There are reasons why Obama's Health Care Reform will go through...

Absolutely. (4.00 / 1)

We cannot afford, politically speaking, to hold fast to "all or nothing". If we put the public option - which I support wholeheartedly - off to a later date and force Republicans to either sign on to a Dem bill or vote against the reforms that they and the insurance industry have admitted are needed, then we'll regain much needed political capital and have a better chance of staying in power in 2010 and 2012.

It's the smart play in an extremely vulnerable and tumultuous time.

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by: Bobzim @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 18:54:49 PM UTC

Bobzim (0.00 / 0)

I've read several times that the real reason Republicans are fighting tooth and nail against the public option is because they know that a public option not only will save money in the long run for the federal government, but also will be popular with the public. The Republicans always campaign that government does not work and when they're in power they do their best to make that true. But a public option would be like Medicaid and once people have it they'll really like it especially considering the alternative. It's sad how many elderly oppose healthcare reform and a public option as a government program yet want their Medicaid.


When a man embarks upon a crime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring from it. Sherlock Holmes.

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by: Carnacki @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 20:21:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oh, I have no doubt that it WILL be popular (0.00 / 0)

but the public support is just not there right now. We have to take the win on this so we'll have a better chance to hold the bully pulpit and sell it better.

Seriously, if we hold fast on the public option, which will deny millions with pre-existing conditions and allow rescission to continue, the entire Democratic Party will join  Pelosi in literally sub-Cheney approval.

We cannot afford to do that either politically or morally.

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by: Bobzim @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 20:31:14 PM UTC

huh? (0.00 / 0)

I know we've had a similar conversation before, but I'm still trying to figure out why you think the public support for a public option "is just no there right now."

The latest CNN poll says 55% favor it (vs. 41% against).

Closer to home, 61% of West Virginians support major health reform (see: http://www.markblankenship.com...

(Mark Blankenship likes his Republican frames too much to ask a question like the CNN one, so we didn't get any more helpful information than "major health reform" out of that poll.)

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by: Clem Guttata @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 21:08:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes, we've had this discussion before (0.00 / 0)

[Murad's is the place where your friends meet :)] And like then, I have to point out that the whole story is in the internals.

If we look at all of the CNN poll we see that question 35 asks:

"Which would make you feel more secure -- the current health care system in this country, or the health care system proposed by President Obama?"

and gets this:

Current health care system   52%
Obama's proposed system      44%
No opinion                    4%

And look at 32:

"How likely are you to vote for the Democratic candidate for Congress in your district if that person
generally OPPOSES Barack Obama's policies on health care -- very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?"

Very likely         18%
Somewhat likely     32%
Not too likely      22%
Not likely at all   27%
No opinion           1%

So it seems to me that the only certainty we can take from these polls is that people are completely confused about what the hell is going on, and when they're confused, they tend to want the status quo.

Of course, this is one of the worst times of the year to get an accurate poll, so it wouldn't surprise me if these polls are completely screwed to begin with.

And as always, we both want the same thing, but respectfully disagree on how to get there.

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by: Bobzim @ Thu Sep 03, 2009 at 21:56:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Making an omelete (0.00 / 0)

More thoughts on results matter, not the process. I agree with those who say voters won't care if Dems use reconciliation, it's the results they care about.

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by: Clem Guttata @ Fri Sep 04, 2009 at 16:15:57 PM UTC