Democrats are excluding Republicans from all further negotiations on Healthcare. As I noted in August, they threatened to do it then, and looks like they are going to do it now.
I think, politically, it is for the best: The Republicans weren't helping craft an actual healthcare bill; they were just trying to tear as much out of it as they could before the Democrats finally passed it.
I also think it is better for the healthcare bill as well, since I have stated before that it was Republican tinkering that made the healthcare bill a waste of time. Perhaps without the tinkering, the Democrats can work out a proper, safe bill.
Finally, I think it is good for the Republicans. I hate to concern troll, but perhaps being ignored and left out of the political process entirely for a couple of innings is exactly what they need in order to come to grips with the fact that being The Party Of No will lead to this type of thing more and more.
Yeah... November 2, 2010 - can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI was just looking at the outlook for the 2010 Senate elections last night at fivethirtyeight.com. (The house doesn't really matter, since Democrats can't conceivably lose enough seats to lose their majority.)
ReplyDeleteWith the announced retirement of Byron Dorgan (D-ND), the Democrats are likely to lose 3 seats (ND, DE, CT) in the Senate, maybe even 4. That will put them at 55+Lieberman seats in the Senate.
Hi Jil, Dodd annouced this morning he isnt running for reelection.. Blumanthol is running for his seat also...
ReplyDeleteYeah... there's a smidgen of good news for Democrats. Dodd was toxic. Basically, he was polling 7 points down against anybody you cared to mention. Connecticut is a Democratic State (sort of) and the Anybody-But-Dodd Democratic candidate stands a better chance of winning than Dodd himself.
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