There would be no "controversy" about health care if the uncertainty had not been introduced

[SoCalDem]

The '08 campaign was all about a PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PLAN ... not "reformed" insurance plans & co-ops & exchanges.

By allowing Baucus & his merry band to dismantle what we WANT and NEED, and substitute a bunch of gobbledygook wiggle-words into the mix, they have soured a whole lot of people who the really need. This is why the republicans are perceived to be making headway. This is why they were able to finagle an extra month to muddy the waters.

They should have decided early on that they would NOT get any real republican support, and they should have been aware that they would be pissing off insurers, so a 51 vote plan should have been the goal all along...and done QUICKLY..right after the stimulus.

Getting the public plan in place, early would have also brought a lot of support to dems who are running in '10.

Once in place, the republicans would never be able to take a way coverage gained by so many people who have not had it before. People always fight the hardest to KEEP something valuable.

Bipartisanship has not existed since Eisenhower, and it's not coming back anytime soon, so the congress needs to get over it..

Just today, a republican was on MSNBC bragging about how they were going to "just ram it down their throats", when referring to the opposition to health care. They don't care about their constituents who do not have health care. They only care about beating democrats.

If a public plan hurts some blue dogs, so be it. Once we have health care in place, they could even gain support from people who just might be grateful for their assistance.. If not, then they can stand or fall on their own merits. If they are not strong enough to win as an incumbent, then we need to recruit better.

Historically, republicans are at their weakest point, and we should not be kissing their asses, we should be kicking them while they are down..