Video: Obama praises Snowe’s extraordinary self-regard diligence
posted at 4:45 pm on October 13, 2009 by Allahpundit
A pat on the head for the sum total of his Republican support on this issue, proudly echoed later by Gibbs when he declared — no joke — “We have today a bipartisan bill.” Like Marc Ambinder and Jay Cost, I’m mystified as to why anyone thought Snowe might vote no. What would she have gained by doing that when we’re still this early in the process? There are fully four more votes to come: The cloture vote on the final Senate bill, the vote on the bill itself, and then the cloture vote and final vote on whatever emerges from the conference committee with the House. If she walked away now, she’d have no further influence on how the legislation evolves; as it is, The One will have to work to keep her happy or else she’ll bolt and the GOP will hammer him with talking points about how ObamaCare’s too far left even for Olympia Snowe. Whatever you think of her vote on the merits, strategically it’s a no-brainer.
Cost is right too about how, for all the hype, today’s vote doesn’t do much to move the ball forward. Read Karl’s Greenroom piece to see why. Yesterday’s PriceWaterhouse report was a warning from the insurance industry to Obama that they’re ready to go to war to stop the Baucus bill; now that the Finance Committee’s thrown down the gauntlet, here comes the first multistate, million-dollar ad buy, no doubt with plenty more to come. Will the public support gained from today’s, ahem, “bipartisan” vote be greater than the public support lost after weeks and weeks of industry advertising targeting seniors? We’ll see, but I know which way I’m betting. Exit question: Has there ever been a more mindlessly pompous rationale for supporting a bill than “When history calls, history calls”? Is there any legislation to which that idiotic sentiment couldn’t be applied? Privatizing social security? Declaring war on Iran? Anything?
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Give him a Nobel Snow Job Award
bluegrass on October 13, 2009 at 4:46 PM
She must think that her constituents like higher taxes and bad health care, err, wait, that statement would assume that she thinks, which I doubt.
kam582 on October 13, 2009 at 4:49 PM
He is being snowed over….
And she is a blow hard.
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Well now that the entire GOP is on board……..(sarc)
grapeknutz on October 13, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Gee, Obama. Praising her for crossing the aisle is like praising the mailman for delivering the mail. Gonna happen whether we notice or not.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on October 13, 2009 at 4:51 PM
….and their eyes locked from across the room. Their darting glances revealing their hidden lust….a forbidden lust….RINO LUST.
portlandon on October 13, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Sorry…to me that is like satan sayin’ good job girl.
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 4:51 PM
ho can the GOP be the party of No if the current talking point is that the Baucus bill is bi-partisan?
rob verdi on October 13, 2009 at 4:51 PM
how!
rob verdi on October 13, 2009 at 4:52 PM
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Ha ha ha! Going to get attacked from both sides: Unions will oppose Baucus bill unless it’s changed.
WashJeff on October 13, 2009 at 4:53 PM
I agree allah; the Donks are now painted in a box. While this process is scary it is going to get good. better stock up on the popcorn.
Dire Straits on October 13, 2009 at 4:54 PM
ho can the GOP be the party of No
//
It’s the party of… well let’s see what goodies the dems will offer me to cross the aisle!
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 4:54 PM
rob verdi on October 13, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Freudian slip, keemo sabe?
He verbally patted Snowe on her pointy head and told her “Good job, now fetch!”
kingsjester on October 13, 2009 at 4:54 PM
I have the butter melting, who has the garlic salt?
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:55 PM
10 Democrats defect and no Republicans vote yes on the final bill – “In a partisan vote…”
All Democrats and 1 Republican votes yes on the final bill – “A huge victory for Obama as the bill passes with bipartisan support.”
It’s so predictable and friggin ridiculous.
MobileVideoEngineer on October 13, 2009 at 4:55 PM
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Here ya go. Hornetsting got my regular salt earlier.
kingsjester on October 13, 2009 at 4:56 PM
No you don’t, you idiot.
What you have is fourteen socialists and a RINO. If it had been anyone but Olympia Snowe, I would be just a bit surprised…but I had absolutely no doubt that she’d cave in the end.
uncivilized on October 13, 2009 at 4:56 PM
In retrospect, this isn’t ‘game over’ for we opponents of obamacare, in fact it’s not a biggie at all.
1. The dems had a 13-10 advantage in committees, so it was going to pass anyway
2. This ‘finance committee bill’ is one that the finance committee MADE. Love or hate obamacare, public option, etc., why would the finance committee present themselves a crap sandwich and then vote DOWN their own work?
3. The Blue dogs voting ‘yes’ and the RINOS voting ‘yes’ mean nothing; again, it’s the COMMITTEE bill, it’s not the final bill, besides, even Snowe reserved the right to change as later CBO scoring/budget reports came out in the next few weeks
4. The ‘big deal’ isn’t this committee bill anyway; it’s what happens when this bill is merged with the other committee bill (h.e.l.p. committee), and then what happens to the final senate version; and then what happens in the house (public option mania!); and then what happens in the back-to-the-senate compromise session; etc…. nothing unexpected happened today, and they haven’t even voted yet anyway
I still maintain OBAMACARE is DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 4:57 PM
but I had absolutely no doubt that she’d cave in the end.
uncivilized on October 13, 2009 at 4:56 PM
///
So did they,they know a traitor when they see one.
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 4:58 PM
Just need a dash. I don’t hog the salt and I like mine with a few bits and colored pieces in it, not pure like the driven snowe.
opps was that racist?
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Gee, I’ve read four threads today, and you seem to be the only one that doesn’t seem too depressed. Thanks, I need a lift to my spirits.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on October 13, 2009 at 5:00 PM
opps was that racist?
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM
///
Yeah,but it was good:)
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 5:00 PM
opps was that racist?
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Not to me. Terryonline might report you though.
kingsjester on October 13, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Bamboozler-in-chief
ndulik on October 13, 2009 at 5:01 PM
UGLYRINO
SDarchitect on October 13, 2009 at 5:03 PM
Republicans. I hate ‘em.
Bull Moose, anyone?
Cicero43 on October 13, 2009 at 5:03 PM
How hard has O’Bozo had “to work to keep her happy” so far? He functions in any area of the left fringe that no other President has ever set foot, with this ungainly ditz following close behind his every step.
The GOP will feel perfectly comfortable hammering Our Idiot President regardless of what the liberal Senator from Maine does, and having her vote against it would have been worth exactly nothing. Every other GOP Senator is poised to vote against this turd of a bill, although the Sissy from South Carolina is always suspect.
Jaibones on October 13, 2009 at 5:04 PM
What’s Meghan McCain got to say about this???
notropis on October 13, 2009 at 5:08 PM
although the Sissy from South Carolina is always suspect.
Jaibones on October 13, 2009 at 5:04 PM
///
We need someone in the wings to get him out.
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 5:08 PM
I guess I’m just more a realist:
the bill was GOING TO PASS the finance committee ANYWAY –
whether you’re snowe from maine or brownback from kansas, if you know what side your bread is buttered on, you will try to be “wooed”. if you say “no!” NOW, you’re out of the prom. if you say “yes” now, we get MONTHS more of “will snowe accept the help committee marksup?!?! will snowe be happy that the gop is forbidden from the third draft???!” etc etc etc
it gives her a chance to speak her mind about policy, and be a ‘star’, at no cost to anything (ie, no law will be passed)
The bill (public option, ruinous, etc) is STILL DEAD
Add up the red state democrats in the senate. By my count, there are 17. All we need for cloture is 0 (or 1 if snowe jumps). All we need for reconciliation is 10.
Trust me, there are 10
(dont believe me? look at blance lincoln’s pollinig in arkansas — noname republicans are trouncing her a year away from 2010; ditto harry reid, colorado’s michael bennet, etc, etc, etc…)
OBAMACARE IS DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
Today was game 2 of a 7 game series, and we have home court advantage.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Sometimes a person can be too cute/smart by half. Not stopping it now *also* simply means it wasn’t stopped now. We can debate that this allows her to have a bit more influence over it in the future – but it would’ve been far preferable for that scenario to never come to pass. The fact that it ‘lives’ at this point – rather than being ‘dead’ – means that it *may* survive to the end, and that’s unconscionable.
Midas on October 13, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Only when you don’t read it…
Seven Percent Solution on October 13, 2009 at 5:10 PM
UGH.
Folks, you aren’t listening to the numbers.
WE DONT HAVE THE VOTES
If snowe votes no, then it’s 13 for, 10 against. If snowe votes yes, then its 14 for, 9 against.
EITHER WAY, it passes.
SHe might as well play along if it’s passing nonetheless
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:11 PM
I refuse to listen to this.
Terrye on October 13, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Sorry, I’ll believe it’s dead… when it is, in fact, dead. And not until. It’s too significant, too important to play games with. And Snowe’s playing games.
Midas on October 13, 2009 at 5:12 PM
Take her Obama . . . please, convince her to change parties.
rplat on October 13, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Only when you cannot read it cause it does not exists as a bill.
WashJeff on October 13, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Not trying to be a smart a$$ but I thought Senate rules require at least ONE vote from minority party to be voted out of committee. Am I wrong?
Dire Straits on October 13, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Michael Canon at the CATO Institute says…
I wish I were as confident.
SouthernGent on October 13, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I agree I or you wouldn’t do it if we were her;
but since it was going to pass ANYWAY, why wouldn’t she stay in the spotlight?
this is a nobrainer for me.
i listened to her speech live and she HAMMERED the bill. she said she has the right to vote no, and wants major changes to it, and wants major costs reduced. i won’t be surprised when she votes against the final bill.
sounded to me like someone who was staying in the game because she wants to play, not because she likes the other team
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:16 PM
No, history is whatever we decide it is. There is no measure of right or wrong, it’s just a record of decisions we’ve made. So it was a completely empty comment void of any real meaning.
In this case, I really believe History=Rahm Emanuel, or quite possibly, History=Obama himself. They almost certainly called…literally.
stldave on October 13, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Even a sack is meaningless when your opponent consistently turns over on downs. Obama will get this through, and even without a public option, the foot is in the door bureaucratically. The exchange is sufficient to warrant a future public option. Heck, a case before the right SCOTUS makeup could force a public option by showing a “compelling state interest” for providing “choice”.
spmat on October 13, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Scary stuff and popcorn, seems fitting considering Olympia looks like Ichabod Crane.
milwife88 on October 13, 2009 at 5:18 PM
good question
i dont think that applies all teh time (maybe just for things to be done through ‘reconciliation?’), but i honestly dont know
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:18 PM
OT:
Glenn Beck has a Red Phone on set – White House Hotline
Just waiting on them to call to correct his facts.
faraway on October 13, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Thanks. Maybe someone will help us out here.
Dire Straits on October 13, 2009 at 5:21 PM
YES. Snowe’s defense of her treasonous stimulus vote,
“This legislation represents a compromise created through consensus building between Republicans and Democrats.”
Snowe is a moronic traitor. The GOP needs to throw the traitor out of the Senate caucus, and, if they’re too cowardly or stupid to do that, they need to have all of her committee assignements stripped.
progressoverpeace on October 13, 2009 at 5:23 PM
seems fitting considering Olympia looks like Ichabod Crane.
milwife88 on October 13, 2009 at 5:18 PM
//
Knew she favored someone but couldn’t place it:)
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Watch the Governor races in VA and NJ. If the Donks lose then this will be Obama next month.
Dire Straits on October 13, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Why not???
Folks, why are we all gloom and doom??
This bill is freaking dead.
It’s now taken what, FOUR or FIVE MONTHS to get a SINGLE republican to vocally agree to a bill (agreeing, btw, that she can back out if her demands for costs and budget reports are not met)…..
Other than C.P.R., we’ve seen ZERO tv ads on the thing from insurance/doctors/hosptials….
The dems have 60 senators, 250 representatives, a marxist president (enough to pass a law declaring war on Mexico and kicking Texas out of the union)……
Over 50% of americans are AGAINST it….
And if all else fails, it’s massively UNCONSTITUIONAL for the federal govt to do this (see the recent supremes decision about pot in california)
WHY WORRY????? OBAMACARE IS DEAD!!!!!!!! If it was a sure thing, it would have passed by now!
For example, the ’01 bush tax cuts (in a 50-50 senate) passed in SIX WEEKS, by a vote of 62-38.
This crap sandwich hasn’t been formally introduced yet to the house, and it’s nearly SIX MONTHS later…. with a +10 dem majority
IT.
IS.
DEAD.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I agree. They didn’t have the votes for this socialist farce back in July before people knew about it, now with 60% disapproval they definitely don’t have he votes.
elduende on October 13, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Knew she favored someone but couldn’t place it:)
ohiobabe on October 13, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Kind of an Ichabod Crane meets Olive Oil. Either way, girlfriend needs a make over quick.
milwife88 on October 13, 2009 at 5:30 PM
“When history calls, history calls”?
– Olympia Snowe
“The heart wants what the heart wants.”
– Woody Allen
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on October 13, 2009 at 5:40 PM
And Snow will make us guess 4 times, before voting YES each time.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
doubtful.
this bill is DOA.
blue dog senators from red states also vote no.
if something passes, it will be some pansy thing that says to insurance companies “you must allow an additional 300 families a ‘free’ ‘charity’ plan next year” or something goofy like that.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM
You took the words right off my computer (and outta my head !)
Can you imagine the times that the Revolutionary patriots felt all was lost? We owe it to them to keep on fighting.
lovingmyUSA on October 13, 2009 at 5:51 PM
It IS dead. Via nro, here’s a great quote from the lefties at newrepublic.. they are NOT HAPPY with Snowe!
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-stash/olympia-snowes-vote-thanks-no-thanks
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I wish I could see that, but I don’t. It will pass. It will be like stimulus. The Dems wanted $800B. Then they “compromised” with Snowe and Specter and got “only” $787B.
So instead of Dems getting 100% fully funded govt run health care they will get 98%, thanks to the Snowe compromise.
While I am pissed off about it, at least I have options. I can afford to fly to another country and pay for medical care. I am certain there will be plenty of option soon enough offshore in the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, etc. And the other thing that I will enjoy is watching the imbecile Obama voters who don’t have a pot to piss in suffer with wait lists of months if not years for getting even basic care.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 5:53 PM
My dumb comcast.net news section is labeling this as “Health Bill Passes with GOP Vote” instead of “with one lousy GOP vote that signifies nothing.”
She shoulda switched when Specter did.
misslizzi on October 13, 2009 at 5:56 PM
Like who?
Max Baucus is from reddish Montana and he’s the one writing it. Nelson is from Nebraska and he voted yes. Can’t remember her name but the LA Dem, she voted yes. There is no blue dog, it’s a myth.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 6:06 PM
2010 is going to be a fun political year.
d1carter on October 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
no no no, you’re talking about THIS COMMITTEE’S BILL.
this is 1 of 5, and of course the blue dogs on the comittee will vote for their own dang bill.
what i mean is, after the libs change it all in conference, there are roughly 20 Dem senators that are from red states/facing a tough reelection battle in 2010.
we can peel them off
for example, Arkansas’ lincoln. she voted Y in committe, but i bet a billion she votes on on the final ‘too far left’ bill. she is currently behindn in polling to no name republicans in arkansas.
ditto landrieu, nebraska’s nelson, etc….
this ‘committee’ bill is now dead. there are 5 competing bills, and the finance folks were the most conservative out there. it will only get more left wacko, and one by one the dems will vote no.
for real.
the baucus bill died today upon passage. it will never be voted on, with all the feingolds and kerrys out there to screw it up.
Or perhaps you could tell me why THIS bill will be the one that lasts, and not the other FOUR out there?
it’s dead.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 6:15 PM
The total disregard that they have for the collective intellect of Americans takes my breath away.
orlandocajun on October 13, 2009 at 6:31 PM
I actually watched Snowe’s speech on CSPAN while I was at the gym and came to the same conclusion. She raised pretty much every objection the Republicans voting no had, said this didn’t mean squat for her future votes, and strongly stressed that she wanted a CBO scoring on the final bill and a 72 hour period before voting.
My wife doesn’t think that’s not enough to outweigh the ‘bi-partisan’ garbage Gibbs and the Legacy Media are tossing out, but I’m not sure.
BadgerHawk on October 13, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Battle,
I wish I could share your optimism but I don’t.
Look at Harry Reid. He is behind in polling. He doesn’t give a crap. He’s full steam ahead. Same will happen with all the supposed Blue Dogs.
If they lose Obama will have nice cushy jobs for them in his administration. And even without that, these are die-hard liberals. They are willing to fall on the sword to get their wet dream of nationalized health care.
Turn things around and think of this. Would you as a conservative facing election vote for a bill that abolished the income tax even if that bill was unpopular in your state? I would. I’d vote for it because I believed in it. And if that meant I lose re-election so be it.
ObamaCare is a done deal. Wish it weren’t so but the battle was lost today.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 6:33 PM
To all the people writing that it didn’t matter if Snowe voted yes because it would have passed out of committee anyway –
Can a bill move out of committee without ONE (as in ONE SINGLE) member of the minority voting yes?
Stephanie on October 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM
When I heard that she said that … I thought it sounded like something Hitler may have said at one time. Or perhaps Caesar or Napoleon.
Did “history call” Lee Harvey Oswald? Did “history call” Mark David Chapman?
I mean – what an utterly retarded statement.
HondaV65 on October 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Ok, that was the one part of her speech that sucked balls.
BadgerHawk on October 13, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Spot on analysis. Dead right.
HondaV65 on October 13, 2009 at 6:36 PM
The GOP will have to be dragged across the victory line in 2010.
They are just sooooooooooo spineless.
Palin has bigger Cajones than the ENTIRE FREAKING GOP.
You girly men in the GOP…….ANY OF YOU HAVE STONES!!!!!!
Oh yeah, the only hint of a spine was Joe Wilson.
PappyD61 on October 13, 2009 at 6:40 PM
What’s up with you lately? Your posts are generally pretty thoughtful and entertaining, but lately you’ve gone all ‘traitor’ and ‘treason’. You need to settle down.
BadgerHawk on October 13, 2009 at 6:43 PM
I dunno – think he’s right. Clearly this woman is cutting deals with the Democrats. They don’t put up any serious opposition to her in her reelection bids – and she rides in like the cavalry to save their hide on important legislation.
We’ll see how this goes – but if OS and SC are the only ones who vote for ObamaCare in it’s finalized form – then it’s time to be done with these fools.
HondaV65 on October 13, 2009 at 6:58 PM
It would not surprise me one bit to see McCain vote for it as well.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 7:12 PM
Olympia
Snowe“Bo” The new, Presidential lap dog.Badbrucskie on October 13, 2009 at 7:13 PM
So why has it taken FIVE MONTHS to even get the bills ready to be INTRODUCED into the SENATE?
The bush tax cuts, for instance, took 4? 5? WEEKS from committee to BUSH SIGNING THEM
There’s something else brewing: some of the Blance Lincoln’s don’t actually want a public option, govt controlled-plan
I see your point for the Feingolds and Mikulskis of the world, sure: but we aren’t talking about PRINCIPLED PEOPLE– they cheered Iraq deaths so they could get congress back.
Don’t pretend they will bravely committ seppuku just to get ‘govt health care’
No way no how.
This thing is dead! (IF something passes, it will be a limpwristed ‘all insurance companies must provide 300 families free charitable health pere year’ or something dumb)
Let me pose the question to you: why did this take so long? Why wasn’t this passed in July? or August? Or September?
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 7:27 PM
What can I say, Badger? Snowe really infuriates me (far beyond what my comments might even hint at) and we are in the end-game, here. When I hear her ape The Precedent’s ridiculously stupid talking points, it just drives me up a wall.
progressoverpeace on October 13, 2009 at 7:36 PM
When nations go broke, nations go broke.
PattyJ on October 13, 2009 at 8:05 PM
Obama = Stroke Man
BobMbx on October 13, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Video parody: Senators Boldly Answer Call of History, Say Wazzup! http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/10/senators-boldly-answer-call-of-history.html
Mervis Winter on October 13, 2009 at 9:16 PM