Comments on: Howard Dean: Reconciliation Will Cause Public Option to Be Available Sooner

By: TexasReader

TexasReader — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:45:00 +0000

What does “for political reasons this needs to get done by 2010 mean?” I think that it means that the President and the Democratic party are willing to throw some of their members under the bus for this bill.

Please don’t insult the intelligence of the American people by calling it the “Public Option” the public does not control this option or will have no input into this option. It should be correctly called The Government Option.

Using reconciliation on the health care bill with exponentially create the divisiveness in this country. Millions of people who followed the political process now. The did not trust Bush and they do not trust Obama.

By: Jinx

Jinx — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:45:48 +0000

Oh, and if we get a strong, robust public option that anyone can join, implemented next year, the Democrats won’t have to worry about not being the majority party for a long time to come.

The plain truth of this statement raises disturbing questions about the Democrats who stand in opposition to it. There is no way to oppose this in clean conscience yet they persist in vollying canard after canard to justify doing just that. I’m left to ponder the murky depths of what drives this sorry lot.

By: SomeGuy

SomeGuy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:02:29 +0000

Good point. Medicare is so popular now, the Republicans have to pretend that they are its strongest supporters. Once we get a real public option, Americans will never give it up.

By: t0dd

t0dd — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:16:15 +0000

Yeah, just like they rescinded Medicare after it passed? Once we get a public option, it is here to stay. People will buy into it, it’ll be popular, and it’ll be politically impossible to get rid of. Oh, and if we get a strong, robust public option that anyone can join, implemented next year, the Democrats won’t have to worry about not being the majority party for a long time to come.

By: cregan

cregan — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:45:45 +0000

OK, you must realize that if the bill and option are passed with reconciliation, that there will be a ready made excuse for the GOP to alter or recind it by reconciliation at a later date should they get a majority. A simple majority will take it away instead of needing the 60 votes, and there will be no defense against it really.

And, as the tides always change (witness the huge majorities that swept in with Carter that 4 years later were a senate majority and GOP President.

By: SomeGuy

SomeGuy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:03:40 +0000

Speed is important. People will die from lack of healthcare while the ~~debate~~ Republican/Blue Dog stalling goes on.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:16:46 +0000

Err, but I don’t think any of the Senate bills treats the public option as an extension of Medicare. If anyone can correct me, please do.

By: solerso

solerso — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:58:18 +0000

exactly. he wants the power so he aims to please the big money holders. he’s a stereotypical political grifter

By: marymccurnin

marymccurnin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:47:35 +0000

He sucks up to the big boys.

By: Margot

Margot — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:47:15 +0000

“reality will always trump fear and anger.”

Wait…I lived through the Bush Years, and reality sure did not trump fear and anger then. I hope things are different now.