agree that no president can wave his or her magic wand and create jobs, the policies of an administration can help business -- large and small alike, create new jobs.<br /><br />In 2009, I didn't see much focus on jobs. Maybe they were working behind the scenes and just kept silent, I don't know. But, I can't say I'm all that surprised by the meteoric rise of nudie Cosmo boy, Scott Brown, who drove around Massachusetts in his pick up truck running as a populist candidate.<br /><br />Democrats had better be very worried about 2012. Obama is vulnerable.Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15788931352232874850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-77528596765680067662010-01-23T13:49:00.557-05:002010-01-23T13:49:00.557-05:00bush never had more than 55 senate votes (and at o...bush never had more than 55 senate votes (and at one point had 50) and GOT EVERYTHING he wanted<br /><br />that says a lot about Obama - and how he handles congress<br /><br />Harry Reid may be the worst legislator in the history of this country - he sucks worse than i can say.<br /><br />pelosi is better, but not much. i hate to say this, but while congress is completely out of touch, this really all falls on obama and his complete lack of leadership - yes he is a great statesman - but we are not Britain, we dont have a separate head of state and head of govt - he is both<br /><br />what finally is leading me off the obama bandwagon - he actually said he wants bipartisan work to undo the SCOTUS mistake. -- is he kidding? while snowe and mcsame came out against it - trust me, they will never vote to change it<br /><br />besides Boner could barely contain his gleeDistributorcaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149154929149577121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-19610334898751361862010-01-23T12:10:05.603-05:002010-01-23T12:10:05.603-05:00When job numbers are still dismal and the economy ...When job numbers are still dismal and the economy is still anemic, people will eventually blame the party in power.<br /><br />But the truly scary thing about all of this is that I really don't think anyone knows for sure how to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.Comrade Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393718048145784837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-4440138850636013702010-01-22T08:58:05.170-05:002010-01-22T08:58:05.170-05:00Fran, I'm hoping all is not lost - the idea th...Fran, I'm hoping all is not lost - the idea that the GOP has a "41 to 59 Majority" as SW mentions does remind us that that one new vote should NOT make that a reality. If Bush could get his legislation pass when he didn't even have a 60 vote majority I don't understand why the Dems have so much trouble doing the same thing. They never want to be mean to anyone it seems. The GOP has no such compunction.Mauigirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15529827915262851910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-38979761791141344092010-01-22T08:56:19.895-05:002010-01-22T08:56:19.895-05:00TomCat, I think they are already chickening out on...TomCat, I think they are already chickening out on passing the Senate version, unfortunately. So we don't know what if anything they'll do with reconciliation. Will have to wait and see I guess.<br /><br />Annette, I agree - 60 shouldn't matter. But I think they changed the rule so you don't have to actually filibuster anymore, you can just say you will. That was the mistake. If Americans watched some moron from the GOP get up there and blather for days on end, holding up all business in order to prevent the legislation from coming to a vote, it would make them look really bad. But no one makes them do that anymore in order to have the effect of the filibuster. We need to go back to that.<br /><br />Pygalgia, I agree - it is getting worse by the day, and the SCOTUS decision was another blow.<br /><br />SW, I agree with you completely, it is the dithering and compromising that turned off voters. Didn't mean to imply they should forget about health care,but Obama does need to make Americans know he "feels their pain," as Bill Clinton put it. Not saying health care can't be part of the solution but the Dems have let the GOP paint the health care bill as another "big spending government takeover" type thing as opposed to something that is supposed to help the middle class. The fact that there is no public option and the insurance companies will benefit from it doesn't help that perception either.Mauigirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15529827915262851910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-22052300501733173832010-01-22T01:46:39.689-05:002010-01-22T01:46:39.689-05:00Good post, but I differ on the importance of healt...Good post, but I differ on the importance of health care reform. Most people want it, in a form recognizable as at least something like they were led to believe it would be in the '08 campaign and early this year. They want to see Obama stand up and fight for it and lead Dems in fighting for it. What they see instead is uncertainty, dodging and weaving, caving in and muddling, not just with the Party of No but with subversives in the Democratic Party. That turns voters off — progressive Dems and lots of independents, too.<br /><br />Re: <i>"Now, the magic 60-vote filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate is gone, and the health care bill is in peril."</i><br /><br />I saw the following headline yesterday and had a good laugh, until the gnawing pain in my gut returned. I though it appropriate to share here.<br /><br />"<a href="http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2010/01/scott_brown_win.php." rel="nofollow">Scott Brown Wins Mass. Race, Giving GOP 41-59 Majority.</a>"S.W. Andersonhttp://wpblog.ohpinion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-2696121848262189472010-01-21T22:48:40.233-05:002010-01-21T22:48:40.233-05:00I'm (sadly) convinced that it's only going...I'm (sadly) convinced that it's only going to get worse. Brown's election will re-energize obstructionism, and the supreme court has opened the floodgates for more corporate money in politics. The death of health care reform is only the beginning.pygalgiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14423302866723206260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-2077461419123272002010-01-21T02:49:04.280-05:002010-01-21T02:49:04.280-05:00Feeling even bluer in a Blue State
We will know on...Feeling even bluer in a Blue State<br />We will know on the 26th if the 2 Tax the Rich measures pass. <br />I'm at least keeping that hope alive. <br /><br />Damn. This is depressingFranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198689517878201943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-73969556913665456672010-01-20T16:13:20.691-05:002010-01-20T16:13:20.691-05:00Why do we need to have 60 votes anyway... This is ...Why do we need to have 60 votes anyway... This is just a fallacy and is something people need to stop pushing so hard. There is no need for it. A simple majority is all the Constitution calls for and if the GOPers want to filibuster the bill before the senate.. let them, let them stand out there on the floor and read it or do what they want. Put it up for a vote and see if we have 51 Democrats to vote for it and pass it. <br /><br />That is all we need... not 60 as everyone seems to believe...Annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16344077085109588258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34240686.post-14659214875298780762010-01-20T14:46:28.876-05:002010-01-20T14:46:28.876-05:00Thanks for the linkage, Mimi. I'm flattered. ...Thanks for the linkage, Mimi. I'm flattered. I think that the way to go on health care is for the House to pass BARF (Baucus Against a Real Fix), the Senate version of the bill, because its insurance company regulations(preexisting conditions/rescission) can't be done using the reconciliation process. Then use the reconciliation process to fix the flaws and include a strong public option.<br /><br />Geez, I wish the Dems weren't so adept at the art of self-destruction!!<br /><br />Regards to Baxter. :-)TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397335545286040472noreply@blogger.com