RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Will that be to go?

By Pat Racimora on January 15, 2010 at 11:45 AM in Current Affairs

webRpizzaincident_edited-1

Nebraska, and Nebraska only, got a gift from the U.S. Senate. So Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) certainly assumed he would be greeted as a hero for his critical, last-minute vote in favor of the Senate health bill in exchange for a huge Medicaid tax break. Instead he found himself sprinting from a pizza joint, a fairly good symbol for the back home reception he did not foresee.

Manu Raju reports in Politico that as the senator, his wife, and guests were leaving a Nebraska pizza parlor, a patron complained about his vote. Other patrons started booing and yelling (although it is not clear from the story at what). In any event, the Nelson party made a rapid departure.

Nelson’s popularity has faltered since his controversial vote. Some Nebraskans are very unhappy about the contents of the bill itself, and others are not at all pleased with the agreement to give Medicaid benefits to Nebraska alone, apparently seeing the obvious disregard for the other states that will have to pick up Nebraska’s tab as well as their own. Other Democrats may also be suspicious of Nelson, figuring he may just switch around again.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California is joining with other governors to protest the concessions made to Nelson, referring to the transaction as a “rip-off” and Democrats “buying a vote.” Nelson’s latest response is that he wanted every state to have this advantage, but it smells more like a quickly invented excuse to mask the unforeseen reception in his homeland.

In the meantime, it’s dinner time here. So I think I will post my toon and go out for pizza. (Drawing it made me really hungry!)

  • creeper

    Perhaps we should be grateful Nelson sold out.  Thirteen states are threatening to file suit against Democratic leaders for buying Nelson’s vote. 

    If Dems succeed in shoving this bill down our throats, there’s a chance the courts will overturn it.

    One can only hope…

  • Anonymous

    ROTFLMAO – Pat, that toon is frakin’ AWESOME!!!!

    And it is 15 states now threating to file suit. 

    Excellent post, Pat!

  • Ravvle Rouser Rev. Amy

    Oops – that “Guest” was me.  Sigh.  I forget I have to sign in every day with the new system.  My bad!

  • WestVirginia304

    Maybe Nelson should have included home pizza delivery costs for his family when he cut “the deal.”

  • Solara 9

    LOL WestVirginia304!!!   :-D

  • karen for Clinton

    As a union worker who was worried about the excise tax, I don’t feel happy at all about my union cutting a deal that exempts us for 5 years for paying the penalty for the so-called Cadillac plan I have. 

    We pay plenty for our coverage.  Contributions, Co-pays and of course the value we gave up for other gains such as pay raises just to keep and improve our insurance coverage over the years. we negotiated long and hard for what we have and we pay our dues but I never would want to have this kind of advantage over other non-unionized workers.  We won’t pay the tax and they will – and that is just too much to fathom. 

    Orwell was right - some animals are more equal than others. 

    I can eat my pizza in peace knowing I personally stand with my fellow middle class workers and feel my union betrayed ALL workers by making a deal for us.

    I can’t be happy about this even though the thought of paying it was sickening.

  • TeakWoodKite

    Great pizza, Pat!

    I guess Nelson did not hold the Anchovies.
     I link a press release from the Nebraska govenor from November last to the Senators of Nebraska asking them to oppose any bill that woulf increase the un-funded mandates to the state. Nelson did what he was asked to do by the governor.
    I am sure that it was not exactly what the governor of Nebraska had in mind.

  • TeakWoodKite
  • Docelder

    Watch if the SEIU doesn’t come out now with a health plan and will offer it to groups who aren’t traditionally unionized. But you have to unionize with them to qualify for the health plan. This is a raw power grab. This administration doesn’t give a rat’s ass about anyone of us, let alone our individual health.

  • Pat Racimora

    VERY interesting!  Thanks TeakWoodKite.  I had not seen this letter.  Ha!

  • Cindy

    Great post and cartoon.
    Maybe the Ben Nelson fiasco will have a “Domino” effect.
    (sorry, couldn’t help the pun!)

  • don X

    Great toon, Pat.  Funny but also a sad commentary on political chicanery that sometimes backfires.  Seems like we have a bunch of crooks making deals in Washingron.  That, of course, is not news.

  • I’m a Linda too

    Too funny.

    So, Dem’s, like Nelson, so out of it, they think we ALL can be bought.

  • Tricia

    That’s too funny, Cindy.

  • Rich

    Wonderful Cartoon! 
     
    Let’s hear it for Nebraska voters who have more integrity than the politician they sent to Washington.  Let’s hear it for Governor Schwarzenegger and other governors who can see that giving a bribe to one state to get their vote is unfair to every state. 
     
    Only in Washington is giving a bribe to a government official, an OK way to do business as long as it is done by other politicians and lobbyist, but not OK if done by the general public. 
     
    I now understand what Obama meant by “business as usual will no longer be tolerated” in Washington.  I now see that what he meant was we will show the Republicans that they have not been doing it right and we the Democrats are the experts in giving and receiving bribes and spending money we do not have.
     
    Rich

  • Texas Playwright

    Great toon again, Pat.  Was that Hamburger Helper topping?

  • I’m a Linda too

    Oh man, the Dem’s just can’t help themselves.  Now Schumer plays in the gutter.

    Feeling the pressure, he now has just called Scott Brown a Far Right Wing Tea Bagger in an email.  So, anyone they fear politically is a Far Right Winger Tea Bagger, huh?

    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/14/schumer-pulls-tea-bagger-card-gop-candidate-brown/

  • Animal Control

    Four legs good, two legs better!

  • WestVirginia304

    Tax the Middle Clas$ here was updated to address exactly what you just said.  Thank you for saying it.  Great toon, Pat.  Good thing Ben was not in a hard rock candy store.  That would hurt.

  • lark

    Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California is joining with other governors to protest the concessions made to Nelson

    Whose is going to protest the dirty treasonous
    apostate, betraying, double-crossing, faithless, insubordinate, mutinous, perfidious, recreant, subversive, traitorous, treacherous, treasonable, two-faced, two-timing, undutiful, unfaithful, unpatriotic, untrue, wormlike

    deal Obama made with the unions?

  • Rabble Rouser Rev. Amy

    And CLEARLY, I cannot type.  That’s what I get for hurryng – sorry!

    Again, great post, Pat!

  • Steve1

    That exemption is not written in stone..there is a subclause, which says if the taxes on the others fails to cover the intial estimate of 149 billion, the exemption is subject to revision!  If this abomination is passed, President Barry Soetoro can recant this deal!  The union leaders have sold out the workers!  F@@k them.

  • Docelder

    Nothing is written in stone at the waffle house. Keeping up with them is  like trying to nail jello to the wall. All we know for sure is whatever the dish out to us, they will exempt themselves.

  • WestVirginia304

    I posted this yesterday somewhere.  Click on the photo for a closer look.  Maybe this could be Ben’s pizza delivery vehicle.

  • helenk

    http://newt.org/tabid/102/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/4726/Obama-elevated-Interpol-over-US-law.aspx

    Please understand I do not like newt gingrich and any  lowlife that can go to this wife’s hospital bed and say see you would not want to be you got a new woman has no redeeming value.

    If this article is true it seems to me that this signing is undermining our constitution.

    Larry can you give some input on this?

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • WestVirginia304

    Amish exempt from health bill?  That was just on TV.  Both the house and senate version has a provision allowing the Amish to object, on religious grounds, to being forced to buy insurance. Guess they can make up the loss by forcing Agnostics to buy policies with double toppings.

  • Cindy

    Unbelievable! Thanks, WestVa.

  • tek

    The bill appears to be full of unjust, unequal nonsense.  Now, if you have healthcare from collective bargaining you will not have to pay the tax on Cadillac healthcare.  Everyone else will pay it, because they didn’t have a powerful lobby to go to Washington and raise hell with Obama.  Obama needs the unions to get his illegal amnesty passed.

  • tek

    There are so many exemptions, what will happen is that a very narrow percentage of the middle class will bear the whole cost of the policy.  It will never stand.

  • tek

    If Brown wins (he’s polling well ahead) there will be no healthcare bill.

  • Stan Davis

    I guess Nelson got a pizza the action.

    Great ‘toon, Pat.

    Stan Davis
    Lakewood, CO

  • Docelder

    I know, and the whole concept of “cadillac” healthcare is a dumbass one to begin with. Is there more than one kind of care? There shouldn’t be. I am really more for just socializing the health care entirely or the government getting out of it altogether. One of the two. These hybrid alliances always work out bad for real people. This one is a gimme to insurers and healthcare corporations. Real people will lose in this.

  • Sandy

    Love it111

  • arabella trefoil

    When the moon hits your eye
    Like a big pizza pie

    Great toon! And hurray for Nebraska!

  • Docelder

    Here is a picture.

  • PizzaDriver

    hey, it’s clearly a business expense.  heh heh.

  • Sassy

    Good work Pat!
    I do think you flattered Nelson though. With his paunch, white shoes, and occasional badly dyed black hair he looks like a buffoon.
    He probably was totally surprised at the reaction to his fab deal, both statewide and across the country.

  • ChooChooMagoo

    Though I don’t think it is Amore that Nelson is feeling, AT.

    Great toon Pat!!! 

  • creeper

    You have to sign in every day?  That’s weird.  I don’t.  NQ remembers me.  In fact, I don’t even know where to go to sign in (or out).  Must’ve found it at one time because I’m here. 

    Maybe it’s because you’re an admin and it’s part of site security.  We worker bees can’t do much damage but a rogue admin could play hod with the site.

    While I’m thinking of it, hooray again for no auto-refresh.  Thanks, powers-that-be.

  • creeper

    Good one, Doc.  Thanks for the laugh.

  • Pat Racimora

    Ah, Sassy, I didn’t knoew about white shoes.  Darn.  Next time–and will give him a psunch as well.

  • Pat Racimora

    Ha Sassy, I didn’t know about the white shoes.  Next time, and will add the paunch as well.

  • AnnieCarmel

    Careful Chuckster, you can be replaced too.  WoW!  Would I like to see that!

  • Chicago Joe

    Read somewhere, perhaps on NYT blog, that he asked that his little goodie be deleted from the bill. Perhaps the public humiliation has worked.

  • creeper

    Evidently Nelson’s getting the message.  According to FOX, here:
    http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/15/nelson-asks-senate-withdraw-nebraska-medicaid-deal/

    he’s asking the Senate to withdraw the Nebraska medicare deal.

    I wonder if that will help him with voters or if the damage has already been done.

  • FLDemFem

    What he did with that Executive Order is make is possible for Interpol to come into the US and arrest Bush and/or Cheney should the International Court at the Hague produce indictments against and arrest warrants for them. No extradition needed, just sneak them on to a plane and off they go to be tried in Europe. THAT’S the reason behind letting in Interpol.And as you may have heard, Obama considers the Constitution to be “a flawed document”. So why would he pay any attention to it?

  • Pat Racimora

    Thanks Creeper–it has played itself out, and it will be interesting to see what the fallout is, if any.

    I make a timid prediction that he will vote against the final version.

  • Sassy

    At least 13 states’ Attorney Generals were going to pounce on the Nelson deal, so he was caught between a rock and a hard place. I’m glad that garbage is in the compactor!
    Now, who is going to crush the unions’ deferments?

  • Pat Racimora

    LOL–is supposed to be that crumbled Italian sausage–kind of pale brown also.  As for me, I like anchovies, and they are easy to draw but I didn’t want to freak most people out.

  • TeakWoodKite

    Good for them! Now I can dress in black and white, drive a horse n’buggy, live simply, in the eyes of god, and I will get an exemption from the laws of man.

    That there is a huge loop hole. And is not a constitutionally viable thing.

  • onnhl

    Dear friends from all over the world,We are a professional and reliable supplier of series of innovative,authenticand CHEAPIve written a letter of NFL JERSEYS,The Cincinnati Bengals of NFL receiver is being fined for his latest stunt donning a poncho and sombrero after scoring a touchdown this weekend a person in the NFLMLB JERSEYS,by the NFL for pretending to bribe an official a dollar.WhiNBA JERSEYS,was being reviewed during CincinnatiNHL JERSEYS.Dear NFL League Office being great means having fun n celebrating. apology to yall. This fine comes about a month after Ochocinco was docked and on Nov. 8 Ochocinco held a dollar bill in his right hand at his official,We supply all kinds of jerseys andWHOLESALE JERSEYSreprimanded le one of his catches 17-7 victory over Baltimorewith good priceandside but did not give it to thegood quality,welcome to buy and enjoy thegreatest benefits. http://www.onnhl.com/

  • onnhl

    We also supply Professional hair straightenersCeramic,ghd mk4 ghd straighteners,ghd iv salon styler,ghd the limited edition high gloss ghd iv dark styler is now available as part of the ghd dark or pure campaignCHI flat iron,ghd iv dark styler ghd hair keywords: ghd iv dark styler,ghd iv styler , ghd iv styler straighteners,CHI Hair Straightenersand provide kinds of GHD hair straighteners.shop online with cheapest 4-7 day speedy ship time.GHD Hair Straightenercreates the look you want.Hair straightenersprotects your hair while styling.We offer cheap GHD,GHD straighteners whichever path you choose,fashion GHD Hair straighteners,perfect hair and loads of style await. this type of ghd iv dark styler had good look,girls are tend to love the beautiful and fashionable things which would make them have a good mood in a daywholesale CHI hair products,they are some specail useful features about this ghd iv dark styler brandHair straighteners,kinds of GHD Hair straighteners.If you want to buy a professional hair straightener or just looking for some good quality flat hair irons,then check out our shop. http://www.straighteners-chi.com/

  • halian

    we are Professional? with the highest quality service.on-line manufacturer supplies that wholesales all kinds ghd hair straighteners ,GHD Hair Straightener is the world’s famous brands and chi hair straighteners. Our CHI FLAT IRON,To give consumers convenient,at the same time care of everyone’s hair.CHI hair straightener,?Its use is very simple,in case of leakage will automatically power off to protection of everyone’s personal safety.GHD straighteners are popular all over the world with high quality, ?When the temperature reaches a maximum,it will not stop flashing the lights, reminding everyone.competitive price,In addition, the design was very nice, very lightweight.fast delivery.Dry autumn, is the hair of the most vulnerable physiological periods.shop online for genuine & authentic hair straingtener,Welcome to visite our website. http://www.hairupstyler.com/

  • halian

    Avatar is a 2009 American science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. The epic is set in the year 2154 on Pandora, a fictional Earth-like moon in a distant planetary system. Humans are engaged in mining Pandora’s reserves of a precious mineral, while the Na’vi—the sapient and sentient race of humanoids indigenous to the moon—resist the colonists’ expansion, which threatens the continued existence of the Na’vi and the Pandoran ecosystem..www.ghdhairon.com for Shopping CHI®&GHD® Hair Styler OnlineThe film was released in traditional 2-D and 3-D, as well as IMAX 3D formats. Avatar is officially budgeted at $237 million;other estimates put the cost at $280,310 million to produce and an estimated $150 million for marketingThe film is being touted as a breakthrough in terms of filmmaking technology, for its development of 3D viewing and stereoscopic filmmaking with cameras that were specially designed for the film’s production. http://www.ghdhairon.com/

  • ksclematis

    Looks like Pizza Hut!!!—love your ;toon, Pat….I met Senator Nelson way back when Wes had just suspended his presidential campaign.  He’s from a neighboring state – red state, of course!  Wonder if he REALLY will go through and keep the bill as he signed off on, or if it was just a ploy to get something passed and go on to the Senate before the holidays.  I think he’s bright enough to know better than keep him continue going on with his crackpot idea!  Just because he had this idea put in the bill doesn’t mean it made it into law…..yet!