Kennedy sounds so angry and sad on the floor right now

[La_Serpiente]

He was there in 1965 when they created the program, so he must feel terrible that this regressive reform is being passed. I could sense the pain in his voice. This his such an emotional issue for him, just as it is for many other seniors as well. I agree with what Durbin said earlier..."Woe on the Senators that vote for this Medicare Bill"

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

1. Democrats who voted against this should be banned

from any leadership position, and we should run contenders against them in the primaries. Feinstein should NEVER be forgiven for selling us out YET AGAIN - she's on the list with Zell Miller as far as I'm concerned.

On edit: My respect for Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd grows everyday.

[Frances]

5. I called Feinstein's office yesterday

and expressed my strong opinion against this bill. I tried all day today and did not get through.

I am so angry that I am thinking of calling when the phone lines are clear and saying that I will not vote for her in the next election.

[0007]

6. John Ensign R-Nevada change his mind and will vote against the bill...

and if we can get some dems to do the same....I'm doubtfull.

[Tatiana]

21. Did he really???

I know he seemed really conflicted on the floor earlier today. He also seems to have a good rapport with Harry Reid.

[0007]

2. He's kicking ass and Dick Durbin did a great job of exposing these ....

fucking thugs.

[dmr]

3. Yes, he is awesome

he's bringing tears to my eyes

[Armstead]

4. Screw those damn turncoats

I am so fed up with these spineless traitors who call themselves Democrats.

This sellout by people like Finestein and Brough makes me want to vomit. Who needs them as Democrats if they're going to vote like Republicans.

Let 'em go to the otehr side, because that's where they are anyway.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. First of all it's "Breaux", second of all he has a good excuse...

He was invited into the negotiations which, I'm sure made this bill a lot better than what it was if it had been entirely in the hands of repukes. Feinstein and the other dems who voted for it were most likely thinking of the reactions of their constituents. I highly disagree with this legislation and am dissapointed in the dems who voted for it including Baucus and Breaux but I don't think it's necessary to call 1/3rd or more of the caucus "spineless traitors". On the other hand, the fact that 22 dems and Jeffords voted for cloture REALLY pisses me off.

[Armstead]

14. No excuse for this

I'm fairly pragmatic, and try to keep political realities in mind. But this bill is a disaster on so many levels that there is no way any Democrat with any brains or spine can support it....If Senators were worried what their constituients might say, then they should have explained the facts behind this atrocity.

People like Breaux (okay so I spelled it wrong)and his ilk are too consistently on the side of the Republicans.

Those who voted to put this nail in the coffin of public healthcare are traitors. Sorry but that's how I feel about it.

[Tatiana]

22. Breaux is nothing but a turncoat as far as I'm concerned.

How can he possibly vote for a bill when his colleagues Daschle and Rockefeller were wrongfully excluded from the conference?

Methinks like Zell, this is about nothing but ego and receiving "faux" praise from influential Repubs for their "bipartisanship." These are old folks looking for handouts on some Republican corporate boards when they retire or get VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!

[Le Taz Hot]

25. Feinstein has called it wrong

EVERY time. Even during the IWR debate, she herself stated that she had 10,000 faxes/calls/e-mails AGAINST invading Iraq and only 200 for. She voted for. Perhaps someone needs to call her office and direct her to the AARP blog wherein one of their own members described how AARP skewed their own polls. The same blog wherein hundreds are cancelling their membership. She's too comfortable and it's damn well time for someone to challenge her (she's up in 2006). Maxine! Calling Maxine!

[0rganism]

15. Ron Wyden (D - OR) defected, as did David Wu in the House

I really think there must be some pork in this bill for OHSU, it's the only thing that makes sense of their actions.

[La_Serpiente]

8. Wow

he is really pissed. I could relate.

[Langis]

9. What channel is this on?

[La_Serpiente]

12. CSpan

you can watch it on CSpan 2 here

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

[slaveplanet]

10. We're all republicans today

'Banana republicans'

[Hogarth]

11. Gotta love him.

As has already been said, he's kicking butt!

[Malva Zebrina]

13. He has been so passionate in this

so involved as I have never seen him.

[Myra]

16. I do love him

What bravery.

All those family members murdered,
at least one murder attempt on him
(likely more), and he still tries to
do the work of a real senator, in spite
of the fact that he can never be more
than a senator. So his actions are not
a result of ambition but of conviction and duty.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. He also doesn't have to worry about his re-election...

And then again if you look at it from another prespective this may be exactly why he doesn't.

[moondust]

17. He's trying to stop a gang rape but he's outmanned,

as much of the country stands by and watches.

[creativelcro]

27. lotsa seniors were protesting in Boston yesterday

[slinkerwink]

18. awww.....poor guy.

:-(

[Kanary]

19. I'm very sad, but sending him a big thank you letter

I hope you will all take a minute or two and join me in writing letters.... this man deserves it!

Kanary

[creativelcro]

28. Definitely!

[izzie]

23. Like to see the names on vote on this.

Snowe and Collins?

[NashVegas]

24. topping

..

y'all - please help keep these threads from getting shunted to the archives prematurely. mods don't seem to be around.

[greyl]

26. "Heartless right-wing ideology" says Kennedy nt

[politicat]

29. kick

Please keep us non-TV people posted as to what's going on....

Politicat (who is rapidly running out of bandwidth for the week....)