It's a laugh a minute with these Republicans, except of course for the fact that they're supposed to be functioning as part of the governing process. First there's the schizoprenic Boehner who feels very deeply that the healthcare bills were too long. Except for Obama's. Obama's is far too short.
They are also just a little bit confused over what exactly it is they'll be bringing to the summit on Thursday. After screaming bloody murder that the White House would have to post something 72 hours before the summit, they don't have a plan to provide themselves, or at least can't agree on one.
The House says it's the bill they created, the Senate leadership saysthey're not going to bring anything.
Asked for comment, a senior Senate GOP aide emailed:
We fundamentally disagree with a comprehensive proposal to reform health care. We think a step by step approach on areas where we agree is the best path forward. We will not be posting a comprehensive alternative to commence a staring contest.
Meanwhile, on the House GOP side, Eric Cantor confirmed this morning on ABC News that their bill remains the one House Republicans posted online last summer.
So, now that the Senate leadership says it sees no need bring anything, that proposal is the GOP baseline heading into the big summit.
Meanwhile, Olympia Snowe is quite miffed at the prospect of being left out [sub req.]:
But Snowe, who long since joined a Republican filibuster of the Democratic health care agenda, said she remains equally unimpressed with this latest version of health care reform as introduced by Obama on Monday. Additionally, Snowe suggested the Democrats’ threat of pursuing reconciliation to pass health care is casting a pall over the president’s bipartisan summit on the issue, which is set for Thursday.
“I don’t see reconciliation as acceptable,” Snowe told reporters Monday, after the jobs bill vote. “I think that that’s a huge mistake, frankly — tactically, strategically and in terms of what is in the best interest of the American people. And I think that that would be a very important step, and gesture, if the president and the leadership removed it, rather than having that as sort of wielding this power, you know, by using an arbitrary tool for purposes that have not been heretofore used.” ....
Snowe said she does not expect to attend the health care summit. She has not discussed health care with the administration since January.
Sour grapes at no longer being the center of attention for the White House? At any rate, I'd suggest anyone holding their breath for a bipartisan breakthrough on Thursday, don't bother.