The way the health-care bill is shaping up now, I won't be surprised if Republicans support it.

[David Zephyr]

If progressives move away to kill the bill, don't be surprised to see the GOP jump in now that nearly 25% of the Trillion Bill will be going directly to health "care" corporations.

It might turn out to be the "bi-partisan" bill Obama asked for in the very beginning.

Blue Dog Democrats, Corporate Whoring Democrats and a sprinkling of Republicans and they get over 60 votes to prevent a filibuster.

The Left is triangulated and Obama gets to look like he is a "middle of the road" President.

This has turned out to be a very wicked, cynical thing done to the American people.

And we should be angry.

We were played...all year long...like violins.

Obama is going to get the bill that he wanted all along to sign.

Happy Holidays.

[Lasher]

1. I get your point but Republicans won't support it.

They would vote against a cure for cancer if it was Democrats' idea.

[dflprincess]

3. Besides, when the public figures out how badly they've been scammed by the Democrats

the Republicans will point at the bill and remind them that they didn't support it (they won't remind the public that they don't support any reform).

[tularetom]

7. Egg-effin-zackly

If this thing turns out to be a piece of crap, the republicans will use the fact that not one of them voted for it to beat Obama and the Dems over the head with it for the next three years. Even if it turns out well the liberal media will join the republicans in portraying it as a CF.

Why should they vote for it? They win either way.

[timeforpeace]

10. Agreed. If it got fixed, they might, but as it is, they will use it against us from now on.

[Deja Q]

6. It could be everything the R's wanted. But they won't do it.

Because there's no official "R" pimping it.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Republicans will not support any reform, no matter how tepid...

I am sure they are overjoyed about the number of people here at DU who now oppose the bill.

[leftstreet]

4. Wouldn't be surprising. And it was all for nothing!

[David Zephyr]

5. The cartoon is perfect.

It's obvious that Charlie is the Left.

The jaded question is who is Lucy?

[G_j]

13. +1

[rockymountaindem]

8. No, they should leave us holding the bag all by ourselves with something everyone will hate

That way they can say "It's the Democrats who are forcing us to spend $800 billion we don't have on health care!" while sane people recall that this is nothing but a bunch of taxpayer-funded subsides to private firms buttressed by mandates that those who aren't poor enough to get subsidies pay out of pocket.

It's a huge lose-lose for us and a giant win-win for Republicans if they can make it look like they had nothing to do with it. They're essentially handing us an anchor.

[Bleacher Creature]

11. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

This is the correct answer. Heads they win, tails we lose. They get a good issue to run on because the bill will harm the average person, and the added benefit of knowing that it helps their core constituency (i.e., insurance corporations).

[rwheeler31]

9. I cannot believe any of that. We are up against very

powerful and wealthy industries they are in the business of buying politicians. Direct your anger at the people who caused this mess not those trying to fix it.

[Laelth]

12. I think you are right.

The insurance companies really want this bill. It will pass. They would prefer for the Democrats to have to take full responsibility for it (because it sux and the American people are going to hate it), but if enough Democrats don't support it, the insurance companies, I suspect, will pull the strings of their Republican puppets to insure that this bill passes.

I hope I am wrong about this. I hope the bill goes down in flames, but I am certain that the insurance companies really want this legislation to become law. I mean, what business wouldn't want 40+ million people compelled to purchase their products under penalty of law?

:dem:

-Laelth

[HughMoran]

14. Nah

You have fun creating your scenarios though - it'd be a hoot if you actually believed them yourself.

[David Zephyr]

19. No scenario. I said I wouldn't be surprised.

But you, darling, just might be.

[HughMoran]

20. Nothing surprises me

Nothing.

[inna]

15. why in the world would they support it??

Democrats passing a Republican (in essense) bill, and Republicans gaining populist points for NOT voting for this monstrosity of a pro-corporatist, anti-workers legislation??

It's a win-win for them.


:banghead:


fucking disgusting.

[chill_wind]

16. Lieberman's ready to vote for it-- Susan Collins-

"still too deeply flawed for me..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7231961

[WhiteTara]

17. the pukes will vote for NOTHING the

dems put forth.

[Faryn Balyncd]

18. They want it to pass over their opposition, so Democrats get blamed for the mandate.