On Maddow: Sen. Sanders seems to prefer what is being formulated now on HCR

[FrenchieCat]

as compared to the original Senate bill.

He said that this could be "significant"...
in terms of Medicare for those over 55,
plus he stated that he's heard that part of it
is opening up Medicaid.

[Peacetrain]

1. I think everyone needs to take a chill pill.. no matter what comes out of this

because this then has to be reconciled with the house..

[FrenchieCat]

2. I know.

That's why even the media declaring the PO to be dead,
are exaggerating, cause it's in the House bill.....

Why do they do this?

[Peacetrain]

3. Your guess is as good as mine.. but it never fails

[DCBob]

21. The Senate would not be doing this if they did not have buy in from the House already.

They will yank it from the House version and revote and pass it. Remember they only need a simple majority there. Easy breezy.

[IndianaGreen]

4. As Bernie himself admitted, this is being cooked up by 10 senators in a smoke filled room

Bernie doesn't know the details.

[Mass]

5. Thanks. That was what I thought too. (though I read Landrieu did not like the opening of Medicaid.

I guess in states like Louisiana, it may be a real problem if the Federal govt does not follow with subsidies. (personally, I like that as my husband will soon be 55, assuming it is affordable, which is still a big question).

[gateley]

6. However, he also said he felt that some of the trade-offs are watering down

the PO.



What is interesting, is that it seems he (they) are not exactly sure what the deal is at this moment.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Well none of us really know,

including the Knee Jerk instant reactionary brigade here at DU.
The ones who are "through" are going 1/2 cocked,
ready to hate it all. Quite interesting to see who explodes,
without yet knowing exactly why, other than some unsure
early press reports, that seem to contradict each other. :shrug:

[gateley]

15. On KO it was "breaking" that Reid had confirmed that the PO was dead. Then,

on Rachel, "just in from Reuters" Reid said that was not correct! Then, as you saw, Bernie said he doesn't really have a handle on what's going on behind those closed doors, but "has heard.."

So yeah, we REALLY don't know what's going on so I'll sit on my outrage or ecstasy until we know for sure!

[eleny]

7. Yes, "Buy into" Medicare a possibility...

And expanding the eligibility for Medicaid.

So we've had more young people eligible for SCHIP. And with younger adults eligible for Medicare and more of everyone eligible for Medicaid - this could cover many more people.

I always thought they'd be squeezing more people in from the older group and then the younger. The very middle still will suffer with larger premiums as what's been discussed tonight is eligibility based on perhaps 150% of the poverty level.

But this is a start if we absolutely *must* satisfy those conserva-dems. The vast middle will still need to find a way in.

As Tweety said today, we helped Germany & Japan after WW2 and now they've built high speed rail systems. I'll add... And here we sit arguing over tax cuts for the wealthy and universal health care. We really are a backward nation in some serious ways.

[Oregone]

9. So do I. Too early to know

[HughMoran]

10. make it 45

& make the rates affordable. What about parents with kids - ahh, 55 pretty much rules that out.

I see nothing good yet - we need the details for the MAJORITY of us!

What about small businesses that are being driven out of business?

[eleny]

18. Yes, the vast middle - people in the middle of their working life

If they make the Medicaid eligibility threshold 150% of poverty level, I don't believe that will help the largest middle aged/middle income group.

[backscatter712]

11. Public option has been so badly watered down that trading it for 55+ Medicare buy in may be a plus..

I hope we're getting other things as well...

Stronger regulation of private insurance is something I'd be demanding on top of the Medicare buy-in. And put back the clause eliminating the insurance exemption to anti-trust law, so the anti-trust hammer can be brought down on them.

[Clio the Leo]

12. Until we find out otherwise, can refer to this "thing" as.....

... a pony? :)

(just for fun? lol)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. I support and trust that Sen. Sanders knows what he's talking about. The Public Option was WEAK!!

Expanding Medicare is where it's at! That's how this health care reform bill should have been formulated from the beginning!!!

[FrenchieCat]

16. It's the congress that put this together......

which is why it is going back and forth as it is.

Actually I find it interesting how Obama has forced Congress to have a stake
in this process. I bet they are working like they have never worked before....
and personally, I don't know if I'm going to get my money's worth,
but before Obama, they were getting paid and not doing a damn thing.
I call that Change.

[Clio the Leo]

17. Adhering to Article 1, Sec 1 of the Constitution...

.... it's crazy huh?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

20. I totally agree. And for people to continue to blame Obama is just plain stupid!

They must have failed Civics 101. It's heartbreaking, too. I'm sick and tired of Ed Schultz and a few other liberals (I'm a proud liberal myself), crying and bitching and blaming Obama.

CONGRESS DRAFTS AND PASSES LAWS!! NOT THE PRESIDENT, PEOPLE!!!

But I do feel you. The fact that Republicans did nothing for health reform, except for passing Medicare Plan D without paying for it, and now Democrats are at least attempting to do something...THAT'S change!! :)

[Armstead]

22. Obama was a weak leader on this...Or else he didn;t want anything

Obama never laid out real plan, except for a bunch of platitudes and generalities.

he has plenty of Constitutional clout that he could have used to set a real outline and pressure the obstructionists, if he had wsanted to.

Either he didn;t want to or he was ineffective.

[brentspeak]

14. The last time you posted something about Sanders, you claimed he was for the previous Senate bill

when, in fact, he was actually against it. You're not a good source -- especially when it comes to reporting what Sanders likes and doesn't like.

[AVID]

19. you have lost ALL credibility for fair analysis on issues related to Obama. Skewed/Biased/Dogmatic