By only the narrowest of margins and in an unusual Saturday session, the Senate voted late in the day to proceed with a debate on a health care plan for much -- but not all -- of America.  The vote along party lines.  What chance do you think there is that you'll see national health care in your lifetime?

Hi John:

The Saturday session is very unusual.    Particularly in consideration of the fact that during the previous eight years during the Bush administration, the Senate worked a four day week and was gone on weekends as  a matter of routine.

As you point out, the vote was along party lines.    I happen to fear that the 2010 elections will give the Democrats a substantial majority,  sufficient for them to pass any legislation following the 2010 elections,  so I believe the odds are in favor of passing some form of health care reform during the Obama administration.

Are they just playing politics so the "other guys" get no credit? Given another chance to do the right thing would the GOP stiff the American people once again? I think you know the answer.$$$$

You can depend on the GOP doing the "right " thing for the insurance and drug companies.It would be interesting to know how much money the drug and insurance companies have spent to keep their strangle hold on the health care industry.

Should the American people honestly believe that the GOP cares about the American people? I suspect they think if they can defeat this they can put it on the back burner for another 15 years. Does the GOP have any ideas at all? Are they just playing politics so the "other guys" get no credit? Given another chance to do the right thing would the GOP stiff the American people once again? I think you know the answer

The current GOP is under the leadership of the far far extreme right.  They had ample opportunity in the eight years that they were in full control of the white house and both sides of congress.    Yet they failed to act.

Their failure to act now, during a Democratic party administration  is damaging to the GOP in my view, and will have consequences in the 2010 elections.

==Unless Obama can sway the independent voters back into his camp before the 2010 elections, I think the Democrats might keep their majority but by a much slimmer margin.

I keep hearing all this talk about "independent voters".   It was not the independent voters that in fact lost the 2008 elections for the GOP.   It was the Republicans that refused to vote for four more years of neoconservative policies.

I also think it has far less to do with Obama,  that it has to do with the GOP getting their act together.

Historically changes in government power trend over three to five elections.   It is extremely rare,  I stress extremely,  for there to be reversals in trends sooner than four elections.     The 2006 mid term elections was the start of the trend in power change to the Democrats.    The 2008 elections were the second of the trend.    That means that based on what we have witnessed from history in the U.S. elections,  the odds are stacked in favor of the Democrats gaining more seats in the Senate and possibly in the House.

I do not see the conditions that would suggest a rare reversal of the trend for 2010.    All indications are that the 2010 elections will widen the margin in favor of the Democrats.

I thought the following broke down quite well some of the things that are going to have to be reconciled by the Democrats with their fellow Senators before they get a bill passed out of the Senate. Right now its anyones guess as to what a final bill will ultimately look like.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29798.html

You might be surprised at how many issues will be solved in closed door discussions and strong arm tactics  or carrot and stick approaches.

Your article is interesting.   The big question mark here is about Reid's ability to nail down Democrat party votes.   Reid is not a Tom DeLay, for if he were, this would be over already.     Nor have I found Reid particularly favorable in any respect and especially when it comes to muscling a vote along party lines.

There are others in the Democratic party that may have sufficient muscle to coerce the holdout Democrats into voting for the legislation. 

I can think of several ways that they could induce Independent Sen. Sanders of Vermont into voting for the bill.    I suspect Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH)  is posturing and will vote for the legislation when it comes to the wire.

Sen.Schumer  D-NY is not going to be coerced.   It will take a big carrot or two to induce him to go along.     And Sen. Nelson  D-Neb I believe is another like Brown, who is simply posturing,  perhaps working on some inducement for his vote.

If the Democrats had to rely on Reid and Pelosi for the outcome of this legislation,  they could probably kiss it good bye.    

But there is a lot more going on back stage than just Reid and Pelosi.  White House staff.  Rahm Emanuel.   The Clinton political machinery.    The Kennedy political machinery.  Biden political machinery.

Should the American people honestly believe that the GOP cares about the American people? I suspect they think if they can defeat this they can put it on the back burner for another 15 years. Does the GOP have any ideas at all? Are they just playing politics so the "other guys" get no credit? Given another chance to do the right thing would the GOP stiff the American people once again? I think you know the answer.

Why do you think the GOP chose not to even debate?  Their answer to reform is, 'Do nothing in congress,' but make their case to the media.  And their case to the media isn't about reform either, it's about how wrong and dangerous the Democrats are.  Re health-care, the GOP has nothing.  Well, perhaps, not nothing, they do have Sarah Palin scaring the crud out of people with some elected officials helping her along the way.  There's that.  And they have FoxNews.  But a GOP health-care reform plan?  Nope. Nada. Zilch.  Zero. 

Evidently, the GOP has no thoughts on the subject, no reform plan, nothing to debate.  They just don't like Democrats or the president.  We're clear on that.

Best to you....Katie

I may not like or approve  national health care but what we have now ain't working. 

How come 87% of the people are happy with their health care? 

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I was at my doctors a couple weeks ago and was out 1750 bucks for a treadmill and ultra sound test plus$100 office visit and another 75 dollars to read results of test

Do you expect the insurance to buy you a treadmill?  

Health insurance is one of the few issues that directly affects me so I am all for anything that gets me covered.

Are you all for being fine 2500 and spending time in jail,  it you don't qualify to meet the goverment standard of coverage?  I have heard only 1 in 10 will be covered by the Public Option. 

High taxes? sure but it makes no difference which group of nuts are in control we gonna pay the same outragous amounts.

SO!  The don't nothing talking point is pure boloney. 

Monty--

Thanks for the reply.

"The current GOP is under the leadership of the far far extreme right"

Even on a local level, around here, that does appear to sadly be the case. Have in the past voted the candidate that I felt offered the best for local needs, regardless of party. What's the big deal? We're all Americans, or so I thought. Now I guess some are REAL Americans whereas some are not.

About Health Care Reform in my lifetime. I didn't think I would ever see this. We will still have to see if the Democratic leadership can close the deal, they have a history of not being able to. It shouldn't have to be this way, the GOP COULD be a part of this--they just seem so bereft of ideas.

Regards.

Bushman--

Yes it would indeed be interesting to know the $$$'s involved in trying to keep this under their control. What a great bunch. Yesterday read a piece about drug companies already raising prices in anticipation of Health Reform. Guess that's good if one is vested in Pfizer,Merck etc. Can't find the article now (MSN or Netscape?) or I'd give more info. Odd huh? How things like THAT disappear so fast.

Regards