Republican Letter To Obama Administration on Health Care Presses Real Issues

[Oddball]

I like this approach. I also never understood why the cuts in MediCare labeled as "waste and fraud" could not or should not be implemented right away and not be part of this bill. However, the American people want transparency. Obama is offering that with this gathering. I do not understand WHY the GOP is backing away from it?

Yeah, it's transparent alright...Anyone with half a brain can see right through this ruse.

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

With almost a year's worth of work having been done. Some good. Some bad. Does it really make sense to simply scrap it ALL and start all over? There are some good ideas in here. Why not use these as a starting point as opposed to starting all over? I mean really? Even if they did, don't you think MUCH of what already exists is going to be brought back up?

I would agree it doesn't make sense to scrap it all if the bill was released to the public and we were allowed to know what kind of deals have been made prior to it being passed. But it was all so secretive its hard to trust anything that might be hidden in it.

I really think they need to scrap it and propose individual bills to cover each aspect of reform that the people want.

Lets start with 2....affordability of coverage and denial of pre-existing condition coverage.

Those could be 2 seperate bills that could be made small enough to have a legitimate debate over. They also appear to be the most pressing issues.

If they dont fix the problem lets focus on another thing. Keep the scope small and focused so it is effective and implimentable.

Thats how I feel and I think a ton of other americans agree, at least in MA they do (hence scott brown being able to win).

I like this approach. I also never understood why the cuts in MediCare labeled as "waste and fraud" could not or should not be implemented right away and not be part of this bill. However, the American people want transparency. Obama is offering that with this gathering. I do not understand WHY the GOP is backing away from it?

You mean adding conditions to it, which I can understand your concern over.

I think the republicans felt like they got burned in the process already and are trying to cover their asses this time around. They may even suspect that obama is doing this to "set them up". This is the sentiment i've been reading/hearing.

As long as everything is done in public so I can read it i'm cool.

 

[Oddball]

With almost a year's worth of work having been done. Some good. Some bad. Does it really make sense to simply scrap it ALL and start all over? There are some good ideas in here. Why not use these as a starting point as opposed to starting all over? I mean really? Even if they did, don't you think MUCH of what already exists is going to be brought back up?

A year's worth of work has been put into building a house that can't possibly get a certification of occupancy....Let's just put a couple more coats of paint on it and re-caulk the windows!

Wow. You are sounding like Dr.House more and more. Any other tidbits of useless prose for us there, Dude?

The bills are DOA....They're irreconcilable.

The entire effort has already been a waste of time. Constitutional procedure provides no framework for reconciling the bills in such a manner, and if you don't know that you ought to.

The whole notion of a "summit" on this matter is a pound of image without so much as a gram of actual substance.

 

[VaYank5150]

I would agree it doesn't make sense to scrap it all if the bill was released to the public and we were allowed to know what kind of deals have been made prior to it being passed. But it was all so secretive its hard to trust anything that might be hidden in it.

I really think they need to scrap it and propose individual bills to cover each aspect of reform that the people want.

Lets start with 2....affordability of coverage and denial of pre-existing condition coverage.

Those could be 2 seperate bills that could be made small enough to have a legitimate debate over. They also appear to be the most pressing issues.

If they dont fix the problem lets focus on another thing. Keep the scope small and focused so it is effective and implimentable.

Thats how I feel and I think a ton of other americans agree, at least in MA they do (hence scott brown being able to win).

I like this approach. I also never understood why the cuts in MediCare labeled as "waste and fraud" could not or should not be implemented right away and not be part of this bill. However, the American people want transparency. Obama is offering that with this gathering. I do not understand WHY the GOP is backing away from it?

You mean adding conditions to it, which I can understand your concern over.

I think the republicans felt like they got burned in the process already and are trying to cover their asses this time around. They may even suspect that obama is doing this to "set them up". This is the sentiment i've been reading/hearing.

As long as everything is done in public so I can read it i'm cool.

I have seen that too. Most notably by our good friend, Dude. However, IF the GOP is on the right track. If they are on the up and up and truly only have the best interest of their constituents in mind, exactly HOW would Obama set them up with a meeting that is to be televised for all to see?

 

[Murf76]

I know none of you have enough time to read every thread, but I started one about a month or so ago stating my disdain for Obama's shady back room deals during this healthcare debate. I called him out for NOT keeping his promises of transparency, etc. Now, that I believe he has been made nervous by the election loss in MA, I THOUGHT maybe this could get moving. Instead, the GOP is playing obstructionist games again and you are calling me a partisan, why?

You can only see the Republican's refusal to cooperate as "obstructionist". You don't seem to understand that Obama's invitation was nothing but a partisan political ploy.
You're assuming that he's honest. And he's not.

Nothing has changed. Gibbs made it clear that Obama isn't interested in a REAL bipartisan effort. There's next to nothing in the current House and Senate bills which are acceptable to Republicans, Obama and his Democrats are unwilling to budge, ergo... Obama wanted Republicans in attendance for political motives.

They were wise to refuse. If the Socialist Democrats in power are intent upon ramming this pile of crap down our throats... let the consequences be theirs alone.


Personally, I'd rather we wait on healthcare until after November anyway. This particular Congress is clearly untrustworthy. We've seen nothing but blatant attempts at trickery in one hair-brained scheme after another. We've waited this long. If getting it right means another year... so be it. Better that, than to allow a complete government takeover of our entire healthcare industry.

 

[Murf76]

.... IF the GOP is on the right track. If they are on the up and up and truly only have the best interest of their constituents in mind, exactly HOW would Obama set them up with a meeting that is to be televised for all to see?

It's kabuki theater, Yank. Obama promotes the illusion that he's willing to adopt a bipartisan approach... when he really isn't. As Dude said, there's no "substance".

He's trying to shift the focus to "bipartisanship" so as to claim the high ground in words. But NOT in deeds. If he was serious, there'd be something concrete on the table. There isn't.

He's trying to fool people into believing he's something he's not.... bipartisan. This isn't about healthcare. It's about November's elections.

 

[Darkwind]

Wow....the Republicans managed to get most of their talking points down on paper. They will now use this as their basis for NOT meeting with Obama to dsicuss healthcare reform. Perhaps they ARE the party of "no" after all? I am disappointed.

Yeah, and where are any ideas in that letter?

In case you missed comprehension class that day, the letter focuses upon the upcoming bipartisan talks that the President wishes to hold for the American people regarding health care and a way forward.

The ideas and discussion of policy, plans and strategies will actually happen at the talks, provided that Mr. Obama and the Democrats come to these talks with an open mind and a willingness to compromise.

In the future, perhaps you should actually question those who are giving you talking point to be sure you are using the correct set.

 

[Oldandtired]

I like this approach. I also never understood why the cuts in MediCare labeled as "waste and fraud" could not or should not be implemented right away and not be part of this bill. However, the American people want transparency. Obama is offering that with this gathering. I do not understand WHY the GOP is backing away from it?

You mean adding conditions to it, which I can understand your concern over.

I think the republicans felt like they got burned in the process already and are trying to cover their asses this time around. They may even suspect that obama is doing this to "set them up". This is the sentiment i've been reading/hearing.

As long as everything is done in public so I can read it i'm cool.

I have seen that too. Most notably by our good friend, Dude. However, IF the GOP is on the right track. If they are on the up and up and truly only have the best interest of their constituents in mind, exactly HOW would Obama set them up with a meeting that is to be televised for all to see?

Simple.....

GOP: Tort Reform
Obama: as the CBO said, that will only decrease costs 2%
GOP: That is not accurate. That does not include all of the data
Obama: Are you guys only interested in being right or intyerested iun helping the people.
GOP: Tort reform will cost us nothing and may do some greta things in lowering costs.
Obama: why must you continue to stick to one topic.

Obama: Public option
GOP: Not good for the insurance indsustry and it does not lower the cost to insure.
Obama: not good for the insurance industry? They are on board with the idea

I can go on....but you get the drift.

 

[VaYank5150]

You mean adding conditions to it, which I can understand your concern over.

I think the republicans felt like they got burned in the process already and are trying to cover their asses this time around. They may even suspect that obama is doing this to "set them up". This is the sentiment i've been reading/hearing.

As long as everything is done in public so I can read it i'm cool.

I have seen that too. Most notably by our good friend, Dude. However, IF the GOP is on the right track. If they are on the up and up and truly only have the best interest of their constituents in mind, exactly HOW would Obama set them up with a meeting that is to be televised for all to see?

Simple.....

GOP: Tort Reform
Obama: as the CBO said, that will only decrease costs 2%
GOP: That is not accurate. That does not include all of the data
Obama: Are you guys only interested in being right or intyerested iun helping the people.
GOP: Tort reform will cost us nothing and may do some greta things in lowering costs.
Obama: why must you continue to stick to one topic.

Obama: Public option
GOP: Not good for the insurance indsustry and it does not lower the cost to insure.
Obama: not good for the insurance industry? They are on board with the idea

I can go on....but you get the drift.

Tort reform. 2%. It benefits the doctors (kinda like the one who fucked up and killed Murtha) and hurts the little guy. What help is this exactly?

 

[Murf76]

All medical treatment comes with inherent risk. Your doctor can't give you so much as an aspirin without some slight risk that it could harm you.

The risks in gallbladder surgery are fairly well defined. Perforation of the intestine is one of them. And while deaths are rare... it IS the chance we take when electing to have surgery. The alternative, of course, is to leave your gallbladder where it is and live with the choice to do so.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery for gallstones
The Checkup - Gallbladder surgery deaths rare

 

[Claudette]

AS I said. I believe they should scrap this clusterfuck bill and start over.

Would have been nice to rub the Dems face in the pile of shit they laid though.

 

[VaYank5150]

All medical treatment comes with inherent risk. Your doctor can't give you so much as an aspirin without some slight risk that it could harm you.

The risks in gallbladder surgery are fairly well defined. Perforation of the intestine is one of them. And while deaths are rare... it IS the chance we take when electing to have surgery. The alternative, of course, is to leave your gallbladder where it is and live with the choice to do so.
Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery for gallstones
The Checkup - Gallbladder surgery deaths rare

Aspirin. There's somewhere we can start cutting costs. Anyone been in the hospital lately and seen a thorough breakdonw of their bill? Anyone wanna guess what the going rate for AN aspirin is in the hospital?

 

[NYcarbineer]

If the Democrats would wake up they would strip everything out of the bill that could be passed by reconciliation, and then narrow that down to the parts with the most public support,

pass them without the Republicans and move on.

 

[VaYank5150]

If the Democrats would wake up they would strip everything out of the bill that could be passed by reconciliation, and then narrow that down to the parts with the most public support,

pass them without the Republicans and move on.

That's the biggest problem. The Democrats are their own worst enemy. They could have had healthcare reform passed MONTHS ago with a SINGLE Republican vote. But, instead, they fucked it up. No one to blame but themselves. The people gave them the supermajority to get something done and when they fucked it up, the people took their supermajority away.

 

[Soggy in NOLA]

If the Democrats would wake up they would strip everything out of the bill that could be passed by reconciliation, and then narrow that down to the parts with the most public support,

pass them without the Republicans and move on.

Oh yes, that would be brilliant! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NYcarbineer]

If the Democrats would wake up they would strip everything out of the bill that could be passed by reconciliation, and then narrow that down to the parts with the most public support,

pass them without the Republicans and move on.

That's the biggest problem. The Democrats are their own worst enemy. They could have had healthcare reform passed MONTHS ago with a SINGLE Republican vote. But, instead, they fucked it up. No one to blame but themselves. The people gave them the supermajority to get something done and when they fucked it up, the people took their supermajority away.

The Democrats should figure out that since the Republicans have put all their eggs in the one basket of seeing that the Democrats pass nothing and get labeled as a do-nothing Congress, that the Republicans are confident that do-nothing is the worst label they can pin on the Democrats.

Doing some of the healthcare is FAR better than doing nothing.

 

[VaYank5150]

If the Democrats would wake up they would strip everything out of the bill that could be passed by reconciliation, and then narrow that down to the parts with the most public support,

pass them without the Republicans and move on.

That's the biggest problem. The Democrats are their own worst enemy. They could have had healthcare reform passed MONTHS ago with a SINGLE Republican vote. But, instead, they fucked it up. No one to blame but themselves. The people gave them the supermajority to get something done and when they fucked it up, the people took their supermajority away.

The Democrats should figure out that since the Republicans have put all their eggs in the one basket of seeing that the Democrats pass nothing and get labeled as a do-nothing Congress, that the Republicans are confident that do-nothing is the worst label they can pin on the Democrats.

Doing some of the healthcare is FAR better than doing nothing.

I for one, disagree. Obama needs to undo his deal with the unions and also his deals with the individual states in order to buy theri votes. That was just shady politics.

 

[Avatar4321]

Doing some of the healthcare is FAR better than doing nothing.

Ive seen absolutely no evidence that passing a crappy bill that is going to raise costs and spend trillions of dollars is going to be far better than doing nothing. Please explain the logic of how making things worse is better.

 

[NYcarbineer]

Doing some of the healthcare is FAR better than doing nothing.

Ive seen absolutely no evidence that passing a crappy bill that is going to raise costs and spend trillions of dollars is going to be far better than doing nothing. Please explain the logic of how making things worse is better.

If they only pass parts of the bill that won't happen.

 

[Zona]

Wow....the Republicans managed to get most of their talking points down on paper. They will now use this as their basis for NOT meeting with Obama to dsicuss healthcare reform. Perhaps they ARE the party of "no" after all? I am disappointed.

Yeah, and where are any ideas in that letter?

I edited in a link to the OP to answer your false claims about the republicans having no plans.

Republicans plans...the main points of it are already in the bill. ALREADY IN THE BILL, but yet they still say scrap the bill....

Damn. Stop being so obvious.