• February 13, 2012
  • ROCKEFELLER’S PUBLIC OPTION GOES DOWN: It’s “public option amendment day” in the Senate Finance Committee’s markup of the evil Baucus Bill, and oh look at this, Jay Rockefeller’s amendment for a strong public option with reimbursement rates tied to those of Medicare… is dead. It was voted down 15-8. Democrats voting no: Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, Nelson. Now they’re taking up Chuck Schumer’s amendment, which isn’t as strong, but still: public option! [Washington Post]

{ 77 comments }

JamesMichaelCurley September 29, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Beat that public option with a stick! America needs $20,000 colonoscopies.

Evil Dr. Puma September 29, 2009 at 3:38 pm

This, ladies and gentlemen, sucks long green ones.

sati demise September 29, 2009 at 3:38 pm

So, let me get this straight.;

The public option that would save taxpayers 100 billion bucks is voted down by blue dog fiscally conservative democrats from states with no major international cities or a majority of the population of this USA.

We are being held hostage by politicos who got a couple hundred thousand dollars from the corporate health insurance lobbies.
Sure a thousand bucks is more in Nebraska than it is in NYC, but those fuckers are cheaply bought regardless.

AbstinenceOnly Ed September 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, Nelson. Cool. Creating threatening Facebook poll now…

Mr. Herpes September 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Doesn’t Baucus mean cocksucker in Montanan?

Canmon (the Inadequate) September 29, 2009 at 3:39 pm

It’s Baucus or nothing, at least according to Baucus.

Terry September 29, 2009 at 3:40 pm

[re=422349]sati demise[/re]:

Yes, you do understand things correctly.

Godless Liberal September 29, 2009 at 3:42 pm

My favorite part was how, near the end, Republican senators weren’t even debating the public option itself but talking about how much Medicare blows.

Atheist Nun September 29, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Sleazy Lobbiest-Cock Sucking Corporate Whores ™®©

mcc September 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm

If Schumer’s halfass public option amendment goes through, that is a really good thing for the odds of a strong public option in the final bill. House progressives have already gone on record against a negotiated-rates-only public option and will probably stand strong if the Senate tries to force one on them. A Schumer-style public option is going to be a lot easier to override in conference than a bill that lacks a public option totally, it seems like.

widget09 September 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Can’t Jay Rockefeller just pay for the public option out of his own pocket, or would he need a loan from Dave?

AbstinenceOnly Ed September 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm

Time to abolish the Senate, replace it with a House of Lords. I mean, why pretend like it’s representative? Just go with the whole landed gentry, oligarchy-type motif. Perception is 9/11 of the law, or something. 9/11. Today is a healthcare 9/11.

Atheist Nun September 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm

[re=422361]Atheist Nun[/re]:
Sorry, make that:
Sleazy Lobbyist-Cock Sucking Corporate Whores ™®©

Whores, all of them! HOORS!

Mr. Herpes September 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Just as long as Chicago gets the Olympics.

Voyou Charmant September 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Why do we give a fuck about this anti-proletariat Senate Finance Committee bill?

hockeymom September 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

[re=422349]sati demise[/re]: I knew all that, but seeing it written down makes it even more painful.
What a bunch of feckless, greedy cowards.

Uncle Joe September 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Thank goodness the Senate leadership allowed Baucus to spend the entire summer hashing out important details. The committee’s deliberations certainly have been worth the wait.

Anarchitect September 29, 2009 at 3:46 pm

I call on all the people who have died for lack of healthcare to HAUNT THE FUCK OUT OF THOSE 5 DOUCHE BAGS!

And let’s give a pile of cash to their liberal challengers in their districts. Now.

freakishlystrong September 29, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Stupid bi-partisan Donkeys. They will weaken this crappy bill to a “trigger”, (Hy-o Healthcare Reform, Away!), and still not ONE Rethug will vote for it. Not one.

proudgrampa September 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm

[re=422361]Atheist Nun[/re]: Come on, tell us how you really feel!!

RoscoePColtraine September 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Sen. Conrad: “The major hospitals in my state would simply go broke if they weren’t allowed to charge $400 for Tylenol.”

Enturbulate September 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, Nelson. What kind of “democrats” are these? Christ on an overpriced crutch! We have to have a Public Option!!!!

Enturbulate September 29, 2009 at 3:49 pm

[re=422379]Anarchitect[/re]: HARUMPH!!!

RoscoePColtraine September 29, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Schumer’s amendment just voted down. Anybody surprised?

EdFlinstone September 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Great Shumer ammemdment went down 13-10 also. Way to deflate the base blue dogs. Max Baucus does sucketh the big one.

Jim89048 September 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Schumer’s bill just went tits up too, 10-13. Fuck!

bitchincamaro September 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm

“Baucus said he voted against the…bill… because he feared that a bill including it [public option] would not get…60 votes…”.

Prediction granted, Nostradamus.

BobLoblawLawBlog September 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm

Can we liveblog the voting? With a drinking game? Like, for example, drink every time:

1. The number of uninsured Americans is brought up.
2. A Republican rolls his eyes when real-life health care horror stories are told.
3. They flash Rockefeller’s state affiliation (West Virginia??? Really?)
4. Schumer references insurance lobbyist whores, and Baucus looks nervous.

etc…

proudgrampa September 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm

No doubt, this is a sad day when the MAJORITY gets held hostage by a bunch of (See Atheist Nun) HOORS.

SayItWithWookies September 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm

I just want the amendment with mandatory birth control for Republicans to make it into the final bill.

DustBowlBlues September 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm

[re=422379]Anarchitect[/re]: I read today that Democrats are way behind on fundraising for 2010. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact electing a Democrat doesn’t matter much when they vote with the Republics. They make it very hard for the DSCC to generate any excitement. Oh, and the rich people aren’t coming through for them anyway, so why not do something decent before they leave office?

Extemporanus September 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm

I hope that there are enough platters of mercury-laden rotten tuna twats to go around. Some of these people are on their third and fourth helpings.

mephistopheles jefferson September 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Just so you know, the Schumer bill died too. Just in case pesky hope was disrupting your workday.

proudgrampa September 29, 2009 at 3:54 pm

“Don’tcha know, talkin’ about a revolution…”

RoscoePColtraine September 29, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Why do democrats suck the great big road-kill flavored bag-o-dicks?

Atheist Nun September 29, 2009 at 3:57 pm

[re=422382]proudgrampa[/re]: *ahem*

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORS!

Enturbulate September 29, 2009 at 3:58 pm

Fuck!

EdFlinstone September 29, 2009 at 3:58 pm

Man I cant wait till we have like 134 democratic senators, then we can get the 60 votes Baucus wants or the new mythical 65 vote standard put forth by Ben Nelson who was originally elected to the senate in a 51-49% landslide.

bitchincamaro September 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm

[re=422379]Anarchitect[/re]: “…cash to their liberal challengers…”

I’m O.K. with this, but prefer to contribute to the funding of a Wonkette-sponsored teevee ad bringing the mighty banhammer to those five kiss-asses.

sati demise September 29, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Baucus was for it before he was against it. goddamn these parochial cheap ass whores.

fuck you all, you fucking fuckers.

sati demise September 29, 2009 at 4:05 pm

[re=422415]bitchincamaro[/re]: banhammer to the blue dogs!

Scruffy_The_Janitor September 29, 2009 at 4:07 pm

dammit…Now I’ve gotta dump all those fraudulent Medicare forms I’ve prepared.

DustBowlBlues September 29, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Schumer’s just went down. Fucking Blanche Lincoln again and Conrad and Nelson? Baucus? I can’t remember the third one.

Evil Dr. Puma September 29, 2009 at 4:09 pm

[re=422428]DustBowlBlues[/re]: Conrad, Baucus, Lincoln. May they crack their balls and fornicate with sheep.

tootsieroll September 29, 2009 at 4:10 pm

Have you guys heard of these stupid fucks?

Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine
http://www.doctorsonstrike.com

This Dr. Gregory Garamoni has been posting his selfish bullshit on every article on health care that I read these days. He went on and on in the NYT Conversation op/ed about how people should rant to their elected officials, and this is a quote:

Who in the hell gave you the right to force the wealthy, business owners, and other groups targeted for plundering, such as medical device manufaturers and soda drinkers, to pay for the health insurance of other people?

Who in the hell gave you the right to force — as you know you must — future generations to pay for the health care of previous generations?

Who in the hell gave you the right to force insurance companies to sell, and employers and patients to buy, policies that mandate (force) coverage for specific conditions?

Who in the hell gave you the right to force healthier and/or younger adults to pay higher premium rates to subsidize premiums for less healthy and/or older adults?”

This man is a fucking doctor. And a Ayn Rand douche. I wonder who is behind his motives?

Snarkalicious September 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm

[re=422424]sati demise[/re]: Waggaman! I believe we have a field trip to send you on. What size tights and Thor Helmet do you wear?

Crank Tango September 29, 2009 at 4:14 pm

I love how no other civilized countries need to beg their government to let them buy fucking medical care from the government. And how a few senators, elected by maybe a million people total, can decide for the entire country that there is no point letting 100 senators try to decide whether we can BUY HEALTHCARE FROM THE FUCKING GOVERNMENT.

fuck it. I’m healthy and not fat anymore. I can wait a few more years. Besides, I didn’t want to give skoalrebel healthcare anyway.

Evil Dr. Puma September 29, 2009 at 4:15 pm

[re=422432]tootsieroll[/re]: Satan.

CrunchyKnee September 29, 2009 at 4:16 pm

[re=422405]RoscoePColtraine[/re]: Lightly salted?

A: Because they are WHORES and thieves.

Texan Bulldoggette September 29, 2009 at 4:17 pm

[re=422422]sati demise[/re]: Amen–when the Repubs were in office they were unified & got shit done (see massive deregulation, tax cuts for the richest assholes in the US, fraudulent wars, pissing off ‘old Europe’ & other sometimes needed allies, shitting on the climate, etc.).

The Dems can’t even get their act together to vote on something that will actually HELP the fucking American people–Jesus Christ. They deserve to get shellacked in 2010 & 2012. I am speechless with anger at the ineffectual, dickless & nutless farce the Democratic party is.

Barrett808 September 29, 2009 at 4:18 pm

I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy / And he said one word to me / And that was ‘dead’

Aflac Shrugged September 29, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Oh, thank God.

Here I was, worried that I might have to give up on my dream of a burgeoning personal bankruptcy practice. Each client drowning in debts he’d never be able to repay, each client a little more fucked than the last.

I know it was hard to stand up to your party for an ever more feudal America, but I appreciate your courage on this vote. I know I’ll never forget it.

Scruffy_The_Janitor September 29, 2009 at 4:23 pm

[re=422439]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: I think you’re preaching to the choir here…
Dems are like a 7 year old soccer team. yeah you can call it a team, but they can’t focus long enough to do jack. At least 7 year olds can agree on snack time.

AbstinenceOnly Ed September 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm

Big Teddy’s crying up in heaven now with a bottle of 60 year old scotch and 19 year old waitress. YES, THEY HAVE SCOTCH IN HEAVEN, OKAY!

CrunchyKnee September 29, 2009 at 4:33 pm

Check it out now, funk soul brother.

ROCKEFELLER’S SKANK.

Scruffy_The_Janitor September 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm

[re=422462]AbstinenceOnly Ed[/re]: Did he get the 70 virgins he was promised?

BeWoot September 29, 2009 at 4:42 pm

Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, Nelson. The Gang of Shits.

widget09 September 29, 2009 at 4:54 pm

[re=422390]Jim89048[/re]: I think it went into overtime when schumer nailed that field goal.

Mojopo September 29, 2009 at 4:59 pm

Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, and that punk Nelson should spend eternity picking the corn out of Satan’s shit. Unfuckinbelievable.

sati demise September 29, 2009 at 5:00 pm

[re=422439]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: shellacked? I say boil them in oil, feed them to the wolves, grind their bones into paste.

Mojopo September 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm

[re=422504]widget09[/re]: That’s right – they’re going to rub their penises all over Chuck’s bill and congratulate themselves for coming on our faces later.

Jukesgrrl September 29, 2009 at 5:02 pm

[re=422379]Anarchitect[/re]: I don’t have very much money, so I’m pleased these five made a nice, concise list for me to focus on as I dole out my limited campaign contributions to their primary opponents. I do have time to spend in front of a computer, though, so I will make it my business to torture those motherfuckers in the meantime.

Suds McKenzie September 29, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Hey Chuck, just so you know when you see it “UYCH” will stand for Up Your Corn Hole. It’s only 4 twitter thingy’s!!1

S.Luggo September 29, 2009 at 5:07 pm

[re=422384]Enturbulate[/re]: “Baucus, Carper, Conrad, Lincoln, Nelson.” Daisy chain.

EdFlinstone September 29, 2009 at 5:09 pm

[re=422446]Scruffy_The_Janitor[/re]: I hear ya on the 7 years playing soccer but even they dont score on their own team.

AbstinenceOnly Ed September 29, 2009 at 5:11 pm

[re=422474]Scruffy_The_Janitor[/re]: 72, because he was a muslin like all librulz.

Jukesgrrl September 29, 2009 at 5:11 pm

[re=422397]DustBowlBlues[/re]: I agree. Furthermore, the DSCC should start counting the newly registered Democratic votes they just flushed down the toilet. The Democrats need to forget about death panels and address their own deathwish.

[re=422439]Texan Bulldoggette[/re]: “I am speechless with anger at the ineffectual, dickless & nutless farce the Democratic party is.” May I borrow that massively appropriate sentence?

Jukesgrrl September 29, 2009 at 5:12 pm

I blame Rahm Emanuel.

snideinplainsight September 29, 2009 at 5:16 pm

What would be constructive to this debate would be a list of the names of Americans who, verifiably, died specifically because they lacked access to health care that would otherwise have saved them. If such a list existed, I would be happy to stand up and read it out loud at any town hall or in the gallery of any congressional meeting. I really feel like this would begin to clarify people’s thinking and real motives. I wish I’d thought of this back in July.

S.Luggo September 29, 2009 at 5:18 pm

[re=422432]tootsieroll[/re]: “This man is a fucking doctor.” No he isn’t. He’s a Jacksonville psychologist. You might then ask, then why is the little fuck slamming universal health care?
“Insurance and credit cards accepted. Extended payment options”
http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Gregory_Lee_Garamoni_PhD_Ponte+Vedra+Beach_Florida_61860

hobospacejunkie September 29, 2009 at 5:55 pm

So why exactly were Schumer & Rockefeller crowing so confidently on the teevee the past few days about the chances of their amendments passing? Gah, this fucking whoreshit makes me so fucking angry I can’t even bear to read the comments. I hope the families of those voting no are somehow struck poor & then with horribly expensive but treatable diseases they can’t afford to treat. It’s hateful, yes, but no less than they deserve and the only way these selfish fuckfaced whores will ever change their minds about helping their fellow humans. I hope they suffer the most horrific physical & psychological pain for the rest of their days.

Hedley Lamar September 29, 2009 at 6:04 pm

Can’t Nobama just declare martial law and do it with a signing statement or something? Like
Teddy Roosevelt did with National Moneymints according to ken burns?

rocktonsammy September 29, 2009 at 6:50 pm

Shame on those ASSHOLES for having no SHAME!

Why is it so unreasonable for people who don’t have insurance get it?

V572625694 September 29, 2009 at 6:51 pm

[re=422446]Scruffy_The_Janitor[/re]: At least 7 year olds can agree on snack time.

“Snack time” in the Senate is when the lobbyists hand out expensive dinners, private jet rides, “campaign” contributions and promises of ultra-lucrative future “employment.” I’m looking at you, “Billy” Tauzin, you superannuated HOOOOOR working for Big PHarma.

Yellow Dogge September 29, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Okay, this may sound like I’m on Daily Kos, but c’mon, people!!! Politics is messy, and it’s practiced by mostly average, egomaniacal people. Not many sane people run for office…an execption is the current President.

We all know and can see what is the best solution to this problem…but the plain fact is that a) people want to get re-elected; b) many of them live in a bubble and cannot see beyond their own self-interest and c) even though we’d all like to see a liberal meritocracy, it ain’t going to happen. I may be drinking the kool-aid, but Obama and this congress is the best hope we’ve had in a long time. Keep up the pressure, keep talking, and perhaps some of this will get through. But don’t give up, and don’t despair.

tootsieroll September 29, 2009 at 9:15 pm

[re=422553]S.Luggo[/re]: That’s what I was looking for!

hobospacejunkie September 30, 2009 at 2:58 am

Really? Don’t despair? Voters give them huge majorities in both houses and they still can’t follow the will of the people, at least 65 percent of whom polled favor a public option? If they voted for a public option it would almost guarantee majorities for the next several election cycles, yet we’re not supposed to quit and/or despair? This is as clear an example of the corruption money buys in the senate, when they shit in the face of the public who overwhelmingly want a public option. Fuck them. Let ‘em try to get re-elected without the liberal base they take for granted. If no public option passes I encourage everyone to stay home next election & keep your $$ in your pocket. Maybe they’ll get the message in time for 2012.

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