This is the most backwards-assed legislation ever to pass through the bowels of Congress

[ThomWV]

As the bill gets worse its chances of passage improve. Virtually no Republican will vote for it and the vast majority of Democratic voters are against it, but still it will pass.

This defeat will be reported as a victory; war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.

Could the world be more upside down?

[ixion]

1. Passing this is going to hurt the dem chances in the long run

people are going to be pissed when

a) They are now required by the federal government to purchase insurance or face a fine,

and;

b) Their insurance premiums go up, and the level of care either stays the same or, more likely, gets worse.

Oh, and we get to pay for it for the next 5 years before seeing any result!

I really can't believe they're pushing this piece of crap through.

[branders seine]

2. This is a bullet through the heart of Democratic progressivism

and a poison pill the Democrats will choke on in 2010 and 2012.

[EFerrari]

3. Obama will run on this "victory". Watch. n/t

[JVS]

6. I wonder if the republicans will overturn the legislation when Dems lose big on this stuff.

[EFerrari]

7. Or maybe they will keep it around so they can bang the drums

like they do with abortion?

[JVS]

11. And so insurance companies will reward them for not derailing the gravy train.

[EFerrari]

12. Yep.

[Kansas Wyatt]

18. No, they will keep the mandates in place, but they will cut funding to lower income people.

And they will gladly scream that the Democrats gave the American People this SHIT.

The Democratic Party is headed for an ass kicking worse than the Republicans got in 2008. This made it official, that the Democratic Party works for and represents Corporate America OVER the American People.

[FrenchieCat]

4. Could you please be more specific, and provide the language in the bill

that has you so frightened?
The vague pronouncements and denouncements are starting to sound like what the Right Wing Loonies would use; just rabid talking points, with no real evidence to back them up.

Why don't we talk about the Death Panels, while we are at it?
cause this is close.

[rbrnmw]

9. Show me any real reform? nm

[Raster]

5. At this point in time, it's all about those talking points for 2010.

Who needs substance, when you can force-feed the masses bullshit?:shrug:

[kenny blankenship]

8. People sometimes ask "What is corporatism?" This is corporatism in the flesh.

The industry that wrecked our health care system gets SUBSIDIES.
Anyone who doesn't tithe to this industry from now on faces legal PUNISHMENTS.

The people cried out for reform, and the political hirelings of the insurance industry seized the opportunity to instead deliver a ROYAL SCREWJOB. Public health is now being taken over by private powers.

Batten down your hatches, hunker down in your holes, or make your plans for escape, because this is a PORTENT. Things are going to get worse from here on out.

[AzDar]

10. Well put.

:thumbsup:

[Marr]

19. That's absolutely it.

I really wonder where we're going to go from here, because this bill is going to kill the Democratic Party. Any illusion maintained by old school Democrats that they'd regained control is gone-- it's the DLC corporate sell-outs who are in charge, and no one is going to support them in this economy.

On top of that, the very thing that's going to neuter the Democratic Party's support will greatly strengthen the right-wing populist movement-- the *real* loons.

[regnaD kciN]

13. Exaggerating much?

The bill has a lot of faults, but it does impose needed insurance restrictions, will make insurance more affordable for lots of low- and medium-income people, contains an exemption from mandate penalties for almost all people earning less than $50,000 per individual or $100,000 per family, and will make it easier to establish a public option and/or Medicare buy-in via reconciliation in the future.

Sure, it isn't what it could have been, but when you consider the bills that got passed year after year during the Bush administration (Patriot Act, Bankruptcy Bill, upper-class tax cuts, Iraq War resolution), can you really say this is the worst Congressional legislation ever???

[Bluenorthwest]

14. What does 'almost all people' mean exactly?

Which people are not exempted from mandate penalties who earn under those amounts. Why 'almost'? Explain please?

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Came back to see what 'almost' means and I see you

could not even define your own claims into anything coherent. So what you are really saying is that there ARE mandate penalties for some earning less than 50K. Plain and simple. You could have just said that, but it does not sound as good. Mandates for those barely getting by. Grand. Or, almost grand. Depending.

[eridani]

21. Who gives a flying fuck if insurance that no one can afford to use is "affordable?"

Even if premiums are subsidized, where the fuck are people supposed to come up with the 30% co-pays?

[mucifer]

16. Do you take into account the history of our nation when you make statements like that?

I'm hoping you know what I mean.

[ThomWV]

20. Of course I know what you mean, for Christ's sake, allow a guy a little literary license.

[laughingliberal]

17. Maybe not the most but a definite blow to upward mobility for the masses nt

[Le Taz Hot]

22. LOL!

Love the alliteration.