Here's the Real Fear from the Politicos of the Right Wing

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

Fearing a permanent Democratic majority if Bill Clinton succeeded in passing his health care reform package, Bill Kristol in 1993 famously authored a memo urging Republicans to halt it at all costs. Now in the wake of the GOP's latest blowout at the ballot box, its water carriers in right-wing think-tanks and media are calling for history to repeat itself. In December 1993, the former Quayle chief of staff and current New York Times columnist Kristol galvanized Congressional Republicans with a private memo titled, "Defeating President Clinton's Health Care Proposal." As the American Prospect recalled in January, Kristol's war plan:

Darkly warned that a Democratic victory would save Clinton's political career, revive the politics of the welfare state, and ensure Democratic majorities far into the future. "Any Republican urge to negotiate a 'least bad' compromise with the Democrats, and thereby gain momentary public credit for helping the president 'do something' about health care, should be resisted," wrote Kristol. Republican pollster Bill McInturff advised Congressional Republicans that success in the 1994 midterm elections required "not having health care pass."

Kristol's central strategy in obstructing Clinton's success in resolving the health care crisis was simply to deny its existence. Not content to offer a "simple, green-eyeshade criticism of the president's health care plan," Kristol insisted the GOP must "kill it outright." While advocating many of the same free-market reforms later peddled by George W. Bush and John McCain (tax credits, medical savings accounts, etc.), Kristol implored his allies that "passage of the Clinton health care plan in any form would be disastrous." His prescription:

"To repeat: The president's plan would have a seriously detrimental effect on the quality of medical health care. And the president's plan is unnecessary: There is no health care crisis, and the reforms suggested above show how real problems can be directly addressed."

And so it came to pass. In the Senate, long-time health care reform supporter Bob Dole (R-KS) in early 1994 adopted Kristol's mantra:

"Our country has health care problems, but no health care crisis."

Collectively, the unbreakable GOP stonewall, successful conservative myth-making, massive interest group intervention and the Clinton administration's own political bungling doomed health care reform in 1994. That fall, the Democratic majority in the House was swept away by the Contract with America. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward 15 years and some of the right would like to see history repeat itself. Despite the continued and dramatic deterioration of the American health system, conservative voices are again calling for obstructionism at all costs.

That's the word from Michael Cannon at the Cato Institute. Parroting the think-tank's claim that Obama's health care proposal is "socialized medicine," Cannon sounded Kristol's old clarion call:

"Blocking Obama's health plan is key to GOP's survival. Ditto Baucus' health plan. And Kennedy's. And Wyden's.

Approvingly citing Norman Markowitz' assertion at PoliticalAffairs.net that "national health care [and other measures] will bring reluctant voters into the Obama coalition," Cannon fretted that "making citizens dependent on the government for their medical care can change the fates of political parties." For arch conservatives, that formula spells trouble for the GOP.

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001316.htm

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Feeling a lil defensive these days arent we?

[GaryC 7]

Everything is a right wing consperacy to you. Why can't you face the fact that a majority of Americans don't want what Obama is selling? It always has to be the right wing boogyman to you. What a joke.

Edited August 13, 2009 by GaryC

[GaryC 7]

Here is some reality for you Steven. The health care bill is dying and will not pass. Not because of some "right wing" manipulation but because the people don't want it.

Support for Congressional Health Care Reform Falls to New Low

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Public support for the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats has fallen to a new low as just 42% of U.S. voters now favor the plan. That’s down five points from two weeks ago and down eight points from six weeks ago.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that opposition to the plan has increased to 53%, up nine points since late June.

More significantly, 44% of voters strongly oppose the health care reform effort versus 26% who strongly favor it. Intensity has been stronger among opponents of the plan since the debate began.

Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan while 56% of those over 65 are opposed. Among senior citizens, 46% are strongly opposed.

Predictably, 69% of Democrats favor the plan, while 79% of Republicans oppose it. Yet while 44% of Democratic voters strongly favor the reform effort, 70% of GOP voters are strongly opposed to it.

Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed. This marks an uptick in strong opposition among both Republicans and unaffiliateds, while the number of strongly supportive Democrats is unchanged.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_con...alls_to_new_low

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

Everything is a right wing consperacy to you. Why can't you face the fact that a majority of Americans don't want what Obama is selling? It always has to be the right wing boogyman to you. What a joke.

William Kristol is no joke, Gary, but your insistence that the majority of American, you know, the majority who actually voted for Obama have suddenly lost their stomach for health care reform is a joke. The difference between now and 1993 is 48 million uninsured Americans in the middle of a Recession. The GOP has a reputation for not giving a sh!t about the marginalized in this country, which is one of the factors into why they lost in November.

Edited August 13, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[rebeccajo 14]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

[alienlovechild 75]

Darkly warned that a Democratic victory would save Clinton's political career, revive the politics of the welfare state, and ensure Democratic majorities far into the future.

This largely ignores the fact Clinton was reelected despite Hillary's plan failing.

Collectively, the unbreakable GOP stonewall, successful conservative myth-making, massive interest group intervention and the Clinton administration's own political bungling doomed health care reform in 1994. That fall, the Democratic majority in the House was swept away by the Contract with America. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Backwards thinking. Like the Dems had control on Congress then and now and failed on their own without the GOP. The health care failure helped bring the GOP to power big time in 1994 which may happen again.

[GaryC 7]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

Here is the real gem:

"Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed."

These are the people that really elected Obama. Losing their support spells the death of this plan.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

That would be the x-box 360 bunch, Livin with theyre parents.

[rebeccajo 14]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

Here is the real gem:

"Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed."

These are the people that really elected Obama. Losing their support spells the death of this plan.

Most of the people I work with supported Obama in the election. You gotta remember - I work in social services now. There never will be a more 'socialist leaning' field out there.

I don't at all hear Obama supporters saying they don't support reform. I do hear them saying that what is on the table now either is not real reform, or it is being too hastily done.

Even people who want single payer want it done right.

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

That would be the x-box 360 bunch, Livin with theyre parents.

Some of 'em sure.

Or maybe it's the ones watching their parents go broke trying to pay medical bills.

[GaryC 7]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

Here is the real gem:

"Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed."

These are the people that really elected Obama. Losing their support spells the death of this plan.

Most of the people I work with supported Obama in the election. You gotta remember - I work in social services now. There never will be a more 'socialist leaning' field out there.

I don't at all hear Obama supporters saying they don't support reform. I do hear them saying that what is on the table now either is not real reform, or it is being too hastily done.

Even people who want single payer want it done right.

Not all of them, just 62% of them. Trouble is this is what is offered. It seems that we get a bad bill or nothing at all. Given the choice between the two I vote for nothing at all.

[rebeccajo 14]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

Here is the real gem:

"Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed."

These are the people that really elected Obama. Losing their support spells the death of this plan.

Most of the people I work with supported Obama in the election. You gotta remember - I work in social services now. There never will be a more 'socialist leaning' field out there.

I don't at all hear Obama supporters saying they don't support reform. I do hear them saying that what is on the table now either is not real reform, or it is being too hastily done.

Even people who want single payer want it done right.

Not all of them, just 62% of them. Trouble is this is what is offered. It seems that we get a bad bill or nothing at all. Given the choice between the two I vote for nothing at all.

I don't see a finalized bill yet. Do you?

[GaryC 7]

"Sixty-seven percent (67%) of those under 30 favor the plan"...............

Here is the real gem:

"Most notable, however, is the opposition among voters not affiliated with either party. Sixty-two percent (62%) of unaffiliated voters oppose the health care plan, and 51% are strongly opposed."

These are the people that really elected Obama. Losing their support spells the death of this plan.

Most of the people I work with supported Obama in the election. You gotta remember - I work in social services now. There never will be a more 'socialist leaning' field out there.

I don't at all hear Obama supporters saying they don't support reform. I do hear them saying that what is on the table now either is not real reform, or it is being too hastily done.

Even people who want single payer want it done right.

Not all of them, just 62% of them. Trouble is this is what is offered. It seems that we get a bad bill or nothing at all. Given the choice between the two I vote for nothing at all.

I don't see a finalized bill yet. Do you?

You can bet it will be a variation of what we have now. That will not gain support.

[rebeccajo 14]

You can bet it will be a variation of what we have now. That will not gain support.

I'm glad your crystal ball is workin' cause mine isn't.

[nowhereman 1]

OK I have a very serious question.... Is Bat Guano Bizarro & Danno is Superman or is it vice versa?