So looks like Health Care Reform is going to get passed pretty quickly.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

I am not sure how long this will take,but I just heard from an Obama press conference that he wants something done in a few weeks.

his exact words
have therefore asked leaders in both of Houses of Congress to finish their work and schedule a vote in the next few weeks. From now until then, I will do everything in my power to make the case for reform. And I urge every American who wants this reform to make their voice heard as well – every family, every business owner, every patient, every doctor, every nurse.

[Mechaman]

I'm sorry, didn't I hear this line three months ago?

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

I'm sorry, didn't I hear this line three months ago?

Not sure.

[Franzl]

I think it's for real this time....House and Senate Democrats say they have the votes.

[Brittain33]

I am worried there is some magical thinking going on about this passing the House. Especially given Arcuri's announcement this morning... they are trying to get a House majority they may not have by running that bandwagon through the caucus. I hope it works, but I can't count on it.

[Franzl]

I am worried there is some magical thinking going on about this passing the House. Especially given Arcuri's announcement this morning... they are trying to get a House majority they may not have by running that bandwagon through the caucus. I hope it works, but I can't count on it.

I know you shouldn't trust politicians....but various people are saying the votes are there. I tend to think it really is possible.

[The Mikado]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

[Franzl]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

Yeah I know....and maybe I'm hopelessly naive.....but I really can't imagine Democrats being quite that stupid to run against the wall again if they can't back it up.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

Nope! I have been paying more attention to economics than politics for the past two years, so I am sometimes out of the loop. Lets juts put it this way.....I am more sure of health care passing now than i was a few months ago.

[Brittain33]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

The obstacles here are well-defined. Last summer, they weren't.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

The obstacles here are well-defined. Last summer, they weren't.

This is why I think health care reform has a better chance of passing now than before. Ideally we should have a single payer system, but it looks like this "reform package" is the best we can get. Its better than nothing and it should cover 30 million americans that are now uninsured.

The only problem is that republicans may attempt to throw in stupid legislation as a delaying tactic, or may attempt to strip out as many things as possible. 

[Lief 🗽]

Good. Healthcare for all Americans has been the raison d'etre of the Democratic Party for over 50 years now. We have the largest majorities in the House and Senate in decades. And this will improve the lives of tens of millions of people.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

Good. Healthcare for all Americans has been the raison d'etre of the Democratic Party for over 50 years now. We have the largest majorities in the House and Senate in decades. And this will improve the lives of tens of millions of people.

Thomas Jefferson supported the creation of a national fund for hospitals.

[k-onmmunist]

Healthcare reform - Will be passed el manana.

[Brittain33]

For all my mopiness, I found this anecdote about John Adler--a potential switch to yes--very reassuring.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_03/022681.php

[You kip if you want to...]

I am not sure how long this will take,but I just heard from an Obama press conference that he wants something done in a few weeks.

So it'll be over by Christmas 2010?

[Vepres]

You're overestimating, my friend.  Remember when the "hard deadline" was last August?

Yeah I know....and maybe I'm hopelessly naive.....but I really can't imagine Democrats being quite that stupid to run against the wall again if they can't back it up.

You severely overestimate the intelligence of our legislators.

[Mr. Morden]

Most of the House Dems who may vote "no" are blue dogs.  But there are still a few liberals, like Grijalva and Kucinich, who say they're likely to vote "no" because the bill doesn't go far enough:

link

Are there any liberal activists threatening Kucinich and Grijalva with a primary challenge over this, or do they get a pass because they're against it for "noble reasons"?

[Ebowed]

Are there any liberal activists threatening Kucinich and Grijalva with a primary challenge over this, or do they get a pass because they're against it for "noble reasons"?

They almost certainly get a pass.

The liberal base would agree anyway - it's a shame that Obama didn't even put single-payer out there as a possibility for the Republicans to rip into.  We know they are going to call it socialism and obstruct passage regardless of what the bill actually contains, so why begin by compromising half of your side in the first place?

[Lunar]

Pelosi rarely fails to come up with the votes.  I'm not sure how she does what she does.

I wonder what the actual percentage of the nay voting legislators actually believe the bill will cause more harm than good.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I am not sure how long this will take,but I just heard from an Obama press conference that he wants something done in a few weeks.

So it'll be over by Christmas 2010?

It's not too soon to focus on Christmas 2012.

[Bo]

good

[Lunar]

good

Thanks, that impacted my day.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

good

Thanks, that impacted my day.

same,but now i dont care....time for bed.

[Mr. Morden]

Are there any liberal activists threatening Kucinich and Grijalva with a primary challenge over this, or do they get a pass because they're against it for "noble reasons"?

They almost certainly get a pass.

The liberal base would agree anyway....

Oh, I know they'll get a pass.  My question was rhetorical.

I was just pointing out....if this thing goes down, there will be much angst among the liberal base.  But of course it should be noted that the liberal base doesn't really seem to be doing much of anything to get this bill passed as it is, because as you say, they're not that excited about it.  If they really wanted it passed, there'd be non-stop phone banking to try to pressure folks like Kucinich to get on board, but that sort of thing doesn't seem to be happening.