FAR RIGHT IMPOTENT TO KEEP SPEAKER PELOSI FROM KNOCKIN' 'EM OUT OF THE STADIUM-- HEALTH CARE BILL PASSES WITH WIDE MARGIN

It was Day 4 in Speaker Pelosi's 100 Hour Agenda and today the topic was healthcare. "The House approved legislation today requiring the government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries." Bush is threatening to veto it, of course. Not one Democrat voted no and 24 Republicans abandoned the reactionary, obstructionist trio of Boehner, Blunt and Howdy Doody to join the majority in passing this historic legislation. "The bill overturns a provision of the 2003 law pushed through by a Republican-controlled Congress that left drug price negotiations under the new Medicare drug benefit to the private insurers who offer drug plans for seniors in each state."

Although most of the Republicans voting with the Democrats were relative moderates from blue-trending districts-- like Vito Fossella (NY), Michael Castle (DE), and Frank LoBiondo (NJ)-- others are right-wing loons who know they are in danger of being defeated in 2008 if they are viewed as extreme as their caucus' leadership. Whacky wingnuts like Dan Burton (IN), Vern Buchanan (FL), Rick Renzi (AZ) and even Zach Wamp (TN) decided that with the bright lights of public attention shining they would be better off, careerwise, to support the interests of their constituents instead of Big Pharma.