Healthcare end game. What and when?

[French G.]

So how is this party going to crash? I am of course of the opinion that everything with ACA is proceeding as planned. We did pass the bill and now we've found what's in it. I believe the fumbling, stumbling mess by Obama and public side staff is genuine, no way a guy who loses fights with a teleprompter is going to put on a several month long Shakespeare master class. But somewhere there is Rahm Emmanuel or someone else rubbing their hands like a pint size Palpatine, gloriously watching the butthurt flow through us.

I have no clue what the glorious solution that is offered will be, mainly because I have this quaint confusion that I have no idea how they would pay for and administer single payer. But I do believe they will win, mainly because the majority of Americans need health care and most desperately think they need insurance despite its utility or lack thereof. Only the young, healthy, and single can sit this one out for awhile. The rest will grab the only branch offered, no matter how poo covered. I'm one of those. I can do without insurance, go to the VA, and/or just die if required. But I have a divorce decree requiring me to maintain insurance for my kid.

Massive non-compliance is needed not by consumers, but by doctors. How many large health systems will man up to accepting zero federal dollars? Then how many of those will price themselves realistically so that Joe sixpack doesn't have to be a ward of the state? And hospitals could do it. MY emergency room bill for bloodwork and being on a heart monitor for 2 hours was over $1300. The hospital accepted a payment from the insurer for less than $200, so it's clear that the pricing is there just too rope someone to dumb to buy a protection racket.

[fifth_column]

How many large health systems will man up to accepting zero federal dollars? Then how many of those will price themselves realistically so that Joe sixpack doesn't have to be a ward of the state?

My money is on:   0


^^^^ That's a big fat zero in case you can't see it . . . ^^^^

[SADShooter]

I don't have an answer, but I did feel compelled to stop and praise this bit of epic snark:

"But somewhere there is Rahm Emmanuel or someone else rubbing their hands like a pint size Palpatine, gloriously watching the butthurt flow through us."

[AZRedhawk44]

I don't have an answer, but I did feel compelled to stop and praise this bit of epic snark:

"But somewhere there is Rahm Emmanuel or someone else rubbing their hands like a pint size Palpatine, gloriously watching the butthurt flow through us."

Isn't that jamis?   

[French G.]

I always imagined him as more of a slave Leia type. There you go, your daily dose of brain bleach.

[SADShooter]

I always imagined him as more of a slave Leia type. There you go, your daily dose of brain bleach.

I was coming back to suggest something along the lines of an IVF love child of JarJar Binks and Greedo, but this works, too.

[Scout26]

I was coming back to suggest something along the lines of an IVF love child of JarJar Binks and Greedo, but this works, too.

With a mix of Pint-sized Palpatine for good measure.

[Jamisjockey]

Isn't that jamis?   

Secret leader of the dark side? Guilty.

[drewtam]

I have more questions than answers...

How many possible seats can the R's grab in the next election cycle?
Is it enough to mount a majority position?
If R's had a majority, what would they do with it? .... This is going to depend on what promises they campaign on this coming year...
Do they really need a super majority to get this fixed? [Can they force Obama to capitulate with a simple majority?]

Speculating...
The Rs made a position of repeal and replace in 2012. It wasn't successful (Romney decisively lost). It wasn't a failure (R's picked up House positions IIRC & continously poor polling of Obamacare). I think they will stake out the same position in 2014, because of the freshness of that position. Also there is general fear of having no gov't guided insurance scheme; because honestly, sadly, America still isn't converted to libertarianism, (especially not an-cap) despite the object lesson of Obamacare.

So what plans do R's have on the shelf for a repeal and replace scheme? Has Ted/Paul/McCain floated anything substantive? What does that look like?
The boldness of the R's with their planned changes will depend on the 2014 election resut.
*If the results are a timid improvement for Rs, I would expect some revision to existing ACA. A compromise hammered out by a centrist like McCain or similar. Do we know what these existing plans look like?
*If the results are a resounding rejection of Obamacare, I would expect bolder support of a radically revised plan by a Cruz or Ryan or Paul of the party. Do we know what these proposals look like?


Lets say they get a bold win across the country. Not enough seats for a super majority but a very loud and clear win. Lets say they won on a "repeal and replace" theme and promise. And they move forward with a radical redesign (like something closer to what Romney proposed), not a compromised adjustment to the current law.

A big question is if they can force a capitulation by Obama, resulting in his humiliation. I think if they play their cards right they can. All they would have to do is not pass any fixes that Obama wants. So all the screw ups in the current law remain, until the R's get what they want and Obama submits to it. Now, that doesn't mean there wouldn't be some token compromise to get his signature, but they will be face saving items, not substance. I bet a good bill by the R's could get bi-partisan support and override any veto. If they play their cards just right.

[Monkeyleg]

I've read that anywhere from 10 to 14 Democrats are vulnerable in the Senate. The Republicans need a net gain of six.

[Balog]

If the plan loss hits employee provided insurance before the mid terms I'd predict a solid majority of R's. I don't predict much good coming from that.

[RoadKingLarry]

I have more questions than answers...



Speculating...


So what plans do R's have on the shelf ...

I'd go with whatever goes the farthest towards snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[RocketMan]

I'd go with whatever goes the farthest towards snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Pretty much this.  Sigh...

[Tallpine]

I think the whole purpose was to get everyone's personal information into a national database.  I don't think it ever had anything to do with healthcare 

[grampster]

I heard today O wants to delay everything now till after the election in 2014.

[drewtam]

I heard today O wants to delay everything now till after the election in 2014.

I bet he does.