Harry Reid Says No Heath Care Bill Before Summer Break

In a move that did not surprise me at all, spineless Senate Majority Leader, Hopeless Harry Reid, went on the record that there will be no heath care bill before the August recess.

WASHINGTON AP– Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday abandoned plans for a vote on health care before Congress' August recess, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama's ambitious timetable to revamp the nation's $2.4 trillion system of medical care.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., delivered the official pronouncement on what had been expected for weeks, saying, "It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through." His words were a near-echo of Republicans who have criticized the rush to act on complex legislation that affects every American.

It kills me that on top of ignoring one of the top priorities that were the reason these guys are in the majority now... it kills me that he used GOP talking points to defend his pathetic position. Just like the Democratic Party weakness on Iraq over the last 9 years, just like their shameless preservation of the same old politics as usual on so many critical issues-- this one is going to cost American lives, literally. People with no insurance, or inadequate insurance will suffer while these folks delay. People will get sick, be unable to pay their bills, and yes, even die because of our lack of adequate heath care in America.

Chellie Pingree a freshman member of the House, explains why the delay is so disasterous and why the president should stick to his guys and get the congress to work through august if needs be;

If we go home for recess without passing this bill, we will give special interests and their lobbyists five weeks to dump millions of dollars into ad campaigns that spread misinformation and fear and confusion.

We will give them 5 weeks to do everything they can to kill the best chance we have had in a lifetime to more forward on significant health care reform. We must pass this bill now, we absolutely can not afford to wait.

Call and Write your senators and representatives, today.

cross posted from Fighting Liberals

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Remove Harry Reid

Hapless Harry has released a statement:

On Wednesday, July 9, 2008, after the Senate convenes at 9:30am, it will resume consideration of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 6304). There will be one hour and forty-five minutes of debate, with 30 minutes under the control of Senator Feingold; 15 minutes under the control of Senator Dodd; 10 minutes under the control of Senator Bingaman; 10 minutes under the control of Senator Leahy; 10 minutes under the control of the Majority Leader; and 30 under the control of the Republican Leader or his designee.

Reid: At which time I will serve cookies and also juice. Only one cup per Senator will be passed out at cookie time. Please don't spill any juice, the floor of the Senate is very hard to clean up.

Upon the use or yielding back of this time, the Senate will proceed to roll-call votes in relation to the pending amendments. Upon disposition of these amendments, the Senate will proceed to a roll -call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R. 6304, as amended if amended.

If cloture is invoked on H.R. 6304, all post-cloture time will be yielded back, and the Senate will proceed to a roll-call vote on passage of H.R. 6304, as amended if amended.

Reid: I want to make sure that all Senators be sure and get a permission form for all these events, I know we have had a problem with parents not providing the proper paperwork, I want to be clear that won't be tolerated anymore. Hall monitors will be watching and I expect a full report.

The Senate will soon vote on a FISA bill that represents the final result of negotiations among the White House and Democrats and Republicans in Congress. I opposed the version originally passed by the Senate. And although improvements have been made in the version now before us, this legislation continues to contain provisions that will lead to immunity for the telecommunications companies who cooperated with the Bush Administration's illegal warrantless wiretapping program.

For that reason, I will vote no.

Reid: Especially considering that I have made sure that this bill will pass. I want to maintain the illusion that I am something other than a tired sell out that is well past his prime and care more about maintaining the democratic kindergarten that I have submitted to under the republicans low these many years. I have learned to like the taste of boot leather.


Geez what a coward, what a sad end to a fairly decent career and a even more sad end to the central role of the Constitution in our government.

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Democratic Leadership Passes Telecom Immunity

Well, as expected, Harry Reid has allowed this bullshit FISA bill with telecom immunity to pass the senate. Its now up to the house to stop this crap. Here is Senator Dodd:

We've lost every single battle we had on this bill [in the Senate].... We're not getting anywhere at all" he said. "The question now is can the House do better." After the bill passes in the Senate, as is expected late today or tomorrow, the bill would head to a conference. There, conferees from both houses will try to hash out the significant differences between the House and Senate versions, the issue of retroactive immunity chief among them.

However, Dodd said, if the final bill emerging from that powwow does contain retroactive immunity, he said he'd "absolutely" filibuster that bill; he'd use "whatever vehicles we can" to stop it.

FireDogLake has a petition that will be sent to the House, asking them to stand tough.

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Reid's FISA Sneak Play of the Week

Reid on Floor just said three votes likely tonight, but Dodd-Feingold (strike immunity), Specter-Whitehouse (substitution), and I think he said Feinstein (FISC court makes good faith determination). Intends to finish the bill tomorrow night. -- via ACLUBlog

I know everyone is distracted by Super Tuesday, but everyone needs to dig in and make some calls. faxing, or emails or all 3.

Senate Contact List

Make some noise.

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Filibuster, Kill the FISA Bill

This is Davos, Switzerland.


Pretty nice, hunh? It gets better, check out all the cool people that hang out at Davos during the World Economic Forum.



Sweet. Jolie is totally hot.

This is Dick Cheney.


He has ordered Harry Reid to force through not just an extension of the unnecessary and certainly unconstitutional FISA bill (S.2248) and Harry means to do just that, so he can go to Davos.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, for all Members here, we are on the Indian health bill now. I hope we can complete that bill tomorrow. The Republicans are having a retreat. They are having theirs tomorrow; we are going to have ours in 10 days or so. There will be activities on the Senate floor tomorrow, but there will be no votes. If there are any votes tomorrow, it will be after they finish their retreat, after 6 o'clock tomorrow night.

So we hope some work can be done on this bill tomorrow. We know the Republicans will be absent, so that makes it very difficult.

We have to finish FISA this week. Everyone should be aware of that point. We have to finish it this week. I know there are important trips people want to take. We have the very important economic conference in Davos that Democrats and Republicans alike would like to go to.

Lets be clear about what all this means. This bill basically allows for blanket, or in the legal phrase "basket", warrants. Which means its a free-for-all. The government and it's lackeys, the telecom companies, can eavesdrop on anyone, or actually everyone and it requires NO judicial oversight. Previous to this sorry assed bill the government had to get a warrant from a FISA judge. Who had only turned down requests a couple of times over 20 years.

There was never any reason to enact this bill in the first place. You could even go to the FISA courts and get a warrant after the fact. So, this is bad right? right. Except it gets worse. Here is Dick explaining things.

The unfortunate aspect of the Protect America Act is a sunset provision, which makes the law expire on the first of February –- just 10 days from now. That leaves Congress only nine days in which to act to keep the intelligence gap closed. And with the day of reckoning so close at hand, we’re reminding Congress that they must act now to modernize FISA.

Congress to update FISA and especially to extend this protection to communications providers alleged to have given such assistance any time after September 11th, 2001. This is an important consideration, because some providers are facing dozens of lawsuits right now. Why? Because they are believed to have aided the U.S. government in the effort to intercept international communications of al Qaeda-related individuals.

Actually Dick is lying here. No shock to you I am sure. The protection extension he mentions is worse than even I first thought. They don't just protect the telecoms. They provide immunity for anyone involved. Like George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Condi Rice, Scooter Libby and a cast of thousands.

So, in the bill they want to pass, they want to make what is illegal legal, they want an amendment stating that what they did illegally now is immune from any prosecution. Its like passing a law that I can rob banks legally, and the banks I have already robbed are now retroactively covered, those armed robberies are now "withdrawals". Its pretty nice when you can write your own laws and force them through. Its no coincidence that Cheney and Bush have 360 some odd days left under the protection of their offices. I would be thinking about covering my ass too. Don't believe Dick when he tells you they need to protect America by eavesdrop on terrorists. Letting this bill die will not hamper our counter terrorism efforts in the slightest.

This bill expires on February 1st. The Senate leadership should filibuster this bill and let it die. This is more important than the election right now. This is more important than the fight between Bill Clinton and Obama, and it's more important than going to Davos Switzerland. Don't get confused with all the senatorial rules of order mumbo jumbo. If Harry Reid wanted this bill dead it would never have come out of committee. Call your senator and have them help filibuster this bill. Defend the constitution.

Call, Fax, and Write Senate.gov

UPDATE: Watch Dodd talk about the situation at The Raw Story

UPDATE II: Reid has separated the 2 parts here, the base bill and the amendments. We just lost on letting the bill expire. 60 to 34. Neither Obama or Clinton showed up. It appears tomorrow is when we hear debate on the immunity section of the bill. Please keep the pressure up.

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Reid Bows In the Wind

Holy Fucking Shit, this is what a people powered democracy is all about. The pressure from you guys, the progressives, the left wing blogisphere and Senator Dodd really made a difference. Honestly, this blanket immunity may not seem like a big deal to people but its about showing up. Its about stopping the corporate democrats. There was huge pressure to pass this thing and we stopped it.

When it became clear to Reid that many, many people were paying attention and his bullshit about being a victim of senate procedure was a no-sale to everybody. He knew it was going to be hard, but not impossible, to let this crap pass. And then one man, Chris Dodd, stood up in the senate and stopped this bill cold. Once Dodd made the stand more and more other senators felt comfortable in stating their objections to giving immunity to corporations for spying on the American people. Matt Stoller and Tim Tigaris are owed no little thanks in this too. Hell, there are a bunch of people who a debt of thanks.

Today really was a great day.

and not for nothing there is a contribute button on this page chrisdodd.com

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