That's a good point. Imagine if we had universal health care now and the difficulty the right would have arguing to replace it with the current system. It would be a no go.

Republican physics is more predictable than a cue ball carom...

Benen: There will be precious few politicians willing to proudly proclaim to tens of millions of Americans in 2012, "Know that health coverage you're about to get for you and your family? I'm about to take it away."

Exactly. In fact it will be just the opposite.
Someday they will take credit for a bill they did everything to stop.
And just like with Medicare, they will pretend to be its savior...

But the fact that they're talking about it is a very good thing. Talk about how they'll be able to get rid of it (however delusional) can only undermine the energy for blocking it in the first place.

To make it even more difficult, they would actually have to come up with a plan to campaign on. I think it would be hard to campaign on a platform that says we want to take away your health care but we do not have a plan to replace it with!

If The subsidies are too weak (And they are) and people are basically being forced to spend 5-6 thousand dollars a year, then yes. This will be repealed. Probably after the Democrats lose terribly come 2014.

If Social Security had taken 3/4ths of the average American's pay check and then paid out 100 dollars a month, it wouldn't exist right now. It would have been dismantled a long time ago. Its the programs themselves that make them untouchable, not the idea of a program. All Healthcare reform will be in 2013 is an idea. One that is very likely to be viewed as a bad one.

Whydo republicans hate the Troops so?

In the first place, the Republicans wouldn't run on taking health care away from people, they'd claim they were "reforming" the system and lie spectacularly about the effect of "reform," which would be to take health care away from people. And their media allies would let them get away with it.

In the second place, why would you think that the Republicans give a damn about the uninsured? Remember, per the ideology of the ruling Republican clique, people who can't afford health insurance are losers and parasites. No activist Republican cares about scum like that, and certainly they won't be looking for their votes.

au contraire you stoopid merde-fer-brains Repugnants...

le public option is the nez de chameau for single payer universal health care...

worse than repealing it--defund it (ok, so that's not a word, but you know what I mean)

Are Republicans going to craft a new health care plan that can pass the House, get 60 votes in the Senate, and gain approval from some other, future president?

When have Republicans ever needed 60 votes to pass legislation?

Jinchi is right. Who thinks the Republicans are going to give a damn whether or not they have 60 votes in the Senate? If they have the majority (read 50 votes and the VP) that's all they'll need. And they'll scream bloody murder or "up or down vote" or will of the people, if you think you can block them with a filibuster. It would be nice if just once the Democrats recognized that.

golack @ 6:29 has been paying attention to GOP history. If you don't like a program that requires funding, simply red line in budget appropriations. If you don't like a law, simply instruct the DoJ to ignore infractions. Why would anyone think it necessary to repeal HCR when you can scuttle it with a thousand cuts?

Once this bill is done, changes will be incremental and a major overhaul will be all but impossible anytime soon.

That sounding ominous enough with the Democrat concession filled conservative handjob version of the current bill..

(Stupid amendment included)..

You mean like Republicans were going to instate a federal gay marriage ban and reverse Roe V Wade when they were in power to appease their base? Only the base will be duped by this line of repeal rhetoric and I doubt the religious right would buy into it. Just another talking point with no intention what-so-ever for follow through. Next.

This seems to be typical Republican "strategy." Talk a lot about doing something when you get to power or doing something when X happens to get everyone fired up and then pray that people forget and the press doesn't bother to call you on it when the time comes.

Republicans COULD repeal it IF they retake the White House in 2012 (ain't gonna happen).

Remember that Democrats aren't like Republicans. At least EIGHT TO TEN Democratic Senators will go along with any Republican President and the right-wing. Just as the did under Bush! They are really "moderate Republicans" who can't run as Republicans because that party has eliminated it's moderate wing.

That means that if Republicans ever got to 52 votes in the Senate, they would be able to pick up 8 Democrats desperate to look "bi-partisan" by repealing the health-care reform and get to 60.

Also many Democrats would cave-in rather than fight to the end the way Republicans are doing on this.

Never underestimate the stupidity and corruption of the "moderates".

Wait a minute, let's look at how many benefit VS how many lose. This bill will do little to nothing to control costs, CMS estimates that the PO will cost slightly MORE than private insurance (there is some competition we can believe in!). The costs of covering the uninsured and very sick will roll onto those that have insurance today, increasing costs without control. We will likely still see insurance companies making out like bankers, and you know how popular that bailout has been.

Who benefits? Those with pre-existings who are uninsured today. Who pays more? Virtually everyone else. And what about the lower middle class, already crushed by debt and unemployment, now saddled with a mandate to buy expensive insurance with high deductibles that may not cover routine needs like sick kids.

I see about 4X as many people hurt by this as benefit. And Americans haven't been in a generous mood since St Ronnie....It could easily be repealed, the campaign ads virtually write themselves "Why are your tax dollars helping Wellpoint CEO Dickwad make $20million? Why did your costs go up so that unworthy (fill in focus-group tested target group) slackers benefit?"