How will you feel once the healthcare bill is passed and the fix makes it through reconciliation?

[jefferson_dem]

[gateley]

1. Happy. How about you, jefferson_dem? nt

[jefferson_dem]

2. Oh, let's see... Here are some hints --

Thanks for asking. :)

[gateley]

6. ...:

:thumbsup:

[doc03]

3. Not really sure I have heard so much misinformation

I am not sure if it is good or bad.

[yourout]

4. Depends.....if they ram through a decent PO I will be happy. No PO and a mandate....I will not .

And I suspect there are a lot of folks in my corner.

[yurbud]

23. that's about it

[tekisui]

52. That is my metric, as well.

[depakid]

5. Glad to see them get the turd out of the living room

Now let's see if they have any better luck dealing effective with the banksters and fraudsters.

[bbinacan]

7. I don't think it will pass.

Due to the coming mid-terms.

[AlinPA]

9. A lot of the Democrats will chicken out. You are right- they are afraid.

[BlueIris]

18. I thought I was the only one.

If it passes, I will be very surprised.

[niceypoo]

47. Then they will get slaughtered in the midterms because they didnt pass it

As a group they are so dysfunctional, on so many levels.

[denimgirly]

8. Better than Nothing -- No passage and the Dems would be easy picking in November.

The bill isnt terribly good (some nice things but overall its more a giveaway) and its doubtful the fixes will make it much better (no chance for a PO) but its passage is critical if the damage is to be mitigated this November. The dems WILL lose seats in both chambers without question...THe onyl question is how many. Without passage they will most certainly lose their majorities....but with passage i am guessing they just barely hold onto it. There are too many people that are unhappy, even with the passage of it and many of which will stay home who were once enthused Obama supporters.

[mike_c]

34. they DESERVE to be easy pickings....

You say that like it's a bad thing. The HCR bill-- especially the senate version that is likely to be the prevailing model-- is a TERRIBLE reform bill. I will welcome its demise-- AND the defeat of any democratic senator who worked to prevent a genuine reform bill from ever being on the table. Good riddance!

[truedelphi]

35. Same here, Mike. people mistakenly think that

The Reconciliation process will do away with the bad aspects of this bill, but that is very far from the truth.

The Reconciliation process can only take care of those aspects of the legislation that are perhaps unlawful, or perhaps non-equal giveaways. So Ben Nelson's "Money for Nebraskans Only" proposal will be snipped out. As will Mary Landrieu's "Louisiana's Purchase."

Nothing else unless very similar in nature to those things can be touched.

This is a Big Huge Giveaway to the Big Insurers. But hey, it means that at least Barack was able to make good on another one of his pledges to the Big Monied Crowd. We wouldn't want him going back on any campaign pledges, would we?

[Raine]

71. Same here nt

[RC]

10. Unless it includes Single Payer, it is just more of the same ol' con game.

What good is a so called public option when so many are excluded and the same greedy health insurance companies still get paid.

[HughMoran]

38. .

bye. :hi:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. not the end of the line

paves the way to single payer in the end. You have to make it do so.

[Phx_Dem]

55. ..

:nopity:

[Sebastian Doyle]

11. If a REAL public option (the Jacob Hacker/Howard Dean version) is passed, I would be happy.

Anything less than that really amounts to nothing except forced financial slavery to a criminal industry.

[truedelphi]

43. if the public option is not in the Senate Bill

And it is not there, then it cannot be put in there by reconciliation.

The Keith Olbermann show explained last week that the only things that can be handled by reconciliation are minor things like taking away the Ben Nelson giveaways to the people of Nebraska (Or conversely,extending those giveaways to the people of every state in the Union, which no one has suggested though it woul dbe wonderful fo rus citizens if that is what happened.)

Only those minor tweaks will be examined and altered. Not any thing major like adding in public option.

After all, this President is in the biggest bed ever with Wall Street and the Big Medical Intrerests.

So he has to keep those people happy. And that doesn't involve extending anything to us but mandates and penalties. And high premiums and shoddy service.

[amborin]

12. the excise tax on the middle class is cruel and dishonest

http://files.cwa-union.org/healthcarevoices/CWAExciseTa...

[truedelphi]

37. But it is negative only for the middle class, and not the Upper One Percent

Say no more.

<sigh>

[amborin]

40. exactly!

[IndianaGreen]

13. another delusional rosy scenario

Voted Other.

[freddie mertz]

14. Ask me 2-3 years after it passes.

[quakerboy]

15. What exactly is in the "fix"?

I suppose that would have a lot to do with my answer. If it is a real fix, then I will be happy. If it is political window dressing, I will be sad.

That is assuming that the fix makes it through reconciliation. I have to be honest and say that there are not 50 senators that I trust currently serving in the senate. And despite what a horrible horrible mistake it would be on any number of levels, I would not put it past the senate to agree to pass the fix, wait for the house to pass the original bill, and then stab the congress right in the back and fail to pass any fix, even via reconciliation.

I am a big proponent of passing a real "fix" via reconciliation. And making the senate vote it through BEFORE the house passes the original bill. Congressmen have to answer to us, more or less. Senators by and large do not seem to have any such worries.

[truedelphi]

39. According to Olbermann's show last week,

The reconcilliation process cannot take on very much. Only very minor tweaks.

See my post number 35.

The impression that is being put out there is to urge the Senate on to pass this HCR bill. And that everything needed will happen in a Reconciliation Process. It is a bald faced lie.

But then again, our President said in October 2008, that he relied only on the donations from small individuals, not Wall Street money. and Not Big Monied Interests' money. That was a lie as well.

Being a poltician means you never have to tell the truth, I guess.

[harun]

16. What's the "fix"?

[damonm]

17. Very pleased.

We'll have gotten over the hardest part - the first hack at reform.
The 80/20 rule is at work here. We've expended 80% of the effort toward real reform, and we've gotten 20% of the way there.

Once the public realizes just what is in this - the end of "pre-existing conditions", the end of recission, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses (essentially, and end to the most egregious practices), it will be politically impossible to go back to what we had - only to go forward. And clearing this initial hurdle will make futher reform that much easier - the other 80% of the way will only take 20% of the effort.
Bear in mind, Social Security, as originally passed, would have been considered a steaming POS by today's standards - as would the original version of Medicare - but got amended, expanded and improved as it became a political 3rd rail - as has Medicare. It is my opinion that this version of HCR will go the same route.

Is this a perfect bill? HELL, no!
Is this even a good bill? Not a chance.
Is it an absolutely necessary first step?
Bet your ass. Because until we clear the first hurdle, single-payer (the ultimate goal) is not going to happen. Period.
It SHOULD have already happened - stipulated.
But there is an enormous gulf - especially in politics - between "should" and "is". Unfortunately, "is" wins about 99.99999999% of these battles.

So being an incurable pragmatist, I'll take this HCR law as a victory - the first in a series that need winning.

[bvar22]

19. Other.

I will feel the same way I felt when the "Centrist" Democrats passed NAFTA.

Mandates + No Public Option + Working Class Tax increase + Billions of Public Money transfered to Private Pockets...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

24. What you said.

:(

[bvar22]

30. Low information Democrats were celebrating then too.

It wasn't really their fault.
They believed the Party Leadership:
"NAFTA will be a great benefit to the Working Class" they were told.
And the Party Faithful cheered a great Democratic Victory and a "Mission Accomplished" signing ceremony.
(I wonder if Bush still has the banner hanging around.
Obama and the "Centrists" could use it.)

There were also voices that warned "You hear that sucking sound?"
These voices were soundly ridiculed and marginalized by the Party Leadership and their loyal but misguided followers.

Deja Vu all over again.

"If there is no Public Option, there is no reform."

"By their works you will know them."


LESS than 35% of ALL Americans support Mandates without a Public Option.

[cliffordu]

20. Like an empty husk. A man without a cause, who's lost his passion, his Raison D'ertre

Or whatever the fucking French say.

[FrenchieCat]

21. Oh my!

But look at this! That should give anyone a reason to smile!
Even one who loses his Joie de Vivre!

[cliffordu]

22. Ok, FrenchieCat, ya got me.

:rofl:

Thanks....!

[fadedrose]

50. Ah made a raison pie 3 days ago. It's lost too, somebody 'et it...

[cliffordu]

51. Well...

:rofl:

[Jennicut]

25. Happy.

[goclark]

41. Happy!

[Sheepshank]

26. and then, I'll be able to afford to address the repeated whiplash

I've been getting from all the back and forth...yee haw!!!!!

[Mass]

27. Ready to fight for improving the system that was just voted.

We all know that, even though it is better than nothing, it is highly not satisfactory. The fight is not finished, far from it.

[quiet.american]

28. Relieved, but then ready for the next round of attacks.

Because there will be attacks from the left as well as the right as the process of getting everything up and running hits inevitable glitches.

On the other hand, I think I might qualify for the high-risk pool, so it would be great to be able to finally get insurance before the year is out.

[Stinky The Clown]

29. "Other"

Depends on what's in it.

Right now, it looks like a shitty bill. Better than nothing, but a shitty bill.

[dave29]

31. I will feel like this:

http://trololololololololololo.com/

[tekisui]

53. I love this link.

I have been sending it far and wide. May it be the new rick roll.

[dave29]

58. we found it at work yesterday. It has been sent to every human I know

LOL

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. Bad makeup, bad wig, scary, ghoulish.

[Posteritatis]

69. That link is terrifying and thank you for making me aware of it

My friends will be sending you their therapy bills as soon as I finish passing it on.

[SandWalker1984]

32. Your poll left out an option - I don't think they will "fix" the bill once passed

Which, considering the track record of this congress, is most likely to happen.

THEN, how will people feel about mandated, corporate provided insurance with no other option than FINES or even PRISON?

[truedelphi]

45. In fact, the reconciliation process only allows for

Tweaking aspects of legislation that involve unlawful or unfair giveaways. For instance Ben Nelson got some provision in the Senate HCR Bill that pays for the cost of the people of Nebraska's MediCare. Since that would be favoritism, it will be voted out.

There is absolutely NO WAY to use reconciliation process to put in a public option.

Our politicians know this. They just don't want us to know it.

[Froward69]

33. ..."Other" = Relieved

[Unvanguard]

36. Ecstatic. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

42. If it passes, it will mean much stress and worry

And I will expect that one of my 3 Congressional Democrats will be able to explain how it will apply to my household within a week or two. So far none of them can. So first will come huge worry as it could be very bad, or sort of good. We may have to move out of the country. It sucks.

[southernyankeebelle]

44. Am happy for those who really need it. I already have excellent care. I have been

fighting for my working class son and family and his friends and million of others who aren't insurance or under insuranced.

[niceypoo]

48. I had excellent care...

...until our insurance company decided to raise our rates 40% for no apparent reason. Not to mention the 5000$ deductible they also added, just because they could. I have excellent care, until the new rates kick in April 1st, then Im screwed.

Enjoy your, 'excellent care,' while it lasts.

[fadedrose]

49. I hope it means I could stop holding my breath every morning checking the TV for "damage"

Be nice to breathe normal for a day or so.

[Phx_Dem]

54. Happy will be an understatement.

:applause:

[quiller4]

62. Overjoyed is more like it. n/t

[DFLforever]

56. How about ecstatic!

Especially since it will mean the Democrats broke through their curse of disunity.

The greatest advantage the GOP has over them is their ability to pull together.

[CreekDog]

57. Wonderful

if it passes and there is no fix, i won't feel too shabby either.

if they pass it, the fix and later add Medicare buy-in, looks like I have some volunteering to do in October! :rofl:

[Mz Pip]

59. relieved

I look at this as a beginning rather than an end. It's a start and for that I will be pleased.

If it happens.

[ShortnFiery]

60. There won't be ANY fix through reconciliation. We'll be stuck with the HORRIFIC Senate Bill.

This will hurt our party. The only up shot is that MAYBE we can purge out the Corporate Democrats during our LONG COLD WINTER of discontent.

[dave29]

61. cheer up

http://trololololololololololo.com/

[DutchLiberal]

63. Sad for the American people, 'cause it's one big blowjob to the insurance companies.

[David Zephyr]

65. You mean, how we feel when the insurance bill is pushed through congress?

It's not a health care bill, it is an insurance bill.

[jenmito]

66. Happy and relieved. n/t

[PSzymeczek]

67. It depends

on what's included.

[Raine1967]

68. Relieved~

And all the pictures above!

I've worked so hard for the past year. I have worked for Health care reform -- Jefferson, you know this.

This will be a huge step forward for our nation and will allow us to take further steps forward in the future.

It's not all I wanted but it is so much better than nothing. I was never an all or nothing kind of person -- I want my person hard work to pay off -- call me selfish, but when this happens, I have a bottle of champagne ready to be pooped.

It's easy to be a naysayer, and I even understand that point of view, but many of us have worked to make this happen. We deserve to celebrate.

[Raine]

70. "healhcare bill"??? Oh I see, you mean the insurance bill

that is a giveway to insurance and big pharma. x(