Their only chance was to stop it before its real benefits started rolling out and Americans had a chance to see what sort of benefits they were really getting. Now they have to live with the fact that the only real result of all their efforts to stop what's going to become one of the most popular government initiatives since Medicare was to ensure that, for the rest of history, it's going to be associated with Obama's name. Even Roosevelt didn't get that, and that's why it's so delicious.

Scaling expectations for when he fails to deliver.

Maybe he's not as dumb as I thought.

haha, tea party.

The GOP is abandoning your cause.

"...because it's a lot harder to undo something than it is to stop it in the first place. Just remember, slow and steady wins the race."

"That is not the issue," McConnell told Wallace. "The question is how can you go go step by step to improve the American health care system. It is already the finest health care system in the world."

...for 1% of the population, sure. for the rest of us, health care kinda sucks.

Oops.

Guess the insurance companies will just have to accept that they've got a LOT of new customers...

That sack of crap makes me hate turtles. And that's sad.

This presumably is why they haven't wasted any time articulating their alternative.

I still don't understand saying "it'll be like a western European system!"

Well, yeah. It works. It's not an insult.

"That is not the issue," McConnell told Wallace. "The question is how can you go go step by step to improve the American health care system. It is already the finest health care system in the world."

No it isn't you lying out of touch sack.

They got nothing else to run on, really. If they do have something else, i've yet to hear what it might be.

Already the finest healthcare system in the world, my ass.

Weaver95: "That is not the issue," McConnell told Wallace. "The question is how can you go go step by step to improve the American health care system. It is already the finest health care system in the world."

...for 1% of the population, sure. for the rest of us, health care kinda sucks.

Well he's in the 1%, so I fail to see the problem here

mainstreet62: Already the finest healthcare system in the world, my ass.

If you got the money, or if you're a senator.

Why does he keep repeating the line that it is the finest health care system in the world?

I know the GOP loves talking points small enough to fit 5 per tweet, but this is one will take the most cognitive dissonance to swallow over any so far.

I don't know ANYONE who likes our healthcare system now. I also can't tell who hates it the most, the insured or the uninsured.

real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

The National Journal reports that Mitt Romney may be toning down his campaign-long pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act on day one if elected and a new poll suggests that the majority of Americans would like opponents of the law to move on.

The Party of We Got Nothing.

[nelsonmuntz]

Anyone want to help me start the "Geico" of health insurance? When this Act takes off in 2014, minimum coverage health care will be a booming business.

Secretly, they never opposed it from the start. They just wanted to put on a show.

1. Mitt Romney will have less than a year to effect repeal before benefits start rolling out and support for repeal drops.
2. No one, including most Republican members of Congress, wants a full repeal.
3. Since no one wants a full repeal, the process of writing and drafting the bill will take a lot of time.
4. The insurance industry will be adamantly against any repeal which removes the mandate and leaves the new regulatory rules.
5. Half of the states will be adamantly against any repeal which undoes the Medicaid expansion.

Something that might sneak through would be for Congress to expand the waiver program.

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer


Does their employer offer insurance? How many children do they have? What state do they live in?

Hey StubePT... go look up where Geico came from...

I have a solar-powered tortoise on my front porch. Its shell glows green at night.

So yes, it is possible for them to be useful.

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

a) healthcare

b) none

They would qualify for medicaid

Snowball's

Satanic_Hamster: "That is not the issue," McConnell told Wallace. "The question is how can you go go step by step to improve the American health care system. It is already the finest health care system in the world."

No it isn't you lying out of touch sack.

Actually, he's right about the US having the best health care system in the world.

There's just one part he "accidentally' omitted, one section he "forgot" to mention, and that is that while the American health care system is the best in the world, it's only available to those who can afford it.

This debate is pretty much over till '16. Such cases.

He was instructed to say this by Mitt Romney. Romney has been crafting a narrative that states "If you want to get rid of 'Obamacare' the only way to do it now is to elect me". If Congress goes around saying how THEY can get rid of it, then Romney becomes useless.

Mitch McConnell looks more like a turtle than any actual turtle ever has. He is the platonic ideal of a turtle. Turtles see him walkin down the street and they are like "daaaaamn look at that turtley lookin motherfarker"

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

Hard to say for a, the market's still a bit wonkey. For b it's $0.

Hollie Maea: He was instructed to say this by Mitt Romney. Romney has been crafting a narrative that states "If you want to get rid of 'Obamacare' the only way to do it now is to elect me". If Congress goes around saying how THEY can get rid of it, then Romney becomes useless.

"becomes"?

qorkfiend: 1. Mitt Romney will have less than a year to effect repeal before benefits start rolling out and support for repeal drops.
2. No one, including most Republican members of Congress, wants a full repeal.
3. Since no one wants a full repeal, the process of writing and drafting the bill will take a lot of time.
4. The insurance industry will be adamantly against any repeal which removes the mandate and leaves the new regulatory rules.
5. Half of the states will be adamantly against any repeal which undoes the Medicaid expansion.

Something that might sneak through would be for Congress to expand the waiver program.

You mean like the Empowering States to Innovate Act that was sponsored by Ron Wyden and Scott Brown and was formally endorsed by President Obama last year? Are you aware that you're talking about a political party that has six members of Congress who voted against a bill they co-sponsored for the sole reason that Obama came out in support of it?

bindlestiff2600: can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

Honestly, the disinformation campaign is working incredibly well.

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

Assuming $20k taxable income, the penalty will peak at about 700 dollars a year (it scales up gradually from 2014 through 2016)

If you live in a state which accepts the medicaid coverage increase, you would qualify for medicaid, and thus have coverage at no additional cost. Otherwise the cost for coverage will depend upon the plans local insurers can provide

I wouldn't say "snowball's chance", just "unlikely."

If the Republicans keep control of the House (nearly certain) and gain a majority of the Senate (better than even odds) and win the Presidency (toss-up, Obama has the advantage, but he is more vulnerable to surprises like an Iran crisis that spikes energy costs, a Euro-driven economic shock, or your garden variety political scandal), then Republicans can either revoke the PPACA outright or destroy it piece by piece through budget reconciliation, which is not subject to filibuster in the Senate.

Serious Black: qorkfiend: 1. Mitt Romney will have less than a year to effect repeal before benefits start rolling out and support for repeal drops.
2. No one, including most Republican members of Congress, wants a full repeal.
3. Since no one wants a full repeal, the process of writing and drafting the bill will take a lot of time.
4. The insurance industry will be adamantly against any repeal which removes the mandate and leaves the new regulatory rules.
5. Half of the states will be adamantly against any repeal which undoes the Medicaid expansion.

Something that might sneak through would be for Congress to expand the waiver program.

You mean like the Empowering States to Innovate Act that was sponsored by Ron Wyden and Scott Brown and was formally endorsed by President Obama last year? Are you aware that you're talking about a political party that has six members of Congress who voted against a bill they co-sponsored for the sole reason that Obama came out in support of it?

Only six?

rohar: Hard to say for a, the market's still a bit wonkey

You're kidding if you think someone making less than $20k a year is paying for healthcare.

cameroncrazy1984: rohar: Hard to say for a, the market's still a bit wonkey

You're kidding if you think someone making less than $20k a year is paying for healthcare.

A single adult with no dependents would not qualify for medicaid under the current rules, I don't believe.

Lost Thought 00: bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

Assuming $20k taxable income, the penalty will peak at about 700 dollars a year (it scales up gradually from 2014 through 2016)

If you live in a state which accepts the medicaid coverage increase, you would qualify for medicaid, and thus have coverage at no additional cost. Otherwise the cost for coverage will depend upon the plans local insurers can provide


I don't think so. Poverty level for one person is 11k. Medicaid kicks in at 133% Which means they'd have to make less than 14k to qualify as a single person, but if they've got kids and shiat it's different.

The All-Powerful Atheismo: Hollie Maea: He was instructed to say this by Mitt Romney. Romney has been crafting a narrative that states "If you want to get rid of 'Obamacare' the only way to do it now is to elect me". If Congress goes around saying how THEY can get rid of it, then Romney becomes useless.

"becomes"?

Point taken. But currently Romney imagines that he has some usefulness in being able to repeal "Obamacare". Which is kind of funny since he used to think that his main usefulness was in having come up with "Romneycare".

DarnoKonrad: I don't think so. Poverty level for one person is 11k. Medicaid kicks in at 133% Which means they'd have to make less than 14k to qualify as a single person, but if they've got kids and shiat it's different.

The ACA expands that to 200%, I believe, but states can opt out of the expansion if they wish (and stay at the 133%)

DarnoKonrad: Medicaid kicks in at 133% Which means they'd have to make less than 14k to qualify

Didn't Medicaid up that percentage, though?

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

Go here

Diogenes: Scaling expectations for when he fails to deliver.

Maybe he's not as dumb as I thought.

McConnell is not dumb at all. It's the slack-jawed yokels that keep electing him that are the dumb ones.

The "Europe has universal coverage and look at how shiatty they're doing!" argument is pure, unadulterated fear mongering.

Notice how no one on the right points to Canada (or Germany for that matter) and says, "They have universal health coverage and a strong economy! ZOMG socialism!"

Lost Thought 00: cameroncrazy1984: rohar: Hard to say for a, the market's still a bit wonkey

You're kidding if you think someone making less than $20k a year is paying for healthcare.

A single adult with no dependents would not qualify for medicaid under the current rules, I don't believe.

They would under the expansion, if their income is low enough. Not sure about $20k. Someone upthread said it's a bit too high.

Isn't there an exemption from the penalty for low incomes?

bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer


Basically, though, people who make three or four times the poverty level would get enough federal money so that they would not have to pay more than about 10 percent of their income for a decent health insurance package

qorkfiend: Isn't there an exemption from the penalty for low incomes?

No, but there are subsidies to make purchasing coverage easier, though I don't think they have worked out the details for that yet.

The question is how can you go go step by step to improve the American health care system. It is already the finest health care system in the world."

How can you tell when someone is trying to baffle you with bullshiat? They tell you the current American health care system is the best in the world. It's the most expensive one. Which is like saying McDonald's fries are the best because they sell the most of them.

CPennypacker: bindlestiff2600: real question

can anyone yet say what the cost will be to a low income person (less that 20k a year)

a) if they comply

b) if they dont comply

will bow in the direction of the person that provides answer

a) healthcare

b) none

They would qualify for medicaid

Wow no they wouldn't nevermind, google instead of speaking from the experience of one anecdote CPenny