Howard Dean Live Blogging

3:33 p.m. The cousin to the run-on question: the non-question lengthy comment.

3:29 p.m. Remember that a lot of the money that would go to pay for the plan is already in the system. It’s saving other people in the system money, like small business owners and currently uncompensated providers. Rearranging the money in a more efficient way.

3:26 p.m. Should there be mandatory participation for public option? Probably don’t need to have a mandate… Comes down slightly against it, but wouldn’t fight it because the public option is so critical. In an ideal world, wouldn’t have one, but it’s not the worst thing.

3:24 p.m. Have to get health reform done quickly, while people understand that government can help them. Some things private industry does better, but government does better at certain things, like military and health care. Government isn’t always the answer, but we have to stand up for it when it does work.

3:20 p.m. We need to change the compensation system. Cost-saving measures aren’t adopted because doctors and hospitals “lose” money when we avoid expensive procedures. The whole incentive system is wrong and needs to change. Need an investment in prevention. Everyone agrees it should happen, but it never does because the people who would invest in prevention don’t end up saving from the investment.

3:16 p.m. The essential argument is that people should be able to choose.

3:15 p.m. Don’t fall for the “fake public option”.

3:13 p.m. Another rambling question… One minute, people! One minute!

3:10 p.m. Don’t give up on emailing your congressional reps; tell them that you still expect them to stand up for real health reform. The majority of both Republicans and Democrats want a public option. 72% of the American people think there should be a choice, more than 50% of Republicans think there should be a choice between public and private plan.

3:09 p.m. Be sure to check out the chapter in the book that gives counter-arguments to the Republican myths about health care.

3:08 p.m. Q and A time! Yadda, yadda, yadda. Blah, blah, blah. We’ve already violated the “keep your questions to under a minute” rule. That’s gotta be a record.

3:07 p.m. It’s good to have Democrats in office, but they have to be “real” Democrats.

3:05 p.m. The nice thing about the Obama plan is that you can keep what you have if you like it. Not a perfect plan, because Single Payer would be more efficient. But, that can’t pass, plain and simple. The real point of the book is that without a Public Option, it’s NOT REFORM, and we shouldn’t spend a dime on it.

3:01 p.m. Howie has taken the mike. Basic thesis of the book is that Obama’s health care bill is the best he’s seen, because it can actually pass. Even though other plans might be better in the ideal world, our country starts in a very different place than other places (give Catherine props – this is what she always says!!).

3:00 p.m. Tim’s introducing the man. Taking us back in the time machine to 2003. Keep your questions to under a minute, people!

2:55 p.m. You gotta love Catherine! She’s already gotten the Governor’s ear, and told him all about her exorbitant health insurance costs as a small business owner.

2:50 p.m. Guv just got here. Place is already packed. He looks great, trim and tanned. All the Deaniacs are out in force. Overheard him say he could take MARTA to the airport.