Dare to Dream? WH Green Lights Senate Public Option

LOL. (4.00 / 1)

I'm not alone - not by a long shot:

This effort to revive the public option is no doubt aimed at least in part at re-energizing those dispirited progressive Democrats, without whom the party is doomed to disaster in November. That's all well and good, but only if it actually succeeds. And success in this particular effort means both passing reform, and including the public option. If you do the former without the latter, after bringing it up again at this late hour, it could make progressives feel even worse. It would be like the person who broke your heart ringing your doorbell and saying, "I think I was wrong -- let's get back together," then when you say, "Really?!?", your ex says, "No, not really," then gets in the car and drives away. That's not going to make you feel like you were loved all along. Or make you want to get to the polls to vote for this former flame.

On the other hand, if Democrats can get a public option into a bill that passes, they could wipe away all those bad feelings progressives have built up, and boost their base's turnout in the fall elections. But it's a big chance to take.

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 10:45:51 AM CST

The Demcrats will own it (4.00 / 1)

If it is passed via reconcilliation, the Democrats will own it lock, stock and pork barrel.  

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by: Jim_NH @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 12:34:03 PM CST

Good (4.00 / 2)

While it may be controversial now (even though it enjoys wide support), the public option will come to be seen like Social Security, Medicare and other entitlement programs.  Last I checked, people seemed to like those, and it might be nice to be able to remind people who got it for them and who tried to use parliamentary tactics to deny it.

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by: FrankLloydMike @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 13:05:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

One parliamentary trick deserves another. n/t (0.00 / 0)

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 13:08:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Please explain (4.00 / 2)

the pork barrel comment so that I understand your comment more clearly.

thanks

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 13:09:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Obviously. (4.00 / 2)

The GOP has made it very clear through their actions from 1992-2010 that they have no interest in health care reform.

I will be more than happy for Democrats to take full credit for it.

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 13:11:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I knew where you were coming from, Dean. n/t (0.00 / 0)

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 14:11:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

"Pork barrel" doesn't make sense in that context, even if you're against the proposal. (4.00 / 1)

You're just saying things.

--
"Act as if ye have faith and faith shall be given to you." -Aaron Sorkin

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 18:12:24 PM CST

[ Parent ]

If it's for show it's a really, really, really, really bad idea. (4.00 / 2)

If the Democratic Party manages to orchestrate enthusiasm! for a public option, then delivers nothing or even bargains it away, we will finally see that last frame of Peanuts with Lucy holding the football, wondering where Charlie Brown has gone.

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by: elwood @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 19:55:56 PM CST

If the Republicans were dealing (0.00 / 0)

then the possibility of horse trading would seem higher, right?  But no matter what plan gathers momentum, assuming one does, it's going to get zero Republican votes.  So there's nothing to trade.

Other possibilities:
Use the public option to get Dem votes for the Medicare expansion option.

Use the public option to quell the insurgent fraction of the Dem party - (us rear guard snipers:>) to buy time until a fix can be had.

Use the PO to sell the public on a more centrist plan - I'm really doubtful about this one.

Finally, and, like you, I'm almost scared to consider it, but maybe, just maybe, this thing is just building momentum.  Maybe the Dems are finally getting it.  Maybe between the arrogant premium hikes and the party of NO, the Dems are figuring out that they're all alone no matter what they do, and they might as well do something big.  Is it possible?  

As an uninformed observer, I think the problem is one of trust.  There's been a breakdown of trust between the WH and the two Houses so no one wants to get out in front here...so what we're seeing right now is what is referred to in negotiation as fractional bargaining through indirect communication.  The good news is that this is a good sign because it points toward a willingness to cooperate.  Stay tuned.  

"Physical concepts are free creations of the human mind, and are not, however it may seem, uniquely determined by the external world." A. Einstein

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by: StraffordDem @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 21:49:20 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This would also be (4.00 / 1)

a good outcome over this development other than passing HCR with a PO, imo:

Use the public option to get Dem votes for the Medicare expansion option.

While far less than ideal for those 55 and under, it could have an immediate impact and thus be more effective for showing Americans the impact of fundamental reform. And it can be built upon relatively simply down the road.

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by: Dean Barker @ Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 21:53:48 PM CST

[ Parent ]