Unless you all were under a rock or on some other planet outside of the Milky Way galaxy this past weekend, you know that health care reform legislation passed in the US House of Representatives. Examination of the roll call vote for the final bill & various amendments (including the Stupak Amendment which was all the rage - literally & figuratively - here at Daily Kos) yields an interesting picture. So, with the full knowledge that this issue will receive coverage in at least 1 segment tonight, follow me below for my less - than - 2 cents' worth observations from 1 American with a spouse with major health issues who will be impacted greatly by action (or inaction) on this vital issue - along with, of course, standard Countdown diary fare.
The roll call vote for the Stupak Amendment concerning abortion coverage for participants in health insurance exchanges is here. Look at all the Dems in the "yes" column and the absolutely no GOPers in the "no" column. As a woman, nope, I'm not thrilled this amendment passed & got into the final legislation. But, I'll offer a caveat which might earn me some flames in these parts in a bit.
Small Price to Pay Boehner's "alternative" went down in the flames it so desperately deserved. Happily, not a single damn Dem is in the "yes" column, and 1 lone GOPer, Rep. Tim Johnson(IL - 15) is in the "no" column. That district is where I was raised & where my parents still live right along the IL/IN border in east central IL.
Now, let's get to the vote on the bill; here's the final vote result. I hereby nominate Rep. Joseph Cao (LA - 2) for a health care reform legislation courage badge for daring to cross the aisle to vote "yes!" Boy, is he gonna get it (if he hasn't already) from his "colleagues" in the Party of No. But, if his district wanted him to vote that way, he can at least say that & tell said "colleagues" to stick their *itching up a dark stinky place. I got the impression here at Daily Kos over the weekend that inclusion of the Stupak Amendment should've put the kibosh on the entire bill; I could not disagree more strongly. I am a woman who believes in all women's right to choose in abortion or any other health issue related to their bodies; it is unconsionable to me that women who are already vulnurable and afraid are badgered, intimidated, threatened, etc. outside of clinics that provide A LEGAL MEDICAL PROCEDURE in this country. So, as I said above, am I happy the Stupak Amendment made the final bill? Nope! But, there is more good in this House bill than there is bad - much more good in my humble opinion. "Purity" is all well & good to a point, but look what the quest for "purity" is doing to the GOP. While I can respect and on some level admire Rep. Dennis Kucinich for sticking to his principles, I am deeply disappointed in his "no" vote. Is this bill perfect? Nope. Could this bill have been better? Yep. But, this bill is a great start & a damn sight better than what's oozed out of the Senate. We cannot sacrifice the greater good that will be accomplished by this bill to millions of Americans because of a single issue - ANY single issue...not just abortion. Rep. Anthony Weiner, a staunch & very public advocate of a single - payer system who would've had every right in my mind to vote "no" on this legislation because of the way Speaker Pelosi treated him in this process, saw the greater good in this legislation & voted yes. And, did y'all see who else is in the "yes" column even though he probably felt he was voting for an imperfect bill? One Rep. Alan Grayson...his creds on the issue of health care reform cannot be disputed. I welcome & encourage civil debate and discussion on this issue or any other issue in this diary, but we can be civil about it. So, if you think I'm wrong, tell me why. Any incivility or personal name calling to any diary participant will be met with a stale hard stinky "pastry treat." The battle for meaningful health care reform is just beginning, and what might happen in the Senate may age me about 20 years, so we must keep the big picture in mind & allow no further delay on this vital issue. People are losing their health coverage, people are losing their homes because of health care bills, and people are dying; NO MORE DELAYS!
Let's Countdown.
#5 "One Down, One to Go" AKA "Halftime Show" AKA "Now What?" - As I alluded above, I am the most concerned about the "one to go." I am increasingly more petrified health care reform will die in the Senate. Can any of y’all reassure me that’s not gonna happen? Hello? Anyone?! And, Rep. Cao gets a darn quick mention from Keith right at the outset. OK, it was real classy of Rep. John Shadegg using a baby as a political prop to aid his talking point. So, does this give me license to bring my husband to the floors of Congress & explain why health care reform with some teeth in it is necessary? My husband can actually speak for himself, too! Although, he might stick that microphone that Maddie was playing with where the sun don’t shine on some Congress critters. President Obama & other White House officials were really burning up the phone lines in DC the other day – including to Rep. Cao. Senator Harry Reid is still touting the "he’s not sure health care debate will reach the Senate floor by the end of the year" memo. That’s leadership? Can we get Maddie to be Senate Majority Leader?! Joementum reared his ugly rear on FAUX News this past weekend. Well, he probably feels more at home there these days than just about nearly anywhere else. Senator Whitehouse better begin kicking some Senate booty! Senator Whitehouse said the House bill was ALWAYS "...going to be dead on arrival" in the Senate? Huh? Does anyone here know who will be sitting in that conference committee –well, beside Rahm E. (*&^%$#@!)? Triggers & opt outs are still being bandied about in the Senate behind closed doors. Howard Fineman thinks the GOP is still going to push the whole "increasing the deficit" shtick – CBO scoring and their own creds ( or lack thereof) on supporting programs and wars without being able to pay for them be damned. I absolutely agree with Howard Fineman about the necessity of a bill coming out of the Senate by Christmas. If it doesn’t, health care reform is dead in the water.
#4 "Restricting Choice" - Signatures from over 40 Dems Reps are already indicating that if the Stupak Amendment is in the final health care reform bill that comes out of the conference committee, they will vote against that bill. Here’s some of the letter from Rep. Diana DeGette:
There’s going to be a firestorm here. Women are going to realize that a Democratic – controlled House has passed legislation that would prohibit women paying for abortions with their own funds...We’re not going to let this into law.
OK, maybe I do not understand the Stupak shtick, so someone explain to me like I’m 4 why this amendment will have any effect on women paying for abortions with their own money. The House bill sans Stupak Amendment already prohibited federal funds for abortions largely because of the long – existing Hyde Amendment. I’ve backed up my DVR about half a dozen times during Keith’s explanation, and I’m still a little fuzzy. So, if private plans are part of a federal exchange, then why would anyone expect coverage largely, once again, due to the aforementioned Hyde Amendment banning any federal funds whatsoever from any abortion coverage whatsoever? I guess I’m just seeing Stupak’s Amendment as a redundancy that wasn’t necessary. So, once again since I must not be getting the picture, help me understand this, please?! Senators Casey & Nelson are already cooking up a Stupak – esque Amendment for the Senate version of health care reform. Well, Ben Nelson has about as much credibility with me as Bat$hit Bachmann’s pie hole, so anything involving him gets the "EEEeeeWWWWwww" reaction from me. President Obama told ABC news tonight that this bill is for health care reform – not restricting abortion access. OK, that should make us all feel better, but, if he doesn’t begin using his bully pulpit in a more effective manner than he did, oh say, during the summer, this ilk might just creep into a Senate bill & survive anyway! Chris Hayes ain’t thrilled with the Stupak Amendment making the final House HCR bill; I’m not either as I said above. So, are we supposed to stop supporting representatives like, oh, Anthony Weiner and Alan Grayson who voted for this bill with this amendment in it? I’m just looking for a little consistency here, folks. I know Emerson said consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, but I still like to at least look for it. I am all for anger at Congressional Dem "leadership" (aka Speaker Pelosi) for allowing debate on & addition of the Stupak Amendment and NOT allowing debate on & possible consideration of a single – payer amendment that representatives like Anthony Weiner & Dennis Kucinich wanted. Wow, according to Keith, Rep. Stupak didn’t even think his amendment would MAKE the final bill? Then, the fact that it did get in there speaks more to ilky "leadership" than anything else! At least according to Chris Hayes, plenty of politicos he talked to are pretty confident that Stupak’s shtick won’t survive the conference committee. Well, that depends on what Stupak – esque amendment gets into a final Senate bill and, once again, how publicly President Obama is willing to come out & express his displeasure at any attempts to further restrict abortion availability in health care reform legislation. Senator McCaskill might not have a problem with Stupak – esque language in a Senate health care bill, either. I can answer Keith’s question about Rep. Cao "getting it" when so many other Dems appear to be not "getting it." His district is largely very poor & African – American & Democratic; he voted the will of his constituents. And, Chris Hayes agrees with me, thank you very much! ;D
** O...M...G... George Carlin’s final book is coming out tomorrow? GEORGE CARLIN’S FINAL BOOK IS COMING OUT TOMORROW????!!! {insert bittersweet happy dance here} Um Santa, I’ve been reasonably good this year, yes? Some soccer chick was not working or playing well with others over the weekend! HEY!! Me thinks some Countdown staffer read my diary Friday night; here’s my breathalyzer dude in Ohio! HA! St. Sarah from Wasilla expressed her deep disappointment in "In God We Trust" not being more prevalent on dollar coins; it’s there, honey, and GWB authorized the damn addition & placement of it! Does she actually truly have $hit for brains?! Gov. Mike Huckabee ain’t exactly in the St. Sarah from Wasilla fan club, either. Rep. Eric Cantor took issue with Boss Limbaugh comparing Obama to Hitler. That awful sign from Dachau from Bat$hit Bachmann’s "presser" the other day, though, was A – OK with him! **
#3 "Grand Obsolete Party" AKA "GOP = Bit Tent + Clowns" AKA "Party of Jive" - Here’s GOP logic for y’all; Americans are so peeved at President Obama after the passage of health care reform legislation in the House that, even though a lot of Americans like President Obama, that Dems will be punished in 2010 like they were last week. O...K... Oh crap, now why am I not surprised this ilk was spewing out of Rep. Mike Pence’s pie hole? He...wants...to...be...the...GOP...POTUS...nominee...in...2010! And, if he is, it’ll be shootin’ fish in a barrel, kids! I know I’ve said this so many times, but I’m saying it again; thank {insert deity of your choice here} that he’s not my Rep! Wow, there is an actual Tea Party party in Florida. Well, isn’t THAT special? Gov. Haley Barbour thinks President Obama is so popular because people are "rooting for the black guy." Did Boss Limbaugh tell him to say that? I had a feeling I’d be seeing "my guy" during this segment; damn, I do have my moments! ;D Jive? Did someone say jive?! OK, I am bound by the comedy deities to insert this clip here!
Is it just me, or does Richard Wolffe sound like he’s got a froggy in his throat? I hope he’s not ailing! Richard made a great point; even the tea baggers ain’t calling themselves "Republicans!" So, today’s GOP wants to use the "script" of a President who not only would’ve been impeached but would’ve been convicted & removed from office had he not resigned? OK! Knock yourselves out! Richard absolutely thinks there will be a 3rd party right wing wing nut off shoot of the GOP akin to the "No Nothings" back in the day. I hope they enjoy minority status.
WPITW – Boss Limbaugh is finding a way to equate the "teasing" Major Hasan might have been subjected to with the atmosphere in sports locker rooms or soldiers just needling each other. And, he’s finding a way to blame President Obama for this, too. Ya’ know, one Boss Limbaugh and a whole host of other haters could be "blamed" for the horrible shootings at Ft. Hood, too, don’t cha’ think? The CEO of Goldman Sachs is ready to give out bonuses because he’s "...doing God’s work." Pirate Murdoch called President Obama racist, too, or at least agreed with Lonesome Rhodes when he called President Obama racist.
#1 "Steele Cage Match" AKA "Republican Loner" Rep. Cao is "hearing about" his vote for the House health care reform bill the other night. Gee, I’m shocked – NOT! And, heaven bless Rep. Cao for attempting to be logical to FAUX News employees, but, dear, that’s a losing battle. Don’t beat your head against a brick wall; all you’ll get is a headache. SNL gave FAUX News the SNL treatment concerning their election "coverage" last week – HA! Mad Magazine gave some "creds" to Lonesome Rhodes; I thought Mad was out of business! Rep. Cao voted against the stimulus funds; well, every other GOPer voted against the stim coin, too.
*** The Rec List?! Are y'all $hitting me??!! Holy carp!! Thanks - really. ***