What Fox News Analyst Pat Caddell and Douglas Schoen ignore is that the November elections are going to be costly for Democrats no matter what they do. Their analysis:
… First, the battle for public opinion has been lost. Comprehensive health care has been lost. If it fails, as appears possible, Democrats will face the brunt of the electorate’s reaction. If it passes, however, Democrats will face a far greater calamitous reaction at the polls. Wishing, praying or pretending will not change these outcomes.
ad_iconNothing has been more disconcerting than to watch Democratic politicians and their media supporters deceive themselves into believing that the public favors the Democrats’ current health-care plan. Yes, most Americans believe, as we do, that real health-care reform is needed. And yes, certain proposals in the plan are supported by the public. [...]
The problem for Democrats is that no one but Democrats in Congress, the White House and their most loyal enablers want the current health care bill. Matthew Yglesias reveals why:
A larger question any member of congress reading the op-ed ought to ask himself is “so what?” If reform passes and is signed into law, then immediately Barack Obama’s position in history is secured.
The White House is thinking about their place in history, not what the American public wants. That’s the embarrassing little secret.
That Democrats continue to ignore the majority of Americans want the public option is stubbornness at its worst, coupled with rank political stupidity. Caddell and Shoen contend, “First, the battle for public opinion has been lost.” Not with the people it hasn’t; only with the White House and Senate is this true.
As I’ve been writing for months, even saying so on MSNBC, the current bill is bad, really bad. What I’ve written for weeks, as Caddell and Schoen also say, is that Democrats need to cull out the parts that would pass immediately, easily, and with the advantage of letting Democrats say they’ve still begun on health care, but have listened to the public on what’s possible right now. Pass the pre-existing condition exemption, insure portability, drug importation, yes, and even tort reform. But don’t pass the current package on the table. Then take the rest of their argument to the public in November.
Nobody is listening, so in that sense passing the current bill will be a disaster. In fact, President Obama is delaying his trip to Asia to continue the health care push.
Obama and his team have their eyes set on making history, and nobody, not even the majority of the American public, will stop them.
That they think the American people will reward them for it in November is folly. Pride comes before the fall.
I think they know full well that there will be big loses. I think that works perfectly for Obama. Then he will have to do bi-partisan legislation and the Independents will love him again. Watch out for all public programs they are about to be weakened.
I don’t think he gives a fig about a Democratic congress.
Well, Obama cares about the Congress to the extent that he can’t have a bill w/o them.
As to winning in November, you’re right. He’s a lousy party leader. See Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as his comments about Las Vegas.
Tom Brokaw reported this morning that Anthony Weiner, a Democrat, said HE DOESN’T KNOW what’s in this bill.
That pretty much says it all.
DEMS don’t even know what’s in the bill that they are twisting parliamentary rules to try to pass. This gets more pathetic by the day!
Here’s the reason Americans don’t want this:
They are extremely worried about the ECONOMY. They don’t want anything that will cause more debt for this nation at this point in time. They don’t like the fact that they will be mandated to purchase insurance, and they don’t like the fact that they’re going to be paying for this for 4 years before they even see any of the benefits of it, like no rejection for pre-existing conditions [which is the one provision everyone likes!].
The warnings about our fiscal situation are growing more urgent all the time. Just another in a growing list of people warning about it:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/193156-christopher-thornberg-double-dip-is-coming-in-2011
The argument that Democrats must pass something, anything, at this point, is the only argument Democrats have left on this bill. Now we read that Slaughter is going to try to twist parliamentary rule to allow them to by-pass the American people who reject this bill by 53% [says Lawrence O'Donnell this morning]. This is going to be a disaster for Democrats, if they do it, at this point, because people are angry that democrats aren’t listening to them.
Noogan says:
12 March 2010 at 10:31 am
Nov. is going to be a disaster for Dems regardless of hcr passing, because since Sarah’s “death panels” squeal Obama & the Dems have been playing catch up, with the messaging lost on this a long time ago.
The following is from a National Journal new media poll, in which I also participate. Here’s what Republicans said about Dems passing the current hcr bill and if it would help their cause. Thought you might be interested.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/po_20100311_7388.php
Most said it would “Help a lot”:
“If the Democrats ram through an unpopular bill, they’re political sadists.” D.S. Hube, The Colossus Of Rhodey
“This is yet another example in which the best thing that Democrats can do to harm the Republicans in the next election is also the best thing that they can do for the country: namely, defeat Obamacare.” David Kopel, The Volokh Conspiracy
“Actually, what will happen is that Obama will simply sign the Senate bill and bag ‘reconciliation.’ Either way, the Dems will lose the House and possibly the Senate.” Robert Miller, JoshuaPundit
“Scott Rasmussen writes that of those who are strongly for or against the plan, those opposed lead by a ratio 2-to-1. Those most motivated oppose the president’s plan by a wide margin. That can’t bode well for the Democrats in November.” David Gerstman, Soccer Dad
“The rational side of the American people don’t want this. They will not forget and will take their anger out on the Democrat Party as a whole in November.” Bob Parks, Black And Right
“If Congress jams through a partisan bill that the majority of Americans oppose, midterms will be more of a nightmare for Democratic politicians than already projected.” Susan Duclos, Wake Up America
“By a significant majority, Americans do not like Obama’s latest health care plan. More than that, I suspect Americans are becoming disgusted by the manifest disdain Democrats exhibit toward them in trying every procedural maneuver and personal attack possible in order to pass this grossly unpopular legislation.” Bookworm, Bookworm Room
“Americans don’t want this bill. If Democrats force it on them anyway, Republicans are going to benefit by default.” Rob Port, Say Anything
“People don’t want this thing. It’s tainted by the entire process it’s gone through. The continued push is a godsend to Republicans.” Martin Solomon, Solomonia
“As I’ve been writing for months, even saying so on MSNBC, the current bill is bad, really bad.”
Thank you for saying this again. If only they would listen to the people…
You bet, TaosJohn.
IF ONLY they would listen to the people.
The Senate bill still contains all these bribes…
* The Cornhusker Kickback.
* $300,000,000 of bribes to Louisiana’s Senator Mary Landrieu.
* A new hospital in Connecticut for morally challenged Senator Chris Dodd.
* Roughly ten billion in community health centers to buy off Vermont’s Bernie Sanders.
* An exemption of Bill Nelson’s Florida constituents from the Medicare Advantage cuts applicable to everyone else.
Democrats are being told to pass it WITHOUT A SINGLE CHANGE.
Ah, you say, but there is Slaughter’s “Obama Care Helper” trick to twist parliamentary rules to pass the “BRIBERY BILL” that the American people oppose “at the same time.”
I really love that “let’s hold hands and jump together” image, don’t you? Cause you know, when you jump off a cliff, you want to make sure everyone jumps [and therefore hits bottom] at the same time.
;>)
And Noogan aren’t they trying to attach something about student loans? I just heard a brief discussion of that after the Hispanic Caucus, or the CBC, met with the President.
Does anyone have info on that?
This is way off topic, but is anyone else having a problem with this site except me?
The other day I had “computer language” at the top of the page. Yesterday when I tried to comment I would get a message that there was a break in the link to the site and now today when I try to read In The News I get a fatal error.
I am not experiencing this with other sites.
This health care fight is very much like the Israel/Palestinian conflict. It has gone on and on and on with no end in sight. At this point the only thing left to do is to do something—-anything. Just get a bill passed. We can work out the details later. Correct me if I’m wrong but Roosevelt didn’t have the public with him when he forced the Social Security Act through Congress and that has worked out pretty well over time. Peace
When your heart is set on a big legacy, bipartisan piece of legislation, a pragmatic bits and pieces approach just doesn’t fit the image.
I’m having the same problem kris.
Thanks LL. I was hoping it wasn’t just me.
noogan~ I agree that most of what you sited is wrong but I don’t agree on the community health centers. This can be a cost effective way to provide medical care to the poor.The town I grew up in has a wonderful community health center providing care to many people who would never get it otherwise. They are dedicated medical professionals who went into the field for somthing other than big money.
kris, being a nosey sort what job were you fuloughed from? If I’m not being too forward. Peace
furloughed. Peace
Hey Imhotep –
I tried to answer you on another thread yesterday about selling real estate but I got the break in the link message and it went nowhere. I got frustrated and quit trying, so……
My professional life has been in real estate, the title and escrow business. Did marketing for awhile for Chicago Title Insurance, but the bulk of time as an Escrow Officer and Branch Manager.
Frankly, the industry has been decimated by what has happened in the housing market. No one really knows that as it has always been a side of the real estate business that is not well known.
And to make things more difficult, the unemployment rate in CA continues to rise. The overall rate is officially 12.5, however I live in far Northern CA, two hours north of Sacramento. The county where I live has an unemployment rate of over 16% as do most of the northern counties.
kris says:
12 March 2010 at 11:28 am
Yes, we’ve been having some, let’s just say, *issues*. We’re working on them.
Please report any troubles you may experience, including if you can copies of the error message.
http://www.taylormarsh.com/contact/
Thanks for being patient.
I certainly concur with Taylor’s analysis here, as well as that of most of the posters above.
I see Glenn Greenwald believes that the reason Obama turned against the public option after he was for it is that he secretly bargained it away. ala the pharma deal while back, maybe. Who knows.
Yep, Glenn is correct. I also wrote about it here:
http://www.taylormarsh.com/2010/02/26/obama-says-please-republicans-say-no/
“Several hospital lobbyists involved in the White House deals said it was understood as a condition of their support that the final legislation would not include a government-run health plan paying-Medicare rates…or controlled by the secretary of health and human services. ‘We have an agreement with the White House that I’m very confident will be seen all the way through conference’, one of the industry lobbyists, Chip Kahn, director of the Federation of American Hospitals, told a Capitol Hill newsletter…Industry lobbyists say they are not worried [about a public option.] ‘We trust the White House,’ Mr. Kahn said.” – New York Times, 8.12.09
kris, you know the financial services industry is in a growth phase believe it or not. Wells Fargo Advisors has a broker-dealer division which is currently growing. Might have to get an AAMS to make some real money. Financial services is a lot like the escrow business. Peace
Lake Lady, I don’t have a problem with community health centers; I have a problem with ME paying for community health centers in VERMONT, because Bernie Sanders said he’d vote no if he didn’t get them.
Vermont, in fact, has quite good health care; among the best in the nation, in fact. So, why is Bernie getting a $10 billion pay off for his vote? That’s just bribery; corruption and bribery.
Some say, “how politics is done.”
To which I respond: “Yeah, in Russia.”
Kris, I had to look it up, hadn’t read about the Student Loans provision, but yep. You’re right!
“Damn the rules; full speed ahead!”
Deal Gives New Life to Overhaul of Student Loans
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and TAMAR LEWIN
March 11, 2010
WASHINGTON — Democratic Congressional leaders struck a tentative agreement on Thursday that breathes new life into President Obama’s proposed overhaul of federal student loan programs.
The deal would bundle the bill into an expedited budget package along with the Democratic health care legislation, which would allow for both measures to be passed by the Senate on a simple majority vote. Without the deal, the student loan bill would have been unlikely to pass because it lacked the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
The bill would end government payments to private, commercial student lenders, leaving the government to lend directly to students. It would also redirect billions of dollars to expand the Pell grant program for low-income students, and to pay for other education initiatives.
The maximum Pell grant is set to rise to $5,550 for the 2010-11 school year and, under the deal struck Thursday, would increase automatically each year in line with inflation. As many as eight million of the nation’s lowest-income students receive Pell grants to help pay for college each year. Under current law, Congress must determine any increases.
“Families and students who rely on federal student aid need to know that Congress sides with them and not with the big banks,” Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat of Iowa and chairman of the Education Committee, said at a news conference on Thursday. “The federal government has been subsidizing these banks and wasting taxpayer money for far too long. It’s time to end it.”
Private banks had lobbied fiercely against the bill, which would cut off a longtime stream of revenue. Even on Thursday, lobbyists for the private lenders made a last-ditch effort to stop Democrats from adding it to the budget package.
House Democrats predicted that packaging the two proposals in an expedited budget reconciliation bill would help them secure the needed votes on health care because the financial aid bill is popular. In September, the House adopted that bill, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, by a vote of 253 to 171…
Full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/politics/12loans.html?src=me