How Many Lives Does ObamaCare Have?

Remember how fast HillaryCare went from looking like a bright idea, to becoming a plague that weakened Clinton's administration in a major way? Obama wants one thing more than any other just now, to avoid that kind of catastrophe. But momentum is a funny thing in Washington. Once something shifts, or changes direction, it can all too easily simply come off the tracks.

This is a significant set back to ObamaCare across a few fronts.

Yesterday saw some rare good news on the health-care front, with the stealth Democratic plan to move $247 billion in ObamaCare costs off the books collapsing in the Senate on a procedural vote of 47 to 53. Maybe there's more anxiety among Democrats about a huge permanent increase in government health spending than the White House is willing to let on.

A dozen Democrats (plus independent Joe Lieberman) voted against Majority Leader Harry Reid's gambit, which would have superseded automatic cuts in Medicare payments to doctors scheduled for 21% next year and higher after that. Democrats had included this fix as part of "comprehensive" reform but that pushed costs too high, while President Obama is insisting on a bill that doesn't increase the deficit on paper.

Suddenly the doctor's lab coats they passed out might not be giving doctors the warm fuzzies just now. Pelosi made a big deal about the cost being just under a trillion dollars. That may not be so true anymore. And Harry Reid, who is on the hook for ObamaCare in the Senate, got his head handed to him with tough a re-election campaign just up ahead. How many hits that leave him looking weak do you think he wants to take before he moves into that cycle after this?

The whole deal has been more fragile than test tube glass for quite some time. The future of ObamaCare can't be predicted with any certainty, but with Obama's numbers dropping down he's also losing clout. Don't be surprised if seemingly out of the blue the whole deal simply breaks apart. There is still the Left on the other side who isn't happy with the plan to start.

I'm not sure precisely how much support Obama even has left at this point. The American people certainly aren't bought in. The first casualty of ObamaCare might be the thing itself. One usually gets only so many trips to the emergency room before you cash in. It seems fair to at least ask if ObamaCare is on life support.

 

Comments

[Phil]

This picture pretty much sums it up:
http://tinyurl.com/ygepwt3

[Neo]

"Democrats are an opinionated bunch. You know, the other side, they just kinda sometimes do what they're told. Democrats, ya'll thinkin' for yourselves." -- Obama

It's always funny when an attempt at the pejorative comes back to bite them in the ...

[rrpjr]

To answer the question: it has exactly as many lives as it needs to win.

[mojo]

Plaque? I think you mean plague.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Look, it's a sure thing. Will take a wee bit longer but it's coming. Just take comfort in the fact that the sheeples who want it so badly will have to bear the biggest burden to pay for it.

[ketchup]

You're a plaque.
lol

[Dan Riehl]

Oh, give it a rest, dope. It was a freaking typo, get over it. Stop coming here during recess if it bothers you.

[Philip McDaniel]

LOL
Never underestimate the perfidy of a Democrat. Especially this bunch.

ObamaCare might turn out to be engineered via a sort of 'Midnight Special' or 'Nacht der langen Messer' (Night of the long knives) if you will.

[jodetoad]

Had a minor surgical procedure a few days back. Asked my primary care physician and the surgeon both "What will it mean to your practice if the HC bill passes?"

The surgeon said he would retire. My primary physician said she would either retire or return to her native country, the Philippines, to practice.

I'm in a small rural area, the loss of 2 doctors (presuming they are the only ones) would be a big hit to our medical community. It would be a loss to me, since I like my doctor, she does a very good job and works hard.