TPMDC
Poll: Imminent Passage Of Bill Without Public Option Causes Obama's Approval To Go Up Among Democrats
President Barack Obama
Share
Send to a friend!
The new CNN poll finds that President Obama's approval rating is going up, now that he's on the verge of passing a health care bill -- and Democratic approval of the bill is going up, too.
Obama's overall approval is now 54%, to disapproval of 44%, with a ±3% margin of error. In early December, he was at 48%-50%. The poll also finds that the Senate health care bill is still opposed by a margin of 42%-56% -- but that this an improvement from only 36% approval in early December, and the jump has come almost entirely from Democratic voters.
Greg Sargent points out that this is a "counter-intuitive finding," given the anger from the left at the dropping of the public option: "It suggests that overall, rank and file Dems may be grateful for action on health care, and see the bill as an achievement even without its core liberal priorities."
My own take is that the drop in liberal support, and then the subsequent increase, make perfect sense from the standpoint of rational decision-making. At the point when things shifted from a public-option bill to no public option, liberal disapproval naturally shot up. But now, at the point where circumstances have changed from a no-bill scenario to simply passing something to deal with health care, liberal approval has risen again.
In short, Democrats preferred a public option to no public option, and now prefer a bill without a public option to no bill at all.
Comments (68) | Join the Conversation!
Leave a comment
Follow us!
Most Popular
TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com
TPM Top News
© 2010 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 3:55 PM
Well, duhhh! Of course. All of this talk about killing the bill and never voting Democrat again if there's no public option is nothing more than a tantrum.
A bill with a public option (that most people wouldn't even qualify for) v. no bill? Puhleeze!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Dorn76
December 21, 2009 3:59 PM in reply to FreeRider
It's beneficial to have strong voices on the Left pushing to keep the center honest, but these last few rounds of recriminations among ourselves has been totally unproductive.
I'm glad to see we're moving on.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Homefries
December 21, 2009 4:04 PM in reply to Dorn76
Seconded.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
geofu54
December 21, 2009 4:10 PM in reply to Dorn76
I'm glad to see we're moving on.
So am I. And relieved. This has been very exhausting and depressing. Then again, even if it's far from perfect, like it or not, this is how we move things forward in the real political arena. Our fight will never be over.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 4:11 PM in reply to Dorn76
You're right, Dorn. For decades the complaint was that 45 million were uninsured. This bill would provide coverage for 30 million and people on the left are screaming to kill it because there's no public option. Most of them had never even heard of a public option until six months ago!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ohyeathatsright
December 21, 2009 5:17 PM in reply to FreeRider
It's not all about the public option. I'm screaming about the mandate and the anti-trust exemption. I'm screaming about the fact that we did this parliamentary dance for 6 months despite the fact that the conclusions were foregone and there would be no bipartisan healthcare. I'm screaming because 4 senators hold more sway then the entire rest of the country. I'm screaming because, yet again, the Republicans were able to frame the debate and detract the public's attention away from what matters with this bill. I'm screaming because this healthcare bill does nothing to control the $$ I have to pay out of pocket for healthcare. And I'm screaming that we've paved the way for a repeal of Roe v. Wade in a 'critical amendment' that does nothing but put a bureaucrat in between my family and their health. I could go on...but I think you may get the idea.
I also have close to zero faith, that the public option, or medicare buy in, or any other budgetary proposal related to this legislation is going to be tackled with reconciliation before the midterms or 2012, or 2014 for that matter. The Democrats will check this off as a win and try and divert the public's attention to something else that they can easily muster 60 votes on, and the Republicans will just go around bragging that, 'healthcare would be so much worse then this bill if it wasn't for us fighting it so hard!', and they too will want to move to other issues to distract from their political loss.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 5:36 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
In other words, you're whining because the senate works the way the senate works.
Cover your eyes, boys and girls. Legislation is not for the squeamish!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ohyeathatsright
December 21, 2009 5:45 PM in reply to FreeRider
Damn right. Are you suggesting we should just roll over and take it? Or are you saying that HCR is not that fight? If it's not that fight now, when is it? Do we keep letting the corporate shills that are our legislators control the discourse? If our health care system isn't an important enough issue to scream about, I don't know what is. I happen to feel that healthcare is a human right, not an afforded privilege.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 6:28 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
One of the things that makes a good fighter is knowing when the ref has rung the bell. The bell has been rung on this one. It's over, dude.
You can keep screaming and ranting and whining but you're just looking foolish. The game has been called.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Watt Childress
December 21, 2009 11:46 PM in reply to ohyeathatsright
Thanks for raising some good points.
Focusing on the mandate and the antitrust exemption would be wise as we move into conference negotiations.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ohyeathatsright
December 22, 2009 6:50 PM in reply to Watt Childress
Agreed, it's a start. I just have very little optimism in their abilities to come to reasonable consensus on this bill. I would rather they started over. There are, no doubt, a LOT of other HCR bills that are already waiting in the wings.
I think the best thing about this bill failing is that the Republicans would then have to introduce a bill and defend it at the same time as Progressive are. With both on defense, you have a much better chance at real debate about the topics which matter to the PEOPLE on both sides of the discussion.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
shekissesfrogs
December 22, 2009 4:06 AM in reply to FreeRider
I'm convinced you have a job as a and astroturfer here. As per your post 3 down: What would you know about being a good fighter? You certainly are not a good debator. Rarely do you post without calling people names, and this legislation is far from passed. With all the roaches running out it's going to cost some people their careers, even keyboard commandos like you.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 22, 2009 12:15 PM in reply to shekissesfrogs
Bite me.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
wbgonne
December 21, 2009 5:45 PM in reply to FreeRider
Obama Pom-Pom Squad to the rescue!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 6:34 PM in reply to wbgonne
Better than being the pom pom squad for the tanning bed industry!
You're upset that these skin cancer incubators are being taxed. What a moron!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Overreach THIS!
December 21, 2009 6:49 PM in reply to wbgonne
Oh, there's nothing to rescue. It's a huge victory of history proportions. Your side got totally creamed. Fret over that.
The good guys won. The bad people lost.
Coburn, Boehner, DeMint, you, Bachmann, Beck. All down the toilet.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
barbara63
December 21, 2009 4:03 PM
54+48=102 Are you sure it's not 54-44, like it says on the sidebar next to your story?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
AdAbsurdum
December 21, 2009 4:04 PM
Increasing likelihood of sucess with reform, which seemed elusive these past few months, must also be considered. In this nation, regardless of policy details, being considered a winner will lead, rightfully or wrongfully, to increased popularity. It is a foolish metric, but one which is quite real in United States politics.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
AdAbsurdum
December 21, 2009 4:11 PM in reply to AdAbsurdum
♪The winner takes it all, the loser standing small♪
Watch out for Republican approval sinking even lower if this bill becomes law. Unfortunately, this spectator sport perception of politics is not limited to our media but also to important segments of the population at large.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Alex39
December 21, 2009 4:56 PM in reply to AdAbsurdum
Yes. And this is why it was vital to move forward with the bill before Xmas. Otherwise you get another round of "delay" stories. A huge segment of the cable-watching audience is never going to have any real idea what's in the bill, and judges a political party simply on the question of whether they're getting *something* done.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
MJAN
December 21, 2009 4:09 PM
The other important detail in the poll is that 13% of the total 56% of opposition comes from people who think the bill is "not liberal enough." If you count those people as part of the "Approved" bucket, reform is approved by 55% vs 43% against. If you exclude them altogether, it's a statistical tie. So when Republicans say Americans are opposed to this bill, it's not for the same reasons as them.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 4:10 PM
>>In this nation, regardless of policy details, being considered a winner will lead, rightfully or wrongfully, to increased popularity.>>
True. It happened with that prescription drug bill. NOBODY had even thought of that until the Repugs brought it up as a giveaway to Pharma. It cost $800 billion and wasn't paid for. They had to twist a lot of arms to get it passed. It was unpopular and got moreso. People were angry. Then it passed.
Republicans didn't lose a single seat over it and it was considered a "WIN."
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Steaming Pile
December 21, 2009 4:47 PM in reply to FreeRider
Well, it's kind of hard to remember what a sweetheart deal the Medicare prescription drug bill was when you were being bombarded with ZOMG!! Terrorists on every block! We're all gonna DIE@!@!!!!!! (and BTW, John Kerry didn't earn his medals) 24/7. At least it was for a lot of people.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 4:50 PM in reply to Steaming Pile
Yes. And it's going to be hard to get people upset about insurance company stocks going up when we're dealing with unemployment, etc.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Left-wing-libertarian
December 21, 2009 4:44 PM
Either that or Democrats realize the reality of Joe Lieberman. If Obama gets reconciliation done for the public option and the medicare buy-in near the mid-terms that can turn the intensity tide.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Steaming Pile
December 21, 2009 4:49 PM in reply to Left-wing-libertarian
Yes, I believe you have the correct answer. The stuff that was dropped is definitely eligible for reconciliation. It can even be tacked onto some other must-pass spending bill. Just don't say it too loud until this bill reaches the President's desk.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
mk3872
December 21, 2009 4:59 PM
Dems? Yes. Radical libs (Hamsher, Markos, Huffington, et al)? No.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Dizzy Izzy
December 21, 2009 5:10 PM in reply to mk3872
Seems to me you should appreciate those three for moving the conversation left in this country. I personally am very grateful for their sites and their opinions.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
smartone
December 21, 2009 5:03 PM
poll after poll showed Americans against the Iraq War until the moment it started and then majority supported it
same will happen with healthcare
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 5:19 PM in reply to smartone
Thing is, pollsters have been measuring public support on this issue for decades and, up until 6 months ago, public opinion was strongly in favor of healthcare reform and particularly single payer (hovering around 68-70%). The current support levels reflect partisan identification and the result of fearmongering more than anything else.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
OhioGuy
December 21, 2009 5:08 PM
Overall Americans want an effective Federal Government. Democrats especially believe in this. Passing a measure that provides partial satisfaction was always going to be more popular than continued gridlock, once passions cool.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 5:16 PM
"now that he's on the verge of passing a health care bill"
Obama isn't passing a bill. He didn't do anything outside of making a few statements expressing lukewarm support here and again. He'll sign the piece of paper into law but let's not give the guy credit where it's not due.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Overreach THIS!
December 21, 2009 5:23 PM in reply to worthy9
As our Brit friends so often jovially say,
"You, Sir, are an ass!"
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Kevin Sutton
December 21, 2009 5:35 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
...and correct. You can't claim a lack of power and influence and then claim credit for the result.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 5:42 PM in reply to Kevin Sutton
He has enough power and influence to push the Congress to tackle this great while whale that made Ahabs of seven presidents.
He has enough power and influence to know what he could get and not walk away empty handed.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
wbgonne
December 21, 2009 5:44 PM in reply to FreeRider
Obama Pom-Pom Squad to the rescue!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 6:40 PM in reply to wbgonne
Tanning Bed Cheerleading Squad to the Rescue!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Kevin Sutton
December 21, 2009 6:12 PM in reply to FreeRider
First off, that position seems to contradict his supposed inability to affect what senators choose to do.
Edwards made in an issue during the primary and got the ball rolling. After the election, Pelosi's house took it up, and Reid drafted the bill in it's (final?) form.
I don't recall any of the other Democrat leaders planning to drop health care reform, so crediting Obama for not allowing something no one was planning on doing seems pretty ridiculous. Healthcare reform came about because the primary got people talking and the Democrats had all three levels of government; and thus no excuse for not trying for it.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 6:39 PM in reply to Kevin Sutton
Oh, really. Did Nancy & Harry bring up healthcare in 2007? They were Congressional leaders then. Wonder why they didn't push for HCR?
I'll repeat: back when the economy collapsed, NOBODY thought Obama would go ahead with healthcare. When he announced in his state of the union that healthcare wouldn't wait another year, it came as a surprise to many.
A president can drive an agenda; a president can't make anybody vote a certain way. Bill Clinton drove a healthcare reform agenda but couldn't muster enough votes to even get the bill out of committee.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Overreach THIS!
December 21, 2009 6:44 PM in reply to Kevin Sutton
No one claimed he didn't have power and influence. He's the President of the United States! You got a link for that false premise?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
geofu54
December 21, 2009 8:53 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
Yeah, what we are seeing here is another "all or nothing" thought. It's tiring, donchathink?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 5:40 PM in reply to Overreach THIS!
He's also a liar. If not for Obama, we wouldn't even be talking healthcare reform. AFter the economy collapsed, everybody (including Democrats) expected him to take it off the table. He refused.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
wbgonne
December 21, 2009 5:43 PM in reply to FreeRider
Obama Pom-Pom Squad to the rescue!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
barbara63
December 21, 2009 5:56 PM in reply to wbgonne
If FreeRide gets to be the Pom-Pom Squad, then I'd like to be the marching band, because I am glad HCR finally looks like it's going to pass and I've been waiting to strike up the band for a very long time.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Overreach THIS!
December 21, 2009 6:56 PM in reply to wbgonne
There's nothing to rescue. Coburn is on TV right now hoping that a democrat dies instead of making the vote -- calling on people to pray for that. Too bad, it's a huge victory of history proportions. Your side got pulverized. Fret that the majority lived.
The good guys won. Bad people lost.
Coburn especially, Limbaugh, Brownback, you, Cantor, Hannity. All down the toilet. Flush!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Kuyleh
December 21, 2009 7:40 PM in reply to wbgonne
Do you think repeating yourself like a broken record does anything but prove you're retarded? If you're going to attempt to communicate, at least spew a talking point.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 6:19 PM in reply to FreeRider
He introduced the topic but don't confuse firing the starting gun with running the race.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 6:42 PM in reply to worthy9
He did more than introduce the topic. No president "runs the race" of legislating. That's because the president isn't a legislator. That job belongs to congress.
Civics 101
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Overreach THIS!
December 21, 2009 6:58 PM in reply to FreeRider
Correct, obviously.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 7:51 PM in reply to FreeRider
So how can he pass a bill if he's not a legislator? Moreover, what exactly did he do to ensure that it passed? It's a serious question.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 8:17 PM in reply to FreeRider
Just to be clear, my point is exactly that he's not a legislator and so therefore he can't pass a bill. I understand civics and I'm using it to further my point.
I could accept the argument that he passed the bill in a loose, symbolic sense if he had made a series of speeches pushing for the bill or created a draft and presented it to a legislator to introduce. If he did significantly more to "own" this legislation than he did I could agree. If I'm missing something significant that you believe he did to further the bill's passage, please enlighten me.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 21, 2009 10:15 PM in reply to worthy9
First of all, thank you for debasing this discussion with crude insults. Our political life has become all the more hollow with the lack of civility shown between people of opposing viewpoints, demonstrated amply in recent years, and I for one congratulate you on furthering this great development in our public discourse.
Moving on to actual substance, one can argue anything based on the premise that things happen which we cannot see. I'll accept that he *may* have done some things behind the scenes and I'm not naive enough to believe that it all happens in the public eye but this kind of speculation cannot enter into a rational argument and hold any weight because it's equally likely that he did not, based on what we know.
Yes, he campaigned on the issue for a long time. That was certainly significant and I'm thankful that he did so because, as we all know, it's a topic that has been neglected for so many decades. The late Senator Ted Kennedy would be proud that we're so close to making an impact, albeit one that has suffered so many weakening compromises.
However, I still believe that this qualifies only as introducing the issue as a policy objective. That's what campaign speeches are for - they tell the voters what you'd try to do if elected. The next step is putting in effort to ensure that it gets done and that's where I beleive he's fallen short. By comparison, Bill Clinton campaigned on health care reform but we can't therefore say that he passed it.
Where are you getting the "over 25 speeches" number from? I'm not challenging it, just wondering where it came from so I can do a little research; I follow national politics fairly closely and I don't recall him being that prolific on the subject at all. If he made as many speeches as you say he did then I'll give him more credit than I currently do.
Don't get me wrong - on the whole, I like Obama. Sure, he's not the president we all would have liked on key issues like torture and domestic surveillance but he's been inspirational and, like you said, he got the ball rolling on healthcare, even when it seemed an impossible task; he deserves credit for that. But more than that, I believe he's finally returned this country to a meaningful focus on the real problems that we face and not the contrived, baseless concerns of an extremist doctrine that so characterized the Bush years. I just wish he'd done more to see this bill passed, like to have his staff draft a bill and have a legislator bring it to the floor. He could have been more forceful and impassioned in his rhetoric and demeanor because perception is all-too-important in public policy debates. I don't think I'm asking too much.
That is all.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 21, 2009 10:58 PM in reply to worthy9
In addition to the State of the Union when he decreed that healthcare reform would not wait another year, he gave the speech after labor day devoted to healthcare. The "you lie" speech.
Before the summer, he spoke to the AMA, the AFL-CIO and a host of other groups about healthcare reform. He held more than a dozen healthcare town halls during July & August in Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, NC, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Florida--when people claimed he was MIA.
After Labor Day, he did town halls in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
He held two primetime press conferences on healthcare. One weekend, he went on 4 Sunday shows and 60 Minutes and talked exclusively about healthcare.
He was out there so much, the conversation was "is the president overexposed?"
So to hear the lie repeated that he didn't make any speeches on healthcare reform is simply too much.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
shekissesfrogs
December 22, 2009 4:12 AM in reply to FreeRider
You are toxic to civil discussion, and bring down the level of discourse on this board considerably.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FreeRider
December 22, 2009 9:09 AM in reply to shekissesfrogs
Kiss my toxic ass.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
worthy9
December 22, 2009 8:05 AM in reply to FreeRider
Thank you very much for the shift in tone.
I didn't say he didn't make *any* speeches and I would argue that it's a falsehood and not a lie (a lie being an intentional attempt at deception). Even so, you've made your point regarding the number of his public appearances and efforts. Point to you.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Indie Pro
December 21, 2009 5:35 PM
Polls mean something again!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Ikoinos
December 21, 2009 5:49 PM
"That's my story and I sticking to it."
That's been the MO for the Bush era: never admit you're wrong; repeat the same illusion over and over again until people believe you. And now, it appears that Obama is no different. But, instead of WMD's, we have political expediency. It's all about getting elected again. About staying in power.
Well, I contributed to the Obama campaign thinking that we'd get a pragmatist. And, sure enough, we got one. Unfortunately, we get a political pragmatist instead of a pragmatic public servant.
Next time, I'm voting for someone who stands for something - not between something.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
bdh
December 22, 2009 2:40 AM in reply to Ikoinos
"Unfortunately, we get a political pragmatist instead of a pragmatic public servant."
You're awfully unconcerned about the prospect of losing power. How do you propose he separate these two kinds of pragmatism? Can he serve the public if he's not in power? Can he serve the public as well as he might if he lacks congressional majorities? How pragmatic is it, when desiring to be an effective public servant, to take actions that seriously threaten Democratic majorities in Congress or the re-election of a Democratic administration, arguably prerequisites for even trying to address certain issues.
Also, how do you justify equating a question of fact with one of leadership style? You can disagree with putting an emphasis on political expediency, if you suspect Obama of doing too much of that. But that's categorically different than Bush's lying and/or denial in the face of unsupportive empirical evidence.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
theone718
December 21, 2009 6:13 PM
That's a dead on assessment. That's EXACTLY how I felt. First disapponitment, then anger, than "oh shit we STILL need to get this bill passed, even in it's watered down form." The most disappointing part is how Obama didn't even fight for the PO AT ALL.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
todd432
December 21, 2009 9:54 PM
An individual mandate with no public option is unacceptable. Making people give their money to those who profit if you die quicker is not wise.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Stroszek
December 21, 2009 10:20 PM
It's not counterintuitive at all. 99.9% of Democrats don't read DailyKos.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
life_4_rent
December 22, 2009 1:11 AM
The Dems are still working at damage control and recovery, a big salvage operation, against the trend, despite what some may loudly wish. Thom Hartmann got it right, even with his bias: No matter how bad, how pathetic a health care bill gets passed, the Dems should try to pass it and then they may be able to recover some of their electoral prospects (and reputation among lefties) next year.http://www.topnflnews.com/
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?