This is getting riduculous. Basically, ever since Thursday, we've been promised a HCR bill and CBO score and nothing is here yet. Want to change the headline from the riduculous posturing over "deem and pass"? Release the final bill! Want to put the grandstanding hold-out Dems? Release the final bill! Want to build some actual confidence in your base that you're going to actually vote on something? Release the final bill!
I'm sure I'm not the only one irritated at this right now, but I have no confidence in the "Dems" (despite my admiration of Pelosi's abilities) to actually vote on anything until I see a final bill and CBO score. What are we waiting for? How long does the CBO need to put together a few corrections to the already scored Senate bill? How much time do we need to spend on the legislative language of the reconciliation fix?
In the absence of a final bill to start the clock towards the final vote, all we're doing is obsessing over stupid procedural tactics which no one cared about until the Dems think about (i.e., reconciliation and deem-and-pass). You know what sells? What's in the bill! Let's get the evening news discusses the "final" bill! Let's get all those inane bullet point lists of what it does for people. And some nice little graphics showing the predicted downward movement in premiums based on CBO estimates.
Also it stops grandstanding "Dems" like Capuano and Gutierrez by showing that this is the bill. Up or down. Make up your mind. Either your a Democrat or you're a "Democrat". Join the Socialist or Republican party if you can't get behind healthcare reform.
Most of all, I want to see the bill, because until then we'll keep hearing rumbling from Clyburn and others that, oh, the vote doesn't have to be before Easter, it could come after Easter. After Easter? You think you're magically going to gain more votes after the break? Force the vote, put people's feet to the fire. And do what the Labor Unions and Donna Brazile are saying. If you don't support HCR, look out for the primary challenger or third party and most of all don't expect any cash from any of the congressional committees, the unions or any other liberal group.
RELEASE THE BILL!
