What Democrats should be doing right now is working to write two brand new health care bills starting from scratch, simplified down from 2000 pages of nonsense, and ready to go. The first bill should be based on the single-payer model. This bill is the one that is least likely to get passed, but we need to start there. The second bill is the "back-up" bill (or "compromise") which is the one most likely to be passed and would include a strong public option, prescription drug importation, and very tight regulations and restrictions on current insurance companies. It should also have a six month period before going into effect- not three years. 

There is absolutely no reason we can't try for this again next year. Now that we understand exactly what we are up against, we should be fully prepared. Democrats need to be ready to stand strong and not allow time for town halls, lies, fear-mongering, misrepresentations, etc. to proliferate as they did this year. The Democrats are finally starting to feel the pain of not voting in favor of what the public wants- the public they are supposed to represent, by the way. Democrats need to stop twiddling their thumbs and hemming and hawing, and start acting like Republicans in terms of getting things done and passing their agenda with or without the support of the other side. There is no need to hear the other side out- we've done that this year. We know they have nothing of value to contribute and no alternative ideas. This year was their year, but we still have the majority and we still have next year- though if the current Democrats in office don't start showing some leadership and strength, the majority will be lost and they may not be in office for Obama's remaining three years. Proof of that should be perfectly clear based on the VA, NJ, and especially, the MA elections. 

So let's get moving on this!