Internal GOP Memo Shows GOP Not Interested In Health Care Reform
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A memo being circulated in GOP circles shows us much of what we already knew: the right isn’t interested in reforming the existing health care systen, and in fact their overriding goal is to prevent President Obama from doing so. The Republican alternative to health care reform being enacted by the president and Democrats is for you to pray for your ailments to be cured and to pray for the mountain of debt caused by medical needs to evaporate.
49 Responses to “Internal GOP Memo Shows GOP Not Interested In Health Care Reform”
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© 2000-2011 Oliver Willis
Yes, Republicans are stupid enough to let the American people know that they could give two shits about them and only care about taking down our President.
BRAVO!
“Internal GOP Memo Shows GOP Not Interested In Health Care Reform”
Surprise, surprise, surprise!
GOP memo???
You need to start paying attention about what is happening with your beloved LibDems and the Prez.
I’ll just sit back and watch them slug it out agains the will of the majority of Americans.
Norquistnomics on the march
You need to start paying attention about what is happening with your beloved LibDems and the Prez.
Hard to do that when GOP (and their operatives) bash them at every turn. You see, when the media asks one party about the other party is doing, you tend to get a distorted pitcure. How I long for a news cycle that’s just Democrats, where the networks and cable stations don’t feel compelled to get the GOP’s opinion on every single thing. I’ll take one day, just one, where I don’t have to hear from Steele, Bolton, Cheney, Sessions, Newt, Romney, Palin, Jindal, Kristol, Buchanon, etc. Why? because the Democrats don’t follow Reagan’s 11th Commandment.
I’ll just sit back and watch them slug it out against the will of the majority of
Americansstinking rich insurance companies and their well compensated congressional stooges.As Teh Kidz say, fix’t.
More here:
http://wonkette.com/409972/nobody-wants-health-care-reform-except-voters-and-who-cares-about-them
Axelrod going to the well again.
Assemble a group of bloggers, the same ones that were appalled at Bush for having a friendly chat in the Oval office with some conservative talk show hosts, and make them feel important. Then sit back and wait for the propaganda to work its way through the system.
“The Republican National Committee will engage in every activity we can to slow down this mad rush while promoting sensible alternatives that address health care costs and preserve quality,” the memo affirmatively declares.
The BASTARDS!!!!!
J.
Then sit back and wait for the propaganda to work its way through the system.
You mean like Fox News? Drudge? Socialism!? What the hell are you virtually talking about?
Sorry, Indeed, I tend too much to assume guys like you read what’s written here and I don’t have to spell it out for you.
Obama/ Liberal blogger conference call….Good.
Bush/ Conservative talk show hosts meeting…………………Bad.
IOKIYAD
while promoting sensible alternatives that address health care costs and preserve quality
Too bad the GOP hasn’t done that.
Dennis: Yes, those conservative hosts are all idiots and they were at the feet of their idiot king, Bush. On the contrary bloggers on the call with Obama asked serious questions and didn’t take marching orders.
I’ll just sit back and watch them slug it out agains[t] the will of the majority of Americans.
do you mean the majority of Americans that voted for Obama? That majority?
The Republican alternative to health care reform being enacted by the president and Democrats is for you to pray for your ailments to be cured..
No, silly. the republican alternative is for sick people to give up and die.
That’s what the D stands for in Medicare Part D.
I’m especially enamored of the health bill’s Section 1233, the “Oh, just die already, old people” provision. Goddamned freeloading seniors need to just kick the bucket already.
J.
Oliver, do you have any intention of ever being taken seriously, or is this just a place for you to post incoherent ramblings?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/gop.health.care/index.html?eref=rss_politics&iref=polticker
“… while promoting sensible alternatives that address health care costs and preserve quality,” the memo affirmatively declares.
Even though we have no idea how to do that.
Scott Roberts: And, as I said, the GOP plan is status quo and pray.
Q: “Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insurers be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?”
A: Obambi: “You know, I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about.”
The bill, if passed today, doesn’t even take full effect until 2013. So why the hell does thing thing have to pass yesterday? If Health Care is so vital, so important, so urgent, then make the bill effective upon signage.
(And of course, the Democratics can’t. Because all the costs are backloaded and starting the program immediately takes the bill from uber-expensive to are-you-f#$*ing-kidding-me?-expensive.)
I’m especially enamored of the health bill’s Section 1233, the “Oh, just die already, old people” provision. Goddamned freeloading seniors need to just kick the bucket already.
I’m afraid we’ll have to wait for an education bill to teach you how to read.
Guys, the Obama Health Care boondoggle is getting choked by your own LibDems that are ‘reading the tea leaves’
For you guys to sit here and circle-jerk about how the GOP is being obstructionist is freakin laughable.
Sorry, Indeed, I tend too much to assume guys like you read what’s written here and I don’t have to spell it out for you.
Um, I asked about propaganda, Einstein.
Guys, the Obama Health Care boondoggle is getting choked by your own
LibDemsinsurance companies and their well compensated congressional stooges that are ‘reading the tea leaves’So, what, Joaker, you’re saying that the GOP is NOT being obstructionist?
Oliver, you said “the right isn’t interested in reforming the existing health care systen[sic]“. I provided a link that proves that you are dead wrong.
Did you read the link?
“But it also emphasizes preventive care, computerizing patient records and reducing “defensive medicine” by promoting treatments proven effective — all principles the White House has endorsed, as well.”
For all of Obama’s TALK about being “bi-partisan”, it looks like the Republicans are the only ones trying to work together.
Duros62 – What is wrong with trying to obstruct bad legislation? It seems like a *GREAT* idea to me.
Bottom line: LibDems in Congress have the votes to ram through whatever they want. It just so happens that some of them just aren’t real comfortable with the Pelosi/Obama Health Care thing. Can ya blame them? Ha!
Oh yeah I almost forgot, the Gitmo decision is getting pushed back another 6 month. Wow, not a good day, eh kiddies?
Oh, and another thing: Did you see the latest approval numbers? WOW! Can you spell T O I L E T?
So, what, Joaker, you’re saying that the GOP is NOT being obstructionist?
So one is an ‘obstructionist’ now when attempting to put a stranglehold on POS legislation? Hell, Obama himself even admitted he doesn’t KNOW what is in the House Democrats bill. He doesn’t know, but it needs to be passed NOW NOW NOW!
You also left out that we’re minutes away from being forcibly converted to Islam. You’re slipping.
Got it, OW. My bad. I probably just jumped to a hasty conclusion that this was a simple case of something being horribly wrong for Republicans then, but ok for Dems now.
The first blogger to ask a question on said conference call has since already posted three blog posts on health care and the evil Republicans/conservatives who only want to obstruct Mr. Sensitive’s health care abomination. I guess the objective thing for me to assume is that it’s just the adrenalin rush he got from speaking to the Prez and not at all his taking marching orders.
JT, I called Senator McConnell’s office this very morning, and I asked where I could read the Republican plan to deal with the health crisis/extortion conspiracy. Apparently no such plan exists, but I was ASSURED that, “They’re working on it.”
Gosh, it’s not like anyone is dying or going bankrupt while they cogitate, is it?
The Democrats are crafting a bill that can be voted on, while the GOP dithers. Their plan IS “WAAAHHH! No yikum.”
Until they come up with a plan of their own, the GOP should STFU and just vote against the one that will pass without their votes. See how they do in the next election when people who finally got some coverage go to the polls.
If the party in power gives the people something they want, then that party gets those people to vote for them. Because carefully crafted images, hate speech, corruption, paranoia and public relations do not address real problems like health care, the Republicans hove nothing left in their playbook.
Governing is hard work, but somebody better do some, and the GOP ain’t.
For all of Obama’s TALK about being “bi-partisan”, it looks like the Republicans are the only ones trying to work together.
Give you a real good deal on a bridge in Alaska.
What is wrong with trying to obstruct bad legislation? It seems like a *GREAT* idea to me.
What makes it bad, specifically?
Because carefully crafted images, hate speech, corruption, paranoia and public relations do not address real problems like health care, the Republicans hove nothing left in their playbook.
But they have really cool report covers!
The Democrats are crafting a bill that can be voted on, while the GOP dithers.
Under what exact parlimentary procedures would the GOP be able to bring their plan(s) to the floor?
You guys wanted 60 votes: you got it. And all the responsibility that comes with it.
I guess the objective thing for me to assume is that it’s just the adrenalin rush he got from speaking to the Prez and not at all his taking marching orders.
It’s not like health care reform is in the news or anything…
Last time the Republicans shot down health care reform was 16 years ago. When they took power, 1 year later, it was amazing how they implemented all those awesome sensible alternatives they had up their sleeve all along. When they got a Republican president too, they really rolled up their sleeves and reformed the hell out of it, didn’t they?
If health care reform is thwarted again, whattaya bet we don’t hear a fucking peep out of the GOP about the wonderful sensible alternatives they have planned for ANOTHER fucking 16 years.
Under what exact parlimentary procedures would the GOP be able to bring their plan(s) to the floor?
Well, they could win some elections.
I gotta million of ‘em. Tip your waiter and I will be here longer than you will.
But as I mentioned, there is no ‘there’ there. The GOP does not have anything like a plan that COULD be crafted into a bill for the floor of the House, so your point is moot. If there is nothing to present, the parliamentary aspects are meaningless.
You guys wanted 60 votes: you got it. And all the responsibility that comes with it.
Hey, thanks! We got it from here.
The BASTARDS!!!!!
Of course what these “sensible alternatives” ARE is anyone’s guess. I’m guessing it’s either “use the emergency room”, or, as Frank would suggest, “harvest the organs of the Iraqis”.
Oh, and another thing: Did you see the latest approval numbers? WOW! Can you spell T O I L E T?
So more than double Bush’s approval ratings = toilet?
Joaquin: What the hell is a LibDem? Is that some brand of dental dam?
Got it, OW. My bad. I probably just jumped to a hasty conclusion that this was a simple case of something being horribly wrong for Republicans then, but ok for Dems now.
Don’t worry, Republicans are always wrong.
Duros62, what makes it “bad”, specifically, is that it is government subsidized. The idea that private insurance will “compete” with government subsidized insurance is absurd. What will, in fact, happen is that *everyone* will get on the govt plan and then the “rich” will purchase supplemental insurance – similar to what happens now with medicare.
Then, about 5-10 years later the Dems will be crying “foul” because the “rich” are getting better treatment than the “poor”. So, the “rich” will be excluded from the govt plan even though they pay for 90% of it – similar to what will happen soon with Medicare and Social Security.
The other thing that makes it “bad”, specifically, is that the Dems feel the need to *completely* re-work the entire process. Why not try a couple of very simple, inexpensive reforms before throwing the baby out with the bath water? How about we simply abolish group health insurance policies and let individuals purchase their own health insurance like they do car insurance? True competition among insurance companies will drive costs down.
Next, instead of implementing a single-payer system why not implement a clearing house for claims and payments? That gives all of the benefits/efficiencies of a single-payer system but leaves the market in control of rates. And, it lowers the barriers to entry for new insurance companies.
The reality is that the Dems want to rush *THEIR* plan through before the 2010 elections because they are afraid (and rightly so) that their majority in congress will be eliminated. Make no mistake, the rush for reform has nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with the Dems knowing they will NOT retain their 60 seats in the Senate past 2010.
Duros62, what makes it “bad”, specifically, is that it is government subsidized. The idea that private insurance will “compete” with government subsidized insurance is absurd. What will, in fact, happen is that *everyone* will get on the govt plan and then the “rich” will purchase supplemental insurance – similar to what happens now with medicare.
And public schools!
Wait…
Why not try a couple of very simple, inexpensive reforms before throwing the baby out with the bath water?
Because the republicans don’t want to “spoil the surprise” of what these reforms ARE.
How about we simply abolish group health insurance policies and let individuals purchase their own health insurance like they do car insurance?
Assuming this actually works, that only addresses part of the problem. The major issues is health insurance companies refusing to actually provide coverage under the flimsiest of circumstances.
True competition among insurance companies will drive costs down.
Or price-fixing. You know, either/or.
More for Scott Roberts:
what makes it “bad”, specifically, is that it is government subsidized
If government is so incredibly inefficient, I don’t understand how they can also successfully capture an entire industry by subsidization. FedEx and UPS seem to do quite well against the USPS.
the “rich” will be excluded from the govt plan even though they pay for 90% of it
With the urban middle class under so much economic pressure progressive taxation is increasingly the only way to get the bills paid while keeping the economy stable. ..unless you have a nifty way to compete with automation, India and China.
a clearing house for claims and payments
Administered by who? This alone will keep copays from bankrupting claimers while also reducing premiums?
I’d understood that Republicans have been working against health care reform since 1946 but from what I’ve been reading today Republicans have been working against health care since 1935.
74 years later the right wing are saying we’re going to fast…
Meanwhile “18,314 DEATHS EVERY YEAR are blamed on lack of health insurance.”
That study was done before June 2002 and those deaths per year because of lack of health insurance have assuredly gone up.
Multiplying the last eight years with 18,314 deaths per year means that a minimum of 146,512 Americans have died because of the lack of health insurance in the last eight years.
74 years after Republicans first obstructed health care reform Republicans and their right wing lackeys are saying the Democratic Party is working too fast in reforming health care, something more than 7 out of 10 Americans want…
[corrected]
as Frank would suggest, “harvest the organs of the Iraqis”.
OK, you have my attention, Zython. Now what the f*ck does it mean, and what does it have to do with me ?
“Frank” pretend to have a conscience, pretend you care that 146,512 Americans have died because of the lack of health insurance in the last eight years.
OK, you have my attention, Zython. Now what the f*ck does it mean, and what does it have to do with me ?
You don’t remember how you said the Iraqi’s weren’t any more worthwhile as human beings other than cannon fodder? But to be fair, I realize now you wouldn’t suggest harvesting their organs. After all, that would be cost effective.
freD: The clearing house would be administered by a private company funded by those who participate in the clearing house – i.e. doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies. It will reduce premiums by allowing more competition among insurance companies.
Let me ask you this, if insurance companies are soooo lucrative and control the entire health care industry (according to some) then why haven’t more people gone into the health care insurance business?
2 reasons:
1. A new health insurance company has a limited pool of potential customers because the vast majority of people are locked in to whatever insurance their employer selected for them.
2. Signing up hundreds of thousands of doctors and hospitals so that they will accept your insurance is very expensive and time-consuming. But without doctors and hospitals on your network it is impossible to sell your insurance to anyone.
Now, suppose that individuals made their own insurance decisions instead of having their employer choose for them. And suppose that a start-up insurance company had only to interface with the clearing house in order to get every doctor and hospital in America on their “network”. Under those circumstances, you’ve got a real opportunity to have insurance companies actually COMPETE for customers. You would have discount companies that provide basic services for extremely low premiums as well as high-end insurance that covers botox and teeth-whitening. And the best part is that YOU get to choose what you want.
Now, that’s not a panacea. We still need govt regulations and oversight of the industry – just like we have for auto insurance. And we need for the govt to REQUIRE that everyone carry some minimum level of health insurance – like we do for auto insurance.
As for progressive taxation, well, I’m not opposed to that at all. What I am opposed to is not providing govt services to the very people who pay the taxes. If the tax rates get too high, and the benefits of paying those taxes get too low, then you’ll have real problems on your hands.
P.S. “Zython” – if you want to participate in an adult conversation and be taken seriously, then lose the anime avatar and stop the snarky insults. They don’t make you look clever. Quite the contrary.
News Reference: more than 7 out of 10 Americans want health reform? According to this article, 53% oppose it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20090722/pl_rasmussen/healthcarereform20090722