The Health Care Bill That Wouldn’t Die

The Obama administration ignored the anger and frustration at the Townhalls across America regarding the health care bill. They ignored the 9/12 march where hundred of thousands of Americans came from hometowns everywhere to voice their objection. They ignored the Senate doctors. They are ignoring the growing tea party movement. They are ignoring the polls. They are ignoring the Massachusetts Scott Brown victory.

They are ignoring the will of the people.

Don't think for a minute that this health care bill is dead. They will do what it takes to pass this. Despite the fact that most Americans think we need to start over, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that isn't happening.

The narrative seems to be that Republicans are the "party of no." Those of us who feel that this legislation will diminish care and be a boondoggle WANT Republicans to be the party of no, but the truth is that during this entire debate Democrats had the supermajority. Republicans weren't even allowed in the game. Every amendment offered by Republicans was rejected. Every. Single. One. What kept the bill from passing were DEMOCRATS, not Republicans. It was a internal fight between moderate Democrats and far left Democrats. If you were one of the ones who wanted this bill to pass, that is where you need to lay the blame. At the feet of the Democrats. If they had crafted a moderate even handed bill and not been so obsessed with providing abortion coverage, then they probably could have passed it without a Republican vote.

Now, after a year of this, the President has decided that it may be time to bring the Republicans on board. So to speak. Gibbs says, "He’s open to including any good ideas that stand up to objective scrutiny." In other words, he's perfectly open to ideas as long as he agrees with them. Mark my words. Not one idea proposed by Republicans will see the light of day in this bill. It's a dog and pony show meant to drag this out and pass something. The biggest joke of all is that after a year of secret backroom deals fueled by bribes, payoffs, and threats, suddenly Pres. Obama wants this meeting televised.

Perhaps the most ridiculous thing said so far in this debate is when President Obama declared that he hadn't explained this issue well enough for the American people. Is he in denial or does he really believe that? Does he really think that we are so dumb? He explained ad nauseaum. We get it. We just don't like it. He simply cannot accept that.

At least Republicans are listening. Boehner had this to say about the bill:

Republicans are not going to work off this monstrosity. There’s just not enough common ground. Listen, what we’ve learned in Massachusetts is this: The Democrats aren't’t listening to the people,” he said. “Republicans are listening. They’re still scheming and scrambling to find a way to pass their government takeover of health care,” he said. “If they jam it through, I think they’re going to face a firestorm from the American public.”

Republicans have said that before they will meet with the President for a bipartisan health reform summit, reconciliation must be off the table. In addition, they must insist that a new bill be crafted from scratch. If these proposals can't be met, then no deal. Why should they meet with the President? He will only use whatever they say against them. He will claim that he did meet with them. See how bi-partisan he is? He tried. This is all about him and nothing else.

We know how the media will play this. We know they will say Republicans are refusing to participate. But contrary to what Pres. Obama thinks, the American people are paying attention on this. They understand what the Republicans are trying to do. Simply, we need to fix what is wrong, and keep government as far away from our health care decisions as possible.

Republicans should stay strong and refuse to meet with the President unless those two conditions are met.

They won't be. I can promise you.

MediumHeadBoy

Why are you even bothering to engage Jack Off anyway? His cooments are even more devoid of content that Cretins "No it isn't" Cleese's.
ohioan

Georgiana spouts the same old inadequate republican talking points. The town hall screamers didn't even listen to what was said, being as misinformed as they were -- and you remain -- about health care reform and just about everything else. It's impossie to counter so much ignorance.
Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 21:12:01

Do tell, Jack, how increasing portability of health insurance policies is "inadequate." Or, perhaps you'd like to explain why reducing the cost of malpractice insurance is a bad idea. If you have an idea of reduce "medical costs" other than a government mandate, please, share.

Second, what misinformation are you claiming with respect to the Tea Partiers?

To the topic of the thread:
Pres. Obama is now saying he'll "meet Republicans half way." So let the rhetorical battle for Olympia Snowe's vote begin!
bthewolf

It's impossie to counter so much ignorance.
Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 21:12:01

Oh look projection from a leftist. Jack Auff, you and the rest of the left are the one who're ignorant, has no new ideas(socialize medicine - see Briatian, France, and Canada, moron), and refuses to listen to the ideas of the opposition. So quit being a complete imbecile and JACK ASS, and come back here when you've actually learned more than DU talking points.

Government has made our health care system the mess it is, MORE govt will not fix it, PERIOD.
Dick_Nixon

It's impossie to counter so much ignorance.
Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 21:12:01

We keep trying to work with you, rubber doll boy, but, Nixon has come to the smae conclusion as you have about yourself.
CavalierX

It's impossie to counter so much ignorance.

Funny, we say that every time you post a comment.
Jack Schite

Georgiana spouts the same old inadequate republican talking points. The town hall screamers didn't even listen to what was said, being as misinformed as they were -- and you remain -- about health care reform and just about everything else. It's impossie to counter so much ignorance.
ohioan

Christopher_Taylor:
People like that ought never have any power of any kind whatsoever.

The difference between "ought" and "will" is how willing the rest of us are to get involved. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.
--E. Burke
Christopher_Taylor

Its so sad to me to see leftist after leftist come and repeat the same lie over and over: "the right offers no solutions, no alternatives."

I guess this is just proof that they don't really care what we say or pay any attention - that the right is beneath their notice. NO matter how many times you repeat and clarify and post and make points, no matter how many times you tell them... they come back with the same lies. Its like they don't read or listen because they don't care, that the right is beneath their notice. Yes, yes, I hear you making noises, now go away, little man.

People like that ought never have any power of any kind whatsoever.
wylie_e_coyote

"Since malpractice insurance and settlement from said only amount to less than 2% of total health care costs in this country I dont think you understand exactly what you are talking about. However I agree that tort reform should be included.
Posted by whats_up"

No actually when defensive medicine costs are added medical torts cost way more then 2%.....typical liberal distortions to support their craven captivity to the slip-n-fall lawyer crowd....

Now I have heard plenty of liberal argue that we are paying too much for "uncompesated ER care" (another "nice" manadate the liberal forced on us - as if private charity wasnt talking care of medical care for the poor; it was) as a major reason to allow government to take over the entire medical care/health insurance industry via Compulsary Insurance schemes like the individual mandate in ObamaCare....

The fact of the matter is that these so-called "free riders" or uninsured pay approximately 85% percent of their billed costs and the total cost of this care is less then 2% of our total medical care/insurance bills (see the Kaiser Insititute WWW site on these costs)......gee, since you mandated this ER care as "compassionate" liberals, isnt less then 2% an accpetable cost to live in a free and "compassionate" society that still has the best care in the world and keeps the govt out of our medical care/insurance?

Again, this whole "HC deform" fiasco was always about political power for the democrats/left first and foremost - they could give a wit about your "health" or the cost of medical care and insurance as its been factually proven from data in states like MA, ME and other countries that have these govt run compulsary schemes ala ObamaCare to be made worse!

No, this was all about getting the middle class dependent on govt subsidies for their health insurance to create a new voting bloc and to hire a million or so new SEIU govt workers in the massive govt expansion that goes with the HC takeover (the govt workers are also a monolitic voting bloc too).
wylie_e_coyote

This goes into the “no kidding, eh” category:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/02/...

Did anyone really think that Obama and the radical left would just let go of the biggest politcal power in a generation?

Heck no LOL
ohioan

Since your side lacks ideas there's really not much point in paying you any attention. Your goal of muddying the discussion succeeded, but now we are past that and ready for some true and long needed health care reform.
Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 10:49:31

Republicans lack ideas like tort reform, portability...
Posted by Georgiana
2010-02-09 11:19:57

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you Georgiana.

I'd like to point out that free market forces have always resulted in lowering prices in every sector of the economy while government intervention, cronyism, price-controls, and price-fixing/collusion have always done the opposite.

You simply cannot just "mandate" a price for something (health care services or devices). You WILL CAUSE A SHORTAGE.
Guest

Coolczech, you're just farting in the darkness.

Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 11:31:39
Nope. Jacqui, as several people before me have already pointed out, Cool Czech is spot on in his analysis. Based on your comment, and your rabid defence of WU's position, I'm surmising that you don't spend a lot of time reading all those charges on the EOB's you get from your health insurer.

Defensive medicine has been a boon to medical labs all over the country as providers have been conditioned by decades of malpractice suits to order any test which might be construed by an attorney as being relevant to a patient's condition, and even some which might not, just to have the medical equivalent of plausible deniability if sued later on by their patient. The cost of defensive medicine can easily turn a $40 office visit into a $1000 payment by the insurer.

But don't let the facts get in the way of your dogma - you might have to actually think for a change.
CavalierX

We do what we believe to be the right thing to do.

...even when reason, logic, facts, and figures clearly show it's exactly the wrong thing to do. That's why we inpugn the intelligence, or at least reasoning power, of Liberals -- even if you ideiots do have any brains, you ignore rational thought in favor of feel-good garbage that does nothing but harm.
ohioan

You know, I've been reading RWN for years, but I simply cannot believe that Jack Schite is a real human being with a fully developed cortex. This must be a person who posts ridiculous comments just to gain attention.

And as far as whats_up is concerned, I just don't take anything he/she posts seriously. Who can listen to someone who says:
Since malpractice insurance and settlement from said only amount to less than 2% of total health care costs in this country I dont think you understand exactly what you are talking about. However I agree that tort reform should be included.

Honestly, these two are the absolute bottom of the intellectual barrel. They simply cannot be either A) serious or B) self-sufficient

How much dumber can you get and still breath?

In response to the topic of the thread: this is absolutely a juvenile dog-and-pony show with absolutely zero relevance to "health care reform." This entire bill is not about "reform" but "socialization." And the lie that was given ("this will be a bipartisan effort") was hatched months ago when anyone in Congress with an "R" next to their name on C-Span was purposefully excluded from any conversation.

How many "secret," "closed," and partisan meetings can you have while carving back-door deals (read: BRIBES) before people figure out that this was NEVER bipartisan?

If I were in Congress I'd just post a timeline with EVERY single meeting and whether Republicans were even allowed to attend. Make it a commercial if you have to, but don't allow this person to define the conversation in an effort to deceive the public.

Just don't let it happen.
StanW

Posted by Jack Schite 2010-02-09 11:31:39

Why do you support a bill that leaves people without health incurance coverage for FOUR YEARS, yet taxes them for it right now? How many will die without any Health Insurance waiting for this bill to kick in??????
Drake

Since malpractice insurance and settlement from said only amount to less than 2% of total health care costs in this country I dont think you understand exactly what you are talking about.

Since those numbers do not include the cost of defensive medicine, I don't think YOU understand exactly what we are talking about.
CoolCzech

Coolczech, you're just farting in the darkness.
Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 11:31:39

Right into your nostrils, guy!
Jack Schite

Coolczech, you're just farting in the darkness.
CoolCzech

what's_up, surely you realize the TRUE cost of healthcare litigation includes all those multiple, often unnecessary, tests and procedures doctors now feel obligated to perform despite their better judgement - simply to keep leeches like John Edwards at bay.

By the way, Obamacare is dead as a nail. Simply GONE. As is the rest of Obama's entire legislative agenda for the single miserable term he is destined to serve.

Democrats said failure to pass Obamacare would destroy Bambi's presidency. Well, it's destroyed.

Obama today is FAR more "irrelevant" than Bush was right up to his last day as America's last true President.
whats_up

Yes, Republicans lack ideas like tort reform, portability...oh wait, these are Republican ideas and, last time I checked, would drive down costs more than a public option or forcing everybody to buy insurance. Yes, it IS time to get down to true and long-needed reform--reform that represents fiscal conservative ideas vs. big government, bureaucratic liberal ideology.

Posted by Georgiana
2010-02-09 11:19:57

Since malpractice insurance and settlement from said only amount to less than 2% of total health care costs in this country I dont think you understand exactly what you are talking about. However I agree that tort reform should be included.
Georgiana

Actuay we ignored the ignorance in display at town halls. Also we don't run the govt by polls. We do what we believe to be the right thing to do.

Since your side lacks ideas there's really not much point in paying you any attention. Your goal of muddying the discussion succeeded, but now we are past that and ready for some true and long needed health care reform.

Posted by Jack Schite
2010-02-09 10:49:31

Oh brother, I'm tired of this lame old line from liberals. I don't even know that it warrants a response, but here goes...

First, in many cases, town hallers were often more informed on the bill than their legislators. Second, it is this disdain for the populace that characterizes your own comment and the behavior of liberals in Congress that is getting democrats in trouble. It would behoove liberal legislators to listen because last time I checked, it is pretty hard to get anything passed when not in office...and I suspect few liberals will be in office come November, largely because they think they are better and know better than the populace they "represent." Oh, by the way, Shite, last I checked, you're not a legislator, but a member of the populace, so why you think you're special or different, I don't know.

Yes, Republicans lack ideas like tort reform, portability...oh wait, these are Republican ideas and, last time I checked, would drive down costs more than a public option or forcing everybody to buy insurance. Yes, it IS time to get down to true and long-needed reform--reform that represents fiscal conservative ideas vs. big government, bureaucratic liberal ideology.
Mike_M

I don't know why liberals support the bill either. It guts Medicare, leaves millions uninsured, has no public option, and intentionally creates shortages by mandating the shutting off of "underutilized" medical equipment. No liberal could possibly support this bill for any reason other than blind loyalty to Obama.

Oh right. This has nothing to do with health care. The liberals are just chomping at the bit to take over the health care industry so they can control people and distribute care based on political correctness. They can't win in the arena of ideas, so like every other leftist regieme from Hitler to Stalin to Castro they need to control and punish their opposition.
StanW

Posted by Jack Schite 2010-02-09 10:49:31

This bill needs to die because it hurts the very people it proports to help. It is amazing how many idiot Liberals support it.
Jack Schite

Actuay we ignored the ignorance in display at town halls. Also we don't run the govt by polls. We do what we believe to be the right thing to do.

Since your side lacks ideas there's really not much point in paying you any attention. Your goal of muddying the discussion succeeded, but now we are past that and ready for some true and long needed health care reform.