Democrat mental illness on SCHIP

Just like the Defense bill that Congress rammed through the legislative process (without compromise) three times each ending with the same result (a Presidential veto), the Associated Press writes that they’ll continue the same process with the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP);

House Democratic leaders said Sunday they were working to gather votes to override a veto on a popular children’s health program, but pledged to find a way to cover millions without insurance should their effort fail.

At the same time, the White House sought to chide the Democratic-controlled Congress as the obstructionists in reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. It said Democrats were the ones who had shown unwillingness to compromise.

President Bush is “more than willing to work with members of both parties from both Houses,” deputy press secretary Tony Fratto said.

“[W]illing to work with…both parties” – why, that sounds like non-partisanship to me.

In talk show interviews, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer did not dispute claims by Republican leaders that the GOP will have enough votes to sustain Bush’s veto when the House holds its override vote on Thursday.

Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer promised to pass another bipartisan bill if needed.

So instead of just hammering out some legislation on which both parties can agree, the Democrats would rather waste their time making a political statement to their base (the lunatics and crazies who think that a family with a $60,000 annual income needs free healthcare). How does that help even one American?

“Isn’t that sad for America’s children?” said Ms. Pelosi (D., Calif.) when asked about the GOP’s assurances the override vote will fail. “It doesn’t mean we aren’t working hard throughout the country: governors, mayors, people who deal with children on a regular basis.

“We’ll try very hard to override it. But one thing’s for sure: We won’t rest until those 10 million children have health care,” she said in an interview broadcast Sunday.

Horseshit. You’re not going to override the veto, so why are you wasting your time? So they can blame Republicans – don’t be surprised when there’s still no bill by November next year.

Mr. Hoyer (D-Md.) declined to predict Thursday’s vote.

“This is a defining moment for the Republican Party, in my opinion,” Mr. Hoyer said, before adding later: The program is “not going to die. We’re going to go back and we’re going to pass another bill.”

Well, you’re right, Mr. Hoyer, it is a defining moment for Republicans – will they hold line against this blatant pandering by the Democrats for the votes of the ignorant, or will they do what they always do in the face of bad publicity. Fold like a cheap lawn chair. Having watched the Republicans over the last few years, my money is on the latter.

In other news, Teddy Kennedy underwent surgery yesterday;

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent surgery Friday to repair a partially blocked artery in his neck, which was discovered during an examination of a decades-old back injury.

Mr. Kennedy, 75 years old, underwent the hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery — a major supplier of blood to the neck and head — at Massachusetts General Hospital, his office announced.

I suspect they pulled a bottle of scotch out of his neck – or a canned ham. In this after-surgery photo, Kennedy seems in good humor;

Category: Politics