51% Of Self-Identified Republicans In Swing Districts Favor A Public Option

[Luminous Animal]

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/26/51-of-self-identified-republicans-in-swing-districts-favor-a-public-option/

Even in swing districts, the majority of self-identified Republicans favor a public option. Like poll after poll, the numbers prove that the public option makes health care reform more popular, not less. The idea of a public option is incredibly popular with a broad cross-section of people, yet Democrats refuse to add it to health care reform as part of a reconciliation sidecar strategy. Instead of paying for fixing the incredibly unpopular excise tax with the savings from a very popular public option, Democratic leaders are planning on more tax increases, and cuts to Medicare Advantage. This is such a politically stupid decision it makes my head hurt.

[Luminous Animal]

1. What? No, "Fuck, FDL?" No allusion to teabaggers?

I jest.

FYI, I still make phone calls to Pelosi's offices every day advocating for a robust public option. The public option is not my first choice but it seems to be one of the only step towards single payer that has more than a snowball's chance in hell (the other option being Medicare expansion).

[amborin]

2. K&R

[ibegurpard]

3. At some point you have to start to wonder

if they really are that stupid or if they are actually playing for the other team.

[mzmolly]

4. How do we know that Dems refuse to add a public option

as a sidecar? That's not what Alan Grayson said.

[Luminous Animal]

7. I believe Grayson was arguing that, legislatively, the House had the power

to add it through reconciliation. I don't believe he stated that the votes were there to make it happen.

[mzmolly]

9. He said that the speaker said such a deal was in the works.

I think we're being mum until after the SOTU perhaps?

[Luminous Animal]

11. Really? When? Link?

[mzmolly]

12. See this:

Grayson: What are you talking about? I sit in meetings with the Democratic caucus with meetings every week! I’m telling you, this is what we’re talking about. This is what the leadership is telling us.

http://www.politicususa.com/en/Matthews-Grayson

Followed by this:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100127/ap_on_bi_ge/us_health_care_overhaul

[Luminous Animal]

13. You've proved my point. Grayson was arguing that reconciliation was possible

to pass any health care bill. Matthews is claiming that House and Senate rules do not allow for reconciliation.

He wasn't presenting an argument or even the possibility of a public option.

The full transcript of the Matthews interview is here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35059841/ns/msnbc_tv-hardball_with_chris_matthews/

And your second link says nothing about a public option, either.

[mzmolly]

15. What do you presume needs to be "fixed" in the recon process?

I presume we'll have a stronger public option.

[bvar22]

5. Over 68% of DEMOCRATS in swing states...

...support a Public Option.
So who ARE our Democrats really working for?

No Public Option = Blood Bath 2010 & 2012.

It IS that simple.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. That is a fact that will never be acknowledged on any mainstream media...

[rucky]

8. When all this is over, D & R voters can look at each other and ask...

"who are these people in Congress representing?"

This game they use to conflate partisan wars as cover for a class war is just about up.

[Faryn Balyncd]

10. Nancy needs to take note........Baucus-Lieber-Care is POISON.......K and R

[leftstreet]

14. K&R