Concessions Dems made to Baucus' Gang of Six: The List

By GottaLaff

Because I'd like to retain what's left of my appetite before dinner, I'll give you the list, but you'll have to go here for the details. Are you ready? Pepto nearby? Check. Big white porcelain microphone available? Check. Cold rag? Check.

Hang on to your smelling salts, here we go:

• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – NO PUBLIC OPTION. BAUCUS BILL – NO PUBLIC OPTION
• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – POLICIES ACROSS STATE LINES. BAUCUS BILL – POLICIES ACROSS STATE LINES
• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – HIGH RISK POOLS. BAUCUS BILL – HIGH RISK POOLS
• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – VERIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP. BAUCUS BILL – VERIFICATION OF CITIZENSHIP.
  
• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR ABORTION. BAUCUS BILL – NO PUBLIC FUNDS FOR ABORTION.
• REPUBLICANS ASKED FOR – HIGH DEDUCTIBLE POLICIES. BAUCUS BILL – HIGH DEDUCTIBLE POLICIES.

What we've learned:

• Main Entry: bi·par·ti·sanship
• Pronunciation: \bī-ˈpär-tə-zən, -sən, -ˌzan, chiefly British ˌbī-ˌpär-tə-ˈzan\\-zən-ˌship, -sən-\
• Function: noun
• Date: 1895: of, relating to, or involving members of two parties ; specifically : marked by Rushpublics demanding and Dems caving.
  

Health Care Watch: The anti-negotiator

By GottaLaff

Via TPM:

Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), a member of the Gang of Six purportedly negotiating a bipartisan health deal, today embraced the 'death panel' canard, though he didn't use the phrase itself. Good to know he's got a veto on any reform legislation.

Dear U.S. Senate,

Time to change the approach.

Urgently,

Laffy

Republican Senator: Dems have the votes to pass health care reform "today."

By GottaLaff

Prez O is paying a visit to the Gang of Why Bother:

Roll Call reports the bipartisan Senate Finance Committee "gang of six" negotiators are scheduled to meet with President Obama at the White House tomorrow.

In related news, The Hill reports Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) believes Democrats have the votes to pass health care reform "today."

Meantime, John Conyers is asking for our help. He's campaigning for single payer in his latest e-mail. Go John!

	Dear Laffy: Everywhere I go, people ask me the same question -- "So John, what do you think about this health care debate in Congress?" My answer is always the same, too -- Single-payer health care is the only cure for what ails us. Contribute to my campaign today and help me continue the fight for that cure. That's why I designed this t-shirt. It tells the world just what I am fighting for in this health care debate. As a small way of saying thank you for all that you do, I will send the t-shirt to the right to all contributors who give $50 or more to my re-election campaign. Donate to my campaign today and help me continue to fight for single-payer health care. Congress is working hard to craft a plan to overhaul our nation's failed health care system. But as the t-shirt proudly declares, you and I both know that the cure for what ails our nation is a single-payer plan that covers all Americans. Wear your support for single-payer right on your sleeve. Contribute $50 or more to my campaign and receive this great t-shirt as a thank you. We need to show all those who are fighting to keep private insurance afloat and keep their own pockets lined that we have the most important power on our side -- the American people, who are sick and tired of the current system. So wear your shirt with pride, and know that your contributions will help me continue the fight. Thank you, as always, for your constant support for a better democracy. Your Friend, John Conyers, Jr.
johnconyers.com

Jay Rockefeller Blasts "Gang of Six"

By GottaLaff

Bad Dogs!

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is tired of the focus on the Senate Finance Committee's "gang of six" senators that is negotiating a bipartisan health care reform bill, reports Politico.

Said Rockefeller: "All the attention is going to those three Republicans... you just watch as this bill diminishes. Those three won't be there when the bill passes."

The three Republicans: Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Mike Enzi of Wyoming. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) "has insisted on their support in getting the Senate health bill out of committee."

Rushpublic support is completely unrealistic. It's about time to reject them the way one rejects an abusive boy/girlfriend. This is all about being healthy, after all.

Why, Wyden, Why? How Oregon's 'Hard-Core Liberal' Crossed to the Blue Dog Gang of Six on Healthcare Reform

By GottaLaff

Your Daily Dose of BuzzFlash:

Remember that old game, "one of these things is not like the others?" Let's play a quick round. Who doesn't fit in this list of centrist senators, recently annointed the "gang of six?"

Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

That's right; it's Wyden, classified by On The Issues as a "hard-core liberal" who sticks out like a sore thumb. But that didn't stop him from signing his name along with the others listed above in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to slow down on healthcare reform. [...]

So if his version isn't going to be passed, why sign onto the gang of six letter? What is Wyden getting out of this? Is he really willing to "break" Obama and allow the Democratic majority appear to be unable to govern just so he can be that guy who runs on the "I knew what to do about healthcare years before it was cool" platform?

Wyden has been working on this for years; perhaps he's driven by the same legacy focus as Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), though to different results. But if it is true that Wyden is willing to eschew his progressive bona fides and stand with the Blue Dogs just to get his version of healthcare reform recognized, he's got more of a narrow focus on his own personal vitae than an open mind on how to fix the broken healthcare system.

Much more here.