New U.S. Congress prepares to undo Obamacare, weigh Trump personnel picks

The "conservative" agenda:

Repeal Dodd-Frank. Bring on another depression. Repeal Obamacare. Let people die in the streets in front of emergency rooms. Cut taxes on the idle rich who destroy jobs in America and create jobs in china. Kill Social Security. Kill Medicare. Kill the IRS and forget about taxes to run the military, the cops, and public health. Wreck the environment. We don't need it.

God help us all.

Do they have an alternative in place for the ACA?

Thank you, Rupert Murdoch, and your hate-spewing TV "news" network.

Mnuchin is a successful private equity investor and hedge fund manager who spent 17 years at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

I imagine JT's anti-Clinton posters who reviled Hillary because of her ties to Goldman Sachs must also be upset about this swamp croc. Or do they think the MSM are being unfair to Trump by mentioning Mnuchin's connection to Wall Street. On that note, if the MSM report he's part of the Wall Street swamp, will the Don's followers believe it's true, or will they wait to read it in Breitbart, Russia Today (part of the Putin controlled global media network) or one of Murdoch's global outlets to verify it?

But then fact checking doesn't matter to true believers: they'll not question what their Don-ship does and says.

Moderator: Please tone down your rhetoric.

I imagine JT's anti-Clinton posters who reviled Hillary because of her ties to Goldman Sachs must also be upset about this swamp croc.

dream on. they will continue to worship the "one true leader" regardless of what he does or says. if the things he has said and done so far didn't his supporters realize what was going on, you can be sure that even if Trump converted to islam, his supporters would just follow him.

I'd be surprised if they don't repeal Obamacare. They've been trying for years, now that they control all houses, it will likely be one of the first things they do, whether Trump agrees or not.

He'll probably have to agree, or he's going to look like he doesn't have control. And he can't handle that.

We will see what they do tomorrow.

If we could just stop the hegemonic warmongering of Bush and Obama, that would be great.

GOP philosophy is that government is the problem. Their strategy is to prove it.

I just hate how the left is in an uproar and believe that Trump and the GOP after a massive win will just decide to repeal Obamacare and leave everyone that bought into it out in the cold and shut the door. They are not that stupid and it's stupid for the Dems to spread that myth and create anxiety for millions that bought into this, enough with the rhetoric, but at the same time, the GOP better have an affordable and BETTER alternative to replace it, otherwise the will once again look like a bunch of cry babies, but with zero solutions on this, so once Trump is sworn in, they have to hit the ground running on this. But everyone needs to relax and the MSM media needs to stop spreading doom and gloom as if the end is coming for everyone with medical insurance, both sides need to come together and work on an option that all Americans can benefit from and to have something that doesn't break their wallet or pay for something that they don't need or would ever use.

bass4funkJAN. 03, 2017 - 11:17AM JST I just hate how the left is in an uproar and believe that Trump and the GOP after a massive win will just decide to repeal Obamacare and leave everyone that bought into it out in the cold and shut the door.

The right has spent the last 8 years spreading every possible conspiracy theory about Obama and Hillary Clinton, everything from Obama literally being the anti-christ and being out to take your guns and bibles because he's a communist Muslim atheist foreigner (Pres-elect was the biggest pusher of the lie that Obama is foreign) to Hillary having a secret pedophile slave ring in the basement of a pizza shop that doesn't actually have a basement. And now you feel bad because people expect the right to do the things the right has been saying they'll do the moment they get into power?

It's not an MSM conspiracy when this is literally what people on the right have promised us.

Bass: I just hate how the left is in an uproar

Who cares???? USC wins the Rose Bowl!!!!!!!!! USC wins the Rose Bowl!!!!! It was amazing!!!!!!!

I don't care if you are right or left in America today. The bottom line is this. We have an incompetent narcissist who has selected a bunch of neo-fascists, racists, corrupt business men and the elite to "drain the swamp". If you are a working person in America you are screwed. No political affiliation will make a difference. Your labor protections, environmental protections, health care and wages are all going to be under constant fire until the elite turn you into virtual slaves. Not that most of you are not already.

Working people screwed themselves this time. Instead of unity amongst working people, we let the elites divide and conquer us. They have won and all working people have lost.

The level to which you are all screwed is just something we have to wait and see. But if the GOP make good on their promises, all working people will be living in regret for the next four years.

Let's just hope working people put down their division and come together to vote in someone who works for us in 2020.

The right has spent the last 8 years spreading every possible conspiracy theory about Obama and Hillary Clinton, everything from Obama literally being the anti-christ and being out to take your guns and bibles

Seems like most of it panned out to be true.

because he's a communist Muslim atheist foreigner (Pres-elect was the biggest pusher of the lie that Obama is foreign) to Hillary having a secret pedophile slave ring in the basement of a pizza shop that doesn't actually have a basement. And now you feel bad because people expect the right to do the things the right has been saying they'll do the moment they get into power?

I don't know about all that, but she's not president, that I do know for a fact.

It's not an MSM conspiracy when this is literally what people on the right have promised us.

At this point, the finger pointing needs to stop. Obamacare is going the way of the dinosaur (at least most of it in its current form) and the GOP have to find an affordable alternate, bottomline. The people could care less about the infighting between both parties. Take care of the people first, leave the ideology at the door.

Trump has run and still runs companies that screw people.

Now he's going to run the US in the same way. How do we know this? Because he knows no other way. That's what he has done all along and that's what he'll do.

@Burning Bush"Yeah, it's called be American and take responsibility for and make choices for yourself."

So true ! I wish Donald Trump to clean the ugly mess created by Barack Hussein Obama, the Manchurian Candidate of Al Qaeda.

@yamashi @burningbush Would having individuals take responsibility for and make choices for themselves, at least with regard to health care, be consistent with your fellow nashi's platform? Do you think that's the approach that would be of greatest benefit to your nation's oligarchs? And of course tsar.

bass4funkJAN. 03, 2017 - 12:24PM JST Seems like most of it panned out to be true.

Hahahahahaha.

I don't care what things "seem like" to you or anyone, because "seem" is a subjective assessment. I care about objective facts, and you have no objective facts to support any conspiracy theory regarding Obama or Hillary. That is literally why they're called conspiracy theories in the first place.

I don't know about all that, but she's not president, that I do know for a fact.

Irrelevant distraction is irrelevant. At question is not who is president, at question is your call to end valid and fact-based criticism of Trump when for the past 8 years we've all had to endure your side's far flimsier conspiracy-mongering.

At this point, the finger pointing needs to stop.

Yeah, no, your call to silence everyone you disagree with isn't going anywhere. Trump promised to immediately once he gets into office repeal Obamacare and replace it with "something better". He's not yet provided even a single detail of what "something better" would be. Given the historically poor outcomes of US health insurance compared to the rest of the world prior to the ACA, it's entirely appropriate that we point fingers at Trump until he delivers on his "something better" promise. For him to say Obamacare is bad when he can't even think of something better is the epitome of partisan infighting, which you're apparently only against when it's your guy who comes out of it looking bad.

Now is the "Put up of shut up" moment for the rightwing. After the fantasy-criticism they foisted on us for the past 8 years, they have no right to demand silence from reality-based critics.

Yeah, katsu - they're completely up the creek with the ACA. "Repeal and replace" has become "repeal, cripple, and delay." Word has it they've decided to wait until after the next presidential election to figure out the replace aspect. The why is obvious: any reasonably functional healthcare system requires provisions that go against their governing philosophy. Instead, they'll cancel taxes on the wealthy that fund the program and create a huge amount of uncertainty for insurers, causing them to exit the program - and this is just when insurers have begun to feel comfortable with their spreads. Next year, existing policies will be unrenewable, and millions will be thrown off insurance. Emergency room treatment will be their resort, and hospitals will demand reimbursement from the government - we'll be back to where we were a decade ago, and believe me, the Repubs will then blame the ACA itself.

So obvious,and so criminal.

IT is booming right now in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario. San Francisco is too expensive and has a housing crisis. If you get a NAFTA related visa you can probably get started with moving to Canada. 4 years goes by pretty quickly and by then you'll be in a position of action and not inaction. With any luck you can start the process to claim dual citizenship and then contribute to either country as you see fit. It takes time and work to move to another country even if it's a neighbour, but if you start the process in 2017 you'll be happier in the long run

it never ceases to stagger me that politicians in America campaign on the basis that they will take away your health care and incredibly, those that would lose the most, cheer the loudest. It is impossible to imagine such promises to take away what you have got being greeted with such uniformed delirious delight in any other civilised country.

What is it with you Americans?

8 long years of crap and overreach to undo, not the least of which is the UN-affordable monstrosity of Obummercare.

USAers don't want government. They have been taught that being civil and reaping the benefits of civilization by caring for your fellow citizens is bad. After years of Faux News and Hate Radio their time is now to act with their puppet in office. Trumpettes will now actively work to dismantle their country. First step: remove all the independent checks and balances. Remove the gatekeepers. That'll open up the GOP to make sure systems fail, blame them, then dismantle them more without any pesky questions. Doesn't matter that they are now the entire government now. The rich will become the nobility and the poor will become the serfs. They will then be free to anoint their King. 240 year experiment coming to a close

@PTownsend

how you stay below the JT radar is cool. But You're still an a$&#&$'$'

Moderator: You can have 24 hours off from posting.

What's actually more concerning is this issue:

"House GOP Votes To Strip Independence From Congressional Ethics Office"

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/02/507955013/house-gop-votes-to-strip-independence-from-congressional-ethics-office

The House Republican Conference voted Monday night to approve a change to House rules to weaken the independence of the Office of Congressional Ethics and place it under the oversight of the House Ethics Committee — a panel controlled by party leaders.

Basically it means, rather than an independent Office of Ethics, Congress would instead investigate itself.

Besides politicians, does anyone actually want this? For Congress to investigate itself?

So why are they doing this?

Bass just seems to have an aversion to African Americans and women. But then so do a lot of other Trump supporters.

Dems say over 13M people have enrolled in Obamacare, but this is extremely misleading since you learn you’re eligible for Medicaid when you fill out an application for health insurance on your ACA health insurance exchange. If the exchange determines that you qualify for Medicaid in your state, it will forward that information to Medicaid, starting the Medicaid application process. Since you submitted your initial health insurance application to an Obamacare health insurance exchange, it can be confusing when you end up receiving Medicaid instead of a private Obamacare plan. Anyone with half a brain knows that Medicaid is not insurance ITS WELFARE paid for by people who pay taxes!!!

Hmm. Tatanka, the ACA creates a marketplace of comparable insurance plans offered by private companies; it also expands Medicaid in certain states which have chosen to accept federal funding. In either case, however, the enrollee must select an option - nothing is automatic. Maybe you're just not good with computers.

Also, Medicaid is insurance - the closest America has to a single-payer plan. Unfortunately, it is only available to those with lower incomes. It should be expanded to opt-in for any demographic.

I don't care what things "seem like" to you or anyone, because "seem" is a subjective assessment.

Subjective assessment.....well, that goes both way on the political and analytical spectrum.

I care about objective facts, and you have no objective facts to support any conspiracy theory regarding Obama or Hillary. That is literally why they're called conspiracy theories in the first place.

Is Hillary president? Remember: I was NOT alone in NOT voting for her. Trump didn't become president because he fell into it. Hillary was a horrible candidate and if Democrats can admit to that, then there is a very good indication that these so called conspiracy theories are indeed facts.

Irrelevant distraction is irrelevant.

No, it's very relevant. the 20th is right around the corner. Get your popcorn, party poppers and bubbly ready.

At question is not who is president, at question is your call to end valid and fact-based criticism of Trump when for the past 8 years we've all had to endure your side's far flimsier conspiracy-mongering.

I see, so basically, everyone in the world is at fault for Obama's destroyed legacy, the defeat of Hillary and the Democrats, these people bare zero responsibility for anything in the 8 years all the outside forces just tormented them, ridiculed them and just hindered them from doing their job, is that what you want us all to believe? Wow, just Wow!

Yeah, no, your call to silence everyone you disagree with isn't going anywhere.

I was referring to BOTH sides, I'm not a partisan, the GOP has its share of problems as well, don't worry, I didn't forget them either.

Trump promised to immediately once he gets into office repeal Obamacare and replace it with "something better". He's not yet provided even a single detail of what "something better" would be.

What? He hasn't even been inaugurated yet. Obama is still president. After the 20th and after the first 100 days, please come back and give a report on the new presidents performance, as of now he's not in the Oval office yet.

Given the historically poor outcomes of US health insurance compared to the rest of the world prior to the ACA, it's entirely appropriate that we point fingers at Trump until he delivers on his "something better" promise. For him to say Obamacare is bad when he can't even think of something better is the epitome of partisan infighting, which you're apparently only against when it's your guy who comes out of it looking bad.

No, but one main reason why Hillary lost was because of her stance of continuing the same Obama policies and the not changing anything to the ACA system.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/10/24/news/economy/obamacare-premiums/

The premium increases also mean that Obamacare is growing more expensive for the federal government since it has to provide larger subsidies. But the program is still costing less than the Congressional Budget Office originally estimated since fewer people have enrolled and insurers priced their plans lower than expected. The price hikes aren't Obamacare's only problem for next year. Insurers are also fleeing the exchanges. The number of carriers will drop to 228 next year in the federal exchange and selected states, down from 298 in 2016. Some 21% of consumers returning to the exchanges will only have one carrier to chose from, though that insurer will likely offer multiple plan choices.

Five states -- Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wyoming -- will only have one insurer providing plans on the federal exchange in 2017. This year, only Wyoming had a sole carrier.

Another issue for consumers is finding or keeping a doctor and hospital they like. To keep costs down, insurers have been narrowing their networks of providers, and this could anger enrollees, said Sabrina Corlette, research professor at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute. If consumers don't think it's a good deal, they could opt to drop their plans or to remain uninsured.

Which many are doing and wait until the Cadillac tax kicks in next year and you're going to have more people teed off and cancel their healthcare.

Now is the "Put up of shut up" moment for the rightwing. After the fantasy-criticism they foisted on us for the past 8 years, they have no right to demand silence from reality-based critics.

They'll come up with something, most of it will be repealed and later ultimately replaced, but it definitely won't be the pocket burner that Obamacare is.

How long has the GOP promised a replacement?

More idiocy from Drumpf. That, and his misinformed attack earlier against GM. He stated in a tweet that "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A.or pay big border tax!"

To which, GM replied, "General Motors manufacturers the Chevrolet Cruze sedan in Lordstown, Ohio. All Chevrolet Cruze sedans sold in the U.S. are built in GM's assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio. GM builds the Chevrolet Cruze hatchback for global markets in Mexico, with a small number sold in the U.S."

Trump is a proven hypocrite, as he is waging an uninformed battle against companies he thinks are producing products in other countries, yet has himself has on recored bought products produced in other countries. Go figure.

Peter,

Is it sheer stupidity from Trumpsky? Possibly....

But as we know he's a stooge for the Kremlin, perhaps Don Putin has ordered him to directly undermine US businesses.

Just look at what he did to Lockheed Martin shares with his nonsense about replacing the F35 with upgraded F18 jet - all around the time "secret" pics of a new Russian stealth fighter were "leaked".

Only 17 days until the Kremlin has their man in the Whitehouse. Scary stuff....

After 8 years of total INACTIVITY...

Threatening arbitrary tariffs doesn't address the structural problem with how the economy works nowadays. Managers have extreme personal financial incentives to put Americans out of work. What worries me is that while Trump hand picks a few high profile cases and basks in the glory of saving hundreds of jobs, we still have thousands slipping out the back door, and his headlines will make people think we have found some kind of solution when we have not.

As for Obamacare, I'm more than happy to listen to any ideas Republicans might have to make it better or to replace it overall with something better. But they just don't produce policy anymore, and they've attacked so many parts of the ACA that it makes me wonder what is left for them to keep. Add to that the fact they they see compromise as a weakness, even when dealing with their own party, so there are little GOP kingdoms inside the party and they are all refusing to work with each other. Is all of that going to change suddenly now that they have the Senate?

bass4funkJAN. 03, 2017 - 11:04PM JST Subjective assessment.....well, that goes both way on the political and analytical spectrum.

Erm, no it doesn't. Seriously, are you even reading my post before you reply?

Is Hillary president?

Once again, you distract with irrelevant comments. Hillary has nothing to do with this conversation and your desperate attempts to bring her into it show you have nothing of substance to say.

see, so basically, everyone in the world is at fault for Obama's destroyed legacy,

You've not actually established that his legacy is destroyed - that's very much wishful thinking you your part. What is established is your calls to silence everyone who has fact-based criticism of Trump's health care policy to mask his utter absence of meaningful health care policy. Something from you that's actually on-topic would be useful at this point.

Don't worry, I won't hold my breath.

There is a lot to be worried about in regards to the next 4 years, but one positive for Trump. He's called the attempt to weaken ethics rules in the congress for what they were, and helped to kill the changes. Trump is so good at misdirection that when I look one way, he's doing a great job at draining the swamp, and when I look the other... I swear I can see it getting deeper... I guess we'll just have to get used to this. Trump may very well end up as both the worst and best president ever - at exactly the same time. Confused? Join the club...

No Laguna, Medicaid in NOT insurance, its free healthcare (aka WELFARE) for low-income people.

"We will see what they do tomorrow."

It's going to take more than a couple of years to fix the mess left by Obama.

This is interesting:

Ford CEO: Trump's pro-growth policies give us confidence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZFOLUHq5Y

Erm, no it doesn't.

Sure it does.

Seriously, are you even reading my post before you reply?

Yes.

Once again, you distract with irrelevant comments. Hillary has nothing to do with this conversation and your desperate attempts to bring her into it show you have nothing of substance to say.

No, the left just can't deal with the reality that is coming in a few weeks. Basically, you guys complain, but before you jump all over Trump it would probably be best to see and look back 8 years ago and see how this all came to pass and Obama was more concerned with ideology and making history than the people, the same goes for Hillary and well, the people didn't want any of it and here we are. It's not being distractive or deflective, it's more like the left being unwilling and denying reality.

You've not actually established that his legacy is destroyed

Oh, yeah? Watch before your very eyes what will happen to all of Obama's signature executive orders once Trump gets into office, let's meet again and tick off each one of them. He's getting scared and even out in the wilderness Nancy Pelosi is pleading with Trump to take a second look at Obama's ACA.

that's very much wishful thinking you your part.

Not my thinking, the GOP have the presidency, the House, the Senate, more Republican legislators. It's going to happen as the sun coming up and the tide rolling in. That's a fact. Even with the congress in Republican hands, you can only do so much with a Democratic president, but NOW with a Republican president, you can get a lot done, a lot.

What is established is your calls to silence everyone who has fact-based criticism of Trump's health care policy to mask his utter absence of meaningful health care policy. Something from you that's actually on-topic would be useful at this point.

Sorry, I'm not asking anyone to do anything, people will criticize Trump, some good, some bad and either way, he wants to repeal Obamacare and ultimately replace it and good on him and millions of people want it as well. The left can't change it, Obama is pretty much finished, the Dems can't do anything and that's it. And if the left can't handle the truth, then...oh, well...

Americans have a long history of not trusting our government. Sadly, it has proven to be correct over the entire history. The only way I know to stop the government from growing is to cut spending. I'd cut the military 10% and gut the NSA budget 50% and kill off the TSA and DHS completely. If we stopped meddling overseas, life would be easier back home.

The ACA is costing my family almost 3x more in monthly health care costs than pre-ACA. Our deductible is 50% higher now too. To have kept the same levels we'd be paying about 6x more. Why are people surprised that I'd rather have that money back to spend on other things - like college for my kids? If you were me, you'd want the same thing - repeal the ACA. That will screw me over too, since my prior health insurance provider doesn't offer any plans in my state anymore. I was forced to change this month.

theFu

Insurance companies raised the rates. ACA is just a broker.

Next time vote for a public system. People complaint here, yes complain, that the $100-$200 a year for health care is government run amok! We look at the USA, laugh, then stop complaining (for a while)