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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Go ahead, Reid. Make my day.
By any means neccessary? I suppose that includes calling anyone who does not support health care reform evil, astroturf, un-American, etc.... It also includes ignoring the will of the American people; look at the polls. All I can say, Harry, is "It's been nice knowing you. Election time is coming!" I predict there will be a rout in both the Sanate and the House. We have had enough!
If we want things done and done right it'll have to be by Democrats.....the Republican Party has proven themselves "do nothings".
2010 is getting closer by the day. The Dems are stepping all over themselves now and it's just gonna get worse.
There is no use in talking to these willfully ignorant republicans, thier town hall ruckus is obviously contrived and americans are beginning to see the truth through all of the lies push by the GOP and big insurance.
When the shoe was on the other foot, the GOP ran over the dems time and again to put money in the pockets of the rich and connected. At least dems are looking out for regular folks and thier families.
Put a clock on the right-wing. And when it runs out, America will see that they never bargain in good faith and only want to keep us at the mercy of big insurance companies.
Its going to take some guts. But the Republicans sold out America long ago. The Democrats had better not do it now!
Good Lord White House forget bi-partisan. They party of no is trying to burry you. Move on for the sake of America. We need health care with public option and we need it now. Forget the people who were also against children's health care. Their people are worthless and are wasting tax payer money being in Washington. FORGET THEM White House.
We need healthcare reform NOW. By any legislative means necessary sounds good to me.
Lets get it done,Yes we can.
They should have gone it alone from day one! The minority party has zero interest in seeing this President succeed at anything, they are only concerned with getting back to power so they can continue to screw us over like they did for the past 8 years.
high risk move..........with no Repub fingerprints on this thing....if there are cost overruns, issues of fraud.....huge, inefficient beuracracy......adds to the defiiciet.....all the things you expect with a government program or t just doen't work......it could be the end of of the Democratic party..............if it works...they are heros...if it doesn't, they are history....................anyone want to take that chance??? so do you feel lucky?? well do ya punk??
There is nothing bipartisan about this bill and Blue Dogs and Republicans should NOT support it. Reid, Pelosi, Frank and company can be 100% responsible for destroying our healthcare. If it is such a great plan, why aren't they on board for it??
"spox?" "SPOX?"
You guys are getting ridiculous. If you can't spell or write then you need to find a new line of work. Stop destroying our language.
So many on these boards have correctly stated that the Democrats have the votes to pass health care. Many then go on to write some derogatory comments about Republicans being Nazis or some such foolishness.
Just a quick question, put your thinking cap on (if you have one) and ask yourself, if this is so, then why haven't they passed it yet?
Is it because they are so fond of the Republicans that they want them to have a part in this monumental much needed program?
Recent experience has shown us that it isn't necessary to read a bill before passing it, which really shortens the timeline of legislating. So, what's the holdup?
Could it be that they know this thing is an albatross and they're too chicken to pass it without some political cover? I think that's probably the closest thing to the truth you'll see in the next few days. If it were such a glorious thing, they would have had it wrapped up in July and taken some of those new Gulfstreams they wanted to the Bahamas.
One more time, why haven't they done it yet?
Forget it, bipartisan? You are talking about negotiating with Republicants, right? They would rather gouge their eyes out or kill themselves rather than let the Democrats get a bill that is desperately needed in this country pass. Also, their big business buddies in the healthcare industry stand to lose billions in profits. How coud they look those executives in the eye after taking all the contributions from them? Democrats just need to go for it and screw the whiny party of no help for the Amercian people morons.
For all of you (who voted) that this is for “change” well you got it. A democrat and W.H. administration that’s does not care about our opinions or questions about the direction they are going with this country. For those who voted based on emotions whipped up by the democrats I hope you take these lessons as a “teachable” moment.
May as well. The Neocons made it abundantly clear after the republican revolution in '94 that they, and I quote, "Didn't need democrats..." And they continue to cling to that philosophy yet today, even in the minority.
As long as so-called conservatives continue to pander to the most intellectually vulnerable where opinion is universally substituted for truth, they won't dare do anything that might get them kicked out of the republican party.
I agree with the strategy to make the republicans FINALLY stand up for something and force them to filibuster. That would be a sight to see – the cowardly party of "No" actually doing ANYTHING other than their unceasing lobbing of polemical criticism from the safety of the sidelines.
Spox? Nice new word, CNN. No Thanx. Have a nice day!
Arguing with the RebirthTea party is like arguing with your dining room table.
We won – pass the public option.
Harry Reid's spokesman: ".... However, patience is not unlimited and we are determined to get something done this year by any legislative means necessary."
An absolutely reliable formula for political suicide by the Democratic party.
They only want political cover if this thing turns out to be crap.
I'd suggest
A). Read the Bill
B) Present the Bill to the country in plain language
C)Tell us exactly how it will be funded
D)Be honest
E) Add term limits to the bill
I believe that this is the logical next step for the Democrats. The Republicans would do well to remember that other social programs in this country were passed the same way. It would seem to be a good time for the Republicans to get on board, but if they don't want to, let's go without them.
Take a vote now and anyone against it will be voted out by the majority come 2010,2012. Simple as that. The Dems stood on the sidelines with their hands tied during the Clinton years and from 2002 to 2006 during the Bush years. Time for the GOP to finally do something helpful for the Average American.
It is obvious that republicans are not interested in helping the American people by helping pass health care reform. They were elected to represent all of us, but instead, are drawing a good pay check and health benefits for standing on the sidelines. Any union member would be fired if they did this.
The GOP has an approval rate of 21% and they think doing nothing will get them a majority in the midterms. You cannot reason with right wing people that are as dumb as a stick.