DISQUS

synical · 2 months ago

The reason for the confusion is the Obama administration wants to have it both ways.

The PO is just a "small part" because see, we made these deals with Insurance/BigPharma and the PO runs smack up against these deals. If we don't drop the PO they'll stop shoveling money at us. We need their money to win in 2010/2012. Now, the fact that no voter with an ounce of common sense would continue to enable our corporate lap dances really doesn't figure into the equation. Hey, at least we provide our constituents a thin mat when we fuck them over for corporations while our opponents fuck them over on the cold cement. That should be good enough for the ingrates.

OTOH, Obama needs to keep mouthing "man who cares about the people" pap right up until the moment he says, "We tried." Sort of like how the administration "tried" on granting judges the ability to negotiate mortgages on primary residences the way they can with secondary residences. "We support this legislation." is the extent of how hard they "tried".

Sound familiar?

Of course, there's always the 11th dimensional chess and Obama is just stringing the corporations along (and squeezing money out of them) right until he pulls the rug out from under them.

Bwahahaha! Um, yeah.

hrh · 2 months ago

I'll say it again: Emmanuel will fight a public option because the insurance company campaign cash will dry up if it passes. And waffler-in-chief will go along with that.

Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas · 2 months ago

This is the crux of everything that is wrong with the USA. TV ads cost a goddamned fortune to make and buy air time. The only possible way to run for any office is to drop millions or billions into the pockets of the television industry. It takes four years to amass that kind of money. And the only source for that money is the large corporate world. Rahm will fight public option because big HMO's are dropping 1.6 million bucks a day into the campaign coffers of the "right" people. That's the bottom line, folks. It's all about whoring. You get paid to get fucked. The only real difference is that the Clintons and Obamas of this nation kiss you while they fuck you.

ezpz · 2 months ago

The insurance and pharma industries don't want a public option; therefore, Obama does not want a public option and there will likely NOT be a public option....

"...Big Pharma and big insurance hate the public insurance option even more than they hate big Medicare discounts. And although the President has sounded as if he would welcome it, political operatives in the White House have quietly reassured the industries that it won't be included in the final bill. At most, the bill would allow the formation of non-profit "cooperatives" that wouldn't have the scale or authority to squeeze the profits of private industry, or a "trigger" that would allow states to form public insurance options eventually if certain goals for cost savings and coverage weren't met..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/the-...

Bostonian_Queer_in_Dallas · 2 months ago

What a nation of idiots we are. Of COURSE big HMOs and GOP and corp-Dems don't want the "public option". Are you kidding? I can hear heads exploding in the board room at Blue Cross. Just about any public option will kill the big corps because we'll all have choice to pay lower rates. This is so clear it's not funny. IDIOTS IDIOTS allowing these assholes to play this game.

Chris From Maine · 2 months ago

Sure, eliminating the pre-existing conditions nonsense is good, and making it illegal for them to drop people when they are sick is good too, but thats not "reform", thats "fixing criminal behavior".

without a public option, you will give the insurance industry 30 million (or so) new customers, make them billions more, and hurt the American people's health.

How is that reform?

WHYN0T · 2 months ago

John Aravosis, this is off topic, but I regularly receive emails from the AFA with all their vitriolic hate messages. What is your take on them receiving donations as a non-profit entity? I know that non-profits cannot support political candidates and I assume they are not suppose to support or oppose government legislation. What do you and others think?

Steve_in_CNJ · 2 months ago

this is precisely why it's nonsense to say obama is being "ruthless" or even stealthy. he should have stated unequivocally that the baucus bill is unacceptable. how can a "small part" of the insurance reform be the one part that is necessary to make it work? define small. do they mean small number of total pages in the final bill? good grief.

how better to insult and weaken the house progressives than to say their sina-qua-non is "small"? maybe obama should just say their insistence on a PO is turning the chamber into a "circus".

aview999 · 2 months ago

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Kelly · 2 months ago

I got a phone call from OFA last night asking me to call my representatives and ask them to support the public option. My reps are Schumer, Gillebrand, Maffei and a player to be named later so they were easy phone calls. But at least the OFA is doing something--I hope it's not too little, too late!

therepguy · 2 months ago

Afternoon All

I get the feeling that most all have their idea of just what a public option should be... so I through it might be interesting to get a feel for some of those ideas...

For starters, it my belief that a public should allow anyone who wishes or needs to "buy" into a federal program such as Medicare. The "buy in" would be based upon age (the older the better/in other words the closer one is to age 65 the less the cost would be to buy into the program) and health (the healthier one is the more the cost would be) and finely all would have the right to pick any of the federal programs (the Veteran Program, Medicare or yes even the Congressional Program).

In addition, Medicare would be beefed up so as to not need a supplementary provider such as AARP.

Lastly, Medicaid (a state run program) should be folded in to Medicare and Medicaid itself ended... repetition tents to weaken better programs not to mention there cost money that could be better used in other programs.

Just a through or two

PresPlatitudes · 2 months ago

they're doing their best eddie haskell impression

Butch1 · 2 months ago

We've learned from experience that Obama says one thing and then, does the opposite. I would say, judging from his history, he doesn't want it.

FunMe · 2 months ago

It's not rocket science.

Obama, that good-for-nothing Emannuel, and others who get insurance/health BLOOD $$$, do not want the public option.

So how do we change this?

Keep the pressure up. Keep exposing those liars who are getting money from insurance/health industry. Keep tragetting those TRAITORS to our American ideals.

The Constitution starts with "We The People".

People power can get it back.

NotTimothyGeithner · 2 months ago

Its a small part of reform like how wheels are only small part of a car.

proudliberal1947 · 2 months ago

We are talking about Facist Socialist nazxi also called Corporations. Everytime I hear any thing about how bad things are I already know it is a LIE, we are talking about organizations and their represen tatives that are down with Murders, Spouse Abusers, Child Molesters. this is the true SCM and garbae of America. That is trying for a revolution just remember you pieces of shit we know who you are you do not know who we are. and unlike the COWARDLY right we are Militarily trained and as you keep posting gun, guns ,guns hey STUPID we have them also so think about it. I am tired of your scum sucking Cowardice and the party of NO with its Bizzaro attitude and your ding dong Bitch whores Palin, Coulter , Malkin all Brainless whores who would rather Suck a good dick then talk the truth.

Ashley Crimaldi · 2 months ago

I still have faith in Obama and the public option. Some are saying after todays defeat that this is dead- but I don't think its quite over.
http://www.newsy.com/videos/not_much_of_a_healt...

ArizonaWill · 2 months ago

You are so sweet! I hope you are right. My opinion at this juncture is that if we get a public option it will be IN SPITE OF OBAMA, not because of Obama. His number one subordinate (Rahm Emanuel) has been running around telling progressives in Congress to let it go, and then telling insurance companies not to worry about it. I used to think Rahm Emanuel was sexy (those eyes and frosty hair) but now I envision a snake's tongue darting out of his mouth every few seconds to taste/smell the political wind. Yes, I see him as a human lizard.

damanondastreet · 2 months ago

You say you want a public option. Fine. Everyone that is turned down by a private company is eligible for a public option. One caveat though - the public option will have to sustain itself without the assistance of tax dollars.

Have at it boys and girls. Good Luck in another government managed hell.