Financial Times: The Republican healthcare paradox

[marmar]

The Republican healthcare paradox
By Clive Crook

Published: August 2 2009 18:48 | Last updated: August 2 2009 18:48


Support for the administration of US president Barack Obama is fading, and the struggle over healthcare is a main reason. The Democratic party’s ambitions for health reform were only recently an electoral asset. No longer. A slim majority of voters – but a majority nonetheless – now says the plans emerging in Congress are unlikely to make them better off. Congressional action on the issue, once promised by the summer recess, has been delayed until the autumn, and some observers expect the whole endeavour to come to nothing.

One striking aspect of the story is the role played by the Republican party – namely, no role at all.

In Congress, effective opposition to the administration has come from moderate and conservative Democrats, members of the so-called Blue Dog coalition. The independent Congressional Budget Office has also harmed the legislation’s prospects by undermining the administration’s claims about costs. The Democratic plans, says the CBO in its tiresomely honest way, would “bend the curve” in the wrong direction. That verdict has sunk in with the public.

But what do the Republicans think about this pivotal issue? Hard to say. How peculiar that is. The Democrats’ disarray on health reform was an opportunity for the party to recover from its drubbing in the 2008 elections. Political strategy aside, it was also in the public interest that the Republicans should do their job as a functioning opposition – by offering an intelligent critique of what the Democrats were proposing and a workable policy of their own. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8e920892-7f8a-11de-85dc-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Bullshit.

Any sentient being knows that the Red Dogs aren't Dem's.

Therefore, the Pug role is ubiquitous and pernicious.

[JuniperLea]

2. Support isn't fading, that's bullshit...

People are getting pissed that Obama isn't just pushing this through, that's where the problem is. Over 70% of the population wants healthcare reform now.

[DJ13]

4. Bingo!

:thumbsup:

When people lined up to vote for change they werent thinking incremental, somewhat better than they have now change, they wanted substantial change without compromise.

[JuniperLea]

6. I'm usually all about NOT doing the same bullshit crap Bush did...

But I am tired, and many of us are very sick. I think, this one time, Obama will be okay if he walks all over the opposition and pushed the best plan through right away. And I mean what he REALLY wants! Not some watered down version!

[MrModerate]

3. Blue Dogs are just 'Licans using Democratic money to get elected.

Pelosi is useless if she can't impose any discipline on her caucus. Let me refine that statement: Pelosi is useless.

[bemildred]

5. Indeed, bullshit. nt