August 19th, 2009
02:12 PM ET
13 years ago
Reid spox: 'Patience is not unlimited'
WASHINGTON (CNN) - A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid insists to CNN that a decision to go it alone on health care has not been made, but Jim Manley also warned that Democrats are ready to use "any legislative means necessary" to pass health care.
"The White House still prefers a bipartisan bill, and neither the White House nor the Democratic leadership has made a decision to pursue reconciliation," he said Wednesday. "We will not make a decision to pursue reconciliation until we have exhausted efforts to produce a bipartisan bill. However, patience is not unlimited and we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary."
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The Republicans are not negotiating in good faith. Health care reform is long overdue.
Showing a little backbone. Finally!
The Dems are ready to work, the White House works...only the Republicans just say no cause it's easier to criticize without actually doing any real work.
I'm glad the Dems are ready to go alone if they have to...the Republicans haven't done anything except say no and whine since Day One. They don't care about the Average American...oh, wait, they PRETEND they care. I'm sick of Republican lies, deceit, obstructionism, lack of brain power or creativity, and the news media being drama queen instead of giving us some REAL information.
Excellent to see the Dems get tough on this. We had to bend over and take what the Repubs thought was best for 6 years, and now, quite frankly, its our turn to get what we think is best. If it works out well, then its a win-win. If not, the voters will have a chance to express their dissatisfaction. But for now, the voters spoke, and brought in Dems to do what they promised, and this was one of the big ones.
Yes we can, YES WE WILL!
'any legislative means necessary' will not go unpunished by the new sleeping giant and a clue for Harry-2010-hasta-la-bye-bye.
Do it. They're not interested in any cooperation whatsoever. Shut them out of everything.
For the life of me I wasn't really sure WHY the Lord had me focus on the book of Daniel today...but ..ahhhh...enlightment....I see now.
Harry needs to remember King Nebuchadnessar.....careful in putting forth your own plans....God punishes disobedient people but he also keeps his promise never to desert them...remember how God turned leaders and empires upside down at will, continually proving his superiority over all other gods. There is a solution at hand, seek his will and you will know it.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the Democrats have a filibuster proof senate? EVERY GOP senator could vote "no," but the dems still have enough votes to pass legislation, so why blame the GOP?
If the GOP tries a filibuster, the dems have the votes to stop it, so why the nead for "reconciliation" unless Reid can't corral his own senators.
He should be blaming the dems who would vote against the plan, not the GOP. The GOP is powerless in congress.
Remember when the GOP was threatening to halt filibusters to get judges confirmed, and democrats were crying that was the "nuclear" option that would destroy bipartisanship? Have the democrats forgotten that? Aren't they being hypocrites?
The lying demagogues rule, and the one trick pony, Obama, has run out of credibility! 🙁
Raising your elitist nose at the people and telling them that you know what is best for them, not them is the Democratic way. Loved the Libness that Frank showed that honest citizen yesterday, had a republican done that to a woman, that would be the only story ran on abc,cbs,nbc,cnn,msnbc,pbs,ny times ETC for at least 2 weeks straight.
ACORN is going to have a serious job in 2010 and 2012, rigging the census won’t be enough for Obama, he will have to use some fear tactics on the people that a certain Austrian perfected last century. What they did in Philly last November will look like a walk in the park compared to what is coming. Sad that Americans have to take out life insurance policies for their families before voting, I guess that is the hope and change that the average Democrat supports.
Sirs,
The Republicans have finally exhausted my patience. The Party of Zero has now gone over to the Party of Negative; it is not enough to "just say no," but evidently is now necessary for them to actively try to bring down the Presidency, taking our way of life along on their death march.
Enough of that nonsense; let's go it alone Dems. Let those of the other party participate if they wish, but let's not waste any more time diddling and not discussing.
Go ahead, Dems... use the nuclear option. Just expect a full retaliatory strike from the American public.
Does Sen. Reid remember November 1994?
If the Republicans are going to stand in the way just because they don't want the Democrats to accomplish anything worthwhile, in other words, for the sake of politics, then the Democrats should move forward.
Granted, when the Democrats are out of power, they would act the same way.
So much for Obama's promise of change and reaching across the aisle. I never believed him anyway.
Reid is on his way out. Just hold on for a little while and you can start drawing your pension and join Medicare.
It is about time the dems starting showing some back bone. The GOP is a paper tiger and thier threats and fear based attacks will melt away once thier lies are exposed and it is already beginning to happen.
Like any bully, you have to confront the GOP congressional cadre head on and they will back down, they have no power
For those dems that do not support health reform, vote em out in '10 and '12.
Finally, Harry, you realize that the party of NO will never agree to any type of health care reform. The repugs stand in front of the mics and say we need health care reform, but are against every idea put forth and have not come up with a single idea on their own. Besides, they had 8 years to come up with reform and did nothing. Now it's time for the democrats to get this through by whatever means necessary.
These people are so out of touch. It is no wonder congressional ratings are so low.
Go for it Harry. See you in the unemployment lines next year.
If we're going to get Healthcare Reform, it'll have to be done by Democrats...Republicans are a lost cause.
Now we are talking! FINALLY Some GUTS, FINALLY Some BALLS!
A Bipartisan effort is now needed between progressive and conservative Democrats.
It's obvious the Rethuglicans are just going to have to sit in the corner all alone and sulk. BooHoo BooHoo .
You mean "any legislative means necessary" to cram socialised medicine down the throats of an electorate the majority of whom clearly doesn't want it?
The GOP had made up their minds a long time ago that they would do anything and everything possible to defeat healthcare reform. They want to see Democrats fail and in turn have the American economy fail also. Shame.