What follows is my latest post in Usenet News:
The long nightmare of attempting to make peace with Republicans has finally ended. On Sunday, March 21, 2010 we broke all ties with the lunatic fringe that was and still is, the Republican party.
The prancers had used a constant barrage of lies and deceit to misinform the public concerning HCR legislation and they will continue to do so in the days and weeks ahead. But unlike past relationships wherein the Democratic party continually offered reasonable compromise so as to achieve a more bipartisan base from which to build, we now enter the phase of undisputed improvement. We no longer need to offer any appeasements. And any such appeasements will be seen as agreement with liars. Over the next few months middle class Americans can decide whether they want decent government or government that merely serves the corporations.
The Republicans have vowed to block all of the improvements to the underlying HCR bill. Unfortunately for Republicans, these adjustments will indisputably restore the middle class prosperity that was destroyed in a clotured Republican blockaded Senate. The party of puke will now be pitted against all the improvements that deliver middle class prosperity.
Chief among these improvements to middle class well being is the broadening of the Medicare tax; a proper adjustment that should have been done long ago. There has never been any valid rationale for limiting the Medicare tax to wages only. Unlike Social Security, all persons that qualify for Medicare receive exactly the same benefits regardless of what they paid in wage taxes. It will be quite entertaining as we watch the Republicans buck this. This tax broadening had to be limited to incomes in excess of $250k in order to avoid the Republican attack dogs that would have otherwise been unleashed. We would have seen a barrage of loud and bold "Obama Lies" ads on every billboard in the nation concerning Obama's pledge to not raise taxes on the middle class. In reality, real middle class persons are protected from these taxes because their "unearned income" is safely tax sheltered in a 401k or IRA. And retired people taking funds from these accounts are also shielded. So there is really no need for the $250k bottom and if more revenue is needed in support of Medicare we can expect to see this $250K bottom lowered or eliminated. Oh please, Republicans, stand up and be counted in your opposition to this.
Then we have the elimination of the cornhusker kick back, and the tax on, so called, "Cadillac insurance". And it will be great fun watching the Republicans block this also.
It is surely tempting to wait until August or so to roll these through the Senate, but there may be a better plan. We can do these now and then in August, roll out a 2014 national exchang and Public Option with immediate Medicare Buy In. No "reconciliation" needed. The heavy lifting is over. You pukes are toast.
How's that "Waterloo" thing workin' out for ya?