"Republicans to “go for the kill” on the Obama health care initiative"

[denem]

A NY Times piece on what's at stake, and the costs of failure. Warning: Billy Kristol.

What 1994 Can Tell Democrats on Health Care

WASHINGTON — Bill Kristol, a powerhouse policy guru for Republicans, often has a tin ear for politics. ... Mr. Kristol was prescient, however, 16 years ago in advising Republicans that defeating President Bill Clinton’s health care overhaul would be devastating for the Democrats. He’s making the same case today, imploring Republicans to “go for the kill” on the Obama health care initiative.

He’s right again. A defeat would be a killer for Democrats. The trademark of Mr. Obama’s first year in office would be failure; the reputations of the president and his celebrated White House staff would be decimated.

Less evident, though equally true, it would almost certainly cost congressional Democrats seats in elections next year, striking especially hard at some of the same centrist Blue Dogs who are resisting a health care bill. ...

“A lot of members are choking,” Mr. Emanuel acknowledged. Everybody liked health care reform, he said, “until they got visited by their local self-interest..."

It is fantasy to talk about a bipartisan bill; no more than a handful of congressional Republicans are likely to vote for a final bill. They’ve heard Mr. Kristol.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/27/us/27iht-letter.html?_r=1&hpw;

I would hope Billy and the Republican leadership continue musing loud and clear. And, no prizes for guessing the 'local self-interests' who are on the phones and the doorsteps of their distinguished Representatives. Not always quite so local I suspect.

[tridim]

1. Keep using the slogan "Go for the kill" Republicans..

Because that's exactly what your goal will accomplish, more dead Americans killed due to lack of affordable insurance.