Check In If You Support the Passage of This Historic HCR Bill!

[berni_mccoy]

This is an Historic Moment.

We should all celebrate this great victory.

No more pre-existing conditions. No more rescission. No more life-time limits. 32 Million More Americans who will gain access to Health Care. Closing the Medicare Prescription Drug donut hole. Billions of dollars into thousands of local clinics. As Bernie Sanders has said, there is enough good to pass this bill. As Natoma Canfield argued, "We need to start somewhere". And this is a start. It is not the end. The HCR Bill will be improved, just as Social Security has more than 20 major improvements between 1935 and now.

This is truly a great and historic moment for America.

[Cal Carpenter]

1. How about now that it's going to pass

can we talk about it in an intellectually honest way?

Like maybe you can recognize that having INSURANCE does not equal having access to HEALTH CARE?

I mean, we need to start somewhere. :eyes:

[Mithreal]

165. +1

[judesedit]

296. ha, ha

.

[opihimoimoi]

2. KnR and...to the greatest Page with ya.. :o) and a Beautiful day to all Americans...Pagans n ALL

[wryter2000]

3. It isn't what I wanted

But, it'll have to do. At least, we can enjoy watching the Boner cry that we're witnessing the end of democracy and out great republic.

[tigereye]

91. love how it's only the end of Democracy as we know it when it's a Dem bill

but anything they put through is the Second Coming. :eyes:

[Left Coast2020]

151. Now we can all tell the disginuished Congressman from Ohio.......

....to take a flying F-ing leap. :)

[sallyseven]

262. I second that

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saltpoint]

5. Absent the Congress passing a bill to my exact specifications I think this

bill should be passed, and it looks as if it will pass, and the aftermath offers us an opportunity to create a national dialogue against the Republicans who tried to destabilize the Obama White House through obstruction.

We expect politics to be a lot of elbows under the basket. But the Pukes' obstruction came at the expense of people who need help and cannot have it. The Republicans who opposed the plan as "socialism" used those people's plight and suffering to advance a petty political jealousy, and that is unpardonable.

I say pass the bill and let's see if John Boehner will throw a hissy on cable news.

[Betty Karlson]

9. Allow me to second that exact sentiment. N/T

[saltpoint]

17. Hi, Betty.

:hi:

[rhett o rick]

6. When is the vote? Is there a thread following this? nm

[femmocrat]

10. Around 8 p.m., give or take.

Once they approve the next procedural vote, there will be two hours of "debate", then the vote. It will probably be later than that.

Someone will probably start a thread. Stay tuned! :hi:

[rhett o rick]

22. 8 pm EDT? nm

[femmocrat]

32. Yes, EDT. Sorry. n/t

[rhett o rick]

58. np and thanks. nm

[femmocrat]

7. I support its passage, but not this pared down bill.

But I remain hopeful that it will be improved upon.

[patrice]

8. Yes, but we must NOT be bought off on any of our issues, including Medicare for All.

Guess we'll be finding out now, pretty soon here, who's who in our Corporataucracy

[wildflowergardener]

11. I do

I support the passage - there are definitely faults with it - and I hope they continue to improve on it - but this needs to be passed for there to be hope of any improvements, in my opinion.

[Skink]

12. Now Obama has got to start saying we are going to fast track what's in this bill.

opening up medicare as a public option now should be on the table.

[jpak]

13. Can I bring my pony too?

:evilgrin:

[Hekate]

14. Did you see FRUM's take on Waterloo? roflmao--linky

The thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7973420

The vid
http://www.dailykos.com/tv/w/002619/

Frum online
http://www.frumforum.com/waterloo

[eyepaddle]

247. Wow, that was great. I may overdose on "gloaten-frade" this morning. nt

[Hissyspit]

15. No more pre-existing conditions?

Do you really believe that? Come on. 32 million more Americans will "gain access to Health Care?"

You know damn well it's more complicated than that. We could have had so much better than this. We could have.

I do hope that you are correct that this bill be improved.

[berni_mccoy]

19. You do know that Insurance will no longer be allowed to deny coverage for PEC?

Immediately for Children.

in 4 years for Adults.

In the mean time, Adults can enlist in the High-Risk Pool, where they can choose a federal plan where the premium is capped. If they can't afford it, subsidies are available. How is this not an end to denial of coverage for PEC?

[Hissyspit]

34. Yes, I know that.

It is not an end to denial of coverage for PEC. It is an improvement, but it is not an end.

[berni_mccoy]

39. How is it not an end?

No more exclusions for PEC in 2014 for everyone. That sounds like an end to me.

[laughingliberal]

84. They just have to pay a fine for refusing to sell a policy to someone with a PEC

It's $100 per day. If the PEC is likely to cost more that $36,500 per year, I'd guess they'll opt for the fine. Just as a company who has an employee they don't offer health insurace to will opt to pay the fine if that employee winds up with a subsidy rather than pay to give them benefits which could cost several hundred a month or more.

[Hissyspit]

126. From Political Heretic's thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7964125

"While the insurance industry may not be able to outright deny coverage to persons with pre-existing conditions after 2014, they can charge you double if they decide you are high risk. Quoting the NNU directly, 'Provisions permitting insurers and companies to more than double charges to employees who fail “wellness” programs because they have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol readings, or other medical conditions.' It gets worse. Insurers are allowed to charge up to four times normal pricing based on age and certain conditions that are excluded from the “pre-existing” category. And it gets even worse."

[berni_mccoy]

179. That particular analysis ignores the following cost-controls built into the policy

1. Plans must pay 85% of their revenue on actually providing health care (not profit). This will be enforced by Exchange Administrators and overseen by the OPM.
2. Plans must compete with the same plans available to Federal Employees which will be available in the exchanges. They must also compete with at least one non-profit plan established by each state.
3. Rate increases must be reviewed by Exchange Administrators.

furthermore, the NNU states that rates can be doubled for employees who fail "wellness" programs. They cite no reference of this in the current language. The analysis cited was done on the Senate version of the bill, not the current House modified version and the results were published before the Senate bill was actually passed.

[laughingliberal]

82. +1000 nt

[Roland99]

102. Oh, they'll cover them after the waiver period but, by then, premiums will be unaffordable

Time to pop the bubbly yet?

[Mithreal]

167. +1

[LiberalLoner]

16. I'm in, I support it and am celebrating today.

[mzmolly]

18. Checkin

in. :hi:

[sharesunited]

20. Dennis Kucinich finally persuaded me on Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night.

He doesn't like it, but will vote for it.

And he made perfect sense explaining that decision.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. Yes! Checking in!

[Bolo Boffin]

23. I rise in SUPPORT of this flawed health care bill...

...that will begin the process of fixing the even MORE flawed health care system, and I look forward to more solutions to providing even better health care for all Americans that this bill does not.

[BurtWorm]

24. I support it but I wouldn't call it a great victory or historic moment.

It was a back to the wall kind of victory. Not a proud moment for anyone.

We will probably never see a sane health care financing system in this insane country. Not even when the bubbles from this fiasco start to burst and they say they have to try to fix the thing again.

[mcar]

25. History is being made today

I'm so proud my two kids are watching this.

[proud patriot]

26. I do

:-)

[dhill926]

27. I'm in.......

Pass it.......then improve it.

[cmd]

28. Here

:patriot:

[OregonBlue]

29. At last. Hope it's just the beginning.

[cilla4progress]

30. Thank you, well and simply put,

and right on! Happy to join in the celebration!

[NYC_SKP]

31. I am checking in, and I am proud of my President. eom.

[Bobbie Jo]

33. Big K&R!

:kick:

[jaxx]

35. Checking in

This is a great day for our country and our President and our Party....and all the people.

[BeatleBoot]

36. Reporting for Duty, sir!

[FailureToCommunicate]

52. Nyah, what a maroon...

(Wonder if this guy pictured knows how much we have referenced him?)

[WillyT]

37. wee

kr

x(

[nimvg]

207. With Reference To Your Cartoon...

...I understand your point, but it's much easier to simply move a company offshore (taking the jobs with it) than it was during FDRs and Johnson's and Nixon's day. Add that to our current ten plus percent unemployment rate and you end up with a nice big club for the Republicans to use when it comes time to demagogue the issue.

[nimvg]

208. With Reference To Your Cartoon...

...I understand your point, but it's much easier to simply move a company offshore (taking the jobs with it) than it was during FDRs and Johnson's and Nixon's day. Add that to our current ten plus percent unemployment rate and you end up with a nice big club for the Republicans to use when it comes time to demagogue the issue.

[jonestonesusa]

234. Offshoring has been going on for 30 years

and at this point, I doubt that a marginal change in the rates is going to lead to a new wave of offshoring. I'm assuming too that you fully support the proposals to end the tax advantages related to offshoring.

[Dappleganger]

38. It's a good start.

I'm proud to have been able to watch this unfold.

[onenote]

40. k&r

[graywarrior]

41. Yep

[Omaha Steve]

42. I'm happy

It will get refined as needed. Baby steps to the correct plan. Right Wing Nuts will be the ones that pay this November!

K&R!

[Ikonoklast]

43. Bernie Sanders got on board.

And then Dennis saw the light, figured it ain't perfect legislation (and it isn't, we can all agree on that, I think), but it is a start with some real, tangible benefits.


I'm in.

[The_Commonist]

44. Support? Meh... It's tolerable.

I think all this "historic" and "great day" stuff is rather overblown.
I'm glad Obama gets a win, and it's been fun to see the Repubs make asses of themselves.
But "good enough to pass" and "we need to start somewhere" doesn't sound all that historic...

[dmr]

45. k & r

[DevonRex]

46. Checking in! nt

[Scurrilous]

47. K & R

:thumbsup:

[CBR]

48. checking in!! nt

[apocalypsehow]

49. Yep - just like all legitimate progressives and liberals support I support it.

:thumbsup:

[spanone]

50. thanks for your diligence berni_mccoy

r

[SPedigrees]

51. I'm preparing to celebrate! nt

[jwirr]

53. I'm here.

[solara]

54. A very happy K&R

:kick:

kickety kick!

[Bluerthanblue]

55. in.

:grouphug:

[philly_bob]

56. Just hope it allows for state single-payer plans. PA is possible first. (nt)

[Stinky The Clown]

57. >>>>

[treestar]

59. Here!

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

60. HAHA! The Dems won and the repukes LOST!!... AGAIN!!!

:D

[Name removed]

202. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Swamp Rat]

203. LOL!

Don't worry, most of us are armed to the teeth.

[seabeyond]

61. k and r nt

[Coexist]

62. here!

[B Calm]

63. It's a start in the right direction!

[Zomby Woof]

64. Yep

[tabasco]

65. Nothing good ever comes easy.

People will see the benefits of this law and remember who made it happen.

[kiranon]

66. It's a start. The Republicans will be looked on as the backward, foot

dragging fools they are for all of history.

[DawgHouse]

67. Yes

[NanceGreggs]

68. I am IN!!!

What a GREAT day to be alive - and watch history being made!

:hi: :patriot:

[madamesilverspurs]

69. I'm gonna cry.

Got the box of tissues right next to me. Tears of joy for those Americans who will live because of this.

Yes!!!!!


-

[rollin74]

70. K & R

[heppcatt]

71. Its a decent first step.

[Stinky The Clown]

72. How sad that you cheer for erosion of women's rights

Oh yeah ..... go team. We won.

[berni_mccoy]

77. LOL! Hyperbole much?

[Toasterlad]

83. Yes, Denying Women Coverage Is a Laughing Matter

What a riotous joke you are.

[Stinky The Clown]

143. It isn't hyperbole

Go Team.

A win's a win.

[4lbs]

171. The Hyde amendment's already been in place for 30+ years.

This HCR doesn't "erode" anything more than what Hyde has already done.

[MineralMan]

73. Yes, indeed!

[arthritisR_US]

74. yep, you've got to start somewhere. n/t

[JimWis]

75. K&R

[RoyGBiv]

76. Check ...

Check, check ... 1, 2, 3

Check.

This thing on? :)

[Odin2005]

78. All hail being serfs of Big Insurance!!!

[rucky]

79. Yep.

[Chorophyll]

80. Yes.

Not perfect, but let's get the show on the road.

[Joanne98]

81. YAY

[DietCoke111]

85. It's a Start! Two Thumbs Up!

[Xenotime]

86. Let's do this!!

[backscatter712]

87. Hell yes!

Certainly, we need to keep going, but this bill is a huge step!

And it's a huge victory over the obstructionism of the GOP!

[smiley_glad_hands]

88. k&r nt

[Uzybone]

89. KnR

[tigereye]

90. I do - it's a good start

It's kind of amazing that they will get it through at all after all the kerfuffling.

[NJmaverick]

92. Most definitely!!!!

[ncteechur]

93. Just do it!

[Maru Kitteh]

94. I was Reccomend number 69! And I know just how I want to celebrate!

What? I was talking about a glass of wine!

Get your mind out of the gutter!

[gratefultobelib]

95. Yes, I certainly do!

[Laurab]

96. Checking in...

As many others have already said, it's far from perfect, but it's a start!

I'm also really happy that the repugs made such asses of themselves - I do hope it blows up in their faces, and I also hope Obama gets much tougher as time goes on - I think he still has a chance to be a great leader if he starts acting like the guy I've seen in the past month a lot more...

[Skittles]

97. beaten by "WHAT IS A CLUSTERFUCK"

yes

[Silver Gaia]

98. Checking in!

:)

[kurtzapril4]

112. Thank god I still won't be able to afford healthcare!

Thanks so much for NOTHING!

But at least 30 million other people will be in the same shoes I'm in! Misery loves company!

[nolabear]

99. K&R for Americans the GOP doesn't acknowledge!

I'm so sick of "the American people" being hijacked by the Republican grandstanders my ears are bleeding. I can't wait for the vote and the celebration and the coming year when they'll all be proved wrong.

[kurtzapril4]

144. K n R for the people

The Democrats haven't acknowledged.

That would be most of us.

[Ken Burch]

100. Yeah.

And I support IMMEDIATELY starting the fight to fix it.

[kurtzapril4]

125. Yeah, just like they "fixed" NAFTA. n/t

[defendandprotect]

134. Agree . . . didn't Obama say he'd add Public Option . . . later . . . ???

[kurtzapril4]

147. He specifically said

He would not sign a bill that didn't include a public option. He's a freaking liar.

[defendandprotect]

162. Yes, I know . . . but AFTER that and recently . . .

didn't Obama say that down the line it he would add in Public Option --

Probably a few weeks ago because I remember comparing it to Nixon's "secret plan"

to end the VN war!!!

[MilesColtrane]

101. I do.

[two gun sid]

103. Kick.

[FarLeftFist]

104. I would rather my tax money going to help millions of OUR own citizens than....

To blowing shit up in Iraq and paying Blackwater.

[KTinOhio]

105. Hell yeah.

It's not the end. It's not even the beginning of the end. But it's the end of the beginning.

[CLANG]

106. I support it for several reasons, the most important one

is that my 19 year old son with a pre-existing condition can be on my insurance until 2014 when insurers cannot discriminate over pre-existing conditions. Right now I'm paying 800/mo for his Cobra and when that runs out he's FUCKED! So yeah, this is kind of important to me!!

[Maru Kitteh]

107. Kicky!

[metapunditedgy]

108. It's sad that it took so much to get even this far. But it's (somewhat) better than nothing.

And hopefully the first step... may there be many more, and soon.

[RetroLounge]

109. "This is truly a great and historic moment for America."

:rofl:

Whatever. Hyperbole much?

I'll enjoy seeing the right-wing heads explode, but beyond that, I'm pretty meh on it. It's beyond flawed.

RL

[DeSwiss]

110. K&R

If the Kooch can support it, then I can.

[Hoyt]

111. At this point, it's the quickest way to achieve long-term reform.

But it is going to take a lot of improvements, and quickly.

I admit it is not what I had hoped for when Obama won.

And, if there are not some serious improvements coming soon, it will be a major failure/disappointment.

[fadedrose]

113. I'm sort of happy, almost crazy would be a better way to describe..

[WeDidIt]

114. Yer DAMN SKIPPY I support it!

History is being made on my television set right now.

[kestrel91316]

115. K&R They say that a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.

THIS is that step, IF it passes. I was out all day. Has it actually PASSED yet?????

Don't jinx it by celebrating too soon, people.

[johnaries]

116. Count me in! K&R

[nadinbrzezinski]

117. Of course with one caveat

this is the BEGINNING of the fight, just like SS was in '35 and Medicare in '65

[LSK]

118. I am willing to try it, I will not be frightened by either side

Something must be done and one things for sure, nothing else will get through this Senate.

[Tomorrows Dream]

119. It's not perfect

but it is a bill. And this bill certainly has words in it. So very many. Now certainly we must recognize the importance of it even if we don't understand it all. Right?

[CLANG]

124. So long!

[D23MIURG23]

120. 0 reconsidered.

[2QT2BSTR8]

121. Happy to K&R!

[Sugarcoated]

122. Absolutely.

[liquid diamond]

123. K&R

[AzNick]

127. As long as it's a beginning, yes.

[deoxyribonuclease]

128. I'm cautiously optimistic

If this is insufficient to address all of the issues then I sure as hell hope that our elected officials have the determination, intelligence, and foresight to enact further measures as necessary.

[harun]

129. check

[cascadiance]

130. I support passing this now, but the grade it gets is an "incomplete". Still a lot to do yet!

And I will not stand for someone saying, "Well now we've DONE it! We've passed health care!", and put it on the shelf for years!

THAT is NOT acceptable, and I won't accept being "played" that way!

I say pass it now so that hopefully some that are close to the edge now will benefit where they might otherwise lose their health or their lives. We can't undo that happening. But we NEED to undo the crap of giving welfare to these insurance companies.

This also should be used to pass some MEANINGFUL public campaign financing now, so that we don't have to go through this again on any kind of meaningful legislation in the future!

So I'm qualified for my support, and I don't feel like celebrating this system. Just celebrating that we can keep some people from dying, though many will still die because of its inadequacies before the meat of this bill kicks in a few years later. THAT is why I don't celebrate!

[The Wielding Truth]

131. 219-212 FINAL VOTE Bill Passes!

[mogster]

132. Go for it!

This rocks :o

[saltpoint]

133. I supported it and tonight, as of c. 10:40 p.m. Eastern Time, I

also celebrate its passage.

[Daemonaquila]

135. Horsecrap bill, but a necessary win.

This bill makes me vomit. No single payor. No public option. Years before the rules about pre-existing conditions kick in. A huge gift to the insurance industry in captive customers.

Yet, it's a must-win. This piece of arrogant, lobbyist-driven excrement must pass or this administration is sunk. If it doesn't, the Dems will be toast until the next election. We can't afford 3 more years of laughable dysfunction. Godspeed, guys - but you'd better do some real good in the coming years.

[Schema Thing]

136. yes we did.

[Jester Messiah]

137. Damn straight I do. This is a momentous occasion!

And it really is only the beginning. The rough edges will become apparent and be smoothed away by following legislation. The bitter pills that we had to swallow to get to this starting point will be eased in time. So yes, let us celebrate, but in the full knowledge that we have a lot of work yet to do.

[BlueDemKev]

138. Thank God

They finally DID it....Health care reform is the law of the land!



:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[donheld]

139. Pass it, then work hard to make it better.

[deacon]

140. Support. GOP furious that 30 million more people will be insured. n/t

[Kablooie]

141. The work's not over. This bill need a lot of future modifications to be what it should be.

But it's certainly a real start.

[kurtzapril4]

150. Please don't hold your breath

It will be improved on the same timetable NAFTA has been improved.

[Kablooie]

191. I don't know about that. It will have a more visible effect on people's lives than NAFTA.

So there is likely to be more pressure to fix things.

[tandot]

142. K & R

[azmouse]

145. It's a great day!

[old mark]

146. YES!!!!! My sympathy to anyone who had to actually watch all those hours

of republican lies.
After all this, my rep - Tim Holden,D-PA -voted against it. I just emailed him telling him I will actively support any real Democrat who runs against him and that he can rot in hell.

Blue dog bastard.
mark

[guitar man]

148. I'm for it

It's not what I wanted, but it's what we were able to get.

I wanted single payer, the insurance companies abolished and their execs hung up by their heels and horse whipped, then put to sea in a leaky boat.

But I'll take it. :)

[Maraya1969]

149. It's a start and it's a great victory for Obama and the Democrats and I think we will

see that in the November elections. If it hadn't passed we would have been one big fat failure of a party. Yes there are plenty of things I don't like about it but at least now we can start making them right.

[blondeatlast]

152. Here. nt

[pundaint]

153. From incomplete to Fail. They better nail the Reconciliation fixes if they want to pass in November

You all do remember the promise to fix this bill immediately upon passage, right?

[kurtzapril4]

168. Oh, of COURSE they do ;-)

Yeah, they'll fix it like they fixed NAFTA. I won't be holding my fucking breath.


Still waiting for any one of you celebrating people to explain to me how the passage of this bill makes my pre-existing condition having, way below poverty level life any better. I'll be mandated to buy insurance I can't afford...and can't afford to use. I'm sure the co-pays will be huge. There are no caps on what the insurance companies can charge me for premiums, either, but that's okay in your tiny little minds, you WON. They can't DENY me coverage(4 years from now, I might add)..they can only make it so expensive I can't afford it. But if I can't afford health insurance, I'll face fines from the IRS. Or perhaps prison.

Thank you, SO MUCH, you victory dancing people...for making my life even harder.

I'll work my ass off to primary your heroes this year, and in 2012. I will work hard against anyone who voted for this bill.

I'd at least like to get a bouquet while I'm being screwed.

[dionysus]

267. LOL, i am sure they are quaking in their boots now!!

:rofl:

[jeff47]

192. According to a story on TPM

According to a story on TPM, >50 Democratic Senators signed a letter promising to pass the reconciliation bill, which has already been approved by the Parliamentarian (and passed the House tonight after the Senate bill). The letter was required in order to drop the "deem and pass" maneuver that Pelosi was insisting on last week. She was unwilling to go forward without some assurances that the Senate wouldn't drop the ball.

[rosesaylavee]

154. Yes.

It needs work but it's a start.

[BeFree]

155. Hear, Here!!

Finally. What a relief. Now get back to work, eh?

[Dream Girl]

156. Yes! It's a start.

[malaise]

157. A victory is a victory

Go Dems! ReTHUGS are in pain.

[HuckleB]

158. I support it.

Like most, I wanted more. And I will push for better health care from this day forward. This is just a start.

[LatteLibertine]

159. Yes, I do

It's a first necessary step. Eventually, we will have single payer. History will vindicate the Democratic party. Besides that, it will make achieving the rest of the Democratic agenda much easier. This will take the wind out of the sails of Republicans.

Now the Republicans may move on to championing the cause of Wall Street instead of the good of the overwhelming majority of the population. They should do well running on that and repealing HCR.

BTW, I believe Rush has a plane ticket to buy and a flight to catch.

[TankLV]

160. Oh yeah! If not just to "shove it" up repuke LIARS asses - like a hot rusty poker...

Hope all the teabagging LYING repukes CHOKE on their bile and venom...

This is sweet just for that reason.

Now - it's good for US too - but it's just a BEGINNING!

On to SINGLE PAYER/MEDICARE FOR ALL!

[Terra Alta]

161. K&R

It's about time we got some health care reform in America. We can(and will) improve on this bill. This isn't the end folks it's just the beginning!

[NoSheep]

163. I support it. It's a start.

[Sodbuster]

164. Damn Skippy we won!!!!!

[TomCADem]

166. Yes We Can!

K & R!

[mckara]

169. It's a Start!!!!!!!!

I hope future legislation will eventually give Americans a single-payer health care system. We need to eliminate profits from our health care system.

[4lbs]

170. I was watching it all day and laughing at the Repukes' attempts to delay as much as possible.

:D

[Chisox08]

172. I don't enthusatically support this bill, but I support it.

I will still fight for single payer or at least medicare for all. I don't want to wait and see how it works. I want real reform and I'm not going to stop pushing for it until we get it.
The Insurance industry is nothing but a bunch of parasites who already have teams of lawyers looking for every loophole that they can find.

[progressoid]

173. Hooray for the clusterfuck bill!!11!

:crazy:

[lyonn]

174. Hot Damn I'm excited!

What a great bunch our Dems are. They are tears in the corner of their eyes. The repubs? Not so much. Gawd I love it.

[grahamhgreen]

175. Ugh! We lost! Arghhh. Well, ya'll had better be right about all this. Good luck.

[calimary]

176. It's a start. One that's eluded us for DECADES. Through eleven presidents.

If you REALLY believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then the "life" part means health and the preservation thereof. Find me one person who finds happiness in the tyranny of illness.

[JDPriestly]

177. Well, it's better that it passed than it would have been had it not passed.

The bill will help a lot of people. But it isn't the bill I would have liked. In fact, it really isn't a good enough bill to make me recommend this thread. I support the bill. It's better than nothing. But it is not a good bill. It wasn't worth all the fuss.

[O is 44]

178. Yes!!! n/t

[Heathen57]

180. Rec and a Kick nft

[Bozita]

181. Support. Let's get going on improving it.

[proteus_lives]

182. Yep.

[dave29]

183. Present!

.

[eridani]

184. All hail the IRS as enforcer for mass murderers taking our money!

[dionysus]

268. .

:cry:

[cry baby]

185. here late...but here all the same! happy tears tonight. nt

[sonias]

186. About time we got something

It may not be the best we could have done, but considering the opposition was very successful at misinforming so many - we did good.

:toast: to our Congress and our President!

[Lindsey]

188. Just one year and three months in office and our President

and Congress did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a really good feeling that there will be many more changes to come. This is a wonderful, wonderful night. Yea, I'm tearing up........

[jsamuel]

187. yep

[Onceuponalife]

189. K & R

Woooot!!

[zaj]

190. Been supportive all along.

[PBass]

193. A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

I am so happy we have finally taken the first step on HC reform.

[Joz]

194. w00t! n/t

[cecilfirefox]

195. Thank the Gods for health care reform, and Gods bless America!! nt

[Name removed]

196. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren DeMontague]

197. I do. It's not everything I wanted, but it's a solid first step in the right direction.

If it wasn't, you wouldn't have heard all the very, very loud squealing over it.

[Eric J in MN]

198. The bill says insurers can do recisions for "fraud."

Which is what insurers already claim for recisions.

[Oldtimeralso]

199. K & R and proud to help the cause n/t

[ClayZ]

200. Bravo! Wooo Hooooo!!

K and R

[Stardust]

201. I missed the dang vote! But I'm verrrry happy about it and won't let

the naysayers harsh my buzz tonite!

[upi402]

204. David +1, Goliath pissed

and I love that when it happens!

[SeattleGirl]

205. I do! AND, I support further efforts to make it better.

It's a start, but it's not the end-all, be-all. Still, I am very happy for this start.

[The Midway Rebel]

206. It is ugly

but I am in.

The American political machine was designed to run its revolutions slowly.

It is nothing compared to the ugly of the Civil War.

[DesertFlower]

209. yes. i do.

[stlsaxman]

210. Aye!

[Change Happens]

211. Hell yes..............nt

[NecklyTyler]

212. K&R

[Ganja Ninja]

213. It's better than nothing.

Still not what I hoped for.

[bushalert]

214. Feelin' good, feelin' pretty good....

[XanaDUer]

215. Here

now they have to use the salami technique to add more to it. But it's a start.

[TransitJohn]

216. I support it as much as I support the POTUS' administration.

At least it isn't Bush, even if it continues all his policies.

[ramapo]

217. Happier than I thought I'd be

Seeing this pass is a whole lot better than if it had gone down in flames. There would not have been a do over. HCR would've been dead for another generation.

After all the heartache of the debate, I'm feeling pretty good. Obama accomplished something that nobody before him did. He deserves our thanks and help...yes even for this imperfect, insurance company subsidized, bill.

[Stellar]

218. I'm in!

But I heard on the news that, don't be surprised if you hear Health Insurance may go up on the stock markets because of the millions of people (regardless of preconditions) that they will be taking in, in the *short* term. Drug company's will get millions of new customers as well but will have stricter conditions with 'Billions' of dollars in new fee's.

And the hospitals will be happy campers because they will not be adding anymore bad debt from customers with out health insurance. I recall Dubya telling people when they asked him about what can they do about health care since they couldn't afford it. He told them to go to the emergency rooms - that was his health care plan.

So, I'm happy that we got SOMETHING done instead of looking for the perfect fix, which I believe would have initially failed. The insurance company's didn't spend 200 million dollars to lose all of their advantages. Now maybe we can go on to the PO and/or Single payer.

[freddie mertz]

219. Not sure. On the merits of the bill, probably not. Considering the alternative...

....possibly, reluctantly, yes.

I did not like the last run of anti-choice maneuvering at all.

And am still very concerned about the mandates and lack of cost controls.

So I give it a wash, with a lean to "no" on policy, and a slight "yes" on politics.

Time will tell.

[JNelson6563]

220. Checkin' in!

W00t! :toast:

[FourScore]

221. WOO-HOO!

:woohoo:

[gilbertb11]

222. What a wonderful world

What a wonderful world!!!

[BEZERKO]

223. I support it,

it's not the system I had in mind, I won't be happy till the ins. companies are taken out of the business of caring for people. I'm a single payer/doctor-patient run health care type guy.

Brian

[beyurslf]

224. knr

[blm]

225. check ...even for getting a wee bit further down the road...

.

[YewNork]

226. I'm here

Glad it passed. And as it is implemented and as the various parts of it are implemented, I want the LIES that Republicans said were going to happen, but don't happen, thrown right in their faces.

[BurtWorm]

227. Where were all these recommendations last week?

Or did the wind just suddenly change direction?

:eyes:

[Grassy Knoll]

228. K & R. n/t

[juajen]

229. Of course, I support this bill. I wish it had a PO, however. NT

[d_r]

230. WIsh it was more.

Sad about lost opportunities, but so glad to get what we got.

[HughMoran]

231. 77 no votes

So 13% of House Dems voted against the bill, so far 23% of DUers are against the bill.

[Cha]

232. You are stating it just as it is, berni, thank you.

Might have missed this if it had not been on the home page.:)

[Peacetrain]

233. I am here!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

235. here!

:bounce: !!!!!!!

[alfredo]

236. yes CNN now has a poll on the bill

[jonestonesusa]

237. It's a big political victory and a decent start toward health care reform.

Pres. Obama deserves congratulations for getting this done, even with the lack of a public option and insurance mandates. We could do worse than to have this bill, which at root affirms health care as a human right in America. How can that not be a victory?

[eyepaddle]

238. I'm in. This victory is historic.

While flawed, I think passage of this bill represents a swing of the pendulum which has gone ever right-ward since the days of Reagan.

Now is the time to keep working.

[Angry Dragon]

239. I have a wait and see attitude

time will tell

[obietiger]

240. Yes indeed!

As you said, very great and historic!

[stuart68]

241. Keep polishing - it is still a turd !

No matter what you do to polish it up, it is still a turd.

If any of you feel this is just the start and it will get better - keep kidding yourselves. All they wanted was a place in history, not to be recognized for doing the right thing, and even a child could see through this.

[smoogatz]

242. It's a start.

I'm happy to celebrate half a loaf. Not to mention the strong alliance forged between Obama and Pelosi--a very good thing. Not to mention, as Earl G said, the universal pantsing of congressional Republicans. In all, a reasonably satisfying outcome.

[Joe Bacon]

243. I'm waiting for the Senate to live up to its end of the bargain

And given how spineless the leadership has been, I'm not holding my breath.

[riverwalker]

244. Proud of my President

I was lukewarm to the Bill initially, but after listening to right wing talkers implode and have psychotic breakdowns over the Bill's passage, I am now estatic. ;)

[INdemo]

245. Back when the Republicans had the majority they

slammed a Medicare bill/prescription drug plan through for he seniors and the health insurance industry never raised any objections,and Seniors got screwed..Now this healthcare reform bill is far from real reform.And if Republicans were in control we would be complaining about how it is a bill written by the lobbyists.It is a bill that Obama can claim as healthcare reform but its nothing more than a bill that gives him bragging rights for the next campaign. A watered down Republican style bill that if we didn't know any differently we would swear that Republicans had control of Congress and the White House.

[anniebelle]

246. I actually feel a renewed hopefulness this morning.

It was positively amazing to hear those bitter, ignorant, hateful, bigoted republikkkans on the floor last night. I feel hope now for fixing this bill more to the liking of the Progressives in this country -- NOT the (R)egressives. I do believe they were voted out in '08.

[shotten99]

248. Happy it passed, but would feel better if we had more cost controls

[ermasdaughter]

249. Thrilled it passed!

Huge, important hurdle. Now,let's keeping 'swimming".....

[lonestarnot]

250. It's a start!

[Zambero]

251. If all Repukes were opposed, it was well worth the effort!

However, a public option to compete with insurance prividers is still in order.

[northofdenali]

252. Best day since Jan. 20th!

K&R & I AM OFF TO MY NEW JOB!!! :loveya: DU!!

[h9socialist]

253. I'm glad it passed -- but let's not get soppy!

This bill is far from any utopia or apocalypse. It's significant achievement is establishing a structure for further improvements. It can't stop here, because it's inadequate. But had it not passed it would've been a political disaster.

[Fire1]

254. Checking in!!! K&R

[Duval]

255. Yayyyyyy!!!! It is a beginning!: n/t

[femrap]

256. I don't see a 'victory'....

I don't get a public option. Hell, us 55 or even just the 60 year-olds & over don't even get a Medicare buy-in. Do you have any idea how fucking expensive health insurance is for the 50 to 64 year olds? Do you realize that is when the body starts to ache?

Just be merciful and put us on the floe and be done with it.

Sure, we can't be denied for a pre-existing condition, but Big Insure will charge us an arm and a leg to cover it.

All I really get is....I don't have to listen to the repugnants gloat. I'll still have to listen to them whine and squeal, but no gloating.

Oh, and maybe now I won't have to hear so much about this damn bill and we can focus on other problems...you know, the cost of the wars and the Depression w/ its lack of jobs.

[Politicub]

257. Yay!! count me in

Now let's get to work on the improvements. We have a strong foundation from which to build.

:bounce:

[SlingBlade]

258. I'm not checking in Bernie, I'm just bookmarking it for later.

[SlingBlade]

259. Dupe

[CAcyclist]

260. Support nm

[seattle_blue]

261. Look at it like this

The greatest works of art start out as a rough draft!

[theophilus]

263. It's a good start and something of substance. We can still go "big". n/t

[dajoki]

264. I'm not sure yet n/t

[Gwoppi]

265. No ponies here

This delurked DU reader is checking in and is ecstatic. I hear plenty of ponies galloping in the canyon this morning, and riders upset theirs wasn't purple or bigger with gold tassels, but those of us who know our parents are really Santa Claus are happy with this bill. It's a good start, and after 8 years of no chance whatsoever at where it's leading, I'm proud of it.

Here's to ponies galloping backwards in time to 2002 for a reality check, and staying there.

[veganlush]

266. present!.....n/t

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

269. Checking in...

[Joey Liberal]

270. Count me in nt

[urbuddha]

271. ~~~*~~~

Bravo

[evemac]

272. K and R. nt

[madmom]

273. I see it as a start, a step in the right direction.

[geardaddy]

274. Checkin in!

oh, and K&R!

[madmax]

275. k & r

[caseymoz]

276. Grudgingly, yes.

Though I think they'll have to revisit this several more times over the next fifteen years to fix things that are fucked up in this bill. Like mandated insurance purchases. Congress will get so many complaints over this that it won't have a choice.

But, it's a victory for getting people in this country covered medically. And it's not one Repubs will be able to grab back.

Plus, I love it because it is a huge defeat for Repubs, conservatives and those repulsive teabaggers. Enjoy it in your face guys!

[LWolf]

277. Nope. nt

[get the red out]

278. This is huge, it gives me hope

The rhetoric had me so miserable that I felt like crawling into a hole, this is the most hopeful sign for our country I have seen since President Obabm's election. :applause:

[fatbuckel]

279. Did you see the vote totals?

On C-SPAN yesterday? Every single Repub voted against.......remember that.Yea,there was some both sides Democrats....but EVERY SINGLEONE of those Repub voted against....all I ask is for you all to REMEMBER THAT.

[Larkspur]

280. My employer offers crappy health insurance. Does that mean I am stuck with it?

Do I get any choices other than dropping it and paying fines?

If I have to keep my employers crappy health insurance, then this bill does very little for me.

[berni_mccoy]

282. You can always opt-out of your employer's plan.

[David__77]

281. Yes, I support it from the standpoint of political strategy.

Losing was not an option at this point. Everyone loves a winner, and this bill is not odious, therefore I support it.

[Motown_Johnny]

283. check

[JuniperLea]

284. K & R & Checkin' in!

We've just gained some moral highground... I'm so happy the foundation is laid and the work has begun!

[Mumblefratz]

285. I'm glad this passed even though the bill itself ...

sucks.

All told I think nothing would have been better than the bill that we got except for one thing, we've got the nose of the camel inside the tent. There is a whole lot of work still to be done and a whole lot of pain to go through to get there but this truly is a historic day that has been many decades in the making.

The only thing this bill is a start, but it's at least that much. Plus it drives the right so insane it would be worth it if that's all it did.

[Alcibiades]

286. I hope it works out

Not happy that some provisions take four years to kick in, though.

[hisownpetard]

287. Yes, yes, and more yes! And a big thank-you to Dennis Kucinich for not becoming

the Ralph Nader of healthcare reform. I have even more respect for DK
than I did before.

[Liberty Belle]

288. I wrote this analysis, for those who want details on what it actually does and doesn't do:

Beyond the hype, snipes and myths, what will the landmark measure really do?



By Miriam Raftery


March 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – How will the landmark healthcare bill passed last night by the House of Representatives impact you, your family and your business? The answers, detailed extensively below, may surprise you.



President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure in the next couple of days, though the Senate has yet to vote on whether to accept House changes to a version of the bill that the Senate recently passed. While some changes may yet be made, major elements include provisions to take effect immediately, as well as many others that will be phased in over several years. These include:


http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2970

[R. P. McMurphy]

289. Yes. I support passage of this bill. n/t

[onethatcares]

290. aye, here.

it's about time something has begun to happen. Now, it's time to show America just how much the repukes are against them.

Peace to all.

[BREMPRO]

291. great achievement for Obama and the Dems- i'm surprised and elated that they pulled it off.

so now everyone in america, just like the rest of the top nations in the world, will have access to quality affordable health care. The bill give a foundation that we can build on and improve over time. The Boehner bill would have given everyone coupons for tanning bed facilities and savings account to pay for spray tan. What a tool.

[colsohlibgal]

292. Realities

Here is what this bill will or more correctly won't do to help people:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/sickos-lament-health-bill-passage

Not pretty, new vistas in watered down.

[Scurrilous]

293. Kick

:kick:

[judesedit]

294. Is it true that GOP female staff have reproductive choice in their health insurance plans?

That's what I've read. The GOP is full of the biggest lying hypocrites on the face of the earth. No one tops them for gall and disgusting behavior. Lintball, Beck and Palin come to mind? Health care is a right not a privilege. I would LOVE to take away the Cadillac plans that WE foot the bill for, for the creeps that voted against health care for everyone else. Go Barack 2012 and Michelle 2016 and 2020. Thank God we have an intelligent, determined president that's a real human being working for the benefit of ALL Americans. Thank you for trying to salvage the middle class.

[Crunchy Frog]

295. It doesn't go nearly as far as I would like, but

I support it as at least a start in the right direction.

[kjackson227]

297. I'm checking in for sure!!!

[orbitalman]

298. KK&RR

[LaPera]

299. dupe

[LaPera]

300. Too late to recommend this thread so I'll post a YES right here.