wesinohio's Comments (2481)

“Pass the bill with all it's current particulars, then deal with the budgetary matter concerning Medicare expansion, or the Public Option, through reconciliation. I agree with what more than one poster before me has suggested, let's pass this, and then pass that, wielding the power of the majority.”

“That sounds pretty good.”

“You missed my point, or misunderstood me, I think. The 60 votes for cloture is not in the constitution. The power for the Senate to set its own procedural rules, changing the cloture vote requirement to another number or to a simple majority, is. And those rules can be changed by a simple majority vote.”

“As I understand it, the "nuclear option" to change the senate procedural rules only requires a simjple majority. The 60-vote threshhold is in the current rules for cutting off debate. Those rules can be changed with 51 votes. This is an important time and it's time to take the gloves off and fight.”

“You mean majority rule and finding solutions to problems? That's no trick. It's constitutional government.”

“As I understand it, the 60-vote threshhold is just an arbitrary number and it could be reduced to 55 or even up to 58 votes and still preserve the usefulness of the filibuster tool, yet allow the health care bill to pass - and without so many accommodations for the right wing.”

“I think you're a bit out of touch.”

“I believe that figure is incorrect.”

“It won't take that many votes, and Obama's going to be your president for at least three more years, probably seven. I'm very glad about that and you should be too.”

“You can't have it all your way. It simply won't happen that way. Whatever comes out of the deliberations of the Senate in the health care bill that they pass, and is then settled on in the Conference Committee, will be a great start.”

“I'm not sure you're correct about that and I will look into it. I recognize that once debate begins on a bill that the Republicans would be able to tie up the Senate to prevent a vote from occurring, but nonetheless the Democratic Party presides over the Senate. This is interesting and we'll see what happens.”

“Political parties really shouldn't be involved in legislation. Voting blocks distort representative democracy. That being said, however, it is time to effectively eliminate the filibuster. Creating public campaign financing should be a high priority as well; that would effectively end the non-constitutional power of Parties in the legislature.”

“I think the Democrats have 58 votes they can count on. Changing the Senate Rules, (which can be done with a simple majority vote), rules which aren't written in the constitution by the way, would be a justifiable use of the power that voters granted the Democrats in these important times. The consititution permits the majority party to set the rules and we should expect the Democrats to do so at this critical juncture. Changing the Senate Rules to require only a 58 vote majority to cut off debate still preserves a strong filibuster option for the minority party, but negates the power of one or two captive, or misguided, holdouts to prevent this first major step toward reform. This time is an important time. The Senate 60-vote cloture rule is set at an arbitrary number. Let's change the rules of the game and be successful, and we can make the health care bill more liberal too as a result.
Regarding voting for third parties, I think that the control that the Democratic and Republican parties enjoy can best be broken through public campaign financing and I don't think it's wise to go with a third party until the money-machine that drives the parties is eliminated. I second the spirit of your suggestion, however.”

“The Democrats have the majority. It's time to put the fear of an (unlikely) future Republican majority aside and use that power right now. We voters gave the Democrats that power. Change the Senate rules with a mere majority vote so as to require only 58 votes to cut off debate. Then get it done right.”

“As wisepiper said, I believe that a mere majority is needed for the "Nuclear Option". It's about time to invoke that.”

“I caught that redundancy, although it was not circular logic. It was too late to change it, however. Editorial mistake. Nice pot-shot though.”

“The Democrats still have the "Nuclear Option", if it is needed. Change the Senate Rules to eliminate the 60 vote requirement to cut off debate. Debate could be agreed among the Majority to be cut off at 59 or 58 votes instead. Then - get 'er done. (Oh, and strip Lieberman of his committee chairmanship.)”

“One thing to keep in mind, and it's a reasonable assumption that is borne out by reason, is that healthier people, not worrying so much about the expense of health care, will be more productive and happier and more optimistic, which will in itself bring more prosperity. Aside from the material aspects of prosperity, aggregate happiness and optimism is the ultimate measure of economic efficiency anyway.”

“Good points.”

“Drug reimportation should be considered separately from the health care legislation. And I agree that profits are needed for the drug companies to develop their products. Let's take the first, most important step and pass the health care bill taking shape in the Senate, but without this amendment.”

“Publicly administered private plans, greater competition in the insurance industry, certain regulations for the health insurance industry and the fact that even the youngest of us have, or hope to have age 55 in our future (I'm a young 53), makes it inclusive and effective in meaningful ways, and overall a good step in the right direction. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let's get a victory on this, one of the first of many we can look forward to under Barack Obama's presidency.”

“A small television-watching minority watches Glenn and Sean. It's a proven minority and it will keep getting smaller and more irrelevant.”

“I love you but I hate your politics.”

“When markets are imperfect, laws have to intervene. Those salaries couldn't be so high if not for market imperfections. Also, kings and robber barons are free, that doesn't make them righteous. Complete freedom is complete anarchy. Perfect markets only exist in the imagination. Make those recipients of the huge salaries and bonuses a little less free.”

“Democrats have shown themselves to be more fiscally conservative.”