With Scott brown's stunning upset in Massachusetts the Republicans finally have enough clout to become players in the health care debate.  Now is the chance to work out a more sensible plan.  But to do this the Republicans need to get tough.  We know that the Democrats in their arrogance are planning all kinds of political tactics in order to push their monstrosity of a health care reform bill on the public.

To do this the Republicans must act fast.  Tomorrow morning they should get on the airwaves and present their ideas of how to reduce the cost of health care.  Every Republican needs to start talking about malpractice reform, and the other ideas that are known to help reduce medical costs.  And then they should extend their hand to the Democrats and say, "We are willing to work with the Democrats to improve health care."  And they need to mean it.  Offer to work with the Democrats and mean it.  Let everyone know that you will work with them to create a reform bill that will work and will not bankrupt the country.  And say it over and over again.

This leaves the Democrats two choices; they can try their nuclear option and force the current extremely unpopular bill on us.  Or they can resign themselves to giving up some of their precious socialist programs in exchange for a health care reform bill.  If they choose to negotiate we could possibly get a bill that may actually help more than it will hurt.  If they refuse and force their abomination on us, the back lash will be so huge that it could make the recent collapse of the Republican party look like a mild upset.


  -  Thomas Paine II