Merry Christmas From the U.S. Senate
The United States Senate has bestowed the Best Ever Christmas gift on the American people: Health insurance for all of us. Well, some. But at least it’s a done deal. Er, probably. Maybe.
Finally, we’ll have a government-paid health insurance option for those who have been, oh, ahem, I mean, well, we’ve got that huge Medicare expansion that even Joe LIEbermann was in favor — oops, scratch that.
OK, but if an insurance company places limits on how much medical care a patient can receive, those limits have to be “reasonable.” And any insurance company that denies coverage because of a pre-existing condition — well, they’ll get a stern talking-to. And if they do it again, they’ll get an even harsher reprimand, and this time they’ll get glared at and everything.
But hey, this is just a first draft. After all, look at how fast this bill went blitzing through Congress. After a mere ten months of debating, shouting, lying, namecalling, orchestrated “demonstrations” arranged by HMOs — Presto! We’ve got a health care reform bill. Whew! Any faster and our heads would be spinning.
Yes, this magic Christmas present looked a lot better before we unwrapped it. Batteries not included. Warranty invalid in the following fifty states…
But it’s the thought that counts.
posted by Tom Harper @ 12:42 PM
18 Comments:
Yes indeed Tom, we have much to be thankful for this holiday season. This bill is but one example. But I for one am mostly grateful to find that the status quo is A-Okay in ol' D. C. And we can rest assured that we are in capable hands, not to worry our empty little heads, because it is now abundantly clear that our new president is definitely NOT a stinking lubril socialist.
I'm happy Bernie Sanders was able to get his community health clinics in there. I was saying somewhere else, it will be like Vermont care which is basically community "universal" type health care. I wish it was more and covered more but I'm guessing like Soc Sec, it will be fixed along the way. Harkin is already talking about re visiting this next year. Hope he does it before the elections so people can see those republicans do what they did to this.
I read this diary below, this morning, about the thugs being all happy now they can go home see the wives. As soon as something messes with their holiday plans with family, I guess holding things up is no good anymore. Jadedj, I wish he was a raging socialist, it would be fantastic.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/23/818383/-The-Partys-Over,-Its-Time-To-Go-Home-...
Let's just hope that when it comes time to mesh the House & Senate bills, that some of those House Rep's open up a can of whoop-ass all over the dodgy old senators.
Jess, I hope you DO understand that was tongue-in-cheek? Tell me you do. They don't come any more flaming socialist than moi :)
jadedj: Yup, not to worry about any of that there big government socialism. We don't have a new leader in Washington, just a new mascot standing in front of the same Powers That Be.
Oh, and Jess has your number. We knew all along that you're a member of FreedomWorks and the Sarah Palin Fan Club :)
Jess: Those community health clinics are a great idea. I'm surprised they survived the Republican hysteria campaign.
Funny link. I can just picture those grandstanding Republicans: "Our country is threatened! Our very FREEDOM is being -- oh, the cameras are off? We're done? See ya!"
Bee: I too hope the bill will be improved when the House and Senate bills are meshed. But most of all I hope the bill doesn't get derailed by abortion or some other Republican sabotage attempt.
AH jadedj, I know there is but one right winger here and I know it isn't you. BTW where is the lovely Lisa? If I go any further left I would be a righty if this tells you where I fall on the scale :)
Tom, I don't know how they missed those either, I am glad they managed to go through though because by his estimation it will help around 40+ million people. AYUP, they are all big on saying no when everyone is watching, but when push comes to shove they don't stand up for what they say they believe in. I read a blurb earlier on TPM I think, that some rep wannabe governors that are currently AGs are going after the whole Nebraska getting a better deal than anyone else. Trying to say the buy Nelson got for Medicaid in Nebraska is unconstitutional. Which is another thing that pisses me off, no problems getting all that money for a state that has more cows than people and refuse to give for the rest of the states, and go all in on women hating with the abortion bill he snuck in there.
I swear, it is as if we woman, gays and the brown people are just punching bags. I think they forget that all these special interests they are trying to get comfy with don't have many votes just coin or maybe they don't forget.
Stupak and some other anti choice people talking about they will have to run things by the Catholic Bishops before they do anything. WTF is that all about? No need to answer. I have gathered a lot of info for the beginning of the year, to start taking on the religious groups that are trying to circumvent the whole separation of church state thing. Promised my family I would not get all bent about it till after the holidays. Since you all are just virtual "friends" here :), I can vent safely knowing, I am not going against what I promised my family I would do. I tend to go all in with the politics and hubby thinks I need to give it a rest for a little bit to enjoy this time of year.
And the best part of this is that we might actually see some of it in action by 2013! Heh!
I'm not going to take the stance that this is worthless. It is a start, in the right direction. If we work hard and keep the anii from taking over the House and Senate for a while, they won't be able to repeal it like they say they will.
Then again, I wish them luck... they have been trying to repeal Social Security since it was enacted in 1935.
Tom, your post perfectly captures the "Thanks, I think" response this badly mangled rendition of health care reform-lite deserves. Better than nothing (he wrote, crossing fingers), but . . .
I don't hold out much hope for making many changes in it next year. If nothing else, the honorables are sick to death of the subject. If Obama gets re-elected and (miraculously) has Dem majorities in Congress to work with in 2015, maybe then.
Once the corporates get what they want, good luck getting a reversal. Ever.
Universal care? Sure, once global climate change lays waste to our breadbasket and Canada annexes us.
It's not perfect but it's a good foundation to build on and change in the future. There was no way we scrap it and start over.
I really think most people underestimate how tough it is to get something like this done.
Jess: 40 million people being helped? That's un-American; they'll have to find a way to either delete that or work around it.
Yes, a group of Republican state Attorneys General is trying to find the Senate health bill "unconstitutional" because Nebraska gets a certain exemption that the other 49 states don't get. Republicans will spend the next millennium trying to find legal technicalities that would make health reform "unconstitutional." After 8 years of rubberstamping the Patriot Act and the Iraqi invasion, they're suddenly worried about the Constitution. How touching.
Snave: I agree, it's a start. But it would be nice if we didn't have to wait 3 or 4 years for it to take effect. Whenever the Bush Republicans passed a law for more spying or more billions for Blackwater, it took effect immediately. But us lowly peons have to wait.
SW: Yup, "thanks, I think" and "better than nothing" pretty much sums it up. This is what they were able to come up with after their 3-ring circus that lasted ten months.
Randal: Annexation by Canada, LOL. It would almost be worth it just to hear the hysterical bleatings from the Right.
J: You're right, it's tough to get anything done in Congress; especially when it's something that benefits the lowly public.
Shhh Tom, the way they are going with Nancy taking public option off the table it could be taken out we never know. Nelson is trying to get a seat during the conference process, hope he is told to GTFO, he's done enough damage with the abortion poison pill. I believe it was Ms Mint Julep that got his panties all in a wad about the Nebraska money so he is the one getting the AGs involved with this. Demented also asked for it to be looked into. Just read a Yahoo news story that the turd from TX is outraged and he wants something done. What pisses me off, not one of them has any intention of voting for it anyway why are they getting all bent about it. Hatch scored his 50 million for abstinence programs and I forget who added another 50 for sex ed canceling out the abstinence. It boggles the mind how these people who are supposed to be the leaders are so stupid.
To all of you who read here, I hope you all have a happy holiday whichever holiday you celebrate with your loved ones.
But it’s the thought that counts.
Yep that's the Senate...always thinking...'bout their constituents...the insurance lobby.
Feliz Navidad Tom!
(Kvatch y Frogette de Ecuador)
Sad but true - but I do think there are a few improvements that this bill will make....I hope anyway.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, and have a wonderful New Year!
I'm lucky I'm a dual citizen.
I can go to England if I need a transplant.
Jess: Unfortunately I think the House version of the bill has even stricter abortion restrictions. Nelson might actually come out looking like a hero if he can keep the final bill from becoming even more anti-abortion.
And like you said, not one Republican is in favor of this bill, no matter what. They're just looking for ways to make an end run around it.
Kvatch: That's right -- of, by and for the Insurance Lobby. Feliz Navidad in Ecuador.
Mauigirl: Yes, this bill is better than nothing, as sad as that is. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (new decade).
Thomas: I don't have any dual citizenship but I live on the Canadian border, if worse came to worse.
Hope you and yours had a good Christmas Tom.
Holte: Thanks. Merry Christmas to you and yours too.
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