Sen. Reid Backs The Private Public Option

Sen. Reid comes out in favor of the private public option; his position on the public private option is less clear.

Comments

[bad s##t]

Reid has learned from Ibama. Say enough contradictary things, take all possible stands on an issue and he can point back at a particular moment in time and say, "As I've always said."

[Ignatz]

Somebody made the point the other day to stop calling it the public option and call it what it is; the government option.

[Jack is Back!]

Has Harry had a town hall meeting yet? In Nevada his numbers are down double digits. He and Pelosi keep talking stupid stuff and we keep applauding - don't stop Harry - keep it up. LUN

[Extraneus]

Reid spokesman Jim Manley later told Brian Beutler, "The govt could contract w a private company to administer the public option. [Sen. Reid] is willing to consider a co-op if he is shown it works to make insurers honest."

Would someone please ask either Reid or Obama to explain the dishonesty they're accusing a whole industry of routinely practicing? If they can't or won't explain, I think the insurance companies should bring a law suit against these co-defendents. They're probably immune and can slander with impunity, though, huh? Although Paula Jones was able to bring a civil suit against Clinton, who essentially accused her of the same thing...

[pagar]

if he is shown it works to make insurers honest

What would a group that contains an individual who forgets a half million or so in liquid assets (a checking account) know about honesty? If the forgetter were the only one it would be one thing, but they all seem to have the same bad memories.

[Original MikeS]

It's the duplicity!

Obama's smoke and mirrors approach to selling his plan is the only one that might have worked. The facts are that Dems have been fighting for years against proposals that would have made health care less expensive and more accessible, things like tort reform, personal deductions for health insurance, computerized medical records, removing some of the anti-competition insurance regulations and insurance mandates that reduce the choices consumers have.

They've been fighting against these proposals with a purpose in mind. Their goal has been to create a crisis in health care costs. Minds like Rahm Emanuel's recognize that a crisis is necessary to win support for a radical new public (government) health care system.

[Mike Myers]

Harry Reid gives flueless clucks a bad name.

[MayBee]

Would someone please ask either Reid or Obama to explain the dishonesty they're accusing a whole industry of routinely practicing?

That's what I don't get. Aren't there things a government can do about an industry who is operating dishonestly?

[matt]

He was for it before he was against it. I on the other hand have proposed the Mary Jo Kopechne Right to Life Bill.LUN

[Original MikeS]

...can do about an industry who is operating dishonestly?

Of course, but they only work if a company or an industry are acting dishonestly. What is dishonest about not insuring a pre-existing condition? If someone's house was washed away in a flood, should they still be allowed to buy insurance and get reimburse for that house?

[Captain Hate]

The insurance industry badly needs a John Galt to stand up and say F*** This S***.

[PeterUK]

""The govt could contract w a private company to administer the public option."

It is called Fascism.

[maryrose]

Reid had a phone townhall because he is gutless. That's why he'll be voted out in 2010. He says he wants a bipartisan bill but has the 60 votes on paper to go it alone. Classic Obama double speak.

[daddy]

Drudge has the following headline at the top:

"GOP senator signals fading hopes on health care..."

I haven't clicked on it yet, but am trying to guess if the GOP Senator is saying "Ugh, it's going to pass and screw America", or "Ugh, it's going to fail, and our efforts for bipartisan health care will fail."

I guess I hoping it's option 2, but hopefully when I read it it'll instead be option 3, "Yippee, the darn things DOA!"

[RichatUF]

I thought it was Sen. Enzi from WY that was backing far away from healthcare. He was orginally one of the GOP members that was negotiating in the Finance Committee.

[Fresh Air]

NO NEGOTIATIONS!!!!

For the love of Pete. Just stop it, already! Oppose this bill with all your might, don't get co-opted. The American people will hate socialized medicine even more than taxes. Reserve the right to be disgusted and participate in the great revolution that will be coming in the next decade. Ignore our anger at your peril.

[daddy]

TM,

I am confident that the Health Care options which Senator Reid is promoting will be every bit as "Voluntary" as our ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7mRSI8yWwg"> Voluntary Tax System. If it was a mandatory Health Care system, I am sure the good Senator would oppose it.

[Dura Mater]

First there were Tea Parties. Then came the Town Hall meetings.I would like to propose the pre-emptive organization of Polictical Death Panel demonstrations, to be set into motion should this terrible plan with its unconstitutional mandates be forced upon all Americans.

I also think it would be good to begin to compose a handbook and questionaire, using the brochure which is recommended by the Vetran's Administration for "End of Life counseling" as a model. In this case, the questionaire and text would have the theme "End of Your Political Life, Reflections and Regrets". I think it should be sent out now to everyone who participated in writing, promoting and advancing HR3200.

Both the Hill and the White House have been sending signals that their intention is to pass HR3200, in one form or another,using any means necessary, regardless of substantial citizen opposition. But pass or no pass, I think the time, energy and money that proponents have wasted fabricating and marketing yet another pseudo-crisis should invoke a harsh and unforgiving response from the dissenting public. They need the "Counseling" now, before they "Pass".

What say you all?
DuraMater

[Extraneus]

The facts are that Dems have been fighting for years against proposals that would have made health care less expensive and more accessible, things like tort reform, personal deductions for health insurance, computerized medical records, removing some of the anti-competition insurance regulations and insurance mandates that reduce the choices consumers have.

They've been fighting against these proposals with a purpose in mind. Their goal has been to create a crisis in health care costs.

Exactly, Mike. And this must be the crux of the compromise negotiations. The Dems won't allow the real solutions if they can't get enough of their lust satisfied in the bargain. Of course, Republicans must know this, yet they never come out and just say it. I have no idea why. People would understand. They're ready.

[bad s##t]

Speaking of lust, was Rohypnol around back when Mary Jo died? She wasn't a party girl, but was very serious and studious, wasn't a drinker or a sampler of other women's husbands, yet she leaves her purse and keys behind when she is supposed to be going home, and doesn't say good-bye to any of her friends.

If I were a suspicious sort, I'd speculate that she was drugged.

[bad s##t]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

The eldest bad just referred to the death of Teddy as "the end of an error."

[Jim Ryan]

Krauthammer now fully on board that they are death panels. Haven't seen his apology to Palin yet. When will that appear, Charles? I guess she's too flighty and ditzy to notice that after disparaging her point of view you are now hawking it, right? Her supporters are knuckle-draggers, so they won't notice. Right?

[Captain Hate]

The eldest bad just referred to the death of Teddy as "the end of an error."

I find that children of parents with good senses of humor tend to carry it forward. Or is that one of your siblings?

[Pofarmer]

The facts are that Dems have been fighting for years against proposals that would have made health care less expensive and more accessible, things like tort reform, personal deductions for health insurance,

Not only that, but it's the Dems that have been forcing the insurance companies to lard up and cover everything under the sun.

Their goal has been to create a crisis in health care costs.

They have the same goal in mind with the energy industry.

I think the housing bad loan crisis was just a happy coincidence for them.

[Jane]

Read the Hot Air piece on MA health care for examples of the larding.

[matt]

perhaps we should counsel Obama, Pelosi, and Reid on the death of death panels.

There are more cracks in the Dem's facade than a Rodney Dangerfield routine. Heath Shuler wants to get re-elected, I guess so he's not on board now.

[richard mcenroe]

Just a word of advice, don't start talking about public privates around Barney Frank. It will come to no good end.

[sylvia]

Honestly I hope tort reform doesn't go through. Contrary to insurance industry propaganda, in my experience, doctors barely take any tests as it is. Imagine how few they will take when they get immunity. I think taking a few extra tests is the price you pay to make sure you get things right.

And has anyone ever known anyone with a frivolous medical claim? Suing anyone is a lot of work and I think most claims are probably valid. I think it's an exaggeration that they aren't.

The only thing medical tort reform might be good for is "back pain". Every little fender bender and stumble has people faking all over this country. If we could just limit it to that somehow, I'd be on board.

[sylvia]

Jane I read your Hotair on Mass care. And you confirmed my point that I made the other day here, how everyone and their cousin is quoting that ONE DARN CATO INSTITUTE article! Once again - the quote in that piece is from the ..... Cato Institute!

Oh my god, is there no one else in the country whom we can go to for an opinion on this topic. Did CATO take out a patent on the topic or something?

CATO put out a very misleading piece on this. For one thing they happened to neglect mentioning the severe shortage of doctors that existed in Mass before Romneycare. And then they blame Romney care for that.

After that they lose all their credibility for me. Yet the country is enamoured of that piece somehow. It's just one stupid wrong article, and the whole country is quoting it.

Actually, it is very easy to see through that article, but no one does. No one bothers to ask, like Geraldo did, "Why?". You see that the state covered only a few percent of uninsured, mostly whom we know are young and healthy, and all of a sudden a couple percent more of people somehow created this massive doctor shortage?

It's laughable that people are so easily fooled. One propaganda article is all it takes. Kind of reminds me of the global warming debacle. Groupthink is alive and well and pernicious. And hard to fight.

[bishop]

Does it dawn on you, Sylvia, how there be can a shortage of doctors in Massachussetts with all the medical educational faculties in the area, and in neighboring states. Maybe it's a problem unique to
Massachussett's, but I kind out of doubt it.

An entitlement naturally expands the pool of patients, that is the deceit inherent in the public option. If you don't like Mass, consider Hawaii's erstwhile program, or Maine's Dirigo Care. Have we seen healthcare
work in a country vastly larger than of the examples therein, Canada 1/10 ourpopulation,
Germany, 1/5.

[daddy]

Bishop,

Don't waste your breath. Thats the champion of the Duke LaCrosse Rape Victim telling us: "It's laughable that people are so easily fooled."

[bishop]

You're right, daddy, sometimes I just like to vent on the topic. Reid really does seem
like the dumb Smother's brother. Buetler must have had a strong temptation, to drive
his laptop cord around his ear, when he read these vapid musings; what's wrong with
them, he must have wondered

[Melinda Romanoff]

bishop + daddy-

I was even going to add that the most frequent abusers of fraudulent claims are municipal and state employees. But that statistic would be disproven because she doesn't know any.

Facts be damned. Again!

[jacksmith]

NO CO-OP'S! A Little History Lesson

Young People. America needs your help.

More than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% of republicans). Basically everyone.

According to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. And 79% of seniors support creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!! Senator Max Baucus, You better come out of committee with a strong government-run public option available on day one.

The History:

Our last great economic catastrophe was called the Great Depression. Then as now it was caused by a reckless, and corrupt Republican administration and republican congress. FDR a Democrat, was then elected to save the nation and the American people from the unbridled GREED and profiteering, of the unregulated predatory self-interest of the banking industry and Wallstreet. Just like now.

FDR proposed a Government-run health insurance plan to go with Social Security. To assure all Americans high quality, easily accessible, affordable, National Healthcare security. Regardless of where you lived, worked, or your ability to pay. But the AMA riled against it. Using all manor of scare tactics, like Calling it SOCIALIZED MEDICINE!! :-0

So FDR established thousands of co-op's around the country in rural America. And all of them failed. The biggest of these co-op organizations would become the grandfather of the predatory monster that all of you know today as the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT health insurance industry. And the DISGRACEFUL GREED DRIVEN PRIVATE FOR PROFIT healthcare industry.

This former co-op would grow so powerful that it would corrupt every aspect of healthcare delivery in America. Even corrupting the Government of the United States.

This former co-op's name is BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD.

Do you see now why even the suggestion of co-op's is ridiculous. It makes me so ANGRY! Co-op's are not a substitute for a government-run public option.

They are trying to pull the wool over our eye's again. Senators, if you don't have the votes now, GET THEM! Or turn them over to us. WE WILL! DEAL WITH THEM. Why do you think we gave your party Control of the House, Control of the Senate, Control of the Whitehouse. The only option on the table that has any chance of fixing our healthcare crisis is a STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION.

An insurance mandate and subsidies without a strong government-run public option choice available on day one, would be worse than the healthcare catastrophe we have now. The insurance, and healthcare industry have been very successful at exploiting the good hearts of the American people. But Congress and the president must not let that happen this time. House Progressives and members of the Tri-caucus must continue to hold firm on their demand for a strong Government-run public option.

A healthcare reform bill with mandates and subsidies but without a STRONG government-run public option choice on day one, would be much worse than NO healthcare reform at all. So you must be strong and KILL IT! if you have too. And let the chips fall where they may. You can do insurance reform without mandates, subsidies, or taxpayer expense.

Actually, no tax payer funds should be use to subsidize any private for profit insurance plans. So, NO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIES TO PRIVATE FOR PROFIT PLANS. Tax payer funds should only be used to subsidize the public plans. Healthcare reform should be 100% for the American people. Not another taxpayer bailout of the private for profit insurance industry, disguised as healthcare reform for the people.

God Bless You

Jacksmith — Working Class

Twitter search #welovetheNHS #NHS Check it out

(http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/why-markets-cant-cure-healthcare/)

Senator Bernie Sanders on healthcare (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSM8t_cLZgk&feature=player_embedded)

American HEROES!! :-) Click replay to play http://bit.ly/j31oU

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbWw23XwO5o) CYBER WARRIORS!! - TAKE THIS VIRAL

[Pofarmer]

jack smith or jack off?

You decide.

[tom jones]

Krugman and Bernie Sanders, as your sources,
what Che Guevara and Michael Moore weren't available. you know Jack that's what we have Norton and SymanTech, to prevent such viruses from intruding into the system. You could link Nye Bevin and the Beveridge report but that would actually require
familiarity with such things. And the former
mayor of Kansas City, noted epidemiologist
will run this whole contraption, huh

[Manuel Transmission]

Just found this over at Coyoteblog.com

In the late 1960s, Americans were concerned about the poor and homeless and spent billions to build housing projects for them. It turns out that this doesn’t work out so well, but that is not my point. My point is that Americans could be convinced to spend money to build poor people government homes. BUT their position would have been very different if investments in public housing required the rich and middle class who were paying for the program to move out of their homes and into public housing as well. That is the fear that I think much of America has today.

That nails it in a way that is completely indefensible.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Po-

I always respect the use of upper case emphasis and I'm sure you do too. So, we better be quiet and listen to our betters.

They repeat things so much better than we ever could hope to try.

But maybe they teach that in Frankfurt.

G'night all.

[sbw]

Gotta love the logic behind jacksmith, that a bad idea becomes good when it is popular.

Where do these people learn to think.

[bad s##t]

Captain, that was my oldest child who made the joke about "end of an error."

All of the little bads are very funny.