Medicare bill just passed: 54/44

[creativelcro]

[BiggJawn]

1. Any linx on how the vote was split?

eom

[creativelcro]

2. don't know

Hagel, Lott, and McCain voted No (among the few R I remember).
Feinstein voted Yes.

[creativelcro]

3. I hope the dems use this

at least to get back the Senate or the House... Many citizens are furios about this. They've got nothing else to do, they'll remember next year...

[Neecy]

4. huh?

How does this help the Democrats win back the Senate? It was the Democrats who put this bill over the top. Enough Republicans voted against it that it never would have passed without 'bipartisan' support.

The whole issue is off the table for next year. Democrats can hardly be the party of "protecting Medicare" when they themselves allowed this monstrosity to pass.

[creativelcro]

5. I haven't looked at the numbers

But, I have not seen any Republican speak against this bill over the last two days of debate... Any relatively smart politicians would understand how to spin this in favor of the Dem party... It was good for them to prolong the debate as much as possible... I think they did a good job yesterday, during the day-long debate, at explaining the various problems with this bill...

[Neecy]

9. here's a breakdown

Republican Ayes: 42
Democratic Ayes: 11
Independent Ayes: 01

The bill would have been defeated by the Republican defections. We put it over the top.

[CMT]

10. Dang

Jefford's voted for this? that is disappointing.

[Neecy]

11. yep

Jeffords spoke in favor of the bill yesterday.

[evil_orange_cat]

On CNN Hot Topics yesterday....

both the conservative and liberal talking heads thought this bill sucked... LOL

[JI7]

13. on fox this morning also

both the dem and gop said the bill sucked.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

6. The only hope I can muster

is that by the time of the election next year, this bill will already have revealed itself to be a mistake, and voters will act accordingly. Not crossing my fingers, but if we are right and this bill is bad, that will become apparent.

[Bertha Venation]

7. hope someone will post link on the roll call --

I don't have time to look....

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. goodbye FDR and 70 years worth of legistration for the people!

[Bandit]

17. Actually Medi-care was established by LBJ in mid sixties

But I'm sure Social Security which FDR created is next. :-)

[Homer12]

12. People will wake up when it's to late

We live in an ignorant and apathetic country with criminals running it, ready to take any spoils they can get.

[creativelcro]

14. Probably true, but look, how can you blame it

on apathy alone?... The freaking bill was 5 inches thick and the Dems had 2 days to read it... Not even the experts had the time to go over it in detail... The apathy is there, but the criminal piece is perhaps the crucial part...

[spindoctor]

15. Once is enough, don't you think?

Patience grasshopper....patience.

[spindoctor]

16. Democrats who ayed this bill should be expelled from the party

This bill goes against everything that the DNC stands for in my opinion.

I honestly feel I slipped into the Twilight Zone here...how can all this be happening??