TPM: Is George Voinovich (R-OH) Getting Ready to Play Ball on Health Care?

[DrToast]

Over the last several weeks, a number of Democratic sources have suggested that Senate leaders might be able to convince the retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) to support a health care reform package--or at least to agree not to support a filibuster of it.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/is-george-voinovich-getting-ready-to-play-ball-on-health-care.php

This came out of nowhere to me, but it does make sense. Voinovich is retiring and has recently voiced his displeasure with the Republican party. Even if he doesn't vote for it, if he agrees not to filibuster that would be a huge deal.

[Barack_America]

1. Wow exciting! nt

[YOY]

2. I've met George.

He's not a total waste of space.

[Doremus]

4. Yes he is.

30, 40 years of public service with what to show for it?

Helping turn Ohio into a cesspool of check cashing joints and vacant factories.

He is a total waste of space and if he doesn't stand in the way of healthcare reform it will ONLY be because there's something in it for him.

/rant

[YOY]

6. I'm sure 1% of his life was meaningful.

It's just the other 99% you are familiar with.

Don't ask me what that 1% is. Maybe the part that stirred up shit between him and his southern kin lately.

[Divine Discontent]

12. I agree - he's not a total waste. He's done a lot of bad! But he's also stood up to B*sh Admin at

times, and sometimes voted with Dems (albeit probably because it wouldn't matter what his vote was) but despite his crappiness, he has some things that make him human! ha

[WCGreen]

13. Don't forget turning School Boards into fundraising enities...

[msallied]

3. I like hearing this about my former governor...

[CitizenLeft]

5. I've been disappointed in Voinivich for years.

He was once the mayor here (Cleveland), and a pretty decent one - in a city with a large minority population, that's saying a lot about a Republican. He wasn't detested, let's put it that way. He wasn't a bad governor, either. It's when he went to the Senate that he lost his soul.

He's not a bad man, but to keep his political bearings, he'd vote against his conscience most times (with one significant exception - and dammit, I can't remember the issue, but he voted with the Democrats and wept, saying he did it for his grandchildren - and I can't remember what the issue was :( but it was a few years ago). So it wouldn't shock me if he went out with a bang - reverting back to his moderate roots and voting for healthcare reform. I hope he does.

[DrToast]

8. Well, one of his concerns: "lack of access to the doctors of their choice for Medicaid patients"

I would wager that there aren't too many Republicans that give a shit about Medicaid patients.

[CitizenLeft]

14. yes, that's what I mean...

...his heart seems to be in the right place on most issues, but since he's been in the Senate, he often succumbs to political cowardice.

Er, like some Democrats.

[frogbison]

9. ANWAR

I think it was the opening of ANWAR to oil drilling that he opposed.

[CitizenLeft]

15. thank you - I think you're right, that was it.

[karynnj]

7. One other time where Voiovich helped in a similar way was that he voted against John Bolton

in the SFRC, when Lugar was trying to jam his confirmation through. He may have the key to keeping Bolton from ever being confirmed.

[Ikonoklast]

11. That was his one lucid moment in the Senate.

Not a 'bad' man, just a major do-nothing as soon as he got to the Senate.

Ohio has had only one Senator at a time for a great many a year now, as the Republican in office is always a real disappointment for Ohio and her citizens.

I sent him an e-mail as soon as I heard he just might step aside and let the health care bill run its course; instead of fully supporting reform, at least he won't actively be trying to stop it.

He's retiring, and the republics can't punish him, so he finds a bit of political courage.

[mascarax]

10. "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose"

Do the right thing, George.