Yeah, but I hear word from David Broder today that a shiny new conservative policy periodical is coming out that is really gonna provide edgy, and sexy Republican policy discussions.

I'm hoping Newt Gingrich -- The Future of the Republican Party -- will have a regular column in the rag...

I think Obama should have challenged Mitch McConnell -- his coming main opponent when the Senate eventually decides to vote -- to a series of televised debates about health care reform.

It's good to have the President explain to voters why reform is necessary on the TV shows...it's a complicated subject after all. But one third of the country still refuses to listen, and the GOP continues to spread misinformation. A good prime time TV debate or two might alleviate the problem.

MARCU$

Despite all that the GOP is actually closing in poling with the democrats.

Possible reasons why:

Because they are attacking the democrats. And the Democrats are not really attacking the GOP.

Because the Democratic base seems really unenthused. How many promises can be missed? Gays, torture, prosecution of Bush, etc.

Because each time Dems move to the GOP they move closer to positions people don't like - and erase the distinction between the parties.

People say they want bi-partisanship, but they then they say there's no difference between the parties.

So what was it they were waiving in the air during President Obama's speech to congress?

My Morning Murdoch Moment

So when does Murdoch's mouthpieces (O'Reilly and Chris Wallace) start the countdown calendar going?

"I have no idea what those in the 14% minority were thinking."

I do. They are thinking they support anything Republicans say or do (even if the DO part has to be imagined).

I just don't understand why this is 14% instead of the 24% or so that thought GW Bush was a good President.

"To be sure, I don't necessarily blame Republicans for refusing to unveil an alternative health care plan. Producing a GOP reform proposal would not only give Democrats a target, it would offer people a chance to compare the two approaches."

Not even the ShamWow guy could sell a Republican healthcare plan.

I have no idea what those in the 14% minority were thinking.

Some of that 14% probably understand that the Republican plan is to oppose any meaningful positive reform.

"I have no idea what those in the 14% minority were thinking."

They were thinking "tax cuts" and "tort reform" because that's the Republican response when pressed for answers.

Well, now, isn't this a confused mess.

When I just now called the office of the minority leader and asked about their health care plan, I was directed to the "health care" section at the "solutions" tab at GOP.gov. There are links to a variety of articles published between May 13 and July 30, and a summary of Boustenay's comments following the President's address to Congress, but nothing about a plan.

Funny thing is, when I called Boehner's Congressional office and asked about their health care plan I was told they are "still working on it."

@ qerty:
Yes. I'd count myself among that 14%. The Replicants have fully and clearly explained that they don't want any reform whatsoever.

Republican Health Care Plan

1. Cut taxes.

With charts!

I have no idea what those in the 14% minority were thinking.

They were thinking about pie.

I'm sure the GOP could get a plan if they wanted to. However, if you wanted anything from them more detailed than an "Underpants Gnomes" type of plan, good luck.

I thought Cantor explained the plan very clearly--sell everything and go on Medicaid or ask for charity.
Problem solved.

the republicans have a reform bill. they named it harvey.

I am not a big proponent of the "wisdom of the American people" line of thinking, but generally speaking, many are not nearly as fooled as are the networks and political operatives.

I can think of two GOP plans. The first is, of course, YOYO, or 'you're on your own.' The other one is, and you knew this was coming...

1) Keep private companies in charge
2) ?
3) PROFIT!

-Z

Their "guarantees" are about as reliable as their policy prescriptions. -- Steve Benen

That's because... They started working on the plan but, on day two, they reached the doughnut hole. And they're still trying to swim to the other end of it. Hard work, there being a lot of sh.. in that hole, an'all.

My rent is $1600 a month or $19000 a year.
My rental contract is 20 pages long
The US spends $2,000,000,000,000 a year on health care
The Republican health care plan is 4 pages long.
My rental contract is 5 times longer than their entire healthcare proposal.
That's a joke!!!

Why is it taking so long to come up with a comprehensive plan?

Maybe it's because they never thought much about health care. They've never proposed it. They've never lobbied for it. Many of them even claim that the US health care system that excludes 30 million people ...is the BEST IN THE WORLD.

Face it. Republican's are as happy as punch with leaving heath care just the way it is. The only reason they are trying to "come up" with something is because the rest of America disagrees.

It's really difficult to write a health care plan when you don't think there needs to be any changes

"Republican Health Care Plan
1. Cut taxes.
With charts!"
Posted by: stinger on September 25, 2009 at 11:58 AM |

Y'know, that really is unfair.
It does our side no good to misrepresent the other side's points; that's something they'd do. We're supposed to be better than that. And surely you know that there's much more to their plan than just that one point:

"Republican Health Care Plan
1. Cut taxes.
With charts!"
2. Immunize all doctors, hospitals, and insurance firms from exposure to any civil or criminal action resulting from any action or failure to act, intentional or otherwise, that results in injury or death of any patient except pre-born children.
3. Charge any doctor, hospital, or insurance firm involved in any way with the death of a pre-born child (commonly referred to as "abortion") with murder.
4. Extend patent protections for pharmaceuticals, medical and surgical procedures, and any and all genes, human or otherwise, to eternity or the heat-death of the universe, whichever comes first.
5. Provide cash subsidies to insurance companies to process applications for health coverage from any individual not currently covered (applications may, of course, be denied for any cause, or none).
6. Permit any insurance firm to market and sell policies in any state subject only to such regulations as are applicable in the jurisdiction in which the firm is chartered and headquartered.
7. Endow Lesotho with the right to charter insurance firms."

See? MUCH more.