Lieberman Digs In on Public Option

[Frank Booth]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, speaking in that trademark sonorous baritone, utters a simple statement that translates into real trouble for Democratic leaders: "I'm going to be stubborn on this."

Stubborn, he means, in opposing any health-care overhaul that includes a "public option," or government-run health-insurance plan, as the current bill does. His opposition is strong enough that Mr. Lieberman says he won't vote to let a bill come to a final vote if a public option is included.

Probe for a catch or caveat in that opposition, and none is visible. Can he support a public option if states could opt out of the plan, as the current bill provides? "The answer is no," he says in an interview from his Senate office. "I feel very strongly about this." How about a trigger, a mechanism for including a public option along with a provision saying it won't be used unless private insurance plans aren't spreading coverage far and fast enough? No again.

So any version of a public option will compel Mr. Lieberman to vote against bringing a bill to a final vote? "Correct," he says.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125900412679261049.html?mod=igoogle_wsj_gadgv1&

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Letting him keep his chairmanship sure worked out well. . . .

[bluestateguy]

1. R-e-c-o-n-c-i-l-i-a-t-i-o-n

By opposing even a trigger his position is officially worse than Oly Snowe.

[msongs]

2. evidently kissing republican butt is not working out as a strategy, eh ? nt

[Bolo Boffin]

3. The Revenge of Lieberman

When the Republicans take back over the Senate, Lieberman will switch parties and keep his power.

[Frank Booth]

5. Revenge for what?

Democrats have bent over backwards to kiss this scumbag's ass, and he thanks them by plunging knives in their backs.

[Bolo Boffin]

13. See, you're looking at this like a reasonable person.

Look at it from Lieberman's perspective.

[peacebird]

4. pull his chairmanships already.

good grief - he ran AGAINST the dem who won the primary, he has proven himself a dino repeatedly since. What possible downside is there?

that he won't vote with us?!? as if he were now... :eyes:

[AlinPA]

12. He stood on a stage with Palin as she called Obama a terrorist and he smiled,

nodding his head in agreement as the fans of Palin and him shouted "kill him". We want this snake in our caucus?

[peacebird]

30. I don't, and even if "we" did - he clearly isn't. Holy Joe worships himself

he delights in being "courted" by Reid for the mythical majority vote...

[saigon68]

34. He's "Laying the Lumber" to Reid and the others

[JDPriestly]

6. Does the Israeli Health Care law sound like the reform proposed in the Senate

but without a public option?

National Health Insurance


The National Health Insurance Law, in effect since January 1995, sets forth the state's responsibility to provide health services for all residents of the country (not including tourists). Until the introduction of this law, the majority of residents had been insured by one of four comprehensive health-care organizations; the law stipulates that a standardized basket of medical services (including hospitalization), will continue to be supplied by those health-care organizations.


Provisions of the law

Every resident must register as a member with one of the health-care organizations.
The health-care organizations may not bar applicants on any ground, including age or state of health.
Residents who had been insured with one of these organizations before the law came into effect, will continue to be members of that organization.
Residents who had not been insured prior to the law taking effect, are assigned to a health-care organization by the Ministry of Health. After a period of six months they may transfer to another organization of their choice.
Spouses may each register in a different organization. Children under 18 belong to the organization of the parent who is receiving child benefits from the National Insurance Institute.
Israeli citizens who have been living abroad for more than five years and have not spent more than 90 days in Israel must renew registration with a health-care organization upon their return to Israel.
New immigrants must register with a health-care organization upon arrival in the country. They will be exempt from payment during their first year in Israel.
Any person registered for at least one year with one of the health-care organizations, may transfer to another organization.
The law accords equal status to all four health-care organizations.


http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1998/7/National%20Health%20Insurance

Is this what the proposed health care plan for the U.S. is patterned after? Interesting.

[safeinOhio]

24. Their HC plan is paid for with several billion

in USA aid. Joe is so worried about out of control spending, I think we may be able to come up with some new ways to control it. Spending on the wars in the Middle East, wasteful spending on antiterrorism and all the other Joe issues. I wish someone would point these out to him.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. The Plan To Treat Him Gingerly Is Paying Dividends

For the Republicans.

[MurrayDelph]

20. I think he SHOULD be treated gingerly

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=ac06eaac-1cb1-4ee7-8e17-a9b8b314af71

'Kick a ginger' day left redheads with legs covered in bruises

BRITISH COLUMBIA — When Nanaimo high school student Aaron Mishkin appeared for classes Thursday, he heard his classmates talking about “kick-a-ginger day.”

[madrchsod]

8. grow some balls harry-- public option and go with 50 votes

strip that whiny piece of crap of his chairmanship and let the rethugs have him.

[Champion Jack]

27. Yes indeed

[budkin]

9. I'd like to dig into his skull...

[SoapBox]

10. CONTACT him and tell him what you think

Contact his offices and tell him what you think of him and his position:

http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/

Washington
706 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
[phone] Voice
[phone] Fax
For TTY Call 711

Connecticut
One Constitution Plaza
7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
[phone] Voice
[phone] In CT

[beltanefauve]

15. Unfortunately,

his offices only accept calls and e mails from his constituents. But you can try using my yuppie BIL's zip code: 06333. This is the Groton-New London area. Many people in this area seem to credit Lieberman for saving their sub base. Also, Rob Simmons (R) used to rep this district, and he's running against Dodd for the Senate.

Or, you can try something else: http://www.seiu.org/a/healthcare/adopt-a-state.php?source=truemaj&subsource=email

This is an adopt-a-state phone outreach program. I just got the e mail for this today, and details are to follow, but it looks like you'll be able to adopt Lieberman's state, or Blanche Lincoln's or Ben Nelson's and urge their constituents to make calls and send e mails.

Oh, and a hearty Welcome to DU to you! :toast: I look forward to seeing you around!

[SoapBox]

18. Thank you!

Thank you for the welcome! I love DU...

I did get to leave a voicemail on his D.C. phone number.

And that thing where some from Congress make the email look like it
is restricted to the zip code from their districts...burns my butt!

I should have mentioned in my post about using the CT office zip code
or such...thanks for posting that!

[jaysunb]

11. No problem, Joe

This is going to go to reconciliation anyway, so we won't be needing your sorry ass.

Oh, and about that chairmanship.....:evilfrown:

[DallasNE]

14. Nobody Thought A Health Care Bill

Would make it this far. I'm not throwing in the towel. Not by a long shot.

One thing that will help is a healing economy. This will make the CBO numbers more favorable with the passage of time. Besides, a lot of Senators like to grandstand. Lieberman is near the top of the pack in that regard. Let's just wait and see how this plays out.

[okieinpain]

36. why fuss at old joe. everyone here it's really obama's fault. n/t/.

[earcandle]

16. I don't think a Democracy is made of up single people who have this much power.

can we override this guy? or have Obama tell him to vote as a
Democrat if he is going to hold important offices for our
party? 

[beyurslf]

17. Strip him of his chairmanship and all seniority. If, and only if, he votes for cloture

can he have it back. I am tired of saying he should lose it if he votes against it. Take it now just for threatening. Same thing with the so-called Dems who are blackmailing leadership into this. Strip them of everything and tell them to take a hike or vote for the damn bill. Come on Harry!

[droidamus2]

19. Well?

If Lieberman keeps digging when the hole gets deep enough can we just throw the dirt in after him?

[Xolodno]

21. Not Surprised....

Not trying to defend him (although its going to sound like it), but, when Democrats across the nation donated to fund his primary challenger...he went off the deep end. I'm betting he knows he's not going to be around for another term and is very bitter about it, so he's going to stick it to everyone he can.

I take some solace that the same thing is happening the Republicans right now. These "primary challengers" due to some incumbent not being "conservative" enough will come back to bite them in the ass.

[krispos42]

22. I can't post what I'm thinking about him right now

Getting a post pulled for national security reasons is not a good thing.

But I'm thinking it real fucking hard. :grr:

[DonkeyHoTay]

32. Why has he been permitted to retain membership in the party?...

Let alone his chairmanship...

He is a pariah and should be treated as such... totally ignored and marginalized!

[krispos42]

35. Because in DC there is no punishment for acting like a callus asshole

God, do we need IRV!

[truthisfreedom]

23. Sometimes a dog pulls against the leash.

What's new.

[daggahead]

25. Fuck you Joe n/t

[Joe Bacon]

26. LUCK FIEBERMAN BEFORE HE YUCKS FOU AGAIN!

He's just the ultimate attention whore.

[goclark]

28. How much payola is he getting?

They need to make it public ~

I thought his wife worked for a HealthCompany.

[RedCloud]

29. Oh just make Lieberman the fucking POTUS and be done with it.

Most powerful asshole on this planet and totally full of shit.

[classysassy]

31. The old good cop bad cop

game and the suckers still fall for it.Wake up people Joe is playing the role of the bad cop,Reid and the rest of the paid for pols are still laughing their evil asses off on the way to the bank.

[Kablooie]

33. He will prevent it from happening until elections next year when the GOP win more seats

And we lose the 60 votes so the whole health care thing vanishes into smoke ... once more.

[unkachuck]

37. "I'm going to be stubborn on this."... "The answer is no,"

....I'm afraid it's going to take many election cycles to rid ourselves of blue dog scum and dregs like traitor joe....but we must; we must return our country from the evil grip of corporate domination back into the hands of our people....

....and if the Dems are not up to doing the peoples business, then we must find somebody who is....

[opihimoimoi]

38. He has just FUCKED THE GOP ...He has DOOMED THEM and Himself to an eternity with Glenn Beck