How Clinton handled his defeat on healthcare

[Bugs]

It's eerie, how alike the first steps of the Obama administration are to those of the Clinton, in that they both stumbled over healthcare. Of course, Obama hasn't lost healthcare, but I doubt if the politicians can ignore the sentiments of the electorate any longer.

The the Clinton full-court press was behind healthcare, just as the Obama team is committed now. The early prestige of the administration had been banked on getting heath-care, of completing the welfare state ... and the Obama's similarly promised to come through for the party this time.

Look at how Clinton handled it. This is a master politician at work, imho.

This gives us a benchmark. Obama is has not been given such a clear defeat. The important new factor is that the whole of the Congress will now realize how much of the electorate is in play. Will they patch up a face-saving compromise? Will they accept the Senate version? Will they stop going along with the Democratic Party's agenda on cap and trade? Amnesty for illegal immigrants?

We will soon be able to compare how Obama handles a smaller setback, with Clinton acknowledging a defeat, and on his way to salvaging his re-election.

Any predictions on what Obama will do?

[Shady]

Obama should try to pass widely popular healthcare reforms. Like pre-existing condition coverage, eliminating anti-trust exemption, and allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. However, I don't think he'll do much if any of that. He seems to have a cowboy mentality of do it my way or no way.

[daniel]

Obama should try to pass widely popular healthcare reforms. Like pre-existing condition coverage, eliminating anti-trust exemption, and allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. However, I don't think he'll do much if any of that. He seems to have a cowboy mentality of do it my way or no way.

Some foreshadowing in election night.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy..."

[bush_cheney2004]

Obama should try to pass widely popular healthcare reforms. Like pre-existing condition coverage, eliminating anti-trust exemption, and allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines. However, I don't think he'll do much if any of that. He seems to have a cowboy mentality of do it my way or no way.

You're right....Obama needs to cut his losses and go back to being a politician, not a progressive lawyer on the campaign trail. Pass a few nuggets and call it a day, because the political cost to continue forcing things unilaterally with a super-majority will be too high in November. Once he abandoned single payer...the rest began tumbling like dominoes.

[Bugs]

You're right....Obama needs to cut his losses and go back to being a politician, not a progressive lawyer on the campaign trail. Pass a few nuggets and call it a day, because the political cost to continue forcing things unilaterally with a super-majority will be too high in November. Once he abandoned single payer...the rest began tumbling like dominoes.

The thing about healthcare ... is that they have to be careful not to interfere with the rights of lawyers to generate incredible awards over medical mistakes. Not only does it cost the system piles for insurance, but it also forces huge amounts of paperwork on medical personnel. One of the keys is 'tort reform' - -a kind of 'cap and trade' on such settlements. Also, there should be ways to reduce the costs of litigation. The guy that 'won' the big lawsuit against big tobacco, Richard F. Scruggs, charged a fee of $1.4 billion. He's now in jail on charges of attempting to bribe a state judge. That's a mess that needs to be cleaned up if healthcare is to become truly reformed. (There are other things, as well, of course.)

Think about folks in Mass ... they already have a pretty good system. Almost everybody is covered. This plan will cost them more, and give some parts of their population less coverage. It isn't ideological for most of these people -- it's just that it doesn't makes sense for them to support this deal. It's probably the same in California and a few other states.

Canadians think the American health system has been a bad system. It has not. For the majority of people, Obama's plan means a degradation in their service, and they don't believe it will save money, because government plans never come in as projected. Bottom line.