The only REAL public option is a Medicare buy in.

[denem]

There were 60 Senate votes, the Bill was being written, then Lieberman broke his word (for the thousandth time).

All this betrayal talk flung at the President. Obama would have signed in a heart beat. The White House didn't push hard enough? A real public option was firmly on the table!

Kucinich threw his support behind it. A path to Medicare for all was opening.

Then Lieberman ratted. How do you heavy a puddle of slime?

Talk all you want about the great betrayal. The only alternative I can see is Obama vetoing the Bill.

Would you support that? Is that best answer?

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yes. The bureaucracy is already in place. nt

[sharesunited]

2. A veto will not be required.

[bluestateguy]

3. Lincoln and Landrieu were even for it too

Lieberfuck's betrayal goes beyond Obama, Reid, Pelosi combined.

[yurbud]

4. Obama could expand Medicare with an executive order, hell even a SIGNING STATEMENT

Bush did far more radical things for less noble motives.

[bluestateguy]

7. Or reconcilliation in the Senate

It would be absolutely allowed. Maybe for the 2011 budget?

[yurbud]

11. a lot would be forgiven if he did that.

[denem]

13. The Senate can filibuster the Report of the Reconciliation.

I would love them to call Lieberman on his bluff, but I cant see any signs of the courage needed to nail him.

[yurbud]

21. the Democrats seem to be congenitally incapable of any kind of strategery

they're making Bush like a chess master.

[Jackpine Radical]

24. Yes indeed.

That would be HUGE for me.

[TheWraith]

27. No he could NOT. The President does not legislate.

I'm sorry we can't offer you a dictator.

[nightrain]

5. I would have liked to believe Obama would have signed a Medicare buy-in. Why didn't

Obama and Reid and others work with Lieberman on that then and get his support? They got Landrieu and Nelson's "support". Obama is mysteriously relatively silent on what his values/preferences are related to health care. How come we don't know what he would prefer? What are his values/preferences?

[denem]

6. Lieberman is worse than a rattlesnake. There are no words...

[nightrain]

8. granted on Lieberman... and I'm serious about the questions about Obama's values/preferences

Care to comment?

[denem]

10. I would like to think Obama adheres to the old fashioned view

that it is the Legislature that legislates. During the campaign he suggested that Hillary's do-it-in-the-White House approach doomed reform in 2004.

On leadership - It's inconceivable that Obama and Reid didn't work together, or at least consult on the Medicare buy in.

More cynically, Obama has staked so much on this, he will now probably sign just about anything.

[nightrain]

15. yes, my sense is that Obama was involved in the non-passage of the Medicare buy-in.

I would like to see Obama give far more of an indication of his values and preferences. I think it would have been far preferable if he had at least been more involved, openly, stating he could support single payer, PO, or just something! I fear for his conflict-aversion, unwillingness to ruffle some corp feathers in order to do right by the people.

[Jackpine Radical]

25. Don't forget what Feingold said on the topic.

"This bill appears to be legislation that the president wanted in the first place, so I don’t think focusing it on Lieberman really hits the truth," said Feingold.

[Cleita]

9. They could still do it with reconciliation, but I get the feeling

Obama has told Reid and Pelosi not to. For some reason or the other he has this big delusion of unity from both sides of the aisle. I wish someone would give him a big drink of reality. Lieberman and the Republicans are not going to cooperate, so he needs to get everything passed that he can before next January while Democrats still have a majority in the Senate. And if filibusters and reconciliation are the game, then let the games begin.

[denem]

12. The Senate can filibuster the Report of the Reconciliation.

I would like to think they would call Lieberman's bluff, but sadly, I doubt it.

[Cleita]

16. Let them!

I want to see them going down fighting instead of bending over all the time. You never know if you can win if you don't fight for things.

[denem]

20. To be honest, I'd love to see them turn the Krieg Lights on Lieberman

and let him fry.

He's on the record for years, supporting Medicare for 50 - 65 year olds. Choke on it Joe.

Reid was said to have been 'astounded' when Lieberman backed out.

[EFerrari]

14. So is that the deal Obama cut with the insurance industry and Big Pharma

before he talked to us? A Medicare buy-in?

Because I'm thinking if that's the deal he cut, that's the deal we'd be getting.

[madrchsod]

19. 20 million from the drug and medical insurance companies.

secret meeting with them during the reform process. he agreed with what they wanted...30+ million new customers paid by the taxpayers. we still face huge medical bills ,increasing payments and medical bankruptcy.

yes we have been sold out

[madrchsod]

17. obama chickened out and we will pay the price

making nice speeches is`t going to cut it anymore barack.

killing it or accepting it does`t really make a difference.

[JVS]

18. Obama has my full support on vetoing the bill.

It's what he need to do to tell the Senate that their legislation is unacceptable.

[DrDan]

22. no way Obama will veto this bill

regardless of what anyone here supports.

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Sadly, you are absolutely correct.

[rhett o rick]

23. Would expanding Medicare coverage require a new bill? And if so, cant it be passed via

reconciliation?

[jtrockville]

28. I would support a medicare buy-in.

I would also support subsidizing those who can't afford to buy-in, because we have a responsibility to provide health care to everyone.

I do not support the subsidy as it stands now, or the rest of the bill either.

[dysfunctional press]

29. what do you think the monthly premium would/should be?

i've heard estimates as high as $700/month for people to buy into it- and that would be for 80% coverage on covered services. and not all doctors are willing to take on new medicare patients- if it's expanded, even fewer will.

[denem]

30. IMO The monthly premium should be linked to income in some way. This is NOT unfair

to private insurers. They are at liberty to provide a similar fee structure (heh).

As for medical practitioners the answer must come from negotiation. For a start Congress should get out the business of flat lining payments.That could be a first step towards establishing trust.

[dysfunctional press]

33. that's not a number.

people are going to find that a medicare buy-in is not necessarily going to be a bargain for those that would have the option.

[maryf]

31. If Obama vetoed the HC bill, I might gain a modicum of hope, nt

[ibegurpard]

32. If your scenario is correct than ABSOLUTELY would I support a veto

And I would CHEER him for doing so.