Fifty Senators and the VP Gets Us Medicare For ALL!

[last1standing]

Just remember that in the next few weeks while all the spineless, corporate-bought Democrats, pundits, bloggers and posters are screaming about only having 59 votes in the senate. They could easily pass medicare for all through reconciliation (yes, it does affect the budget) and all this would be a distant memory by November.

Instead, they will do their little kabuki dance for another several months, get nothing accomplished and then cry about losing control of both houses in congress.

It kind of makes you wonder why they'd fight so much harder for a lesser plan, doesn't it?

[sharesunited]

1. Is it because their way gives them cover to accidentally pass something regressive?

[last1standing]

4. It certainly gives them cover but I really don't know why they need it.

Its something to think about.

[Ardent15]

2. "It kind of makes you wonder why they'd fight so much harder for a lesser plan, doesn't it?"

They are beholden to their corporate masters, that's why.

[marylanddem]

3. Yes - it is appalling.

[BunkerHill24]

5. You mean Up-or-Down vote in the US Senate floor?

That's quite unheard of mate :sarcasm:

[dragonlady]

6. Medicare for all would be the most elegant way to proceed

Opening Medicare to all would spread the risk over the entire population, not just the seniors who on average cost more to treat, thereby strengthening the program into the future. Medicare is proven to administer its system much more economically than the private insurance companies and would get more of every premium dollar into actual health care. It's already up and running. And since Medicare contracts out its paperwork to the private insurance companies anyway, the administrative people would not lose their jobs (but the insurance companies would have no incentive to deny claims because it wouldn't be their money at stake). Sounds like a plan.

[last1standing]

8. There's only one argument against it.

SOCIALISM!!!!

But then the mouth breathers who scream that aren't generally voting for Democrats to begin with so there's not much political fallout in the end.

[tbyg52]

21. I know that, and you know that, but do *they* know that? (They don't act like they do.) nt

[Birthmark]

7. They could also end the anti-Constitutional filibuster.

That would turn the trick quite nicely.

[last1standing]

9. If Democrats were serious about wanting to get real health care reform passed...

They'd force the filibuster and effectively shut down the senate until the republicans caved. As Bill Clinton proved, there's nothing the People like more than watching their political leaders stand up for their interests.

Other than that, the only problem with the filibuster is that republicans use it and Democrats don't.

[Zen Democrat]

10. Yes. Insurance reform can't go through reconciliation, BUT

Single Payer or Medicare for All is appropriate for reconciliation. Let's get after it! I am so anxious to neuter Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson.

[last1standing]

18. I'm sure it's little more than a pipedream but it would be nice.

n/t

[mzmolly]

11. Reconciliation is far more complex

than many of us realize. I saw Lawrence O'Donnell explain it on MSNBC last night. That said I do think we should expand medicaid and medicare however we have to.

[last1standing]

12. Is it more complex than this travesty have been so far?

Nothing is easy, but lets be honest, reconciliation would be far easier, and politically beneficial, than the charade we've seen over the last year.

[mzmolly]

15. According to O'Donnell we need 60 votes

to end cloture several times a day. Clio posted about this in another thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=137786&mesg_id=138309

Admittedly I'm confused as hell. :hi:

[last1standing]

17. So shut down congress.

As I said elsewhere, force the bastards to filibuster and refuse to back down. Let the republicans close down government while fighting against something the vast majority supports, like a jobs program or medicare for all, then watch their support crumble.

There's only one way to fight this obstructionism. FIGHT DIRTY!

[defendandprotect]

13. And it would set up Dems for the next 40 years . . . so why are they NOT doing it????

The forces that seek to destroy the Democratic Party have bought much of Congress . . .

we have to recognize that --

Look at the betrayal of Sen. Byron Dorgan by Harry Reid!!

He was working on "negotiation" on drug prices -- reimportation --

and was planning to legislate a reinstatement of Glass-Steagall --

What could be more sane and practical -- and a greater benefit to America and the economy????

So where is Harry Reid's head -- ? And why?

Meanwile -- Obama should jettison Rahm Emmanuel out of the White House -- he ran another

election into the ground!

[last1standing]

16. Exactly! Where the Hell is Reid's head?

The one loss I didn't bemoan in the disaster of 2002 was that of Tom Daschle, the majority leader who refused to lead. When he was voted out, I thought Reid might be a good choice based on his background but he has been no better for the party or the People than his predecessor.

[defendandprotect]

14. K&R for MEDICARE FOR ALL --

[Faryn Balyncd]

19. K and R

[DKRC]

20. Medicare for all!

K&R!