President Obama on Health Care Reform Push-and-Pull: ‘It’s Messy’

First wee-wees, now “messy”. He should STOP, stop talking.

“President Barack Obama today, for the first time, publicly blamed congressional Republican leaders for seeing health care overhaul in only political terms.”
ToMORrow, somebody will be publicly blaming HIM, if we’re lucky, for that “wee-wee” pep-talk, unbelievably followed by “the push-and-pull is messy”. (Will someone in the press be brave enough to ask Gibbs whether there’s been any push-back hahaha on the argh wee-wee’d-off remarks?
One thing we know fer sher: His pig “health” bill is bigger than ANYbody’s . . .

Flash Override:”The real question is why did Obama continue for so long to try to court republican votes?”
If you look at his history, he has been successful in the past at winning over Republicans through compromise and honestly addressing their concerns (the bill he wrote and pushed into law about videotaping police interrogations in IL for example). It is unprecedented since the segregation battles for the minority party to be this obstructionist. Democrats in the 90′s grudgingly played ball to get what compromises they could into Welfare reform, and in 2001 compromised on the Bush tax cuts.
Republicans have not only set new records for filibusters ever year they’re in the minority, they have also turned to campaign tactics – blatant lies and mudslinging – rather than playing the constructive role the Democrats did as a minority party.
Obama should have caught on earlier, but it is not too surprising that he had trouble believing how badly the Republicans would behave and how gleefully they would refuse to do their jobs.

Obama is floundering for two reasons.
1. As a narcissist, he bought into the belief that with his “soaring rhetoric” he could persuade anyone about anything (along with the self-seductive messiah bit). That’s why he keeps repeating, “If you like your Health Care you can keep it”, even though no one is buying into it. To stop doing it would require admitting a significant flaw in himself.
2. He can’t deal with people who passionately oppose his ideas.His instinctive reaction is to attack them, intimidate them, and destroy their credibility, while boldly proclaiming and projecting himself on others.

His dropping approval numbers are down to 45% according to Zogby today. Political desperation is intensifying.His move on the religious left was really lame, a cynically transparent move.

“The real question is why did Obama continue for so long to try to court republican votes?”
Quite a courtship.

“Good plan.”
For some people it would work out well, I agree, especially if they’re healthy.
But for people with chronic or permanent conditions requiring expensive medication and/or treatment, the health savings accounts get used up quickly, as do the deductibles.
It’s an interesting question–to what extent do we wish to financially “penalize” people for their health conditions, many of which are genetic.
I would say however, that it would be good if people could have an option to try the plan Macky proposes.

“Good plan.”
For some people it would work out well, I agree, especially if they’re healthy.
Posted by: Danny |
Working out pretty well for big pharma too. When was the last time you heard a liberal demagogue attack them? Hard to do when you are in bed with them I guess.
Tort lawyers are happy too.
Also working out great if you have gold-plated health insurance like congress and most unions.

The House Republicans had zero chance to cooperate–Pelosi shut them out completely from day one, and Obama remained mute.
They are cooperating around the clock, but they oppose the public option on principle.

apollo
You are right… to the Far Left..Chuck Grassley is not the devil… Pres Obama wants to work with him… as I was saying in the campaign last year YOU PEOPLe were not around for the 93 Healthcare debate and therefore you dont get the irony of how Vindicated the Clintons are now

Bring the free market into the picture. Cosmetic surgery and lasik costs have come down because the government is out of it. Insurance should not be covering well-child checkups, small stitches, etc. Have insurance for major problems.

JG writes “However neither will you true republican troublemakers succeed in diverting real reform which needs to happen.”
I think that real reform is being hindered by the people keeping true innovation out. John Mackey’s plan may not be perfect, but it at least is innovative. We need more innovative thinking to fix this.
Congress and the Whitehouse tried to sneak this legislation through with no innovation – just a rehash of plans from Europe and Canada. The worst part of teh sneak attack plan was that now America has lost all trust in legislators. That was an exceedingly bad idea.

The President, his administration, and this congress frightens me.

i say again, if obama truly is a team player, the great unifier and really wants healthcare ‘reform’, let’s consider TORT REFORM- why isnt that even being considered or responded to???? obivously govt subsidized aid to people aint workin (ie stmulus package, mortgage programs initiated by obama), how about TAX RELIEF???why isnt THAT being considerd? its not that the republicans dont have any alternatives, its BO and his henchmen in the media not even discussing or considering these worthy alternatives. DUH

What we need in this country are leaders. Not people that can read the latest poll and decide that is what they stand for today. This is exactly what this country did when it elected a one term senator that sat there and voted present most of the time. He doesn’t know how the senate works because he didn’t work while he was there.

Let’s see you have between 8.5 million and 14 million unemployed depending on whose figures you believe.A lot of scared people.We have Bills in Congress shoved down our throats costing Trillions..and unread.. we only know a few really bad things about them the rest will come to light gradually.Our debt to pay for the improvements in our life is owned by the Chinese..do you speak Chinese ? Does it look like the Chinese are really our friends and does their government promote the ideals that American soldiers are dying for every day? You are correct WELLDIRECTED
The House Republicans had zero chance to cooperate–Pelosi shut them out completely from day one, and Obama remained mute. So let’s blame the Republicans.No they were just a bad.
If we really want to see success in the USA let’s start with Fraud and corruption on Wall St,Congress,and Tort laws. Follow the money and I think we will find more than enough to set things right.
Again people are scared ..you can not eat an elephant in one sitting.

Not surprisingly, Jake’s report about “Republican opposition” is met with no scorn and is cast as if Republicans hold all the cards as to whether or not any legislation passes. Last time I checked the Dems. have overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate and yet this fact is somehow all omitted as President Obama tries to make this all about Republican opposition. It’s one thing if the President tries this gambit to gin up support, it’s another thing for supposedly neutral, skeptical journalists to just lap it up as fact without doing any, I don’t know, say, real journalism.

We do need Health Care reform ..there is fraud in both Medicare and Medicaid. Let’s not create another monster that will not be controlled properly ..the government’s record on spending our money stinks.
Anybody see the Health the American gets last nigh?? you want this for all of us ??

I think that everyone who is against a public health care option should decline Medicare enrollment when they reach 65!
Posted by: Susan | Aug 21, 2009 9:34:12 AM
No way! I want what’s coming to me! You know – like the people on welfare and the illegal immigrants!

it’s another thing for supposedly neutral, skeptical journalists to just lap it up as fact without doing any, I don’t know, say, real journalism.
Posted by: BH
sounds like your talking about the iraq war

Glad to see the nation’s first bipartisan President is bringing Congress together for its first cumbaya moment. Wasn’t this President supposed to heal the nation, not divide it even further? Pretty hard to do when you blame the GOP for all your problems and use words like “wee wee’d”.

EVERYONE knows the financial crash was the prime factor that pushed the independents BACK to Obama after the RNC convention
Posted by: the Truth
-gosh, silly ‘everyones’,.. republicans run the economy into the ground, they are held accountable by the citizens ( you remember them don’t you)
- McCain chooses a V.P. running mate that can’t string a cogent sentence together
- Iraq
- Katrina
- Afghanistan
- political & sexual scandals
- fake terror alerts
- never got Bin Laden
that’s just the tip of the iceberg on why Republicans lost in 2008

it’s another thing for supposedly neutral, skeptical journalists to just lap it up as fact without doing any, I don’t know, say, real journalism.
Posted by: BH
sounds like your talking about the iraq war
Posted by: Friar Tuck | Aug 21, 2009 9:57:25 AM
Sounded to me like their coverage of Obama’s 2-1/2 year Presidential campaign while he phoned it in as a Senator.

I’d be careful if I were you, comparing Obama and ‘W’ on the ability to use the english language,
way too many ‘Bushisms’ to go there
Posted by: Friar Tuck | Aug 21, 2009 10:07:29 AM
I wasn’t comparing him to “W” at all but you are trying to. Great defense of a Hope & Change President who said in effect he would heal the nation in his Inaugural speech.

Sounded to me like their coverage of Obama’s 2-1/2 year Presidential campaign while he phoned it in as a Senator.
Posted by: Where Are the Jobs, Mr. President?
run for Pres. or V.P and you a smothered in coverage, for better or worse.. nonsense and important information…
Palin is the poster child for all kinds of coverage by media.
remember the Anna Nicole Smith circus?
that was a disgrace by the ‘media’
when you have ‘coverage’ that is usually so short, and superficial on important matters, it almost really doesn’t matter what is said…
lies and distortions are seemingly never checked.. no one is challenged on their assertions of ‘facts’.. it’s all about getting the ‘right people’ on air.

Hey Rex, Did you ever think that some of your list is just the inefficiency of our government?
This is what we have become?

Before too long he might have learn Chinese.

if that’s what you want to read and project into Obama’s speech, that’s up to you…
Posted by: Friar Tuck | Aug 21, 2009 10:21:43 AM
Read & project? How would you interpret this part of Obama’s Inaugural speech?
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.
“We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”

that is the same ‘good times’ speech that’s made by every President,
Posted by: Friar Tuck | Aug 21, 2009 10:35:57 AM
Uh, he was not supposed to be like every other President. He was supposed to be different. People said so. Oprah cried her eyelashes off. Celebrities made pledges to change the country and change the world. He was supposed accomplish the words that he spoke. Now it’s “he just gave a ‘good times’ speech?”
There has been a deliberate downgrading of expectations by the press and many of his supporters since he took office. It stinks and it’s hypocritical since he ran on hope & change. But hey if you’re ok with it…
Of course, I’m sure hope & change will rise like Lazurus in 2011.

Posted by REX
and the inefficiency started Jan 20th 2009, right?
Never said that it was an overall general observation.Personally I am for 2 year terms and Congress working on things important like real laws without lobbyists stuffing money in their pockets. I don’t care if anyone ever took steroids.You get by drift?
I believe that the States created the federal government and not the other way around. And that the power that the States gave to the Federal Government – they can take back.

Woody
I totally agree..rookies and the blind being lead by the blind …Psych exams should be required to run for office.
Or your tax returns if appointed.

Remember when Obama said McCain had lost his bearings and was erratic.
Looks like that has come back to bite BO and describes his administration perfectly.
It was a crude dig at McCain’s age.
So what is Obama’s excuse?
Obama accused 78 y/o IG Walprin of being disoriented–the elderly are right to not trust Obama’s word.

Wee wee…
Take that terrorist.

“Remember when Obama said McCain had lost his bearings and was erratic.”
McCain didn’t resort to talking about wee-wees.
Will Obama lapse completely into baby-talk?

Will Obama lapse completely into baby-talk?
Posted by: Bet Noir | Aug 21, 2009 12:44:00 PM
He should have just come right and said that they all wet themselves over nothing. At least we could have respected that. (rolls eyes)

Yep…that about sums up the current Administration, Messy..

Anyone seen any MSM coverage of Cindy Sheehan going to Martha’s Vineyard?
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Aug 21, 2009 1:36:39 PM
I read about it this morning. I take back all the bad things I said about her two weeks ago when I wee wee’d myself for her remaining silent these past 6 months. Ryan_C defended her. Will you accept my apologies, Cindy & Ryan?

All the UNAMERICAN Taxpayers are Wee-Wee’d Off, Mr. President.
Carry on!

IT’S all your fault it’s messy OBAMA. YOU
need to stop being evasive, stop lying and start being forthcoming with what the voters want to know and STOP force feeding it to US.You act like a con-artist
trying to sell something and not wanting the buyer to read it.If you don’t stop your WATERLOO IS GETTING CLOSER.