The Obamanation

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

I love it. "Hello Kettle, meet Pot."

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gla...ut-allowing-ti

Obama has had numerous WH meetings (and a few on the Hill) where Republican leaders were invited to participate. It might even be fair to say that Republicans have been invited to WH meetings more in the first six months of the Obama administration than Democrats in eight years of the Bush administration (no, I dont have a link..just a gut assement).

It seems to me the health reform proposals have been subject to a quite of bit of debate in the various committees to-date...and numerous opportunities for the Republicans to offer amendments...and is likely to continue into the fall.

The Senate Health and Labor Committee took up every amendment offered by the Republicans...same is happening in the Finance Committee, along with a likely bi-partisan proposal to emerge from that committee....and on the House side, the rules will allow more amendments than the Republican-controlled House, under the Hastert rule, ever allowed the Democrats to offer. The best (or worst) example, if you really want to look back, was the Republican medicare prescription drugs legislation...where Tom Delay actually bribed a Republican House member right on the floor during the vote...after extending the voting time beyond the allowable time in order to ensure passage.

Just the facts

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

Obama has had numerous WH meetings (and a few on the Hill) where Republican leaders were invited to participate. It might even be fair to say that Republicans have been invited to WH meetings more in the first six months of the Obama administration than Democrats in eight years of the Bush administration (no, I dont have a link..just a gut assement).

I doubt that seriously. So it is most likely bs...

It seems to me the health reform proposals have been subject to a quite of bit of debate in the various committees to-date...and numerous opportunities for the Republicans to offer amendments...and is likely to continue into the fall.

Opinion, not based in fact. The Demoncrats control all the committees.

The best (or worst) example, if you really want to look back, was the Republican medicare prescription drugs legislation...where Tom Delay actually bribed a Republican House member right on the floor during the vote...after extending the voting time beyond the allowable time in order to ensure passage.

Not important, the Dems are in charge.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Opinion, not based in fact. The Demoncrats control all the committees.

They control all the committees that the Republicans are also members of. There are Republican ammendments on the bills. So, even knowing that it is unlikely that any Republicans will vote for the bill, they are letting the Republicans help shape it.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

They control all the committees that the Republicans are also members of. There are Republican ammendments on the bills. So, even knowing that it is unlikely that any Republicans will vote for the bill, they are letting the Republicans help shape it.

Token shaping. Very little input on the more important bills to come out since Jan.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Token shaping. Very little input on the more important bills to come out since Jan.

They're in the committees, have access to the bills, and can offer ammendments. So now, for you, "transparency" means not only having access to the bill and offering ammendments, and even having the ammendments accepted, but the minority party also gets to write the bill?

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

They're in the committees, have access to the bills, and can offer ammendments. So now, for you, "transparency" means not only having access to the bill and offering ammendments, and even having the ammendments accepted, but the minority party also gets to write the bill?

Not really. But being on a committe means very little if little to none of your suggestions are adopted. That is just the way it is when you have one party that has such overwhelming power in Congress. It was no different when the Republickins were in charge. I fully understand that. But don't try to claim an environment where there is transparency when bills are being Rahmrodded and Pelosi Pushed to the floor for a vote by the group in power when no one has had time to read them.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Not really. But being on a committe means very little if little to none of your suggestions are adopted.

It means you're there when the other suggestions are adopted, so crying about not having time to read them is moot.

Also, plenty of Republican amendments are adopted, even though their inclusion doesn't seem to bring any Republican votes.