Sen. Reid indicates support for a public option that is privately-run.
Sen. Reid indicates support for a public option that is privately-run.
“We have a problem in America and it’s called the private insurance industry,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said in a private meeting with health care providers this week. While Reid recognizes the problem, he isn’t fully supportive of the solution President Obama, the Senate HELP Committee, and the House are pushing — which is, a public health insurance option that competes with private insurers and keeps them honest. The Nevada Senator said he “doesn’t think the public option ought to be a government run program like Medicare,” but instead favors a “private entity that has direction from the federal government“:
“I’ve told people, whoever will listen, that I am in favor of the public option,” Reid said, adding he thinks it’s essential in order to provide competition for private insurance companies that are exempt from anti-trust laws. “We’re working now to try to come up with a program that would allow that to take place.”
Reid went on to say that most people “misunderstand” a public option as “some government run program.”
“But there are many ways we can do it,” he said. “One would be to have an entity like Medicare. I really don’t favor that. I think what we should have is a private entity that has direction from the federal government.”
Reid did not elaborate further on what that would look like.
A Reid spokesman explained to TalkingPointsMemo that Reid is expressing his support for a co-op, an idea proposed by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) that is finding support in the Senate Finance Committee. Reid “is willing to consider a co-op if he is shown it works to make insurers honest,” spokesman Jim Manley said.
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So, basically, Reid is in favour of a government insurance plan that’s run like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. We ALL know how well those two “government corporations” wound up…
August 29th, 2009 at 8:37 amCo-op = cop out
August 29th, 2009 at 8:40 amCo-op is smoke and mirrors to hide surrender!
August 29th, 2009 at 8:41 amDid Harry say this while he was peeking out of Con Kentrad’s pocket?
August 29th, 2009 at 8:48 amThe Vegas senator would do well throwing YOUR money in a slot machine.
It’s the mormony speaking.
I would like to know why the first bill out of committee, chaired by our beloved Ted, and its high approval, gets no endorsement, no mention from the WH as they wait it out for other bills, namely the one the cattle ranchers are writing on the Finance Committee. Who gives a flying f— about the finance committee?
August 29th, 2009 at 8:49 amBased on these quotes, Harry doesn’t know where Harry stands.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:51 amReid’s only problem is that he is a Democrat, which is another way of saying, “coward.” Don’t forget that this mealy-mouthed, spineless, wimp is the supposed “leader” of senate Democrats. We liberals, too cowardly to call ourselves liberals and choosing instead to hide behind the word progressive, as if that means anything; we liberals are fully deserving of the Democrats. We have the fundraising and organizing power to start a viable third party, but we don’t. We prefer, it seems, to “act blue” instead of acting in our best interests. Whew! Feels good to vent. All hail Harry “The Jelly-Spine” Reid!
August 29th, 2009 at 8:52 amAn American hero gets laid to rest this afternoon. You want so bad for Ted to be full of life and continuing on as the liberal lion, and that makes the reality of him being buried away right across the sacred senate floor where he fought hard for our quality of life that much more difficult to accept.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:55 amHarry was for the public option, while being against the public option…er…he thinks…maybe…. Scary as the thought of it is, the truth of the matter is that the Democrats deserve to have their hats handed to them in 2010. America today: Your choice is between a party of lunatics or a party of cowards.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:00 amIt is better to be rid of the likes of Reid, Baucus, Conrad etc. than to be told by the rest of the world that we have a “super-majority”
Reid’s wimpiness sets the Democrats on course to lose 4-6 Senate seats in 2010. If it happens, I hope that Reid is one of those losers.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:05 amDoc Rock says:
Co-op = cop out
Great idea! That should be on banners and placards at every Blue Cross Democrat town-hall meeting.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:08 amCan we PLEASE get a new leader in the Senate.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:16 amHarry is so afraid that a repiggie will yell at him? I am so sorry there isn’t a third party that thinks like democrats but has some guts. The people telling them what we want certainly hasn’t worked
August 29th, 2009 at 9:16 amDirty Harry joins Dirty Max and Corrupt Ken, such a nonsuprise. What a team!
http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/04/key-senators-to-imprint-health-care.html
August 29th, 2009 at 9:22 amThe really important thing here is, what kind of bill is the President going to sign? He seems to be every which way on this too.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:46 amWhen will the Democratic majority in the Senate remove this spineless bastard from the Leader’s office and replace him with someone of substance? Russ Feingold immediately comes to mind. So does Al Franken. I’d take a bowl of noodles as Senate Majority Leader before Harry Reid.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:47 amOk reid, I can go for a privately run option too; it could be run with government oversight.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:49 amI meant OPTION.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:50 amWhat we need is a new third party, which operates more in cyber space than in real space. Sort of a blog/party web site, where the representatives are chosen from those progressives that contribute intelligently to the blog/party. Chosen from the ranks of real people, chosen by their peers.
Rather than traditional and expensive campaigning, the representatives would make themselves available online, as much as possible. Available to discuss any issue directly with their constituents, and anyone else.
What I am proposing is a completely cyber party. I can’t think of a more progressive use for the Internet than an actual exercise in real-time Internet Democracy. I don’t have the skills to create such a web site, but I know those tools exist.
Anyone out there want to help me start a progressive blog/party web site?
August 29th, 2009 at 9:52 amDoc Rock says:
Co-op = cop out
and stupid…
oh harryyyyy…
we don’t need that kind of thinking… let alone SAYing…
.
i just heard some guy on joe say that “the bush’s did something the kennedy’s never did – put 2 family members in the white house…” (paraphrasing mostly)
more stupidity… from a “historian” too (i think)…
yes, it’s a fact, it’s true… but how stupid…
oh… it was john meechum…
August 29th, 2009 at 9:53 amThe Bush’s may have put two people in the White House but it didn’t make them worth their weight in salt. The Bush Crime Family was not good for America.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:01 amI’m just waiting to see when they’ll introduce articles of impeachment against Obama for the high crime and misdemeanor of suggesting every American get health care.
It is looking more and more like the only “reform” that can get through Congress will be one that guarantees health insurance companies higher profits.
Truly, the quickest way to health care reform? DEREGULATE THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY!
I’m serious. EVERY industry that has been deregulated has failed within 10 years. It’s been 63 years since Truman first talked about universal health care. What, if anything, passes through Congress this time around will fall far short of that goal, and give us more of the same, but with a new, “co-opted” name. The shortest way to universal health care will be to let the industry destroy itself through its own greed.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:06 amMcWars@5
When it passes it will be known as The Obama\Kenndey Health Care Bill.
I will say nice job Mr. President.
Then I will read that the TeAbAgGeRs will yap President Obama has eight big toes.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:10 amThe politicians who are advocating a co-op solution know full well that it will fail. The co-op will end up with all the people the private industry does not want to insure-the sick, elderly and people with chronic conditions. In essence, the co-op will be a dumping ground for the insurance companies. As time goes by, the co-ops will become more expensive than private insurance.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:10 amLevi the Dungbeetle@19
I believe this is how Obama won.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:17 amHey Reid…
Co-op?
NO…NO…NO!
Read my lips and those of millions of others.
NO…NO…NO co-op!
August 29th, 2009 at 10:17 amHarry Reid as Majority Leader is almost as bad for the country as Bill Frist.
Almost.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:23 amAnd I would be in favor of starting a fund to re-elect Senator Harry Reid, just as long as those funds weren’t used for his re-election.
A public option that is not “public” is not a public option, but rather a private option, which is exactly what we already have. Doesn’t matter if they’re for profit or not for profit, private options don’t offer the option we need.
Sit down and STFU, Harry.
PEACE
August 29th, 2009 at 10:27 ami just heard some guy on joe say that “the bush’s did something the kennedy’s never did – put 2 family members in the white house…”
They need to STFU and stop being so stupid.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:28 amGame of Life, that statement simply is not true. The Bush family only put one family member in the White House. The first President Bush was actually elected by the voters. The second Bush was put there by Pappy, Big Bro Jeb and SCOTUS.
PEACE
August 29th, 2009 at 10:32 amgameoflife@21,
Obama took the Democratic Party and introduced it to the Internet. I envision something that exists completely online, without any need for a physical office. Everyone involved in the party would be online, working from wherever it is most convenient for them.
All it would take is a web site that connects to forum. The web site would be for the posting of information that was discussed and selected in the forum. Totally open to the public so anyone with a computer and an Internet connection could potentially run for political office. All members would have to do is prove that they are citizens of the United States (no long form birth certificate required) and where they currently live.
The forum could be divided up into sections, so people chosen to represent a location would be able to represent themselves at the local, county, state or federal level. Each state would have it’s own section, and within each state, each county, broken down by voting districts. Of course there would be a general area for everyone. Party representatives would need to participate in discussions just to be nominated as a representative of the party, because they should be chosen by the members of the site.
I am a firm believer that there is a huge future waiting for an online political party. I just hope it a Progressive Party.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:34 ameyesopen says:
Did Harry say this while he was peeking out of Con Kentrad’s pocket?
Nope, he was peeking out of his zipper.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:36 amSpencer’s mom – and Katherine Harris. You remember her, Michelle Bachmann’s twin sister.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:38 amGet bent, Reid.
You are worse than useless.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:25 amNO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO
No the PUBLIC OPTION HAS TO RUN BY THE PUBLIC.
And in fact, CMS is totally unconsitutional as it is presently constructed Public “national coverage determinations” brought about by local Private “carriers”. No wonder Medicare is going bust Ronnie RAYGUN put a whole layer of profit motive corporations into the program. Of course they Whorporations have to take their profit cut for doing nothing out of the system.
ALL PUBLIC PROGRAMS SHOULD BE RUN VIA THE GOVERNMEMT, NOT PRIVATIZED. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE CHEAPER WHEN IT IS PRIVATIZED. NOTHING.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:36 amDon’t get sick! Those were the last words my grandfather said to me as I left Vancouver for the United States.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:38 amHey reid, if you can’t do a public option that helps people, change the anti-trust law to include insurance companies.
Surely you’re competent enough for that.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:45 am“Privately-run public option” is an oxymoron.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:58 amWTF is a privately run publice option? Please please please remove him from his leadership position. If he was the leader of the Lost Patrol, they’d still be lost.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmSenator Reid,
There is one thing you fail to understand: There is absolutely no reason in the world to do anything that the insurance companies want, because all they want to do is protect their high executive compensation packages. They are not interested in providing even a somewhat decent service for their customers, they are only interested in enriching themselves. They are disgusting, and whatever they tell you would be best for the country, if it doesn’t involve getting rid of them, it isn’t worth doing.
We want Single Payer, and to hell with what the insurance companies say they want. And you have no moral right in the world to ignore the wishes of the people.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pmcommunion now… a most beautiful and inspiring funeral mass…
yo yo ma and placido domingo… wow.
i just want to say thank you, to the first priest talking in the beginning –
he welcomed the family and guests, but most importantly to me,
he acknowledged ted’s children, teddy, kara, and patrick,
“and your mother, joan”…
that was the first i’d heard her mentioned in these services by anyone and
i think it was so important and special that she was acknowledged and therefore honored… the mother of his children.
again, thank you, father…
August 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmAnd this is the a-hole who went around claiming to “Give em hell, Harry.” What a load of living breathing crap. He is a lame, spineless, worthless piece of shit and he is ABOUT to lose his seat–to a REPUGNICAN.
That’s Rahm for you. Suck up to the big industry, get their money away from the repugnicans and these dumb jackasses think that’ll win them secure seats. They can bargain away their souls and OUR LIVES for their cheap sinecures. And the funny thing? It won’t work–it’s ALREADY FAILING.
And the “people” sniffing the very dead, stinking rat of their promises will bail on them–and where do they have to turn? Only back to the vile, foul, disgusting repugnicans.
The COPROTOCRACY wins. We lose.
Give em Hell? Yes, Harry. That’s what you do. You keep us in the living horror and HELL of no insurance (like me) and a chronic disease. Or crap insurance. All to Appease the big money, the big power…and they’ll f*k you in the end, too.
And you ss well, Rahm…and Obama.
Our hell is here.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:36 pmMaybe Harry can get in on the next golf match at Martha’s Vineyard:
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2009/8/25/who_is_obama_playing_ball_with
August 29th, 2009 at 12:36 pmstateofthedivision, your link is to a column by Denis Moynihan who is a Naderite. Why don’t you just quote beck or oliely?
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/denis-moynihan.asp?cycle=04
August 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pmThe Democrats are probably the only political party in the world that could fcuk up a wet dream. All I keep seeing and hearing is how health care reform will make insurance and drug companies even MORE profitable and we the people will get to bend over and grab our ankles again.
It’s time we start telling our spineless, greedy members of Congress that they should collect all the bribes they can this year because they aren’t getting our votes in 2010 if we don’t get a REAL public option.
The Democrats are showing us that they are little different than the Republicans. The corporate bribes they are receiving seem to be much more important than our wants and needs.
It is time for Liberals and Progressives to dump the Democrats – ALL OF THEM. Even though some might be good, they are still part of the problem. If they lose the next election they only have themselves to blame. If they screw up the best chance in decades to fix health care, I am going Green.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmI am willing to consider a new Senate Majority Leader if it works to make Reid a more resolute defender of the progressive platform.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmsparaxis, you join stateofthedivision in trying to paint democrats as just the same as republicans.
Ask yourself this: Who brought health care reform to the table? Was it republicans? Would it ever have been republicans?
Don’t forget the economy stupid.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:54 pmFred, yesterday I quoted SEC filings and you still cheered for WellPoint’s board.
Democracy Now and Amy Goodman continue to report, where TP won’t.
If you want to egg on UBS and their widespread, multi-year tax cheating, feel free. I won’t join you.
TP needs higher quality enforcers.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:02 pmmy gawd… there is absolutely no sane or relevant reason
to not at least like the man, edward kennedy…
any negativity should be justly discounted and/or ignored…
both his sons’ and the president’s words for all of us were
eloquent, heartening and uplifting… even awesome…
i’m so glad i could share the time with them all…
August 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pmthank you…
stateofthedivision, I have no problem with facts but when you use them to paint the left to be exactly like the right I have to say something.
We know not all dems are what we want them to be. But your incessant insistance that there is no difference is dishonest, period.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:11 pmis it okay to tell someone that he should “drop dead”? i’d like to tell harry reid that.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:12 pmstateofthedivision, besides, posting op-ed pieces by naderites who condemn Obama are just dishonest, especially when you try to present them as “facts” which they are not.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:12 pmDid Reid EVER win one of his boxing matches, or did he “take the fall” for each and every one?
August 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pmReid needs to be assigned to the committee overlooking lawn mowing for federal facilities…. He certainly, despite his tenure, isn’t an effective leader for the Democratic party in the Senate. It is time to recognize that senority isn’t the best bench mark for leadership.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:42 pmI am sure all the Kennedys, and Wellstones would be delighted to have their funeral used to promote their agendas: the well-being of Americans.
Heck, I know I would, and I’ve never been a politician. I’d bet my Dad who died in June would have been very pleased to have his death memorialized by a political speech or rally or even a Town Hall.
I bet most Americans -Righties & Lefties- would feel the same way.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:43 pmDemocrats DID bring health care to the table and because of that it looks like the insurance companies will end up with more power and influence and that will happen BECAUSE of the Democrats working in concert with Republicans. Democrats could pass ANYTHING and send it to Obama but they are weak and cowering in fear of a nearly dead Republican Party. We voted for change last year but the Democrats are allowing Republicans to remain in charge.
Die-hard Democrats refuse to acknowledge that the party keeps moving right and only sounds liberal when it is looking for votes. The main talking point from Democrats is vote for us because we’re not as bad as the Republicans. That’s not good enough!
When given a choice on policy (without any political labels) the people of this country overwhelmingly support liberal options. The Democrats could have huge popular support if they would stop running to the right as soon as they get elected. Their reliance on corporate bribes is what keeps them dishonest.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:44 pmThe so-called health insurance co-ops are a bad joke. I was in one several years ago, composed of three thousand media professionals and technical writers. Finally, the larger private insurance company that had our business dumped us, since they couldn’t make enough money off middle-ages folks. End of co-op.
O/T: Brad Friedman (www.bradblog.com) was interviewed on the Mike Malloy Radio show (www.mikemalloy.com) about the amazing interview Brad had with Sibel Edmonds (www.justacitizen.com) in which she suggested that the Bush regime had been working hand-in-glove with Bin Laden and al-Queda right up to 9 September 2001. Check it out…
August 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pmFred, I post. You emotionally upchuck. That’s the pattern.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:54 pmTypical for Harry. He also prefers non-alcoholic beer and virginal whores.
C’mon, Harry. This is a life-and-death issue for 18000 Americans every year. This is 9/11 times six every year. This really important stuff, H. So don’t keep on being a Mormon wuss who thinks the Lawrd left a bunch of golden plates in a hat that only Joseph Smith had access to: wake up and get with the plan or get the hell back to Nevada and let an honest American like Senator Whitehouse lead Democrats in the Senate.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:56 pmReally state? Do you really call pointing out the fact that every time you post you try to paint all democrats to be just like republicans emotional? Really?
You post blog links from naderites saying Obama is a republican and want to pretend that doing so is not the epitamy of emotional upchucking?
Really?
August 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pmI’d like to know why insurance companies are exempt from anti trust laws and how that happened. How much money did they have to pay and to whom did they pay it to have that particular CAT 9 windfall passed in their favor?
It seems impossible to me, even with a PO, that unless that particular perk is rescinded, (barring the unlikely event of universal coverage) there will ever be fairness or equity in the system.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:13 pm“I think what we should have is a private entity that has direction from the federal government.”
In plain English, Reid is carrying the water to water down public option outlined in the healthcare reform bill. Private entity? Meaning private health companies? Corporations? And who would think benefit in profit? The American people? I don’t think so. Seriously, if I have an opportunity to vote for Majority Leader for the Senate, I certainly would not vote for this wet noodle. I certainly would want Sen. Sanders. Reid is certainly putting politics first before policy and people.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:14 pmHurl on post #60. Clean up crew requested:
On Monday, Obama played a round at the Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs with Nicholson, UBS Chief Executive Officer Robert Wolf and Eric Whitaker, a physician and another longtime friend from Chicago.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08252009/news/nationalnews/obama_shows_off_poor_golf_skills_at_mart_186431.htm
August 29th, 2009 at 2:23 pmstateofthedivision
So? What does it mean state? Does it mean that Obama is a secret republican? OOOOOhhhhh!!!!!
August 29th, 2009 at 2:33 pm#60 & #64, that’s going to require copious amounts of Clorox.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:44 pmhey state, didn’t you say something about emotionally upchucking.
You just don’t get irony. I find that right wingers don’t seem to grasp the concept.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:49 pmYou have a good day state. I’m going to leave you with your trail of errors for others to read. Thanks for confirming who you are.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:50 pmI post links to facts, some disturbing/inconvenient for both the red and blue teams. That’s all. People are free to decide for themselves.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pmstate, now you are just lying. Did you forget your first post where you tried to make it look like Obama was a republican because of who he was playing golf with:
With a link to a naderite op-ed who was painting Obama to be many things that he is not.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:04 pmFannie may and Freddie Mac woulda been okay if they’d been run as private-utility non-profits. but the go-go boys got their mitts on ‘em, forced ‘em into risks they weren’t built to take.
It’s not the “private” part of the equation that’s wrong. It’s the profit motive, which is totally inappropriate for any kind of human/welfare service. That is the PUBLIC’s responsibility, each for each other. I include drugs and their provision in that equation, too.
Under strict state supervision/regulation, too.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:14 pmFred sed Did you forget your first post where you tried to make it look like Obama was a republican because of who he was playing golf with:
Fred. Put down the kool-aid and step back. It’s for your own good. You’ve od’d on ‘hopey/changey.’ You gotta go cold turkey, man. It’s for your own good…
Of COURSE it is unseemly for the President of the United States to be out playing golf with the scandal-tainted President of one of the world’s most powerful, and secretive banks. What kinds of deals were they hatching? There is no record of that conversation. That’s why it happened when and where it did. And that’s just not right. Nobody’s so pure as to be exempt from supervision. That’s not ‘transparency,’ even if they did pull it off in public…
August 29th, 2009 at 3:20 pmwhatever tokin. You and state just keep wailing and pretending that you know something. Your assertions are weak.
You said it yourself, you don’t know what was said. You don’t get to decide what’s right and what’s not.
I will remind you that in your quest to paint Obama as a republican you consistantly omit the fact that this health care discussion is directly because Obama is the president and for absolutely no other reason.
You can’t reconcile that into your conspiracy theory.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:45 pm“One would be to have an entity like Medicare. I really don’t favor that. I think what we should have is a private entity that has direction from the federal government.”
Why not? What’s wrong with how Medicare is structured? Could some politician please elaborate? I don’t know, maybe this “co-op” thing makes sense. But I haven’t been told why.
This is a problem I have with a lot of D leadership in Congress – they’re not really leading. Sell me. Explain your position to me. What are the pro’s and con’s for the various options, and why would the option you favor be better than others?
August 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pmWhat do you know … another traitor in dem ranks.
Reid HAS to go.
August 29th, 2009 at 4:08 pm*
I know that privitizing govt functions is the darling of the neocons. But as pointed out above, Fannie Mae didn’t do so good under this arrangement. I’d add that privitizing military functions for Iraq has some highly questionable effects.]]
And exactly who in Congress has the time to devote to running and auditing this ?
August 29th, 2009 at 4:19 pmAnd I thought people voted for change, which included very specific health care proposals. Suddenly, the White House For-Profiteers decided those proposals are optional. Yet Fred gets none of this.
http://stateofthedivision.blogspot.com/2009/08/public-service-means-servicing.html
August 29th, 2009 at 4:34 pmReid needs to be replaced by someone who isn’t afraid to do their damned job.
Pelosi, too.
August 29th, 2009 at 4:35 pmI have a solution. A national, government run, single payer “co-op” with a provision in the law that says it can not be privatized like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I wonder if Hapless Harry could support that?
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were sold to private investors by Richard Nixon to help hide the cost of the Viet Nam war. Many people wrongly assume that they were still government owned when they folded. That is part of the Republican lie that says government can’t to anything right.
Both were destroyed by corporate pirates that wanted to extract huge profits out of institutions that were designed to be not for profit. The Wall Street bankster pirates got the money, sailed away and left us taxpayers holding the bag.
August 29th, 2009 at 4:38 pmHarry Reid meet your twin, Caspar Milquetoast, a weak, ineffectual person.
August 29th, 2009 at 4:56 pm.
When Harry Reid knows what he wants…
… THEN it will be news.
.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:23 pmIs there anyone, ANYONE, in the state of Nevada that is a Democrat that is progressive, agressive, and smart so that we can dump this clown? Sheesh.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:36 pmThis reminds me of the Wyden thing. I think these guys are so accustomed to being in the minority that they just automatically capitulate to even the slightest opposition without thinking.
We need more new blood in this Democratic Congress. A lot more.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:50 pmReid has got to go.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:59 pmIf there isn’t a bill with a strong public option we all must band together and demand Mr. Reid step down. His leadership is uninspired and timid and we can’t bring about change as a progressive party with someone like this in the congressional leadership.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:06 pmPhoto caption: “I was born a wimp, and by golly, I’m not going to change now!”
August 29th, 2009 at 9:23 pmAsk Native Americans in Montana about their lousy public option health care.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574376981533298534.html
August 29th, 2009 at 10:00 pmWell, a government-owned, contractor-operated non-profit would work. There are a few of those around in various Federal departments. They seem to work with varying degrees of success.
The Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae model worked reasonably well for a time too, until the fiduciary wall was breached with all that sub-prime crap in the market. Government initiated, independent agency.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:39 pm85. Jane E. Schneider sez:…
I dunno. I understand the impulse to look at Harry Reid and see Casper Milquetoast, but I wouldn’t sell the man short. He has to have taken a lot of flack in his tribe (Mormon) for being a liberal and a Democrat. And the fact that he’s been an amateur boxer is indicative of there being some steel there. I’d suspect that he’s just figured out, over the years, that not being an incendiary in public works better for him. As majority leader, he’s in a position to let his whip and deputy play bad cop to his nice guy.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:46 pmReid has a difficult job because he has to try to accommodate varying interests. Lieberman is turning out to be less than helpful and he owes Reid and the Dems his support since they let him keep his committee chairmanship. Then there are Blue Dogs who are already worried about re-election. It would help if the head of the DNC cracked the heads of these congressmen who are wavering in their support. The DNC has control over a lot of money and these congressmen may want help with their campaign money for re-election. This may be the time for Obama to get on the campaign trail and push the public opinion to support the public option.
August 30th, 2009 at 2:05 amkwsventures says:
Ask Native Americans in Montana about their lousy public option health care.
I don’t deny that it’s possible to provide a crappy version of health care. Obviously, if you capitulate to Republicans, a completely useless plan can be delivered.
But your citation does not demonstrate that it’s impossible, or even difficult, to provide a proper and effective health care program.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:11 amAt times I feel we are being played by the Senate.
Pelosi and the progressive House dems are for a bill with a public option…. said they will not vote for a bill without it. I’m sure they will agree public option means an option without the greedy immoral insurance thugs in on it.
I hold out hope and faith for the progressive house dems.
Becoming very annoyed with our Senate.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:18 amhad enough says:
Becoming very annoyed with our Senate.
Me too. But in the end, all that counts is what they pass, not what public statements they made on the way. If they do us right, then they deserve our support. But if they dont, then these kinds of statements make it clear where to start the purge.
I’ve got $100 bucks saved up so far, and ActBlue bookmarked, so I can throw microdonations wherever I want next year. And I’m not the only one either. We can turn any Democratic primary or general election challenger into the next internet-donation-wave Obama. Those relying on traditional campaign-finance methods (lobbyists, etc) would do well to take note of the new way we’re doing things.
We put Barack Obama in the White House solely on internet-enabled microdonations last year. You don’t think we can’t do the same thing to your measly Senate or Congress seat next year? You best start paying attention, or we’ll hire somebody who will.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:38 amSenator Reid Co-Op’s do not work. To waste time and money to prove a mute point is futile, at best. The Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats are useless in the process. We need a Health Care Bill this year, with a Public Option. If the Senate were willing to work together to invade another Country, they should do the same to work out a Health Care Bill.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:57 amJoe Lieberman’s lifetime donations by industry:
Insurance $1,033,402
August 30th, 2009 at 10:48 amMaybe Xe (formerly know as Blackwater) could run the program. That should attract plenty of republican support for death squads… ah, I mean death panels.
“Here at Xe, we don’t simply solve problems, we eliminate them! All for the low, low price of a few billion dollars a week. We accept cash, but prefer gold. We can’t be too sure which government we’ll be discrediting in the future so, obviously, national currency is not our first choice.”
August 30th, 2009 at 12:44 pmWhy is “keeping insurers honest” always stated as the reason for health coverage reform?
Shouldn’t the reason be “to make comprehensive health insurance a reality for all Americans”?
Why is insurers’ honesty an issue beyond a regulatory one? If they’re dishonest, which means what? raising prices too much? monopolizing? – then regulate/fine them.
I wish politicians would quit cheapening the issue and trying to make it about regulation rather than what it really is about: both regulation AND making insurance available to all.
August 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm96. Amy sez:…
All good points. I think that “honest” is a euphemism for “competitive” in this case. Putting a public option in place reduces the need for stringent regulation, which you’d think would appeal to the Republicans. Unfortunately, they’ve mostly been bought off by the industry, so the answer is no, it doesn’t appeal.
The industry can, without much collusion, engage in anti-competitive practices which can swamp a regulatory agency, and given the Republican penchant for strangling regulators and auditors, it becomes even easier.
That’s without getting into ‘denial of service’ issues where the ultimate consumer has little or no recourse for various reasons; for instance, if you have employer based insurance and the insurer decides to deny a claim, you may not be able to sue for anything like breach of contract if you lose in a ordinary appeals process; since the insurance contract is with your employer and not you, you have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get breach going, and if your employer doesn’t concur, you may be SOL.
Cost of premiums is another issue. Cost is dependent on a number of factors, some of which can be affected by anti-competitive practices and by simple dishonesty or greed. All the insurers are looking for ways to cut their internal costs and raise profitability. Having a baseline public system which sets premium price as a function of risk and cost of doing business with a fixed profit margin puts a limit on the possibility of jacking premiums into the stratosphere; the industry doesn’t want that limit.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:10 pmGreat! I hope Texas leaves the union so we can stop all federal funding to that country. Also we need to immeidately embargo all goods and service produces in the country of Texas. All goods and services shipped from the contry of Texas should have high tarrifs on them. We should set out border crossing at all entry/exit points leaving or going to the country of Texas. Also all Texas citizen should have to have a visa which takes a full background check and six month screening period. All US Military installation must be removed from Texas before they leave the union. And we should built a fence along the entire boarder with the country of Texas. After the citizen of Texas realize that being a seperate country isn’t any fun when they have to fend for themselves we should think about letting them back in and then so “Hell No”.
August 30th, 2009 at 4:01 pmAmy says:
Shouldn’t the reason be “to make comprehensive health insurance a reality for all Americans”?
Apparently basic human compassion doesn’t politically “sell” these days.
August 30th, 2009 at 5:03 pmSo now the Senate Majority leader doesn’t want Obama Care. What is this world comming to. Blue Dogs aren’t on board for it and now Reid isn’t on board for it. Boy the democratic party is just going down in flames.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:20 pmOutlaw284 says:
Would that be the Democratic party that dealt the GOP historic level buttkickings for two elections in a row? You really never let reality get in the way of a really stupid talking point do you? It is the GOP that is not only going down in flames but going the way of the Whig party.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:28 pmReid makes absolutely no sense at all!! He should be thrown out of his position as Majority Leader and let someone like Chris Dodd take over!! This co-op thing is DOA, and is just an anemic effort to woo Republicans…who have already show, if not said that they will not vote for any legislation that President Obama presents. It’s public option or nothing!!! Get that?? Harry Reid!!
August 30th, 2009 at 9:07 pmAs always this “dinosaur” is so far off base…I wonder who he represents……centainly not me…
August 30th, 2009 at 11:43 pmIt’s time to pass the “Ted Kennedy” healthcare bill….NOW.
Note to Harry; What you have described reminds me of a system that we used to call “Not for profit” Insurance. It was not that long ago when that was the norm in this country.I also remember how the “for profit” companies swooped in and bought out these companies and NO ONE, including Congress, said a word.I don’t know for sure but it’s my guess that Congress had a hand in it. Just like the de-regulation of all the other industries that also worked out so well.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:31 amvery thanks for article!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:23 am