On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:58:15 -0400, H the K wrote:


I believe a bill reasonably close to what Obama highlighted last night
will land on his desk.

I also tend to think it will.

I agree about the progressives. They're not stupid. Under Obama's
proposals, they're getting nearly a full platter of what they wanted. It
would be foolish for them to sit on their hands and hope for something
better.

As has been discussed, the biggest fear of the Republicans is that
*anything* gets passed, because whatever is passed will be something the
majority of voters will like, and it will be awfully easy for the Dems
to run ads in 2010 and 2012 against those nasty ReThugs who opposed
health care reform.

Moderate Republicans? You mean the two Senators from Maine?

Those two, but I suspect several more, including some rather Conservative
Senators. If the final package comes in close to deficit neutral, I
suspect you could have McCain and Voinovich on board. Perhaps, another
couple, but I wouldn't want to guess who.

On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:59:21 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:58:15 -0400, H the K wrote:


I believe a bill reasonably close to what Obama highlighted last night
will land on his desk.

I also tend to think it will.

I agree about the progressives. They're not stupid. Under Obama's
proposals, they're getting nearly a full platter of what they wanted. It
would be foolish for them to sit on their hands and hope for something
better.

As has been discussed, the biggest fear of the Republicans is that
*anything* gets passed, because whatever is passed will be something the
majority of voters will like, and it will be awfully easy for the Dems
to run ads in 2010 and 2012 against those nasty ReThugs who opposed
health care reform.

Moderate Republicans? You mean the two Senators from Maine?

Those two, but I suspect several more, including some rather Conservative
Senators. If the final package comes in close to deficit neutral, I
suspect you could have McCain and Voinovich on board. Perhaps, another
couple, but I wouldn't want to guess who.

Orrin Hatch?

On Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:00:56 -0700, jps wrote:


Those two, but I suspect several more, including some rather
Conservative Senators. If the final package comes in close to deficit
neutral, I suspect you could have McCain and Voinovich on board.
Perhaps, another couple, but I wouldn't want to guess who.

Orrin Hatch?

It wouldn't surprise me. There are several Senators, from both sides of
the aisle, that when push comes to shove, put partisan differences aside
to get the job done. Hatch has done that in the past. My view, it will
depend on being as close to deficit neutral as possible, even if it
includes a "pubic option". That public option will most likely be co-
ops, but again, if it comes close to deficit neutral I could see several
Republicans coming on board.

In all the recent noise, overlooked is Grassley, Enzi, and Snowe, have
all been working with Baucus, in Committee, to reach some sort of
compromise legislation. Grassley and Enzi have been vocal against the
public option. I wouldn't predict Enzi signing on, but Grassley is a
possibility. Perhaps, a long shot, but possible.