Suppose we pass this lousy HCR bill in something close to the Senate version.

[pnwmom]

And then there's a continuing uproar about cost control.

Then the Dems can respond to the uproar by introducing new bills to control costs of the HCR bill that is in place.

Won't the Rethugs then be in a much worse position? Instead of being able to throw out an ever-changing array of objections, to abortions, mandates, etc -- they would be stuck responding to a bill that would have overwhelming public approval -- controlling costs. Would they want to filibuster a cost control bill that the vast majority of the public favored?

[eridani]

1. There's quite a bit of uproar over cost control now

Doesn't seem to be doing much good.

[pnwmom]

3. That's because it's lost in the uproar of so many other issues. Abortion, etc.

If it is put in a separate bill, with no other issues complicating it, it would be much harder for Rethugs to object to.

[wtmusic]

5. bingo.

If there were any sense to the "debate" a bill would have been passed months ago.

This has boiled down to 100% political posturing, and this is where a president needs to get aggressive and call posturers of both parties out.

[ShortnFiery]

2. The Dems will NOT introduce any bill that will not serve BIG CORPORATIONS.

We are being ruled by ONE right-wing duopoly. Both parties serve the large corporations before middle class America.

We need to vote these assholes out of office ... all but the few PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL Democrats.

p.s. right now we're better off with gridlock = at least they can't steal any more of our tax dollars? :shrug:

[pnwmom]

4. I disagree. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

6. Show me different? This "abortion argument" is just a way to keep the GOP base strong.

However, more than anything, the role of both parties is to make the "large corporations" ... even LARGER (richer).

[MNDemNY]

8. +1

[Marr]

7. If they wanted to control costs, the obvious place to do it is the healthcare bill.

Believing they'll do it later, after the corporate giveaway, strikes me as profoundly naive.

[pnwmom]

13. You don't think Kucinich will offer a cost control bill when this one is done?

And you don't think people will support controlling costs when that is the only issue in front of them?

[Ozymanithrax]

9. If the Senate bill survives attacks from left and right, it must go to Conference committee...

There will be changes in that committee. Then it will have to be approved again by the House and Senate. Then it will need to be signed.

Republicans are going to bitch and moan. Let them.

[TiberiusGracchus]

10. Let's keep this simple: if this shit bill passes the republicans will use it against us for DECADES

Just as they work overtime to erode and undermine it, they will point to this monstrosity everytime we try to legislate anything meaningful for the American poor.

If they pass this bill in its current form, it will NOT be an incremental jumping point for incremental reform, it will be an unloved and unsupported edifice that no sensible democrat will ever claim responsibility for.

Ariana and Howard are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. This bill is so odious and flawed that it will be an ALBATROSS like No Child Left Behind, something that future pundits and candidates will point to as a reminder of hubris and incompetence.

We have to kill this bill guys. It is NOT a meaningful compromise that we can somehow doll up to look like a winner someday. Everyone involved with it will spend ALL OF 2010 pretending they had nothing to do with it and years from now, long after the republicans have repealed or diminished it, it will continue to be as much a shambles as No Child Left Behind.

[Laelth]

11. I don't think it will have overwhelming public approval.

I think the American people will loathe it (and rightly so), and I think they will punish Democrats for it electorally (again, rightly so).

It can not be a good idea to further enrich the health insurance cabal, and that is exactly what this bill will do.

:dem:

-Laelth

[pnwmom]

12. You don't think a subsequent cost control bill would have overwhelming

public approval? Once this was already in place?