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House fails to override veto on SCHIP, 273-156.
Which should surprise absolutely nobody, there was no way that the Democrats could do this without the help of Republicans, and as we all know there is nothing more important in this administration than the Preznit's swollen and fragile ego. The GOP was verily threatening to staple their nuts to the floor if they flipped and humiliated him, so they just had to sit there and take the hammering of a $1.5 million ad campaign tying them to this unpopular president and his pathological callousness.
As important as passage of this bill was, our campaign to put pressure on Democrats was really about something else -- about letting them know that there are certain things it means to be a Democrat, and supporting healthcare for kids is one of them. And that they could expect serious pressure from the left if they try to sell out their constituents.
The roll call is here. The only two Democrats who voted "nay" were Taylor and Marshall (who was probably still in afterglow from his bigot embrace with Georgia ID voter suppression legislation author Erick Erickson).
By the way Jim, cavorting with racists and a wink-wink to Jim Crow as a way to curry favor with wingnut voters is not acceptable within the Democratic party, either.
Good luck with your primary.
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Jane!
Time to get moving again. And again, And again.
Hello, Jane!
Shame, shame, shame on the House!
That’s it.
Check out the cogent and thoughtful arguments used by the Republicans against SCHIP:
http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/7590.html
Way to go, guys! Piss off the middle class AND the businesses in America that can’t afford to operate here because for-profit health insurance costs so damned much and doesn’t provide diddly!
As one of the commenters said, the Republicans have pretty much become one long campaign commercial for the Democrats.
Jane, this sucks, but I’m not surprised.
EPU’d from last thread but on topic here:
Biodun @ 126
Michele Bachmann (R-bush groupie) is now toast in MN.
As I said downstairs, when the critters who voted against the children start trying to justify their vote, tell ‘em, “I’m from the country and I know what manure smells like Congressman. So quit trying to spread it on me.”
Wish you all could see the craptastic letter I rec’d from Virginia Foxx (R-NC) after calling every day requesting she reconsider her SCHIP vote. But, at least she heard my voice, and the rest of the Repukes will hear our voices in ‘08.
How does this happen with Bush at 24%
From EPU land:
SCHIP is probably the most popular program on which to test override strength. This tells us there is virtually no chance Congress can override any other veto, which means the President and his party can stop anything they don’t want — and that is their plan.
Nothing worthwhile can get out of Congress as long as this Administration is in office. Nothing.
The dems’ task through 2008 is to prevent anything worse than what’s already locked in/happening from getting through either. This will go against their grain, but the Dems need to stop trying to govern and become the meanest obstructionists they can be. Act like the party out of power trying to prevent a train wreck, because that is what/where they are.
First priority: stop any further weakening of FISA. Let the current statute expire. Say No to immunity — hold eventual accountability over the Administration’s head through Bush’s term. It’s the only leverage they have left.
FROM TPM:
The Wealthiest Among Us
Rep. Hensarling (R-TX): SCHIP to go to “the wealthiest among us.”
This was spit-take material
Bay State Librul @ 11
Because the Republicans have decided to go down with the Titanic.
Diane @ 10
I’m glad your optimistic, but not I.
Remember Florida and Ohio?
Democracy is on life support…
gbear @ 8
Absolutely. That woman is evil. I’m sooooo glad she’s not my critter. I have Ellison.
huh, Bush just sent a letter to the House (saw on cspan 1)….
Another defeat. On to the next battle. Keeping George W. Bush, the Republicans, and the Democratic enablers from igniting WW III.
What do you do when a child cries?
Veto ‘em!
The “Party of Life” passes a “death sentence” on sick children.
The Republicans don’t support our children any better than they support our troops. Let’s tell on them.
This is disheartening. It’s not a surprise, but you have to cling to hope somewhere.
And what I’m hearing on FISA is even worse. Why can’t Dems just let FISA expire? Will it then revert back to the FISA law that was in effect before the big capitulation 6 months ago?
I just don’t get the Dems. If Bush threatens to veto it, let him veto. Then it’s his own fault if we go back to the old rules.
Someone enlighten me on this.
wigwam @ 20
That should be the campaign slogan of every progressive Dem in ‘08!
scarecrow @ 12:
Ain’t that the truth. You’re absolutely right on this one. Just be the opposition party until November 2008. Then in January 2009, the Dems will be the administration and will control a veto-proof Congress.
Biodun @ 16
…and I have Betty(!)
Bay State Librul @ 11
It happens when there is no effective opposition. The Democrats don’t exact a price from the Republicans for their obstructionism. They don’t even call out the Republicans as the party more interested in failed wars than healthy children. They don’t pull earmarks or make life uncomfortable for the Republicans. It’s been said a thousand times but just think what the Republicans would do with this vote if they were still in charge. What are the Democrats doing?
*crickets*
Fuck, we need someone like LBJ running Congress
This just F*CKED my state BADLY.
We’re already in a budget crisis, and now the failure of the override means my state will have to find another 1.5 BILLION dollars over the next four years for healthcare.
The UAW-GM VEBA fund did something weird to the status of Medicare funding received by Michigan — which in concert with the failure of SCHIP — creates a shortfall of 1.5 billion over the next four years. We’re already forced to find 52.5 million in savings in healthcare, and now this.
F*ck you every gawddamned Republican who stood by your useless sack of dung in the White House.
If Hillary Clinton gets nominated and then becomes president, not much will change.
The disappointment, the anger, that sick feeling in your stomach that you’re feeling right now will lessen very little with Hill at the helm. If you don’t believe me, just think about her universal health
careinsurance plan. And that’s just one of the rubs.We deserve a change…OBAMA ‘08
I say, “no go” on ANYTHING.
OK, so Bush has all the Rethugs in Congress in some sort of brain-lock - let him.
I say, don’t give him and Cheney ANYTHING.
Bring the business of government to a screeching halt.
No money for kids’ healthcare? No money for war. No money for your buddies at Blackwater et co. Nuthin’. Put the Federal bureaucracy on trickle charge until Jan., 2009.
You guys want a fight?
You got it.
We need a complete overhaul of the Dem (mis)leadership.
Mad Dogs @ 19
From NYT op ed/letters pages:
SCHIP bill would have corrected abstinence only mess.
Letters.
Hi, Jane, hope you’re feeling well!
I am not at all surprised about the outcome of Schip. Realistically, I knew not enough Rethugs would dare to vote for it even though polls indicate that 70% of Americans wanted it.
Did I mention, I was touched by one of these programs myself after an emergency quadruple bypass? Seems once my disability was approved and I had some income, I had too much income to continue paying my medical expenses. Medicare doesn’t kick in for two years, but they said at one time a program that was parallel to Schip in this state would have allowed me to continue my health care coverage under the program with an insurance premium that my income could handle. I was told it would have been about $35/mo., but the legislature put a stop to that two years earlier.
I am just …..
I probably shouldn’t be on threads today, I’m just too blue about this and don’t want to discourage anyone else.
Just imagine that weasel Bush fucking with
LBJ… The Dems have the majority, don’t we?
who are marshall’s challengers? I understand there are two.
Please provide links, so I can give them some money.
by the way, Marshall’s number is 202-225-6531.
Rayne @ 27
I hope for the sake of your mental health, Knollenberg is not your congress critter.
Bay State Librul @ 34
The ‘real’ numbers say not really!
Meanwhile, Pete Stark shows the other Dems how it’s done. Republicans rise up to display outrage over this (y’know, all the outrage they’ve failed to display over the right-wing attacks on Graeme Frost?):
What do you expect from a body that can’t declare a genocide a genocide, even when it happened 92 years ago?
Jane, as a question and not a complaint; but I don’t understand the strategy and cost/benefit of running or threatening to run $10k ads against extreme Bush-Dogs. If all of the “bad Dems had voted to over-turn, the result would have been the same. Those ads would be effective in a primary challenge, but it’s too early..what am I missing.
scarecrow @ 12
could you please add basket warrents and prospective telco immunity to the list of unacceptable changes to fisa?
Hugh @ 40
They backpedaled really fast on that one!
looseheadprop @ 33
Agreed, I thought I was an optimist until
Bush commuted Libby, has openly defied and broken so many laws, and hasn’t been impeached.
We are a broken nation
looseheadprop @ 33
You are blue now, but we are BLUE. and will return even more BLUE-ish*
Beatles, “Blue-ish, you don’t look Blue-ish” (Yellow Submarine, the movie)
looseheadprop @ 33
Don’t bottle it up LHP!
We got plenty of shoulders here to cry on and more to move the grindstone.
Steve-AR @ 41
It shows someone is watching and that there is a price to be paid now and later possibly in a primary challenge.
hello, a follower here over the past two years, and virtually clueless about leaving a comment..so I wing it. It should be noted that when the vote result was announced there was loud cheering from those Bushicans…that is sick.I remember Bush trying to kill it in Texas when Gov…the veto was overturned, and later on Bush took credit for the program (he was pushing tax breaks for Oil Companies at the time)..this Bill should go RIGHT BACK…SUPPORT H.R. 333
Bay State Librul @ 11
Republican congressmen (Democrats, too) are errand-boys for the plutocracy. They’re not motivated by fear for their re-election, but by fear for the prerogatives and money the Party ensures them, whether in or out of office. They’re not representatives of the public, or even independent-minded aristocrats with a sense of noblesse oblige; they’re fearful, grasping apparatchiks. The seeming “suicide” of supporting deeply unpopular policies is actually self-preservation within the prevailing order.
Phoenix Woman @ 38
Holly Smokes! That’s a no-holds-barred statement. He was pissed, had had enough, and didn’t hold back one bit.
Phoenix Woman @ 38
the rule is that we are not to critisize our betters. attacks against the young, weak or otherwise unimportant people is perfectly acceptable and indeed encouraged.
Here’s my $0.02 in my local paper today.
The sentiment goes for every congresscritter that voted against override. They all get taxpayer funded healthcare. Fucking slimy hypocrites.
FireDogLake,
My thanks for staying on top of the SCHIP battle and for providing the info on a daily basis. And on behalf of the Chicano Veterans Organization here in the Sonoran Desert, we thank you for all the hard work keeping us informed. Again, thanks!
Respectfully Submitted.
Jaango
scarecrow has it right in 12.
My take:
A few FDLers should be the “leaders” in Congress and leave some of us to be the “advocates.”…*g*
Bay State Librul @ 34
IIRC because of LBJ’s power as majority leader, Senate rules were changed and the leader’s power was gutted. Harry doesn’t do much for me but I don’t think he has much in the way of ball busting power.
looseheadprop @ 33
I feel the same.
How could anyone look into the faces of Graeme Frost and Bethany Wilkerson and vote against this?
-S
If you think about for a second, Bush is
a criminal… his pesser yesterday was a fucking embarassment… and yet even
fucking Dana Milbank wouldn’t agree with KO
that Bush is a madman?
Rayne @27
F*ck you every gawddamned Republican who stood by your useless sack of dung in the White House.
I hope the good will those repukes vitited on several states and those children who reside in them comes back to visit them a million fold.
Downstairs someone mentioned a General Strike. What choice are they giving us since we have to acknowledge that WE ARE NOT BEING HEARD. By ‘we’ I mean the vast majority of U.S. citizens. Not just the progressives. The American citizen has become irrelevant. The only thing that matters is what the corps want. How do we reach Congress. It seems to me we’ve done everything possible to let them know how we feel. The polls show that we’ve won over Americans but there are no legislative victories to prove it. So, what do we do? Is a general strike the only answer? I’d try anything at this point.
We have two choices in a little more than a year from now. The Republicans, or what passes for Democrats. And both political parties are quite comfortable with the predicament.
How is this for some late night snark material?
Isn’t it amazing that the Repugnantcans want to control your body while it’s hosting a zygote or embryo - but apparently don’t care at ALL about said “baby” once it is outside a womb.
Isn’t it ironic that a zygote is a “baby” when it comes to talk of a woman’s choice to abort or not - but it’s not even MENTIONED when SCHIP would have provided medical care to it prebirth? Then it has no value - the medical care is for “an adult”.
Isn’t it interesting that the Repugnantcans will spout how they don’t want the government involved in medical decisions - but went to such HUGE lengths to stop a man from mercifully putting an end to extraordinary life-support measures for a severely brain-damaged spouse with no chance of recovery?
brendan @ 49
gonna book mark this as the best explanation of what we are seeing.
but i’m not gonna forget that we still have some power at around the edges… and we can grow from there.
Bay State Librul @ 57
Yeah I had to laugh at Milbank when he said Bush was actually getting better since he was “puting adults like Gates and Mukasey in charge now.”
I refuse to be discouraged about this. It’s awful and disgusting but the Republicans are going to have to live with this through the next election. If they want to commit political suicide so be it. This can be used against them again and again. I have to think that Taylor(Ms) is safe but could we please go after Marshall. Turncoat !
scarecrow @ 12
bwahahahahaaaaaaaaa (and not in a good way) - good luck with that. Hasn’t the Senate already rolled over and licked the nuts of the telecoms? All anyone in the GOP has to do is say “boo! Al-Qadea!” and the Dem leadership falls to their knees and cries like babies.
What they *need* to do is start hammering home the obstructionist practices of the GOP minority (I think Senator Whitehouse mentioned it during a break of today’s AG confirmation hearing).
They probably won’t do that, either.
Blah. I’m going to make a cocktail and go hang out with the rude pundit.
scarecrow @ 12
Amen and Caw, Caw, Scarecrow! But I would like someone to present analysis and a plan to deal with the amendment that is being attached by the Rethugs. It is designed to embarrass Dems into voting for it, of course, and I’m relatively certain that some will be fall prey and do just that! They don’t seem to understand that all they are doing is turning their soft underbelly up and showing their weakness. This is not the way to win friends and influence people, and it should not be the way to gain votes!
Had a look at the Republicans on that roll call who voted to override the veto. Many will be in tough races this year - Bono, Dent, Renzi, Shays, Wilson, Young (AK), etc. This campaign put the pressure on.
Why buy ads now? Because in a few months when the campaigns start in earnest, people will remember this. Making sure they know this happened will make it easier to remind folks later what their representatives have been up to these last few years.
UPDATE: According to Think Progress, S-CHIP picked up eight new supporters in the House since the last vote.
solai @ 59:
I disagree with this. Most of us will become relevant in November 2008. I keep saying this again and again: No one has voted yet. Not one vote has been cast yet.
Hugh @ 47
True, but “our” PAC has very limited funds and I think increasing Congressional Dems in ‘08 is the #1 priority. IMHO. BTW, the ads were very good and would be effective but not in South-East Mississippi.
dakine01 @ 63
Yeah. I have two broken TV’s and working on the third…
gbear @ 8
I hope so. Though she’s probably toast anyway, as should Minnesota lose a CD in the next census (as is likely), hers is the favored candidate for the chopping block. (T-Paw will of course try to stop it, but he might not be able to.)
I just don’t get it. The Democrats are negotiating a FISA bill that is esentially capitulating to Bush without any concessions for Democrats (let alone Americans).
If the Democratic leadership had any scruples and cojones they would say: Fine, veto SCHIP and we will not pass FISA (expecially with immunity for law-breakers), finish defense authorization bill, or take up any more war funding untiul SCHIP, stem cell research, Habeas Corpus restoration, etc. Alternatively, they could attach SCHIP (Habeas and stem cells as well) to any war funding bill and make Bush veto that (so what if they are not germain, the Republicans never cared about that).
For the Democrats to continue willing to put up with attrocities such as SCHIP with the hopes that it will translate into 2008 victories in Congress and presidency is cynical and disingenuous (after all the Democrats can always snatch defeat from the jaws of victory). Carpe Diem Democrats - no time to wait to save our Country.
solai @ 59
maybe… but it’s going to take a hell of a lot of organizing.
what percentage of your nearest 100 neighbors can you get to participate?
how many other people can you recruit to organize their nearest 100 neighbors?
Why should we be forced to pay for Healthcare for these fuckers when they can’t manage to fund healthcare for our children?
These are the facts. Either the Republicans will be in control in January 2009 or the DLC (you know, that little group who wholeheartedly supported the Iraq attack) will be.
We need to follow the Flame Thrower…
Mukasey is back on CSPAN 3 I think.
Biodun @ 43
Here’s what really is mind-blowing:
Bush tells them that they’re pissing off Turkey, which we can’t afford to do because we need Turkey for an escape route for our troops should Bush bomb Iran (and thus cause Iran to shut down the Strait of Hormuz).
Then what does Bush do? He pisses off Turkey. (And China. And Iran.)
scarecrow @ 12
Since they aren’t going to get anything done anyway, it’s time to start impeachment proceedings. What have they got to lose?
That perpetual “Refreshing Comments” sign means it’s time for a new thread.
Phoenix Woman @ 79
That’s because he’s relevant, dammit!
Strategerie @ 56
The country I was told I lived in is gone. This is a sad commentary on the condition the United States finds itself in. The people have no voice in this government.
I know I know. I’m just depressed like some others. I simply do not understand how this simpleton Bush can have so much power. How helping children stay alive is somehow less desirable than killing children (Iraq). This makes no sense to me. I don’t know where I live anymore. I don’t understand. There simply is no way to justify this.
OK. I’ll STFU for awhile. Reading the comments here helps because I know I am not alone.
RevDeb @ 80
Ah, but the same ‘mainstream’ GOP-friendly media which backed impeaching Clinton over a dress won’t back impeaching Bush for murdering a million Iraqis. “Waste of time!” they’ll screech.
Roger Cohen has an idiotic op-ed up at the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10.....mp;ei=5087
which says basically that if the French work harder they can become as miserable as we are.
Bay State Librul @ 11
Karl Rove has something on these guys. Whatever they are hiding is obviously worse than authorizing the suffering of 10 million children.
Think the next step should be an aggressive advertising campaign in their districts demanding that they take themselves off their government run, tax payer funded healthcare for themselves and their children- NOW. And reminding them that their awesome socialized plan is paid for in part by the very parents whose children they deemed unworthy! What a bunch of dispicable bastards. It’s beyond sad what they have done to this county.
RevDeb @ 80
I’ve been making this point for months, and it doesn’t seem to get any traction. In fact, I think it’s the only way to weaken the Bush Administration enough to make any progress possible.
albert fall @ 13
This crap is being spewed on drive-time radio programs across the land. This morning GrandmaJ caught the jocks at one station, not known for being run by wingnuts, spewing this garbage.
selise @ 74
I don’t know. But is a GS so damaging that no website will promote it? Because if that’s the case than it won’t work. But if FDL, DKos, TPM all started to promote a certain date, I think there’s a chance.
From the link in 79:
Ain’t that the truth. An enhanced world history is playing out on all fronts before our eyes: politically, economically, militarily, culturally, and religiously.
Phoenix Woman @ 84
Let them screech! The Constitution is in peril. IF they can’t get that, we need to screech louder any way we can.
Biodun @ 23
Absolutely. Stop the bleeding now and wait until we have competent surgeons in 09 to repair the damage. IN the meantime, we can immediately with start Impeachment hearings and put holds on everything else.
Hugh @ 25
Amen! We’re in complete agreement. However, you didn’t mention that the Rethugs are having some success in making the Dems pretty uncomfortable though. They, after all, are reaching their goal to let no efforts of the Dems succeed!
Phoenix Woman @ 88
I wish Republicans would stop engaging in class war against the rich.
solai @ 89
there have been a bunch over the last few years…. none have yet made a difference. my point is that i don’t think all the progressive blogs have - on their own - the reach to pull something like that off so that a real economic affect is seen.
imo, it’s going to take each of us to be organizing in out own communities.
RevDeb @ 91
They are all complicit. And much of TradMed would agree with the authoritarians if pushed on the subject because they think they would be exempted for being part of the Kewl Kidz Club.
selise:
I’m not trying to be a sneering naysayer. I’m personally trying to figure out and describe the system of government we’re living under. Every seeming “betrayal” or “capitulation” or seeming parliamentary fiasco reveals it more.
One thing I’m convinced of: this notion of expecting “leadership” in Congress is a quaint narrative dinned into our heads since childhood. What we have to create is followers in Congress, of us, our “apparatchiks”. You do it by creating a party, which is what this site is trying to do. And a party is a constellation of interest groups using their economic power to exert political power. I wish I had more money to give; I don’t. I wish we had more; we don’t. Until we do, we’re all just “swirling around the toilet bowl”, as a commenter said on an earlier thread.
good luck with your primary
heh.
“sorry about the wrecking ball above your sugar castle”
Phoenix Woman @ 88
Sounds like those misinformed people are Rushbots or Sean Insanity listeners.
looseheadprop @ 33
You have got to stay with us LHP. You have amazing insight and command of the issues. DO not let this get you down! Have it give more steam, more righteous anger to change things for the better. Fight. This is not a knock out…
OK folks. The French are putting us all to shame as we speak. Their government will not do what is in the best interest of the people, and what is their response? It’s not to sit around the campfire and cry on each other’s shoulders I can tell you. Hell no. Their response is to SHUT THE COUNTRY DOWN. And that should be our rallying cry as well. Congress won’t act to override a veto that is socially destructive to us all? OK, then WE ARE ON STRIKE. The only thing that is going to get the attention of the self serving government we are saddled with at this point is to make it painful enough that they can’t ignore us.
We need to get vital services shut down in this country until Congress recognizes and responds to our demands. Enough is enough! Political leadership has failed us. It’s time for a grass roots movement, with people empowering themselves.
SHUT THIS COUNTRY DOWN UNTIL CONGRESS RECO