ARGH! Aide: Blue Dog Dems To Press Obama To Delay Health Reform

[babylonsister]

This is EXACTLY what the rethugs want. How can they be so blind?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/blue-dog-on-health-care-the-landscape-will-change-after-meeting-with-obama.php?ref=fpa

Blue Dog on Health Care: 'The Landscape Will Change' After Meeting With Obama
By Rachel Slajda - July 21, 2009, 12:36PM


If the Blue Dog Democrats have their way, President Obama's meeting with the House Energy and Commerce Committee will be a game-changer.

An aide to one of the Blue Dogs, seven of which are on the committee, told Reuters the group may ask for a slowdown on the health care push. Obama wants health care legislation before the August recess.

"The landscape will change after that meeting," the aide said.

The meeting is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET, but may be pushed back as Obama still hasn't appeared in the Rose Garden for his 12:15 p.m. remarks on health care.

Related:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6115465&mesg_id=6115465

Internal RNC Memo: "Engage In Every Activity" To Slow Down Health Care Reform

[valerief]

1. Some dogs just oughta be put down. nt

[liskddksil]

43. they definately need to be spayed and neutered.

[Corvette42]

2. The higher the stakes, the more fine print you may want to read.

This thing is the biggest spending bill in US history. Regarding your family, would it be responsible to make the biggest financial commitment in your life without actually reading the contract? I would expect my representatives to do the same. I really want to know what is festering in the nooks and crannies of this thing before my representatives give it the go-ahead.

It is responsible to be SURE of what you are signing when you agree to something this big. This needs a full vetting. It is just too big.

[babylonsister]

3. No, wrong answer, unless you really don't want healthcare reform.

This is what the GOP is saying. They're trying to make this fail, and the blue dogs don't give a crap, it seems.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8539768&mesg_id=8539768

“If it doesn’t happen this year it’s not going to happen,” said one House GOP aide. “If too many members have concerns about this in an off-year, even their ranks are only going to grow in an election year.”



“If we slow this sausage-making process down,” Castellanos wrote, “we can defeat it.”

[phantom power]

5. Blue dog concern-troll Congressmen are very concerned...

Nobody is delaying this bill to read the fine print. They're delaying it to try and kill its momentum, and buy time to play FUD with the voters.

It may work too.

[Corvette42]

20. I don't know why they are, but I know why they SHOULD.

Their motives are most definitely suspect. They may be doing the right thing, but for all the wrong reasons. I am getting sick of these guys by the hour.

[phantom power]

28. This is gloomy, but I think the most likely scenario is....

that we'll get some kind of watered down "public option" that costs taxpayers money, but does not fundamentally improve our private-insurance-based system. The Dems will "declare victory" but soon enough people will realize that not much has changed. Meanwhile, the GOP will demagogue the entire process as yet more proof that (a) "govt can't do anything right" (b) "Dems are wasting your tax dollars" and (c) "elect us and we'll give you low taxes and efficient private health care!" In 2010, the GOP regains seats in Congress, and the Obama administration loses momentum going into 2012.

I hope that if an ineffective bill reaches Obama's desk, that he has the wisdom and the balls to veto it, and demand a truly effective bill. Because if he signs off on a non-solution solution, it will be the beginning of his end.

[Corvette42]

30. One thing I really liked that Obama said...

...was that we need tort reform. I think if we only did that a lot of this problem would simply disappear. I haven't thought it through (but I'll bet I've thought it through more than the congress AND the president have thought this bill through) but it would be really cheap and would do a world of good. It would need exceptions (death, etc. would be handled differently than a leftover sponge). Heck, someone mentioned some english law thing a few months back. I cannot remember what it was called, but it was about the loser in any lawsuit would pay the winner's legal costs. That would help a lot. And it wouldn't cost a dime. Malpractice rates would go down considerably, as would the cost of health care.

[phantom power]

35. I'm pretty sure tort reform is a red herring....

Malpractice insurance is expensive for the same reason that our health insurance is expensive: it's provided by private companies who are motivated to charge doctors huge premiums and in exchange provide as little actual service as possible. If you want to reduce the cost of malpractice insurance, regulate the insurance providers, and/or threaten them with socialized malpractice insurance to go along with socialized health insurance.

At this point, with 20% of Americans completely uncovered, and god-only-knows-how-many more paying onerous premiums and then maybe not getting covered anyway, and the rest of us living in terror of getting sick and becoming uninsurable due to pre-existing conditions, tort reform is very very peripheral. Furthermore, it carries the substantial risk of providing the GOP with an opening to make it difficult to sue doctors for mistakes they actually made. And believe me, they'd love to pass that kind of "tort reform." It used to be all they talked about.

[Corvette42]

38. Malpractice insurance is expensive because of frivoulous...

...lawsuits being won. The poster child for this would be John Edwards. That snake has gotten rich suing the medical profession. The only insurance that has gone up more than health insurance is malpractice insurance, by several orders of magnitude.

It is not the private insurance companies causing it. They compete on price. It is our wildly litigous society causing it. Every multi-million dollar award for a leftover sponge eventually costs us all. These claims add up. I have little doubt that if we were able to eliminate the litany of high dollar awards for minor offenses the malpractice insurance rates would drop like a prom dress.

Health insurance is expensive for the same reason ladders are expensive.

At least I think that is a major part of the problem.

[phantom power]

41. I definitely disagree with you on this point.

Supposedly health insurance companies "compete on price" too. We all know how that actually works out. I'd love to see how much malpractice insurance companies pay out in claims, versus how much revenue they take in. How much profit are they making? I bet it's somewhere in the range of "one hell of a lot."

Furthermore, supposing that we limited "frivolous" lawsuits, if you really think the insurance companies would drop their premiums, I have a bridge to sell you.

[Corvette42]

42. I honestly think the main problem is that it is too expensive.

I really do think health insurance companies compete on price. However, rolled up in that price is the malpractice and other similar insurance rates paid by doctors, hospitals, wheelchair manufacturers, cat-scan machine manufacturers, etc.

If they all pay the same rates (relative to competency of course), they all just roll it into the price, and take as much off as profit as they can and still be competitive. Business taxes are "passed on to the customer through higher prices" in the same way.

But I digress. :)

[kenfrequed]

57. torte reform republican shuffle

Uhm have you looked at the profitability of the health care industry and the insurance clowns? They aren't standing on the corner with their cups begging for change.

Save that "oh the horrible malpractice insurance" rap for the suckers. Half of these industries are secretly self-insuring anyhow.

[Corvette42]

63. I stand by my position.

I can go a long way with this. I know one doctor, specifically, that, two decades ago saw his malpractice insurance go up OVER ten fold in one single year, even though he had no claims against him. And his rates were more than twice my salary, which was a pretty good paying job at the time.

Also, there was a lot of news about obstetricians simply leaving the practice here in the Seattle area a few years ago because the malpractice insurance rates were so high. Also, a doctor here was shut down because he decided to practice medicine, at a substantially reduced cost, but refused to carry malpractice insurance.

It's a racket.

Read the articles here: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=obstetrician%20crisis%20insurance&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn


And we all pay for it.

[kenfrequed]

68. Malarky

That does not prove anythign about the litigious nature of medicine these days. That does not prove the need for Tort reform. All that proves is that Insurance is a racket.

Oddly enough insurance premiums have gone up ridiculously in health care at the same time that malpratice insurance has. And guess what, it is profit taking and gouging behavoir by the insurance industry.

Please stop parroting their propaganda and PR.

[phantom power]

72. Coincidentally, this just popped up...

A major new study released today by Americans for Insurance Reform finds that premiums and claims for doctors both have dropped significantly in recent years while the medical malpractice insurance industry is enjoying remarkable profits in light of the global economic collapse. It concludes that further limiting the liability of negligent doctors and unsafe hospitals is not only unjustified, but also would have almost no impact lowering this country's overall health care expenditures.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=222&topic_id=65345&mesg_id=65345

[kenfrequed]

56. And this..

Is percisely what the DLC/Blue dog faction doesn't get. Screwing up healthcare or making it worthless is long-term strategically bad. Actually delivering healthcare is long term good for the American people and the party both. It is a legacy. A new, new deal.

Baccuus and his ilk need to get their friggin brains checked and stop screwing over the party and the people.

And because the DLC/blue dogs are constantly harping on the progressives for self criticism and how that hurts the party it is interesting to see where and when they strategically screw us over in the long term all for their corporate buds.

[Corvette42]

65. Delivering health care is indeed good.

Depending on who delivers it.

[kenfrequed]

69. And what the hell does that mean?

Care to qualify that exception or objection somehow? Because I am not remotely clear as to what the hell you are talking about.

[Corvette42]

6. That may be what the GOP is saying, but not me.

I am saying what I said in my post. Their motives are completely different from mine. I am a taxpayer that does not like my representatives wanting to rush through a bill that could seriously negatively affect me and my family and drastically change my country as I know it - for the worse.

As long as this thing is vetted and the challenges therin are identified and removed, I'm good with it. But I have learned over and over that the devil is in the details.

This rush to passage reminds me of the proverbial nitwit that get's a new job and immediately goes out and buys a new BMW, only to have it reposessed in only a few months. We must be adult and make sure this is really what we want.

The gravity and sheer size of this thing demands it! The bigger the impact, the more SURE we have to be that the impact will actually be good.

[babylonsister]

12. And if it's delayed, it won't happen. Which would you really prefer?

And btw, do you currently have insurance? If so, you're a lot luckier than many people.

[Corvette42]

17. If it is not vetted, I would prefer that it not pass.

I have lived the phrase "from the frying pan into the fire". It happens all the time. I would hate for it to happen to the most powerful country in recorded human history.

This thing is so big it really could destroy us.

[babylonsister]

21. Baloney.

Go spout your r/w talking points to someone who might believe you.

I'm not willing to wait decades more for health care reform. There are people that need it yesterday. I could care less if the process is going too fast for little ole you.

[Corvette42]

24. I'm sorry you feel that way. Seriously.

It is not talking points. It is how I feel and, more importantly, THINK about decisions with serious and long term ramifications. A prudent person simply does not "close their eyes and hope for the best" with this sort of thing. Especially with representatives that cannot be trusted with their own responsibilites, much less those of their office.

It needs to be vetted. It must be, if not 100%, at least 80% analyzed, applying the ol' 80/20 rule.

I am a serious opponent of "analysis paralysis", but there needs to be quite a bit more analysis before we even entertain the idea of coming close to that point.

[kenfrequed]

70. Nonsense

You have failed to make one cognant point other than to parrot absurd talking points about 'horrible trial lawyers' and scream that we must slow down or stop or study. This is a BS delaying tactic given voice on a message board. Who the hell have you been listening to to get the idea that people haven't been studying healthcare for decades?

What is wrong with a legitimate public option and what is wrong with having it right now?

[redqueen]

4. Enough of this silly stalling - simply to benefit fatcat execs.

This has been delayed for decades.

It needs to be done ASAP. Period.

[walldude]

10. Really? They had no problem signing the Patriot Act

No problem signing off on money for Iraq, 11 billion of which is still missing. They have all had plenty of time to read the bill. The only thing festering here is the stench of a bunch of rich politicians and lobbyists who already have the best free health care my money can buy them, telling the people of this country that they don't deserve the same quality health care because it might cut into someones profits.

[Corvette42]

27. Each act must stand on it's own.

Two wrongs don't make a right. And I am very much opposed to that stupid act! I fly quite a bit and every time I see those blue shirt TSA agents I think of communist and fascist countries.

Brown shirts. Blue shirts. What's the difference...

[phantom power]

11. Yes, on the other hand...

watch out for Congressional stall-tactics, because they will say the same thing as you are, but what they're really doing is using the time to either water down the bill or kill it. Or worse yet, they'll succeed in requiring us all to carry private insurance, thus giving the biggest windfall in history to the private insurance industry, and fucking us all over so badly that we'll all look back with nostalgia on our current crappy system.

I guess what I'm saying is: The longer these chuckle-heads delay that bill, the more fine print you are going to have to worry about.

[Corvette42]

29. And that really ticks me off.

If they are stalling simply to be divisive, that is reprehensible. Motives are everything. If they are sincerely rooting out bad sections, that is good. If they are just "stalling" to hurt the other party, it is baloney!

Where I work, even a 20 page document has a first draft followed by many subsequent versions. A document over 50 pages usually takes months and sometimes YEARS to get approval. And the time taken is in direct proportion to the impact on the company.

When you are going "all in" you want to make sure you fully understand the gravity of your decision and are acting on full (or at least reasonable) knowledge of what you are signing off on.

I cannot emphasize enough just how impactive this thing will be to our nation. And a bad move here could LITEALLY be fatal to our country.

[abumbyanyothername]

13. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Corvette42]

26. Thanks! This is very interesting.

I signed up and hit the "latest" button and immediately was rewarded with a gripping subject.

(don't know how to use smileys yet)

[cliffordu]

67. They have access to all the staffers to read these things they need.

This is more short stroke politics by the republican-lite party, the Blue Dogs, who should be Primaried immediately.

[Hutzpa]

7. Watch for the spin after wards

these asswipes are hampering progress and they don't give a hoots ass how the American
people feel about health care.

I'll be watching for those spin blogs, you know, the ones with inflated and distorted
information.

:puke:

[Corvette42]

9. Going down a bad path is not progress. It is merely momentum.

Progress must be carefully examined and confirmed to be actual progress.

[Hutzpa]

14. Just as it was during the

rush to Iraq war and the funding that followed.

I am not buying this reading small print BS, their sole purpose is to slow
the momentum of the health care bill.

What is so bad about giving Americans free health care? :shrug:

[Corvette42]

16. Let each action stand on it's own.

Not just the small print. They have not even read the large print yet. It is LITERALLY the responsibility of our representatives, both the Congress and the President, to be fully aware of what they are signing when a bill is "bigger than a breadbox". This one is bigger than a stadium. It is the biggest EVER in the history of the US. To suggest it should be simply rushed through is, frankly, madness.

Anyone that handled their own personal affairs in such a fashion would be rightly considered a fool.

I am insulted by the raw "stall" tactics used by some, but the bottom line is that, for the right motives, this needs to be put through the process and vetted.

[Hutzpa]

18. They have been debating

health care for the past three months, what are you talking about rushing, thats a Republican
talking point which the blue dogs have picked up.

Hogwash.....

Oh! I'm not so sure if I can welcome you yet, nothing personal.

:hi:

[Corvette42]

22. For me it is not a talking point

I want to know what is right and wrong with that bill. So far I am not hearing any meat from either side (to speak of). I think three months is not enough time though. This is hugely and mindbogglingly complex. Further, the law of unintended consequences is a massive "green shoot" in a bill such as this. It needs to be vetted probably for another six months, minimum. And if it changes significantly, maybe longer.

[Corvette42]

25. Why are the blue-dogs dragging their feet?

I am seriously asking. It doesn't make sense. They could ram this through if they wanted. What's the hold up with these guys?

[BlueIdaho]

32. Easy - they are really republicans...

They usually come from districts (like mine) that are so far right that you can't find enough democrats to run for office. Its easy to get the nod - because the alternative is a blank on the voting sheet. Thy are usually swept into office during big national Democratic tidal wave. They love it - don't have to compete in an expensive down a dirty republican primary and they can pretty much blow off any democratic ideal once they get to the land of milk and honey.

They are dragging their feet because that's what repubicans do. They are working from the republican playbook.

[Corvette42]

34. Far right does not equal Republican

I know of leftist republicans and right wing democrats. Neither party has one side sewn up. I would like to know, though, what these blue dog "right wing" democrats do not like about this thing, and why there are so many of them when the party seems to be in lock step on so many other issues. Especially when they have such a solid majority.

What are these guys afraid of? I really would like to know beyond all of our "speculation".

[BlueIdaho]

39. "Leftist republicans... right wing democrats.."

Now that's funny!

[Corvette42]

40. It actually is, kinda...

I heard about this one place in the south where everyone votes democratic, but everyone is also very right wing - even their democratic representatives. I cannot for the life of me remember where it was. It was just a comment someone made about an area.

[Hutzpa]

44. Now thats funny

leftist republican and right wing democrats....

What are these guys afraid of? I really would like to know beyond all of our "speculation".

You know that would have been my first thought before assuming that the President is rushing
to pass the health care bill.

Do you realize how many people are dying everyday from lack of health care, they don't have the
luxury to wait and to them it is important that the President get this bill passed to help save their loved ones.

Think about that for a second.....

[Corvette42]

46. It's really not that funny.

Yes, a lot of people are dying. It is about the only guarantee in life. And yes, people don't have the luxury to wait sometimes. However, in Canada, waiting can often be the name of the game. Preventing death is not the main concern for me, believe it or not. Preserving health "while alive" is what I am primarily concerned with. I like to say that it is not death I fear, but old age.

And even then, sometimes a cure can be worse than the disease. And it is important to note that people are not dying any faster than they did 20, 50, 100 or 500 years ago.

A poorly thought out plan, in the name of doing "something" as fast as we can can often do more harm than good.

In the meanwhile, I try to eat right and get plenty of exercise - And avoid driving while there are a lot of drunks on the road. I'll try to take as much responsibility as I can for my own personal health.

[BlueIdaho]

53. Do you know any Canadians?

Have you ever talked to any of them about their health care? I have - and I do - all the time. All this crap about outrageously long wait times is exactly that - crap. All this nonsense about cruelly rationed care is exactly that - nonsense. Canadians routinely see doctors and have procedures done at roughly same rate we do - and at much lower costs. Canadians generally like their health care system, that is if you talk to real Canadians and not just listen to right wing political ads featuring Canadians reading scripts.

Furthermore, Have you ever had to wait to see your doctor under our "far superior" health care system? I have. Have you ever been told you'll have to wait to see a specialist, or have a procedure done? I have. In short, have you ever had your health care rationed? I have and I'll bet you have too.

We have the most expensive health care system on the planet - not the best health care system. If you look at the outcomes we aren't first, or second - hell we aren't forth or fifth. We routinely score in about 15 - 17th place globally. That's a lot of money not achieving many results. That's a broken system, one that's based on profits not health outcomes.

I find it fascinating that you seem to be in favor of the status quo. Please tell me why you favor the health care system as it is. Why do you want more of the same? Why do you fear change?

By the way if you live in Canada with their "awful" health care system you'll live longer than you will in America. Canada is 8th the US is 47th in life expectancy.

edit - typo.

[Corvette42]

59. Yes. I have talked to Canadians

And there are both good and bad stories. But more importantly, I've talked to a lot of americans (I mean a LOT) since I live here. Although I read a lot about a health care crisis and have seen a lot of anecdotal stories, those I actually know (from barely employed to very well off) are having no problems at all. Don't get me wrong. Some are uninsured and "worried", but are doing just fine.

It suddenly hit me: When was it that I was convinced that we have a crisis and why did I believe it? I started researching and am no longer convinced this is as bad as many would have us believe. It's like the dangers of smoking. Yeah, it's risky, but statistically nowhere close to as risky as the average person thinks it is.

I don't know. I am just trying to keep my information sources as diverse as possible to get a more broad foundation of information for my opinion on this stuff.

[BlueIdaho]

60. If you don't see the problem

Then you live a very sheltered life indeed.

[Ikonoklast]

61. It has a nice bridge to live under.

Snug and dry, and full of right-wing blather.

[Corvette42]

66. Yes, I see "the" problem.

But actually, like a Yugo manufactured on a Monday, It is not a single problem. It's good things and bad things. And although I have seen actual problems, overall I think it works very well. Nobody I actually know has had any serious problem whatsoever.

In fact, one acquaintence was uninsured and broke his left arm. He went to a local clinic and his total out of pocket expense was half what the average family's monthly insurance premium would be. I was "virtually" uninsured for nine years. I had #10,000 deductible. Interestingly, when I went to the doctor and they found out I had no insurance, they gave me discounts all over the place. A $250 x-ray service was reduced to $50. They just charged me for raw materials. Interestingly, they charged me $25 for my visits but now that I am insured my copay is $20.

I find that interesting...

[Raster]

62. Let me guess, an emloyee of Regent Healthcare, eh?

"I am just trying to keep my information sources as diverse as possible..." LOL, sure you are.

[Corvette42]

64. Anything but personal attacks to offer?

I am a bit surprised by the sophomoric comments about me personally rather than the merit of the points I make. I already linked to this in another spot: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=obstetrician%20crisis%20insurance&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

There is lots, LOTS more. This is much more than people realize and much more complicated as well. It may be good to focus on getting costs down before we just decide to throw OPM at it in a poorly crafted and ill read "solution". Everybody pays for it one way or another when the government does it. It would behoove us to be sure the government plan is well thought out before we jump from the frying pan into the fire.

I see in the news stories this morning that reason may just prevail here.

[Raster]

71. We need to do something. The current "system" where we are raped

by the healthcare insurance vampires has got to go. I would prefer a true universal, single-payer system, funded by taxes, with private insurance as a supplement to those that wished to pay for it.

I have been a victim of the healthcare pirates. I have friends that have been decimated by healthcare emergencies. I have a dog in this fight, and fight I will.

And for the record, we have had many agents of disinformation join DU recently all saying virtually the same thing: "...the system is great....works for me....why change it... let reason prevail...", basically the same shit regurgitated over and over again. The "for-profit" healthcare entities--ESPECIALLY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES--have plundered US citizens for years. It's time they lose their death grip on our healthcare system. Long past time.

[FreakinDJ]

8. Time to hit the phones folks

Isn't it time we started calling our blue dog Democrats by their corporate handles? Feel free to improve upon my suggestions...

Senator Walmart (D-AR) (Blanche Lincoln)

Senator Citigroup (D-DE) (Tom Carper)

Senator Microsoft (D-WA) (Maria Cantwell)

Senator Blue Cross Blue Shield (D-OR)(Ron Wyden)

Senator Disney (D-FL) (Bill Nelson)

Senator Mutual of Omaha (D-NE) (Ben Nelson)

Senator JP Morgan Chase (D-LA) (Mary Landrieu)

Senator Fannie Mae (D-ND) (Kent Conrad)

Senator Schering-Plough (D-MT) (Max Baucus)

Senator Time Warner (D-CA) (Dianne Feinstein)

Senator Eli Lilly (D-IN) (Evan Bayh)

Senator Entergy (D-AR) (Mark Pryor)

Senator Purdue Pharma (I-CT) (Joe Lieberman)

Senator Philip Morris (D-VA) (Mark Warner)

List of Blue Dogs from http://www.billpress.com /

[Hutzpa]

15. Excellent!!

I wish there was a way to kick your post, maybe you should write this as an OP.

:think:

[nc4bo]

55. Definitely should be an OP. Thanks! nt

[BlueIdaho]

19. Repeat after me - All Blue Dogs are republicans.

Blue Dogs are not Democrats - they are republicans hiding in our party. One of them is from my district - Walt Minnick. He was swept into office by the Obama revolution. Since then he has voted against practically everything the President and main stream Democrats stand for. I have begged him to leave our party. He won't because he knows he's such a piece of shit politician he could not survive a republican primary. He likes power, he likes health care for life, he like cocktail parties, he likes payola, he likes republicans.

There isn't one Blue Dog I would cross the street to meet - even if they were handing out twenty dollar bills. I say to hell with them all.

[Hepburn]

23. They are blind because they are NOT liberal. eom

[fascisthunter]

31. Blue Dog Dems need to be Harrassed by voters 24-7

twisted little weasels

[wryter2000]

33. The landscape will change, all right

When the blue dogs are lying on their backs with stars and little birdies flying around their heads, their landscape will have changed dramatically.

[HughMoran]

36. I hope this is a ruse

If these blue-dogs do anything to indeed prevent me from getting affordable healthcare, so help me I'll (witheld for legal reasons).

[Kingofalldems]

37. Karl Rove's DU pal must be rejoicing

[mod mom]

45. I'm sure this decision by the Corporate Dems has to do w reeling in more $ to their coffers.

Why call the blue dogs. Dogs are beloved faithful companions and blue implies they are Dems. Why not just call them like they are corporate whores or possibly greenbacks? I'm sick of their sabotage!

[MzNov]

47. The Blue Dogs are going to push him for CoOps

in lieu of a strong public option plan.

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/07/21/blue-dogs-want-co-ops/

What is worse: As this article says, Obama and his trusty pit bull Rahm just might buy the GARBAGE

CoOps are NOT the answer and I am getting very nervous.......

[babylonsister]

48. This is from digby's site. dday was on the blog call with the prez

yesterday and this is her write-up.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8538518

snip//

There is a bright spot, however. Obama went pretty far in support of a public option, a fairly tangible reform effort, on the call. He doubted the evidence that a co-op plan like that pushed by Kent Conrad would work, citing past experience that showed them having trouble getting off the ground. And he then said that the House and Senate bills would not be identical, that a conference committee would certainly be required. And at that point, the White House would engage in serious negotiations, with the President's fundamental principles and benchmarks in place. The House and Senate bills would not match up exactly, but that would not mean that the final bill wouldn't include certain elements, he essentially said. The President was basically saying: get it to conference, and we'll straighten it out. That probably doesn't mean that the President gets everything he wants, but it means that the big issues will be at his determination and discretion, almost certainly.

I think that's an important reminder. Past White Houses have used the conference committee very effectively to make sure bills matched preferences. Obama signaled his willingness to do that. Which means that, while we can have a role in getting this bill through each chamber, the White House will be able to make their presence felt to a degree at the finish line. In effect, he will take ownership of the policy and ensure it beats the status quo.

[MzNov]

49. Yes, I read digby's article too. Thanks!

I hope she is right and there is nothing to worry about.

[MzNov]

51. P.S. John Amato's post also on the call to Obama and the bloggers

http://crooksandliars.com/node?page=1

[redqueen]

50. Yep - allows private companies more leeway to make more money.

Smaller risk pools = smaller savings = not so much competition for fat, bloated private insurance companies.

[MzNov]

52. Isn't this what Sen. Wyden is pushing?

He was talking his trash this morning on with Ed Schultz.....

[redqueen]

54. I hope not.

I know he's on the Finance Committee and has been pushing 'bipartisanship' :eyes: but I didn't know he supported co-ops. If so he needs some education.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

58. Here is a top rated Kos diary from slinkerwink that lays out in full their dastardly plot

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/21/755855/-To-Hell-With-The-Blue-Dogs:-Let-Pelosi-And-Dems-Know-It!

teeth gnashing sound.