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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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22

Blue Dogs Stand Firm as Dems Get Panicky

Marathon sessions fail to reach a deal as tempers fray

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(Newser) – The Democratic leadership is scrambling to make progress on health care reform before Congress breaks for its August recess, but last night's marathon negotiations failed to break the stalemate—and may even have increased the number of issues up for debate.  "We're making progress," Nancy Pelosi said as she left the Capitol. But talks with Blue Dog Democrats aren't moving anywhere, Politico reports.

Yesterday seven right-leaning Dems held a 3½-hour meeting with Rep. Henry Waxman and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, followed by a late-night huddle with House leaders. In the Senate things are little better; liberal members such as Ohio's Sherrod Brown bashed Democrats for a possible withdrawal of a public insurance option. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, said he'd have a finished bill by next week—but as to whether it would have a public option, he wouldn't say.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks at her weekly news conference last Thursday on Capitol Hill.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi talks at her weekly news conference last Thursday on Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to promise that the final Senate health care bill would include a public option.
Majority Leader Harry Reid refused to promise that the final Senate health care bill would include a public option.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
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So because we want three Republicans to come along on this, we are going to betray what the American people want? I don’t think so. - Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio

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22 comments
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oldgoat
Jul 29, 09 4:35 AM CDT
Beginning to look like the millions that the health and drug companies spent against this reform is going to work. Too bad that our congressmen are more worried about their reelection coffers and being good soldiers and staying with their parties position. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
SilenceDogood
Jul 29, 09 5:12 AM CDT
It could also be the worst time ever to spend 500Bil more taxpayer money with unsound legislation. I also remember Obama saying “sign this Omnibus legislation right now, you do not have time to read it, or unemployment will exceed 9%”, you can see were that got us. I am seeing Hope and Change morph into to Fear and Excessive Spending.
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Timinator2K
Jul 29, 09 8:06 AM CDT
Measured and SANE reform is good, Trashing the whole system by rank-control-freak-amateurs and instituting yet another government "managed" corrupt boondoggle (that everybody would HATE and be ultra-motivated to kick everybody in Congress OUT) would be very INSANE.
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+2
SilenceDogood
Jul 29, 09 5:01 AM CDT
Sounds to me like Jimmy Carter part Deux. Hope and Change sounds great during an election, but in the real world real tremendous obstacles exist. So what will our smug, know it all, rookie President do now that his purple Kool-Aid is wearing off the minions? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Shannonals
Jul 29, 09 1:24 PM CDT
Rookie President? Every President is a Rookie who hasn't served a previous tour, so your statement makes no sense whatsoever.
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+1

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