Hidden Danger: How The GOP Could Kill Health Reform Without Repealing It

This is nonsense. The exchanges will be set up and administered by the states. HHS acts as more of a second line regulatory body (third, if you count the civil and "whistle blower" lawsuits that can be launched by individuals). The best they can do is try to muck up implementation of the tax credits and state Medicaid reimbursements... which would just piss off voters (and insurers) to no end.

Like all the hot air coming from the repeal crowd, this is just bluster.

Their best bet is probably not to actually repeal it, but just to make sure it's a disaster. Quietly fund the parts we all hate but their masters love (private insurance mandate, for example) while undermining the rest of it. They'll make it so horrible that we'll be another 70 years before somebody's willing to take a crack at a modern, humane health-care system in this country. They'll do the same with the CFPA if they can, and they'll get even more help from the righty Dems.

They're Republicans. They're convinced government can't do anything right, and when elected they set out to prove it.

Americans are sophisticated enough, IMO, to understand when the 'rule of law' has been circumvented, and when the constitution has been shredded. This tactic will not play well, especially with the Republicans who want some of the HCR elements (like children staying on your policy until 26) enacted. Populism is on the rise and these turkeys are blind to the fact that they are what's for dinner.

I just read Pence's bio on Wikipedia and from what I can tell, aside from being a right-wing idealogue, he has never authored a single bill.

His statement above is more hot-air from a blowhard who actually believes he has a shot at the Presidency!

That type of muddied, uncritical-thinking disqualifies him for the job before the first caucus!

That will only work if the House and the Senate are run by Republicans.

Obama WILL veto a bill if they try to defund the health care bill.

Defunding the bill puts Seniors and children at risk and I could see Obama BLASTING the Republicans every single day until there is no more shut down of government.

If the Republicans pull that stunt then Congresses approval rating (now under Republicans) will be 2%.

Americans DO NOT WANT REPEAL AND THEY DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN EITHER.

That would be a LOSER for Republicans for sure especially since most of the stuff for health care reform in 2011-13 are the GOOD STUFF. The bad stuff happens in 2014.

HCR needs to be, and should have been, framed as a moral issue. Dems and progressives need to saturate the media with stories of children being denied health care, people losing everything b/c their insurance co. dropped them after being diagnosed with cancer.

HCR is a big issue for me b/c I have health problems and always live in fear of my insurance company dropping me. I also have sympathy for those who are sick & can't afford proper care.

If the rethugs call themselves the "moral majority" then we need to hold their feet to the fire and stop letting a minority of people (ie teabaggers) prevent people from getting the medical care they need.

HRC isn't about politics. I'm planning on beginning a letter writing and phone call campaign to all GOPers who want to repeal HCR and ask them who they would deny care to. My goal is to make them feel uncomfortable and give honest answers (they don't have any b/c their heads are up the a$$ of wall street).

They're nothing but hypocrites for calling themselves "pro-life" yet repealing a law that gives people better access to preventative and life-saving treatment.

Sorry for the rant. This is an issue that fires me up. These thugs in congress have no compassion. Period.

If the GOP retakes a House majority -- and that means, if they get 218 seats or more -- they will forget all about HCR and everything else. They will impeach the President. They just won't be able to help themselves. They will find something, the tiniest thing, or even nothing. That's something the Democrats should be running on, besides making it about Bush. The tagline would be something like: "Do you want the Clinton impeachment circus all over again? Then vote Republican."

You know, people kinda laugh off the impeachment stuff. But, I don't think those people realize how obsessed with impeachment many on the right are...

The radical voices on the right have goaded "mainstream" politicians to take far-right positions, and do their darnedest to bend over backward to please radicals on the right.

There's no reason to believe that the tendency to embrace radical right thinking would cease if Republicans gained more Congressional power. In fact, it may intensify since they would actually have power to do something about their anger. Impeachment -- even without grounds -- could very well be the avenue they choose.

Let them try it. Let them even shut down the government for lack of a budget. The lines of "furlough Congress" will be back and President Obama will cruise at 30,000 feet to re-election.

So if they take the house it can still die in the senate and i want to see them take away preconditions or 25 year old off their parents plan and if they get lucky and take both hoses the still have to over come a veto. however if the American people are dumb enough to give them full power than they deserve the leadership that they got for the last 8 years under Bush.

Guys. Are you all joking?

What powerful interests stand to gain enormously from Obamacare?

For a hint, look at the name on the little card in your wallet that you have to give to doctors before they'll treat you.

No not your name.

It's the same reason why the wars have been going strong despite years of public opposition.

Corporate sponsorship lifts all boats (with free money inside them).

That is useless snark. Please say something.

The GOP thinks Americans want insurers to be able to keep locking them out when they are sick. They think Americans don't mind working wage-jobs with no insurance.

They also think there is vast support to put them back in power. I say wrong on all counts.

- Balkingpoints / www

The "defunding" stunt leads directly a veto which results in shutting down the government. Ask Newt Gingrich about shutting down the government. The first service people miss is their social security checks. They miss those checks bad. Obama has the megaphone. It won't be hard for him to do to the Republicans what Clinton did to them the last time the government was shut down.

The only way Boehner's plan works is if Obama caves. If he sticks to his guns defunding healthcare would prove to be a disaster for Republicans.

Unlike the pussy democrats the republicans regain control they will never cower, be afraid to subpoena, never negotiate with their own only to weaken a bill or be bipartisan

All the more reason to cheer the GOP on in taking over the House. I don't think you get it, Obamacare is the REASON the GOP is going to take over the House. The country HATES it.