President Obama Makes His Case in Meeting with Senate Moderates

Why didn’t he present the numbers to the public Wednesday night? Paying for this catastrophe is the very first of many hurdles. If he can’t get over that one, what’s the point of the rest of the rhetoric?

Obama:
“I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits — either now or in the future. Period.”
This officially kills HR 3200; it can’t survive Obama’s benchmark. It would add $220 billion to the deficit over the first 10 years and another $1 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years. Baucus’ plan in the Senate Finance Committee is now starting point for all healthcare debate.
(David Brooks, NYT)

mesquito | Sep 11, 2009 8:36:56 AM — If it’s secret, how would you know? Busy just making up stuff again I see!

Try The Truth: President Shortpants says he is going to pay for his turkey plan with by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare. Surely he has a way to do this. I mean, do you think he’s just talking out of his posterior?

The Republicans are the most corrupt political party on the planet. They have destroyed this country in every way – and their psychotic supporters continue to pretend the Repubs are fit to lead! WHAT A RUSE!!!
Dear Bruce,
I have several words for you.
George W. Bush
Richard B. Cheney
Karl “Christian” Rove (The “Architect”)
Condoleeza Rice
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Alberto Gonzalez
John Ashcroft
Michael Brown (Way to go Brownie!)
Tom Delay
Ad infinitum
Ad nauseam
The Republicans presided over the greatest destruction of wealth in history! They spat on the Constitution, the laws of this nation, and international laws and treaties. They were wrong about Iraq. They ignored warnings about sub-prime mortgages (and even encouraged them). At best, the Party is incompetent – but we all know the GOP is much more than simply “incompetent”.
You also have a good day Bruce

Alway remember,
Never forget,
9-11
“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.”
~Minot J. Savage

Jake, will the White House release the presentation to the public?
Please ask Mr Gibbs this. Thank you.

“President Shortpants says he is going to pay for his turkey plan with by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare.”
It is the same semantic trick that he uses when he repeats the phrase “create or save” jobs.
It’s impossible to quantify but it sure sounds good.

How long will it take for the House and Senate to come up with new bills, since the ones floating around now can not meet Obama’s objectives?

Obama will lie and do everything he can to get this terrible healthcare bill passed. If Obama succeeds in convincing the more the more moderate Democrats to vote for his plan, those Democrats will be voted out of office next year.

Jim Rod. Let’s see. The Republicans presided over a “thriving” economy and created millions of jobs so the poor could support themselves – riiight! The Republicans dug this huge hole we all find ourselves in – and now they are trying to win with the only tools they have: Slander, defamation, lies, threats, treason, inflammatory rhetoric, etc, etc. The Republicans handed Obama the biggest deficit in history. Oh, and we have seen how the Republican “Cut-and-Spend” policy worked. We have also seen how more and more of this nation’s wealth “filtered” up to the already wealthy – that really helps the poor?? Oh yeah, until the Dems controlled Congress in 2006, he had not vetoed nothing! Once the Dems were in control, Bush vetoed everything the Dems proposed. And, of course, the Republicans would never slam a Democratic president at the nation’s expense! The Dems are trying to dig us out this Republican hole while the GOP and its supporters attempt to sabotage the Obama administration. Guess what – this tactic is not going to work. All this feigned conservative “Outrage” is just that – fake!

It’s interesting to observe how Republican supporters turn a blind eye to the Republican-caused problems that exist today.

-The Republicans presided over the greatest destruction of wealth in history!-
And Obama gave it to Goldman Sachs. 2 Wrongs do make a right! I won’t mention the even greater debt that Obama wants to put the US in.

Sentinel wrote: “They ignored warnings about sub-prime mortgages (and even encouraged them).”
The Bush Adminstration warned Congress back in 2005 and 2006 of the problems with the financial industry. The Senate Republicans voted a reform bill out of committee, but on a procedural move left it in committee because the Democrats threatened a filibuster if it were brought to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The Bush Administration continued warning Congress even after the Democrats took control of Congress in 2007. And the Democrats did absolutely nothing, saying there was nothing wrong with the system (and specifically saying that there was nothing wrong with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac).
Now then as for Iraq, Saddam Hussein intentionally deceived his neighbors and the entire world by not acknowledging and proving that he had gotten rid of his WMDs–ONE of the several conditions of the 1991 Cease Fire Agreement. After 12 years of diplomatically trying to persuade Saddam Hussein to comply with the of the conditions of the cease fire; and after the UN Security Council refused to follow through on its final ultimatum; President Bush issued his own final ultimatum. When Saddam Hussein still refused, President Bush rescinded the 1991 Cease Fire and resumed the War.
I encourage you to read the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. It passed 297-133 (82 Democrats voting Aye) in the House and 77-23 in the Senate (29 Democrats voting Aye). And then read the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (cited in the 2002 Resolution) that passed 360-38 in the House and was unanimously passed by the Senate.

“The Bush Adminstration warned Congress back in 2005 and 2006 of the problems with the financial industry. The Senate Republicans voted a reform bill out of committee, but on a procedural move left it in committee because the Democrats threatened a filibuster if it were brought to the floor of the Senate for a vote.”
James Danley | Sep 11, 2009 10:22:16 AM
I see the Republicans are dusting off their traditional motto: The Buck Stops Over There. With a Democrat. Probably Clinton (or is it Obama now?).
The Whitehouse had the regulatory power to deal with the financial industry in 2005. They took no action and are CLEARLY on the record supporting the lack of regulation. But keep working to pass the buck. With Bush’s Orwellian rhetoric, I’m sure you can point to speeches about how he’s a great environmentalist and the chief peacemaker of our time. The rest of us will stick with reality and the actual action his regulators and his Republican Congress took.

Looks like Obamas ACORN group is in trouble again for offering money to pimps and prostitutes. Sure am glad abc is on top of this. Oh I am sorry. I forgot this is Obama controlled news.

“And now that the market is up – guess what! They are selling again!”
I don’t blame them….There is noting in the cards that would indicate that Obama & his cronies economic plans will lead to a sustained recovery. Unemployment is projected to be at 10%+ throughout 2010. “Stimulus” package is a complete failure. Our Dear Leader is distracted by his ideological desire to ram through government healthcare for all rather than FOCUSING ON CREATING JOBS and TURNING THE ECONOMY AROUND.
“These people have insider information!” Perhaps. I would not be surprised. But, the signs are out there for all to see: Falling U.S. dollar, unsustainable borrowing by U.S. govt., rising inflation on the horizon, continued job losses, etc. It doesn’t take a Wall Street insider to predict what’s going to happen.

-”These people have insider information!” Perhaps. I would not be surprised. But, the signs are out there for all to see: Falling U.S. dollar, unsustainable borrowing by U.S. govt., rising inflation on the horizon, continued job losses, etc. It doesn’t take a Wall Street insider to predict what’s going to happen.-
The PRC tells it citizens to buy gold…

“Just one day after the Dow dropped to its lowest close in 12 years, Romer said, “We feel very confident that eventually the markets will respond when they understand the policies and when the policies start doing what we firmly think they’re going to do.”
> I think the markets (i.e., investors) UNDERSTAND what the Obama policies will do, thus the exodus from the market”
tjp612 | Mar 3, 2009 7:43:04 PM
That was your comment when the S&P500 was at 712 – the historically GREAT time to buy that all the insiders took advantage of. The S&P500 currently stands at about 1040 (that is over a 45% gain in about 6 months for anyone who bought in when you made you comment supporting the exodus from the market at that time).
Perhaps this time your broken clock may be right, but based on the recent history documented on this blog that would be only a coincidence.

News Flash…Peter Orszag says the bill the President will sign won’t impact the deficit? Just what does that mean? What bill? This bunch of clowns keeps working backwards from an answer that is disconnected from the reality of what the clowns in Congress are doing. Does the President really have a clue what Nancy and Harry are up to? Do Nancy and Harry know what their ambitious left wing staffers are doing? On this day thank your lucky stars President Bush took care of our National Security. This gang that can’t shoot straight is pretty clearly in over their heads.

“Only one in four ACORN offices? Them’s pretty high standards you got there.”
Foghorn Leghorn | Sep 11, 2009 11:06:18 AM
Go to four different inner city McDonalds and ask an employee cleaning the dining room where you can buy some drugs. Do you think the replies you get will reflect McDonald’s corporate goals?
If there is fire under this smoke, there will be a court case. I look forward to seeing all the facts aired and these two properly punished.

With all the information about the healthcare that we have now falling off the cliff if we don’t do something what is all the conversey about the cost of a new health care plan.
What I would like to here is this.
#1 what does our health now cost.
#2 wnat will our new health plan cost.
#3 what is the difference in cost.
#4 -negetive +positive
#5 what will be changed from the original health care in the new health care.
#6 how much will the new over seers or czars salary be and will they be getting a big bonus or screwing us poor people and show a saving.

@ jhw -
“Perhaps this time your broken clock may be right, but based on the recent history documented on this blog that would be only a coincidence.”
First, jhw, I am flattered that you track my posts as closely as you do.
The market bottomed out 6 days after my post. At some point, the “profits to earnings” ratio (as Mr. Obama likes to call them – a testament to his ignorance of financial markets as this ratio does not exist) became too attractive for investors to pass up. I believe (archive this if you wish) markets have been on upswing due to (a.) P/E ratios became very attractive buys almost across the board, too attractive for some investors to pass up (b.) at some point market had to bottom-out recover (DESPITE Our Dear Leader’s policies), (c.) non-”professional” investors are once again being taken for a ride courtesy of “professional” investors (which is why – reportedly – these investors are now selling).
Personal opinion is we may be reaching a point where it may be a good idea to exit positions in certain sectors as they would appear to be overbought).

Before we move so swiftly into government control of healthcare let’s take a look at what is touted as a (maybe the only) government success story.
Let me see if I understand this correctly…
A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.
A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.
So, the average “Cash for Clunkers” transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.
They claim 700,000 vehicles – so that’s 224 million gallons / year.
That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.
5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day’s US consumption.
And, 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $70/bbl.
So, we all contributed to spending $3 billion to save $350 million.
How good a deal was that ???
They’ll probably do a better job with health care though!!

“Not only are the amounts different, but by ranting about Goldman Sachs you are actually singling out one of the banks that HAS PAID THE TAXPAYER BACK IN FULL, PLUS INTEREST AND PROFIT. ”
Nice try, but not true. They are still hanging on to the billions they received from the AIG bailout.

If Obama or anyone else is serious about health care reform, then their plan has to include:
1) Tort reform to bring down medical costs.
2) Provisions to make sure that those in the U.S. illegally can’t get public health care. Let’s not forget that governments worldwide have trouble preventing illegal aliens from benefiting from social programs.
3) Discourage legal immigration from people that are only interested in moving to the U.S. in order to get free medical care. This is already a problem in Canada where “free” health care encourages people with little or no earning power to immigrate to the country–and then sponsor relatives to immigrate to Canada as well, knowing they will quickly be eligible for all benefits including health care. There has to be something like a residency provision that states you must have lived in the U.S. at least 10 years to get any kind of public health care. Naturally, the immigration/cheap labor lobby will try to stifle this part of the debate but they must be actively resisted.
Unless these issues are addressed, no health care reform of any kind has any hope of succeeding.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
The same may hold true for the prez and his congress. It’s not about us, they are going to give us healthcare whether we want it or not!
The prez said we voted for it and we are going to get it! Never you mind that he was elected by a 52% popular vote and that’s about what the current percentage is against Obamacare. He uses selective math!

Are the people supporting the government getting more entrenched in our lives living under some rock? Have you ever tried dealing with the Social Security office? Have you ever dealt with your local tax assessor’s office, driver’s license bureau or stood in line at the post office for service? In general, government employees don’t give a rat’s behind about your individual situation and are NOT held accountable like in the private sector. The politician’s and their families don’t care because they know they won’t have to deal with the same frustrations that us common folk do. For heaven’s sake wake up, people!

if it took the reporters trips to 4 different offices in 4 different cities to find these two idiots then that is solid proof that the reprehensible behavior seen is clearly NOT common or widely condoned by ACORN.
Posted by: jhw539 |
They now have shown a 2nd from DC.
Want to bet they have more?

I predicted quite some time ago to a friend that a lot of the unemployed who were voting for Obama with the rather fuzzy notion that he would deliver free or low cost health care to them were going to be royally po’d once they figured out that universal health care means paying, and paying a lot, and for the rest of their lives for coverage that in many instances they neither need nor want.
The basic health care coverage for an individual under HR 3200 will cost $5000 per year. Not only is that far from free, it’s far from low-cost and many of the uninsured will find it to be unaffordable. Even it the premiums are subsidized up to 400% of the federal poverty level, anybody making over $43,000 per year will have the pleasure of paying $5000 per health care coverage. I am greatly looking forward to all the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
No wonder the Dems want to be sure the bill isn’t delivered until after the elections of 2012.

Do you HONESTLY believe this? Democrats played a part as well (Fannie Mae, Community Reinvestment Act, etc. were Democrat causes)
“I vote my conscience, my pocketbook and for the party with ideas and solutions.”
So the solution is to nationalize/centralize as much of the private economy as possible? That’s a great idea/solution. And wrong.
Posted by: tjp612 | Sep 11, 2009 1:48:31 PM
***
Let’s deal with the last projection onto what I said first. It is wrong. It’s a gross but wonderfully useful distortion for the GOP and its echo chamber of moderate to left-of-center Democratic ideas and ideals. Since you’re going with the oversimplification thing, I’d say my motto is actually– grow the middle class; trickle down doesn’t trickle down.
Okay, so for the former. Yes. I don’t think Democrats are blameless but it was Bush’s appointees sitting on the Federal Reserve Board and the Fed is the entity that sows the seeds of recession. It was also his appointees sitting on their hands at Fannie, Freddie and HUD. It was also his appointees at the Securities & Exchange Commission, the Comptroller of the Currency and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, among others, who either overlooked or approved of the fraudulent activity of banks and financial institutions. It was the GOP who kept insisting that the fundamentals of the economy were strong. It was Bush who cheered his housing bubble on all throughout his presidency.
I realize most experts agree there are plenty of culprits: the Bush Admin, Democrats and Republicans in Congress, the Federal Reserve, the home-lending industry, banks, and even Bill Clinton – but most experts, from both parties, also agree that Bush’s early personnel choices and overarching antipathy toward regulation created a climate that didn’t necessarily trigger the crisis directly, but absolutely aggravated it. His defenders like to point out that Bush saw the danger posed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and began calling as early as 2002 for greater regulation of the mortgage giants. BUT, here’s the problem — the Bush admin could have done way more to curb excesses both in the housing market and on Wall Street. Why didn’t they empower the folks at Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the comptroller of the currency and the FDIC to monitor these issues? There’s no answer. No, no– let’s just blame the Dems. It’s crazy to me. Crazy.
So there’s my answer. I’m serious about being offended at Bush’s monetary and economic policies and blaming his admin for a huge chunk of the mess we’re in, and I disagree with your characterization of my notion of solutions. I think the Dems, with a Paulson and Bush assist last fall, have kept us from hurling into a depression.

I realize most experts agree there are plenty of culprits: the Bush Admin, Democrats and Republicans in Congress, the Federal Reserve, the home-lending industry, banks, and even Bill Clinton
Posted by: Alyson |
You realize it yet you rant on about bush for the rest of the post.
Then there is this
“No, no– let’s just blame the Dems. It’s crazy to me. Crazy.”. It apparently doesn’t occur that your post is the mirror image of what you call crazy.

Congressman Joe Wilson spoke truth to power, and maybe it just paid off:
Senate to close ObamaCare loophole for illegal immigrants that media claims doesn’t exist.
—The controversy over Republican Rep. Joe Wilson’s shouting out “You Lie!” at the President over his claim that illegal immigrants wouldn’t benefit from health-care reform apparently sparked some reconsideration of the relevant language. “We really thought we’d resolved this question of people who are here illegally, but as we reflected on the President’s speech last night we wanted to go back and drill down again,” said Senator Kent Conrad, one of the Democrats in the talks after a meeting Thursday morning. Baucus (D-MT) later that afternoon said the group WOULD PUT IN A PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT to participate in the new health exchange — a move likely to inflame the left.—
Just like when the Senate changed their bill to address the Death Panel concern (deleted language about “advance care planning consultations”)–that the media said were never a threat.

You realize it yet you rant on about bush for the rest of the post.
Then there is this
“No, no– let’s just blame the Dems. It’s crazy to me. Crazy.”. It apparently doesn’t occur that your post is the mirror image of what you call crazy.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Sep 11, 2009 3:48:28 PM
***
Call it a rant if you wish. It’s no secret between us that we don’t think much of each other’s positions or posts, but I wouldn’t say its a rant. Or a mirror of what I say is crazy. I’d say it’s a reasoned position that acknowledges those on my side of the aisle erred. It’s right there as you copied and pasted. If someone is in charge, I think they take the blame. As a business owner I take the blame when we screw up even if there are employees or competitors or regulators who did this, that and the other thing. BUT I also think it’s fair to acknowledge the shape a business, school, or other enterprise– country,for example — was in when it was taken over and to give the person who takes over more than eight months to turn things around. Different circumstances call for different practices– what I would do if I took over a business in the red with serious issues is much different than what I would do if it was thriving, and so on. Since you called me out I’ll add that I think your post may just a distraction, or deflective posturing, because I made some decent points.

So, per the AP, the Baucus plan pretty much mirrors what Obama laid out in his speech Wednesday:near universal coverage, mandates for individuals to obtain insurance, insurance company reforms to avoid denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions and creation of a new marketplace called an exchange where consumers could shop for different health plans. A public option could be offered through the exchange, but unlike the four bills that have emerged from committees in the House and Senate so far, Baucus’ Senate Finance bill will substitute nonprofit co-ops for the public option.
The AP also notes that the WH says that the President does not want illegal immigrants to be able to buy insurance through the new purchasing exchange and they will work with lawmakers on language to enforce that. So there it is. We’ll get language and a verification process both sides can live with (although some on the left aren’t happy.) To clarify futher, the WH sent out the following bullet points, as made available by First Read at MSNBC:
” * Undocumented immigrants would not be able to buy private insurance on the exchange. Those who are lawfully present in this country would be able to participate.
* Undocumented immigrants would be able to buy insurance in the non-exchange private market, just as they do today. That market will shrink as the exchange takes hold, but it will still exist and will be subject to reforms such as the bans on pre-existing conditions and caps.
* Verification will be required when purchasing health insurance on the exchange. One option is the SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) which states currently use to make sure that undocumented immigrants don’t participate in safety-net programs for which they are ineligible.
* There would be no change in the law that requires emergency rooms to treat people who need emergency care, including undocumented immigrants. There is already a federal grant program that compensates states for emergency room costs associated with treatment of undocumented immigrants, a provision sponsored by a Republican lawmaker. “