We have a united GOP against reforms, against well, any.. thing that Democrats propose. With healthcare in particular, this includes Joe Lieberman (R-Aetna) and the other rightwing "Democrats" aka corporate whores.
The writing is on the wall with the Senate. Therefore, why not pass the current bill. The President and Democrats get to pat themselves on the back, the corporate conservative media moves on.
Considering the size and scope and political realities, this situation sets up the next step...
All who have discussed reconciliation have stated the challenges and the reality that it would need to involve breaking up the legislation.
We clearly see Lieberman and others moving goal posts and making up whatever shit they want to delay and water it down.
That is done. So Dem leadership should say,"ok, you win" which is pretty much what has just happened. So the KEY is not to announce reconciliation until after the current bill is passed and signed. They think they win and then that’s when we hit them with reconciliation.
IF the current gutted Senate bill becomes what is passed (more or less) without the real meat – the real budget related true progressive items, then this necessary "breaking up" of the legislation has already happened.
So while Lieberman and the other whores celebrate what they view as victory, Democrats take the meat and I mean meat – strong as can be real healthcare that more than 50 Senators are eager to pass can happen via reconciliation.
Not only can this two step approach do the practical dividing, but without the 44 whores involved, liberals can have the opportunity to truly help most Americans and with the added bonus of flipping off the whores who think that they had screwed us all.
If it makes it easier to process, go with expanding Medicare, which is single payer and established – PLUS easy for Americans to grasp. It is tangible. It is doable. It will save lives. Democrats have a chance to move ahead and do the right thing.