The Democratic Health Care Plan: Get Re-elected in 2010

Democrats say they'll "go it alone on a health bill", which sounds all mavericky and bold and makes progressives quiver with excitement.

Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority’s cooperation in approving any overhaul, and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.

But let me translate that into practical, electoral terms:

Given hardening [voter] opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of [winning many seats in 2010 if they pass a controversial bill], and are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks [that allows Democrats to vote whichever way is most likely to get them reelected].

"Go it alone" = optimizing their chances for re-election.  Remember, you don't win elections by winning a legislative fight.  Winners don't need to turn out again; they already won.  You win elections by convincing your base that you are in a fight and victory is just around the corner...if we win this election.

This is how it will likely shake out:

  • YES: Blue District Democrats will vote for the Exciting Progressive Health Care Plan, and then go home and tell everybody how principled they were.
  • POLLING: Swing District Democrats will take a principled stand one way or the other just as soon as their internal polling is finished.
  • NO: Red District Democrats will vote against the unfortunate bill that just isn't right for America but if you reelect me I'll vote for Free Health Care and Unicorns For Everybody.
  • ATTACK: Democratic challengers, unencumbered by actual votes or responsibility, will be free to attack their opponents on whichever grounds seems most useful, and (like Red District Democrats) will promise lower costs, more coverage and a pony.

 

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Somehow, "EPIC FAIL' doesn't seem like a good message

The Democrats now control the whole government. If they fail to pass a health care bill--after passing the TARP bailout and the Porkulus---voters of all persuasion will simply think they are all talk no action. And spend next November doing something other than voting.

If the Democrats think their voters will react to failure any better than Republican voters did in 2006 after we failed to pass social security reform, ANWR drilling, balance the budget, or permanently lock in the Bush tax cuts; well, I suppose they are entitled to their wishful thinking.

voters of all persuasion will

voters of all persuasion will simply think they are all talk no action. And spend next November doing something other than voting very usefull for us...thank you Stop Dreaming Start Action | Rusli Zainal Sang Visioner | kenali dan kunjungi objek wisata di pandeglang | mengembalikan jati diri bangsa | Sukabumi | lowongan kerja | webdesign murah

True...

Haha!  While I don't usually agree with you, that actually seems pretty accurate!  I can't say I blame the Democrats for their strategy, it's the same one that's been used for a long time by both sides to keep incumbents in their seats.  The Republican strategy confuses me though.  They seem to be putting it all on the table hopeing Democrats will completely fail.  The problem is, the Democrats are probably going to be successful at getting something, so it seems like a pretty risky bet.  Even if the Dems get a quarter of what they want, they can spin that as a success and that they need to stay in office to keep fighting the good fight to get the other three quarters.  It's much harder for the Republicans in moderate districts to say they sucessfully blocked the legislation, even if their constituants feel it is bad legislation and should have been blocked.  In this scenario, something still managed to get through.  It seems like the Republicans should be picking some part of the legislation to claim as their own, so at least when elections come around they have something to point to to say, "if it wasn't for us, this wouldn't have happened this way."  Instead they're fighting it like any change to the current system is bad.  I don't see how this is a good strategy in moderate districts.  While a government run program may not be popular on both sides, getting healthcare costs down is. 

GOP Can Claim Credit ...

for stopping Death Panels, health care for illegal immigrants and publicly funded abortion. Oh, wait, those aren't in any bills. Then again, that's never stopped Republicans from playing fast and loose with the truth.

Ummm, pointing your finger isn't a smart tactic...

 

"... that's never stopped Republicans from playing fast and loose with the truth." Or on your side either, eh?  Like the last 20 yrs of attempted Social Security reform by the GOP and your side begins whipping up opposition with "they're out to cut seniors' benefits", "they're going to make you pay more", "they're going to hurt the poor and homeless", etc. Or, your side recently saying that electing Democrats to Congress would end the culture of corruption? Or, your side recently saying that Obama's Rule would change the harsh partisanship in Washington into a consensus-building, cooperative bi-partisan platform on which to address all issues? Or, your side recently telling America that meeting with America's sworn enemies like Col QaffadiDuck and the I-ah-told-ya-so in Iran would bring about a new awakening of peace and prosperity and genuine love and respect for America in the Arab world?  I guess that didn't include the Libyan radicals giving a hero-worship welcome home to a mass murderer of American men, women and children on PanAm 103 out of Lockerbie? I guess that’s ok to play fast and loose because your side is now all-about hero worship of guys like Obama, QaffdafiDuck and all those other Evil Empire “community organizers”. Or, your side recently telling America –through farLeft media outlets like MSNBC and CBS and Salon—that Americans protesting the govt’s attempt to establish further monopolies in health care is all about cost-saving reforms… not a wholesale takeover of the marketplace. Yeah, your side has a long, long, long tradition of playing fast and loose with the truth, ToddLuvsLying.

 

if they weren't in the bills....

why did the Democrats on the committees vote against amendments that would take them out?

I think the voters are well aware that politicians are great at claiming they won't do something and then go ahead and do it anyway. Like Obama saying he didn't want to run the car companies. Sure.

The issue here is single payer. Obama has made clear that is what he wants. These bills are just the means to get there. Time to derail the train before it gets down the track.

 

.

End of Life Counseling

Grassley took out voluntary End-Of-Life counseling. So, if Americans have a terminal disease under the Senate Finance bill, the patient will have to pay for the counseling. Thanks, Republicans. Fiscal conservatives saving money for the American people again.

Iron dude, check Germany and Swiss, they have vibrant public and private insurance, so reform does not lead to single-payer system, but does lead to cost control and universal health. Name one country that has universal health using a private system only. There aren't any, because insurance companies' priority is the bottome line, as it should be, and health policy of a country is secondary along with the health of patients.

Obama didn't tell the SEIU he wanted the Swiss system

He told them he wanted single payer.

If you want to call him a liar, go right ahead.  

The more you do for people...

The more you do for more people, the more of them will vote for you.  Politics 101.  Since the overwhelming majority of Americans support a public option, passing one seems like a good way to garner votes.  It looks to me like the Democrats want the votes.

Being the party of "No, we can't, because the country that planned the Normandy invasion and landed men on the moon can't do anything difficult," doesn't seem like a good way for the GOP to move forward.  The attitude that assumes that we will fail seems downright unpatriotic.

I am a former Army medic, and I gave that hated "government health care" to my fellow soldiers.  I would be overjoyed if the same degree of health care could be given to all Americans, myself included,

Any of you non-vets care to denigrate my service, or suggest that the people I helped treat didn't get first class care?

If so, meet me in the parking lot after school.  The Army Medical Corps has a message for you that they want me to deliver.

 

 

 

 

Repack's gotta repack those Left talking points...

Truth.  First off, it is NOT true that an "overwhelming" majority of Americans support a public option --according to most unbiased polls, it's only about 31-34% who support the public option (which, curiously enough, was Bush's favorable rating when he left office and the Democrats used that low base of support to demonize and pillorized and sodomize the Republicans; fancy that... now the number represents "an overwhelming" level of support?  Not!)  And that's 31-34% of all Americans, not the smaller group of likely voters in 2010... where support for the Democrat's public option drops to >27%.

Truth.  Second, to argue that the VA health care system is anything but 3rd or 4th class health care delivery system, chronically underfunded, legendary poor service, long waits to see almost-competent medical personnel --and, frankly, staffed with some of the most overburdened, underachieving staff this side of a prison hospital-- is pure, unadulterated lies and spin from those who NEED the Obama Administration to win on so-called health care reform.

If US military personnel were allowed to chose between a VA health care provider and a fully paid, no cost private hospital or clinic, the choice would be fast, easy, and resoundingly not in favor of the VA.

Thanks for your service in the military, Repack.  But spinning lies now won't get your side the must-win results you so desperately need on health care reform.   First, Obama said we needed it to "save the economy".  Then it was to bring competition to the marketplace.  Then it was to thwart the excesses of evil insurance companies and greedy docs.  Then we needed to teach the "Just Say No" GOP a lesson.

What will it be tomorrow?

More than 3 in 4 support the

Nice try at spin, Remains...

you say "more than 3 in 4 support the public option" and link us to the DailyKos?  LOL!

How about having some intellectual honesty and admitting the question was framed as a choice question that emphasized a public option IF PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE THEIR PRIVATE INSURANCE PROGRAM... as the question is phrased.

Boy, you have about as much credibility and honesty as Obama and Axelrod... and that's practically no credibility now.

Maybe you should join our Corruption-in-Chief and his spinmaster aide in some ethics classes at the local community college.  You need 'em as much as they do.

 

From an "unbiased" Ras poll

From an "unbiased" Ras poll from yesterday

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 57% oppose the plan if it doesn't include a government-run health insurance plan to compete with private insurers."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/h...

Enjoy.

I think you are seriously in deficit on ethics, Remainder...

From your cited survey:

While the tracking question did not specifically mention the public option, it referred to the bill proposed by the president and congressional Democrats now working its way through Congress

And the killer for you:

A solid majority of unaffiliated voters are opposed to passing health care reform legislation with or without the public option. However, failure to pass a plan of any kind could create additional difficulties for the president, and a plan without the public option does not have the enthusiastic support of his base. This helps explain why, according to the New York Times, senior Democrats are considering going it alone on the reform plan without trying to get any Republican support for it.

Now, go take that ethics class at your local community college.  And while there, you might want to take some remedial classes on debate, polling for politics and some general journalism classes where they teach creative writing for persuasion... oh wait, you've had those classes already?  Time to ask for a refund, given your displayed talent here.

Ooga Booga!

Navy vet here and I can also attest to the fact that our military service members are indeed receiving excellent government medical care.  Everyone should just laugh at people trying to use the "government takeover" scare card.

The fact is that 45 million seniors, 8.5 million government employees and 3 million American military personel are very, very happy with their single-payer government run healthcare.  If only the rest of us were so lucky?

But that's not even what we're talking about here.  I wish single-payer were on the table, but it's not.  What is within reach is a government healthcare plan that competes with the private sector.  I, for one, would like that choice.  I know, how scary...

VetAffairs health care system the tops? Yeah, tell the 1,200

vets who were mistakenly told by those "cracker-jack" govt bureaucrats over at the VA that they had contracted a deadly neurological disease.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090824/ap_on_re_us/us_disease_error_veterans

And this is the "premium" health care system model his buddy and hero, Barry Obama, has in mind for us?? This is nuts. And so is Democrier's claim that the VA is tops for health care and a great model for what Barry can do to us... and that's on their best day.

Yikes.

 

Oh yeah, gotta love the 1st Class medical care at VA, MediCare

Hey Democrier, did you forget to read the entire WashPo Feb 2007 series on the substandard, inferior VA health care system?  You know, the series that brought shame to the Bush Admnistration and lots of clucking and fingerwagging from Democrat leaders like Sens Murray and Boxer who said the system is broke, overhwhelmed, in need of systemic sweeping reforms?  But know it's perfect because it's your team in power?  LOL!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401394.html

Ah, the truth is a hard master to ignore.

Or how about all those seniors who can't get access to competent medical care and are being housed in elder-care facilities and simply awaiting death?  You know, the term is known in the assisted living and nursing home community as "warehousing" because MediCare doesn't cover many of the vital, necessary options needed to support those seniors and providers are unwilling to accept new MediCare patients because of reimbursement issues?

http://newsblaze.com/story/2009081311330100002.pnw/topstory.html

Ah, the truth is a hard master to ignore.

It's sort of like the Cash4Clunkers program.  According to the Obama Administration and Democrats, it's a resounding success!  (Sounds like the claims made on the Stimulus Spending Spree, too).  Only, dealers are dropping out of the program so fast because of excessive red tape, failure to make timely promise payments, changing rules, computer processing screwups and no bureaucrat taking responsibility for making it operate correctly... there was $3b for the program... it's only used $1.4b (GAO figure, not the WH liars figure).  The Obama folks had to cancel it before consumers started to complain that autodealers weren't participating anymore... talk about a failure?  It's worse than the VA system for double- speaking liars spinning to avoid accountability.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x1373195012/Clunkers-efforts-fail-to-satisfy-buyers

There are a lot of other programs to look at it when Democrat apologists like Democrier try to tell us "it's all roses and sunshine"... when it is anything but.

Maybe you and Remainder can take some of those ethics classes together because truth is escaping your grasp.

What planet do you spend most of your time on?

 It really bugs you that the cash-for-clunkers program has been so overwhelmingly popular with the general public.  Where in the world do you get your information?  If you're looking at Fox 24/7 I can understand that you would be so ill informed, but the success of the cash-for-clunkers initiative is touted everywhere else.  If this tiny victory of Obama economic policy makes you so nervous, what are you going to tell your fellow naysayers when the Dow hits 10,000 and the unemployment numbers turn around as everyone expects in the very near future?  You'll learn soon enough that a party whose only response to anything is "no" will have nothing to run on in 2010 or beyond.

Planet Earth and reality. Care to join me for a bit?

undoctored, you can't argue when self-interest is pointing at Americans with the promise of a $4,500 free gift if they'll only go out and purchase a new car so that, in Cash4Clunkers, the American automobile manufacturers will get a desperately needed leg-up.  Hell, it's why tax credits and tax deductions work --we rarely get anything of value out of our govt so when they offer free money, anyone who can use ut OUGHT to use it... it's self-interest.  Pure and simple.  The best thing that Democrats can appeal to... since logic and reason ain't working for them.

Too bad the Obama-nuts didn't think far enough ahead and limit those free gifts only for cars manufactured in America.  As we all know, the vast majority of purchases were for FOREIGN cars built by FOREIGN workers and will enhance the bottom line of FOREIGN investors.

And you guys can say with a stright face that Bush and GOP exported jobs out of America??  Good God, you do it daily and try to make it into some sow-ear's purse with golden threads.

Just like you can't argue or fault when GM promises to become a whore on the Obama bed in exchange for $63 billion --sixty three billion-- in free federal money in order to restructure itself along the lines of Obama's 21st Century Car Care Plan?  And with a promise not to hoist the legacy costs of their over-paid unionized workers on America... and promise not to help fund Democrat Party competitors in the 2010 and 2012 races... and promises to, well, you get the idea.  Whore.  Just like all those likely Obama voters who pulled the lever in November thinking they were getting something different than the same ol' partisan hack, surrounded by Democrat hacks, in the White House... and now we all know better.

As with the Cash4Clunkers program --which now leaves small-town auto dealers holding the bag for millions of PROMISED federal dollars-- the HealthCare Reform effort is all about promises --Obama's great at it: Promise them anything to get someone or some group's support and then push them aside for the next round of targeted promise-getters.

Or in the case of AARP, have Pres Obama lie to everyone about their support and hope no one catches the latest bold-faced lie fest by Obama.

Spinning out of control.

 I know you want to conflate cash-for-clunkers and healthcare reform, but let's focus on your bogus argument against the former.  Take the example of the Iraq war.  We spent a trillion dollars on that debacle and got what in return? A greatly expanded deficit passed on to the next administration.  Did any of that money represent an investment in the present or future of your fellow Americans?  Hell no. But cash-for-clunkers is such an investment.

I'll keep it simple.  Obama ran on a platform of clean, green energy and independence from foreign oil. The program in question advances those goals on every front: get the gas guzzlers off the road; decrease dependence on foreign oil through more fuel-efficient vehicles, put laid-off auto workers back to work, etc.

The most jaw-dropping point you make undercuts your whole argument: Washington has somehow reneged on its promise to get money to the auto dealers. As I said, if your news source isn't 100% Fox, you would have learned by now that Washington has tripled the staff working on getting money out to the auto dealers. It's just a matter of time. God only knows where you got that talking point about the dealers getting left holding the bag.  Like a lot of what you write, you simply made it up. I know you want to spin the incredible success of cash-for-clunkers as being misguided policy, but only your low-information, brain-washed base is going to buy that BS.

And lastly, since the U.S. is signatory to international trade agreements , any leader in his right mind is not going to start a trade war by restricting auto sales to American cars.  And you conveniently fail to mention that most of those foreign cars being sold under the cash-for-clunkers program are made right here in the States.  I hope you won't ask me to explain to you what that means in terms of increased tax revenues, American jobs, etc,

More un-doctored lies exposed... film at 11

You said above: "Like a lot of what you write, you simply made it up. I know you want to spin the incredible success of cash-for-clunkers as being misguided policy, but only your low-information, brain-washed base is going to buy that BS."

Truth is that when the program was first rolled out, 54% of Americans thought it was bad, misguided public policy. That was after a few weeks of Team Obama filling in the details and media rooting out the lies.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/23/poll-54-of-americans-against-cash-for-clunkers-59-expect-gm/

That June polling was up from the initial opposition of 34%. Americans listen; they've learned not to trust the first Celebrity-in-Chief.

At the conclusion of the program, today, 62% of Americans think the program hurt the economy or aren't sure if it had any positive effect.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/auto_industry/august_2009/35_say_cash_for_clunkers_helped_economy_23_say_it_hurt

Of course, the answer from the farLeft and TeamObama is to try to discredit the polling. Then blame the vast right wing conspriacy. Then decide to go it alone and do it just for their political security.

Oh yeah, America, they can do it to us.

And Cash4Clunkers was just the beginning. Stealing the election through fraud, leaving our allies in Iraq to rot, letting mass murderers go back to Libya, retreating on campaign promises to end the culture of corruption by lobbyists and then inviting them into the White House and making them your #1 advisor...

Yep, America, they can do it to us. And they will; over and over.

Let's try un-doctoring your spinning points...

To begin, you offer in contrast to my claim that the Cash4Clunkers program is defunct and a failure of massive proportions: "Washington has somehow reneged on its promise to get money to the auto dealers. As I said, if your news source isn't 100% Fox, you would have learned by now that Washington has tripled the staff working on getting money out to the auto dealers."

Umm, un-doctored, I guess the hefty weight of Trans Secy Ray Lahood (which is ironic because he's about the only Obama Administration secy who hasn't cheated on his taxes and isn't a typical Chicago-styled Obama hood) coming to NYC 24 hrs before the NY association of auto dealers promised to go public with their bad experiences of non-payment, double speak from the Transp Dept, tardy payment on those rare occasions it got through, computer failures, processing delays, and general incompetence of the Obama Administration's Cash4Clunkers program... and his resounding promises in public to make it all right becuase it is such a sweeping success... before meeting with them secretly behind closed door (ala Dick Cheney style) to beg them to reconsider telling the public what an utter failure the program had become... and then he has to announce the program is ending... all the money is gone... poof, major success all around... "no one look under the hood, please... nevermind those dealers talking over there".

Yeah, big success that one.  Just like all the lies Obama and his minions have been putting out about their version of health care reform... first it was needed to drive down medical care costs... then it was needed to help fix the economy... then it was needed to keep those dishonest insurance execs honest... then it was needed to help the uninsured homeless Grannies (or VietNam vets, insert your preferred poster child) alive... then it was needed because it's the moral thing to do... and now it's needed because Obama needs a win, Democrats need a win, damn the cost, damn the future, full speed ahead!

Yeah, how's that all working?

By the way, the Cash4Clunkers program was originally a $1b program from the horribly underutilized, mismanaged, inefficient, bloated Stimulus Money Pot... then Congress gave it another $2b for a total of $3b... guess what, GAO and CBO both say that the program used about $1.36b before the Obama Administration had to pull the plug because of a nationwide revolt of car dealers against the Government.  Not Fox, un-doctored... the GAO and CBO.

Yeah, how's that all working?

Novel, innovative program (yeah, as in "just through money at the problem") to help the American auto manufacturers and dealers by selling American cars?  Top Ten cars purchased under the program so far -- the majority of which are FOREIGN made, built by FOREIGN workers, paying dividends to FOREIGN investors... like Honda, Toyota, Hyundai.

Of the "American" cars in the top ten list, it's questionable how American they truly are... for instance, the Ford Focus is not made it America... it's "assembled" here with more than 50% FOREIGN parts... and yet the UAW had the balls to claim that it's made in America --all the while bitching about evil corporations & GOP outsourcing US manufacturing jobs.  I'm guessing that the majority of small parts producers who closed when the UAW allowed Ford to offshore the parts suppliers wouldn't agree the Ford Focus is US made.

Here's the siimple rub of it, un-doctored.  If Obama CAN'T get it right as to who are our allies and who are our enemies... if he CAN'T find the balls to stop the Scots from releasing the Pam Am 103 mass murderer --of mostly American citizens-- and if he CAN'T quite get a handle on the truth when it comes to portraying who supports his health care plan and who clearly, strongly does NOT... it seems to me the prudent thing for Americans to do is to take anything of value and run for the EXIT SIGNS.  Even while Obama screams and cheerleads with "Yes, We Can" with a chorus line of incompetents.

If that's a forgiveness on 5-6-7-8-9 months of unpaid mortgage payments and property taxes, take it.  If that's a 1% interest rate and mortgage principal reduction for all those deadbeats who shouldn't be in a home now and are dragging down prices of all neighboring homes, take it.  If the govt offers $4500 for you to go buy a new car (even if the trade-in/clunker gas mileage estimations are suspiciously low-balled) then take it.

And if the govt offers to give you health care for free, then take it.

Because when Nov 2010 rolls around, the Democrats are going to be taking it on the chin big time.  And they will have overplayed their hand and whatever "mandate" they thought they could manufacture with help from their farLeft media pals will be piss-in-the-wind.

And you'll be back here, just like HillaryClinton's now-famous "Ooops Moment" when she declared that her hubbie's sexual misprisions on White House interns was a vast right wing conspiracy, you'll be back here claiming the evil GOP did this to Obama's promise of "Hope & Change"... when it was just the American people saying "Enough, no you can't."

"The Democratic Health Care Plan: Get Re-elected in 2010"

It's not working.

I think the Democrats are

I think the Democrats are doing nothing but setting us back with their so-called "health care reform". The government messes up anything they run and now they want to take a shot at health care? This is definitely the wrong direction.

-Jeremy Jackson

Researcher of Acai Berry

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