Political Bargaining: Pelosi's 'Sociopathic Indifference' To HCR

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:10:30 AM EST
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Here is an interesting thing:

Pelosi is planning to include a government-run public option in the House version of the healthcare bill. She wants to model it on Medicare, with providers getting reimbursed on a scale pegged to Medicare rates. "The speaker is full-steam-ahead," said a senior Democratic aide.

Speaker Pelosi is rejecting the Ross-Waxman deal that Blue Dog Ross already rejected. Of course, the normal course, insisted upon by the JournOListers, would be for Pelosi to appease Ross and take the legislation further to the right cuz, you know . . . 'health care reform' . . . 'don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good' . . . 'Dems are chumps' . . and all that. Indeed, it is time for Matt Yglesias to accuse the Speaker of "sociopathic indifference."

Speaking for me only

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Political Bargaining: Pelosi's 'Sociopathic Indifference' To HCR | 13 comments (13 topical)

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The Speaker as leader.... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by oldpro on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:32:05 AM EST

trying to find out where the parade is going and get out in front of it.

Tom Frank (5.00 / 3) (#8)
by Capt Howdy on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:44:40 AM EST

has some sound advise for Nancy:

Conservative dogmatism lay behind many of the Bush administration's worst blunders, including some of the monumental screw-ups to which conservative pundits point when denouncing government generally.
But that is not how the Democrats have chosen to respond. Instead, they pine for civility, pretending that the argument comes down to the scary rhetoric issuing from the right. "I have concerns about some of the language that is being used, because I saw this myself in the late '70s in San Francisco," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week. "This kind of rhetoric was very frightening, and it created a climate in which violence took place."
I have concerns about the rhetoric being used as well, and about the louts and the bullies who use it. But it seems clear that Mrs. Pelosi's aim is to avoid debate when she ought to be wading into the thick of it.

This whole health insurance debacle (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by MO Blue on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:56:06 AM EST

is ridiculous.

Public option is in - no it is out. The public option will be strong - no the public option will be structured so it can't compete. The public option is to be only triggered if the sun sets in the east - no a trigger is now the new public option - Hey wait a minute, co-ops are the new public option.

Time for another Obama speech to clarify his health insurance plan. Selling smoke and mirrors is hard work. :-)

I find it interesting (none / 0) (#1)
by lilburro on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:24:38 AM EST

that this is a development that Ezra did not presage whatsoever. Hope for a good bill is simply that, hope. "The Administration has a plan."

Ezra says he favors a strong public plan. Pelosi is now going to put one in.

But he didn't see this coming at all. He's actually been trying to destroy the public plan.

I think that is as good an indication of where the Administration is as anything else.

Mebbe (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:26:26 AM EST

I've always thought of Pelosi as taking her marching orders from Obama.

To be consistent, I should be praising Obama for hos good political bargaining.


That's a major point (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by gyrfalcon on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:39:35 AM EST

The whole political landscape here looks very different depending on whether Pelosi is doing Obama's bidding or is a largely independent actor. I've been assuming she's an independent actor on this issue based on nothing much more than a sense of her personality, but perhaps that's wrong.


Makes sense. (none / 0) (#5)
by lilburro on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:38:42 AM EST

I would believe he was behind it if he hadn't let the Dem Senators run way too wild. Unless his "brilliant" strategy is to only use the House for getting what he wants. I think it's smart to use the House as a club on the Senate but damn, can't you rein in the Senators a little bit?

He still may be behind this though.


Then (none / 0) (#11)
by jbindc on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 01:43:29 PM EST

Shame on her if she's taking marching orders from Obama. Of course, what was her excuse before he was in office?


His past record (none / 0) (#12)
by Socraticsilence on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 03:21:14 PM EST

seems to suggest softly pushing two sides but doing so in a way that lets them believe that they reached said solution themselves- when it works it seems brilliant when it doesn't it looks like he's lost control.


: Specifics? (n/t) (none / 0) (#13)
by Spamlet on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 05:18:03 PM EST

Not so fast... (none / 0) (#4)
by magster on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:32:06 AM EST

... Top Pelosi aide walks back this story.

: Weak tea pushback (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:47:59 AM EST

to be honest. I like it.

: Yes...as I said... (none / 0) (#6)
by oldpro on Wed Sep 23, 2009 at 09:38:46 AM EST

There'll be a new story on Thursday after the caucus meets...and another on Friday...every faction trying to move the Speaker and the caucus in its own direction.
Can't believe every leak and trial balloon!