Politically, the problem for Obama going forward is that, as Ezra Klein explains, even if his compromise of all compromises goes through, Obama has forfeited the chance to be a hero and look like a winner.
Posts under ‘Health Safety’
Act now to get public option in health care bill
This is important. Even if Democrats pass some health care reforms, without the competition for commercial insurers a public option will provide, the measure will be less than half a job.
Our eight-point health care reform plan
President Obama and many congressional Democrats seem to feel their only chance to reform health care lies in passing the lousy Senate bill or a few a la carte measures — lame, face-saving expedients they hope would allow them to move on to other issues without being accused of giving up.
We’ve got a better way [...]
Dispensing labels is no substitute
for balanced, thorough reporting
A story on health care reform from the supposedly liberal New York Times illustrates how the press is letting the public down while substituting the application of political labels for providing in-depth coverage that would help people understand what’s going on.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg’s report is headlined, “Liberal Revolt on Health Care Stings White House.” [...]
Glad tidings about killing cancer,
reducing din of TV commercials
This being the winter of our discontent about health care reform that’s really corporate welfare for health insurers and about job-creation measures that at best keep the unemployment rate from being any worse, we dedicate this post to some badly needed good news.
First, imagine being able to have cancer diagnosed very early, very easily [...]
House passes health care reform bill
After hours of spirited debate during an historic Saturday session, the U.S. House of Representatives tonight passed the Democratic health care reform bill, by a vote of 220-215.
Regrettably, 39 Democrats joined 176 Republicans in voting against the bill, with a lone, newly elected Louisiana Republican, Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, voting in favor.
The vote came after [...]
GOP health care ‘reform’ plan anemic, toxic
How perfectly Republican: a health care “reform” plan that reduces costs by reducing care, keeps hated pre-existing condition gotcha traps firmly in place, and tells people who need medical insurance to go start a savings account.
The Congressional Budget Office looked into the Republicans’ handiwork and found it shifts costs to the elderly and the sick [...]
And now, a health care cost whodunnit
featuring unidentified Democratic sources
An Associated Press story by David Espo that appeared late Sunday night/early Monday — the day before an election and just as a Republican health care “reform” plan was to be revealed — presents a mystery within a mystery.
Follow the link and you’ll find a much different story from the one we’re referring to because [...]
House health care reform imperfect
but much better than Senate version
The House of Representatives health care reform bill unveiled today might be a mixed bag, but it easily outclasses the Senate Finance Committee’s constipated version.
Going by the official 10 Page Bill Summary, the legislation has more moving parts than an L.A. freeway at rush hour, including an unacceptably limited public option that excludes workers whose [...]
Opt-out public option packs nasty side effect
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, came out yesterday for health care reform that includes a public option with an opt-out provision for states that don’t want to participate — a compromise that should get blue dog Democrats on board.
However, it seems there’s no pleasing some people when it comes to prodding health insurance companies [...]
