The more I think about it, the more I think this adoption of Republican ideas in HCR is a good idea

[bluestateguy]

It won't win any Republican votes, of course, but it might win a few Blue Dog votes. More importantly, it will make the Republicans look like whiny obstructionists, while Obama and the Democrats can say that they made a good faith effort to compromise. They will look reasonable, while the other side will look like The Party of No.

Increasing Medicaid reimbursement is a good idea BTW.

[phleshdef]

1. Yea, they don't hurt anything and it gives the Republicans the chance to vote down more of their own

[Supersedeas]

18. and they will, in lock step, without exception, b/c they have not individual ethos

[patrice]

2. As long as none of it locks any doors to OUR Future.

[DJ13]

3. It was already more of a Republican bill than a Democratic bill

When does Obama try to put some Democratic ideas into it?

[zipplewrath]

5. A friggin' men

Obama has already bragged about how this is basically a 15 year old proposal of Dole's and Baker. How about including some democratic ideas in it. You think Dole and Baker were hanging out in Grant Park?

[babylonsister]

10. Got a link or is that your "educated" guess? nt

[DJ13]

11. You have anything , or is this just a cheer?

[babylonsister]

12. You made the assertion-can you back it up? I thought not. nt

[DJ13]

13. The assertion was theres too few Democratic policies in the HCR

Single payer, a PO, cost containment......all are gone.

You go right on and defend this crappy legislation as much as you want, and I will continue claiming you;re doing little by leading a cheer.

[saracat]

4. Gee. I thought that was what the Summit was for? And that was televised!

Still don't get how this winning by capitualtion " thing works. The problem is, we, tjhe people, get to live with a lousy HCR, that we are mandated to pay for! But heck! The WH gets a signing ceremony and to pass something!
i guess I feel this should be bigger than a PR startegy to paint the GOP as the obstructionists that everyone already knows they are.We have zero to gain from this. But the Admin STILL really, really, wants to look bipartisan at all costs. it isn't helping a thing.

[Schema Thing]

7. These bills are good. "lousy" is what we have now. Or in many cases "nonexistent"

[saracat]

19. Wow. What low standards we have if this is a good Bill. Paying something for nothing always

infuriates me and the government demndiing I do under penalty of law uis beyonf infuriating. They want us to pay those who have victimized us. I wonder how many folks will pay the fine rather than be mandated?

[Schema Thing]

26. But you are wrong, and I suspect purposely so.

It's not true that this bill ask anyone to "pay something for nothing".



This bill covers 31 million new people, of which I will be one. It FORCES insurance companies to give at the very least acceptable coverage (and compared to what many people have now, damn good coverage that is secure), while not allowing them to drop you or refuse you, and putting reasonable caps on out of pocket spending. If gives substantial subsidies to lower income people. It does a host of other things to reform the system.


You don't have to like the fact that you didn't get your public option pony, I didn't get mine either. But to not acknowledge the great things this bill provides is to be truly madly deeply full of shit.

[saracat]

28. Many of those points aren't true. the isurance companies can refuse to cover expense

they just do it other ways. You apparently do not know how they work.And many of the subsidies come in the form of tax credits which aren't going to be much help for those without incomes.And there is really nothing in it to stabalize premiums.

[eleny]

6. "whiny obstructionists"

Their responses are a treasure trove of sound bites for the election season.

[dflprincess]

8. I think it would be a good idea if Obama actually supported HCR

not this insurance bail out he's pushing.

[impik]

9. If they have good ideas, then why not? That's the difference between Obama

and the rest: He's actually interested in signing the best bill possible under the circumstances.

[saracat]

20. Best possible bill? You are joking right?

:rofl: Even now that with the last round of concessions , he hasn't secured a single GOP vote, he still doesn't fight for even a PO! And talks of yet more concessions.

[Beetwasher]

14. And Frankly The Ideas, If Implemented Properly, Are Fine

Smart political maneuvering. There's no downside that I can see (for Dems), while it really boxes in the Repubs.

[unblock]

15. we have far more of a vested interest in what WE look like than in what THEY look like.

at this point, politically, GETTING IT DONE is vastly more important, than the substance of the bill.

obama and the democrats should be pretty narrowly focused on shaping the bill for passage with simple majorities with little regard for how it looks. at this point, a bad law is better than a good bill that dies.

keep in mind that bad laws can be fixed, especially if our side gets re-elected.



if we fail to pass anything, independents will NOT vote for the party of non-leading apparent incompetents who can't get their number one priority done with (deceptively seemingly) strong majorities. that not only means no health care reform, but it also means no opportunity to improve it later.

[zbdent]

16. weren't the Repugs the ones saying that signing statements were good?

They loved the signing statements when Bush was wielding the pen ... maybe Obama should make a few "signing statements" on the Repugniconvict additions (that they will likely vote "NO!" on) ...

[SPedigrees]

17. Agree completely. nt

[depakid]

21. It may well foreshadowing of what's to come in 2011

Furtherance of a tax shelter for the wealthy and taking away the rights of those injured by professional- which has already been shown not to reduce premiums, but only enrich insurers pockets.

Looks like battered spouse syndrome has taken hold of some on DU.

Guess it makes sense to get used to it, though seeing as how such timidity and "compromise" has the party staring down the prospect of losing their majorities.

[CBR]

22. This is what Obama campaigned on -- it was the basis for his

political identity. This is what I expected. BTW, I think it is a good thing.

[Lyric]

23. The more I think about it, the more I think this rattlesnake in my bed is a good idea.

My psycho ex put it there--his idea, not mine, but hey, it's a bipartisan thing. I can't have EVERYTHING my way--right? There's always a chance it could maim or kill me, of course, but it'll sure make my ex look like an asshole! Meanwhile, I'll be seen as a reasonable person by comparison. Assuming I survive long enough for that to matter.

:patriot:

[JVS]

25. Nice!

[JVS]

24. yeah putting shit in the sandwich will make us look brilliant

:eyes:

[RBInMaine]

27. He's playing chess and giving Dems ammo against the R attacks. Now PISS on the GOP.

[Whisp]

29. Obama knew these were acceptable ideas all along

but timed that acceptance publicly for the right moment near the end game.

that's my take.