Will Bush propose a "Universal Healthcare Plan" in the SOTU?

[JanMichael]

Of course it'll be a bogus plan, sort of like the 3 Billion to Africa to fight HIV, but the Liberal Media will spin it like it's the real deal.

Perhaps it'll be similar to the Big Pharm Payoff Medicare Prescription Drug Plan?

Or maybe he'll propose a workable plan that we all love, and soon after they steal the election, proclaim it too expensive (With the "war", Mars & Marriage, and all.) and drop it unceremoniously on the heads of the fooled.

Either way that's my prediction. He'll announce a plan (A fake one but a "plan" none the less) to cover the uninsured.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. If he does,

it will be one where we uninusured will be forced to buy insurance from companies who have paid big bucks to his campaign.

[JanMichael]

4. Well sure but that won't dawn on people for weeks., or ever.

It'll get sold as a real, equitable, solution when in fact it'll be a load of crap and a selloff to the HMOs.

The Media will not be critical enough of it mainly because there won't be any "Harry and Louise" ads on TV 24/7 like there were when Clinton got screwed.

[cthrumatrix]

9. this and his $trillion dollar mars shot & tax cuts --- the repugs will FRY

him....they won't even vot they are soo pissed at him after the illegal workers/immigration plan he discussed.

[area51]

19. Newt Gingrich & other nazis

ayeshahaqqiqa said:

"... it will be one where we uninusured will be forced to buy insurance from companies who have paid big bucks to his campaign."

I remember how Newt Gingrich wanted to see legislation to force the uninsured to buy health insurance. It never occurs to members of the republinazi party that the reason the poor don't have health insurance is because they can't afford it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. Newt Gingrich's plan

My comment at the time was, "By that logic, the solution to homelessness is to require everyone to buy a house."

[Valjean]

23. Just like ..

Just like "Universal Auto Insurance" ;-)


Seriously though. I think Democrats should focus on a basis preventative, emergency and catastrophic health insurance. The model should allow non-profits to get involved.

[nostamj]

2. no no, not a 'plan'

a... p r o g r a m

those bushies just love 'programs' /sarcasm

[JanMichael]

5. No no no! A "Pogrom", that's what they like.

At least those f'n little brownshirt punks.

[bowens43]

3. I hope so.

It will be his political death. Conservatives are already disillusioned with bush. This would be the last straw.

[JanMichael]

6. I don't think so. Rush would support it with a wink and nod.

It won't be a real plan. Just a big business smash n' grab.

[Cleita]

7. If he does, I hope someone has the cojones to point out that

18,000 Americans a year die unnecessarily because they don't have access to health care. That is the deaths at the WTC on 9-11 times six, every year. No one cares because the deaths are spread out and not hear of. So how is his plan going to make sure that these people, no doubt the poor and homeless can get health care with no strings attached.

[leesa]

18. I think that's their plan. The more that die because they can't

get medical care or jobs, etc. the more of everything for them.

[Kanary]

25. Cleita, could I get a reference for that 18,000 figure?

This is an important point, and I'd like to be able to back that up.

Thanks in advance, if you can tell me where I can find that.

Kanary

[Cleita]

28. Yeah, let me look it up for you.

n/t

[Cleita]

29. Here it is Kanary.

At the very end of the January 16, 2004 show "NOW with Bill Moyers" David Brancaccio closed the show with some snippets among them this one:

<snip>After three years of study, a non-partisan National Academy of Sciences panel is calling for universal health coverage by the year 2010. 43 million American have no coverage. But here's the showstopper: the report says about 18-thousand people die every year in America because they have no health insurance.<snip>

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript303_full.html

Here is the website for the National Academy of Sciences. You have to buy the report from them.

http://www4.nationalacademies.org/nas/nashome.nsf

[Eric J in MN]

8. If so, it will be like the Medicare plan in which billions are

If so, it will be like the Medicare plan in which billions are given to insurance companies, but nothing is done to control prices, so that health care is no more affordable than before the plan, but the national debt is much bigger.

[loftycity]

10. Slum Lords

I think the Bush plan is to suck all the money into the Insurance companies. Let them take the whole system down...make a ton of money. And in the end let the government pick up the tab and clean the mess up.
Neo-cons are Slum Lords they will suck everything out and laugh on the way to the Swiss Bank.
It's coming from all directions all aspects look right now what they are doing to the military...it's everywhere. Wall Street is fooled etc.

[elfin]

11. Not "universal" - but something to seem to cover the uncovered

A "fig leaf" if you will. It will SOUND like a plan and even have a nifty Noonan-type name with lots of crocodile tears over the plight of the uncovered.

And it won't cost a cent because it will be paired with a draconian Medicare overhaul which will also sound truly wonderful.

Maybe there will be subsidized access thru churches and other compassionate organizations to make the overthrow of the Constitution nearly complete.

[elfin]

12. Dupe - double clicked by mistake

A "fig leaf" if you will. It will SOUND like a plan and even have a nifty Noonan-type name with lots of crocodile tears over the plight of the uncovered.

And it won't cost a cent because it will be paired with a draconian Medicare overhaul which will also sound truly wonderful.

Maybe there will be subsidized access thru churches and other compassionate organizations to make the overthrow of the Constitution nearly complete.

[lovedems]

13. I think if he does, it will piss off the fiscal conservatives even more.

They are fuming over his medicare bill not only because it is so expensive but because it increases government. We all know traditional republicans are against that.

He is backing himself into a corner big time. It is going to be interesting how his base reacts to all this big spending he has on his plate with the marriage initiative, mars. Not to mention how many he has pissed of with his immigration plan.

[salin]

14. Nah... he will equate "Tort Reform" to "Affordable Healthcare for all."

See - he promises that tort reform will lower medical insurance costs and that magically all the (mythical) savings will be passed on to those buying insurance which will (magically) suddenly be affordable to all.

[flaminbats]

15. the day shrub pushes single-payer health-care is the day I switch parties.

This is a day which will never happen...:eyes:

[JanMichael]

17. I doubt it'd be Single Payer...Maybe Oligarchic Provider?

;-)

[cryofan]

16. I hope he does. That will cause the Dems to elaborate their own plans

This is EXACTLY what we want, people: a goddamned bidding war on health care. If Bush proposes a healthcare plan, it will cause the Dem candidates to make their own plans more comprehensive. And considering how the populist/progressive taxation rhetoric is doing so well in Iowa for several candidates, it is likely that the Dems would propose to pay for it with increased taxes on the rich.

We could wind up with the Dem nominee running on a platform of ending the war, taxing the rich, and using the peace dividend and the increased tax revenue paying for healtcare for all us working people. That is exactly what we want!

[blondeatlast]

33. I'd love to see it! This is a crucial issue for me. I'm only happy with on

Dem candidate's plan. I want to see single payer universal coverage in the platform!

[T Bone]

20. It will be a TAX CREDIT if anything

but the whore media will spin it out for him.

A tax credit plan that benefits the well-off who are already self-insured and doing fine thank you. Don't have any income to even buy insurance ? Well, you won't be getting the tax credit, but you will still vote for this wonderful man of god, correct?

[cryofan]

21. Yes, probably. However, the Dem candidates also are just tax credits, too

....for the most part

[blondeatlast]

34. Yup--sounds good, but it smells like bushit to me.

[mlawson]

30. Yep, that is their only answer to everything.

But in no way couldsuch a scheme be ligitimately called 'universal'. True universal healthcare is only possible by direct participation by government, and that is way beyond the repuke limits of tolerance.

[hlthe2b]

22. No WAY..... Fake or not, his minions would go wild (Hillary comparisons)

[i_am_not_john_galt]

24. What is the story on the African AIDS money?

Haven't heard much about it since it was announced. Also the slavery/sex tourism stuff. Any legislation proposed to carry it out?

[FlaGranny]

26. You can be sure if Bush* proposes anything

that SOUNDS good, he will provide zero funding for it. In fact, as a rule, when he pushes some program as good he CUTS funding for it.

[i_am_not_john_galt]

27. Found it - 1st year was cut from $3b to $2b in congress

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/developing/072803ee.html

[snippy]

31. Yes. He will call it Tax Cut, Tax Cut, Tax Cut.

This will provide healthcare to all Americans the republican government determines deserve healthcare.

[blondeatlast]

32. Do you think it's an important enough issue for him to even bring

it up? It's one of THE three issues for me, but I don't see a lot i=of interest amongst the general public.

[snippy]

35. Press reports have said that he will bring up a health care initiative.

President Bush is expected to propose a health care initiative to help the uninsured and underinsured in his State of the Union address Tuesday, White House advisers said Friday.

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/nation/7734574.htm

[Lydia Leftcoast]

37. I too bet that it will be a tax credit

which will elicit a big fat yawn from me and other self-employed people. We are already able to deduct most of the cost of our health insurance from our gross income for tax purposes. That's not the problem.

The problem is having to pay huge monthly premiums for policies that still have high deductibles and hefty co-payments after that, and only the money paid for the premiums is tax exempt unless medical expenses reach some ridiculously high percentage of one's income.

My second guess is that it will be like one of those "medical discount cards" that is currently being touted on infomercial TV.

The third possibility is that he'll raise the limit on the amount of money that can be deposited in health savings accounts, which will be good for uninsured rich people.