Open Threads

Sorry for the delay, I fell asleep. Again.

Two Chuck related things:

My brother and a friend both have informed me that Casey and Sarah both do voice effects in ME2.

I am a huge fan of the move “the Morgan.”

Grammy’s Open ThreadPost + Comments (98)

I don’t have any answers for you guys. My heart tells me that Steve Benen has it right. HCR will die quietly on some back burner while everyone involved declares that they’re determined to get it done. You guys have done more good that I could have hoped by even keeping the issue this long, considering how eager Democrats all the way up to Barney Frank seemed to run away from HCR like a hot fuel rod after the Coakley defeat. There was a tangible shift in momentum after that awful first day or two where you could clearly see House Democrats in particular start speaking about the issue with a sense of urgency again. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that you guys had something to do with that.

However, I’m concerned that Rahm is either winning the internal White House debate, or he’s winning it by default by getting his side covered in the press every day.

Mr. Emanuel said he believed it was still possible for lawmakers to pass the far-reaching overhaul Mr. Obama wants, though he did not offer procedural specifics. But he said he expected Congress to move on Mr. Obama’s economic agenda — a jobs bill, a deficit reduction measure and a financial regulatory overhaul — before returning to the health measure.

Steve had it right. Go slow means don’t go at all. The idea that Dems will rally together three months further into campaign season is crazy.

Readers like you have reported that a huge number of House Democrats might commit to passing the House bill, but they need some leadership from the White House, especially if the only plan for Senate reciprocation is hope. Obama provided nothing in his State of the Union in that regard. He gave no cover for PTDB in the House to PTDB, in fact fact he transmitted no sense of urgency at all. If HCR dies Obama’s happy address will provide a textbook case of the Benen model. It concerns me that in a vacuum of leadership from Obama himself, these Rahm drippings will carry more weight than will any combination of citizen calls.

But maybe I’m wrong! Maybe pressure from you and me will move 218 Congressmen to pass the Senate bill before it dies of neglect. Maybe positive noises from Kent Conrad and David Axelrod signal that the double-plus win scenario of Senate bill plus reconciliation fixes could still happen.

I’m not convinced. The fragile mental state of Democrats like Max Baucus puts any progress in the Senate at the mercy of even one Republican willing to negotiate in what looks like good faith, then back out of the deal, then demand more concessions, then keep everyone at the table for a few more months, and then get cold feet again. To get 50 votes we need Baucus, Pryor, Lincoln and Jim Webb and Mark Warner and several others, yet these guys will certainly jump for months at any meager bait that Olympia Snowe chooses to dangle.

What to do now? Can we motivate enough House members to pass the Senate bill when the White House won’t cover their ass? I don’t know. Share your thoughts in the comments. If you work in DC and would rather communicate privately, email me and let me know what you have heard.

Regardless of what you do, this by Corner Stone qualifies for Comment of the Month.

I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere but I’m wondering something. What if everyone who called their Rep during this crisis actually kept calling them? Not to chastise but to “check in” so to speak. Once a month (or maybe twcie or whatever) just call in, ask to speak to the same legislative aide (or lower level phone answerer or whoever you eventually get a hold of) and just let them know you’re paying attention and want the Rep to know you’re rooting for them (or whatever chummy message or not so chummy message is appropriate – whatever).
The point being – when a real crisis comes through like HCR, or education bills, etc a big handful of people will have a recognized pipeline into their Reps’ office.
“Hey Timmy it’s Bill Johnson, how are you today? Yeah that’s great. Listen, about this whole education bill HR666 coming up for a vote…how is Rep. Tightshorts going to vote on it? Yeah, I know it’s tough. Remember my grandson we talked about? Yeah. He’s a perfect example of who could be helped, who could have his whole life changed by this.”
Anyway, why let this drop and be a one-and-done?

Indeed. Make it so.

Open Mic For HCRPost + Comments (53)

You know the drill!

CBS Sunday MorningPost + Comments (69)

So unmotivated to do anything, and I have no idea why my arm hurts more today than yesterday.

Another Open ThreadPost + Comments (64)

Another day in paradise.

I hate every one of you playing ME2.

Open ThreadPost + Comments (121)