Daschle Pick A Clear Sign That Obama Will Attempt Ambitious Health Care Reform

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/11/dachle_pick_clearest_evidence.php

Daschle Pick A Clear Sign That Obama Will Attempt Ambitious Health Care Reform
By Greg Sargent - November 19, 2008, 2:00PM


The folks who know what they're talking about when discussing health care say that the choice of Tom Daschle to head Health and Human Services is hugely significant in two ways.

First, it's a sign that Obama will pursue real, meaningful, ambitious reform; and second, it shows that he's determined to avoid the mistakes that doomed Hillarycare in the 1990s.

Here's Ezra Klein:

This is huge news, and the clearest evidence yet that Obama means to pursue comprehensive health reform. You don't tap the former Senate Majority Leader to run your health care bureaucracy. That's not his skill set. You tap him to get your health care plan through Congress. You tap him because he understands the parliamentary tricks and has a deep knowledge of the ideologies and incentives of the relevant players. You tap him because you understand that health care reform runs through the Senate...

Daschle signals that the Obama administration view health care as a political problem. The key to success is votes. And Daschle is a guy whose last job was lining up votes.

And here's Jonathan Cohn:

Daschle has also thought long and hard about the failures of the 1994 reform effort -- and how to avoid them. He was actually the first person I heard mention the possibility of using the budget reconciliation process this time around. (Under reconciliation rules, it takes only 50 votes to pass something, since there are no filibusters.)...

Like Senator Max Baucus, who has also raised this possibility, Daschle was careful to say that reconciliation should be a fallback option -- something to use only if bipartisan progress became impossible because Republicans were reprising their role from 1994 and refusing to compromise. But he also noted that it was an option Democrats had to keep on the table, in order to make cooperation more likely.

Also, you'd think the Daschle pick should quiet all the pundit speculation that Obama won't be able to afford the cost or political capital to act quickly and decisively on reform. Daschle wouldn't have taken the gig if he didn't think it was a major priority for the new administration.

For more on Daschle's views of health care, see interviews with him at link.

[Thrill]

1. Rahm already said they are going to swing for the fences

[sharp_stick]

2. Oh I hope so

If there is one domestic area that requires intense work and soon it's health care. Daschle is going to have his work cut out for him, I really want him to hit the ground running, this is something that Obama can really make a significant mark on during his first term.

[ClassWarrior]

3. Yay!!

NGU.

[xultar]

4. DUers hated Daschle because he was such a pushover. Now he's a healthcare maverick.

mmmk!

[Alexander]

7. If he knows the rules enough to get UHC passed over a filibuster, I don't care what he is.

"Daschle has also thought long and hard about the failures of the 1994 reform effort -- and how to avoid them. He was actually the first person I heard mention the possibility of using the budget reconciliation process this time around. (Under reconciliation rules, it takes only 50 votes to pass something, since there are no filibusters.)...

Like Senator Max Baucus, who has also raised this possibility, Daschle was careful to say that reconciliation should be a fallback option -- something to use only if bipartisan progress became impossible because Republicans were reprising their role from 1994 and refusing to compromise. But he also noted that it was an option Democrats had to keep on the table, in order to make cooperation more likely."

This seems like the #1 reason to pick Daschle - he knows obscure parliamentarian rules so we won't have to break filibusters all the time.

[xultar]

19. Wouldn't anyone know the rules? I mean really...Daschle a lion, first I've heard LION

used with his name in a sentence and he not be the meal.

[Ishoutandscream2]

20. LOL, Xultar

I've always thought of him as the meal. A timid, shrinking violet of a Senator. I can remember him trying to portray outrage on the floor of the Senate, and he couldn't even come off as pissed. I have never held him in high regard.

[xultar]

22. Which is why I'm trying to figure out how everyone is so happy he's gonna be HHS.

They are acting like he's gonna do something other than flap his gums and run and hide.

This place is so fickle.

[loyalsister]

28. That environment would have driven any leader crazy

Half the Democratic delegation was voting with Bush because we had been attacked, because of anthrax, their patriotism challenged, etc. The wisemen of the day were Lieberman who had been the standardbearer VP candidate and Zell Miller was in there "full of wisdom." Those were sad days because Dems were actually in a lot of ways not sure even how to respond to Bush.Given that unfortunate circumstance, I don't think we got an opportunity to see what Daschle can do. Someone who is a good whip is extremely valuable in so many ways. Very few Senators master those rules. How many people here who are one committees know Robert's Rules frontwards and backwards well enough to exploit them?

[Alexander]

21. He knows the Senators, too, and has gotten them to vote his way before.

Remember, it's not what you know, it's who you know, and Daschle knows just about all of the influential Senators.

I have no problem with Daschle being selected, particularly if his new boss is President Obama.

[w4rma]

8. Not I. I've always supported Daschle. (nt)

[WI_DEM]

12. pushover? he managed in 2001 (at the height of Bush's popularity) to turn a GOP senate into a Dem

senate (until the 2002 election)when he got Jeffords of VT to cross over to the Democratic caucus.

[wyldwolf]

14. I believe "Fuck the DLC" was often used when referring to him

[xultar]

18. Your recall is dead on fucking center.

[TahitiNut]

27. I think "pink tutu" was used just a bit more frequently.

:shrug:

[bunnies]

5. excellent view of the big picture. k&r. nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. Question for anyone who has read the Daschle book

What sort of plan is he advocating in the book. Is it closer to HR 676, or the Romney/Hillary mandatory corporate care approach?

[babylonsister]

11. Here's some info (h/t Frenchie):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7895352

REVIEWS: Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee necessary health care to all of its citizens, and as former senator Daschle observes, Skeptics say we can't afford to cover everyone; the truth is that we can't afford not to because U.S. economic competitiveness is being impeded by the large uninsured population and fast-rising health costs. Daschle's book delineates the weaknesses of previous attempts at national health coverage, outlines the complex economic factors and medical issues affecting coverage and sets forth plans for change. Daschle proposes creating a Federal Health Board, similar to the Federal Reserve System, whose structure, functions and enforcement capability would be largely insulated from the politics and passion of the moment, in addition to a merging of employers' plans, Medicaid and Medicare with an expanded FEHBP (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program) that would cover everyone. There is no more important issue facing our country, Daschle asserts, than reform of our health-care system, and the book's health-care horror stories bring this immediacy home. (Feb. 19)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CRITICAL
“I may not agree with some of the political statements but Senator Daschle is right on target on the need to start a serious dialogue on health care for Americans. His thoughtful health-care proposals will move the process forward. Senator Daschle and I agree on the need for nonpartisanship in coming to grips with this number one domestic problem.” —Bob Dole, former Senate majority leader
“The American health-care system is in crisis, and workable solutions have been blocked for years by deeply entrenched ideological divisions. Sen. Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise for bridging this intellectual chasm and, at long last, giving this nation the health care it deserves.” —Senator Barack Obama (IL)
“This book provides real solutions for America’s broken health care system.” —Senator Harry Reid (NV), Senate majority leader
“Critical provides answers to one of the most vexing challenges of our time.” —John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and a former White House chief of staff
“It is a must-read.” —Jerome H. Grossman M.D., senior fellow and director of the Health Care Delivery Project at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government
“Senator Daschle adds to his reputation as a clear thinker and leader. Critical shows us not only why we must solve our health care crisis but that—with political will—we can.” —Judy Feder, professor and dean at Georgetown Public Policy Institute
http://www.amazon.com/Critical-What-About-Health-Care-C...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear babylonsister!

Most excellent news!

Picking him now gives Daschle time to hit the ground running after he's confirmed...

And he will be confirmed, of this I am sure!

K&R

[babylonsister]

13. Hi, Peggy. I can hear the gears grinding. I think this is going to be

an admin to be reckoned with, and I can't wait! :fistbump:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. I hear you, and I agree!

:fistbump:

[WI_DEM]

10. I agree, Daschle is a splendid selection and will do a great job

[Cha]

16. Reading this..I'm thinking that

Maybe keeping lieberman is a step for no distractions to get a comprehensive health care plan passed? For one thing.

[Cleita]

17. Creating a Health Board may be a good first move as

long as he keeps the insurance company lobbyists off of it. Will Mr. Milquetoast have the stones to do that?

[OhioChick]

23. K&R

:kick:

[eridani]

24. Well, now we have someone else on our list to start bugging about HR 676

ASAP, if not sooner.

[tomp]

25. he did exactly what as majority leader....

...i mean besides enabling the iraq war?

[Beausoir]

26. Daschle....

a weak spineless loser.

We old-timers remember Daschle.

[TeamJordan23]

29. the worst pick by far. what the heck has he done? nm