Frist calls for cloture on medicare bill, Kennedy will filibuster

[xray s]

Just announced on senate floor

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Alright, TED!

The final result will probably be the same, but at least the Dems (some of them, anyway) are trying. :thumbsup:

[0007]

2. Thank you Mr. Kennedy!

Orrin Hatch is going off about about how good this bill is, I just tuned into c-span what did Kennedy say?

[JNelson6563]

3. Orrin whines incessantly

very grating.

Julie

[0007]

5. Did you hear Kennedy Julie?

[JNelson6563]

7. no, tuned in after seeing this thread

listening to Orrin whine to see what happens next...sorry.

Julie

[calimary]

38. Wanna thank him? Here's how: 1 (800) 839 - 5276

That's the TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard. Call it first thing Monday morning and ask to be transfered to his office. Use it to call a few other people's offices in the Senate (especially rethugs, since it's free) and tell them you totally approve of what Ted Kennedy is doing and you hate what they are doing.

DO IT! Rest assured, his staffers will be hearing all kinds of shit from organized wolf packs of freeper thugs. I can tell this is happening. Sometimes when I call to say "thank you for showing spine," the response from some Dem staffers is audible relief. Some of them sound really beaten down. Wonder what kind of crap they're taking from callers? Must be awful!!!! By the way, if you ever get to chatting, even briefly, with some of the Dem staffers, they'll likely admit that they really need to hear from us good guys, and what a refreshing change it is when WE call, as opposed to the knuckle-draggers.

[La_Serpiente]

4. I have never seen Hatch

so angry. He must be really pissed that Kennedy is going to filibuster this.

[xray s]

9. Hatch makes me wretch

He talks about how private insurance companies won't go into rural areas (duh! It's called 'cherry picking' Orrin!)

His answer, give them a bunch of taxpayer cash and HOPE they offer something. Yeah...and pigs will fly in Iowa if this bill passes too.

A government administered Medicare drug benefit is the most cost effective way to go.

But let's not debate that Orrin. Instead you try to force this piece of pig poop down our throats in the middle of the night with NO debate.

And we get to listen to you scream about "socialized medicine" to try to scare people away from the plan that actually works.

[Snellius]

6. Orin's outraged by another outrageously outrageous outrage

Outrageous!

[ramapo]

14. How can they keep a straight face?

Caught a few minutes of Hatch droning on about this being a matter of life or death for Seniors. They've waited so-o-o-o long for this and they need their prescriptions.'

Well LOL. The bill doesn't begin to take effect until 2006. That's along time to wait for your prescription.

If this is so friggin' good then it should be effective Jan. 04.

Watchin' that weasal Frist is just as disgusting, thinking about his family's HMO fortune.

[Snellius]

8. Just heard on CNN that Kerry is taking credit too

along with Kennedy for the filibuster.

[0007]

10. Tom Daschle said he would vote against the bill..

..but would not filibuster, Kennedy sez otherwise. So could someone explain to this ignorant fool how this works?

[xray s]

11. Filibuster needs 60 votes to stop. Passing a bill needs just 50

Daschle just wants a straight up or down vote. Maybe he thinks it can be defeated without a filibuster?

[0007]

13. Thanks n/t

[ramapo]

15. Daschle is Bush's lap dog

I hate to say it but give me a break. What Repubs will vote against this? A filibuster is the only way to stop this. Course then it'll be hard work campaigning cause the Repubs will paint the Dems as obstructionists who blocked prescription drug benefits from seniors.

[BuckeFushe]

18. Do you think Seniors are stupid? We can see right through this scam

Go to the AARP message boards and see what the rank and file think. Those who are internet aware are telling their friends this is a bad deal. Don't give in to Novelli and the hacks behind this scam. It is about the money, and they are picking our pockets.

[Skittles]

34. BF IS CORRECT

they are treating seniors like IDIOTS. Seniors are a VERY SAVVY VOTING BLOCK.

[wabeewoman]

46. Totally agree!

Why else would they need to vote in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!! That ought to be good for some campaign slogans. Repugs are taking away your medicare in the middle of the night.

[Cocoa]

20. several Republican senators oppose this

I might be confusing it with the energy bill, but I think a few repubs oppose it because of provisions that are specific to their states. I think McCain is one.

[NewJerseyDem]

55. Nickles does as well

I'm not sure if he will join in the filibuster though.

[juajen]

50. Well, for one, try John McCain. For a second, try Dan Burton.

And, for a third try, Lincoln Chaffee; for a fourth, try Susan Collins (?); and several more who I heard in a hearing on C-Span that I think will join with the dems. I'm hating my senators right now. I expected their "go with the pugs" vote, but am disappointed nonetheless.

[baby_bear]

17. What is the head count?

My impression was that this bill will pass. It appears that Snow and Collins, moderate Republicans, are going to vote yes. So how could it possibly survive an up or down vote?

I don't understand Daschle's position. Does anyone know if any Republicans are going to go against the bill? And how many Dems are for it?

s_m

[joanski01]

19. I heard a caller on

C-Span this morning say that her Senator, Senator Trent Lott, was going to vote against the Medicare Bill. I hope she was right.

[Malva Zebrina]

21. Yup

Snowe and
Collins, the Bobse twins will suck at George Bush's little tiny balls and enjoy it. LOL--Hey George, remember me? I am Susan.and Remember me, I am Olympia, married to Josh.

[MaineDem]

25. I know this is nitpicking but...

Olympia's husband is Jock.

Seriously, I was hoping she'd stand up to her leadership and fight against this bill. She was leaning that way.

Susie I have no hope for.

[Malva Zebrina]

51. I do not think Olympia really fights for anything

she is not a risk taker, is calculating and seldom goes outside the safe zone, hanging back until it seems a decision is safe for her. Then it seems she behaves very aggressively, but really only has the firm voice down pat and the gestures are down pat too. I am not impressed anymore with her. Yes it was Jock--so long ago that he was govenor of Maine that I forgot his name. Collins and Snowe are joined at the hip--the way one goes, there goes the other--usually it is Collins tagging along. I will say that Snowe's form letters back to her constituents is much better than Collins' Collins is harsh .

I have voted for Snowe in the past--not this time around. Not impressed at all--since joining DU, have watched C-Span coverage and do have a better idea of what the both of them are doing and saying.

[NewJerseyDem]

43. Here is what I know

John McCain competely opposes it and will probably filibuster it. I understand that Trent Lott also opposes it. John Sununu and Don Nickles have both indicated that they will probably oppose it as well, but I'm not sure if they will filibuster it. Sununu joined in the energy bill filibuster so he might do this as well or may think one filibuster is enought. Jon Kyl also opposes it but will not filibuster. I don't know what Lincoln Chafee will do. He is the most liberal republican but has generally sided with republicans on Medicare. I haven't heard anything about Wayne Allard but he signed Olympia Snowe's letter complaining about parts of the bill and he voted against the original one. Other conservatives like Lindsey Graham also should be watched.

On the Democratic side, Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, John Breaux, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln have all come out in favor. I assume Zell Miller will as well. Dianne Feinstein is rumored to be supporting the bill. I think that Tom Carper, Evan Bayh, Harry Reid, Mark Pryor, Herb Kohl, Tim Johnson (I think he will vote no) and Bill Nelson all seem like potential yes votes but I haven't heard anything about them. Tom Daschle has said he won't filibuster it but is opposed to the bill. So, it may be close.

[baby_bear]

49. Wow, thanks NewJerseyDem!

If nothing else, you just gave us all a great list to start working on to make some difference. This bill just has to go down! I didn't realize there were so many Republicans that might go our way. On the other hand, what's with all those Dems willing to sell our current seniors and the baby boomers?

Anyway, thanks
s_m

[MaineDem]

12. Go, Ted!

We need people like you to fight our fight for us. Thank you for taking on the drug companies and the insurance companies and the HMOs and the White House. I've voted for you many times. This is one of the reasons! Keep it up.

[BuckeFushe]

16. Know why Hatch is so 'behind' this bill?

Contributions to Key Republicans by the drug industry:Source: OpenSecrets.org

Rep. Bill Thomas
got $440,162

Rep. Nancy Johnson
got $327,991

Sen. Chuck Grassley
got $325,252

Sen. Orrin Hatch
got $788,793

Public Citizen reports that the drug industry has spent a total of $650 million on lobbying and campaigns since 1997 - 80% to Republicans.


Fight this bill, fight the Senators behind it, fight Novelli and the AARP stooges (not the membership) for backing it.

[maddezmom]

22. Boxer

"follow the money" ~ she's doing a great job.

[0007]

27. Barbara is laying out a lot of good information

One of the terms she came out with was the "Claw" now I understand the carton below.

It just came to me why Bill Frist is the majority leader now. The medicare bill is that important to the GOP.

[ewagner]

23. Wired Seniors

I just went to this wesite for the first time and saw that they are taking a poll of Seniors on whether the new medicare bill will help or hurt.


84% Say it will hurt!

I'll go get the website and be right back.

on edit....here tis

<http://www.wiredseniors.com/cgi-bin/wiredseniors/buyersclub/>

[BuckeFushe]

24. Send it to Boxer's office now

She'll use it next time she speaks.

[MaineDem]

26. 15% - 85% now (n/t)

.

[0007]

28. Charles "asshole" Grassley is on now, I can't stand this man...

..how can Iowa put with Chuck baby, does a look like a barnyard animal of some kind?

[baby_bear]

30. Grassley MUST know he is lying

He said that anyone who is on Medicare on wants to stay with exactly the way it is now can do so. That is untrue, since the conference bill inserted language prohibiting Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices, while it does not do that for competing HMOs. It also gives providers under private insurers 30% more than Medicare will. These are all ensured to kill Medicare. It won't even be there for boomers.

Why don't they speak the truth?

s_m

[leesa]

29. Frist's HCA will make a bundle on this.

[Terwilliger]

31. GO TED!

Dog that shit!

[Kat45]

32. I'm proud to have Kennedy as my senator

[Upfront]

33. Please Let Him Know

He and the others working against this bill need our support bad.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

35. Go for it, Ted! Don't let them get away with this too.

[0007]

36. Grassley is a long winded son of a bitch

[peacetalksforall]

37. I have a remedy...

we can't become Canadians easily - how about if we all agree with the Canadians to extend the borders of Canada - south - say with a cut-off line about equal to the middle of CA extending over to somewhere in the Carolinas. All the right-wingers can live under their new Republic of the Remaining States - a right wing bastion of right wing principles and laws. They can finally have their new constitution as authored by PNACers. All people willing to let their sons and daughters fight for PNAC wars can move south. The split can be viewed as the great divide between decent and affordable healthcare versus the generous policies of corporate and military rulers.

[wiley]

39. Come on, Blanche

So what is Blanche doing now? Is she going to vote for the bill or will she filibuster? The pugs are probably passing out donut holes. :donut: Cheap and sweet sounding, like the Medicare Bill itself, but one taste of that illusionary sweet thing and, oh, no, not again...:puke:

[0007]

40. Welcome wiley

to DU

[NewJerseyDem]

44. She is supporting it

http://lincoln.senate.gov/lincolnonprescriptiond.html

[newyawker99]

53. Hi wiley!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[0007]

41. Al Franken is on now tearing up the repukes

He's at Columbia Missouri, University of Missouri. Now Al on junior ass. Funny!

[young_at_heart]

42. People will be pushed into HMO's if it goes through

You'd think some of the decent Republicans would care about their fellow human beings on this??? There just has to be some level of caring in these people!

[baby_bear]

45. Maybe there are some Republicans who do, Y_at_H

I haven't heard about any of them, though, not in this case. I thought for sure Collins and Snowe, but that appears not to be the case. Chafee, maybe? I haven't heard.

Sad, ain't it?

s_m

[wabeewoman]

47. Who's up for re-election?

Anyone know of an easy site to find that info?? Think I may target my calls to those up for re-election with a thanks to Kennedy and my state senators. Cantwell was awesome! And I'm sure Murray will fillabuster. They say some of these senators remember the last fiasco they had with medicare that really pissed off the seniors.

[NewJerseyDem]

54. Here's a list of those running for reelection

Gregg- R
Leahy- D
Dodd- D
Schumer- D
Specter- R
Mikulski- D
Shelby- R
Breaux- D
Lincoln- D
Bunning- R
Voinovich- R
Bayh- D
Feingold- D
Bond- R
Grassley- R
Dorgan- D
Daschle- D
Brownback- R
Campbell- R
Crapo- R
Bennett- R
McCain- R
Reid- D
Boxer- D
Wyden- D
Murray- D
Murkowski- R
Inouye- D

[The_Casual_Observer]

48. Miserly Medicare Bill

Cast out to the citizens of "Richest most Powerful Nation on Earth"

This is yet another shameful and cynical proposal made by the RW to satisfy the need for talking points as we move into the election season.

[dusty64]

52. Senator Kennedy is

one of the good guys, I certainly hope this is successful.