Sticks and stones. There is a 50 / 50 chance this gets overturned in the Supreme Court but the damage is already done for the Dems. They shut the other side out in an attempt to move way too far to the left. November is close enough that people will not forget.
If this gets overturned, expect Obama to pull an FDR and grow the court. It won't get overturned. Just like abortion will never get overturned. You guys need this, or else you have nothing. NOTHING.
They should have included tort reform - specifically preventing frivolous lawsuits against health care legislation.
Fact 1: The "other side" declared this publicly to be "Obama's waterloo," a defeat-him-at-all-costs signature policy issue. Question 1: Do you honestly for one second think that the Republican leadership would have EVER participated in a bill that had ANYTHING to do with Barack Obama? Fact 2: This bill is much closer to Bob Dole and the Heritage Foundation's counter-proposal of the 1990's than it is to the liberal fantasy, a single payer system. Question 2: Was Bob Dole "way too far to the left"?
That didn't work for FDR. I don't think Obama can do this without a filibuster anyway. Reconciliation won't work because there is no way appointing justices can be considered a budget matter. I would like to see them try though. It will just add to the fire in November.
You're beautiful cml750. Please keep posting! Maybe you didn't see my question earlier? Did any of these lifetime democrats that you spoke with today give you any indication how the "party had abandoned everything they stood for?"
If the government passes a law that requires everyone to purchase a hybrid car with government approved specifications, or pay a fine, would that be constitutional? If not, how is that different than this HC bill?
Most people buy stuff. It's hard to stay alive if you don't. In most places, that stuff comes with a sales tax.
That may have something to do with all the quotes attributed to Obama about wanting a single payer system before the election. Also during the parts of the Senate committee meeting that were televised that I saw, the Republicans were voted down on all major items they proposed. There is also the campaign promises of transparency which was next to non-existent. Then there was the dog and pony show at the Blair house. It goes on and on. In the end they had to bribe members of their own party to pass this. The only bi-partisanship was in the opposition. Fact 2: This bill is much closer to Bob Dole and the Heritage Foundation's counter-proposal of the 1990's than it is to the liberal fantasy, a single payer system. Question 2: Was Bob Dole "way too far to the left"?[/QUOTE] Bob Doles proposal were more free market than this and had no "mandates" for people to buy health insurance. My biggest beefs with this are the "mandates", too much government control, and I think it will bankrupt the country.
The latest craze for <s>Republicans</s> uh... Independent conservatives is not only to distance themselves from teabaggers but also from 93 Republicans after discovering the details of their health care proposals. Only the floating ghost of Gipper the Tax Raiser can bare the true manly chest hairs of True Conservatism.
The revisionist history has already begun. This conservative bunch of clowns should have taken the process seriously and played their role as an opposition party in bringing something to the table that both sides could work with to find common ground. Instead you guys lied and cried and the Dems finally put it through. It's hard to negotiate with this neo-conservative crew that thinks "screw you, we're not interested" is a serviceable substitute for a counter proposal. This bill is hardly what liberals really want but it's a start. Conservatives gambled they could lie and stall their way to gridlock and they lost... they acted like friggin pricks every step of the way and now they can all choke on it. You're damn right people will not forget.
Interesting legal questions to be asked and answered, like Texas v. White. Kind of enjoy seeing a specific issue cycle through all parts of society, media and government in such a short time, feels genuinely historic. Good to see us do it without a Civil War, bloodshed or even overly violent riots. I think we finally have media, social, and political mechanisms informative, efficient, accessible and interactive enough that even the craziest, most ignorant and least empowered of us can engage issues in a peaceful and semi-productive or even enjoyable manner (I think the tea partiers ultimately entertained themselves). America good.
The problem with this and the reason it faces a Constitutional challenge is because it taxes people for NOT buying anything. The Obama administration says it is legal under the commerce clause but how is commerce taking place if nothing is purchased. I say there is about a 50% chance that the SC throws it out.
Do you not think that the Republicans were in their committees proposing amendments? I can tell you they were however all the major ideas they had were dismissed. Then everything moved behind closed doors and they were shut out. You say conservatives lied but what about the President? He promised COMPLETE openness for the WHOLE process. Can you honestly say this was an OPEN process.
The Republicans had a decade to put forward these ideas, and they did nothing. They stone walled at every advance. Sorry kid, but this reform passed.
