OK DUers help me out

[malaise]

If the idea of universal health care is such a bad thing why do Rethugs hate it so much. Let's accept that this is merely stage one and improvements will follow in years to come, but if Rethugs are so opposed to any reform then it seems to me that something must be right about it.

Convince me otherwise.

[cali]

1. I'm kind of coming to that pov myself

it's not what I wanted, but perhaps it's better than nothing.

[Union Yes]

2. It threatens Authoritarian control and our corporate overlords ain't down with that. knr nt

[Hannah Bell]

3. are they opposed to this bill? or is the "opposition" in service of getting the bill

they actually want?

or is that too machiavellian.

[malaise]

4. I understand your point

but their spokespersons consistently said that they're voting no to destroy the Obama agenda. Rethugs pretty much backed the status quo.
I'm totally confused so I need help here.

[Hannah Bell]

6. the dems had 60 votes for whatever they could get it together to pass.

pub support not needed. but bad joe lieberman wrecked it!!!!

set up.

dems take the fall 100% for the shitty bill & another reactionary election.

then pubs get in, fuck things up even worse, spin cycle, another boomerang election.

meantime, neither the majority of pub or dem voters get policies they like.

[Mithreal]

8. And 60 was just the "chosen" threshold

the filibuster could have been neutered more than one way.

[EFerrari]

19. That's not machiavelian. That's just CSPAN Theater. n/t

[girl gone mad]

5. Reminds me of their "opposition" to TARP.

Behind the scenes, they made sure it was going to pass with ease before putting on a big show of opposing it.

[Mithreal]

7. Two Santa Clauses Theory and Republicans fear

that universal health care will prevent conservatives from rolling back the New Deal.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

There is a video out there of one of the conservative think tank founders who talks explicitly about this unless I misremember. Thom Hartmann plays it every so often on his radio show, unfortunately I cannot find it atm, but will be on the look out.

And I may have misunderstood the question. So, here is another shot at it. The Republicans have NO IDEAS of their own, they are just taking the easy way back to power. Probably just going to try and ride the populist rage.

Their reasons matter as much as their lack of support. It isn't simply an enemy of my enemy thing.

[malaise]

9. I'd love to see that

Thanks for your comments

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Jim DeMint Tells Us Why:

"If we're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."
-Jim DeMint

[malaise]

11. Precisely

:hi:

[aikoaiko]

12. I took the same stance on DADT way back in the 90s, but I'm still waiting for the logical next step

of letting gay and lesbian men and women serve openly.

Granted, this is not a perfect analogy.

[Laelth]

13. I seriously doubt you can be convinced. n/t

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Frosty1]

14. I think Shelson Whitehouse said it best

http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2009/12/must-see-video-sheldon-whitehouse-lying.html

[mdmc]

15. universal health care is where it is at my friend

[NYC_SKP]

16. You are right, all the UnRecs help to confirm this.

100% Republican objection must mean something.

[goclark]

17. If the Rethugs are so much in favor of saying No to it

I'm with you.

[malaise]

18. Hi there

:hi:

[goclark]

20. What the Rethugs want I don't want

Hi to you too! : )