Health Care REACTION: Bill Passes, Analysts Weigh In

Congress passed sweeping health care reform on Sunday evening and the reactions are streaming in.

Have a look at some of the key reactions (we'll be adding more so keep checking back) and share your thoughts on whether or not you agree with them.

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Republicans' 'Most Crushing Legislative Defeat' Since The '60s

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David Frum, former speechwriter to President George W. Bush: Conservatives and Republicans today suffered their most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s. It’s hard to exaggerate the magnitude of the disaster. Conservatives may cheer themselves that they’ll compensate for today’s expected vote with a big win in the November 2010 elections. [...] No illusions please: This bill will not be repealed. Even if Republicans scored a 1994 style landslide in November, how many votes could we muster to re-open the “doughnut hole” and charge seniors more for prescription drugs? How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25 year olds from their parents’ insurance coverage? And even if the votes were there – would President Obama sign such a repeal? We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat. [...] So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours. KEEP READING

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David Frum, former speechwriter to President George W. Bush:

Conservatives and Republicans today suffered their most crushing legislative defeat since the 1960s.

It’s hard to exaggerate the magnitude of the disaster. Conservatives may cheer themselves that they’ll compensate for today’s expected vote with a big win in the November 2010 elections. [...]

No illusions please: This bill will not be repealed. Even if Republicans scored a 1994 style landslide in November, how many votes could we muster to re-open the “doughnut hole” and charge seniors more for prescription drugs? How many votes to re-allow insurers to rescind policies when they discover a pre-existing condition? How many votes to banish 25 year olds from their parents’ insurance coverage? And even if the votes were there – would President Obama sign such a repeal?

We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat. [...]

So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours.

KEEP READING

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Comments

[LoneRangerDude]

07:19 PM on 03/25/2010

Is Rush in Costa Rica yet?

[hypnotoad72]

07:32 PM on 03/25/2010

He might reside on a rich coast, but he's nowhere near Costa Rica...

[OscarthePug]

07:16 PM on 03/25/2010

AEI is a 'think tank?" I think not.

Frum just learned the first lesson of the current state of Conservatism/Republicanism in today's politcal environment: "You're either with us or you're against us."

There is no room for discussion or the airing of alternative views.

It's our ideology spoken in words that we choose. Any deviation and you are out.

What could be more strangulating to freedom of expression than a doctrine that imposes: "It's our way or the highway."

From the historical jaws of defeat, the Democrats have been handed victory in November by the stringent rightwing. Lyrically: "Who could ask for anything more?"

[Mike Prayon]

06:04 PM on 03/25/2010

Can anyone say: Rope-A-Dope!

[gammay]

05:09 PM on 03/25/2010

Seems to me that the repubs, instead of offering their stupid amendments, could have had two: public option or single payer and reimportation of drugs. They would have given the people, us, what we said we wanted. Instead we have two parties that don't want to give us what we want. Ought to Waterloo for both parties.

[marmalade]

04:52 PM on 03/25/2010

AEI is neither American, enterprising, nor an institute except in the sense of straitjacked. It is even a slander to true conservatives to call the rightwing nut jobs of AEI conservatives.

AEI is part of the rightwing nut ideological thuggery and totalitarianism that demands complete obedience to their ideas and will expel anyone who does not adhere to the gospel of intellectual conformity and its narrowmindness. All that is need is a symobolic equivalent of the salute to have the American equivalent in Republican frightwing conspiracies and no nothingism. Going of the way of bigots of the confederacy and loony tune Nullifiers of 1830's. They desire a return to medieval times. Indeed, if they could get away with it they would institute a modern version of the Inquisition: we have part of its apparatus, but they desire full blown conformity or they fire you or threaten you or show their guns. They no longer are part of the democratic conversation. They've taken themselve out of the democracy.

[Righterthenthou76]

04:45 PM on 03/25/2010

We followed the most radical voices in the party and the movement, and they led us to abject and irreversible defeat. [...]
"Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours."

He is 1000% correct. For all the screaming and fear mongering done by the right wing and their friends in the media, in the end people will vote substance over fear and hate. This is why Newt Gingrich and company were able to win big in 1994. Because they had a plan, the "contract with America." Republicans today have nothing other then Rush and Beck spewing their hate and fear. That doesn't win elections. Like Newt or not, I have always respected him for putting forth a vision for how the Republican party planned to govern. People could look at it, agree or disagree and then vote accordingly. Can you imagine John "H*LL NO" Boehner presenting in a halfway intelligent plan for how to move America forward? H*LL NO YOU CAN'T!

[Please-Play-Fair]

04:27 PM on 03/25/2010

I am not sure you can call this the most crushing defeat for the GOP. They didn't have a chance even with 100% of their votes going against it. It passed ... now let's see if it works ... what more can you say?

[MardenWGBH]

04:30 PM on 03/25/2010

The passage of the healthcare reform bill and black voices in the media are the topics of discussion on the PBS show Basic Black, which you can watch TONIGHT at 7:30 p.m EST LIVE at www.basicblack.org or on channel 2 in Boston. You can also participate in a live chat at basicblack.org starting at 4 pm.

[CitizenKane16]

06:31 PM on 03/25/2010

That should be interesting. Thanks for posting the info.

[Orcas Island]

04:21 PM on 03/25/2010

The only thing you have to fear from an enraged Teabaggin GOP'er is one of them having a cardiac arrest and falling on you.

[coloradodreaming]

04:34 PM on 03/25/2010

Love it, Love it, Love it and did I tell you I loved it?

[Orcas Island]

04:39 PM on 03/25/2010

Well, thank you very much...bowing...

[irishred]

04:41 PM on 03/25/2010

FANNED!

[igottagetouttathisplace]

04:09 PM on 03/25/2010

now lets see if (republican) frum get's invited to present his views on fox news--any takers?
he's sssssssssoooooooo right!!!!!!! when people get into this new legislation and discover how its going to dramatically improve their lives then good luck repealing it GOP--good luck

[dianhow]

03:58 PM on 03/25/2010

YES DAVID- ABJECT DEFEAT !! so boys & girls- What now ? The GOP will get even more hateful- more enraged- more desperate- if thats possible. GOP 's arrogant promise to ' Break Obama
& make health care his WATERLOO back fired BIG TIME- I can not help to say
I AM THRILLED - only because after all the lies- fear mongering - the GOP
RICHLY DESERVES THIS HUGE DEFEAT Now this puts the wind at Obama's & Dems back to
move forward with OUR agenda and NO - REPUBS OUT THERE - IT IS NOT SOCIALISM- COMMUNISM FASCISM OR ANY ISM . So Congrats Mr President - do give lip service to being bipartisan if you must- knowing the GOP threw you under the bus at every turn when you tried to
bring GOP in to the discussion- and even used some of the GOP ideas..

[stevier]

03:46 PM on 03/25/2010

Frum speaks with common sense and the base wants his head! To funny...

[dianhow]

04:00 PM on 03/25/2010

wow Rush Cheny FOX will send out the HIT squad for Frum
so Frum- watch your back they are ruthless- enraged to point of insanity

[catbyte]

03:41 PM on 03/25/2010

Oops, Frum. Can't go against Groupthink!

It's fascinating to watch a creature devour one of its own...

[mom72]

03:40 PM on 03/25/2010

Why shouldn't people be forced to have insurance, they end up in the hospital emergency room which in the ends costs tax payers anyway!

[dianhow]

04:04 PM on 03/25/2010

mom well said My kind of gal
when the Uninsured get sick- break a bone- have an auto accident- get cancer
WHO PAYS THEN ??? WE ALL DO
Higher & higher premiums & deductibles- gross over charges by hospitals- doctors
- taxes
or as mom says IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM SO WE PAY 25 X MORE FOR THEIR CARE

[PunKinPai]

04:48 PM on 03/25/2010

Agreed. Most states require us to buy auto insurance. What's the difference?

[berrycooda]

11:50 PM on 03/24/2010

This is a BUY NOW AND WAIT FOR HEALTH CARE LATER.
Except for under 18 with pre existing....and students until 26 will be able
to purchase insurance on their parents policy.
And....any Seniors who don't have good co-pay for prescriptions will get help for the middle part that hasn't been paid previously.
Oh...and those people who like artificial tans, will have to pay a tax.
That really helps most people who are sick and need a Doctor.
Other than that, most people will have to wait until 2014 to be covered.
Wonder how many will die (as the Dems said if this bill didn't pass) waiting for 4 years for insurance.
Anyway, regarding car insurance....we buy insurance to cover the other guy in case we cause an accident....if he doesn't have any insurance and causes us to be injured....well then, we can just whistle dixie because you can't get blood out of a turnip...and you know who the turnips usually are. And so...we have to take extra insurance to
protect us in case an uninsured driver hits us....and that is usually not very much coverage.

[dianhow]

04:16 PM on 03/25/2010

berry Read my above comment . Millions more would die without this bill
Is the Glass 1. / 2 full OR half empty ??
Fact is- As of Sept 2010
Kids with pre existing covered
students up to age 26 covered -
more $$$ for Pell Grants / education
Folks on Medicare will get 1. $ 250 check
and / or help with covering the donut hole
For the Poor - a High risk pool will be set up for them to make
health care more affordable-
WE ALL PAY FOR THE UNINSURED RIGHT NOW
there's more but I can not recall right now
and Tanning is kind of a luxury - so a small tax is no big deal

[gschear]

04:37 PM on 03/25/2010

We have been waiting 50 years. 4 more years for smooth implementation is prudent.
Had we listened to the all or nothing people we would have ...nothing for another 50 years.

[Bega]

10:17 PM on 03/24/2010

Senator McCain says he will not cooperate with Senate Democrats on any issue. What difference does it make?

[dianhow]

04:17 PM on 03/25/2010

Right THEY NEVER CO OPERATE ANYWAY