Healthcare tanking

[Maggie]

Do you think the average American understands that taxes will be collected to pay for this for 10 years, and that benefits will be paid out for only 6-7 of those years, for the most part?


Or that this entitlement program, if left alone in 10 short years, will hemorrhage taxpayer funds every year at the pace of around three hundred BILLION every ten years, assuming there aren't any unforeseen changes (and we all know there will be). Count on this program being AT LEAST a half a TRILLION dollars in the hole in the first 20 years with absolutely no end in sight. I say this with nary a mention of certain poorer service, longer waits and diminished discoveries.

Yes.

That is part of the reason why this bill is getting killed in every major public-opinion poll; however, proponents of the bill have shown no inclination to let public opinion hold them back for many reasons – some of which I already noted.

[Maggie]

This guy might be right:

Democrats Risk Another Jacksonian Moment

[pie n eye]

MAGGIE SAYS: The health overhaul debate is no longer about policy; it’s all politics now. It has been for a while now.

I SAYS: I wonder how that happened?

[Maggie]

MAGGIE SAYS: The health overhaul debate is no longer about policy; it’s all politics now. It has been for a while now.

I SAYS: I wonder how that happened?

Why don’t you explain why you think it happened? You made me think about this, again, and that has put me in a foul mood.

Have you heard about the fabulous new true-life horror movie? It’s called Revulsion and it’s about an American citizen who suddenly and inexplicably finds that he can’t bring himself to read another newspaper or watch another talking-head show. The promos are really neat; they show a picture of me curled up in the fetal position, and the voice over says: “What happens to a concerned citizen when the only comment he can make about politics is a raised middle finger? This is his story!”

[pie n eye]

I think it turned political when someone, can't remember who, started talking about panels of masked dark wizards deciding when and how best to kill my sweet soap opera viewing grandma.

People don't like it when you mess with their grandparents, just ask Happy Gilmore.

[SB Shock]

It is simple why this all happened.

1. Democrats look at the 2010 election and realize they are not at risk of losing control. So they can take risks and be bold. Ignore public opinion.

2. The look at the Senate races they realize that regardless of what they do in 2010 they are likely to lose at least 1 senate seat which means they lose ability (assuming they can't buy off the liberal republicans) to just ram everything down peoples throat in 2010 and beyond.

So they realize that this is their window of opportunity to enshrine themselves in the history books. You at least have to give Democrats credit, they remain true to their principles. Republicans dug their grave by not remaining true to their principles and selling out.

[Maggie]

I think it turned political when someone, can't remember who, started talking about panels of masked dark wizards deciding when and how best to kill my sweet soap opera viewing grandma.

People don't like it when you mess with their grandparents, just ask Happy Gilmore.

Sarah Palin. Of course. An evil black hole sucking all that is good and right into her vortex. An all purpose scapegoat for our modern times. Catch syphilis: Palin. Stub your toe: Palin. Boss didn’t give you a raise: Palin. That waitress forgot to bring you a glass of milk: Palin. Coal in your stocking: Palin.

I thought you might do a little better.

[Maggie]

It is simple why this all happened.

1. Democrats look at the 2010 election and realize they are not at risk of losing control. So they can take risks and be bold. Ignore public opinion.

2. The look at the Senate races they realize that regardless of what they do in 2010 they are likely to lose at least 1 senate seat which means they lose ability (assuming they can't buy off the liberal republicans) to just ram everything down peoples throat in 2010 and beyond.

So they realize that this is their window of opportunity to enshrine themselves in the history books. You at least have to give Democrats credit, they remain true to their principles. Republicans dug their grave by not remaining true to their principles and selling out.

I think your second point is spot on. And I'll expand on it a little:

For my money, I think your theory is being borne out: Democrats have their eyes on a different end-game than the Republicans do: namely, the establishment of permanent, European-style socialism. The Republicans are focused on converting Obama radicalism into big-time electoral success in the next election cycle. The Democrats have already factored in that likelihood and are betting, over the long haul, that even if the GOP cuts deeply into Democrat majorities or takes over Congress (and even takes over the White House in 2012), Republicans will lack the commitment (and perhaps the numbers) to roll back what the Left is accomplishing now.

That is, the Republicans are focused myopically on a battle the Democrats have already figured they can afford to lose.

You hear and read a lot from Republicans and talking-heads about the GOP making big gains in the upcoming elections. That's not strategy or victory. You have to have a plan for what those gains would translate into. Democrats, by contrast, have a real plan for how what they're doing today will sustain Big Government, and themselves, over the long term, regardless of occasional electoral losses.

[WuDrWu]

That's a great point Maggie, and underscores what I think has been one of the main problems for the GOP in the last 6-10 years.....the Democratic leadership, nationally, has been 1 (or 5) steps ahead of a totally disorganized GOP that has lacked guidance, leadership and planning.

It reminds me of a line from "The West Wing" when CJ once stated "I don't know what we're for, I don't know what we're against except we seem to be for winning and against anyone else winning".

Not surprising at all that without an organized goal the GOP can't find their way.

[Maggie]

This editorial, published the other day in the WSJ , by Kimberley Strassel provided confirmation to me, at least, that the gut feeling I developed about a month ago is probably correct. There was a time when I thought public opinion would be a critical factor (not that it is not still important but I think it has become a secondary consideration - for now). The Democrats are thinking long-term. And, if it's a choice between getting government health care or keeping – some so-called “Blue Dog” seats, it's no contest. Strassel writes, in part:

So why the stubborn insistence on passing health reform? Think big. The liberal wing of the party—the Barney Franks, the David Obeys—are focused beyond November 2010, to the long-term political prize. They want a health-care program that inevitably leads to a value-added tax and a permanent welfare state. Big government then becomes fact, and another Ronald Reagan becomes impossible. See Continental Europe.

Democrats on the Health-Care Precipice - Enacting health-care legislation in the face of overwhelming public disapproval may cost the party its chance of forging a sustainable majority

Just so. And that's worth whatever hit they have to take in 2010. Every time I hear this point made, someone counters, oh, Jim Webb this or Byron Dorgan that, or have you seen Harry Reid's numbers in Nevada? Oh, please. We've just seen what happens when you make Ben Nelson your Maginot Line.

The Democrats are thinking strategically; the Republicans are all tactics.