No Need To Despair, Folks. Even If Health Care Bill Flops,

[Cal33]

there can always be a "reconciliation" in Congress, where only a simple
majority of votes is needed for health care to pass (51 votes in the Senate,
not 60). There will be some minor restrictions in a "reconciliation" of
course, but the main thrust will not be changed. We can't lose! We do
have a majority in both houses!

With the reconciliation, this time make sure that we get ALL of it - the
"Single Payer." We don't want just half a loaf.

Make sure that Lieberman's betrayal will backfire on him. He might actually
have done us a favor!

[tabatha]

1. But they have to make darn sure that the

bill out of reconciliation does not include crap.

[Cal33]

10. So, pressure your congresspeople to make sure that the bill

out of reconciliation does not include crap. I'm all with you.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I applaud your optimism.

However, I do not see reconciliation as the moment when all we wanted will be magically restored...

Especially Single Payer.

However, yours is the good thought...

Mine-not so much.

[Vincardog]

5. They can give us Medicare for everyone with reconciliation. That is Single Payer in my mind. Any R

RePig who wants to can keep donating 20% of their pay to the Corporate Pigs.

[alfredo]

7. Open the Federal Employee Health Benefit plan for all. Both my wife and I

are uninsurable and they had to cover us.

[Cleita]

17. I don't think they would open it up to the population at large exactly as

you get it. This bill with exchanges was supposed to be modeled on it and look at what hamburger has resulted. I don't think you would recognize any plan you get out of it as the one you have now.

[alfredo]

18. As they say, the Senate is where legislation goes to die.

[Cal33]

15. Yes, I know. Many of us are not feeling too happy about

what's going on politically. The main thing is that too many of our top positions,
both in government and in private industry, are being filled by sociopaths, people
with anti-social personalities. And, as long as they are holding positions of
power, there will always be trouble. Sociopaths can't help being the way they
are - and they cannot change.

I wrote a message in this forum some 6 months ago. "National Disease: Sociopaths
in high places." It's a long message, but it explains why sociopaths should not
be holding positions with power and responsibility.

[Cal33]

20. Health care is too big and important an issue. There are enough

people and pressure groups to see that it doesn't
simply fade away. Don't you think? Don't give
up hope yet, Peggy.

[Cal33]

21. Health care is too big and important an issue. There are enough

people and pressure groups to see that it doesn't
simply fade away. Don't you think? Don't give
up hope yet, Peggy.

[lapfog_1]

3. Uhh, quite a few of us here want to...

[Cal33]

19. Yes, killing the present bill is one way off getting rid of it and

starting the reconciliation bill in the House. And since we have the numbers, both in the House and Senate,
we should get the "Single Payer" system through. Pressure your senators and congressman/woman for the
"Single Payer." We have the numbers, we can't lose this time -- unless we, the people, chicken out!

[Ozymanithrax]

4. If it flops, I doubt they will even try.

Historically, failures to achieve have always led to years when legislators simply sit back and lick their wounds.

I hope your right, but history isn't on your side.

[Cal33]

22. As it now stands, the bill is worthless. It had better flop. As

Howard Dean suggested, kill the bill and begin again with the reconciliation where only a simple
majority is needed in the house as well as senate (no 60% of the votes, no filibuster). The
Dems do have a majority in both houses.

[rocktivity]

6. It's not completely over

but Obama will render himself a lame duck if he signs any bill that contains a mandate but no public option of any kind.


rocktivity

[Hardrada]

9. He doesn't care. If he signs a bill that helps Insurance companies

he thinks he can get into The Club. It won't work though and he must be delusional.

[rocktivity]

12. In that case, we should start looking for a Dem challenger to him in 2012

immediately.


rocktivity

[Cal33]

13. I'd give Obama a little more time. If he continues to be the way

he is, then, offhand I can think of two challengers in 2012: Kucinich and Dean himself.
Kucinich would make a good president. But there are so many people who vote on the
basis of "He's too short." "He's not handsome enough, and doesn't look presidential."
Yes, even among Democrats. We do have a none-too-bright electorate, don't we? Also,
he'd probably irritate the right-wingers enough so that they might try to do him in.
It has crossed my mind that Obama might also be inhibited in doing what he would
really like to do because of this same point. He does seem to be overly eager in
extending his hand of friendship to the right-wingers.

[Hardrada]

14. He who sups with the devil needs a long spoon.

[Cal33]

11. Howard Dean is for killing the present bill and then starting

the reconciliation bill. It's probably the right way to do it.

[alfredo]

8. I just sent a note to Senator Sanders:

Open the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan to all.

[Cleita]

16. Doesn't the CBO have to rate it before it can be considered for

reconciliation? I'm hearing so many different things and getting frankly confused. Another pundit said we should get the bill passed and then when it goes to conference the real sausage can be made. I am more inclined to trust Governor Dean on this.