Ezra Klein on Olbermann: "Probably time to write a formal obituary for a true public option."

[Nikki Stone1]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/ns/msnbc_tv-countdown_with_keith_olbermann#34319685

While buying into Medicare is good for the 55 and over set, the rest of us will be mandated to buy insurance without a public option to insure some cost control.

Sadly, a lot of us were right about this all along: it's all about mandates, and the public option will not happen.

Thank you LIEberman, Cigna and Senate conservatives.

[Nikki Stone1]

1. Jonathan Cohn: The Medicare buy in will be open to a restricted group:

those who can't get group insurance or can't get health insurance on their own.

2-3 million people enrolling early into Medicare. Adding 1 or 2 to 40-45 million people, may not have a great effect according to Cohn.

[David Zephyr]

2. What a handover to the corporations this is.

By a Democratic super majority in the Congress.

Roosevelt is rolling over in his grave.

[Nikki Stone1]

9. Making us buy tickets to the Titanic and telling us we're saved.

....

[dflprincess]

3. I keep repeating this quote - but it's so good

"Insurance for more, not health care for all." John Marty, MN DFL State Senator & candidate for governor. Sen. Marty is also a strong single payer advocate and would like to see Minnesota develop it's own system seeing as the feds are screwing it up. Unfortunately, neither the House or Senate bills will allow states to do this.

[Nikki Stone1]

4. +1

Excellent quote!

[Luminous Animal]

6. Any state that wants to do it, should do it anyway.

[Bolo Boffin]

5. My prediction - there will be a trigger on a Medicare buy-in

Public option out, triggered Medicare buy-in in, and Stupak dropped: no longer necessary since Medicare is already subject to Hyde.

[derby378]

7. In that case, let's write the obituary for health insurance reform, too

No strong public option, no health insurance reform. That's our line in the sand.

[Bolo Boffin]

8. I'd agree with you

The trigger would never be activated, I know. But it's enough to get through enough hoops in the Senate.

A Medicare buy-in is a much better place to be, so that's why it has to be neutered with a trigger in Congress. rrrrr

[Nikki Stone1]

10. Why are concessions being made by progressives to make LIEberman happy?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show#34320306

[slipslidingaway]

11. knr - time to write the obituary for a true public option was months ago. n/t

[Nikki Stone1]

13. +1

.

[slipslidingaway]

14. What a disaster :( n/t

[Nikki Stone1]

15. No kidding.

It's a good thing I had very low expectations going in.

[slipslidingaway]

17. Helps us keep our sanity :)) n/t

[kenny blankenship]

16. Some folk have to file past the open casket themselves before they believe.

"that must be death because sleep don't stink like that!"

[slipslidingaway]

18. Very true! n/t

[niyad]

12. and how much energy, time and money has been wasted on "reform" that is worth absolutely nothing--

to the detriment of other issues-- like war, joblessness, homelessness, etc? we aren't getting decent health care reform, and none of the other problems is being addressed. what, exactly, are we paying these people for anyway?