Why Dems Can Suck Sometimes

The head of the DNC, Terry McAuliffe (chosen by Obama) thought the public option is dead today in an interview over at TPM. Then he added he was willing to compromise because "we've got to pass something."

This is the biggest problem with dems. They often don't want to step on toes or throw their weight around to get something good passed. To dems an "ok bill" passed with people happy is better than a really good bill passed with a lot of pissed off people. Some of the dem senators need to be squeezed. Just out-right squeeeeezzzzzzzed. How? Demote their committee positions. Don't raise money for them. Make their life very difficult.

The GOP are masters at this. They squeeze the crap out of the rank and file for big legislation. Can dems do that? Not with statements like "we've got to pass something."

Dems Mad As Hell

After the insurance industries report on the "problems" with the new health care bill has been panned by everyone in the industry, the dems are mad as hell. Not only did the report not affect yesterdays vote on the bill it also brought the dems together. In their new found unity, they are now looking to go after the insurance companies even more.

From Politico:

"Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday called for an amendment to the health care reform bill that would remove the long-standing antitrust exemption for insurers, echoing a push by other Democrats to crack down on the industry."

What is antitrust? It is where companies (working with other companies) cannot set prices for things. It undermines free market if companies get together and say "hey, why don't we all just charge the same price for things." This does not allow the consumer to get the best price. Well, insurance companies are 1 of only 2 industries that have an exemption. The other is baseball.

So, if you can eliminate these price setting mechanisms, health care can naturally compete. Right? I guess we will see.

At the end of the day, the genius who decided to bring out the report now really screwed the pooch.

Jon Stewart Takes CNN Out Back To The Shed

Jon Stewart, at his best, destroys CNN's ridiculous report on the validity of an SNL sketch. It is one of the funniest I have seen.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
CNN Leaves It There
www.thedailyshow.com
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Olympia Snowe Votes For Health Care

Republican Senator Olympia Snowe really stood in the face of her party and recognized how big today's health care vote is by voting in favor of the Baucus bill. She was also heavily courted by Obama to vote for the bill. Why? From what I have been reading, it will hopefully cause conservative dem senators to vote for it as well. Meaning, this will probably be the backbone of the main bill that makes it to Obama's desk.

Some of Olympia's quotes:

"When history calls, history calls."

but: "My vote today, is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what it will be tomorrow."

So will she be in the final floor vote? Probably not.

Insurance Industry Sees Writing On The Wall

The public option is looking more and more likely to be apart of the health care bill. With everyone starting to accept this, the insurance industry, on the eve of the Baucus health care bill, decided to try and attack the reforms coming out of congress.

“The overall impact will be to increase the cost of private insurance coverage for individuals, families and businesses above what these costs would be in the absence of reform,” in a report from America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)

Well, what do you know? The industry that's being regulated has come out with dooms day scenarios to try and change the debate. The problem is the report that AHIP is siting is a report AHIP created. At best this is poor choice, at worst this is straight up lying.

The white house was very quick to destroy the report.

"This report is untrue, disingenuous and bought and paid for by the same health insurance companies that have been gouging consumers for too long. "

I also saw a qoute warning repubs not to feast on this report so easily. They need to be weary of looking like doing the insurance industries bidding. My question is: isn't that too late?

Dems Must Attack

Good article in the Times about how the dems need to work the 2010 election cycle.

"Now that Democrats control the White House, Congress and most governorships, voters’ discontent with the status quo represents their burden, which has Democratic strategists considering tactics to push back challengers."

The dems really need to do this. Next year they need to unapologetically stand up for their agenda (provided they get health care and immigration passed). Then attack anyone who tries to paint the dem agenda as bad for America.

The problem that comes up with the dems is that they don't do this. They try and justify what they have done. Dems don't need to justify. Everyone knows that health care needs to be changed. Strong confrontation to any charges against you.