Building a Consensus, Driving a Wedge

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Republican support for health care reform expanded a little more yesterday afternoon, when former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) implicitly endorsed Democratic efforts. "Right now in this country we have the best opportunity we've had in recent history to begin to create real health care reform that will expand coverage for those who don't have it and lower costs for those who do," the conservative Nebraskan said. He added that policymakers should "put aside their narrow partisan differences" on health care reform, and that "access to affordable quality health care for all Americans should be our nation's goal."

That Hagel issued his statement through the White House made it clear that the former Republican senator is standing with the president on the issue. He joins a growing list of non-Democrats backing reform.

And in case there were any doubts about the significance of these endorsements, Republican support for reform was not only the basis for the president's weekly address yesterday, it's also the basis for a new DNC commercial. It highlights GOP support from the likes of Bob Dole and Bill Frist, while contrasting them with congressional Republicans who are "siding with the insurance companies and just saying 'no' to health insurance reform."

The spot is scheduled to begin airing tomorrow in D.C. and on national cable.

The word I think we're likely to hear a whole lot of over the next few weeks is "consensus." The president referenced it twice yesterday: "In recent months, we've heard every side of every argument from both sides of the aisle. And rightly so -- health insurance reform is a complex and critical issue that deserves a vigorous national debate, and we've had one. The approach that is emerging includes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, and people across the political spectrum. In fact, what's remarkable is not that we've had a spirited debate about health insurance reform, but the unprecedented consensus that has come together behind it."

Democrats have a strong incentive to keep pushing this. With every Republican on the Hill likely to oppose reform, Dems are now in a position to say, "The American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, a majority of the House, a majority of the Senate, and a variety of Republican senators, governors, and Bush administration officials are all on board with reform."

In this case, it's GOP lawmakers who are fighting against a "consensus" effort Americans have been waiting decades for.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[rebeccajo 14]

[Pooky 3,825]

It's a the fight is so hard to garner support to just barely pass a Bill that falls so far short of what could have been achieved.

With this opportunity now lost forever, will there ever be another?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's a the fight is so hard to garner support to just barely pass a Bill that falls so far short of what could have been achieved.

With this opportunity now lost forever, will there ever be another?

Huh?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I frankly don't give a damn about pols coming to a consensus about health care. Not one of them is going to include themselves in the plan, and they are tone deaf to the fact that most American's don't want what they plan to pass. I'm more interested in how it will affect the Dims in the upcoming elections because the Dims are the ones that will be held responsible for this mess, no matter whom among the Republicans they get to drink their kool aid.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I frankly don't give a damn about pols coming to a consensus about health care. Not one of them is going to include themselves in the plan, and they are tone deaf to the fact that most American's don't want what they plan to pass. I'm more interested in how it will affect the Dims in the upcoming elections because the Dims are the ones that will be held responsible for this mess, no matter whom among the Republicans they get to drink their kool aid.

[rebeccajo 14]

Did the Peace Prize thread run out of steam?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did the Peace Prize thread run out of steam?

Yosemite Sofi's chasing after another varmit now.

YS: Ooh! I hates Christmas! And I hates mistletoe! And I hates kissing!

YS: And I say "Bah humbug!" to the whole thing!

BB: But where's ya Christmas spirit?

YS: I'm a-gonna sleep all through Christmas. That way I won't hurt my eyes lookin' at all them ugly decorations.

[DEDixon 39]

i want free health care.. gov't health care.. up my taxes, i don't care, just give me some free health, yeah i know it ain't really free, but just saying when i go to the doctor or hospital for an operation, i don't wan to pay a penny, zero, nothing, just give it to me please coz i've never gotten anything from gov't i figure it is high time the gov't do something for me. i really don't care what it does to the deficit or the debt, just give me some freakin good health care, i'm ready!!! i'm seriously thinking about finding a way to get on SSI, anyone have any suggestions? i don't want to work anymore... seriously. i heard i can say i'm depressed... yeah, i have to see the shrink, then file and file again a few time to get SSI, but i heard it can be done with simple depression and they can't prove i'm not depressed. well, i really am depressed coz i work and i really just want to go fishing (a lot) and do neat stuff in my garage... maybe invent something.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

It's coming across the wires now that Bob Dole has lodged a complaint with the WH saying that the Dim's ad deceptively portrays him as supporting their health plan. He says he does not support it.

Typical ** overreaching . . .

[ready4ONE 5,400]

It's coming across the wires now that Bob Dole has lodged a complaint with the WH saying that the Dim's ad deceptively portrays him as supporting their health plan. He says he does not support it.

Typical ** overreaching . . .