Question 1 - What is “death with dignity” for the public option?

[Me.]

I am remembering a news report that said that Rahm, Carville, Begala and Stephanopolous talk on the phone every morning

The 5 key Strategy Questions the White House is Considering on Health Care

“White House officials are signaling publicly that they’re ready to take charge of the health care debate while strategizing privately (including a meeting with the president yesterday afternoon) about how to do it.

Here are the five key sets of questions they have to confront, both in the Roosevelt Room and in their consultations with Congress:

1 – What is “death with dignity” for the public option? Is it better for the president to sacrifice it himself? Or convince Democratic leaders behind closed doors to come to him? Some will argue for taking the public option issue to the floor, passing it through the House and sacrificing it in conference - but once you’ve gone that far, it may be impossible for House Democrats to back down. So, giving it up on the front end in some fashion is likely the preferred option.

2 – How do you get the price tag down, likely down to about $700 billion? At that cost the most unpopular tax increases will not be necessary. And moderates in both the House and the Senate have already signaled that they can live with it at that level. Which leads to question 3…

3 – Can you still make a convincing case that the country is on a path to universal coverage? What mix of phase-ins and triggers are necessary to make that case?” cont…

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2009/09/the-5-key-strategy-questions-the-white-house-is-considering-on-health-care.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. ABC news is a busy bee today!!

[Taverner]

2. You would think, with as many employees as they have, would support a public option

Honestly, the Public Option folks went after the wrong folks - they should have gone to businesses across the country and said "are you sick of paying for your employee's healthcare?"

[Me.]

4. They Need A New Strategy But Even In The WH They Are Divided

The Divisions in the White House Over Health-Care Reform by Ezra Klein

Snip…“The first camp could be called "universal-lite." They're focused on preserving the basic shape of the bill. They think a universal plan is necessary for a number of reasons: For one thing, the insurance market regulations don't work without universality, as you can't really ask insurers to offer standard prices if the healthy and the young don't have to enter the system. For another, it will be easier to change subsidies or improve the benefit package down the road if the initial offerings prove inadequate. New numbers are easier than new features. Creating a robust structure is the most important thing. This camp seems to be largely headed by the policy people.

The second camp is not universal at all. This camp believes the bill needs to be scaled back sharply in order to ensure passage. Covering 20 million people isn't as good as covering 40 million people, but it's a whole lot better than letting the bill fall apart and covering no one at all. It's also a success of some sort, and it gives you something to build on. What that sacrifices in terms of structure it gains in terms of political appeal. This camp is largely headed by members of the political team.

Both camps accept that the administration's proposal will be less generous than what has emerged from either the HELP or House Committees. The question, it seems, is how much less generous.

The answer appears to hinge on Sen. Olympia Snowe. "I'm a Snowe-ite," joked one official. Her instincts on health care have proven quite a bit more liberal than those of many Democrats. In the Gang of Six meetings, she joined Sen. Jeff Bingaman in focusing on affordability and coverage — putting her, in practice, somewhat to the left of Conrad and Baucus. The problem is that Snowe is scared to be the sole Republican supporting this bill, not to mention the Republican who ensures the passage of this bill. The reprisals within her caucus could be tremendous.” Cont…

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/the_divisions_in_the_white_hou.html

[DURHAM D]

3. I think Obama needs to swing for the fences.

He needs to reset the conversation. Obama should come out tomorrow for single payer. No compromise. No discussion. No equivocation. SINGLE PAYER.

Right now his Presidency is bleeding out. He needs to do something big. Really big. Take it to the people. They will follow him if they understand it and believe he is trying to do something for us. Right now everyone is confused because it is all so convoluted. He needs one big talking point and not a thousand little half-ass explanations. The only thing simple enough to get across is SINGLE PAYER. Its easy because its like, you know, medicare for everyone.

When he gets the people they will get the congress.

This will require that he speak truth about insurance companies. As he attacks the system he will need to ask us for help. He should acknowledge that powerful forces will be working to see that he has only one term. He should show passion and some anger. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose if he wants his service to matter.

[Ron Green]

5. +300,000,000

[DURHAM D]

6. Why thank you - thats a lot of zeros. nt

[Me.]

7. I So Wish He Would Counterpunch With This