Schumer Still Talking Reconciliation

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 03:59:53 PM EST
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Some good news prior to Obama's speech tonight. Via Matt Yglesias, Senator Schumer still talking reconciliation :

I’ve always favored using reconciliation for good parts of the bill. I think that will get you the best bill, the strongest bill and the bill that will have the greatest positive effect on the American people. Ultimately, we’ll be judged not by whether we pass the bill, but ultimately we’ll be judged by whether it works. Leaving the bill as something that doesn’t work, even if we pass it, leading to hurting both the country and the party.

Schumer gets it. It is also interesting to me that Anthony Weiner is a political protege of Schumer's, considering Weiner's statements that whether the public option survives is up to the President. Even Yglesias likes the idea. The new Center.

Speaking for me only

< President Snowe: Public Option Must Come Off The Table | Here Comes The Prof >

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Schumer Still Talking Reconciliation | 27 comments (27 topical)

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Good! (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by ChiTownDenny on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:06:02 PM EST

No need for (R) votes, including Snowe's, especially when there will be none. (D)s can get it done! Fulfill the MANDATE!

I have always said (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by andgarden on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:08:54 PM EST

that Schumer is the LBJ of this Senate. He's also a really good political strategist (his job in 2006 was much harder than Rahm's).

Thank you Schumer (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by ruffian on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:11:10 PM EST

Finally a prominent Dem saying something that makes sense. Amazing that I have had to set the bar so low in recent weeks.

Is the NY delegation (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by WS on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:15:13 PM EST

tougher than the Illinois delegation or those who came from Illinois (I'm looking at you President Obama)? President Obama doesn't want to be upstaged by the New Yorkers does he?

Duh (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by MO Blue on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:15:33 PM EST

Ultimately, we'll be judged not by whether we pass the bill, but ultimately we'll be judged by whether it works.

: yup - he gets it! (none / 0) (#6)
by ruffian on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:16:58 PM EST

I dont think (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:27:49 PM EST

this is going to be allowed to go the way most here seem to be thinking it will.

maybe its wishful thinking but I think they are smarter than that.
very curious to see what the man says tonight.

A lot of noise out there. (none / 0) (#10)
by ChiTownDenny on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:40:35 PM EST

I find Obama is trying to be a bi-partisan president. (I won't address that subject in this post; BTD has done the subject justice over the past weeks). IMO, he is presenting that as a temperament. But he's no fool; he's a politician, who's looking at 2012.
I have heard a united chorus from the Dems over the past week. The chorus sings "reconciliation". Dems can get this done!


One of the local news dudes said (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by nycstray on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:48:47 PM EST

that he was not only speaking to congress, but also the legions of Independents that propelled him into office . . .

Hey! What about us Dems?!

Who else besides Schumer is signing in your chorus?


: an address to a joint (none / 0) (#14)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:00:18 PM EST

session is a big deal. if there is ever going to be a time this is it I would think.

: To start.... (none / 0) (#16)
by ChiTownDenny on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:03:14 PM EST

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/53583
http://www.drudge.com/news/124474/gang-six-senator-could-support
http://www.freedomslighthouse.com/2009/09/maxine-waters-urges-obama-to-pass.html
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/26/reid-leaves-open-option-extreme-maneuver-hea lth-care-energy-overhauls/
Plenty more...
(first time using the link key; hope it works....it didn't work! Bingaman, Hoyer, Walters, Reid, there's more if you google)

Apparently (none / 0) (#17)
by lilburro on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:06:46 PM EST

according to the NYT, Obama is not going to deviate from his "I prefer but would not veto" approach to the public option.

The president said he would use his address to the country, scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern time, to dispose of "a lot of nonsense" that has been spread about health care reform, "everything from this ridiculous idea that we're setting up death panels to false notions that this was designed to provide health insurance to illegal immigrants."

He will instead rake up the summer's most absurd ideas and yack endlessly about bullsh*t we've already heard about.

It's unclear to me whether it will be a live speech or a video of a previous speech. I'm very excited.


Hey (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by lilburro on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:57:05 PM EST

maybe President Specter is still around:

Tweet from Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA): "This U.S. Senator is going to tell him (the President) emphatically that we need the public option."

Strange how a possible primary (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by MO Blue on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:42:10 PM EST

challenge can make even a so called Democrat realize that they need to pay attention to Democrat voters.


: Yes, according to Paul Begala (none / 0) (#24)
by shoephone on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:47:38 PM EST

the failure to produce a bill this year will only blowback on Congressional Democrats in 2010. Obama will still be just fine in 2012.
The Village Has Spoken.

Well... (1.00 / 1) (#21)
by jarober on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:34:02 PM EST

Yglesias is at least consistent - he is willing to see the end of filibusters and super majorities, period. I expect the rest of the left to like this idea right up until the next Republican majority is seated, at which time the battle cry of the "rights of the minority" will be hefted aloft again.

WTF? (none / 0) (#22)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:39:27 PM EST

You are going to come here and pretend you never heard of reconciliation being used before? You must be sh*tting me with this BS.


Ummm (none / 0) (#25)
by jarober on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:49:54 PM EST

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that people on your side of the aisle will go bats when a Republican majority (when that comes along at some point) uses this to pass controversial legislation.

I realize it's been used before. I'm not even opposing it, really. Just making an observation


: That makes your comment a nonsequitor (none / 0) (#26)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:53:24 PM EST

then. FYI, Judd Gregg on reconciliation - your thoughts?

Obama taking PO off the table? (none / 0) (#9)
by Jlvngstn on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 04:39:26 PM EST

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/09/obama_wont_insist_on_public_op.html

No...he'll leave it languishing (none / 0) (#13)
by oldpro on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:00:00 PM EST

on the edge of the table, ready to be nudged off as it dies for lack of nurturing.

Call 911.


so if Reich is right (none / 0) (#18)
by Jlvngstn on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:07:09 PM EST

then we should all take to the streets in protest for the public option. Polls say we want it, maybe not as much as the Irack war, but we want it.

Maybe if the press covers marches of those demanding public option instead of a few screamers at town halls, just maybe we can give Mr. Obama an out of the corporate ties that bind him.

I guess if he can't do it himself, John Q. Public should demand its option.


Good idea...but I don't see any (none / 0) (#27)
by oldpro on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 10:51:21 PM EST

mobilization. Do you?

I think hope, faith and belief are what passes for activism these days. That and online petitions.

Argggghhhh. Pathetic.


: no i don't (none / 0) (#28)
by Jlvngstn on Thu Sep 10, 2009 at 09:11:34 AM EST

myself included.....

"we'll be judged by whether it works" (none / 0) (#15)
by lambert on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:01:55 PM EST

Indeed.

So it would make a whole lot of sense to move the implementation date to some point before 2012, right?

And not 2013 like it is now?

I would be happier about the idea (none / 0) (#19)
by Anne on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:10:48 PM EST

of reconciliation if there were identifiably good parts of the reform, but I feel like people are cheering for the process and not the product; people are allowing themselves to fall into the we-have-to-pass-something mindset, and losing sight of just what it is we could end up with.

Schumer's big thing has been reconciliation, and I admire him for keeping that option up front, and for recognizing that there needs to be a good bill - but where has he been in terms of getting something good that reconciliation would be able to help deliver real reform that works?

I suppose that we are supposed to connect the dots between Schumer and Weiner, and understand that Weiner would not be Schumer's mentee if he and Schumer were not of like mind on reform, but I think the Senate would have greatly benefited from the kind of strong leadership Schumer could have brought - someone to counter the conservative Dems and people like Snowe.

If there is anything that has been woefully lacking, it is leadership, and reconciliation is no substitute for it.

What happened at the House Dem caucus ... (none / 0) (#20)
by magster on Wed Sep 09, 2009 at 05:12:40 PM EST

... meeting today? Rhetoric towards trigger or away from trigger following the meeting?