What proof do you need other than the way Repubs have conducted themselves so far and their demands that the reform bill be tossed and only THEIR ideas listened to? Why should Obama or anybody else have wasted their time with them only to have them vote a lockstep "no" if they got everything they say they want? They're playing games with people's lives and stuffing the big bucks in their pockets.

Repubs will never pass health care reform as long as it only benefits the American people. The "contributions" that they've been getting from the private insurers and pharmaceutical companies for their votes are far too large to lose.

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The Republican/Conservative Recovery Plan:

In unison:

"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream - NO!

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream! NO!"

Then it should be nothing. The Dems should force it to a vote again so it will be very clear to the American people who's preventing them from being able to access medical care when they need it or having to file bankruptcy if they do. 30,000,000 uninsured people is a large voting block and that's about to increase now that Anthem is raising their premiums on individual policyholders by 39% on March 1 with other increases to follow and other companies doing the same. The uninsured block plus the ones who will lose their coverage between now and November will be at the polls along with the rest of us who've been fighting for this for years and years and they aren't going to be satisfied with a health care reform bill that does nothing but increase the private insurers' profits and still leaves them without.

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The Republican/Conservative Recovery Plan:

In unison:

"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream - NO!

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream! NO!"

If the cons are involved it will be nothing, or worse. They need to be kicked past the curb into a deep ravine and dismissed completely.

They need to broadcast this as often and loudly as possible and then stand by the conditions.

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“The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.” – Will Rogers

Better late than never I guess, but it's pretty transparent that now they're willing to talk after anthem jacked their premiums up 39% just days after they defeated the reform... Obviously they screwed the pooch bad on this one. Coming back to the table with their tails between their legs is better than just continuing their 'the people be (*)(*)(*)(*)ed' obstructionism on such a huge problem, but it's not exactly a feather in their caps.

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Almost 2/3 of Americans either think the current health care bill is about right or doesn't go far enough
We spend 54% of our federal budget on the military
The costs of failing to address global warming

Maybe, just maybe, we might actually get congress working together to come up with a health care bill that both sides can support it. This is the only way to get anything done in DC. Neither party deserves to have the reins of government solely in their hands, no doubt about that. It is best when they are forced to sit in the same room and craft bills the majorities of each party can support.

I'll start to have hope that this will actually happen when the bill is being signed, until then this issue is nothing more than political posturing and grandstanding for votes.

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The first casualty in a political discussion is truth.

Reps have conducted themselves in a way that benefits the American people, that being avoiding another dem lead boondoggle that does little other than increase our debt for the foreseeable future. Please provide the quote where they say "only their ideas should be listened to." Because Bohner said the exact opposite. Obama and the dems decided to try and go around the reps and it bit them in the butt. Now they are forced to listen.

Wrong. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/0...s/tab/article/

Sorry, I believe you were saying something about politicians getting contributions from pharma and insurance? You had it right that they don't want to lose the money, you just had the wrong party.

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Obama The Naive: “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.’’ The Iranian response? “The Great Satan now has a black face.’’