Obamacare cost...

[All-American]

Nah. I think it's pretty established by now that no matter what polling actually says and no matter how many pollsters say it, you are going to read what you want out of it anyways. Sort of how you and your party are operating on most political questions today.

I'll satisfy myself with being realistic about the polling. It's not good for ACA, but it's not nearly as bad as you think it is or want it to be.

Oh, the ironies in this statement . . . .

[VirginiaCougar]

[ATTACH]3071[/ATTACH]

138304_600.jpg

[Uncle Ted]

Obamacare day 1. So far so good...

Edit: President Obama warns there will be some glitches for months...

President Barack Obama on Monday said he “absolutely” expects glitches and problems with Obamacare as enrollment kicks off Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/1...#ixzz2gXq2Y5Hy

Concerning the shutdown President Obama is open to compromise (by the republicans):

Inskeep also asked the president about the upcoming debt ceiling issue, noting that “you’ve said you will not negotiate over an extension of the debt ceiling.”


“Absolutely, I will not negotiate,” the president said. “And the reason, Steve, is because if we establish a pattern whereby one faction of one party controlling one chamber in Congress can threaten default, that the United States of America is no longer meeting its obligations and fulfilling the full faith and credit of the United States unless they get 100 percent of what they want, then we’ve established a pattern that fundamentally changes the nature of our government.”

[Uncle Ted]

Obamacare is helping people work less hours in the state of Illinois...



http://illinoispolicy.org/news/artic...cleSource=6381

[calicoug]

You sure love theatrics. We are no where close to defaulting on our debt and that's not the goal of any GOP member except maybe the most extreme.

Embracing the law is putting it very well. I for one would like to see how it plays out. I'd probably prefer a base level of single payer system with the ability for secondary insurance, but at least the Dems didn't something big to try and help curb the health care issue.

We are close. The debt ceiling is approaching and there is no progress in sight to raise it.

[Moliere]

We are close. The debt ceiling is approaching and there is no progress in sight to raise it.

This is fear mongering. No one in either party is stupid enough to allow a default. It'll get raised. If we were close then the markets would be responding much differently then they are now. We are not close.

[Uncle Ted]

The white house lost its "Obamacare architect" to industry...

[...]
Whatever one's views on Obamacare were and are: the bill's mandate that everyone purchase the products of the private health insurance industry, unaccompanied by any public alternative, was a huge gift to that industry; as Wheeler wrote at the time: "to the extent that Liz Fowler is the author of this document, we might as well consider WellPoint its author as well." Watch the five-minute Bill Moyers report from 2009, embedded below, on the key role played in all of this by Liz Fowler and the "revolving door" between the health insurance/lobbying industry and government officials at the time this bill was written and passed.

More amazingly still, when the Obama White House needed someone to oversee implementation of Obamacare after the bill passed, it chose . . . Liz Fowler. That the White House would put a former health insurance industry executive in charge of implementation of its new massive health care law was roundly condemned by good government groups as at least a violation of the "spirit" of governing ethics rules and even "gross", but those objections were, of course, brushed aside by the White House. She then became Special Assistant to the President for Healthcare and Economic Policy at the National Economic Council.

Now, as Politico's "Influence" column briefly noted on Tuesday, Fowler is once again passing through the deeply corrupting revolving door as she leaves the Obama administration to return to the loving and lucrative arms of the private health care industry:

"Elizabeth Fowler is leaving the White House for a senior-level position leading 'global health policy' at Johnson & Johnson's government affairs and policy group."

The pharmaceutical giant that just hired Fowler actively supported the passage of Obamacare through its membership in the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobby. Indeed, PhRMA was one of the most aggressive supporters - and most lavish beneficiaries - of the health care bill drafted by Fowler. Mother Jones' James Ridgeway proclaimed "Big Pharma" the "big winner" in the health care bill. And now, Fowler will receive ample rewards from that same industry as she peddles her influence in government and exploits her experience with its inner workings to work on that industry's behalf, all of which has been made perfectly legal by the same insular, Versailles-like Washington culture that so lavishly benefits from all of this.
[...]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...yist-industry1

Liz will be missed. I hope the white house threw a going away party.

[imanihonjin]

Yes. Next I'd like them to show the consistent polling data testing various elements of Obamacare or even more extreme measures without using the word Obamacare or ACA. One thing Conservatives have done quite well is demonize the term, equating it with all kinds of things. But just about all the polling data that offers elements of the plan as an alternative to Obamacare or independently tend to do quite well and have for a long time.

In fact, I strongly suspect and have heard that some Cruz allies in the Senate actually publicly stated that a reason they are pushing so hard and taking such extra-Constitutional steps now is that they know when implemented many elements (not all) of Obamacare will become quite popular. They know the public opinion data will shift quickly when the apocalypse doesn't occur and a few positives are felt.

Please state what extra-constitutional steps they are taking? Their actions are quite in line with the constitution. Perhaps you could address Obama violating federal law by allowing tax dollars to be used to fund abortion.

[imanihonjin]

I guess they will wait until they are sick to buy insurance... and then hope that their sickness comes during the open enrollment period. Otherwise...

If you were going through the exchange, then yes you are right. But you could apply to receive personal insurance outside of the exchange at any time and not be denied for preexisting conditions.

[All-American]

We are close. The debt ceiling is approaching and there is no progress in sight to raise it.

Just out of curiosity, given the choice, which would you prefer: repealing Obamacare, or defaulting?

[Moliere]

If you were going through the exchange, then yes you are right. But you could apply to receive personal insurance outside of the exchange at any time and not be denied for preexisting conditions.

Plus, the ER still can't turn you away if you show up sick.

[calicoug]

This is fear mongering. No one in either party is stupid enough to allow a default. It'll get raised. If we were close then the markets would be responding much differently then they are now. We are not close.

We are two weeks away and Republicans are digging in. Amazing you don't consider that "close." That's how far the crazy has shifted the discussion.

[byu71]

Just out of curiosity, given the choice, which would you prefer: repealing Obamacare, or defaulting?

Great question that I hear no one in the MSM asking the democrats. I would ask, OK Harry you have a gun to your head. The villain is asking you to part with the nicest TV in the house and you say no way. Finally the guy says, OK give me the kiddie TV and Harry says, go ahead and shoot me and the rest of the family.

However, Harry does offer him opportunity to negotiate for the TV after the police arrive and take away the gun.

Harry is a dipshit of the first order. He advised the President not to talk to congressional leaders and negotiate.

[Uncle Ted]

We are two weeks away and Republicans are digging in. Amazing you don't consider that "close." That's how far the crazy has shifted the discussion.

I didn't know that Pelosi and Obama switched parties. When did that happen?

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Republican-led efforts to rein in government spending are pointless because there is nothing left to cut in the almost $4 trillion-a-year federal budget.

“The cupboard is bare. There’s no more cuts to make. It’s really important that people understand that,” Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, said in an interview broadcast Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz2gZgxwRrp

(And she took the rest of the week off.)

Inskeep also asked the president about the upcoming debt ceiling issue, noting that “you’ve said you will not negotiate over an extension of the debt ceiling.”


“Absolutely, I will not negotiate,” the president said. “And the reason, Steve, is because if we establish a pattern whereby one faction of one party controlling one chamber in Congress can threaten default, that the United States of America is no longer meeting its obligations and fulfilling the full faith and credit of the United States unless they get 100 percent of what they want, then we’ve established a pattern that fundamentally changes the nature of our government.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/1...#ixzz2gZhUmmeL

(And then Obama enjoyed a round of golf.)

There has been compromises offered...

Exactly what compromises were offered by these new "republicans" (Pelosi and Obama)?

[byu71]

We are two weeks away and Republicans are digging in. Amazing you don't consider that "close." That's how far the crazy has shifted the discussion.

And why shouldn't they? The democrats and the press are already dug in. If your enemy was dug in are you saying you wouldn't? Face facts, the crazies as you and the dickwad dems like to call them do have a gun. So your solution is to go ahead and see if they dare pull the trigger? I pray you are never the negotiator if I am a hostage in a hostage situation.