The Alpha and Omega of the ACA

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday June 28, 2012 · 5:32 PM PDT

2012/06/28 · 17:32

So I am the 60 Senator guy. I thought and still think that getting 60 Senators was immensely important because that was the only way you can anything big done in Washington. Yes you need the House and the President but really big happens with 60 Senators. And Obama gambled big with that and today he won.

Now the Alpha event was Al Franken winning the recount and the Omega event was how John Roberts crafted an argument to allow the law to pass. Neither one seems connected at first and yet they are. Yes there was a whole lot of noise in the middle. And there will continue to be a whole lot of noise going forward. But the loop is closed, the law will stick and finally we will something done about healthcare.

Poll

11 votes Show Results

Was it a good thing that Roberts used Article One instead of the Commerce Clause?

11 votes Vote Now!

Was it a good thing that Roberts used Article One instead of the Commerce Clause?

Yes

5 votes

2 votes

Not sure, too soon

2 votes

as always, pie

2 votes

A Letter from Sendai

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 17, 2011 · 6:15 PM PDT

2011/03/17 · 18:15

I rarely pass along "reports from the field". But this one touched me. She is a friend of a friend. She lives in Sendai and has for 10 years or so. The difficulty with news reports at a time like this is that they are trying to show so many things, they never get a sense of how things really area.

So this may add some context for some of you. I felt more peaceful and less afraid after I read it. Perhaps you will too....

Poll

41 votes Show Results

Was this letter

41 votes Vote Now!

Was this letter

useful and provided perspective

13 votes

simple and elogent

24 votes

so how does this help me make a change in the world

1 vote

It is more junk

1 vote

Makes me hungry for pie

2 votes

Ignore the repeal diatribe, it is just an airtime ploy

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday March 24, 2010 · 8:38 AM PDT

2010/03/24 · 08:38

There isn't any way this gets repealed. There aren't votes for it. Basically there seems to be three arguments. It's illegal. There isn't authority. It's a power grab.

Each one of those actually is so funny, it cracks me up. Not sure everyone here will want to see that. It seems Kossacks love the fight. I say pick your fight. Wall Street reform is the next big fight, save your strength for that.

So why respond to the Republicans at all, except in courts where they file briefs? I just don't get it.

Poll

25 votes Show Results

Will Health Care get repealed?

25 votes Vote Now!

Will Health Care get repealed?

No the courts will take too long and we will move on

11 votes

Some parts will

4 votes

Pie

0 votes

Actually this is just the beginning of the fight, onto single payer!

10 votes

Well, time to compromise

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday January 20, 2010 · 10:23 AM PST

2010/01/20 · 10:23

I'll probably get a lot of bad comments for this. So be it. We had our chance to get what we wanted. That time is passed.

Now we have to find a way to compromise. That won't be easy. But there are ways to get that done.

The key is moderate votes. Ruling from one extreme means not enough votes to get anything done. The key has been the middle, it will be for sometime. Go ahead, fire away.

Poll

24 votes Show Results

Did losing the Mass Race doom the Obama agenda?

24 votes Vote Now!

Did losing the Mass Race doom the Obama agenda?

Of course it did, now nothing gets done

7 votes

Well, if want want to save the mid-terms, we must move towards the middle even if it hurts

6 votes

Every President has bumps, this is no big deal

1 vote

Pie

0 votes

Remove Harry Reid, please

3 votes

Last time I checked, Obama was still President, so we still drive the car

3 votes

Jobs Bill takes back the momentum

4 votes

Almost time to pull the trigger

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday November 23, 2009 · 9:36 AM PST

2009/11/23 · 09:36

This may be unpopular but we have to get a public option into the mix. Most everyone here agrees with that. Some want it as single payer, some want opt out. There is a possibility of opt in even.

But only a trigger will pass. It is the only way to get 60 votes. It shouldn't be that way but, well, it is fact. We can say all day long that a trigger shouldn't be required. I think it is so sad that it is required.

That doesn't change the math. The key is to build a trigger that will get used rather than ignored. Does anyone expect health care costs to go down? Will they go down even with a public option before 2012? So install a trigger that will automatically get pulled.

Poll

62 votes Show Results

The best way to get Health care passed in the Senate is...

62 votes Vote Now!

The best way to get Health care passed in the Senate is...

Opt-out, this cab be pressed through

13 votes

Opt-in, we are a federal system, give the states a vote

4 votes

single payer, it's going there anyway, start on the right foot

19 votes

Build a trigger that can actually be used, slow and steady wins this race

13 votes

Oh it will never pass, the moment to do so is behind us now

10 votes

wait until 2010 or 2011 when the economy is better

3 votes

Leave slick in the light long enough

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 17, 2008 · 9:08 AM PDT

2008/09/17 · 09:08

It turns into slime. My grandfather taught me that and Sarah and John have shown it to be true yet again.

So what is the slimiest part of what they are doing?

Is it troopergate? Is it "Fundamentals are strong"?

Is it the maverick label?

Poll

23 votes Show Results

What will turn the tide against McCain?

23 votes Vote Now!

What will turn the tide against McCain?

Helping Palin hide Troopergate.

4 votes

Not knowing what a fundemental is.

4 votes

Being exposed on the maverick label.

2 votes

We just don't know yet, I have to see the debates.

13 votes

It is about a Third Term

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday August 28, 2008 · 1:49 PM PDT

2008/08/28 · 13:49

I do consulting for individuals and was asked to define the election this year into one sentence and make it 8 words or less.

That took quite a bit of thinking on my part. What phrase captures how I want to frame the election. Is it about change or policy or new blood?

Then it hit me. Do you want a third term? Simple as that.

Poll

12 votes Show Results

Do you want a third term?

12 votes Vote Now!

Do you want a third term?

no, Obama is the man !

8 votes

I loved Hillary but I will vote for Obama

2 votes

I loved Hillary but just have to vote McCain

0 votes

I just don't know

0 votes

Go, Johnnie go, let's have a third term...

2 votes

The bluing of the West

sageman

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday August 12, 2008 · 3:26 PM PDT

2008/08/12 · 15:26

One of the trends this year that hasn't got much press yet is the slow but steady bluing of the West.

In Reagan times, the West was very Red with only CA and HI staying blue.

That changed in '06 with some states adding Blue Congressfolks. But would that trend continue in '08?

Poll

58 votes Show Results

Is the West really bluing

58 votes Vote Now!

Is the West really bluing

No, it is still just an illusion

2 votes

It really is headed that way

40 votes

The polling just isn't clear

1 vote

The heck with the West, it is all about the industrial states

0 votes

It has been blue for some time, just needed the right candidate

15 votes

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