With Republican Support.
Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, tells me that during her conversation with Jack Murtha in late January, the day before Murtha went into the hospital, Murtha told her the healthcare bill would not work as constructed. That it was necessary to start over and build a much smaller bill. Murtha said that the only way to do healthcare was to fashion a much smaller bill with Republican support. Murtha said the way to work together was to follow the model practiced by Speaker Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan thirty years ago. The ghost of Jack Murtha did not believe in his own leadership or in the path that the Obama administration has chosen for reform.
Reconciliation.
The reconciliation manipulation between the House and the Senate begins immediately and will play out over the next four weeks, until the Easter break. John Avlon says that independent voters will hate this game and turn very negative in the polling. The panels were mixed on the question of whether or not the GOP will tie up the Senate and do no business in protest. Avlon thinks it would be unwise. We all wondered if the Jim Bunning temper tantrum last week was a warning shot or a maverick maneuver by a retiring veteran. Reconciliation is so arduous, arcane (the rule was written by Robert Byrd in order to suit much smaller pieces of legislation in the budget process) and unpredictable a mode when used for partisan advantage that there is much room for mischief. No one much disputed that Washington will no transform into a bickering battle on one subject. Also, the polls will be painful. Salena Zito tells me that and the young and earnest Jason Altmire (below) of 4th Pennsylvania, a first-term Democrat who defeated Melissa Hart near Pittsburgh in 2008, has put out a pamphlet that features his conservative feelings but does not mention that he is a Democrat. Also, Selena Zito indicates that Murtha's 12th CD is leaning heavily toward the GOP even as soon as the May special election.
In the 80's, bright young men, deal guys, stared at their computer screens, spoke with certainty about a golden future of LBO's and high yield. They thought they could predict and control the furture to a razor's edge. They came tumbling down and we turned away and forgot.
In the 90's, bright young men, tech analysts, stared at their computer screens, spoke with certainty about a golden future of IPO's and the end of the business cycle. They hypnotized themselves with the story. They came tumbling down and we turned away and forgot.
In the 00's, bright young men, structured products guys, stared at their computer screens, spoke with certainty about a golden future of CDO's and the end of risk. They made things too complex to for others understand and manage. They came tumbling down and we turned away and forgot.
In the 10's, bright young men, congressional staffers, stared at their computer screens, spoke with certainty about a golden future of healthcare for all and reconciliation.
Word processors make a 2800 page law possible. Cantor's prop wasn't a stunt, it was a reminder. Each page can spawn unintended consequences.
The news of Murtha's intuition is stunning.
Until the next election cycle, the Democrats can do whatever they want. They know, no matter what they do, they are doomed. Therefore, they will do anything and everything to get their agenda passed.
I find it comical to hear Republicans threatening that by using 'reconciliation' it will sink the Democrat Party. The Party is already sunk. There is nothing they can do at this point to save themselves. The date of execution is set. It will proceed. The now 'walking dead' Democrats might as well make the most of it while they still can - and they will. They will throw that 'hail Mary' pass far and hard to the left. They have nothing to lose by it.
This is a lesson the Republicans have never mastered. Whenever the GOP finds itself in a similar predicament (as they did with Bush), they invariably track to the left. Unfortunately, there's never anybody out there to make the catch except guys like John McCain and Bob Dole whose war injuries make it impossible for them to reach for the ball.
http://peterkoelliker.blogspot.com/
Democrats will announce their candidate on Mon Mar 5, Republicans a week later
http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_062233524.html