All news pundits saying Kennedy's death will hurt Obama's chances at getting a health reform bill.

[jenmito]

I disagree. I think this will rally Dems. of ALL stripes to GET THIS DONE in HONOR of Ted Kennedy. I think this terribly sad day is also going to be seen as the day Dems. woke up to the need to get a bill (with a public option) passed-for Ted's sake!

[BattyDem]

1. No, they're wrong.

I really think it will help. Dems will want to get it done in his honor.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

41. f um

[WI_DEM]

2. Why do they say it will hurt it? because it's one less vote?

[FrenchieCat]

4. Probably because that is what they are paid to say.

[kath]

28. Dinfg, ding, ding, ding!! We have a WINNAH!

[jenmito]

8. They claim he was able to negotiate with the Repubs. (even though they rejected his version

of the bill). And he is technically one less vote even though he really wasn't able to get out to vote, anyway.

[alsame]

11. That's the Repub talking point. McCain said it last week and a few

more (Kit Bond and another I don't recall) repeated it today. The MSM is just carrying water for them. :grr:

ETA: Judd Gregg just said it again to Chuck Todd on MSNBC. They are all using this meme.

[jenmito]

13. That's right...

Orrin Hatch was another one who said it this weekend-that if Kennedy were in DC this debate would've been different (and more productive) even though they both voted against his bill. :eyes:

[alsame]

14. This is disgusting, they have no shame at all. They are going to

use his death any way they can to stop healthcare.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

42. They are probably going to accuse us of exploiting his death

to get HCR passed (if they haven't already) and try to dredge up Wellstone's memorial service. They are truly beyond disgusting. :puke:

[Solomon]

43. Oh you're late. They been saying this all day on the

radio.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

46. I KNEW it!!

These a**holes are SO predictable!!!!

[alsame]

45. Of course they will. And the response from our side should be that

universal HC was the cause of Ted's life, it's what he passionately wanted for this country. We have his own words to back this up. We have to frame it as honoring him and his wishes.

[Cha]

62. I hope so because if we don't let them..the days of

them telling us how we can mourn are OVER.

Fuck them if they can't handle the truth.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

64. What they did with Wellstone's memorial was outrageous

I hope we don't let them get away with something like that EVER AGAIN!!! :mad:

[Cha]

65. They'll continue to try shit but this is the

age of Obama who won in spite of corporatemediawhoredom.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

72. Agreed

I think that the corporatemediawhores have become so worked up over the fact that Obama won last November that they've overreached and/or simply got so careless because they've been going at it so long that that their "slip" is finally starting to show- with all of their stupid "news stories", "speculations", phony polls, and consistently giving Republicans loads of free airtime to spew their garbage while shutting out Democratic counterpoints.

[Cha]

73. I stopped watching in Nov 2002..I don't know

how people who are capable of critical thinking can sit there and watch without throwing a brick through their tv set..I decided to cancel my cable instead.

Thank Goodness Al Gore "invented the internet"(corporatemediawhores claiming he said that..circa 2000).

[Proud Liberal Dem]

75. I stopped watching it around that time too

If there is a REALLY big news story, I may tune in to CNN and/or MSNBC for awhile just so that I get the gist of what's going on and I try to catch Keith and Rachel when I can but mostly I find the cable news channels are a vast wasteland of RW talking points and corporate-sponsored propaganda.
I thank Al Gore every day for the internet because I don't know how I would've survived during the last eight years of Buscho without DU to turn to for news, political discussion, and even support.

[Cha]

78. That's why I got my computer in

2002..to join a group like DU that I'd read about in The Nation Mag that I got in NYC. They had an article about alternative news sources and DU was listed. I didn't know bupkis about a computer but here I am 7 years later 'cause it really stuck!

http://www.buzzflash.com is one of the best, also~:)

[Proud Liberal Dem]

79. I can't remember how or when exactly I joined DU

but it's been a lifesaver for sure. Thanks for the link! :hi:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

40. My wife mentioned this (probably picked it up from the news)

She is slightly less informed about politics than I am but I had to stifle a laugh because there are NO Republicans whom are going to vote for HCR if it includes a Public Option and probably wouldn't vote for HCR even if it didn't- Kennedy or no Kennedy. Teddy might have had some gravitas even among some Republicans and I know that he worked with Bush on NCLB but I wasn't aware that he had some kind of negotiation "edge" with them either.

[jenmito]

48. Yeah. McCain said if Kennedy had been in the Senate, he's sure things would've been very

different-that a bi-partisan bill would be in VERY good shape right now, blah blah blah, because HE knows how to compromise. :eyes: (McCain said this on the weekend.)

[Atticus]

69. Those soul-less, pointy-headed Republican sons o' bitches need to be handed their asses about this.

"Well, we WOULD have been able to negotiate a bipartisan compromise with Ted. But, since he is dead now, there are no reasonable Democrats left to deal with."

BULL! SHIT!

These are the same neo-con anal sphincters whose mouths literally dripped venom when they spat out the name "TEDDY KENNEDY" while he lived and they opposed virtually everything he advocated simply BECAUSE he advocated it. He was the Liberal Bogey Man they railed against in their fundraising letters. His name was the red meat they tossed to their "base" as they campaigned for re-election to continue the fight against "Ted Kennedy and the liberal Democrats".

Their craven hypocrisy about how they "respected" Ted Kennedy is despicable and should be glaringly transparent to all but those addled unfortunates who have leased their brains to the likes of Limbaugh, Beck and Faux News.

I doubt I'll have the opportunity to express this to any of the Congressional offenders, but anyone who repeats their "tributes" to me will get an earful.

[librechik]

3. the sun coming up causes them to say Obama has a problem

they don't need a reason to jump on the Pukkke bandwagon--it's what they do naturally.

[jenmito]

9. I know. But you'd think for just one day they could find something positive to say...

if only in honor of Ted Kennedy.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. Who the fuck cares? The said Hillary was gonna steamroll Obama and all comers. They know nothing

why to we care what these assholes who vie for any kind of TV time they can get think is gonna happen? They are wrong about 90% of what they run their traps on.

[robo50]

6. All news pundits are, put together as a group, not worth

the vote and memory of one US Senator.

They will get over it..and they all will be forgotten forever.

[flakey_foont]

7. right now

I could give a frog's fat ass what the pundits think.....
they are entitled to their opinions, as I am to mine, and I don't need any of them to tell me what to think or explain the world to me

I certainly hope that you are right about this rallying Dems to do the right thing

[jenmito]

12. It's not that I care..

I'm just telling you guys what I have been seeing/hearing today.

I really think I am. (Hey-even the stupid Conservative group that had that attack ad up in MA took it off the air in honor of Kennedy's death, if that means anything. Maybe the tone in Washington will change.)

[flakey_foont]

19. I understand

not attacking the messenger.....

again...hope that you are right! :-)

[jenmito]

20. Thanks for that...

so do I. :)

[KansDem]

10. They also said Bush was charming, would use the "charm offensive," and likes to give nicknames...

One out of three is pretty good for the news pundits.

[wryter2000]

15. If you listened to the corporate media

You'd have to conclude that reforming health care is nothing anyone in the US wants and will drive the country into permanent bankruptcy all the while depriving old people of any health care at all AND simultaneously drive insurance companies out of business through unfair competitive pratices.

I even heard La Couric report that, if health care reform passes, you'll have a hard time seeing your doctor because of all the new people who want to see doctors.

[treestar]

39. Isn't it amazing how selfish they are?

Does La Couric hear herself? It's good that some get no treatment just so the selfish don't have to wait any longer? People should die rather than one should wait any longer for medical treatment!

Comments like this reveal their true values.

[asjr]

16. I hope all the blue dogs hide in shame. Maybe

though, they will finally see the handwriting on the wall and become real Democrats.

[DebbieCDC]

17. I think just the opposite.

I think it will help if framed as a tribute to something Ted fought for all his career in the Senate.

[prolesunited]

18. That's the outcome they are hoping for

[GivePeaceAchance]

21. Absolutely, the only fitting tribute is the strongest refrom bill possible then he can truly rest..

in peace knowing that his lifes work has been initiated.

[jenmito]

22. Exactly...

I hope and think the Dems. who were chickening out will think of Ted's dream and be inspired to fulfill it.

[Doctor_J]

23. All news pundits are lying repukes

who aren't fit to shine Ted's shoes. This tragedy gives me another reminder how much I detest the entire group of them

[Phx_Dem]

24. I wholeheartedly agree with you, Jen.

Let's get this thing done for Ted.

:patriot:

[jenmito]

26. Thanks, Phx_Dem!

Yup-for Ted!

:patriot:

[undeterred]

25. Stop listening to the MSM news pundits.

They're full of shit. :hi:

[jenmito]

27. Nah...they inspire me...

to prove them wrong. :hi:

[AspenRose]

29. Take what the "news pundits" say

and then believe the exact opposite of what they speculate.

[jenmito]

33. I do. n/t

[LynneSin]

30. Democrats need to do this for Kennedy and they will

:woohoo:

[jenmito]

34. I agree!

:woohoo:

[Hansel]

31. They also said a black man couldn't be elected president. nt

[jenmito]

35. I know. They're clueless. n/t

[Zen Democrat]

32. That's wishful thinking on their parts.

I feel the energy surge to get healthcare passed as a tribute to Senator Kennedy. I just can't imagine that Conrad and some of his bluer cohorts wouldn't be swayed to vote for it.

I truly believe that a few of these Blue Dogs are going through the motions as payback for their campaign donations, but I suspect they will show up when it's all on the line. Well, there are a few that I have no confidence in AT ALL, but as long as they vote for cloture I'll be content.

Also, I wonder if some people ....(ahem, Lawrence O'Donnell) ... don't realize that the Senate can change the rules whenever they have votes to do so. The Senate rules were changed to allow for cloture at the urging of President Woodrow Wilson. Voila! Things changed. The Republicans changed the Senate procedure rules whenever they wanted ... and were on the verge of wiping out filibusters a few years ago. Remember when the Dems, and especially Sen. Byrd, were arguing passionately to keep the filibuster and warned Republicans that they couldn't count on holding the Senate forever. The Senate makes its own rules.

Now we hear about the rules governing reconciliation and what it can and can't be used for .... according to who?

I'm not against using some muscle when needed. The Republicans pushed through a quick vote on the original Patriot Act, which no one had an opportunity to read. They have the nerve to complain about the non-reading of bills now, even when they are online for the entire population to read. Puh-leeze!

[jenmito]

36. Good post.

I agree! :hi:

[goclark]

44. The Dogs can always hide behind the words, "I had to do it for

the Kennedy Family."

They are dogs.

[wisteria]

37. We will have health care reform. The pundits know nothing. n/t

[quantass]

38. Why do the MSM always, ALWAYS have a negative spin for Obama on Anything?

It truly is amazing..even the Kenedy death is spun to be bad news for Obama. I thought this would be a positive one since it would empower democrats and even bring up health care talks in a serious manner (no silly death panel talks) about providing care for all since Teddy wanted that. But i guess i thought wrong again, the media is doing what they normally do...spin things to look bad for democrats.

[jenmito]

49. Only 3 people on tv today, David Shuster, Ed Schultz, and Howard Dean (he doesn't count as

part of the MSM) had a positive spin for Obama, saying Kennedy's death may motivate Obama and the Dems. to pass a bill (WITH a public option).

[Bullet1987]

47. That's what they WANT

If anything Kennedy's death could strengthen his chances, but they don't want that so they will say pump an outcome they do want.

[jenmito]

50. Jay Rockefeller on Ed Schultz's show: "We have to rise up to do what he would've wanted." n/t

[Cleita]

51. The only problem I can see is that we are down to 59 senators again.

I wonder how that will affect getting something passed?

[jenmito]

52. Well, Kennedy hasn't been able to get around for a while now, so it actually doesn't

make much difference. But psychologically it DOES make a difference. I hope they can name a replacement.

[Cleita]

53. The replacement has to be voted on in a special election. It's a new Mass. law,

which should delay this for a few months. I'm more worried about crucial votes. He always made a point of being there for important votes.

[jenmito]

55. I was hoping the law could be changed so the governor could name a replacement.

But anyway, Kennedy has been too sick to even see Obama this past week so I doubt he'd have been able to make it for an important vote.

[emulatorloo]

54. I think the pundits are all "we-we'd up". So to speak. n/t

[SpartanDem]

56. Other than the delay in getting a replacement

this will strengthen the chances of a good bill. Let's see if Conrad keeps spewing that BS about not having the votes when we have 60 healthy senators.

[jenmito]

57. I agree. Kennedy's death will change the mind-set of those Dems. and it WILL pass. n/t

[Cha]

58. That's the mediawhores' job

right now..to discourage real health care reform in our country.

They're sticking up for their corporatewhore cohorts, the insurance corporatewhores..and anyone who doesn't see that needs to get a clue.

[jenmito]

61. It sure seems that way!

The "liberal" MSM... :eyes:

[Cha]

63. It is their job..just like it was their job to give us

bush+cheney and The War On Iraq..and here we are..still dealing with their Big Propaganda Lie Machine.

How long will this go on?

[jenmito]

67. Exactly...

Yet there's a myth that the media is in Obama's pocket. :eyes:

[ncteechur]

59. New who?

[jenmito]

60. What?

[burrowowl]

66. Hopefully!

This will also get Obama's ass in gear!

[Cha]

71. The President's "ass" is doing

just fine.

[Peacetrain]

68. It will rally, those ready and willing to rally.. It will be the final honor for Ted Kennedy

:hi:

[jenmito]

70. I agree.

:hi:

[marlakay]

74. Bernie Sanders on Keith's show didn't say that

he said the bill Ted was working on in his committee passed in that committee unlike the finance one and he said that if the Blue Dogs at least vote to stop filibuster it will get passed without them.

[trayfoot]

76. I agree - it will do good rather than harm.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

77. Poor Republicans

I guess that they'll just have to obstruct health care reform WITHOUT Ted Kennedy (R.I.P.)
:eyes:

[ieoeja]

80. Surprised nobody else here mentioned it: we now have only 59 votes for cloture.

Even if all the Rightist Democrats vote for cloture, we will need at least one Republican doing so. Without cloture there will be no Senate bill to reconcile with a House bill.

I guess nobody wants to mention this because it sounds kind of crass right after he died.

[jenmito]

81. We mentioned it. I mentioned it, but added that Kennedy has been so ill lately that he

was effectively a non-vote anyway (even though it DOES sound kind of crass).