2010 will be to the Republicans what 2006 was to the Democrats

[eridani]

Despite the fact that support for the Iraq war was far more bipartisan than support for HCR, that mere fact didn't stop Dems from using popular discontent with the war to boost their electoral prospacts considerably.

Fact: a campaigning against mandates and excise taxes is a hugely powerful winning issue. We know this because that's what Obama did in 2008--campaigned against Clinton on mandates and against McCain on taxing benefits. We know that the Repubs don't give a flying fuck about getting health care for those who don't have it, but who here is silly enough to believe they won't use the HCR bill against us, and probably effectively?

Say hello to the next governor of Florida, who will very likely fuck over anyone in Florida who doesn't have access to health care.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/14/john-shadegg-gives-mike-stark-a-preview-of-the-gop-2010-campaign

SHADEGG: I don’t understand either bill. Both the House and Senate bills contain mandates that compel, or would compel you and I as individual Americans to buy insurance from Americas private insurance industry. I think America’s private insurance industry is the problem…

STARK: So are you for a public option?

SHADDEG: Well, you could better defend a public option than you could defend compelling me to buy a product from the people that have created the problem. America’s health insurance industry has wanted this bill and the individual mandate from the get go. That’s their idea. Their idea is “look, our product is so lousy, that lots of people don’t buy it. So we need the government to force people to buy our product. And stunningly, that’s what the Congress appears to be going along with. Why would they do that?

STARK: Congressman, you’re making the progressive argument here.

SHADDEG: I’m with the progressives on this one! The notion … I mean, I completely agree with my progressive friends here. The notion of forcing Americans to buy a product they don’t want to buy from companies that aren’t doing it right right now is goofy..."

[Gman2]

1. How much leeway do you think we are allowed? Or Obama?

Is he free to govern? There are puppeteers aplenty. WE must do progress in steps, or the real power freaks.

[aquart]

2. Yeah, Obama has no responsibility at all. Just a puppet.

Craven excuses.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. "The buck stops here" is soooo yesterday.

[eridani]

11. If Joe and Jane voter don't notice any progress, they will vote against us

There is nothing in HCR that is going to benefit significant numbers of people before then. And don't even bother mentioning your useless bullshit high risk pools. Plenty of states (including mine) have them, and they are totally worthless.

[Bitwit1234]

12. And as long as republicans own the media there won't be any

progress reported. None of the bills passed so far have gotten any press.

[eridani]

13. If something real happened in their own lives, they'd ignore the media

But except for some more people eligible for Medicaid, and those folks 23-26 who have parents who 1. have insurance and 2. are willing and able to include them on their policies, nothing is going to happen until 2014.

[gravity]

3. Not if we pass healthcare reform

and kick the Republican's ass

[eridani]

8. Passing HCR is handing the pubbies their biggest weapon against us

Or didn't you read what Shaddeg said about extremely unpopular mandates? Mandates which plenty of people would be willing to live with if they had a real alternative to insurance companies via a public option that anyone could buy into.

[FrenchieCat]

5. SHADDEG: I’m with the progressives on this one!

How convenient!

and from FDL! How cute!

[eridani]

9. Obama ran against mandates and won the primary

If Shaddeg runs against mandates, he will win, period. It is a proven winning strategy, by none other than Obama himself.

[leftstreet]

15. Shhh. We're supposed to forget that

K&R

[Champion Jack]

6. Bullshit

[spanone]

7. i don't see it.

:shrug:

[eridani]

10. You missed Obama's wins in 2008?

He ran against mandates and against taxing benefits.

[eridani]

14. Just as I thought. No logical responses at all

Just the usual arguments that we should be for or against something based only on who else is for or against it.

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. Shit Sandwiches Don't Eat Themselves Ya Know (eom)