Comments on The 7-10: Palmer on Politics: Debating Health Care: A Lack of Republican Credib...

You have a great site here. I have one myself wher...

2009-12-27T00:04:29.183-05:00

You have a great site here. I have one myself where people from around the world come and debate on popular issues. I am telling you this because I believe you can provide some valuable insight to the readers and other debaters.

Also, I'd like to exchange links with you. If you agree, please leave me a comment under my "Compadres" page letting me know when you have placed my link on your page and I'll return the favor.

Keep up the good work.

Jason
DEBATEitOUT.com

Anthony, I obviously disagree with many of your po...

2009-12-26T11:21:02.020-05:00

Anthony, I obviously disagree with many of your points. The Republicans voted against "debate" because they knew they would not be part of the actual dialogue. As it turns out, they were right. And as for "adding things to the bill" it was not the Republicans who added vote payoffs like $100-$300 million to Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La) for her yea vote on the bill . . . interesting since the first Louisiana purchase only cost Americans $15 million. To quote Congressman Bart Stupak (a Democrat from Mich): “This shouldn’t be a bill where you use hush money. This isn’t an appropriations bill where you try to get the best projects for your state. In the House, we need to bring equity back into the process. We need to cut out those sweetheart deals. my reservations are growing.” This is such a great bill that Obama & co. have to buy off their own party. Of course, it could be that they were buying votes because nobody had actually read the final version, which wasn't released until 40 hours before the actual vote. (the bill on the floor still contained the public option).

Of course, Republicans are also outraged that the democrate have done something that we haven't seen in 200 years of legislation: change the senate rules within a single bill to require a super majority to repeal certain parts of bill. One such part was Section 3403, the "Independent Medicare Advisory Boards" that are listed in the bill that. Oh, we all know these boards are not are not "Death Panels," they are simply panels to decide whether or not health care benefits will be provided to medicare patients who don't meet their criteria, criteria similar to transplant list markers where poor health and old age will eliminate you from the treatment list . . . nothing like a "Death Panel" at all).

Oh, I could go on, but this isn't actually why I'm writing.

Anthony, I wanted to wish you a happy holiday season, my friend. and I hope the New Year fulfills any promise that it offers to you.

Well said, Anthony, but here is the biggest incons...

2009-12-23T04:59:57.976-05:00

Well said, Anthony, but here is the biggest inconsisency of all.

I watched C-SPAN Monday afternoon as one GOP senator after another, including South Carolina's throwbacks to a time that never should've been, held forth on the coming catastrophe. To hear these public-policy Titans tell it, milk is going to curdle in cows' udders, children's growth will be stunted, the debt is going to explode, the earth beneath us will open up and swallow us all, and that will be a blessing when the sky falls — all because Obama and the Democrats are going to pass the tattered remnants of their health care reform bill.

But here's the thing. If Republicans really believe the Democrats' plan is going to be so terrible for everyone and everything, they would want to see it pass. They would've said:

"We don't like this very much, but the people have spoken. They elected Obama, they want a public option. So be it. In the spirit of bipartisanship, we won't filibuster this, we'll even toss in some votes for it. We just reserve the right to say we told you so when it turns out badly."

Then Republicans, secure in the knowledge Democrats' health care reform will be all the bad things they predict, could go home for the holidays jubilant at the prospect of dissatisfied voters turning to them in a few years for better leadership.

In fact, Republicans did no such thing. This leads me to believe that despite all their predictions of disaster and doom, they're scared as hell the Democrats' health care reform will work tolerably well, and that the public will be grateful to Democrats for having delivered on their promise to finally bring it about.

What's more, I think Republicans are scared spitless that even a moderately successful health care makeover with considerable federal participation will provide an object lesson in government being helpful and reasonably efficient at meeting a major public need, thereby neutralizing decades of right-wing badmouthing about government being the problem, not the solution, never getting anything right, always costing too much, etc.
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Good to see another post, Anthony. Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the new year be good to you.

They have. The tea party people, LOL

2009-12-22T14:40:06.546-05:00

They have. The tea party people, LOL

Mr. Bailey, I think that despite the garbage that...

2009-12-22T13:11:22.609-05:00

Mr. Bailey,

I think that despite the garbage that was added to the bill, I think the two biggest selling points of the bill are that pre-existing conditions can no longer be used to deny coverage and that you can no longer lose your coverage because of an illness.

However, because of the unsavory nature of this process, I would not be surprised if a credible third party emerged that focused on basic competency and decency in governance.

I think the Republicans may have won. They've add...

2009-12-22T12:30:55.065-05:00

I think the Republicans may have won. They've added SO much crap to the bill, that even if it is passed, it might make things worse. Then they'll sit back and point the finger and say, "See? We told you it would fail!"