Politico: WH Urges Reid To Give In to Lieberman

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:15:26 PM EST
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"Anonymous sources!":

The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), which would mean eliminating the proposed Medicare expansion in the health reform bill, according to an official close to the negotiations. But Reid is described as so frustrated with Lieberman that he is not ready to sacrifice a key element of the health care bill, and first wants to see the Congressional Budget Office cost analysis of the Medicare buy-in. The analysis is expected early this week.

I think what Reid is REALLY saying is 'you cut the deal with him. Out in the open. So everyone knows who to blame. I have a tough election next year. You don't. I saw what you did to Dodd. You ain't doing it to me.' At least, if I was Reid, that is what I would be saying.

Speaking for me only

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Politico: WH Urges Reid To Give In to Lieberman | 39 comments (39 topical)

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yep (5.00 / 3) (#1)
by kempis on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:20:23 PM EST

At this point, I can't imagine any Democrat fearing to cross this White House. If I were Reid, I'd save my own hide first, too.

I'm leaving now for the day (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by Militarytracy on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:22:42 PM EST

Too much nuts out there in the news today at the moment. With Joshua just back from surgery I'm too emotional about the issue at this time.

: ((((MT))) (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by cawaltz on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:25:56 PM EST

Take care of yourself hun and give Josh a hug. You're both in my prayers.

: I can't imagine how disheartening it feels (5.00 / 3) (#8)
by esmense on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:43:28 PM EST

to watch this sorry "debate" while dealing with critical family health issues. Our prayers are with you and your son.

: MT, hang in there (none / 0) (#45)
by hollyfromca on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 04:37:11 PM EST

But please come back early tomorrow. I miss your perspective on things.

Like Clockwork (5.00 / 2) (#23)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:45:59 PM EST

WH Denies report

: I'm jealous. Greg Marshall gets (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by oculus on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:51:30 PM EST

e mails from WH and all we get is conf. calls w/Sen. Specter.

Jesus, at this rate, if the health care (5.00 / 7) (#32)
by Anne on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:20:11 PM EST

bill was a First-Aid Kit for All, Joe would be opposed to it, Harry Reid would be afraid to put it to reconciliation, and "administration officials" would be leaking that the WH was both for it and against it to make sure the president had all the options covered.

The bloggers would be either b!tch-slapping their readers over whether they were "always" for First Aid Kits for All, even though for months they had been willing to settle for a really big box of band-aids, or maybe a medium-sized box with some Neosporin, or a small box, with a little piece of paper on which was written the Serenity Prayer - or telling us that it didn't matter that items related to women's reproductive health weren't included because they aren't in the category of "first-aid,", and reminding us that ED is considered a medical condition and that's why there would be coupons for V--gra or C--lis in the kits.

Honest to God, if this has not been the most ridiculously mismanaged, tone-deaf and ego-driven clusterf**k in recent memory, I will eat a bug.

What should really make people want to run screaming for the hills is that I think how this has been managed is the template for everything that follows; reward Lieberman and he will be back for more. Indulge the GOP, and they will just keep on doing what they do. Take your leadership cues from the WH and you will be unable to find your a$$ with both hands and a search party.

Obama wants to give himself a B+, bumping up to A- if a bill gets passed; I'm at the point where I consider the last 11 months, and all I can think is: "And you want to be my latex salesman???"

[Seinfeld reference for those not familiar]

: First Aid Kit For All (none / 0) (#35)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:35:29 PM EST

very good.

Whatever Politico's bias, I don't doubt (none / 0) (#5)
by magster on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:38:10 PM EST

they have a "go to" administration source privy to what's being discussed in the WH.

What else (none / 0) (#6)
by kmblue on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:38:46 PM EST

What else can Rahm give away? What is left, for God's sake?

People's first born children. (none / 0) (#27)
by inclusiveheart on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:50:49 PM EST

Oh wait, they might have already done that and more with those mandates!


What's left? How about insurer's cannot (none / 0) (#29)
by oculus on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:52:27 PM EST

reject due to pre-existing condition?


: Well, since there are NO regulations (none / 0) (#31)
by shoephone on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:09:14 PM EST

on how much $ insurers can charge for rates, I consider the insistence on covering pre-existing conditions to be a big, fat, stinking joke.
So, I'm still trying to figure out where the reforms are in the current reform bills.

: pre-existing conditions (none / 0) (#33)
by noholib on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:20:18 PM EST

I think this may be the only worthwhile thing in the bill. Wonder if it will remain!

It's that time again. (none / 0) (#7)
by TheRealFrank on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 01:43:23 PM EST

Conflicting reports will be flying all day. I'm sure there will be a denial by another "White House source" later.

The only thing I know is what Lieberman said, because he said it right there on TV, it's a verifiable statement.

Other than that, I'll see what happens. I'm hoping that Reid will finally have reached his limit and his old fighting self will come out (I remember the story that he once grabbed a guy by the neck who tried to bribe him..).

One thing I do know: going after Lieberman's wife, which seems to be the part of the current hysteria, is completely ridiculous and petty.

tough campaign? (none / 0) (#9)
by diogenes on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:08:22 PM EST

I think that Joe Lieberman would beat Harry Reid in Nevada today, so maybe Reid should cut the deal to get Lieberman's endorsement. If there is such a groundswell behind this putative Medicare expansion (unknown cost to government, full premium to buyer, unclear advantage compared to subsidized insurance except for symbolic reasons) then presumably Republicans facing reelection will be swept over by it and will vote for it.

Heh (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:12:43 PM EST

I doubt Lieberman can win an election in his own house today.


I think (none / 0) (#11)
by jbindc on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:16:01 PM EST

Dodd is the Connecticut Senator who's in more trouble than Lieberman.


Dodd is the Senator with the (none / 0) (#12)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:19:48 PM EST

election next year.

Hardly relevant to my point.

But go on - cheer Lieberman on JB.

In 2012, Lieberman loses if he runs.


Not cheering him on (none / 0) (#15)
by jbindc on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:23:38 PM EST

Don't like him - I think he's out for Joe Lieberman only. But since he's not up for re-election next year, he has a chance to make the voters fall in love with him again (from whatever party). Reid doesn't have that luxury - he's tanking as we speak with less than a year to go (as is Dodd).

Not sure how you got that I "love" Lieberman out of my post....


No he has no chance (none / 0) (#18)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:29:15 PM EST

in 2012.

Blumenthal is going to wipe the floor with him.

The reality is Dodd has the better chance to win.

Why did I think you liked Lieberman? Because of your strange comment bringing in Dodd.

Maybe you can explain why you did that? I t clearly was not relevant to my comment.


I guess (none / 0) (#19)
by jbindc on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:31:46 PM EST

It wasn't really relevant. But your point was that Lieberman couldn't even win in "his own house". I think he has a better chance in 2 or 4 years (when he's up again) than Dodd or Reid do next year.


My gawd (none / 0) (#20)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:40:29 PM EST

My think joke is the red you stand on. you prtoest too much.

I rpeat you and will be willing wager if such things were possible - Joe Lieberman as no chance of winning in 2012. Blumenthal will destroy him.


2 years is a long time (none / 0) (#22)
by jbindc on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:44:48 PM EST

And voters have short attention spans. All it will take is one thing to swing it around.

Dodd has no chance. Reid is on thin ice.


: Whatever (none / 0) (#24)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:46:17 PM EST

Joseph I Lieberman (I-Joseph I Lieberman) always (none / 0) (#30)
by Ellie on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:07:37 PM EST

... there, fighting for the little guy,

Joseph I. Lieberman.

His record on that count is impeccable.


A long way off, but 2012 looks like a 3-way race (none / 0) (#46)
by RonK Seattle on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 06:46:01 PM EST

And anything can happen in a three-way race.

IMO the set-up favors a Republican win (ASSUMING Lieberman runs, and ASSUMING Blumenthal runs), but anything can happen.


Isn't Mrs. Lieberman (none / 0) (#34)
by Steve M on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:30:58 PM EST

a lobbyist of some sort?


: Was a lobbyist on behalf of health (none / 0) (#36)
by oculus on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:42:27 PM EST

care providers/insurers. Now: Board member of various disease-specific non profits. per Wiki
Although Wiki doesn't include this info, she is apparently on Board of Susan Koman Foundation and Jane Hamsher (sp) wants her off.

if i were reid: (none / 0) (#13)
by cpinva on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:20:47 PM EST

"sen. lieberman, this is your new office. you'll get used to that flushing sound after a while."

mcjoan (none / 0) (#14)
by Turkana on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:22:14 PM EST

independently confirms.

what does Lieberman have on Obama? (none / 0) (#16)
by noholib on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:24:22 PM EST

why does Obama protect/enable Lieberman? is BO beholden to JL for something?

: They seem pretty in sync on the issues to me (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by ruffian on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:41:21 PM EST

: Other way, I thought (none / 0) (#26)
by Inspector Gadget on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:49:43 PM EST

is BO beholden to JL for something?
Isn't it that JL is beholden to BO for supporting him in his last election for the Senate? This is probably a sign that JL is doing exactly what is expected of him by the D POTUS.

Lieberman's position helps his (none / 0) (#17)
by MO Blue on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:27:09 PM EST

constituents.

Wells Fargo Securities analyst Matthew Perry said Lieberman's comments are good news for managed-care stocks as anything that delays health-care reform is a positive for the group.
"Every time the reform seems less likely that it will happen, the entire group trades higher," said Perry, who has advised his clients to buy shares of Wellcare Health Plans Inc. (WCG), recently up 1.3% to $36.74, and Humana Inc. (HUM), up 1% to $42.26.
Among the other recent gainers in the sector, Aetna rose 2.7% to $32.65, Cigna Corp. (CI) added 2.3% to $36.41 and Well Point Inc. (WLP) gained 2.7% to $58.07. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH) added 1.6% to $30.99. link

Wow. You're really naive and obviously... (none / 0) (#25)
by Yes2Truth on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 02:48:42 PM EST

don't know the recent track records of Politico OR
the Nat'l Enquirer. Too many poo poos?

Not a good comparison (none / 0) (#40)
by gyrfalcon on Mon Dec 14, 2009 at 03:56:37 PM EST

THe National Enquirer usually gets it right.

Not from Politico (none / 0) (#47)
by jbindc on Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 06:33:48 AM EST

But The Hill is reporting that Reid is going to drop the Medicare buy-in provision to win the votes of Lieberman and Nelson.

Looks like Politico got it right.