additional debate over health care reform

[nplenzick]

AMoore wrote:

We have been hearing how the Dems will get wiped out in November because of their passage of the new health care legislation. Putnits have been citing polls which purport to demonstrate that most Americans are against the reform. Newt Gingrich declared in an e-mail blast Wednesday -- titled "This Will Not Stand" -- "in every recent poll, the vast majority of Americans opposed this monstrosity."

The top line of the March 19-21 CNN/Opinion Research poll showed that by 59 percent to 39 percent, voters opposed the bill that the House was about to vote on. Looks good for the GOP right?

But when asked why, 13 percent of those opposed said the bill was "not liberal enough." Add them to the 39 percent in favor, and the balance came out 52 percent in support and 43 percent against, just about President Barack Obama's margin of victory in 2008.

I do believe, however, that the republicans will be highly motivated in November and turnout for them will be high; while it will be very difficult for the democrats to muster the type of turnout generated in 2008.

The Dems won't be hit as hard as the Reps like to think they will. The stock market will continue to increase, unemployment should be at least 1 - 2 % down from what it is right now, and the independent and the moderates of both parties will realize that the "sky is falling mentality" that some extreme right wingers are preaching never materializes. Now add that the Reps have come out this week ( Mr. McCain) and have said that they will not work with the Obama administration on anything and I would say that the Dems might actually do pretty well, certainly well enough to maintain control of the congress.

The Republican party has one large flaw. They have aligned themselves with an extreme right wing philosophy, with no room for a more moderate point of view. Even our local national media republican Michael Smerconish has left his party because there's no room for a moderate view. It's the same reason I left in 2000. It's really the moderate independents that will decide the election in the fall and they'll have more in common with the moderate Dems then they will Right wing reps.

The "Tea Party movement" is nothing more then a joke at best. Just a quick check of their website show a poultry 90,932 people signing there petition to reject the health care plan. Now 91K people would be a lot if we were talking about one of the counties surrounding Philly or maybe a fair amount if we were talking a State, but a "national movement"? Laughable at best! Oh, their core values sound good, fiscal responsibility, constitutional limited government, free markets. However they offer nothing on how to achieve any of it. Perfect example of Monday morning quarter backing at best.