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Grijalva Pans Ping Pong Plan

Via Greg Sargent:

In a statement, Rep Raul Grijalva, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, criticized the scheme and complained he hadn’t even been consulted yet:

I am disappointed that there will be no formal conference process by which various constituencies can impact the discussion. I have not been approached about my concerns with the Senate bill, and I will be raising those at the Democratic Caucus meeting on Thursday. I and other progressives saw a conference as a means to improve the bill and have a real debate, and now with this behind-the-scenes approach, we’re concerned even more.”

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  • Display: Sort:
    I'm glad he's making a fuss (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by andgarden on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:01:18 PM EST
    but honestly, nobody really thought he would have input to a real conference either.

    At least, I didn't.

    Ben Nelson reserved his right (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by inclusiveheart on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:09:49 PM EST
    to filibuster a revised bill.  Meanwhile, the Progressive Caucus in the House remained silent.  That was clue number one that this conference was going to be cursory at best.  Clue number two was that the White House seems to really prefer the Senate bill and they are going to do everything they can to prevent the progressives from messing up their plan.

    Parent
    The Pres. sd. he is going to roll up (none / 0) (#4)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:13:44 PM EST
    his sleeves.

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    The Pres. (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Zorba on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:53:14 PM EST
    "says" a whole lot.  Less talk, more action.  ;-)

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    In a recent NPR interview (none / 0) (#6)
    by lilburro on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:27:35 PM EST
    Obama was extolling the virtues of the excise tax.  It's not just that he seems to prefer it anymore - he really does.

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    When he rolls up his sleeves (none / 0) (#17)
    by cal1942 on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 01:32:43 AM EST
    we should all take cover.

    The excise is criminal.

    Is anyone really surprised?

    Parent

    Rep Raul Grijalva and the other members (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:00:10 PM EST
    of the Congressional Progressive Caucus could vote "NO" on the legislation. Since all indications are that enough of the caucus will vote "Yea" so that the bill will pass, why should they be consulted. Words without actions are pretty meaningless.

    That has been (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Zorba on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:15:04 PM EST
    the case all along, MO Blue.  "Words without actions."

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    Is that right? (none / 0) (#18)
    by allys gift on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:24:36 AM EST
    All 83 of the CPC could vote no and it would pass?  Are you sure?  What's the real tally?  Is there any chance at all to kill it from the left?

    Parent
    Tell me (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:23:12 PM EST
    I could not make a living as a Variety headline writer?

    Very cute, (none / 0) (#10)
    by Zorba on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 05:52:00 PM EST
    BTD.  Although it would have been even better if Grijalva's name started with a "P."  

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    You consistently write (none / 0) (#14)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 07:57:43 PM EST
    the best headlines in the blogosphere, IMO.

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    Stop (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 08:08:03 PM EST
    His head is already so fat.  All he has to do is sit here and not get emotionally attached to any one politician and he beats everyone hands down outside of Greenwald and Digby.  And he isn't afraid to say that he'll slap a terrorists hand.  He is a get the indy vote wet dream :)

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    I was just thinking that as I scanned (none / 0) (#16)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 09:20:38 PM EST
    the TL sidebar.  Got to make it short and pithy.  

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    Panning Ping Pong Plan (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Anne on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 06:31:10 PM EST
    Packs Pitiful Punch...

    But the good news is that if Grijalva added some pots to his pans, he'd have the makings of a real kitchen...as it is, I guess my reaction is that his comments are about as meaningful as the "sternly-worded letter."

    Someone (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 07:14:44 PM EST
    is this the sternly worded letter? or is that still coming.

    We were recently warned about this. (none / 0) (#3)
    by ChiTownDenny on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:12:00 PM EST
    Interesting how all those rumors about HCR have proved to be true.

    Most rumors about political strategy (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by inclusiveheart on Mon Jan 04, 2010 at 04:22:59 PM EST
    in DC have the to be true.  The only difference between the ones that turn out to be true and the ones that never come to pass is whether or not the trial balloon failed - failure being defined as significant push back.  When they can quash opposition even by saying "that's not going to ever happen", they've bought themselves time to go ahead and do it if they want.

    That's how the GOP got so much pernicious stuff passed essentially under the radar.  The rumor would surface; then there would be a few people sounding the alarm; then the folks in favor of the policy would call them crazy for even suggesting it; and then after the questions subsided, they would proceed quietly and deliberately.  

    Parent