Video: Reid scoffs at size-of-bill complaints
posted at 2:20 pm on October 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Welcome to the Harry Reid Theater of the Absurd. In today’s presentation, Senator Reid does the Meme Twist with a full facepalm by arguing that the only criticism that the ObamaCare plans have received is that they take too many pages of text. Actually, though, that wasn’t a Republican criticism of the bill so much as it was a Democratic excuse for not reading it:
Funny, but while I recall people using the length of the bill as an argument, that argument went to the fact that Reid and Pelosi attempted to shove it through Congress before anyone could read it. Pelosi succeeded with Waxman-Markey and both did with Porkulus, with predictably disastrous results. In response, we heard from John Conyers and Thomas Carper that reading the bill has become passe’ these days anyway. Why, that would actually take some effort and an understanding of legislative language on the part of, er … legislators.
Besides, after a season of outrage over the costs and mandates of ObamaCare in townhalls across the nation, it’s no small wonder that Nevadans think Reid is out of touch.
Blowback
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unbelievable. his mendacity knows no bounds.
homesickamerican on October 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
How long will this debate go on? The people simply do not want this extra tax.
bbordwell on October 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Here’s hoping that Nevadans “touch” Reid in the butt with their collective size 13.
Akzed on October 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Reid will be unemployed as of Jan 2011
Until then, ignore the douchebag
Janos Hunyadi on October 8, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Reid and reality are likely to never collide.
But the explosion if they do would be spectacular!
karl9000 on October 8, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Is Harry Reid saying size doesn’t matter? Now why would he be so adamant about that?
Doughboy on October 8, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Praying for Harry Reid… to be unemployed January 2011.
Branch Rickey on October 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM
THROW THESE BUMS OUT!
Tar & Feathers ……..
rabidamerican on October 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM
They’re the government of the government, by the government and for the government. Where do the so-called “people” fit in?
Daggett on October 8, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Why, yes, yes he is. A little too much information from Dingy Harry, huh? LOL
Branch Rickey on October 8, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Harry is ready for the White Suit squad – the guy is moron. I can’t wait until Nevada voters can his ass…
IntheNet on October 8, 2009 at 2:25 PM
These leftests are so far out in left field they are in right.Sure hope they all get voted out in the next elections.Still can’t believe that they still get elected to begin with. What is the matter with the voters?
Necromancer on October 8, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Yep. Exactly what I was thinking. Tar and feathers. Would that be a misdemeanor?
j_galt on October 8, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Did I hear that correctly?
Juno77 on October 8, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Hopefully the bigger the bill, the harder it falls.
fourdeucer on October 8, 2009 at 2:27 PM
please Nevada vote this little TROLL out of office….
SDarchitect on October 8, 2009 at 2:29 PM
It depends on the temperature of the tar.
teke184 on October 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Hope Harry reserved that Ryder moving van. Avoid the rush later.
GarandFan on October 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
What’s truly scary is that they don’t seem to care about the opinion of the voters.
Wonder why?
Juno77 on October 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
The size of the bill is VERY RELEVANT! The size of the bill designates more crap in the bill that has been added to steal from the tax payer and limit their rights.
SERIOUSLY DO ANY OF THEM HAVE ANY COMMON SENSE!!!????
xler8bmw on October 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Term Limits.
Knucklehead on October 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Read the bill? That’s assuming these “legislators” can read in the first place.
ConservativeJawa on October 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Someone needs to find and modify the old Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” commercial to “Where’s the Bill?” I think it would be a hit.
4of8 on October 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Hey Harry, how’s that war in afghanistan going. Are we winning?
rjoco1 on October 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM
If this pig sh*t is re-elected to another term…I pledge to all of my fellow Americans to boycott the state…..
hawkman on October 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM
So what color is the sky in HarryReidLand?
rbj on October 8, 2009 at 2:34 PM
If I were to amend the constitution one of the changes would be:
No bill shall exceed 20 pages.
.
Another Change would be:
.
All laws are to be written in plain English so that 90% of those who are bound by the law can understand it without an attorney.
The Rock on October 8, 2009 at 2:35 PM
It’s bad enough when they pass thousand page bills without reading them. Now they’re trying to pass a 0 page bill and fill it in later.
zmdavid on October 8, 2009 at 2:36 PM
It is absolutely disgusting the way the congress is attempting to ride roughshod over the people and the Constitution. Specifically, I am referring to the pending healthcare bill and the CBO’s complicity in the scoring of this sham. All we see is the facade but the devil is in the details (or in this case the assumptions and the amendments). It’s not difficult to make a program deficit neutral if you include such things as; forcing citizens to buy a product and threatening to jail them if they refuse; taking money from their bank accounts if they fail to pay; raping Medicare and putting seniors at risk; and then plundering and pillaging the national defense budgets to gather even more funds for this fiscal disaster. I also noted that the legislation won’t be effective until 2013 but the Medicare cuts and new taxes will be effective immediately . . . the farce and sham go on and on. I also understand that numerous amendments have been attached to the draft bill that the Republicans haven’t even seen. How can the CBO accurately score incomplete, draft legislation?
Now, regarding the recent scoring, just what else could one expect from the CBO? The last time they took issue with Obama he called in their boss and gave him an oral whipping. As I see it, this is a well orchestrated sham and a lie designed to confuse and pacify the people. This clandestine, totalitarian behavior is the antithesis of what the founding fathers intended and reeks of fascism. The behavior of this government reveals to me that it is blatantly dishonest and totally untrustworthy.
rplat on October 8, 2009 at 2:36 PM
When is the election?
I am going to have a friend of mine tevo it and send it to me! I want everyone to watch Harry go down in flames. :)
upinak on October 8, 2009 at 2:36 PM
What bill?
Vashta.Nerada on October 8, 2009 at 2:36 PM
No wonder this loser is going down.
tarpon on October 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
The only thing I’m outraged about is that people are still surprised by any of this. It’s like they were in a fog and
*poof*
“Huh, wha’? The government did what?!? I’m shocked!”
Like my liberal buddy the other day. He was complaining his taxes were too high already and was shocked and outraged. All I could say was “Hey you voted for it, but welcome back to the land of the living. You were a wide eyed zombie for almost 2 years. Nice to have you back.”
Unfortunately, he’s still a liberal.
alohapundit on October 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
I thought I was only opposing it because Obama was black.
Who knew!
lorien1973 on October 8, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I can’t believe these people get elected in the first place.
I think ACORN has it’s hands in more election results than we think.
Can Americans be this stupid or this lazy? yeesh
bridgetown on October 8, 2009 at 2:38 PM
I will never go to Las Vegas!
TN Mom on October 8, 2009 at 2:38 PM
You know, this is all way past being funny..
javamartini on October 8, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Time for Harry to be shaved.
txag92 on October 8, 2009 at 2:40 PM
The only legislation we need is a simple, one line bill granting Obama summary power to do whatever he needs to do in order to deal save America from the crisis we’re facing. That’s the only way to make sure we get the Olympics in Chicago in 2020.
Loxodonta on October 8, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Let’s strap Harry to one of those mega-bombs the gov’t just ordered right before we drop it.
Dopenstrange on October 8, 2009 at 2:40 PM
You gotta laugh, or you’ll cry.
lorien1973 on October 8, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Ew. Gig ‘em aggie.
alohapundit on October 8, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I scoff at your face!
grapeknutz on October 8, 2009 at 2:42 PM
What’s even more criminal is that they prevent us from reading it.
Throw them all out, from the far left, to the far right.
They’re supposed to work for us, not the other way around. They have forgotten who they are supposed to be, and who we are.
Schadenfreude on October 8, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Excellent Point.
I guess we would have to know what’s in the dang thing before objecting to it.
Why aren’t’ the Eco-statists objecting to this prodigious waste of paper?
Juno77 on October 8, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Enjoy it while you can dingy!
ohiobabe on October 8, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Maybe we could reshape our 2-party political system. We’ll have the Statists and Independents. Statists = control and ‘security.’ Independents = liberty and opportunity. Statists = =’We’ll take care of you forever (and we get to determine how long forever lasts.’ Independents = We’ll get out of the way so you can take care of your family (and your neighbors if you want to.) Statists = The bigger we are, the better job we’ll do! The Independents = The smaller we are the better job you’ll be able to do!
j_galt on October 8, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Any honest person, without a hidden agenda, could write a health care bill that would be under 30 pages.
1. Tort Reform:
a. If the doctor followed established best practices, they are held harmless.
b. Punitive damages limited to $100,000.
c. Pain and suffering limited to $250,000.
2. Insurance is intended for things that are expensive and rare, not to meet ordinary day to day costs: Therefore no insurance deductible shall be less than $5,000.
3. Medical services shall not be taxed.
4. Insurance premiums shall be tax deductible.
5. Any insurance policy approved for sale in any state shall be available to all American’s regardless of where they live.
6. Insurance premiums shall be set to reflect the behavior related risk of the patient. In other words if you over eat, don’t exercise, have unprotected sex with multiple partners who have unprotected sex with multiple partners; you can expect to pay more. (BTW I am significantly overweight. This would impact me.)
7. Medical service providers shall charge everyone the same rate. Insurance companies, employers, etc. would not pay a different rate than walk in customers.
8. Those who have preventive care can get a discount on their health insurance.
9. Illegal aliens get free treatment at hospital emergency rooms. They get deported, along with all family members when they are released.
There; 80% of the health care crisis solved without government involvement and it all fits into less than a page.
The Rock on October 8, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Didn’t you get the memo?
We work for them now – at least that seems to be their attitude now.
Juno77 on October 8, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I read a “boy” at the end of that post.
lorien1973 on October 8, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Hmmm. Exactly, who is John Galt?
alohapundit on October 8, 2009 at 2:52 PM
I won’t watch that feckless little twit because I’ve had my fill of arrogance from this Congress…if I have just one more spoonful my head will explode. And who wants to clean that up.
How many of us could go to our jobs and refuse to read a report outlying changes to the entire way we do business and then implement the changes anyway and tell our stockholders that reading such things was passe? Anyone elected official who says something like that should be asked to resign. Effective immediately.
scalleywag on October 8, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Harry Reid invoking MLK, Jr.
“Judged by the content of the bill, not the length of the characters”. Except it’s the content of the bill that’s the problem.
SouthernGent on October 8, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Loxodonta on October 8, 2009 at 2:40 PM
LOL Lox!!!
txag92 on October 8, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Meghan McCain came to my school yesterday, and she was even dumber than I expected. Here’s a typical vignette from last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shNEudrCLPE&feature=related
Somebody asked her where the evidence was that the public supported her quest to move the Republican Party to the left. She loudly proclaimed “I am the evidence. My articles on Daily Beast are always number one. I’m recognized everywhere. I am the evidence.”
Good grief.
Sixth Guard on October 8, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Reality and anti-reality, converting both to pure energy.
MarkTheGreat on October 8, 2009 at 2:55 PM
“A boy? WHERE?!?” – Frederic Mitterand
teke184 on October 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM
The claim that insurance costs, and medical costs have caused people to lose their life savings, homes etc, and put them deeply into debt, for the reason for this massive overhaul, which….if passed….will cause me, and mine to have to declare bankruptcy, we’ll lose our home, and possessions. We simply cannot afford this, as it’s worse than any insurance premiums we’re currently paying. So I do NOT get this? Why push something that’s going to financially hurt masses of people worse than it’s hurting right now? It makes no sense.
capejasmine on October 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM
We get to pay for it.
MarkTheGreat on October 8, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Secret plan to keep ACORN funded?
MarkTheGreat on October 8, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I hear that latex paint works pretty well for adhering feathers.
bitsy on October 8, 2009 at 2:57 PM
How appropriate since we do most of our bomb testing in Nevada.
bbordwell on October 8, 2009 at 2:59 PM
First of all, Senator Crypt Keeper, you have no bill.
Secondly, has the bill you think you have changed in any meaningful way? Is there any Tort Reform? Are you going to be subject to the plan or are you still trying to sell us a car you wont drive?
Is there anything in this bill that doesn’t destroy individual liberty and enhance your power? No? Then you can kiss my hairy white ass in Macy’s window.
RadClown on October 8, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Hey Allah, not only did Meghan McCain have no idea what the military-industrial complex was, she’s also never heard of intelligent design.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwcqtDTP4Cw
carry on, people.
Sixth Guard on October 8, 2009 at 3:07 PM
I’d like to Chipotleaway him!
Orange Doorhinge on October 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM
They couldn’t give a rats ass if anyone can afford their affordable health care. If my employer dumps my current coverage there’s no way I’ll be able to afford it either. These elitist pigs are so out of touch they probably think we eat Kobi beef and arugula salads 24/7 just like they do.
Because they think they’re better than us. They think they’re royalty. And people just keep voting for them.
scalleywag on October 8, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Can we put Harry Reid on a manned mission to Jupiter?
jimmy2shoes on October 8, 2009 at 3:09 PM
Well, Reid is wrong. It’s the complexity that is wrong.
That’s really a killer for any government program, because we all know…..implementation is reality.
Complex programs means impossible implementaton.
AnninCA on October 8, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Because once HealthScare passes John McCain and Lindsey Grahmnasty will help them pass Amnesty for all thus insuring a title wave of Dem voters flooding in across the southern border to join the ones already here for FREE American taxpayer funded Heathcare.
ACORN offices in every border town registering the newly legal and insured Dems!
We will have become Mexico! Alamo?
dhunter on October 8, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I didn’t get that till visiting Ace’s site. LOL
lorien1973 on October 8, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Did anyone hear the two welfare mommas on Rush signin up in Detroit? 65,000 for 25,000 apps for free stimulus money.
They said it came from Obama and thats’ why they voted for him asked where it came from they said from his STASH.
I kid you not.
The dems are pitting the lower class takers against the middleclass payers and at some point the middleclass had better say enough.
If I’m gonna sponsor 3 or 4 porch sittin, quart drinkin, dope smokin, pants around the knees, professional babymakin, lazy asses I would like to at least know their names and where they live so’s I can maybe pay em a visit and give em some incentive to get off their asses and get productive and my incentive solution comes along the lines of second amendment rights!
dhunter on October 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Me thinks, that he is making reference to his brain.
Johan Klaus on October 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM
To dream the impossible dream:
http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab276/justltl/criminals.jpg
justltl on October 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM
The object of the communist to the south, is to flood as many objects of communism as possible, into the U.S..
Johan Klaus on October 8, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Harry Reid? Manned? Surly, you jest.
Johan Klaus on October 8, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Hopefully . . . not too late! But I’m beginning to lose hope!
rebuzz on October 8, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Surely
Johan Klaus on October 8, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Harry should have moved his office farther away from all those nuke testing sites…too late now, he’s gone.
JusDreamin on October 8, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Talk me down! The dems are gonna push this monstrosity thru and freedom will be a thing of our history past! Too many yokels want the gov-mint to take carte of ‘em!!!
The dems don’t care what we think!
rebuzz on October 8, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Yes, and the object of the Fascist in the Whitehouse and many Senate Scum and Congress Critters is to accept and give them stuff to turn them into voters.
I fear we have already lost the war and our Country thanks, mostly, Democrats and a few RINOS!
dhunter on October 8, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Folks, these are our leaders. What kind of people are we?
Schadenfreude on October 8, 2009 at 3:33 PM
I wish I could watch that at work. But seriously, this moron has an ego the size of her appetite. At least if she was hot, I could almost tolerate her ignorance.
Doughboy on October 8, 2009 at 3:34 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VE2VdmceZc
RightWinged on October 8, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Who else would you send with him? I am assuming you need a man along to make it a manned mission…
Battlecruiser-operational on October 8, 2009 at 3:35 PM
They solved the too many pages problem on the Cap and Tirade bill. They faxed the final 300 pages the day of the vote.
seven on October 8, 2009 at 3:37 PM
And that is why Pinnochio is trying desperately to avoid a decision on Afghanistan until after healthcare is rammed. he has aleinated the Blue Dogs who know they will get their asses kicked unless they can round up enough new Amnesty activated voters, he cannot aford an interparty fight until the HealthScare wool is pulled over our eyes!
dhunter on October 8, 2009 at 3:37 PM
The bill doesn’t mean squat. China won’t buy anymore of our debt. We’re doomed with crap like this.
Jeff from WI on October 8, 2009 at 3:41 PM
The dems don’t care what we think!
rebuzz on October 8, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Sorry to say it, rebuzz, but the repubs don’t either.
hml65 on October 8, 2009 at 3:44 PM
The Clintons won’t like this provision…for personal reasons.
BobMbx on October 8, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Heh! And don’t call me Shirley.
jimmy2shoes on October 8, 2009 at 3:48 PM
You forgot one:
10. Each female will be entitled to one abortion, free of charge. As a bonus, the doctor will perform a mandatory complete hysterectomy, also free of charge.
BobMbx on October 8, 2009 at 3:49 PM
As I always say–TWO CYCLES,NO INCUMBENTS.
These elitist lunatics must be removed from office,then their replacements must also be removed as fast as possible.This is the only way the people can take back the nation.
Send them ALL packing,good and bad,Lib and Con,Dem and Rep.ALL of them must go.
DDT on October 8, 2009 at 3:51 PM
The medical industry just needs more competition.
“I’ll abort and fetus for $29.95″
Jeff from WI on October 8, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Well the Republicans had better start caring, or they will end up in the dustbin of history along with the demoncraps.
Juno77 on October 8, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Hey, Senator Pinhead! It’s not the length of the bill that disturbs me, it’s that it isn’t yet written (what in God’s name is “Chairman’s Mark” anyway)? What this amounts to — and you would be jailed for it if you tried pulling it in the world outside Congress — is fraudulent bait and switch. Jail’s too good for you, sir.
ya2daup on October 8, 2009 at 3:52 PM
Let’s give Sen. Durbin equal time. Yesterday, he said, “1000 pages, so what?” Real sensitive to the public’s concerns.
Sean Hackbarth
Senate Republican Conference
seanhackbarth on October 8, 2009 at 3:53 PM
You go, Earl!
BobMbx on October 8, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Obama is striving to make us a third world nation, since he thinks it has been unfair for the USA to have been top dog for so long.
Similarly he begrudges anyone who is successful in this country, because he believes they have achieved that success unjustly.
When we are all living at the standards of a third world nation, and having to suckle at the teat of government for subsistence, the Democrats will be happy. They stay in power via the ignorant and dependent.
We’re doomed.
justltl on October 8, 2009 at 3:56 PM
FIFY: can I get an “Amen”?
ya2daup on October 8, 2009 at 3:56 PM
LOL…including costs reds and metallics!
Jeff from WI on October 8, 2009 at 4:01 PM
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