In my opinion, there are votes in the House already for HCR...

[kentuck]

But they are waiting to get the 51 names on the letter sent to the Senate. They are asking the Senate if they agree with the changes made on the House side. If they get the 51 votes, then it can go to reconciliation. Then, they can follow the normal rules. This would disarm many of the Republican arguments about constitutionality.

We, the voters, are stuck with a bill of faith. We hope they will improve upon it if it is passed. If it is not passed, we probably will lose on all fronts, politically and personally. The insurance companies will have little compassion for folks that need coverage. Just as Bernie Sanders has stated, insurance companies are in business to make money, not to show compassion.

President Obama has spent a ton of political capital on this issue. He did not handle it well by taking every negotiating tool off the table in efforts to get Republican support. In the end, he is attempting to muster the support of the corporate Democrats. There is still the air of uncertainty of whether or not anything will pass.

But, if the Republicans are so adamantly against the bill, I cannot help but think there must be something good in the bill? When the pigs start squealing, somebody most likely grabbed them by their tails. Perhaps we should not be so quick to condemn it.

[AllyCat]

1. I still feel Republicans are against the bill because they want Obama to fail

(and in this instance, I wish he would--hate this bill). They also have been rallying against "government-run healthcare" for so long that I don't think they can stop the juggernaut even though this bill is anything but.

[kentuck]

3. Yes, there is a tax on those that do not carry healthcare...

and which everyone else pays for if they are very sick or in an accident and have to visit the emergency room. Is that not fair?

[OHdem10]

2. Howard Dean is supporting the bill but candidly pointed out on

Morning Joe--This is a Republican bill, it is almost the Romney
Plan for America.

Others pointed out the plan R.Nixon developed and proposed was
to the left of this plan.

I am supporting passing HCIR with the hope it is improved.

Dean is right.

[SoFlaJet]

4. It's a start my Buckeye friend

it ain't perfect but it CAN be made better-just like all the other big democratic ideas of the past 70 years have been. Funny though about that, what HAVE the republicans done to help anybody ever, except the very rich among us? Oh yea, nothing.

[Tippy]

5. Republicans are only concerned with one thing. their wallets.

When first elected many are of modest means...but it don't take them long before they become millionairs....

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Those same republicans are also dead set against his jobs bill,

at a time when their own constituency is hit by near record unemployment.

Their opposition is ONLY about defeating Obama. Nothing else.

[Jennicut]

7. Clyburn said they are still a few shy due to the abortion issue and I believe him.

[Imajika]

8. Sure, Pelosi has the votes...

..it is just a question of who has to vote for it and who doesn't.

The truth is, this bill is not popular with the American people. Period. It polls poorly virtually across the board. No matter how much the advocates want to say "well, people may not like the bill but they like what's in it", Congresscritters know that really doesn't much matter. This bill, at this time, does not have the support of the American people. As the signature issue of Obama's presidency though, and with massive majorities in both the House and Senate, the Democratic Party will not allow it to go down to defeat due to how much it would weaken our President.

So yeah, she has the votes, they are just fighting over who actually has to vote for it and who gets a pass.

Simple as that.

[kentuck]

9. I'm sure that is a big part of the equation.

But they still need 51 votes in the Senate for reconciliation.

[Imajika]

10. Honestly...

..I'd vote for this under the assumption the Senate fails miserably at reconcilliation.

I am pretty sure we are just going to end up with the Senate bill as it is right now.

I just think all the energy is leading up to this vote, the momentum can't last forever, the press will feel that now that the Dems got a win it would only be fair to help the GOP win something, etc, etc.

I really hope our guys in the House aren't actually counting on the Senate - whether 51 signed a piece of paper or not.