Thanks, Massachusetts!

[AdminAssistant]

Bye-bye, filibuster majority! Bye-bye, health care reform! So long, any hope of getting anything done this year! Of all the states in the union, I can't believe Massachusetts elected a Republican.

What a wonderful way to kick off the mid-term elections. As one of the strategists on CNN pointed out, controversial senators like Harry Reid and those from more conservative states like Blanche Lincoln will very likely not be re-elected. I knew the Democratic majority in Congress wouldn't last long with a Democrat in the White House, but quite frankly I'm scared. I'm afraid that any health care reform that passes will be marginal at best, that there will be more tax cuts for the rich, that education funding will be slashed, etc. The Democrats aren't perfect, and neither is the Obama administration, but I stand by the party and I fear the Republicans.

[HYHYBT]

I might have said the same, except they've mostly been wasting the filibuster-proof majority with infighting anyway, and while I'd very much like to see changes to healthcare, they started out badly on it and, from what I've seen, have only been making the bill(s) worse as time goes on. Basically they've wasted most of a year on something that, if it's ever to be passed in a useful form, is best killed for now. Which is a shame, because it'll probably be ten years or more before it's taken up again, but there you go.

But they've been putting off everything else with the claim that they have to get the healthcare bill done, while not actually doing that either. What's the difference, really, between "can't" and "won't"?

[smileyeagle1021]

Sadly I saw it coming. Democrats fucked up last year and now they are paying.
Let's be honest, the dems had a year to get healthcare done and they missed the opurtunity by dragging their feet and not getting a united front until it was too late.
Obama won the gay vote for two reasons, and two reasons ONLY. He promised to work to repeal DOMA and DADT. Not only has he NOT done that, he has had his attorney general file a brief DEFENDING DADT. Boy, did he Dems pull the wool over us fags eyes.
The stimulus package was a bismal failure. Despite spending over a trillian dollars unemployment is still rising. I know first hand how bad it is, my boyfriend (who our President has point blank said he doesn't support our right to have our relationship recognized) has been actively looking for a job for 3 months... he's in food prep by profession and is willing to do anything... not exactly one of the "hurt" industries.

They've failed on healthcare, they're failing on the wars, they've failed on equal rights, they've failed on the economy... now people are calling them on it.

[Vagabond]

I don't follow news much, but from what I heard, the Republican in Mass was out there stumping and shaking hands and what-not, while the Democrat was asked why he/she wasn't out there their reply was "What? out there in the cold?" with an incredulous look.
Hmmmm... if you are willing to meet the people you are supposed to be representing, what kind of representative would you actually be?

[protege]

They've failed on healthcare, they're failing on the wars, they've failed on equal rights, they've failed on the economy... now people are calling them on it.

I agree with you, Smiley. But, I also have to ask...where is the "change" that was promised when Obama was campaigning? Seems the exact thing he's now being criticized for...were the *exact* same things that Bush was raked over the coals for. I can't say I have any sympathy for them. They had an entire year to work on the health care issue. Instead, they chose to prop up failing companies, and to nationalize our banking industry.

[guywithashovel]

Honestly, I think people are overdramatizing this. It's just one seat. It's not like they pulled of another 1994. I'm sure they'll manage to get a healthcare bill through in spite of this.

The problem with the Democrats is that they just need to get a little spine and quit trying to compromise. This goes for Obama, too. At first, we were talking about national health insurance. But Obama backed down off of that all because the right wingers drew that stupid joker picture of him and called him a communist. Ever since, he's been inching further and further to the right. Heck, right now, I think it might even be accurate to categorize the man "center right."

edit: Also, Mass electing a Republican is hardly a call for alarm. Remember, Mitt Romney was their governor for a while. Sometimes you have to take that red state/blue state thing with a grain of salt. For instance, Arkansas is Bill Clinton's stomping grounds, and Jimmy Carter hails from Georgia. Also, Houston recently electing an openly lesbian mayor.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...on-mayor_N.htm

[AdminAssistant]

For instance, Arkansas is Bill Clinton's stomping grounds

Currently, 3 of Arkansas's 4 Representatives are Democrats, both Senators are Democrats, the Governor is a Democrat, and the State Legislature holds a Democratic majority. (The one Republican Representative comes from NW Arkansas aka "Walmartlandia"). However, Southern Democrats, in general, are more conservative than the rest of the party. They're the opposite of libertarians - socially conservative and fiscally liberal. Which you could translate as, "Pro-gun and anti-choice, but we like farm subsidies and welfare." Unfortunately, Sen. Blanche Lincoln is looking at an uphill battle for her re-election campaign, and Rep. Vic Snyder just decided not to run at all.

I agree that there was too much compromise. Obama, Reid, etc. tried to compromise with a group of people who were really just pounding their fists on the table and throwing tantrums. The ridiculous fearmongering that's been going on is astounding. Obama has been in office precisely one year. Politics move slowly. Things take time.

I am upset that the health care bill will go down because of a 'No' vote from Teddy Kennedy's seat. Kennedy was a champion of health care reform, and it saddens me that his replacement will kill this bill. I have no doubts.

And, yes, Obama should live up to his promise to repeal DADT and DOMA. But you have to understand how hard it must be to pass a measure that the majority of Americans oppose. Hell, all of these problems would be solved if a newly worded ERA was added to the constitution, one that would include language on gender identity and sexual orientation. Then, GLBT folks would be Constitutionally guaranteed equal rights. But...that's not likely to happen in our lifetimes, sadly, because people get their panties in a wad over women signing up for the draft. Even though the draft hasn't been used in decades, and will likely not be used again, ever.

[Hyena Dandy]

Honestly, I think people are overdramatizing this. It's just one seat. It's not like they pulled of another 1994. I'm sure they'll manage to get a healthcare bill through in spite of this.

The problem with the Democrats is that they just need to get a little spine and quit trying to compromise. This goes for Obama, too. At first, we were talking about national health insurance. But Obama backed down off of that all because the right wingers drew that stupid joker picture of him and called him a communist. Ever since, he's been inching further and further to the right. Heck, right now, I think it might even be accurate to categorize the man "center right."

edit: Also, Mass electing a Republican is hardly a call for alarm. Remember, Mitt Romney was their governor for a while. Sometimes you have to take that red state/blue state thing with a grain of salt. For instance, Arkansas is Bill Clinton's stomping grounds, and Jimmy Carter hails from Georgia. Also, Houston recently electing an openly lesbian mayor.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...on-mayor_N.htm

I disagree. People don't need to STOP compromising, they need to START compromising. I voted for Obama under the assumption that what he would do was compromise to actually get things done. Were you even listening to his campaign speeches? He was CONSISTENTLY talking about "We need to work together, we need to stop fighting between parties, we need to come together as a country."

Not compromising is what got a Republican elected in Massachusetts. Because if you DON'T compromise you're betraying the ideals this country was founded on. This country isn't us-versus-them. This is a country that was founded on the dream of a government by the people for the people. And that doesn't ONLY apply to the people we agree with.

Throughout George Bush's terms in office, he talked about how he never compromised. What you're asking is for Obama to be a Democrat version of George Bush. I didn't elect the Democratic George Bush, unwilling to compromise. I elected Barack Obama, a man who's willing to see and discuss both sides of an issue, and try to reach a compromise between both sides that makes EVERYBODY happy. That is who Barack Obama is. That is the man who America voted for. That is what we NEED. Someone who listens to people, and cares about what people want.






And Coakley's comment that she's not going to go out to talk to people because what, do we expect her to go out in the cold? Should tell you just how much she likes listening to people.

[Wingates_Hellsing]

Great post Hyena. Key word in 'willing to compromise' is willing. Every once and a while there's an absolute right and an absolute wrong. When you see it, you need to fight for the right, lest you end up stuck with the wrong.

We need someone who's willing to both compromise and stick up for themselves.

[Millahtyme1983]

I am upset that the health care bill will go down because of a 'No' vote from Teddy Kennedy's seat.

I agree with one of the lines Brown used in a debate that became very popular (I'm paraphrasing a little bit) "it's not Ted Kennedy's seat, it's the peoples seat" Personally while I'm for health care and want to see something passed, I feel Coakely was not the right person to represent me and I wasn't about to vote for her simply because of what letter she had next to her name, or on how she felt on a single issue (even though it was an important one).

[ladyneeva]

I actually hope this DOES kill the current incarnation of the health care "reform" bill... because it is a terrible idea that doesn't even address the problem and actually makes it worse.

If the problem is that people cannot afford health insurance, forcing them to buy it anyway is not the solution. Anyone who thinks that the insurance companies will lower their rates because they have more clients is living in a fantasy world. Companies never choose to make less than they could be making, if anything they'll raise their rates once they have a captive market.

All of the "help" that poor people will be given to afford these pyramid schemes comes in the form of tax breaks. What do you think the chances are you'll be able to convince your landlord to hold off on evicting you for non-payment of rent in August because you had to pay for health insurance you can't afford to use anyway on the promise that you'll pay him in May when you get your tax refund? Not very likely.

[KitterCat]

Don’t worry Lady, your not the only one that hopes this thing dies. I’m all for healthcare reform, but not this travesty they’ve come up with. Considering how well the government runs the DMV, USPS, Medicaid/Medicare, SS programs (do you need me to name more?) one would think people would want them to stay the hell out of the healthcare business.

And if this bill is so important that we have to push it through as quickly as possible why doesn’t it become effective for another 4 years? If there are problems with it that the general public dose not want they need to be ironed out now, not later when its harder to change. And for gods sake lets make our representatives actually read this thing. I do not want to hear from some lazy Senator or Congressmen that they could not find the time to read the 2,000 page document but us citizens have better know how to implement every bit of fine print.

[Talon]

Compromise with THIS Republican party?

I suspect the only compromise they would accept is Obama & Biden willingly abdicating the presidency and throwing their support behind a Palin/Limbaugh ticket.

[smileyeagle1021]

Don’t worry Lady, your not the only one that hopes this thing dies. I’m all for healthcare reform, but not this travesty they’ve come up with. Considering how well the government runs the DMV, USPS, Medicaid/Medicare, SS programs (do you need me to name more?) one would think people would want them to stay the hell out of the healthcare business.
.

In fairness, DMVs are improving, the post office is a miracle in and of itself (you bitch about the lines, but who else is able to effectively get your parcel to anywhere within the country in 3 days or less without charging you $20 for a document). Medicare, my grandma was on Medicare, not once did she have a problem with it. Hell, she ended up in a nicer convelescent center than most of the people she knew on private insurance. Social security has problems, but I'd like to see someone improve on a system that quite literally serves every citizen in the country.
So yes, I would like the government in the healthcare business... they won't be perfect, but they will be a major improvement over the current system where profit is more important than the patient.

[KitterCat]

Compromise with THIS Republican party?

I suspect the only compromise they would accept is Obama & Biden willingly abdicating the presidency and throwing their support behind a Palin/Limbaugh ticket.

What do you mean by “this Republican” party because Obama’s had a majority Democratic for the past year? He’s been able to ignore the other side of on several issues because he’s got a majority vote. So in the past year we’ve had Car manufacture takeovers, a stimulus package that was promised to keep us below 8.4 unemployment, a Bank stimulus, started by the fall of Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae two government funded banks to begin with. A massive growth in government employment - seems to be the only sector that’s having any growth. One has to ask, do the Democrats even remember the term laissez-faire?

Considering how well this party’s been acting even as a Libertarian, since I don’t have a person who has a snowballs chance in hell of winning an election, I’m stuck choosing the lesser of two evils. So far that’s the Republicans. Considering that Scott Brown pretty much ran on the line of Not voting for the Healthcare bill you would think that Democrats would take note and start asking themselves what the people that vote them into office actually want.