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The level of shrillness coming from Republicans as the Democrats draw closer to passing healthcare reform using reconciliation is a good indication that Republicans are realizing the jig is up and healthcare reform will pass, And they are giving every indication that they are scared to death. And they should be.
A indication of how desperate they feel is the rhetoric they are using, or rather misuing. Words like "kamikaze mission" and "nuclear option" to describe the Democrats decision to go ahead wth reconciliation has more to do with Republican belief that their gambit to stop healthcare reform for their own political gain is about to blow up in their faces.
If the Republicans actually believed passing reform with reconciliation would be the "kamikaze mission" Republican Lamar Alexander said it would be, they would be sitting back and letting the Democrats do it, rubbing their hands together waiting for the fall elections and a Democratic debacle..
But they know the opposite is true. And are showing they are panicked as they come to the realization that their political gambit of obstructionism to stop healthcare reform which Obama walked right into a year ago has failed now that the Democratic congress has taken control. They are also starting to behaving as if they realize the result is going to be devastating for the Republicans in the fall elections. But that is something they knew all along if healthcare passed but Obama never understood.
Republicans and their parrots on Fox News have even resorted to misusing the term "nuclear option" to describe the Democrats intended use of reconciliation. This reveals how deep is the Republican desperation.
The "nuclear option" was something then Republican majority leader Bill Frist considered during Bush's term to keep Democrats from filibustering Republican judge nominees. It was called the "nuclear option" because what Frist was considering was a complete change in the rules of the senate to prevent a Democratic filibuster. Reconciliation is not changing the rules, it's part of the rules and something Republicans voted for again and again when they used it to pass Bush's tax cuts and other legislation. Which is showing again that Republicans are not only desperate they are dishonest.
If you want transparency listen to the panic and desperation in the voices of Republicans in congress as they appear on the cable news shows as they see their strategy of obstructionism falls apart. Their fears of getting destroyed in the fall elections if healthcare passes is palpable.
"Nuclear option" "kamikaze mission" and lets not forget Senator DeMints famous line about stopping healthcare reform being Obama's and the Democrats Waterloo are all war metaphors -- a war the Republicans chose to fight for their own political gain and war they are on the verge of losing.
What is left for the Democrats is to decide whether the public option, the most popular aspect of healthcare reform will be part of the package. There are now 35 Democratic senators who have signed a letter to Reid urging him to use reconciliation to pass a public option and the number is growing,
Obama may still have his Waterloo over other issues because of his overall lack of leadership, reneging on promises and overall showing how inadaquate he is in carrying out his office, but with healthcare reform passing, its the Republicans that are heading for Waterloo. And they are acting like they know it.
Their desperation has reached such a pitch they are now embarking on what the GOP is calling Code Red, their last ditch effort to stop healthcare reform by unleashing a huge robo call campaign in Democratic House districts hoping to scare some House Democrats away from supporting the bill in reconciliation. They also plan on unleashing a huge paid media barrage, also in Democratic districts. This is desperation not politics. And not policy.
For Democrats in congress who have finally taken control of the issue, they have probably saved themselves in the fall elections if they pass a public option.. Obama has onced again showed his political and policy inadaquacy by running from the public option and not supporting it or including it in his own legislative proposal. But Democrats in the senate are ignoring Obama and his proposal and support for passing the public option, which has always been the centerpeice of healthcare reform in the House, is growing.
Which is why the Republicans are doing all they can to stop it, not because they are concerned about the health of the American people but because they are worried about the health of the Republican party. And if a public option passes, they have a lot to worry about.
Comments
Let us get this thing passed already. I am getting bigger every month waiting for my free government funded O'Bortion. Lets kill this thing already. NOW EVERYBODY WILL PLAY A PART!
"For Democrats in congress who have finally taken control of the issue, they have probably saved themselves in the fall elections if they pass a public option" Wow Mr Rubin, hope you have a medical recommendation to be smokin that. SEE YOU IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE REALITY EXPRESS full of NON-SOCIALIST AMERICANS arrives.
If this health care package passes we will all be singing the tune: Bye bye miss American pie. At least until the next election when we vote out all the politicians who voted for it and then we will repeal this communist attempt to hijack America. Assuming our economy doesn't completely collapse from it I can't wait for the trials to jail all those who tried to overthrow our Democracy by subverting the Constitution with national health care mandates. Where's the popcorn? Its going to be quite a show.
@USA ...... Have you actually taken the time to read the bill? If you had you would realize that it doesn't cover abortion you fool.
@NON-SOCIALIST AMERICAN ... Sense when does the right to live been a socialist agenda? as it stands if you DON't have insurance your 43% more likely to die before the age of 50 as aposed to a 42% if you USED to be a smoker. This % has been going up by 1% every year... So what your stating is Money is more important then peoples lives... How nice
@The American Taxpayer ...and everyone else.. Ignorance and blind acceptance of what the anti health care reform (see insurance companies) people are spouting is still Ignorance.
I get the distinct impression that the vast majority who are against the bill haven't even taken the time to read it.
I only wish upon you the same you would wish upon the millions of Americans if this bill doesn't get passed. A situation where you or your loved one dies because you can not afford to keep them alive. Jerks
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