The Dog That Didn't Bark
After it was widely anticipated, and broadly hinted, that health care would be highlighted in the State of the Union address, the President’s actual speech played like a stripped-down version of the skimpy proposals he offered in previous years (with the ghost of the bygone Medicare Commission thrown in for unexpected good measure). Has the administration decided to wave the white flag? Is it reluctant to make a public stand on the flimsy merits of HSAs? Were they a trial balloon that failed? Or will the push for privatization and cost-shifting from employers to employees continue to go on behind the scenes?
Pre-speech polls showed that Americans felt the issue of health care costs was their single most important domestic priority. The President’s abdication of serious discussion of health care ought to be noted. His inattention should be contrasted to the many serious plans for national universal coverage and to the variety of promising experiments that are being tried in the states.
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Pre-speech polls showed that Americans felt the issue of health care costs was their single most important domestic priority.
Yep; so did the polls in 1993.
Health care reform's a political tar-baby. Rove sat there imagining George Soros running "Harry and Louise" ads against Republican candidates this Fall and pulled the plug.
February 1, 2006 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans have no credibility on healthcare, whereas Democrats do. Bringing up the topic, absent a serious plan, just highlights a Democratic strength, and it's obvious the Republicans have no plan at all for healthcare, let alone a serious one.
February 1, 2006 2:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, what's our plan? Has anyone drafted a bill which expresses it? If not, who's the leader on this policy issue? Have the Democratic caucuses issued a position on health care reform?
February 1, 2006 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ellen,
The Democrats have no plan, at least until they come to power, 1st term would be my guess, just like tax cuts, were 1st term.
When the Clintons tried, they were ridiculed, by Dole and company. At least Clinton attempted something.
Neither party wants to come forward, its as Lincoln said in his "House Divided speech"
"These things look like the cautious patting and petting of a spirited horse preparatory to mounting him, when it is dreaded that he may give the rider a fall."
These things are proposals, neither party wants to address it because of fear of getting thrown off and bounced on their rears.
February 1, 2006 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
At the time I wrote my comment, I hadn't seen Sen. Kennedy's statement calling for a "Medicare for All" program. It says he intended to introduce the necessary legislation on January 31, 2006.
Anyone know if he's gotten any co-sponsors on the bill?
February 1, 2006 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink