Bill Frist: Health Care Is 'Law Of The Land,' GOP Should Drop Repeal And Build On It

**jackalope** · 19th January 2011 01:48 PM

Bill Frist: Health Care Is 'Law Of The Land,' GOP Should Drop Repeal And Build On It
First Posted: 01/18/11 11:23 AM Updated: 01/18/11 12:09 PM

WASHINGTON -- As congressional Republicans ready themselves for a largely symbolic effort to repeal President Obama's health care reform law, at least one former GOP leader is urging them to drop the charade and build on the legislation instead.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who caused a stir during the construction of health care reform when he said he'd vote for the bill, said it was important to consider the bill the "law of the land" and move on from there.

"It is not the bill that [Republicans] would have written," said the Tennessee Republican. "It is not the bill that I would have drafted. But it is the law of the land and it is the platform, the fundamental platform, upon which all future efforts to make that system better, for that patient, for that family, will be based. And that is a fact. I know the discussion of Washington is repeal and I'm sure we will come back to that discussion..."

"[The bill] has many strong elements," Frist added later. "And those elements, whatever happens, need to be preserved, need to be cuddled, need to be snuggled, need to be promoted and need to be implemented. But how do you do it? How do you do a lot of what is in this law?"

more: Bill Frist: Health Care Is 'Law Of The Land,' GOP Should Drop Repeal And Build On It

I think this repeal effort of the Republicans is not going as they had hoped. Now the former Senate Majority Leader from the Bush years, Republican Bill Frist of Tennessee, wants to cuddle and snuggle and preserve the yummy goodness of the HCR 'law of the land'.

Oh, and Dick Cheney wants to ban high capacity ammunition clips. And Joe Lieberman is retiring! I keep getting surprised by political news the last day or two.

**angryamerican** · 19th January 2011 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by jackalope

I think this repeal effort of the Republicans is not going as they had hoped. Now the former Senate Majority Leader from the Bush years, Republican Bill Frist of Tennessee, wants to cuddle and snuggle and preserve the yummy goodness of the HCR 'law of the land'.

Oh, and Dick Cheney wants to ban high capacity ammunition clips. And Joe Lieberman is retiring! I keep getting surprised by political news the last day or two.

I know..I am scared too......Next Fox News will present NEWS with FACTS and Rush will stop lying...Maybe the end of the World really is in 2012....

**jackalope** · 19th January 2011 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by angryamerican

I know..I am scared too......Next Fox News will present NEWS with FACTS and Rush will stop lying...Maybe the end of the World really is in 2012....

*looks around nervously*

**Morgan** · 19th January 2011 01:56 PM

United States National Health Care Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Really good way to build on it. Have at it Democrats.

**Granite** · 19th January 2011 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by jackalope

I think this repeal effort of the Republicans is not going as they had hoped. Now the former Senate Majority Leader from the Bush years, Republican Bill Frist of Tennessee, wants to cuddle and snuggle and preserve the yummy goodness of the HCR 'law of the land'.

Oh, and Dick Cheney wants to ban high capacity ammunition clips. And Joe Lieberman is retiring! I keep getting surprised by political news the last day or two.

I suspect the Republican strategy is this:

Bad-mouth the law as much as possible.
Vote to repeal the law...and fail.
Bad-mouth the Democrats for keeping the bad law that they rammed down the people's throats.
Continue bad-mouthing the bill.
Look for the Supremes to rule on the mandate.
Target and kill specific elements of the law.
Continue to bad-mouth the law and the Democrats for blocking solutions to the bad law.

If they haven't effectively neutered the law by the beginning of next year, go full-court against every Democratic candidate...including Obama...for their part in keeping the law in effect.

**jackalope** · 19th January 2011 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by JoJoGunne

I suspect the Republican strategy is this:

Bad-mouth the law as much as possible.
Vote to repeal the law...and fail.
Bad-mouth the Democrats for keeping the bad law that they rammed down the people's throats.
Continue bad-mouthing the bill.
Look for the Supremes to rule on the mandate.
Target and kill specific elements of the law.
Continue to bad-mouth the law and the Democrats for blocking solutions to the bad law.

If they haven't effectively neutered the law by the beginning of next year, go full-court against every Democratic candidate...including Obama...for their part in keeping the law in effect.

So, at no point do you expect their strategy to include actually proposing a positive solution?

Me neither.

**Granite** · 19th January 2011 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by jackalope

So, at no point do you expect their strategy to include actually proposing a positive solution?

Me neither.

Actually, that would fall under "Target and kill specific elements of the law". That's all the "positive solution" that's necessary.

**jackalope** · 19th January 2011 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by JoJoGunne

Actually, that would fall under "Target and kill specific elements of the law". That's all the "positive solution" that's necessary.

No, that would be killing solutions offered by the other guy. Which is not at all the same as proposing a positive solution of your own. Not even on the same continuum.

**Devil505** · 19th January 2011 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by JoJoGunne

Actually, that would fall under "Target and kill specific elements of the law". That's all the "positive solution" that's necessary.

Hmm.....I don't see any "Target and kill specific elements of the law" here...Do you?

House votes to repeal Obama's health care law
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent – 30 mins ago
WASHINGTON – Swiftly honoring a campaign pledge, newly empowered Republicans pushed legislation to repeal the nation's year-old health care overhaul through the House Wednesday night, brushing aside implacable opposition in the Senate and a veto threat from President Barack Obama.
House votes to repeal Obama's health care law - Yahoo! News

You party just voted to repeal the whole fucking law....Did they not??
(Please start your answer with a simple Yes or No.)

A few suggested scenarios for your answer Gunne:
"No they didn't" (I'm a fucking liar)

Or

"Yes they did....BUT..<verbal & logical gymnastics here>

**Granite** · 19th January 2011 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by jackalope

No, that would be killing solutions offered by the other guy. Which is not at all the same as proposing a positive solution of your own. Not even on the same continuum.

You're right...I was being sarcastic.

Part of the process for the current repeal of Obamacare is to instruct relevant Committees to come up with the positive solutions you are asking for. This will be voted on tomorrow.