Senators nix 'public option' in health care

No worries, the public option will still pass in committee. We've always known that the Baucus version of health care reform was going to be terrible considering that Repuglicans and Blue Dogs (who are bought and paid for by the Big Health Insurance Lobby) sit on that committee.

That's just crap! 70% of Americans demand a public option and the people who were elected to office should be VOTING FOR IT!!!!! Seriously, that's one of the reasons they were elected. How soon we forget! Congress can't depend on Republicans to do anything right now--they've been "campaigning" for 2010 since November 5, 2008.

Baucus=bupkis

OOOOPS! Thought this was a MUST HAVE for the ultra libs like Pelosi, Reid, etc.

So the Dems have the House, Senate, and Prez and still can't get anything done.

Figures . . .

Hey Donnie:
SUPPORT STUPID POSTS, POST THEM DAILY, IDIOTIC AND REPETITIVE. NOW.

Senator Nelson has voted against his suporters on this issue. It will be a pleasure to vote against him the next time he runs here in Florida. Oh well he will have his health care and pension to laugh all the way to the bank.

"It also provides government subsidies to help lower-income Americans pay for coverage that they cannot afford."

So instead of creating competition for the big, over-stuffed insurance companies, we'll just be giving them our tax dollars straight-up. Great.

OOOOPS! Thought this was a MUST HAVE for the ultra libs like Pelosi, Reid, etc. So the Dems have the House, Senate, and Prez and still can't get anything done.
Posted by: Bobbie Mobbie | September 29, 2009 4:26 PM
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Teresa,
So you think it's funny the trouble that Dems are going through to get health care reform passed? Why don't you try telling that to all of the Americans who are dying because they can't afford health care.

I'm guessing that you were also one of the Wingnut rubes who stood up on their hind legs and clapped like a trained seal when Shrub Jr and Cheney rammed their fake war in Iraq and tax cuts for the richest 1% down our throats?

The Republicans and the Blue Dogs who voted against this should automatically have their tax payer funded, gov't provided health insurance coverage revoked.

Oh boy. Don Fitzgerald is not going to like Bobbie Mobbie's post. Don, come on down to the corners of York and Roosevelt Roads, in Elmhurst.

This is your brain on drugs!

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That's just crap! 70% of Americans demand a public option and the people who were elected to office should be VOTING FOR IT!!!!! Seriously, that's one of the reasons they were elected. How soon we forget! Congress can't depend on Republicans to do anything right now--they've been "campaigning" for 2010 since November 5, 2008.

Posted by: Sharon | September 29, 2009 4:22 PM

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70% of Americans demand a public option?? 70% of Illegal iimigrants maybe but not Americans honey pie!

"Seriously, that's one of the reasons they were elected."

Brain damage control to Sharon! Brain damage control to Sharon - please pick up!

Honey, you gotta be on another planet that only gets MSNBC for news with that "tingling" feeling over the airwaves.

And so, the campaigning never stops from the White House.

BRING TRANSPARENCY TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, ALIVE AND WHOLE NOW!

What's the death count in Afghanistan and Pakistan today Don? the White House answer your rant laden letter's about Obama's wars yet?

Kathy, no American is dying because they can't afford health care. Please, get real!
Mr. O'Dowd, sorry but seniors are overwhelmingly against the so-called public option and Obamacare in general.
Sharon, a recent Rasmussen Poll shows that 56 percent of Americans are against Obamacare. Other polls show most Americans are against it too. A few have it about a dead heat. Live in the real world, not the DailyKook world.
If we want REAL health care reform, then let the insurance companies sell insurance across state lines. Let's have TORT reform, one sure way to save on tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions in health care costs. Let's make it so folks can have medical savings accounts, accounts that are before tax and enable folks to have tighter controls on health care costs. Those are just a few ways to get costs under control and SHOULD be ways ALL, or most everyone, can agree on. Another wasteful government program that does not work is NOT the answer!

70% of Americans demand a public option?? 70% of Illegal iimigrants maybe but not Americans honey pie!"Seriously, that's one of the reasons they were elected."Brain damage control to Sharon
Posted by: springfield | September 29, 2009 4:46 PM
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Hey Clown Boy,
There's one little problem with your: "Dems want to cover illegal immigrats" wingnut talking point - IT'S FICTION!

It's something that only resides in the minds of low IQ goober Repugs like yourself and Joe "the heckler" Wilson.

Treating people at Emergency rooms is NOT providing health care coverage for illegal immigrants, you moron.

Quit listening to Druggy Rush and Faux Opinion Channel.

Kathy, no American is dying because they can't afford health care. Please, get real!
Posted by: John D | September 29, 2009 4:57 PM
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Try again Lil Johnny FruitCake.

"45,000 American deaths associated with lack of insurance"
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/09/18/deaths.health.insurance/index.html

At least when supply-siders ruled (but were wrong), the poor were allowed crumbs off the table.

Baucus and the insurance company backed finance committee have taken it a step lower (and very wrong), "we've got ours, the rest of you will have to figure something out."

John D, perpetually the wrongest of all -- yes Americans are dying when they can't afford health care and/or when their insurance gets yanked. (Where've YOU been?) But hey, they won't be around for a court case, eh?

"Mr. O'Dowd, sorry but seniors are overwhelmingly against the so-called public option and Obamacare in general."

________________
Really? They have one of our only present-day public options: Medicare. See if you can get them to give that up and hop on the ridiculously over-priced wagon we're riding on right now. Something tells me they'll stick with their government plan.

This is absolutely no surprsise. Sane representatives will usually not vote for policies that are unpopular, illogical and too costly. Of course, they make mistakes (see "Stimulus") occassionally. Hopefully they won't this time.

The majority of the country is calling for some type of Health Reform without a Public Option. If we have Public Option the Private Companies never will be able to compete and we will have a Nationalized Health Care System. Supporters of that type of program have not been up front on how much this system will cost. If that type of system is adapted there will be big tax increases. I just hope the Democrats and Republicans get their acts together and pass some meaningful health reform. If the extremes of either of the Democratic Party or the GOP prevail nothing will be passed.

No suprise.Baucus was against it, his donors told him to be.I hope the final bill isn't a complete give away to business interests over the peoples interests.

Hey Huh! Huh! Huh!
Add a t instead of h and that sounds like the dems marching song.
So you, in your teenie little brain, doens't think going to an emergency room for FREE medical care isn't health care? Why don't you share with us you definition of health care. Also, why don't you try reading up on things so you might get a little more informed before you make a fool of yourself in this or any other forum.
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, EMTALA) is a United States Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. There are no reimbursement provisions. As a result of the act, patients needing emergency treatment can be discharged only under their own informed consent or when their condition requires transfer to a hospital better equipped to administer the treatment

"...a recent Rasmussen Poll shows that 56 percent of Americans are against Obamacare."

That's because they're not only stupid enough to rally against their own self-interests but are too dim to realize they're being pimped by big business and special interests. In fact, the same IQ-challenged losers who rail against public health care will most surely be the ones who end up dying because of lost coverage or denial for pre-existing conditions. Unless, of course, these simpletons are already milking Medicare and Medicaid.

This is absolutely no surprsise. Sane representatives will usually not vote for policies that are unpopular, illogical and too costly. Of course, they make mistakes (see "Stimulus") occassionally. Hopefully they won't this time.

Posted by: John | September 29, 2009 5:16 PM
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Really? Let's see here, the Stimulus is currently working to correct the economic meltdown that the Bushco Republicans caused and the Public option is currently VERY popular.
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/the_stimulus_is_working.html
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/growing-momentum-for-publ_b_303415.html

So, who are these "sane" Representatives that you speak of?

The majority of the country is calling for some type of Health Reform without a Public Option.
Posted by: Depot- Jim | September 29, 2009 5:32 PM
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Nice Try, Dimwit Jim.

"New CBS/NY Times poll: 65% of Americans want the Public option"
http://crooksandliars.com/node/31549

Jesus cured the poor for free why can't we?

Democrats have nobody but themselves to blame for this. There aren't enough Republicans in office to mount any meaningful opposition. When will the public realize that Democrats are just as easily bought by lobbyists as Republicans?

Public option RIP. The Finance Committee is controlled by Dems 13-10. Assuming all Reps voted against the public option amendment, that still means there were at least 5 Dem defectors. That is just in one committee. Liberals would need every last Dem in the Senate to break a filibuster. No chance. Time to face reality.

70% demand public option?

Maybe 70% of Democrats do, but that number isn't even CLOSE to what the majority of Americans think. I believe something like 54% oppose it.

wow janet, that cnn link is a stretch. deaths "associated" with lack of insurance. puhlease. People die of these things even with health insurance. If they don't go to the doctor, they don't go. That's not the health care system's fault.
I'd rather have bills to pay than be dead.

wow janet, that cnn link is a stretch. deaths "associated" with lack of insurance. puhlease. People die of these things even with health insurance. If they don't go to the doctor, they don't go. That's not the health care system's fault.
Posted by: JD | September 29, 2009 6:10 PM
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Not everyone is right wing lunatic fringe dimwit like you are.

If you don't have health insurance you don't have a choice as to whether you can see a doctor or not, do you?

The Libtards control the House, the Senate and the White House.

Why can't they simply pass whatever legislation they want?

Just do it and see what happens.

Oh, I forgot...that Vast Right Wing Conspiracy again stopping the Rats....libtard morons trying to blame their own EPIC FAIL on the VRWC...haha, ha...

Mmm, Mmmm, Mmmm - Barry Hussein Soetoro!

At what point are we going to move away from the Public Option or Co-Op option and focus on health. We need to move the health care debate away from partisan politics and back onto the topic of fitness. Join the debate and movement to take control of our own health on Holosfitness.com. Don't let politicians dictate health care, but your health in your own hands.

Is anyone remotely surprised by these votes? This is not a retorical question-I was not. The only small surprise for me was picking up a couple of Dems for the 2nd PO.

Seems like the real strategy all along was to get this thing out from under Baucus and to the Senate floor, then we'll find out where things are at.

Also, I can see a fallback posiiton-just pull the individual mandate out of the bill. At least it does (not much) harm at that point, even without a PO. Heck, pull out the individual mandate even with a PO. It never made sense anyway. If we lower costs to consumers, more will sign up anyway

The liberals that are brainwashed by CNN and ABC, CBS, and NBC can't muster an IQ of 80 let alone the votes needed for a soak the middle class health care bill, which will create long lines, terrible service and most of all, a barely literate government which would be dictating the rationing of health care. I am so glad this idiocy is stopping.

baucus is a tool to big insurance.

its a shame that we're not even talking about universal healthcare, just a simple public option. Even a simple public option, that the CBO estimates would save billions of dollars is politically too difficult for Democrats to pass.

I'm beginning to be reminded why the crazies that are the GOP win office. Dems don't do anything when in a power to lead. I mean, that's better then the GOP ruining everything but its not anything to be prideful about.

JD,

You echo John D (you're not related other than idiocy are you?).

Given a choice between feeding her family for a week and getting that seemingly innocuous lump on her breast checked out, what would you guess her decision would be? (Let alone that her chances of having an established relationship with a medical professional she trusts is almost nil/) Yes, people die from these decisions when they lack financial safety nets.

The insurance companies are jumping up and down in glee. Under the Baucus bill they can charge what they want, decide the level of coverage, and we will be required BY LAW to pay for it and be fined if we don't. This is health care reform?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj6GyFEA3FI&feature=player_embedded#t=133

Seems the insurance companies are getting their money's worth for the $700,000 they're spending EACH DAY to combat real health care reform. They've already spent $50 million -- instead of paying for claims, of course.

Like banks that make government gauranteed colledge loans, these insurance companies add nothing to society. Why do we need banks that will gladly take the profit and shuffle the risk to the taxpayers? Why do we need insurance companies that take ten dollars.....put six of them in their pockets.....and then pay off with what is left? What do they add to society excepty to create some very rich board members?

Treating people at Emergency rooms is NOT providing health care coverage for illegal immigrants, you moron.

Yes it is, they go there for a little cold get their medicine, go home and skip out on the bill and the rest of us pick up the slack. After they pop out their anchor baby and get released. The first two stops are for food stamps, and wic for their new US citizen. I can drive to Mexico in 15 minutes so I see this everyday.

Really? Let's see here, the Stimulus is currently working to correct the economic meltdown that the Bushco Republicans caused and the Public option is currently VERY popular

Last time I checked the dems controled both houses of congress since 2006. Just a thought.

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The liberals that are brainwashed by CNN and ABC, CBS, and NBC can't muster an IQ of 80 let alone the votes needed for a soak the middle class health care bill, which will create long lines, terrible service and most of all, a barely literate government which would be dictating the rationing of health care. I am so glad this idiocy is stopping.

Posted by: Breen | September 29, 2009 6:48 PM
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The only brainwashed goobers that I see are the low IQ Teabagging Wingnuts who are out protesting for the right of the huge Corporate Health Insurance Industry to continue screwing them over.
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http://community.livejournal.com/ontd_political/3983339.html#cutid1
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Our government panders to the 20 to 30 plus (?) illegal immigrants allowing them free subsidies from taxpayers in the US. California--a Sanctuary State has one of the worst records that currently languish under the immense burden of near bankruptcy, instead of --ATTRACTING--ICE to illegal business operations. Certain legislators in Sacramento, led by Gilbert Cedillo-D has authored a lame brain resolution condemning any interference in immigration enforcement. Congressman Brian Bilbray-R Calif. reminds Sen. Cedillo that this resolution breaks the laws of the Constitution. “He should look up the separation of powers section and this resolution is nothing more than political posturing.” Cedillo urges President Obama to declare an immediate moratorium on immigration policies and practices until a comprehensive reform of immigration is enacted. The resolution states " The State of California values all of its residents, whether they be citizens, legal residents, or undocumented immigrants, and strives to enable all residents to work and live free from discrimination, exploitation, and repressive federal immigration enforcement.” This man certainly has no love for the legal American worker and should be immediately discarded from office as his words are a form of treachery to the jobless people hurting.

Why wouldn't certain legislators want health care for foreign labor, because they have an over abundance of illegal immigrant families to financially support? Our own government is so absorbed in protecting every other countries border? They remain unconcerned to our poor replica border fence that should have been a two-tier periphery, with border patrol surveillance lanes in between, as originally planned by Rep. Duncan Hunter. Every time a good enforcement plan is written, it’s methodically cut to pieces by pro-illegal worker politicians and open border fanatics. Though we spend billions on our armed forces in foreign lands, the rich countries in Europe just forward token troops and little money: while our nation is literary falling apart at the seams--or its rivets?

Any moment now I expect to hear of yet another collapsing ailing city bridge, deteriorating waterworks, the underground pipes and eroding highway. Our cities are already exhibiting inward decay, but years of neglect by the very people who’s supposed to protect us do nothing? I have reiterated watch "The Crumbling of America" on the History (International) channel in the next few weeks and learn? This is where your tax dollars should be going? We must not allow the Administration as in previous times keep sending our precious tax dollars to other countries. These politicians are deaf, dumb and intentionally blind to the rigors our industrial nation is going through. Not just Democrats, but the Republicans have had their sticky fingers in the bad apple--SPECIAL INTEREST--barrel, where money is plentiful. It's like they are intentionally trying to turn our magnificent country into a third world nation, while making other cheap labor countries, on an even par with our sovereign society as US wages tumble? Then Again the Council of Foreign Relations have been amplifying its agenda of free movement of cheap labor through North America for years?

Most of these other lands have been at each others throats for centuries, so why do we expect any metamorphism into something any different? Only change can come from within, not by our nation expending billions of dollars, American lives? We must build our own borders fences, tall and strong and meant to keep out drug dealers, criminal aliens, terrorists and the never ending tracks of illegal aliens. Our politician’s noses are involved in too much foreign policy, while our aging infrastructure implodes. Trillions of dollars are spirited out the country, while we gain little in return. Washington--MUST--start giving back to the jobless American worker by placing a 5 year moratorium on all immigration, even legal? The next politicians should deliver us from any new sinister path to citizenship or better referred to as BLANKET AMNESTY? Follow the "Rule of Law" and not twist it into something else for their own convenience, as it will come back to haunt them at the voting booth. Unless ACORN steps-in with another fed contract and handles sign-ups for the ballot box? In that case will still see absentee ballots for the deceased people, pets and anybody who has learned that you need no government picture ID to sign on to vote.

The 1986 immigration reform bill dismally failed last time and all we inherited was 5 million illegal immigrants that still keep on coming with their impoverished hands out. Anti-Illegal immigrant forces are growing in numbers to stop another travesty. They acknowledge it could end up costing billions, perhaps even trillions of dollars. Nationwide we have seen the advent of closing hospitals and emergency rooms that have been submerged everyday by swarms by penniless foreigners and their families. Yes! We need health care reform. Americans are dying, going bankrupt , falling under the spell of debt collectors. The special interest lobbyists are causing mass hysteria by lying to the people. Many insurance companies are under this bombardment in television, radio and mass media. Their Status quo wants no change to their profits or high flying CEO's making millions of dollars. on patients backs? I want health care reform, for the sake of my step daughter who died of Cancer, because the insurers said it was a pre-existing condition and they couldn't continue to insure her?

It has become an enigma--THAT THE EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE THEM-LEAVE THE MAJORITY OF SICK PEOPLE ON THE STEPS OF EMERGENCY ROOMS. SO THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ENDS THERE? THEY DRIVE AWAY WITH A CLEAR CONSCIOUS? THEN IS LEFT FOR THE TAXPAYERS CHECK BOOK TO PAY THE BILL? THOSE EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE HUNTED DOWN AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY CENT. We have already been warned by the census bureau of overpopulation in the not too distant future. WE now have a very unique deterrent called E-Verify, that is a part of the SAVE ACT and our lawmakers should stop procrastinating and make it permanent for every worker? Washington knows their walking on quicksand, if the try to under fund or spirit away E-Verify this time around? The corrupting influences from the special interest lobby, have failed to induce many lawmakers to table E-Verify. In our future it could have many other uses other than extracting unauthorized labor from the workplace. Once fully installed it could check state drivers license applicants, insurance, school and higher education registrations and hospital admittances.
Americans have been unknowingly paying taxes to underwrite subsidies for the illegal population for decades. This is the biggest draw to American jobs, because the employers who hire them are sentient that taxpayers will foot the bills for education, health food stamps, housing and other government benefit consignments that even as citizens are denied. Keep the phone calls coming at 202-224-3121 LOOK FOR ANSWERS AT NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & OVERPOPULATION AT CAPSWEB? These websites can identity politicians who actually work for the American people and others whose immigration grading level is unsatisfactory to stay in office? Have you heard about any large ICE raids lately? ICE got the order to cease and desist from the motley Democratic leadership. They are also using their influence to either weaken the federal training program 287 G that gives local police federal right to hold for questioning suspicious individual’s immigration status and to rescind the no-match-letter capability in determining a person’s right to work?

Finally, there are some Democrats with a semblance of sense in the Senate. Provision of health care to the poor does NOT require remaking the entire American health care system, the best in the world. Nor does it require taking away health care from senior citizens. The answer: simply extend Medicaid to cover poor families (children are now covered) who CANNOT afford health insurance. And forget those who WILL NOT get health insurance even though they can afford it. The estimated cost: $30 billion instead of $2 TRILLION! (CBO estimates).

Damn, I wish I lived in Canada.

soak the middle class health care bill, which will create long lines, terrible service and most of all, a barely literate government which would be dictating the rationing of health care. I am so glad this idiocy is stopping.

Posted by: Breen | September 29, 2009 6:48 PM
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This just proves that partisan Republican thugs like you are dumber than a brick.

The public option isn't dead, it's only dead in Baucus's committee.

Try again with a different post name, Teresa.

If anyone is brainwashed it would be those who watch Fox spread disinformation hourly.From support the President at all times to anti-President all the time.Hannity outright lies and isn't even questioned on it.Get your info from different sources and see who's lying.

I do not support this Republican measure as now presented, and make no mistake, it's just that.

This is a giveaway to the private insurance industry with not cost control mechanism.
Without a robust, accessible, credible public option they may as well all go home.

The problem all along has been the lie of compromising with the Republicans. The Senate leadership, Reid, should have had the debate between Baucus and the liberal Dems. on the committee.

The fight should have been over single payer or a public option.
This is a disaster, and I urge all Dems. that see this to write Obama, Reid and Pelosi urging them to reject this stinking turd of a bill.

Covering illegals? That's right, Dems won't cover illegals now. That's step 2, making everyone illegal possible a U.S. citizen like the rest of us who are actually productive members of society. Then everyone will be happy--and as poor as everyone else south of the Rio Grande

Damn, I wish I lived in Canada.

Who would have thought that the fed dems would be as dysfunctional as the Springfield dems?

Just goes to the concept that it doesn't matter what party is in charge that all politicians are idiots. Can't blame the Republicans for this one.

Fed Up with Liberal Whining pasted "The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, EMTALA) is a United States Act of Congress passed in 1986 as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay."

The EMTALA or the Reepublicans version of universal health care is perhaps the biggest reason why we need a single-payer health care system. People need to get the care before it becomes an affordable cost-shifted emergency.

The problem is it’s the Democrats compromising with the health insurance industry – not the Republicans, because there is no need to compromise with your master.

Let's see, many car dealers are still waiting for the money the government owes them from the "cash for clunkers" program and just last week it was noted that less the 50% of those who qualified for educational support under the expanded GI Bill have gotten their money (almost a month into the semester, about the time colleges start dis-enrolling those who are behind on payments), yet people still believe that a public option will help?

I'll tell you all a hint or two about most of us here in the midwest. We agree that something needs to be done with this issue. However when some person blogs about how stupid we are because we don't agree with a public option...guess what? We stop listening. Who wants to be insulted? Instead of insulting us and calling us names why don't you try to support your arguments with facts. And not "facts" like "70% of Americans" want this. That's just silly and ends up hurting your credibility even more.

Based on what I've read from this it's really, really hard to see any benefit from a public option. And why CAN'T we purchase insurance across state lines? We can everything else! Let's get some REAL competition out there.

Or, if some of you can quit calling us stupid...come up with a rational argument for your position. And quit being so mean.

Spike, no one is stopping you from moving into Canada. If you want to live there, then by all means move there! But you should know this first: A few weeks ago the head of the Canadian Medical Association said the Canadian health system is about to implode. But you and the rest of the US Left can still go ahead and move to Canada. The U.S. will be better for it. Though, it would be a hardship for our friends to the North.

Public option is dead. House can't pass one without that language. Senate can't pass one with the language.
Now to do away with the unconstitutional "penalty" for not having insurance... one issue at a time with this Government take over.

I'll tell you all a hint or two about most of us here in the midwest. We agree that something needs to be done with this issue. However when some person blogs about how stupid we are because we don't agree with a public option...guess what? We stop listening. Who wants to be insulted? Instead of insulting us and calling us names why don't you try to support your arguments with facts.
Posted by: jd | September 29, 2009 10:47 PM
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Hey Teresa,

Republicans:
If you don't want to be called stupid - quit acting stupid.
If you don't want to be called racists - stop being racists.
If you don't want to be called right wing domestic terrorists - stop being right wing domestic terrorists.

I live in the Midwest too, and I don't have any trouble navigating through right wing BS, fake outrage and propaganda. What's your problem?

It sure is a wonderful sight to see all of these " compassionate conservatives " tripping over each others compassion. Like all of their other rhetoric, they like to mouth good words. These, Republican-Libertarians, can't live by them, though, that would just be too American !! Their best offerings are name-calling, distortion, lies and of course, good old reliable, patriotism !! The Republican-Libertains elected officials in our Congress are the obstructionist, par excellence, and across our nation, their minions are the best anti-democratic forces, outside of Tehran !! So much, for the " compassionate conservative " !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

NAIC = The Real Death Panel

Thanks, Baucus.

Diane quipped "That's because they're not only stupid enough to rally against their own self-interests but are too dim to realize they're being pimped by big business and special interests."

Or could it possibly be that private Americans have a better grasp of their own self-interest than the folks in D.C., who are too dim to realize that Americans are tired of being pimped by the beltway crowd?

If there is a Public Option the Private Insurers will not be able to compete against a Government Plan. Everyone, including my company, will be forced into the Public Option. Many of the supporters on Congress and the President who back a Public Option have not be forward with how we are going to pay for this plan if enacted. Money does not grow on trees and will have to come from somewhere. I believe questions have to be answered before we move ahead with a Public Option which will probably result in a Nationalized Heath System.

1) How much will such a plan cost?
2) How are we going to pay for such a plan?
3) Will the Tax Paying Middle Class be hit with huge tax increases?
4) If only those making more than $250,000 are taxed how is going to effect small businesses?
5) Will Medicare be cut back for Seniors?
6) Will the quality of health care we have now be diminished by a National Plan?

I believe all those concerns are legitimate questions that need to be answered. Before some of you start the name calling as one individual did last night to one of my posts I would like to hear some civil response to concerns many of us have out here. I am waiting to hear some intelligent responses to those questions I listed in my post.

Anybody with any sense knows that a public option will e a disaster. Americans need to lose this entitlement mentality that the government should take care of them.

In my business, medical sales, we understand the impact a public option would have on health care. You may learn more about how reform would effect jobs in medical sales at http://www.gorillamedicalsales.com

A X-Mas message from Sen. Baucus and the Republicans!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCPOowojiC0

I find it curious that anyone could, with a straight face, blame Republicans for the failure of these amendments to revive the public option. It is no secret that they oppose it, but so what? As vividly demonstrated by their many failed attempts to amend the health care bill, Republicans were rendered impotent in the last election. The Democrats have the votes in both houses to pass whatever they like. Democrats have only their own lack of party unity to blame for the failure of these most recent amendments.

crusty,
I'm not blaming the Repubs.
Of course it's the Dems. fault. The Dem. leadership went down the wrong road and produced a Republican w@!-dream of a bill.
I'm not blaming the Republicans, but it is a Republican bill none the less.

I will in fact congratulate the Republicans for using polititcal jujitsu to get the Dems. to produce their bill.

And the topper; The R's don't even have to vote for it. Now they will get what they wanted without any political cost. When the huge $$ benefits accrue to the insurance industry they can blame the Dems.

If the people let government decide
what foods they eat and what medicines they take,
their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state
as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.

The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under
the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist
program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without
knowing how it happened.

CM, I agree the Dems don't need to look for Republicans to blame for this. They need a mirror. Either Dems have the courage of their convictions, or they don't. They got off on the wrong foot by being afraid to even mention what they really want - single payer. At least if they had started there, they could have compromised down to a public option. Where are the Dems now? About to pass a bill that will require 30+ million Americans, under threat of fines/jail, to buy insurance from private companies. And here's the kicker - the government (read - us) will pay some of these premiums. I bet the Christmas party at Humana will be a good one this year. Do you think it's too late to load up on their stock?

My concern with this health care reform, as an Independent, is that it’s all over the place, there are not enough specifics and it must be put into writing and as if “written in stone” so that not every illegal that comes to the US will get free healthcare and those that work hard all their citizen life in US pay for every “Tom, Dick and Harry”

But gee whiz, Aaron,
The current system is all over the place and you pay for every TDH as it is through cost shifting.
I don't like the current bill either, but from the left. Single Payer is the real answer, and it was never on the table.
At least with SP everybody would pay something, therefore everyone would pay less.
And blame the employers for hiring the illegals. If they were legal they would pay the freight too for insurance under SP.

Max Baucus: "My job is to put together a bill that gets to 60 votes"

I thought his job is to put together a good bill.

Posted by: Celozzi Ettelson | September 29, 2009 4:46 PM

Didn't you go out of business during George W. Bush's administration?