The Senate Republicans are cowards and virtually have been jumping up and down in anger this morning before the passage of the bill.
First it was Conrad. He stated the bill had to be stopped in its tracks because it has an unfunded mandate.
If that was the case, he should have made his objection months and months ago. That is not the case. The Governors of any state have the right to petition their federal government no different than they did when the Stimulus was passed if they have extenuating circumstances of any federal law.
Then after Conrad states, the bill has unfunded mandates, Grassley puts this poster up about Trillion (The T Word) dollar spending. I thought Conrad just said there were unfunded mandates.
So, poor Senator Baucus has to object to all these 'points of order' to move things forward. I guess.
Then after Grassley makes a complete fool of himself by never qualifying any of his statements, Gregg from New Hampshire literally has a hissy fit on the Senate floor. The only thing he didn't say was, "...but, but, but you can't do this because I say so!"
I don't know where these men get the 'gall' to even face their constituencies after such a mess.
But, I want to discuss briefly what is the basis of all this ranting today.
There is a certain premise that is TRUE about the Republican Regime. They have 'ideas' about entitlements. They believe they are toxic to the nation.
We have witnessed in the Bush/Cheney Regime the attempt over eights years to shrink the national budget by displacing the military budget under emergency funding. We have witnessed under the Bush/Cheney Regime the attempt over eight years to shrink the national budget without regard to the well being of Americans or the 'intact' status of their economy. We have witnessed the Bush/Cheney Regime's attempt to increase the spending of Medicare to 'cause' the laws of the nation to come to bear to eradicate it from the laws of the country, which state at any point in time if Medicare is increased beyond 50% of the national budget it can be dismantled.
Just because Medicare survived these attempts doesn't mean the attempts didn't happen. They did.
The reason this issue was never approached by Republicans is because in order to legislate it the Medicare laws would have to be adjusted. Did they want to adjust them? No. So, the question is 'what reason' did they assign to this Republican agenda of attempts to destroy Medicare?
Many, many moons ago, the CBO stated, to use Medicare savings for other purposes is to weaken Medicare. Seems right. So why is this an issue today? Because the Republicans have USED that aged old assessment as THEIR EXCUSE to do NOTHING. It is an excuse that has worked for them for decades and today, because the Democrats are NOT AFRAID to go where no Republican will ever go they are livid.
How people ever vote for these people is beyond my understand. But, that is me and not anyone else.
What President Obama and the House and Senate Democrats were faced with when taking office is a 'condition' of the USA caused by Republican neglect for decades. Why take on the issue today? Because it has reached critical mass. The Democrats are acting 'in time' to prevent any further damage to the people of this country.
Just that simple. We have children at the forefront of this initiative that will be covered immediately up on the President signature. Young adults that can find funding for education can stay on their parent's health care policies until the age of 26 and on and on and on.
Now is the time and the Democrats are the party. I would think, the Republicans would realize the error of their ways all these many years and seek some dignity to bring this historic measure to the people, but, if Grassley and the others are willing to be Murdoch puppets and state, "...they will pull the plug on Grandma..." they have no shame.
The Republicans are a very sad bunch. It has been an honor to witness it. I only hope history captures its true meaning, its sincerely vindictive spirit and records forever the rhetoric 'fashioned' to serve 'the bonuses' of CEOs before any 'bonus' to the American people to achieve good health care insurance.
They could not be more obvious in what they regard as important. It is written loudly on every word and action they take.
