Does anyone think healthcare reform has chance?

[maxpower]

Especially that the public option will pass. Or will the dems stab Obmama in the back, just like Clinton. Lets face it, the insurance and big pharm have bought too much influence. I'm not a smart man, I sure hope President Obama (I still love to say that) has a few tricks up his sleeve. I hope so.


Peace,
Max

[FrenchieCat]

1. I think so. But then I thought Obama would win the Primaries and then the general election....

Back in October of 2007......So what do I know? :shrug:

[grantcart]

2. the Republicans have actually strengthened the Progressive position

I believe that a Senate bill will pass and go to conference. It will have the public option. There maybe some other compromise measures - more buffer to ensure that it is deficit neutral, tort reform.

In the Senate the caucus will vote party lines to defeat the attempt to filibuster and the bill will pass with 54-57 votes without using reconciliation.

a couple of Republicans may negotiate side agreements with the Whitehouse (agree not to back a competitor in the upcoming general election, fund pet projects in their state)

Pleae remember that the President has tremendous power to push through and get a couple of votes.

I do not believe that any Democratic Senator wants to be known as the Senator who lost the vote on health reform.



In the worst case scenario a bill will pass with only a 'trigger' for the public option and they will jam it through the reconciliation process.

[BzaDem]

3. It's possible that a trigger bill will pass but not through reconciliation.

A 'trigger' would most likely be supported by Snowe and Collins, which would mean Nelson/Lieberman/Landrieu would probably support it. That's 61 votes for the bill. Not having to use reconciliation would be a good thing, since it means it wouldn't sunset and would be able to contain real regulatory reform of the insurance companies (such as no pre-existing condition discrimination).

[FrenchieCat]

4. Yep, that's what I was thinking.....whichever way Collins goes,

she's our 60th vote at this point, but she brings a few others with her.

[grantcart]

11. You are confusing 60 votes to support cloture and passing the bill

I do not think that they will sustain a filibuster and that all they will need is 51 votes, some senators voting against sustaining a filibuster but also not voting for the final bill.

[Union Yes]

12. A minor technicality.. 50 Sens+ Joe Biden. Could be a real scenario, who knows.

[LiberalAndProud]

7. I am bookmarking this

I hope you're right. Would the trigger intimidate insurance companies into responsible pricing?

[grantcart]

13. no - structurally they simply cannot effect responsible pricing as they add

an unnecessary profit center to the product chain.


Prices would come down - but not enough.

[LiberalAndProud]

14. I guess I'll reserve judgment, If the trigger is sensitive enough

... who knows?

It sure seems like any trigger event has already occurred, as more and more Americans continue to drop out of the health insurance protection racket. It seems that all we have now is the latest rumor, and I'm having a hard time keeping up.

[LiberalAndProud]

5. It is up to the Senate.

We have to get all but 9 of our Dems. Is that doable?

[zonkers]

6. No doubt. Remember the after effect of Obama's Reverend Wright speech?

Wait till he nails health care. We are talking groundswell. Timing is everything.

[eridani]

8. We have to fight for that until we win, or get beaten down temporarily n/t

[Mark in Boston]

9. better active today...

I think it's really important for all of us with a conscience to rally against the "wrong wingers". Republicans are absolutely brilliant at using a minimum of effort to freak out AND GALVANIZE their core group of seniors and activists.

Surely you can agree that "Death Panels" is brilliant.
In only 2 words you have their idea clearly in your mind, which is their goal.

As we used to say in the antinuclear movement: Better active today than radioactive tomorrow. Can anyone update that for the healthcare fight?

Please email your Rep, Senator, President and your friends, and let them know you need their help to protect our nation from wrong wing fanatics and sellouts ot influence peddling scumbags like the insurance/pharma/health lobbies.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Yes, I do.

[Toasterlad]

15. No Spine = No Change

I sincerely doubt that America's health care system will be significantly altered in any way during this administration.