This is really good news.

Meanwhile, I'd love to see the CBO scores for the Bush tax cuts, the war in Iraq, etc.

[Thanks, Steve, for your earlier piece reminding us that Republicans never think about the future numbers when they're "ramming legislation down our throats."]

If Pelosi can't scare up the votes by Sunday, Obama should tender his resignation on Monday. Whatever one thinks of the heathcare bill, (and I don't think much of it), if it fails, the president's domestic agenda will be dead in the water.

A cynical person might say that Dems are giddy because the CBO score lends support for passing a bill so they can claim, come election time, that they actually accomplished something.

An idealist might take heart that the giddiness is because the CBO concludes that the bill is decent public policy.

Of course, the CNN.com headline is:
Dem sources: Health bill would cost $940 billion

Meanwhile, FOXNews.com's is:
CBO report on health care bill confirms deficit reductions, clearing the way for a possible Sunday vote

What the funky?

Now let's listen to the Party of No tell the American people why they shouldn't support a bill that would provide quality, affordable healthcare to millions more, forbid insurance companies from jacking up costs, life time caps, and denying coverage, lower prescription costs for senior citizens, AND save the country a lot of money over the next 10 years. It's time to pop some popcorn and enjoy the Republican freakout!

She'll get the votes from the "non-suicidal" caucus among the House Dems. There must be some of you out there, right? Uh, guys?

This will only be 'really good news' if our side flogs the hell out of it. From now until this is voted on, whatever question a bobble-head asks one of our guys, the answer needs to include this information, forcefully stated. You realize that right now the MSM pundits are searching for 'the other side of the story', but only to be fair and balanced, of course. We need to shout this from the rooftops until the votes are counted.

But the post-modern conservatives don't believe that there is any objective truth. The CBO is clearly partisan, if their report supports the claims of the Democrats.

If indeed Obamacare reduces the deficit, it's only because of its Death Panel provisions.

If the CBO had said it increased the deficit in the second decade, there would be talk of nothing else -- and no mention of uncertainty.

I'm happy to have them feeling confident about something, even if 'giddy' isn't a word I would use, especially in politics.

What the funky?

Wow. That's amazing. Though in this case I do think we can interpret this as being as much due to the fact (or at least the inescapable conclusion) that no one at CNN is much brighter than your average parsnip as to Jon Klein's determination that the path to success is to be FoxLite. Isn't he at least the third CNN boss to figure this out after his predecessor is fired because it didn't work?

Good news, yes!

Now Speaker Pelosi and the WH have to double down on the schmoozing, persuading, cajoling, coercing, arm-twisting, waterboarding - whatever it f**king takes - to be SURE to votes are there.

It is incredible to me that many Dems in Congress fail to comprehend that their butts are on the line here! Please listen to Dennis!

"biggest deficit reduction measure in 25 years,"

Yes, but it's a DEMOCRATIC measure, and, as Rep Boner says, must be defeated by any and all means.

...and deficit reduction is better than either bill, which will reassure conservatives.

Silly Ezra, assuming that conservatives needed little more than to be 'reassured' that the bill reduces the deficit.

They are not honest brokers, and they never will be. They are only ever interested in power.

Nobama said the bill had to come in under $900 billion and this one doesn't. Therefore to continue with this abomination would be a desecration of the Constitution and will cause the Democrat Party to be mowed down in November. P.S. Polls prove that Americans love their insurance companies, trust them to make the right decisions and think their premiums are a good value.

it's a DEMOCRATIC measure, and, as Rep Boner says, must be defeated by any and all means.
_______________________________

Little Johnny BoneHead is so serious about this that he has actually committed to lay off the booze and stay out of the tanning booth until noon today just so he can whip up the opposition to the bill. That's a pretty drastic measure for Little Johnny to take!

Actually, the CBO score might be exactly what Stupak is looking for to flip. He's an ass, but he wants to keep his job.

The resistance to learning starts early in the modern model of political thinking . Early it is when you are taught to absorb the hate of learning , then you apply those lessons to defensless , brown people , or failing that announce you would if you could .
The other alternative is quibble over whether or not it will make scary people scarier .
It is the work of comedians to organise the facts , because facts are what is really funny .
He he he

will the DCCC be supporting DEms who vote no? Will jerks like Allen Boyd be getting the Air Force One treatment? wanna twist some arms, then how about promising to support primary challengers for every single House Dem who votes no? directing Big Money donors to folks like Allen Lawson? wanna pass the bill, then play hardball with the Blue Dogs, as all the House liberals have already been cowed into supporting this giveaway to the insurance and pharmaceutical companies.

Stupak's into the model airplane glue

Actually, the CBO score might be exactly what Stupak is looking for to flip.

Naw. Denny Kucinich flipped because he allowed his rationality to function and internally post counter arguments. Stupak is flying high on religious airplane glue. In his febrile brain he imagines himself the heroic Christian battling the world's lions. He is seriously sick. And so: Thou shall not flip him....

This is it. Anyone who is legitimately on the fence for fiscal reasons is looking for exactly this kind of cover/information. Most of those folks are going to flip as a result of this, and be able to explain that they did it because the CBO score confirmed that the bill was good fiscal policy.

There's very little that can stop this thing now. This is really, really good news for people who care and/or obsess over the details of this thing.

Re: cost and savings, they're both estimates. My hunch is that they're both underestimated.

More people will sign up for subsidized plans than predicted, and health care will become more expensive than inflation, as it nearly always has.

At the same time, I think that putting more competitive pressure on insurance companies, along with community rating, will do a lot to drive down costs; more than predicted.

A missing piece is revenue. It's been really bad. One of the most important elements of health reform to me is the shot in the arm it gives to small businesses. My guess is that the benefits of covering people will far outweigh the costs, even if those costs are more than predicted.

"A cynical person might say that Dems are giddy because the CBO score lends support for passing a bill so they can claim, come election time, that they actually accomplished something.

An idealist might take heart that the giddiness is because the CBO concludes that the bill is decent public policy."

Couldn't they be giddy because of both? Good policy, or best possible right now, plus the added benefit of good electoral consequences?
What Rove and Bush expected from Medicare Part D--except they lied about the cost and it increased the deficit, plus the big donut hole, so there wasn't much in the way of electoral payoff.

Maybe someday before we're all dead, all of congress will finally realize that doing what's good for your consituents is the best route to electoral success. Oh nevermind.

I doubt Stupak will switch, although he's said he actually wants the bill to pass even if he doesn't vote for it.

His problem is that he fully admits to allowing the Catholic bishops to dictate his ridiculous policy demands on this--that's leaders of one religious denomination dictating policy to a United States congressman, a policy which prohibits Americans from obtaining a legal medical procedure.
I've concluded that all the earthquakes we've had recently are the result of our founding fathers collectively rolling over in their graves.

Coverage is better than the Senate bill, which will reassure liberals, and deficit reduction is better than either bill, which will reassure conservatives.

Listen to me:
Nothing will ever reassure conservatives.

I agree with you Steve, I don't know where they'll get the votes. I hate to be cynical but I am and will be until Sunday. If the votes don't materialize, I'd say I'll have to no longer describe myself as a liberal Democrat...liberal will have to suffice. I can't support a party that will let this opportunity pass (and what Kucinich said yesterday).

Encouraging but, PTDB already, what fucking more do they need?!

Encouraging but, PTDB already, what fucking more do they need?!

Well, by their own previously stated standards, they needed this, Trollop. Now they have it. So fix yourself a sandwich and sit tight. They're going to vote on Sunday. (Here, I've got some leftover grilled vegetables that will be great with that -- they're all yours.)

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee:

"we need your grassroots support to stand up to Rove and his special interest funded swift-boat style attacks"

Hear this: Support is earned. Pass this bill.

Lets start a pool: bill passes my 235!

I am with Shortstop. The bill is going to be passed on Sunday. I don't care if they only 216 votes, but I suspect the vote will be a little better than that. Blue Dogs will point to the deficit reduction to justify their vote.

Re: cost and savings, they're both estimates. My hunch is that they're both underestimated.

Oh, well then -- forget the calculations by the budget experts at the CBO; I'm going with the hunch by some random guy on the Internet!

The CBO's report gives the effort a shot in the arm, but "giddiness" will have to wait until the votes materialize.

Many folks may have told Clyburn, "I'm a maybe vote, but I will switch to a Yes if the CBO says it reduces the deficit even further than the House and Senate Bills".

Good reason to be giddy.

Here's where I think they stand:

Pelosi has the votes. By pretending not to have them; by pouring it on to pressure no-votes to change over, she is forcing the GOP to concentrate all its resources on countering her tactic---move for move, and Rep for Rep. The "Stupak Dozen" is in all likelihood down to three or four, and Kucinich's pladge to vote yes will pull at least another half-dozen or so of the fence-straddlers to the "aye" side of the aisle.

Now---if you couple that with the deem-and-pass strategy, the whole package is a done deal by noon on Sunday, the Senate comes right behind with the reconciliation fix, and Obama has his signature legislation in place before Easter.

So much for the Republican Resurrection....

S. Waybright, I think you are about right. I do hope she takes the time to make sure everybody understands deem and pass really means forgoing one vote, and that it was made popular by Newt Gingrich. Otherwise, hold two votes one right after the other.

It will be a one vote majority. The question is only who will have to make the tough vote. But, in point of fact, it is not so tough. This is popular legislation, although the GOP mischaracterization of it is not. Once it passes, it will be clear that, feeble and fucked up as it is, improves health care.

even though i do not fully concur with you on all of your ideas, i did enjoy reading this, take care