Krugman: Just do it.

[ProSense]

Krugman:

<...>

First of all, the strategy of playing Republican-lite, and hoping that you’ll be left alone, has been tried — and failed disastrously. Remember 2002?

Second, David Axelrod is right: the campaign against HCR has been based on lies, and the only way to refute those lies (and stop them from being rolled out again and again) is to pass the thing, and let people see it in action. It’s too bad startup is delayed under the Senate bill — but even so, that’s what you have to do.

Finally, Democrats have to realize that politics isn’t just about where you stand on issues, it’s about perceptions of a party’s character. The rap on Dems has always been that they’re wimps — and giving in on such a central part of the party’s agenda, emerging from two years in power with nothing major to show for it, will play right into that perception.

Just do it — pass health care. Then move on to confronting the bankers.

[still_one]

1. It won't happen, enough Democratic Senators and Representatives said as much after last

night

Let's hope they get a backbone, but I am pretty disillusioned

[daa]

2. Better listen to Weiner and Frank, not Krugman eom

[n2doc]

3. Mandates and taxes, but delays in benefits people will see?

Thanks but no thanks. Confront the Bankers, fix what they can fix with health care (eliminating pre existing denials, and age related price increases, and the anti trust exemption). Earn our trust.

[Selatius]

4. The bill is more likely to fall to a Republican filibuster with the loss of the 60-seat majority.

They are half-way done destroying health care reform. The loss of Ted Kennedy's seat was the half-way mark.

[ixion]

5. Yes, enshrine the insurance corporations before "confronting" the bankers

That's a win-win for the F.I.R.E vertical and a lose-lose for the rest of us.