Senate Democrats falling apart

By Brian Kirwin | Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Policy

The health care debate may be leading to greater mental health care for Senate Democrats who are falling apart over their health care takeover.

Democrat leader Sen. Harry Reid accused Republicans of acting like the Democrats did over slavery and civil rights.

“When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said ‘slow down, it’s too early, things aren’t bad enough.’” Reid

Those were Democratic heels, Uncle Harry. In fact, the Republican Party was founded in opposition to slavery. Ask ex-Klansman Sen. Byrd. In fact, I think Byrd witnessed it.

New Rule: Senate leadership should be regularly tested for mental competency.

Pressures are mounting as a bunch of Senate Democrats are jumping off the “public option” health care takeover and demanding a national private-but-government-approved menu of insurance options, similar to what politicians have.

“The idea is for the government to lend its seal of approval to private plans that would be offered across the nation. The plans would be available through new state insurance markets, called exchanges. New markets would create big purchasing pools for those who now have trouble finding and keeping affordable coverage — people buying their own insurance and small businesses. Most of the 30 million consumers in the exchanges would have government subsidies to help pay premiums.” (Fox)

That’s the only plan that has a prayer of getting 60 votes in the Senate, the current thinking is.

Probably doomed in the public-option-or-nothing House of Representatives.

And then there is abortion, which has whiny Democrats opposing it because they say it both adds nothing new and adds horrible new restrictions on people wanting government help paying for abortions.

I watched one Senator, whose god-awful dress had more colors than a paint factory after an earthquake, talk about how the “abortion” amendment is unnecessary because the bill already blocks abortion. Then she said the amendment had to be killed because of all the harm blocking abortion funding would cause.

I would’ve gotten her name, but I had to run out and get my eyes checked after seeing her dress.

Over 3 dozen House members would not vote for this health care mess without the abortion amendment being part of it. If the Senate kills it (likely today) they risk the whole thing falling apart in the House conference.

So, let’s recap. The Senate is on the verge of dumping the public option (sorta) and protections against taxpayer underwriting of abortion. The House barely garnered the votes for passage by guaranteeing both.

And Reid thinks he’s a Republican.

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