Waiting Game: The Dems Play For Time

This is a lie. They could pass the Senate bill right now, and it most definitely has benefits to people other than lobbyists.

For example, no one would be turned away due to a pre-existing condition anymore.

There would be community rating - i.e. everyone in a broad class is charged the same amount, so that people don't get screwed because they're more likely to get sick.

There would be caps on out of pocket expenses.

There would be subsidies for the poor.

Medicaid would be expanded to cover significantly more people.

And there are a host of other benefits to various people.

Moreover, for the long term, we will have the camel's nose under the tent. It's not absurd to think that the rest of the camel will follow.

Now, whether or not all of that is outweighed by the fact that the bill is not perfect, and doesn't do everything that you or I would like, and that profit will be made? I suppose that's a matter of opinion. But to say that this would benefit no one but lobbyists is an out-and-out lie.

Hell yea. Pass the damn bill ASAP.

Passing the health care bill doesn't win the game it is the start of the game. A long, long game.

We are talking decades here folks. Decades.

First, the Democrats must complete the current health care reform legislation and send it to the President to sign. There are a variety of ways to do this. The key is to quickly pass something quantifiable so that we can start the debate on health care reform based on specific legislation. In this instance perfection is the enemy of good enough.

Second, the President, in his State of the Union speech, should press forward on health insurance reform. The President should state that a key element in health insurance reform is competition: health insurance companies should be allowed to compete in a national market.

Third, the day following the Presidents speech Democrats in both the House and Senate should propose legislation that would strip the anti-trust exemption from the health insurance companies. This bill should be as simple as possible, should be posted on the House and Senate's websites for all citizen to review for 72 hours, and then immediately moved the floor (of the Senate first) for debate and vote.

A vast majority, a silent majority, of Americans want health insurance reform.

Right now.

There is one key point House Democrats must remember.

It is possible to argue whether or not the Senate's health care reform bill is a "winning" policy or political result for House Democrats. I grant you that.

However we all know that subsequent health care and health insurance reform legislation can be constructed to be be a devastating policy and political weapon to the advantage of the Democratic Party in both houses of Congress. For decades.

The Democrats must pass health care reform as quickly as possible. Passage of that legislation is the opportunity to begin the process of on-going health care and health insurance reform.

Think of it this way: once the Democratic party passes the legislation and the President signs it, what do the Republicans do? They are between a rock and a hard place. Do Republicans offer to revise it? Wonderful, we have a debate the Democrats can win. Do Republicans promise to repeal it? They'll be seen as protectors of the health care industry - checkmate. Do the Republicans or blue dog Democrats dare to filibuster a bill to bring true national competition to the health insurance industry? This is a political death sentence for them.

The Republicans need to tread carefully here. And they know it.

If you stay home the next election, as feckless as the Democrats may be, how good will the Republican who may get elected be for you? Staying home, or registering a protest vote, only serves to put the opposition in power. Can you afford that? I know I can't. After eight years of Bush and Republican control of our government, I don't want them to have control for a good long time. The problem is how do we push through reforms that we want?

It appears that the administration does not even want to talk or hear about it, let alone show leadership about this. Sure, of course there must be some negotiation going on behind the scene, and he may be making phone calls as Jarret claimed. But like it or not, perception matters in politics. It's his silence, his apparent obsession with bipartisanship, his unwillingness to insert himself in the negotiation process -- it's that perception that is slowly and surely killing what morale still remains in the base.

The way things are going, I'm not sure how many Democrats feel motivated to give a dime or lift a finger in 2010/2012. And given our realistic alternative which is a bunch of psychos, it is scary to death.

You forgot Don't get old.

That pony don't hunt.

Another plus for passing the Senate bill is that it is such awful legislation that there should be little opposition to correcting the many problems it poses.

I want some of what you're smoking. It must be REALLY good shit.

It's okay to call your representative and ask that the House pass the bill, but you should also call your senator and insist that the Senate negotiates with the House in good faith.