No one can answer these questions intelligently, because the Democrats have not defined what the "public option" is.  It's also not "competing" with private insurers if the Government simply sets the prices it will pay legislatively, rather than according to what the market will bear.  Smoke and mirrors.

Stick that in your crack neocons.

Obama, Pelosi and Reid are killing the Dem party, and it's all about ego and greed.

Obie is too thin-skinned to play the game.

Stop trying to force something down our throats that we do not want.
Eric B Harbison, St Augustine, Fl. (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:02 AM)
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Eric… Ummmm… Using your ‘so called’ logic…

How do you think WE felt when the dynamic duo of deceit, darkness & destruction jammed not ONE but TWO BS wars down OUR throats?

So looks like HCR is going to pass with a PUBLIC OPTION.  Difference being we’re going to help Americans (you know our own) rather than spending billions of OUR dollars needlessly KILLING people!

Paybacks a b!tch!  lol lol lol

Elections have consequences… and unfortunately for you and the rest of the righties… you LOST!

I wonder what the polls would say if people were asked whether they would want the government-run competition, or private-run competition if insurance companies were allowed to compete with others across state lines.

Everybody worked so hard to get the correct message across, after what we witnessed from the teabaggers (insurance lobbyists) this summer. Dick Armey – you lost. GOP – you lost. Right wing/conservative media – you lost.

The public option is not by any means a done deal. But at least the message was turned around, and is now headed in the right direction. I hope to see Lawrence O’Donnell more on Keith’s program. His experience in dealing with attempting to get huge legislation passed has been very inspiring to me. He has been honest about the problems surrounding this kind of bill.

And I for one appreciate his honesty. His remarks have inspired me (among others) to write the White House, write my reps, donate money – to see to it that health care reform is passed.

MSNBC (hosts & guests), DailyKos, Huffington Post, FDL, Moveon.org. – really  really terrific work on this. As well as the liberals in Congress, especially Nancy Pelosi and Jay Rockefeller.

But still a lot more work to be done.

Well...well...well...

Let the spinning begin from the tin foil hat crowd!

How's that again?

What were you righties saying about the majority of people being AGAINST HCR... thought so...

*crickets*

This popcorn needs more butter...

Thread from previous post:
Pat Huntington NY: You express the most accurate analysis of the Va Gov. Race. Right-on.

Cantor is looking for a ray of light in a dark room.

Feisty and Jody: The rightwing nuts are out in force. They get that way when they are losing.  

As for the Public Option. It is the heart of HCR. It has become a defining issue for Americans who want reform.

RAZOR

You are so wrong it's laughable.  The only killing of a party that's going on is with the Republican Party (i.e. Rush, Beck, Palin, Cheney, Hannity, etc., etc...).

Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

June 2009 – “I guarantee you we will provide you with a bill."

And then there is ......
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH):

June 2009 - Promised an alternative health care reform bill.
July 2009 - “We’re putting the final touches on our bill”
August 2009 – nothing
September 2009 – nothing
October 2009 – nothing
November 2009 - ????
Probable like everything else … no ideas, no solutions !!

Who’s the empty suit  ? ?

Sane people are finally thinking about the benefits of the public option, instead of listening to the crazed, lie-filled Town Hall muckrakers back of August.

All Congressional Dems just need to think back to the last good idea the Rethugs had. None comes to my mind either. Dems, just hang togethter and GET IT DONE!

We need HCR with a Public Option. My health insurance coverage has gone up almost 200% since 2005. When I call the company with a question about coverage they are so rude and have a take it or leave it attitude. Health Insurance companies need competition.

No HONOR Among THIEVES

'...“We’re putting the final touches on our bill,” Boehner said in July...'

Are they Done yet ??

'...One House Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The fact is, [GOP leaders] are very concerned with doing anything...'

It GONNA BE A GREAT Plan !!
Just 8 months late ....


From Think Progress:


'...House Republicans ‘growing frustrated’ with lack of GOP alternative health care bill.

In June, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) promised that an alternative health care reform bill would be introduced that Republicans could rally behind. “We’re putting the final touches on our bill,” Boehner said in July. Then, the chairman of the House GOP Health Care Solutions Group, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), admitted that the House GOP leadership was unlikely to introduce a bill. Now, The Hill reports that “some House Republicans are growing frustrated that their leaders have not yet introduced a healthcare reform alternative”:

Rep. Tom Price (Ga.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC), revealed the schism within his party late last week.

“There’s a difference of opinion over what ought to be the strategy from a political standpoint on this issue. I happen to believe we ought to have a bill. There are others who believe, as strongly, that the principles that would be outlined and would be adhered to in the Republican bill are what need to be discussed because everybody can embrace those principles,” Price said last week. [...]

One House Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The fact is, [GOP leaders] are very concerned with doing anything that the base would interpret as ‘Democrat-lite’ or ‘socialized-lite’ … which is forcing a little of paralysis.”

Update Steve Benen recalls, "way back on June 17, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), the point man on the alternative GOP plan, publicly proclaimed, 'I guarantee you we will provide you with a bill.'"...'

Crap!! Really tired of hearing about whether Pelosi and Reid are getting ahead, etc. Will MSNBC report what is in the health bill. Don't waste my time with trivia. Are you letting these people sell us down the river? Starting reporting what is in the health care plan, that will affect the rest of my life. I am 71.

Just MAKE SURE that Health Care Reform starts in 2010

WHY WAIT ?

Start Health Care BEFORE the 2010 Elections !!!


YES, WE CAN !!!

To all you supporting this nonsense of a Bill including our congress/President.  MY money is NOT YOUR money.  Mandating every American pay for a health care policy and fining/criminalizing it is Socialism/Communism.  They are saying that they know better than you how to use YOUR money.  When are you going to wake up and tell them "get your hand off my wallet"!!!  Also two points to assist in proving this is bad legislation; one, how much will a policy cost for a 25-35 year old male/female?  No idea? How about a 25 year old male/female that smokes?  Still no clue right?  I hear all day "Policies will be cheaper"  How? Just by making everyone buy a policy, where is the assurance that the policies will be affordable? (you will all buy my chocolate cupcakes...I will still charge one thousand dollars for each, but thanks for making me richer) two; cant turn me down for a policy even if I have a pre-existing condition, but what again says those will be affordable?  I have cancer, what is my price for a policy?  10k dollars a year?  20k?  3 guys walk into a insurance agency, 1 great health, works out, but smokes, 1 regular joe blow, 1 overweight (per some chart), all 25 years old, who pays more for their policies? Should they even pay more?  No clue right?  Remember this is what some of you are asking for with this Bill.  The politicians don't care really whats in it, or even if It will help...they are just trying to pass it because they feel you will vote for them if it is done.  Also ask yourself this...If it is about saving lives/dropping costs to help Americans. Why does it start taking your money now, but doesn't begin to help until 2013?  And why don't the penalties start rolling in until when you file taxes in 2014?  After the 2010, 2012 elections and again 2014 elections?  Freedom from consequences, the choices our congress makes.






























updated 5:07 p.m. CT, Wed., Oct . 21, 2009  
WASHINGTON - Despite promises by President Barack Obama, more than 70 million Americans who have health insurance through their jobs could be open to higher costs or denials of some coverage under a leading overhaul plan making its way through Congress.  That's because large employers that directly assume the cost and risk of health coverage for their workers — including Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Caterpillar Inc. and Xerox — wouldn't be subject to the same rules and restrictions that would be imposed on health insurers in the measure approved this month by the Senate Finance Committee.  Large companies that offer their workers such coverage are lobbying hard to keep the status quo and be shielded from costly new regulations and requirements in the final health measure currently being negotiated behind closed doors by Obama's top aides and leading Democrats.   Not all Democrats want to go along.  "I want to make very clear that we cannot promise the American people that the insurance reforms they have been hearing so much about will benefit everyone, when the reality is that this bill leaves out" up to 55 percent, or 73 million people covered by such arrangements, said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., when the Finance panel met recently to debate the measure. He tried unsuccessfully to change the legislation to require those plans to obey all rules applying to insurers.


Public Option nonsense side note.... I have options on my car insurance...doesnt make it cheaper...they all use the same basic rates.  Most of the morons dont have a clue what they are supporting ...like FRR, they just want it because they feel they "won" something.  Where are all of them now that Obama is taking away our Liberty (My Money is not yours see above) ...they are still fixated on Bush supposedly taking away Liberty.

Gotta love the Demoncrats spending us into the poor house. Once again they just prove the Demoncrats are nothing more than a tax and spend party, 2010 is just around the corner let's see who is laughing then.

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:08 AM) – From an earlier post

While I disagree with much of what you said, I appreciate the civil discourse in which you said it!! You stated last week you remembered me being a big Hillary Clinton supporter; I was when it came down to just a few, she was by far the most qualified and I fear we are now seeing the results of electing someone that should have waited eight years, and would have had more experience under his belt!! I find Pelosi to have found her spine again; she hasn't been trying to have it both ways; she's wanted the public option and has stated so, going against Obama when he's made comments such as, "It's not the make all, break all."  YES, it is!! And this opt-out is a cop out!! States WILL opt out if they do not believe in a public option, like Arnie in California, so I'm screwed!!

Obama should have began with single-payer and moved on; he would have had something to compromise on; however, those decisions come with experience, something he is lacking, and something that is most definitely beginning to show!!

I voted for Obama; I would vote for Obama again if the election were held today; however, I'm SO disappointed, yet not surprised!!

I tried my best to warn the many fanatics during last year's primary; and if the GOP wins in 2012, I will say, "I TOLD YOU SO!!" I'm just disgusted!!

As for the Public Option. It is the heart of HCR. It has become a defining issue for Americans who want reform.
Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:14 PM)

Yes it has; and as I stated above, the public option with an "opt out" is one BIG FAT COP OUT!!

I find the lack of information on the "affect" of the public option to be truly staggering. My guess is most news organizations know the truth, yet don't want to tell the public.

And I also find it amusing how Democrats use the buzzwords of the Republicans, and change their meaning. Clinton did it back in the 90's by using the word "invest" after that word became popular in the 1980's. Yet to Clinton and Democrats, to "invest" meant to "spend".

So here it is 2009 and Democrats are once again using the buzzwords of the Right and changing their meaning. This time the words are "competition" and "choice".

Yet, the net affect of this "public option" will be a single payer system by fiat. For one, with government providing the funding for the plan the true costs of the plan can be hidden and the costs can be kept artifically low. Secondly, government has the American tax payer to dip into to help fund it and can also print money to help pay for it. No private insurance company that I know of can print money.

I really find it amusing to get my information from several policy analysis sites and "think tanks" that I trust at work, then go home and watch MSNBC. MSNBC provides my comic relief. Thank you!

We need a public option.  The insurance companies are a big part of the problem.  Some ocmpetition from a public option would lower costs.

Questions are asked to get a certain response.  Come on people, don't think that the majority wants the same people who can't hold my mail correctly running health care...

Why don't these idiots for once either do something right or leave it the hell alone.  Just go ahead and establish a government health care system, but it should include health care, medications, eye care, and dental care in "one consolidated package" with no Opt out provisions.  I don't think the insurance companies should be so concerned about being priced out of business, because I'm sure our beloved government officials will find a way for the government to turn around and contract out the administration of the plan (Just like companies who are self insured).  One of the biggest criminals in the health care system we have right now is all the preventative medicine that everyone keeps referring to as free because their insurance pays for everything except the co-pay.  Let the doctors, dentist, and specialist go to work and compete for business instead of relying on a regular income through preventative medicine.  Go to get treatment when you need it not just because it's a part of your regular routine.  

How do you think WE felt when the dynamic duo of deceit, darkness & destruction jammed not ONE but TWO BS wars down OUR throats?

So looks like HCR is going to pass with a PUBLIC OPTION.  Difference being we’re going to help Americans (you know our own) rather than spending billions of OUR dollars needlessly KILLING people!

Paybacks a b!tch!  lol lol lol

Elections have consequences… and unfortunately for you and the rest of the righties… you LOST!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:09 PM)
##########################

No one Jammed anything down your throat. I dont no one would want to.

First of all; the only people fighting those wars are the soldiers deployed there. There isnt many that come in here besides myself that have spent any time in the Middle East engaged in battle.

All of this "WE" are fighting...No "WE" are sitting on keyboards complaining.

You keep on with your usual BS about how elections have consequences. When "pure" conservatives are back in power (and they will be, it goes in circles)we will see how you feel when everything is getting reversed.

I have Kaiser insurance and I do not have any problem with the service it gives but I do have a problem with the price.I insure myself,my wife and my 8 year old son(all healthy).The problem is I have to pay $210.00 a week and my employer pays $210.00 a week,That totals $21,840.00 a year for maybe 2 or three visits.I have to have insurance in case of an emergency.How is that even justified.A public option is the only thing that will get the pricing down.Every company should have to compete for my buisiness.

Lost Redhead Roselle, IL

This debate is about today and the future, not last year.  But since you went there, I suppose you would have gladly gone to Sad am Hussein’s Iraq and lived, or even to Israel where Sad am was supporting homicide bombers to kill children.  He was paying the bombers families $10000/Israeli killed.
Back to the health reform issue, here is the solution - get the insurance companies and the government out of the doctors' offices.  No one understands this, but look at the trend in cost since 1988, when HMOs were given a hand in "managing care" by the Congress!  Good intentions, bad outcome.  

Don't put the MODEL FOR FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE - The Government - in charge of health care or insurance.  It will tear this country apart.

I can't wait to see the partisan breakdown of this poll.  if it is anything like any other NBC poll it will be weighted with more D's.  NBC - always with its thumb on the scale for Obama.

I don't understand the uproar over a Government run not-for-profit insurance pool. Of course conservatives are "all about profits" - which I understand. But what conservatives don't understand is they should be more receptive to Democratic gestures because it will grow our economy.
Having guaranteed portable health coverage will unleash unprecedented entrepreneurial activity in our economy at at time when it is desperately needed to make up for the malfeasance and shenanigans of the crooks and thieves on Wall Street.
A Public Option will free me from Corporate Slavery!
Corporations currently have their slaves (employees) shackled to them because of health coverage as a result they can pay sub-standard wages. Many employees, including myself will leave our current employers if we know we can get health care everywhere. What the rich really fear is having to compete for employees with one another - God forbid they should have to pay their employees more in order to retain them !!!

Such an outcome is not surprising since after two terms of Dem Governors, and the fact that a black candidate is not on the ballot there to galvanize the AA voters - Pat in Huntington


Gee, Pat, you're not suggesting that the only reason black voters voted last year was because of a black candidate, are you?  Isn't that a little bit...racist?

The only option the Republicans offer is allowing the insurance companies to sell across state lines.  I have an idea, how about removing the insurance companies anti-trust protection that they have had for over 40 years!!  That should help in competition and bring down the cost of health insurance.

Of course, the Republican want nothing to do with removing the insurance companies anti-trust protection because the Republicans' base is Wall Street, Corporations, and the richest 1%!

I'm not an expert on this, so shouldn't be posting...but we have to do something. I have insurance, but still pray that I don't get sick- I wouldn't be able to cover my deductable. My husbands job is considered temp. so he only has insurance 9 mo out of the year, and we can' afford to buy him a quality plan the other 3 mo. I think everyone deserves heath care at a resonable rate- it should be one of our god given rights

Public Option with and Opt Out is one BIG, FAT COP OUT!!

This is not what I voted for!!  As I said yesterday, Democrats did more for Reagan, Bush I and Bush II than they EVER did for Carter or Clinton when they held the majority!! It's proving true again, and Obama wants to be the "nice, cool" guy in the middle, so disheartening!!

Nancy Pelosi, has spoken up and insisted on a public option (no "opt out included)!! KUDOS, Nancy Pelosi!! Keep fighting for us, even when, as you have recently, gone against President Obama's words!!

THIS is what we voted for and NOTHING else will be acceptable!!

This bill has nothing to do with whether you are a democrat or republican.  It has to do with whether or not you want yet more governmental control in your life.  Obama is sending this country into the deepest depths of debt anyone could imagine.....it's like sitting at the kitchen table trying to pay a million dollars in bills with a $3,000 income.  Wake up fools---you don't get anything for nothing!  This is going to cost every one of us and our children and grandchildren!

Yes, but who did they poll? Was it a fair and balanced poll, or a stacked deck to suit their needs?
I don't trust either side.

Since public option plans seem to be only for those with no health insurance coverage,Who is going to pay for this ,Oh just the average person who has health insurance.
A proposal to tax high end health insurance plans has also been brought forward I guess that would also include congress since I Believe they also have one of the best health care plans availlable.Who would paay this tax. If you said the average American taxpayer Right again!

This is the same thing as last year when Obama was all things to all people. And he was that way because the media, as they are doing now with HCR, would never press Obama on what he meant. "Hope and Change"? Hope for what? What are you going to change? The answer to what the change was is that Obama wants to involve government into eveyones daily lives. Not quite what everyone expected for sure.

Now the media is doing the same with HCR? "Do you want a public option?" the media asks. Well, the public option is, like Obama, never defined, never pined down. It was what the person being questioned wants it to be.

The media should ask the question this way - "Do you favor a government run alternative health care plan similar to Medicare, the same Medicare that has $37 trillion dollars of unfunded obligations?" Lets see what numbers that question brings in.

Could we have a poll question about who likes ice cream? And if the numbers look good, can Congress have a trillion dollar program making sure we get a couple gallons of ice cream everyday?

If the public option passes, the dems and the loons on the left will lose the next generation of elections.  It really is that simple.  I live in Nebraska which is a very conservative state and BTW.. our unemployment rate went down last month to 4.9% and it wasn’t because of some government program.  It is simple math, if you spend more than you make, you go broke.  Just like the public option will do for our country.  For all of you loons who drink the kool-aid, just remember, if your state opts out, you get no tax break and will be paying for all the states like NY, MA, CA and OR who have ran their states into the ground.  So this is a bunch of smoke and mirrors where the states that don’t spend more than they take in pay for all those the irresponsible states that the loons on the left completely ran into bankruptcy.

We need HCR with a Public Option. My health insurance coverage has gone up almost 200% since 2005. When I call the company with a question about coverage they are so rude and have a take it or leave it attitude. Health Insurance companies need competition.

NC

Just curious but have you ever been to the DMV or a post office?

As we progress to no where and the people that we have elected to act on our behalf get into office they seem to quickly forget why they were elected.  They all have their own adgenda and it seems quite different from the side of their mouth that get them into office. So much ego!!!!!!!! rather pathetic isn't it.  Kind of pisses you off eh?

Lets see if we have this straight. Reid, Pelosi, and Obama are betting the health care of an entire nation on the numbers generated from a Push Poll?

The Democrats are proving that "Yes, we Can, get a Consumer Option", even though the Party of No and Fear did eveything they could to try to derail it on behalf of the insurnance companies and pharmaceuticals, the people they really work for!

Have they ever had a plan for anything,the wars they started went so well,must have been all the planning that Buseney did,right.They planned on padding there wallets,they started the war in an attempt to take over the Oil fields in Iraq,even T Boone said it,he is whinning about not having a seat at the bidding table,Maybe the Iraq people don;t trust any of the Buseney Bunch.And there health plan is ,,,,,Where is it,oh they don't have a plan,no after all the crying we saw them doing,and no plan,just paper with no words,they are so afraid of the base that now control the party of Torture,the party of Country first,the party that has a following of 20%,and a pup tent to hold all of there followers,ain;t going to win many elections with 20%,and falling!

It is humorous that we are arguing over legislation that has no specifics - that is, we don't actually KNOW for a fact what the government plan IS.

Will there be exclusions? Will there be a co-pay? Will the plan change once it's been adopted - morphing into another government scam to get money for nothing? Will EVERY illness be TOTALLY covered? Will there be a cut-off point for payment? Will we be FORCED into paying for health insurance even if we are too poor to pay for it?

How about something SPECIFIC that the average person can understand rather than having to trust the scam artist politicians whose WORD isn't worth anything?

I think it’s time to start chilling this lovely bottle of champagne I’ve been saving for a ‘special’ occasion… ya’ know I’m a liberal elitist… right?

You righties can continue to drown your sorrows with your Budweiser…   lol lol lol
____________________

Feisty and Jody: The rightwing nuts are out in force. They get that way when they are losing.

Ron Indiana (Sent Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:14 PM)
____________________

WHAT’s THAT Ron???

I can’t hear you over all the yelling & screaming coming from the dopes of nope these days!  ;0)  lol lol lol

J Ellis:   Please try to remember that the "rthugs" in the house and senate represent a very large number of the people in this country.  It's sad that "Government Handout Babies" like yourself just want someone else to take care of you and your wallet at the expense of everyone else.

Why not deal with the tort reform in this bill?

Why not make it so private insurance can compete across state lines?

There is no victory until these steps are addressed first. Health care costs would be reduced alone by these to steps. We need to address these issues first and then revisit the idea of a public option. Libs have put the cart before the horse. Libs I thought Dissent was patriotic!!!

Not mentioned in the question was that the Public Option would cost each family about $4000 a year if they bought a policy, and a $1900 penalty a year if they refused to purchase the policy.

Check the support out if those number are included in the so called "poll".

Opt Out? What a scam that is. What the libs don't tell you is that if you opt out, you still have to pay the taxes to fund the white elephant tha's called the "public option". Who's going to opt out when they still have to pay for it?

Secondly, the lying liberals claim the public option will increase competition. In fact, it will kill competition. The referees will be one of the players. That's competition? Before long, the government will be the only player and we will be stuck with a bloated, inefficient healthcare system that will provide poor care.

A government premium-driven choice along with many more private companies competing with each other for our money will be the only way the extreme cost of health insurance will come down to an affordable price.  Choice is key.  If we have a public premium-driven choice that is only available to a small group of people, then the private companies will continue with their monopolies and the cost won't come down.  We need the choice of a public premium-driven option, along with many many more choices of private companies to choose from.  Make these insurance companies have to compete with each other for our hard-earned money!  That will bring the cost down and keep it from rising three or four times faster than our wages.

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