Health care reform would be historic, but possibly toxic for Democrats

WAPO via pioneer press ^ | 3-21-10 | Dan Balz

[WOBBLY BOB]

WASHINGTON — As the final round of the battle over health care reform begins today, President Barack Obama and the Democrats are in reach of a historic legislative achievement that has eluded presidents dating back a century. The question is at what cost.

By almost any measure, enactment of comprehensive health care legislation would rank as one of the most significant pieces of social welfare legislation in the country's history, a goal set as far back as the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and pursued since by many other presidents. But unlike Social Security or Medicare, Obama's health care bill would pass over the Republican Party's unanimous opposition.

Even Republicans agree on the magnitude of what Obama could pull off, while disagreeing on the substance of the legislation. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said: "Obviously, he will have achieved as president something nobody else has done. So in that sense, it's historic." But he added, "It doesn't end the health care debate — it just changes it. And if it does pass, it would be a historic mistake."

[Principled]

POSSIBLY toxic?

C’mon. This is ricin in gallons.

[presently no screen name]

A commie taking over America is lauded as historic instead of horrific?

[Kudsman]

The only good thing that may come out of the Demonrats forcing this fundamental change from liberty to tyranny is a vigorous push for legislation like H.J. Res. 71. An amendment to the Constitution of the United States to give citizens of the United States the right to recall elected officials.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Remember,this is coming from the ONLY state that voted for Mondale, my blue hell, Minnesota.

[Brilliant]

Hopefully it means the end of the Democratic Party. They’ve been on the wrong side of history since the beginning.

[ModelBreaker]

Note the only bad side-effect the author sees is that it might shake the leftist control of our government. No mention of the fact that it is a nation-destroying law.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

If the Democrat Party passes the Obamacare healthcare bill today, that action alone will destroy the Democrat Party. Nothing more needs to be said.

[taraytarah]

"Health Care Reform Would be Historic, but Possibly Toxic for Democrats Americans"

Dan has ignorantly missed the personal repercussions of this potential "historic legislative achievement."

[MizSterious]

Yes, it is. One of our local news readers was all but bouncing around the set she was so giddy about this possibility. I’m amazed that no one seems to see what is happening, and how it will ultimately affect them personally.

[relictele]

Quick - name the last miracle drug or surgical breakthrough that originated in a country with socialized medicine. Sorry, time’s up but even if you had hours you couldn’t come up with one. Innovation is a product of competition and removing competition by government fiat will automatically hinder future medical research and discovery. Single payer sounds wonderful (to the naive at least) but if all providers have no incentive to improve their products or care then simple economics will ensure that products or care will not improve under such a system.

To an outsider, converting doctors and nurses into the medical equivalent of the TSA is nonsensical bordering on insane. But politicians would dearly love to have another army of cowed, mindless form-fillers who would also be a reliable voting bloc lest Washington turn off the taps.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Napoleon had an “historic” day at the Battle of Waterloo.

[Carley]

If it couldn’t pass without payoffs of historic proportions it’s going to be a lose lose lose for the dems.

[Steely Tom]

Even Republicans agree on the magnitude of what Obama could pull off, while disagreeing on the substance of the legislation. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said: "Obviously, he will have achieved as president something nobody else has done. So in that sense, it's historic." But he added, "It doesn't end the health care debate — it just changes it. And if it does pass, it would be a historic mistake."

The "historic mistake" was made in the November 2008 election.

[1776 Reborn]

They will have destroyed their party much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years" with the enactment of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.

Well I never hear or thought that the civil rights legislation shattered the Democrat Party for 40 years. Compared to all of the crap they have supported as a unit in just the last year that was nothing!

[Brandonmark]

The question is at what cost.

How about the beginning of the end to the democrat party.

[annieokie]

Yes it will.

When We win back the WH, Senate and House, I want our side to be as ruthless to them as they have been to us.

Stop playing nice. Fire every Democrat leftover that is working in the WH.

[presently no screen name]

Ignorance (Minnesota) doesn’t get a pass.

I want you out of there, now. ;) We’ll send in the troops.

[presently no screen name]

she was so giddy about this possibility

Truly a child's mindset - they think only about the moment - about an event - and doesn't have the capacity to think of the dire consequences. It's hard to understand how this could be possible, but it's real and they vote. Like a drunk getting behind a wheel and thinking 'cool' - I found my car and I'm driving home.

[Paleo Conservative]

We have the ability to recall elected officials. They’re called elections.