TPMDC
Few Know Details Of Health Care Deal But Aides Say Public Option 'Not Dead'
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
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Other news outlets are walking back reports that the public option has been scotched from the Senate health care bill, after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid insisted the popular provision is still alive.
Apparently the confusion isn't just among the news outlets.
We hear from a Senate Democratic aide that offices are being deluged with calls after the "tentative deal" the health care gang of 10 reached tonight.
The aide tells TPMDC even Reid senior staff are trying to piece it together.
The bottom line is they "swear" the public option is "not dead," the aide said.
"Few outside ten members themselves have details, including Reid," the aide said, adding that staffers were kicked out of the negotiating room when they neared a deal.
Late Update: The White House team says they are pleased.
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kash79
December 8, 2009 10:06 PM
Elvis is not dead either, if corpse is the only accepted evidence.
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theone718
December 8, 2009 10:11 PM
It's going to be a trigger. This I know, this I know pisses me off.
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Bleacher Creature
December 8, 2009 10:12 PM
What's the name of Roy Rogers' horse again???
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SpiderPig
December 8, 2009 10:13 PM
There's a very high likelyhood that the public option may or may not be dead.
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CityGuy
December 8, 2009 10:18 PM in reply to SpiderPig
Well that's assuming quite a lot on your part, isn't it! But seriously, I can hear the sound all the way out here in Missouri. They're caving in Washington.
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SpiderPig
December 8, 2009 10:25 PM in reply to CityGuy
MO here too!
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CityGuy
December 8, 2009 10:29 PM in reply to SpiderPig
Ah my fellow Show-Me Stater SpiderPig! I'm a KC person myself. Let's work together to rid our fine state of Roy Blunt's public service!
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KlevenStein
December 8, 2009 10:21 PM in reply to SpiderPig
...but then again, you never really know.
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Beetlejuice
December 8, 2009 10:30 PM in reply to SpiderPig
Sounds like a definite maybe to me.
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JNagarya
December 8, 2009 11:20 PM in reply to Beetlejuice
For certain. Certain enough to bet on.
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tpmgary
December 8, 2009 10:18 PM
Hasn't the public option been dead for a long time? I thought what was alive was just some small twisted shriveled up version of it parading around in the real public option's dead body.
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Beetlejuice
December 8, 2009 10:31 PM in reply to tpmgary
Not dead...just suffering from a severe case of anorexia.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
December 8, 2009 10:22 PM
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of Brian breaking the news that reports of the public option's death were premature.
But, hey, no matter what happens, kudos, guys. Way to smear some egg on some MSM look down their noses at blogs faces.
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MaryL
December 8, 2009 10:23 PM
The public option exists in eigenstates of both alive and dead. But once the box is opened ...
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dustbunny44
December 9, 2009 1:14 AM in reply to MaryL
Yes! It's Schrodinger's public option. You don't know if it's alive or dead until you look in the committee box.
There is no public option outside the committee box.
Brought to us by Harry Houdini, the master escape artist.
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pablito
December 8, 2009 10:24 PM
The degree of secrecy is just goddam lunacy. You would think they were reviewing plans for a first strike nuclear attack. There have been so many plans thrown onto the table that it's difficult to know what exactly might happen anyway. No one is taking anything these jokers say to the bank in any case. Why not just share details of the plan? F*ck this garbage.
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Beetlejuice
December 8, 2009 10:33 PM in reply to pablito
But it is a first strike nuclear attack...against the republicans.
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SkippyFlipjack
December 8, 2009 10:29 PM
Does anyone really care? The public option is so neutered by now it will never have the effect that's the whole point of the thing: applying competitive pressure to insurance companies. it's going to cover a few million people who couldn't afford insurance anyway. In return, there's going to be some sort of mandate that people buy insurance. This thing is going to be a massive win for the insurance companies.
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Beetlejuice
December 8, 2009 10:40 PM in reply to SkippyFlipjack
But opening up Medicare and Medicad will hit the insurance industry where it hurts. Once it happens, everyone else not under the government plan will be pushing for the government to force the industry to comply with the federal standard they aren't eligible for. Think of it as a one day sale of a much anticipated kids toy that every kid wants for christmas, but only one store is carrying the item and they have a limited supply. The one store in this case is the insurance industry and the only people who get the toy in question happens to be the ones who are healthy and use medical services infrequently.
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CVille Dem
December 8, 2009 10:35 PM
THE LOBBYISTS HAVE WON! YET AGAIN!
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JNagarya
December 8, 2009 11:21 PM in reply to CVille Dem
Another of those who can read secret documents that can't be proven to exist.
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MJAN
December 8, 2009 10:39 PM
I don't blame them for keeping it secret. This way they won't have to hear from their lowly constituents, or, on the other hand, interest groups and lobbyists. They want to see what it costs before they announce it and face the music.
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SteveGinIL
December 9, 2009 2:55 AM
Name one thing the GOP has opposed (or, when they were in power, proposed) that the Dems haven't caved on.
Anybody? . . .
Anybody? . . .
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ilovebacon
December 9, 2009 10:57 AM in reply to SteveGinIL
1. GOP supported Nelson's "Stupak" anti-abortion amendment. Dems didn't cave.
2. McCain's funding-stripping amendment was supported by GOP. Dems killed it.
3. GOP opposes the entire healthcare reform bill. Dems are pushing it through.
Can I stop now?
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Steaming Pile
December 9, 2009 9:07 AM
It reminds me of the first season Pokemon episode where Ash finds the abandoned Charmander shivering in the cold rain while holding a leaf over the fire on his tail trying to keep it from going out. The fire being the PO, of course.
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Johnsnottoodistracted
December 9, 2009 1:55 PM
mmmmmmm....any chance the people get a chance to vote on this?.........after they have been told what"public option" means??
Speaking of big numbers and no meaning.....how or why do some countries agree to reduce carbon emissions by x% of gdp in 1990 oir x% of gdp in 2000 or 2005 or whenever....when there is no way to determine what the emissions were then and what % of anything that represents????
The developing countries including china are still building and can adjust what they build and perhaps......with good intentions.......use much more effective and efficient methods. Even the small emerging countries can do the same with some assistance. But to have the few major gas dumpers decide what year and what % is only a bunch of numbers.
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