Carville on Health Care: Could be Obama’s ‘Waterloo’

THE DEMS HAVE TOTAL CONTROL AND THE REPUBS CAN’T STOP THEM. WHAT A CLUSTER.

Would someone please explain to me how a program that is going take ten years of taxes to pay for six years of coverage is good for our fiscal house??
They are LYING when they say that this is going to “save” us money.
Wake up America, there are NO free lunches (or health care)!!!

Not passing Health Care: Could be Obama’s ‘Waterloo’!! Really, why not “America’s Waterloo”!! What are our options; continue with the current system according to Republican’s or revise our system based on what the Democrats propose. It’s amazing I don’t see medical professionals (i.e. Doctors, Nurse) outraged with the Democrats position, the only eliminate opposed to healthcare reform are insurance companies who recorded record profits last year. This reminds of the oil industry in 2008 recording billion dollar profits after price gouging the America consumer… Outrageous!! Also, this nation spends billion on the defense budget annually with no questions asked but American’s are outraged with the notion of providing healthcare to citizens it’s deplorable.

Who’s waterloo is it, when the important people we put into office, on both sides only care about “Who wins” It is our Waterloo. It is the middle class Waterloo, becuase the people we trusted are like a bunch of irresponsible children. The Democrats trying to push something through while they have a chance, while half the Republicans just want to make the Democrats look bad, while people like Boehner is in there fighting for the wealthy, who throw their money at FOX News to turn people into puppets. The wealthy they are protecting will also lose, because like it or not the middle class money fills your pockets, and as that runs out you may wonder what happened. Who is the real winners and losers when you can’t go for WIN-WIN.

Basically, the Dems weren’t able to do it right, and that’s why there is SO MUCH opposition.
So, until they are willing to look at how to do it RIGHT, they need to set it aside.
The bill they have, will actually accomplish nothing.

I predict the moderate democrats won’t fall on their swords for Pelosi…

I agree we need health care reform and regulations, however not a complete overhaul of the entire system. That said I think both parties are responsible for getting nothing done. They are both more concerned with poiliticing then fixing America’s problems. In November ALL encumbents should be voted out !!!

Let’s get the Health Care Insurance Reform done for the people of America. The health insurance companies are out of control. The reason anyone is scared of “change” in our health care system is because the rotten Republicans have scared their stupid constituents into believing “it’s bad, it’s socialism, it’s evil, it’s pulling the plug on grandma, it’s a “death panel”, it’s abortion for anyone who wants one at taxpayer’s expense, it’s health care for all illegal aliens.” They are brainwashined into believing all these lies because they listen to Fox News all day and all night. What they don’t realize is if we DON’T do something about health care, it WILL bankrupt our country for certain. So, Dems, just get it done, will you please???

One more thing. My annual Social Security statement warns that program will be belly up by 2037. End all these socialist inspired entitlement programs now. Just give me back what I’ve put in the past 39 years and we’ll call it even. Every one of these government mandated ponzi schemes eventually blows up. And the Dems want you to believe big government will solve your problems. How sad. It’s government that creates these problems. Just say, not thanks to Pelosi and Reid.

My sister (39 year old) just died after a long battle with cancer and with the health insurance companies which kept refusing payment because of a preexisting condition. They killed her. This is happening in the US. Nice country.

The health care system in America is broken. Millions are uncovered or fighting to get care even as they suffer from illness. Health insurers are jacking up rates and getting rich as health costs explode for average folks and businesses. This bill is a start. The GOP likes things just the way they are. Step up Dems and Let’s Get This Done!!

david: did she have health insurance before she got sick? Why would anybody buy insurance if when they get sick they can go buy it. There needs to be reform but we also have to take responability for our own lives too.

Would someone please explain to me how a program that is going take ten years of taxes to pay for six years of coverage is good for our fiscal house??
They are LYING when they say that this is going to “save” us money.
Wake up America, there are NO free lunches (or health care)!!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I agree! It does not make any sense. What is the rush as nothing will not go into affect until 2014. If the Dems had any clue, they will shrink the package and only put in place reforms that will not affect the deficit and can be implemented within a 90 days e.g. pre-existing conditions, kids can stay on parents plans til 25, money for community clinics, medical records technology, and interstate or portability. none of this cost money with the exception of money for clinics.
I am a Democrat and even I think the Dems are making huge mistake in doing this. I voted for Obama but mane you best drop this idea and move on jobs.

WE HAVE PLANS….WE HAVE PLANS…Republicans have plans and they are? Hold off and hope they win back the House and Senate and Health Care again can be shelved. Their plan is a tax break for Health Care per Family? I am guessing if you make more money you get a higher amount each month to spend on Health Care? Sounds like a tax cut for the rich.Wake up Hospitals are losing Millions of dollars a year on charitable Health Care. For you on the right those are working people with no Health Care not Welfare people. At some point Hospitals will fail and then what?

Because of their role as caretakers for their elderly parents, the healthcare debate has moved many Baby Boomers, whatever their nominal political affiliation, to the Center.
Readers might find much to chew on in “A Daughter Among Daughters Reaps Scorn,” about an accountant whose life has been turned upside down by her decision to care for her aged Mom and Dad:
“When her elderly parents became ill, she gave up her job, her security, and her comfortable middle-class existence. If something isn’t done soon, she says, Baby Boomers will become the New Poor.”
(Dr. Ellen Brandt is founder of the Centrists Group at Linked In and the BoomerNetwork, IvyLeague, and Centrists Twibes at Twitter)

Why would anyone want Health Care Reform that not one of your representatives has read and digested completely. Not one I repeat NOT ONE regardless of party can swear or state that they have read the complete bill. That being said remember what we the American Citizen got the last time this happened?? The Patriot Act read it sometime It will scare you to death but anyway if the Demos or the Repubos are going to pass this piece of junk bill then I will vote against any incumbent in Nov 2010 regardless of their party. Of course that will be like shutting the door after the cow is out of the barn. But None of them deserve to serve another term. NONE OF THEM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

Jim Hanson wrote:
“why are people against this?”
Because they are smart enough to realize that Obama is selling a blue sky.
None of the Democratic plans (the House bill, the Senate bill, the Obama plan) will do what they are advertised to do.
Americans recognize lies and smokescreens, and you wonder why they don’t just mindlessly buy into it. That’s why.

until they get to work and do something lets suspend their health care benifits and let the chips fall where they may if the congress and senetors had something to lose maybe they would quit playing the political games and do what they are elected to do represent us.

What we need is jobs.

Health Care reform for America NOW !
Never mind the Party of NO !
Let’s Go Forward !

The current proposed legislation should not be pushed through. It appears then that it about winning and not about what is right or what will work for this country. Regardless of political party, their are two sides to each story. So many of us fail to see that and can only view things in a partisan way. We should be working together to represent all people in this country to do what is best for all of us. I am a Republican and I care about people and want to help people. I just want to make sure that we eliminate the waste and that we fix the corruption instead of slapping a band aid on top of everything because we all know the band aid will end up eventually falling off.

Which is why Obama needs to have a back-up bill, something dramatically scaled-back, ready to be on the table by the end of the month if nothing gets done. Carville is right in that something has to get passed to avert disaster.

You know, people get sick, and whether or not they can afford expensive treatments currently depends on whether they can afford to pay for those treatments. So those who work hard, save their money, and don’t live beyond their means are at an advantage over those who “can’t afford” health care. And in some ways, we have the best health care system in the world, in that the best treatments are available for some. People come from all over the world to take advantage of those treatments. Some would prefer it if a government bureaucracy were given the power to decide who receives medical treatment and what type of treatment they receive. Under that type of system, you can be assured that in a short period of time, everyone will be entitled to receive whatever mediocre care is still available, if they don’t die first waiting for their turn. We can fix the system we have, and preserve the good parts of it, without transforming it into the type of system the extreme left is determined to get.

I am a cancer survivor, so this issue definitely hits home for me. I think everyone needs to have insurance coverage.
The problem is that nothing is free. If you want health care for everyone, you have to find a way to pay for it. In European countries like Greece, where the government pays for everything, they are now having financial crisis – Greece is going bankrupt. In Great Britain, there are growing problems with paying for entitlements.
We need health care reform, but we should do it in ways that will help people without breaking the bank. Obamacare doesn’t do that.
Some GOP ideas that make sense but which Obama and the Dems don’t want:
1) Tort Reform. In states where they’ve done this (Texas, Tennessee) they’ve seen dramatic lowering of health insurance costs. I’ve priced how much it would cost me to have insurance in Texas vs. New Jersey – and my premiums in Texas would be about half what I would have to pay in NJ.
2) Allowing people to buy insurance across state lines.
3) Give individuals the same tax breaks for having their own insurance that companies now have. This would give people portable insurance that is not dependent on their employer. Under the current system, if you get cancer and you get fired, you could lose your insurance because your next employer’s insurance could refuse to cover you. But if you were able to maintain your own private policy, then you would not see interruption of insurance coverage.
4) Using health savings accounts. In Indiana, under Republican Govenor Mitch Daniels, they’ve tried a program where workers are GIVEN almost $3000 a year in a health savings account that they can use for health care – whatever they don’t use by the end of the year, they can keep; if they have a critical illness, they pay a percentage below a ceiling of $8000; after that, the government covers it. This has apparently dramatically lowered medical costs in the state. We could try something similar as a safety net for those who, despite lowering of premiums, etc., still could not afford insurance.
Of course it should be illegal for insurance companies to drop someone because they get sick… HOWEVER, people need to get insurance BEFORE they get sick. That is just personal responsibility.

This joke of a bill wont do anything but break our backs.
The evil socialist Democrats are only concerned with creating their leftist socialist utopia.
Thats waht this bill is aboout. It wont lower costs for anyone.
My insurance premiums are just fine, so stay out of my pocket.

“I’m personally losing years off my life because I cannot afford to go for diabetes checkups…
Posted by: paintpaintpaint”
Well we need to get this passed now so that you can check with the legislative bodies and determine if you qualify for a test in 2014… hope you’ve got some plan to ge through the next 4 years (or more) witht he nothing this bill provides.
Oh, and the bill will require you to buy approved health insurance (not give everyone insurance for free) so you may end up paying more… actually you almost certainly will.
But hey, you’ll pay more, get less, wait in more lines, and have to wait 4 years for it to start. I can see why you’re excited.

David I’m sorry for your loss, but really in what nation do you believe she would have a better chance? China, North Korea,Cuba, Greece, Venezuela. Don’t blame Democrats or Republicans or even America. A best friend lost both legs but doctors here saved his life. Another survived combat with a steel plate in his skull because of the skill and equipment available here. This is not free or even cheap but it is available almost anywhere in this country. Yes much needs to be improved but the Federal Government as a practitioner is not the answer. Think about federal programs you have had to deal with, did you really look forward to doing so, and where you treated has anything but a number. April really a good month for you? I don’t think so. I do not want people like Nancy Pelosi H Reid, or C Rangel controlling my health care. We as a Nation deserve better but friend it is not free, never was, and never will be. But be sure bankrupt this nation with giveaways and everyone but the Elitists will lose.

Every single person who is posting here who is pro Obama care are exactly what is wrong with this country….every single one of you are spongers who want and demand that the “government”..that would be your neighbor who actually works…pay for and support you and your family. And the only ones out of control in this country is the anti-American president and his Marxist cronies. If you don’t like the coverage or care you get from your Insurance company..get another..that is how free market works…if you don’t like how government care works then you can do NOTHING! Oh here is a fact to chew on…Medicare (that’s government care!) turns down 5x as many requests/claims as any private insurance company. So maybe you all better get some facts and quit spouting your uninformed opinions. It is as simple as that. Oh and by the way..I lived in the UK and Canada..and having “insurance” sure as heck did NOT translate into getting ANY health care.

Since when is a need a right? Why not have a national housing bill? We all need shelter. How about a national car bill? Most Americans (unless they live in big cities) need a car. How about a national food bill? We all need to eat. All these are needs, but they aren’t a right–unless you live in a Socialist country such as the former Soviet Union. As someone else said, the biggest issue is cost. Let’s take care of that first. Then let’s move on coverage. By cost I mean of course, the Tort Reform. Getting the mostly Democrat ambulance chasing lawyers to end the ridiculous law suits that cost billions of dollars and drive up malpractice insurance.

Just cover your ears and keep blaming George Bush. Oh, and “the rich.”

The US Healthcare System is NOT the best in the world.
Among industrialised nations it is the most expensive – does that make it the best?
Among industrialised nations it ranks as the worst, with the UK’s NHS ranking as the best.
The UK’s health care system provides universal coverage from conception to the grave at no cost at point of delivery.
The US health system denies care to 50,000,000 citizens. Does its ‘lesser eligibility’ barrier to 50 Million make it the best in the world?
The US healthcare system loses 1000,000 patients a year to medical errors, and even more to malpractice, cross-infection, and sloppy standards of care and oversight. Do these make it the best in the world?
Anyone that believes that the US healthcare is the best in the world knows nothing about either the US’s badly broken and inadequate Systems, and even less about the Socialised Healthcare systems in the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia that not only outperform the US systems at every level, but cost only one third to one half of the cost of operating the US’s badly managed systems.
The UK NHS has a standard fee for ANY prescription drug, free prescriptions for children under 18, people over 60, and for any with chronic or terminal conditions.
I have 45 years experience under the UK NHS and 10 years experience under the US HMO bureaucratic systems and I can tell you that the difference is as that between night and day.
The ‘waiting time’ myth about waiting weeks, months, or years for life saving medical and surgical procedures in the UK is exactly that – a myth. That was true under the Tories [Republican type stick-in-the-muds], but that was swiftly reversed under Blair’s New Labour government, and remains the best in the world, bar none!
The real question about universal health care in any nation boils down to two reconcileable positions:
1. Should every US citizen be afforded access to the best medical care available, or left to rot and die, and
2. Should the ability to pay inflated prices for inferior care determined by vested interests that seek to maximise their profits at the expense of the sick, disabled, and vulnerable [the actual death panels!] be the sole consideration in whether a needy person can see a doctor for themselves and their ailing babies, elderly, etc?
In short, is it humanity or profitability that should determine which Americans can get the treatments and meds they need and who cannot get the necessary access to healthcare in the Healthcare Systems in what the deluded believe is the greatest country in the world?
Thou art weighed in the balance and found wanting.

A lot of misinformation. The Republicans understand that we all want health care change–JUST NOT THIS 2500 PLUS PAGE BILL THAT NO ONE HAS A CLUE AS TO THE CONTENT!
The Dems keep trying to pass a terrible bill that will bankrupt and divide out country. The republicans are pragmatic in that they understand we must have competition across state lines and rein in lawyer costs with tort reform. WE ALL WANT HEALTH CARE REFORM–NOT THIS HEALTH CARE BILL. Obama is slippery and tries to pass the buck but he owns it!

This legislation is a train wreck because the President and Congress have tried to obscure the basic choices in the legislation, and to lie about the fact there will be winners and losers. Americans know politicians are lying when they say this bill will be good for everyone and that it is solely a win-win proposition. We are tired of the arrogance and condescension. This is all about wealth redistribution.
The advantages of this program are that more people will have some type of health insurance. These people will be the winners.
However, people who have good insurance will be losers. The quality of their coverage and their health care will decline, and they will have fewer choices and less control.
The choices are clear. Do you want to have more people who have more basic care? If so, you must accept that the range of care will be limited, wait times will increase, there will be some form of rationing and limits on experimental and end of life care. Going to the doctor will be more like going to the DMV. Our current system ensures lots of innovation and medical break throughs because of the financial incentives involved, and ensures that the well insured (who are the vast majority of Americans) get state of the art care.
There are real advantages and disadvantages to Obamacare and definite winners and losers. The politicians need to stop infantilizing the public, and stop pretending this is fantasyland where more people will have even better care at less cost. This is a very generous, but also an exorbitantly expensive entitlement option. The have nots will do better, the haves will do worse. Outline the basic issues and choices, but stop treating us like we’re either stupid or ignorant children. It’s infuriating!

This bill and the way the Dems have handled it proves their only goal is complete control of the American economy. If you think this will make things better, READ the bill. Everything Obama said during the campaign was a lie – he has done just the opposite. The good news is that if they jam this through, the Democrat party may be destroyed for years to come.

That piece Jake did was totally ONE-SIDED, as was the beginning of your interview with Mc Cain.
Please do not pretend to be doing news. You need to either do a disclaimer or have an animation with the US middle class drowning in $5,500,000,000 of new debt to illustrate the other side of the health plan.
I am extremely disappointed . I expected fairer reporting by GMA.

Its too bad the WH is determined to blow it’s political capital on bad HC bills. Good ways to go forward would be very easy to follow, like scrapping the HC bills and doing a step-by-step approach. Instead, a stubborn clinging to rejected ideas has caused a loss of trust and good will of the American electorate; trust betrayed is almost impossible to regain.

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It’s too late for Obama to gain any political capital on Healthcare. It’s been ugly, compromised and nationally divisive.
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Ending the healthcare debate is like waiting for the end of a nasty root canal procedure.
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Obama won’t gain any legacy. It will collect taxes the remaining 3 years of his one-term presidency with no benefits to Americans. And the next president and congress will rip it out because of the pain inflicted on the American people.
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How soon will the measure be having a nice house, car and health care, be the mark of the upper class?

It could be said that President Obama passing health care could be the Republicans “waterloo”! They are so afraid of this healthcare reform becoming really popular like SSI and Medicare!

nice article!