Daschle: Democrats will pursue reform with or without Republican support.

[ProSense]

Climbing the Hill on Health Care

Democrats will pursue reform with or without Republican support.

By TOM DASCHLE

<...>

However, should Republican intransigence continue, Democrats cannot simply stop. They cannot ignore the human suffering as well as their fiscal responsibility to act. They must focus on the budgetary implications of health reform and use the Senate rules of budget reconciliation to allow a health-care bill move with majority support. The choice between complete legislative failure and majority rule should not pose a dilemma for any Democratic senator.

Republicans who cry foul have only themselves to blame. First, they walked away from the table even though they had many opportunities to participate in White House meetings and in House and Senate committees over the past eight months—and eight years.

Second, they set an ample number of precedents over the past decade in using their majorities then to pass their agenda using the same reconciliation rules in the Senate.

Democrats should be clear about their purpose. The goal of meaningful health reform should be to expand coverage, reduce projected costs, improve health-system quality, and enhance health-care options for all Americans.

<...>

I have no doubt that the naysayers will continue to argue that the job is too hard and the hill is too high. We have heard it for decades and we will hear it some more.

more

51 Vote Rules May Force a Public Option Too Liberal for Some Dems

[mikelgb]

1. Uhm Tom, you didn't get the job.

[ProSense]

2. What the hell does that have to do with anything? He's absolutely right. n/t

[joeycola]

19. and Rahm is wooing Snowe.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Daschle is a whore. I'm so glad his refusal to pay his taxes kept him out of the Obama government

Let's back real reform and demand single payer.

Let's send Daschle packing.

[ProSense]

4. And yet he's more right on this issue than you are. n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Daschel works for the people killing 20,0000 Americans a year. Of course you think he's right.

[ProSense]

8. Daschle just made a better point than you ever could. n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

15. You mean when he pitched total corporate control of health care? I know you want it.. but I don't.

[ProSense]

18. Daschle had one of the most progressive health care bills in the 90s.

You have no point except that you don't like Daschle.

Do you disagree with the point he made in the OP?

[John Q. Citizen]

20. You mean that Dems should go it alone? Wow, he's a visionary all right! Where you been?

[ProSense]

22. Are you that obtuse? Making an accurate point has nothing to do with being visionary. He's correct

and you have no point.

[John Q. Citizen]

23. He's correct and only 6 months late. imagine that.

[ProSense]

24. This from someone who has been insisting that Democrats are going to drop the public option.

You're just upset that isn't the case.

[John Q. Citizen]

27. Except that Dashle didn't use the phrase "public option" in his op-ed . It's already been dropped,

get it yet?

You will, sooner or later. Probably later.

[ProSense]

29. "get it yet?" Are you serious?

Why the hell would Democrats need reconciliation to pass a bill without the public option?

You apparently don't know what you're talking about or just confused by your own distortions.

[Clio the Leo]

30. you didn't read the article, did you:? NT

[Autumn]

5. I would like to see the Dems pursue

reform without Daschle.

[ProSense]

6. Not going to happen. Still, what are you upset about

his support for reconciliation?

Ludicrous.

[Autumn]

11. What am I upset about? Nothing. I just think

Daschel is a two bit whore for the insurance companies and I dislike him excessively. You Like him? You trust him? Good for you. I don't have to and I am free to voice my opinion, even if you don't like it. And if you find him honorable and all that, I can question your judgment , just like you question mine.

Ludicrous. Perhaps you are. Edited to add a word.

[ProSense]

14. Your disliking him doesn't mean his point here isn't valid.

It's silly to respond to the OP with: I dislike Daschle.

[Autumn]

25. To me its a matter of trust

Might be silly to you but then I don't care who you trust.

[ProSense]

26. Not trusting him doesn't invalidate his point. He's correct, regardless of your opinion of him. n/t

[Autumn]

28. Uh, did I say his point was invalid? I don't think so

this is a message board where we can post our opinion.I am sure I am not the only person on this board who is not fond of Daschle.

[Clio the Leo]

31. And so what is your opinion.....

.... of the fact that someone close to the administration just wrote an Op Ed saying that Democrats should get a health care bill passed whether they have the GOP's support or not? A health care bill that would "enhance health-care options for all Americans." A bill that would provide "meaningful insurance coverage for all Americans"?

[Autumn]

32. My opinion of that, is that

Obama said the exact same thing. Obama I trust and like. Daschle I don't. I think he should retire and spend more time doing what he likes and less time reminding me how spineless he was when we needed him.

[ProSense]

33. "Obama said the exact same thing." Leadership. And Daschle is reiterating it.

A good thing.

[Autumn]

34. Obama=Leadership

Daschle=:puke: There is nothing Daschle can ever do to get my respect back.

[ProSense]

35. "There is nothing Daschle can ever do to get my respect back." Wonder if he cares?

Has nothing to do with the fact that he wrote a thoughtful and accurate op-ed.

With all the media BS and spin, his op-ed is most welcomed.

[Autumn]

36. I assure you he doesn't care, and

you are free to welcome what ever you want. I commented on my opinion of Daschle, not the article. Now I am going to go out and work my horses. You have a nice day.

[Clio the Leo]

17. And yet when he's saying today what so many wanted the WH to say yesterday...

.... we throw the baby out with the bathwater?

Too funny.

Read "Audacity" and you'll understand what the President thinks of Daschle. When you realize that, you'll see the importance of this Op-Ed.

YOU may not like him, but the President does.

Change "Daschle" to "unnamed WH source" and how does that change your opinion of the piece?

[Clio the Leo]

9. Hmmm, I wonder if The President and Mr. Daschle have talked about this...

... lol!

Some of you are TOTALLY missing the point of this Op Ed (and I'm NOT talking to the OP.)

If this were a novel, we'd call it "foreshadowing."



How much grey hair does the President have his this photo? ..... Y'all picking up what I'm putting down? ;)

[ProSense]

12. Some people only believe the MSM when an anonymous says something negative about Obama n/t

[Clio the Leo]

16. Yep, but THIS is VERY good news....

.... and you and I both know that.

Daschle can say what "unnamed WH house source" cant. ;)

[Jennicut]

10. Daschle is not my favorite person but I increasingly see us focusing on

the people rather then the message. I could care less who stands behind health care reform without the Rethugs as long as they stand behind it. We are getting into stupid arguments about it.

[Clio the Leo]

13. This thread could easily be titled.....

"A WH insider to the GOP: 'help Americans or get out of the way!'"

Yet some of us ...... well ..... fail to see the subtleties of beltway politics. ;)

[Jennicut]

21. I slap my head agains the wall all day long sometimes with the stuff on DU

We are being bogged down in infighting. Exactly what the GOP want...been happening for months.
I hope Obama's speech clears a lot up. At the very least people can decided once and for whether they want to support the President on health care or not.