Instead, the passage of health care reform is a rally point for the Left. The Right threw absolutely everything it could at Democrats, Congress, President Obama, and anyone else even vaguely associated with the Democratic party over the last year. They pulled out all the stops in terms of hyperbole, disruption, misinformation, and intimidation. Thanks to relentless smears by far-Right talking heads, Democrats were caricatured as nazi-socialist-fascist-maoists, intent on destroying the American Dream, killing Grandma, and leading the true Americans to slaughter. And for a while, it looked like the GOP was succeeding. Two months ago, there wasn't much hope for health care reform. Like the failed attempt of 1993-1994, it seemed that health care reform circa 2009 would be just another Democratic Waterloo.
Former Bush speechwriter David Frum has a very interesting take on what health care reform passage means for the Right. And while I don't quite agree with his predictions of a GOP sweep in November (sure, we'll lose some seats, but that's what historically happens anyway), I think he's dead-on regarding the irreversible damage health care reform has done to his party, and the actual motives of Conservative mouthpieces. Here's a little tidbit from his article, "Waterloo."
"So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours."
Here's a link to Frum's article in its entirety. I highly recommend it.
Pretty happy about the new plan, it appears to be modeled after the Mass. plan. Currently Mass. has the highest rate of covered people like 98%, and it also has the highest premium per person in the country.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that has me laughing is the fact that 22 pens were used by the president to sign the thing, just image the the joy of person(s) who get one, Look Look he used this to sign an 'O'. Man something else
I want one of those pens so bad! I'd write people notes and then be like, "hey. That note I just wrote you? I used a health care reform pen. Yeah. You're welcome."
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think about the whole Republican trip-up? Do you think it's their Waterloo?
We were in California with my fairly conservative aunt and uncle when the bill passed. It was all we could do to remain calm and not jump up and down in excitement. Sure, it's not everything I'd like to see in a health care bill (like a public option) but it's a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of T.S. Reid, Deanna? He's a columnist for the Washington Post (I think) who's done all kinds of extensive research on different universal health care plans around the world. He has a new book out and last year he hosted an episode of PBS "Frontline," where he took a look at the pros and cons of universal coverage in five different democratic, capitolistic countries. Here's the link if you get a chance to watch it, it's really interesting. It reminds me of what you're working on with your friends and their feelings about health care. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/
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