The Republican Health Care Plan
Finally, a winning slogan for the Democrats. They’ve been on the defensive for too long against the nonstop rightwing blatherings about “Death Panels!” and “Government Takeover!”
And now the Democrats have finally figured it out: all they have to do is ask the Republicans “What’s YOUR health care plan?”
[squirm] [shifty eyes darting every which way]
That’s right, they don’t have one. Zilch. Nada. Zip point shit.
Republicans didn’t waste a minute derailing Bill Clinton’s health care plan in 1995. Since then, the Party of Lynchin’ has had fourteen years — fourteen fuckin’ years! — to come up with a health care plan of their own.
Did they ever come up with a plan? Did they have any alternatives to Clinton’s proposals? Did they ever make any effort whatsoever to deal with the health care crisis?
No, no and no.
Senator Richard Durbin said: “The Grand Old Party's coffers are empty when it comes to health care reform.”
And Obama was dissing Republicans about this while he was talking to a group of union activists: “What's your answer? What's your solution? You know what? They don't have one.”
Now that they’ve finally been called out on it, the Republicans will probably throw together a few sketchy pages of something meaningless, just so they can point to it and go “see, we do too have a plan.”
It’ll be like that time you had all semester to write a term paper but you didn’t start it until the night before it was due.
And speaking of leftwing conspiracies: one of my “favorite” rightwing bloggers had a link to this article. Those wicked Democrats have a foolproof sinister plan for passing “Obamacare,” no matter what it takes.
If only…
Labels: Obamacare, Republican health care plan, Senator Richard Durbin
posted by Tom Harper @ 5:37 PM
30 Comments:
Of course the Republicans have a health care plan, detailed and well written-wait! Ohmygod! Iran is enriching uranium well within the confines of a signatory of the Non-Proliferation treaty! Bomb them! Bomb them!
I'm sorry, what was the question again?
Lew: That's right, how could I forget. Also of course, stopping the Homosexual Agenda before it engulfs the American Family.
Nice "article". The first sentence is a bold faced lie.
Lemme guess, the link came from "Mike's America"?
That is one creepy dude.
I love that ordinary Americans are fighting for insurance company profits. Amazing.
Mike: You guessed it, Mike's America. Some sick part of me has to look at that blog, Jenn of the Jungle and a few other wingnut blogs every so often, just to see what the Far Right is thinking. It's not pretty.
"It’s possible one of the endangered moderate Democrats, such as Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), could vote to stop a filibuster then vote against Obamacare so as not to offend angry constituents."
I think it was Chris Hayes of The Nation, on Rachel Maddow's show last week, who pointed out Lincoln is already in big trouble with her constituents — probably the most vulnerable Democratic senator — but not because she's too strong for health care reform and a public option. Just the opposite: most Arkansans favor health care reform with a public option, according to Hayes.
Darling's piece is what I expect from the Heritage Foundation — a key part of the right-wing noise machine.
Still waiting to hear the democrats bill.
Way to get people on board .
They are all over the place with this disaster of a nightmare bill that they don't need republicans to say anything because it's the American people that don't want it knowing all well we can't afford it and the the fact of what it will do to good doctors ,businesses and paychecks.
But hey it really doesn't' matter what the outcome is as long as Obama gets his gold star for getting whatever the hell this thing is passed.
And not to mention all the money to made through by your non-capitalist democrats.
Thanks again for a great post, Tom.
Sort of off-topic: I hear so many people (some of my students among them, heaven help us) saying that Pres. Obama is "so RADICAL," "I don't like him because he's just so RADICAL," "he's the most RADICAL president we've ever had," and so on. Now, I voted for Obama, and I have to say that so far I've seen a centrist Democrat and *not* a radical.
Can anyone explain WTF "radical" means here? Does it mean "anyone whose views are different from mine?" Or does it mean "radically different from me, i.e., not white?"
When I think "radical," I think along the lines of Russia ca. October 1917, or Timothy McVeigh bombing the Murrow Building, or Castro's Cuban Revolution, or Nazi eugenics/"pro-family" laws...not health care. Somebody help me out here, and give me a little ammo to fire at my students who call him "radical."
SW: Interesting to know that about Blanche Lincoln, that she might be in danger because her constituents want health care reform. So much for the rightwing refrain that "the people don't want Obamacare."
Lisa: "The American people don't want it" -- I see you're still glued to Fox News and reciting what they tell you to recite.
Miss Kitty: Thanks. Ah yes, "Radical." That was the main buzzword during the '60s and early '70s. Anyone who was against the Vietnam war, in favor of civil rights, smoked pot, had long hair -- "those F$%#! Radicals!"
Since conservatives say and do everything in unison, I'd guess one of those rightwing talking heads is telling his followers to recite "radical" every chance they get.
The only ammo I can think of for "radical" is to ask these people where they heard it. Chances are they all heard it from the same source -- Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, one of those televangelists, etc. Give 'em hell.
He's radical in that he needs to fix the mess that Bush left us. To do that will involve a radical approach. We can't merely go back to the things that worked in the past even though that's about where we'll land up.
Also we can not afford not to fix the problems. The price of doing nothing would be far greater.
Miss Kitty asked: "Can anyone explain WTF 'radical' means here? Does it mean 'anyone whose views are different from mine?'"
That's exactly what it means. Back in the '50's, anyone right wingers didn't understand or like was deemed a communist, or at least a commie sympathizer. In the '60's and '70's it morphed to hippie radicals, as Tom explained.
They always need a scary, menacing "other" to use for fearmongering purposes. Doesn't matter if the people they're branding communist or radical have ever read a page of what Marx wrote or can explain what communism is. It's all about demonizing those they disagree with or don't understand. Once people are demonized, it's OK to say anything to them and about them, true or not, because they are the enemy.
Miss Kitty asked: "Can anyone explain WTF 'radical' means here? Does it mean 'anyone whose views are different from mine?'"
That's exactly what it means. Back in the '50's, anyone right wingers didn't understand or like was deemed a communist, or at least a commie sympathizer. In the '60's and '70's it morphed to hippie radicals, as Tom explained.
They always need a scary, menacing "other" to use for fearmongering purposes. Doesn't matter if the people they're branding communist or radical have ever read a page of what Marx wrote or can explain what communism is. It's all about demonizing those they disagree with or don't understand. Once people are demonized, it's OK to say anything to them and about them, true or not, because they are the enemy.
Those wicked Democrats have a foolproof sinister plan for passing “Obamacare,” no matter what it takes.
Count me in!
Finally I have a chance to get back here. Things have been hectic for me so forgive the absence.
You are correct. The have NOTHING! They never did. They were just hoping they could ride off the negativity of ultra conservative angry white voters and nod to their passive aggressive racism. I think they were hoping that alone could gain them the upper hand.
I don't know why Democrats are so bad at fighting back. It's not hard.
Radical is Saul Alinsky and his book "Rules for Radicals" which Obama happily mentions in his own book as his guiding light for community organizing which he also said he would said would set the agenda for the presidency.
I guess taking over company's,financial institutions and Healthcare is considered "centrist"
mmmm,mmmmm,mmmmm Barack Hussein Obama!
lisa imagined,
Still waiting to hear the democrats bill.
Way to get people on board .
They are all over the place with this disaster of a nightmare bill that they don't need republicans to say anything because it's the American people that don't want it knowing all well we can't afford it and the the fact of what it will do to good doctors ,businesses and paychecks.
You are definitely a good little parrot girl. That you can continue to spew this complete and utter stupid bullshit in the face of every poll, the opinion of the AMA, and a vast majority of small businesses leaves me greatly confident that the Rushpubliscums don't have a chance in 2010. You idiots don't know what is going on in America any better than my dog does.
Is there some sickness deep within you that compels you to prove how stupid you are on a continuous basis, or are you sharpening some kind of an alter-personality? If you're an actress, you're great; I bow to your talent.
lisa took off her white sheet long enough to post,
Radical is Saul Alinsky and his book "Rules for Radicals" which Obama happily mentions in his own book as his guiding light for community organizing which he also said he would said would set the agenda for the presidency.
I guess taking over company's,financial institutions and Healthcare is considered "centrist"
mmmm,mmmmm,mmmmm Barack Hussein Obama!
Don't forget about his cocaine use, closet homosexuality, ties to Osama bin Laden, and Kenyan origin. You're disappointing me.
Demeur: That's true, Obama needs to do some radical things in order to fix 8 years of shit from Dumbya's rein. Or maybe that's 28 years since Reagan first took over.
SW: Yup, once people are demonized and branded "other," they're fair game. I also remember the term "radical" making a vague comeback during the '80s, sort of a synonym for cool. "So and so's new CD is radical." But it never really caught on, so I guess now it's back to being a smear label for the Right to use on political opponents.
Kvatch: Count me in too. The whole time I was reading that article I was thinking "yeah, come on, get it done."
Ricardo: Damn right, they have absolutely nothing except smear attacks and character assassinations. I too wish the Democrats would haul off and slug 'em.
Lisa: Uh oh, your Saul Alinsky Derangement Syndrome symptoms are flaring up again. Wish I could help.
JR: "If you're an actress, you're great; I bow to your talent." LOL, maybe that explains it.
Maybe you should check the source before believing the opposition.
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
Yes, the Republicans have healthcare bills (actually, more than 30, some of which deal with a particular aspect of reform, and a few of which are more comprehensive).
What they don't have is the kind of healthcare bill Democrats are looking for ("fix" by adding layers of bureaucracy). Which is okay because the majority of Americans don't want what the Democrats are looking for.
Republicans also don't have a bill that can make it through the news filters, but that doesn't seem to be Republicans' fault. Politifact says they also don't have a bill they all support, but that's kind of a silly criticism because the Democrats don't have a bill they all support (otherwise, it would have passed already--they have enough votes). Check out the GOP site, though, and you'll find a comprehensive bill prominently featured.
Emy: I bookmarked that site. I'll look more closely at it later. But at a quick glimpse, "The American people have spoken. They oppose government-run health care. Republicans are on the side of the American people."
ROTFLMAO.
"Republicans also don't have a bill that can make it through the news filters" -- sounds like a synonym for "that $%&!# liberal media!" Would those "news filters" include Fox, the Family Channel, CNBC, talk radio...
And like I was saying in the post, if the Republicans had any, ANY ideas for health care reform, why didn't they push these ideas sometime between 1995 and 2008? What were they waiting for?
The Republicans have all of AM radio and Fox news as their media filter. Please!
I hear Obama has secret plans to go to Moscow to sign the health care bill into law, he has rented out Red Square for the weekend.
Wait a minute - Republicans had a plan!
It was the Bush medicare bill which they covered with kisses.
You Know.. it allowed the Pharmaceutical Companies to charge whatever they felt to the Government because Medical was forbidden to negotiate for prices, unlike the VA and DOD.
It created a big Donut Hole so that Seniors and disabled people have to pay full price after only spending 2,700 dollars. That isn't the co-pay price, that's whatever the full retail price the drug companies choose to charge (eats up kinda fast don't it?). Of course the coverage will kick in again..after $4,500 for the year, but in order to get it, you have to keep paying the full price until you reach that number.
The Best Part Lisa..is that since it was never budgeted for, it's an automatic deficient (ie on The Government Credit Card). That's what I call a sound fiscal Conservative practice!
Surly we can better then that!
Erik
Careful, there, Holte, before you start another "moon landing hoax" viral fringe conspiracy theory! :)
Tom: I'm hoping, really hoping, that the republican'ts do come out with a 17 page healthcare bill, with graphs and charts and color pictures, just like their 17 page budget they spewed when Obama called them on not having an alternative budget. I had fun picking it apart.
Am I blind, or did I not read anything about the true puppetmasters of the world, no, not the Elders of Zion, but ACORN!
Hey where have I ever defended Bush. He's a rhino as far as I am concerned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vJcVgJhNaU
Randal you're not blind,you just somehow conveniently missed this.
They are not the only puppet masters we also can add China into the mix and why not Goldman Sachs,Soros and GE. You know all those "Non" capitalists.
I know here I go with the Soros derangement syndrome again but maybe you also conveniently missed this as well:
http://97.74.65.51/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=15491
Ricardo: Yup, talk radio and Fox News. Plus all those rightwing think tanks and the billionaires who fund them.
Holte: Yes, it's all proceeding according to plan.
Erik: That's the kind of Big Government that Republicans just love -- huge subsidies for the pharmaceutical companies. It's only "socialism!" when regular working people are helped.
Bee: Yes, it'll be amusing to see the charts and graphs and pictures they throw together in a hurry.
Randal: Damn, I forgot to mention ACORN.
Lisa: Yes, ACORN and George Soros have ruined the America that I grew up in.
Our national health care plan:
"Don't get sick."
And the GOP doesn't want to change anything. What DO they want? As long as the people who continue to make money off of human misery can keep lining their wallets, that appears to be what is most important to Republicans.
Snave: Nope, the GOP doesn't want to change anything. Millions of sick people and their families -- it's a gold mine. What's not to like?
Lisa: Yes, ACORN and George Soros have ruined the America that I grew up in.
Not yet Tom but be patient.
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