White House Says Howard Dean’s Arguments Against Democrats’ Health Care Reform ‘Simply Weren’t True,’ Suggests He’s Not Rational
EmailSenior White House officials began to more aggressively dispute criticisms of Democratic Senate health care reform legislation from former Democratic National Committee chairman Dr. Howard Dean Wednesday, saying the former Vermont governor made arguments that “simply weren’t true” and “flat-out wrong.”
On "Good Morning America" this morning, Dean argued that the bill's mandate that individuals obtain health insurance, while not offering a government-run public health care option, means the bill is "an insurance company's dream."
“If this is an insurance company's dream, I think the insurance companies have yet to get the memo,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at his daily briefing. “Insurance companies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying against this legislation… If this is such a good deal for them, I'm not entirely sure why they're fighting it.”
On Vermont Public Radio Tuesday, Dean called for Democratic senators to kill the bill.
"I don't think any rational person would say killing a bill makes any sense at this point,” Gibbs said today.
Asked why he thought Dean was making the arguments he’s making, Gibbs said, “I can’t tell what his motives are.” He said the Senate legislation was essentially what Dean “campaigned for in 2004” but better.
(As an aside, it may be worth recalling that Gibbs, who worked for the presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004, left the Kerry campaign and helped run a shadowy 527 organization aimed at defeating Dean, “Americans for Jobs, Healthcare & Progressive Values,” which ran a TV ad in Iowa depicting Osama bin Laden with the voice-over narration, “Howard Dean just cannot compete with George Bush on foreign policy.")
The 2004 presidential candidate told George Stephanopoulos on GMA that "there are some good things in this bill. The problem is, we're now committed to a solution using the private insurance companies. And you will be forced to buy insurance. If you don't, you'll pay a fine. And 27% of the money that you put in will not go to your health care. It will go to CEOs, who make $20 million a year. This is a bigger bailout for the insurance industry than AIG."
Dean added that he doesn't "believe there's going to be the money around in five years… because the insurance companies are charging so much.” He said a provision in the legislation prohibited insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals based on pre-existing conditions “has disappeared essentially. The fine print in this bill allows that insurance companies charge you three-times as much if you're older than they do if you're younger.”
Said Gibbs, “I don't know what piece of legislation he's reading.”
Gibbs offered a detailed rebuttal of Dean’s assertions, saying “nobody will be required to purchase something they can't afford. There are hardship exemptions and subsidies based on income levels that help people afford insurance.”
Dean said that 27% of the fine imposed on those who don’t have insurance “will go to CEOs who make $20 million a year.”
“I don't have the slightest idea where the fact of 27 percent came from,” Gibbs said, adding that Dean “went on later in the interview to discuss the notion that legislation…no longer contains anything that addresses pre-existing conditions. That's simply flat-out wrong. Later in the interview, he said that he didn't see any cost control in the bill, when every health economist that's evaluated the bill says that any idea that's out there to contain costs is actually contained in the bill.”
Earlier today, White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer posted a blog item calling Dean's argument "somewhat perplexing" given that the "insurance industry has been leveraging its considerable resources in a ferocious effort to defeat this bill, including producing a report the day before the Senate Finance Committee vote that was so misleading the firm behind it had to walk away from it."
Pfeiffer claimed that among the many provisions in the bill are those “to end insurer abuses, lower premiums, and hold insurance companies accountable.” Moreover, he said, insurance reforms “will prohibit abuses such as denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, charging exorbitant premiums based on gender, age, or health status, dropping coverage when people are sick, and imposing lifetime limits on benefits.”
Dean said on GMA that in Washington, DC, "passing any bill is a victory. And that's the problem. Decisions are made about the long-term future in this country for short-term political reasons."
-jpt
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012 
Romney Makes His Case to Conservatives at CPAC
So now Howard Dean is a right wing Republican for having the audacity to disagree with the White House?
At some point this war room mentality, and penchant to throw others under the bus, and have others bear the brunt of the anger that come from this White House treatment of individuals who dare to disagree with them, will force them to lose support in the Congress. Especially since he’s begun to lose the American people.
Times like these call for humility and reconcilliation, not an enemies list, and aspersions cast against your own political ALLIES!!!
This adminstration is falling under the weight of their own hubris quicker than the last one.
Are we ready to vote 3rd party yet! 2012, America the time has come for actual change. Enough with the impostors with a D or R next to their name. 3rd party, non incumbents, or we all go down under crushing debt and continued record unemployment.
I mean is it possible that a non D or R could make things ANY worse than the last two D, R’s in office! The time has come…
Posted by: jafo | December 16, 2009, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
This is so laughable.. I thought Georgie was going to get a box to stand on and look Dean in the eyes and say “leave my president alone” LMAO
Its nothing more than a 3 ring circus now….PMSNBC is now calling Dean a “SKUNK” LMAO
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Kill the Bill – DO IT! The original concept has been corrupted again. Our MOB MENTALITY GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND THEIR CORPORATE SPONSORS have once again gotten their greedy talons into the mix. As a people, for our present and future benefit, we need to get the corporate welfare out of the system. I am not interested in continuing a cancerous insurance system. No More! And How DARE this idea of penalizing those who cannot “afford” health care. Too bad that it is the wealthy that run the country. They have no IDEA! what it is like. Shameful!
Posted by: Liz Wise | December 16, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
you can bet money is being collected by the Obama people to buy off Dean as they have done with the other Dems
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
the Ad that Gibbs ran against Dean could also be used against Obama LMAO as we are finding out about his inexperience
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Senators, Congressmen and women, individuals who hold political office, I want to write a bill with your help, I want you ALL to take off your suit jackets and adapt a new uniform. Like the Nascar drivers, like the woman in the Scarlett Letter, I want you to WEAR the LOGOS of your CONTRIBUTORS ON YOUR SLEEVE. I want TRANSPARENCY. I want the public to VISIBLY SEE why our country, and our health care system, and our banks are in the tank. I am APPALLED at the system. We SAY we are going to teach this system of DEMOCRACY to other nations, you have got to be kidding. You cannot TEACH IT, until you LIVE IT. Until ANY INDIVIDUAL can run for office, we do not have choice. Until FREE LUNCH and CORPORATE backing are legally eliminated from the system, we have no choice.
Enough!
What happened to ‘ethics’, ‘morals’, ‘role models’ -Liz Wise
Posted by: Liz Wise | December 16, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Ethics, Morals, Code of Conduct, – I want to see that any time our politicians behave in conduct worthy of press, like ‘affairs’, ‘sleeping around’, ‘questionably mingling funds’, accepting ‘free’ golf memberships, and the like, that they are permanently ousted from office. That there are no BOOK opportunities for being a crook.
I want to see Tiger Woods out of the press. As long as we lend press time to the sleezy, we are lowering our standards as a country.
I am extremely through with the mentality out there.
Posted by: Liz Wise | December 16, 2009, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
I guess they wore out the “racist” chant . Now Boener and Dean are insane .
Posted by: nat turner | December 16, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
PELOSI: NO HEALTH CARE DEAL THIS YEAR
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Speaker will work to ‘try to send House-Senate compromise to White House before State of Union’… from the drudge report
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Ummmm… You know what they say about people who exhibit extreme or irrational fear or DISTRUST of others…First little ole ladies who carry protest signs to “tea party” protests, declared crazy, then Sen Boehner is crazy..now they are eating their own in calling Howard Dean irrational….unsettling to say the least….Someone needs to explain to the WH that we live in a diverse society with a variation of opinions that is what makes this country unique, otherwise the White House is just going to be in a constant state of confusion…………
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Kill the bill. The Prez and the Dem leaders in Congress must be blind not to see that the mandate and the penalties in this thing are designed to destroy the Democratic Party if ever enacted.
Posted by: rpbird | December 16, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
My money is on Howard Dean. He has a better understanding of the bill than Gibbs, who is just repeating the WH party line.
Posted by: cab91 | December 16, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
BWAAAAHAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAA!
Posted by: mmm mmm mmm | December 16, 2009, 4:34 pm 4:34 pm
Dean is not saying that Congress should cease trying to pass a bill, what he is saying is that the requirement for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate has resulted in a Senate bill that is only satisfactory to the democratic Senators who are most reactionary and/or are most closely aligned with the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Dean is advocating use of the House-Senate reconciliation process in order to produce a better bill that contains either a medicare buy-in for 55-65 year old Americans or an effective public option. This is a parliamentary procedure for bypassing the threat of a filibuster.
I think Dean is right, the White House is sacrificing what could be a very good start on health reform for the appearance of bipartisan support and acquiescence of the big pharma and the insurance industry. In the process, the bill is locking in huge future income streams for these industries and ensuring very little competition and government oversight.
Dean is actually very very good on this issue and should have been Obama’s HHS Secretary. I find this all terribly disappointing and I find it very disturbing that the Obama White House is stooping to ad hominem attacks on Howard Dean, who is a very sincere public servant and whose service as DNC Chair over the past several years was key to Democratic successes in the 2008 elections. I did not know that Gibbs was behind the Kerry campaign’s attacks on Dean. That is almost sickening.
Posted by: voreason | December 16, 2009, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Go Howard
The current bill as explained has an excise tax on middle class health plans and is a big pay day for the insurance industry.
They get millions of more customers and they can charge whatever they want. If the premium is too high the tax payer foots the bill. They still get their multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses. As for their lobbying against the bill as an argument that the bill must be good…Does anyone remember Brer Rabits protesting being thrown into the briar patch.
Most, working Americans, pay a Medicaid and social security tax on 100% of their income. Why can’t the wealthy pay social security tax and Medicaid tax on ALL of their income including bonuses and stock options. Or would that be unfair to the top 1%.
We need to fight back. Keep a public option or at least a Medicaid buy in with the uninsured allowed into the Congressional plan and the negotiations they do for rates and prem
Posted by: A fed up democrat | December 16, 2009, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
This is the consequence of having a weak,ignorant leader.Dean may be off-the-wall,but at least he sees the reality of this incompetent tyro.Obama’s entire term has been based on the heavy lifting of others( Reid and Pelosi).Almost certainly Reid will be gone next year;if trends continue Pelosi will not be Speaker.
Posted by: Nephron | December 16, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
Even the vote for war was faster…hmm
Posted by: freedom | December 16, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
I am perplexed as to why the Obama Admin is attempting to paint progressives as the fall guy in this debate. It’s completely disingenuous. Democrats wouldn’t even have their majority if it wasn’t for Dean’s 50 state strategy. Where was Obama in 2006? Campaigning for Joe Lieberman.
Posted by: Tele | December 16, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
It’s amusing how Republicans seem to be be entirely unable to cope with the idea of a political party that doesn’t march in blind lockstep with their leader. Dean is doing a valuable service to point out what the constant barrage of lies is trying to hide: This health care bill is a minor and limited market based approach. It is not socialist, it will not lead to single payer, it is a very incremental approach of the least offensive consensus ideas.
With the aid of the mainstream media constantly repeating lies as “the other side” to these documented facts, people may need to be reminded what a true liberal and real reform would be.
Posted by: jhw539 | December 16, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Problem with this little scenario is the fact that Obama, Rahm, and the White House has developed a little bit of a credibility gap. I’d believe Dean over Obama and his staff any day of the week.
Posted by: jan | December 16, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
I absolutely agree with Howard Dean. I am so sick of the Democrats capitulating. They’ve given in so much, that it is an entirely different and might i say worthless bill. Meanwhile all President Obama seems to be interested in is his”legacy.” If the Democrats continue to sell us down the river, I will not vote next time around!
Posted by: Irene Baur | December 16, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Mr Gibbs is apparently unaware that insurance company television advertisements stopped as soon the public option and Medicare buy-in was dropped. They are NOT fighting *this* bill. What we need in order for this country to be competitive worldwide is single-payer healthcare.
Posted by: dimview | December 16, 2009, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
What we need in order for this country to be competitive worldwide is single-payer healthcare.
___________________________________
With all the fear mongering from the right, this will never happen unless there is some kind of major sea change . ..
Strange, because public support for a public option remained substantially strong through all of the lies and distortions from the right – although its clear many Americans do not trust Congress (and the legislative process) all that much regardless whether Republican or Democrat.
Posted by: tierra | December 16, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
poor howard dean, lol, republicans have been warning of his irrational thoughts and actions for a long time. now the democrats are making the claim because anyone who disagrees with them must truly be insane! right? “simply arent true” is different than saying “flat out wrong” they are making two statements here, one calling him a liar, and the other calling him an idiot. did they really call his arguments “irrational” lol, democrats said that??? rofl, wow!
Posted by: LIsbeth | December 16, 2009, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Now, the big unions hate the Senate bill…..
—The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) backed out of an event with other organizations promoting the Senate healthcare reform bill Wednesday over concerns about changes made to the legislation to accommodate centrist Democrats.
The SEIU had planned to participate in a Capitol Hill press conference along with the AARP, the liberal advocacy group Families USA, Consumers Union and the American Cancer Society Action Network. As recently as Tuesday morning, the organizations distributed an advisory to the news media that included the SEIU.—
Posted by: Obama Epic FAIL | December 16, 2009, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Tiara, what about all the fear mongering from the left?
Obama is saying if Congress doesn’t pass the health care bill, any health care bill, the government will go bankrupt.
Nothing about the spending spree he and Congress are responsible for… nope. Just this as of yet undecided, unfinished bill.
Talk about fear mongering! Obama gets a B+ in fear mongering! He’d give himself an A but Dean and the Unions are undermining him.
Posted by: Dem-O-lition | December 16, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
You guys have 60 votes in the Senate. You have a 235-199 majority in the House.
Dem-O-lition | Dec 16, 2009 5:20:34 PM
Why do the Republicans even bother to show up if they aren’t going to contribute? A Democratic minority worked with Newt Gingrich to represent their constituents in the welfare reform, got some minor concessions that made the bill better and then held their noses and voted for it. Meanwhile, Republicans got almost 10% of the total ARRP stimulus funding pulled from state aid (teachers, police, etc) for a tax break for the upper middle class and even the sponsor of the amendment voted against the bill. (Not to mention the dropping of funding for birth control or the refurbishing of the National Mall dropped at their whining.)
The documented history clearly shows the Republicans are obstructing and negotiating in bad faith (no degree of concessions will get their vote) to an unprecedented degree. Their entire 2010 campaign is “It’s not our fault – we didn’t do anything!”
Posted by: jhw539 | December 16, 2009, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
You know what they say about people who exhibit extreme or irrational fear or DISTRUST of other”
No, what do “they” say about you?
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
“Where was Obama in 2006? Campaigning for Joe Lieberman.”
Actually he was not.
He “endorsed” Lieberman at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner before Lamont was on any sort of radar.
The party for the most part stayed out of the primary but after Lamont won, Obama and Hillary sent him money from their PACs and Obama contacted CT voters on Lamont’s behalf.
Very much agreed on your points of Dean being the architect of the Democratic resurgence in 2006 and 2008.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
“If you yell at someone they’re going to get a truck while a truck is coming at them doing 60 mph.”
You have a funny definition of a truck. I am more worried about being run over by a bad health care bill.
Posted by: Barry Christmas | December 16, 2009, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
Former Dem here- I’ll now give this country to the Republicans rather than ever vote Democrat again.
Posted by: mike | December 16, 2009, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
The documented history clearly shows the Republicans are obstructing and negotiating in bad faith (no degree of concessions will get their vote) to an unprecedented degree. Their entire 2010 campaign is “It’s not our fault – we didn’t do anything!”
Posted by: jhw539 | Dec 16, 2009 5:31:08 PM
Wake Up, dimwit! It isn’t the Republicans holding up the government healthcare takeover, it’s the “villainous, immoral” Blue Dog Democrats like Blanche Lincoln, Bart Stupak, and Ben Nelson–as well as the otherwise VERY Liberal Joe Lieberman.
Posted by: Health Czar | December 16, 2009, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
“Why do the Republicans even bother to show up if they aren’t going to contribute?”
Aren’t they usually locked out of meetings and negotiations? Hard to contribute when you’re not there.
Rep Mark Kirk of IL (yeah, the idiot that voted for Cap and Tax, but whatevah) put forward some health care ideas only to be told, don’t bother by the Dems.
You know the Dems aren’t listening to the Repub’s because they don’t have to… The Dem’s control the White House and Congress.
You guys own this.
Posted by: Barry Christmas | December 16, 2009, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
It isn’t the Republicans holding up the government healthcare takeover
Health Czar | Dec 16, 2009 5:49:33 PM
Every single Republican – every one – has promised to not only vote no but to support a filibuster (like they have just about everything) but they aren’t holding it up?!?! I know Republicans are allergic to taking any responsibility for their actions whatsoever, but come on. You just look stupid to insist that Republicans are not as a single, mindless, uniform block obstructing health care (and have been since March).
Every Republican Senator, 100%, supporting a filibuster and they’re “NOT HOLDING UP HEALTHCARE.” That’s Republican Reality folks.
Posted by: jhw539 | December 16, 2009, 5:54 pm 5:54 pm
“It isn’t the Republicans holding up the government healthcare takeover”
Jim DeMint via Twitter
“If Reid won;t slow this debate down, we’ll do it for him”
“Coburn forced the Dems to read 767 page amendment, we’ll do everything we can to stop the government takeover of healthcare.”
Michael Steele: “The Democrats have accused us of trying to delay, stall, slow down, and stop this bill,” “They are right.”
The lesson as always? Right wingers lie.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
Ryan, what about Howard Dean? What about the Unions?
This entire report is about Howard Dean opposing the health care bill!
Howard Dean has never been a Republican! Never. Yeeeehaaaaw!
Posted by: Barry Christmas | December 16, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
“Aren’t they usually locked out of meetings and negotiations? Hard to contribute when you’re not there.”
Except that is not true.
Rep Mark Kirk of IL (yeah, the idiot that voted for Cap and Tax, but whatevah) put forward some health care ideas only to be told, don’t bother by the Dems.”
Kirk’s ideas….
Tort reform which has already been done in many states with minimal benefit. CBO scores this as having perhaps one half of a percentage point of an effect.
Allowing interstate insurance purchase. See the insurance companies hate it that certain states actually protect their consumers, things like dropping sick people from coverage. They would prefer a system where they base themselves in the state with the weakest consumer protection that way they can fleece their customers without any interference.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm
Whew!” ….. you guys had me worried!!!! ….. For a while there, I thought that a bunch of you non-government, private enterprise-type “commoners” were going to be “buying into” … “my”… government subsidized (public option) insurance, i.e., the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) insurance program. Well, at least that’s what those damn 10 Democratic senators were talking about last week.
But then came the saving grace–the Republican “socialized medicine” scare! Damn, I’m so glad that so many of you fools bought into that and, basically, shut down that health care reform bill! Thank God! Now, all you non-government type commoners out there won’t be trying to creep into “my” Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program (public option), with that “Buy-In” “crapola” those 10 Democratic senators were talking about last week. I mean, can you imagine if that happened?… Then, all those public option-type benefits that I get to enjoy would have to be shared with you commoners! … Hey, let me make this PERFECTLY CLEAR to all you non-government types out there…ONLY “us” government-employee elites get to enjoy cheap, “public option”, health insurance like our FEHB program. If more of you commoners try to “buy-into” our program, guess what? It messes up my public option insurance and that won’t make me too happy! LOL…You know, the old saying, “too many cooks spoil the broth”… well, same principle applies here with “MY” public option insurance, the FEHB! So stay the hell away common people!…. LOL
In the meantime, oh yeah, OK, OK (LOL) go ahead and “whine”, I’m used to all your silly complaints… so your health care insurance premiums, outside of our government systems, have risen on the average of 8.8% each year for the past ten years? (“wah, wah, wah”… LOL). Oh!…so you happen to be paying $9 more for every $100 you spend on health care each year, and every year it goes up by another 8.8%, and it’s going to continue like that… “OK, and?” (hehehe) THAT’S YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE (LMAO)!
(LOL… Just remember, when your insurance premiums climb next year, by $40, $50, $60… and the same thing happens the year after next… and the year after that… and so on, and so on….. please, remember to send your “Thank You” notes to the Republican party and Joe Lieberman! They earned your thanks and mine also… “Whew!”) … LMAO!
God I’m glad I work for the federal government! …. LOL!
Posted by: GeorgieBushie | December 16, 2009, 6:05 pm 6:05 pm
“This entire report is about Howard Dean opposing the health care bill!”
Dean wants what I want; a strong public option and regulations making sure those with preexisting conditions can get coverage.
The reason he now opposes this bill is because it has been watered down to try to compromise with Republicans who are acting in bad faith and won’t vote for the bill no matter how many concession are made or how many GOP ideas are added.
As jhw has written, we saw this same act with the stimulus bill.
GOP leadership was coy for awhile about being obstructionist (its kind of embarrassing when you blasted the Democrats when they were in the minority) but now they think its a political winner so they are embracing it.
Your insistence that its not the Republicans is either cognitive dissonance or just deliberate dishonesty.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
I don’t believe what I am reading… the Libs on here are blaming REPUBLICANS for this?
What planet are you people on? The Dems OWN CONGRESS and the WH. You have the super majorities you NEED RIGHT?
Your party can’t get it together.
Your former VP candidate has neutered the Senate bill.
Your former party chairman is out there saying DON’T VOTE FOR THIS BILL.
The Dem party is attacking Lieberman and the WH Press Secretary is bashing Howard ‘Capitalizm is dead’ Dean.
You guys are the gifts that keep on giving.
Posted by: Denbo | December 16, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
“What planet are you people on? The Dems OWN CONGRESS and the WH. You have the super majorities you NEED RIGHT?”
No. The Democrats have 58 seats in the Senate, one friendly Socialist, and Joe “Vote for McCain” Lieberman (Independent).
It took 67 Democrats in the Senate to get Medicare through. It would be a breathtaking accomplishment if the Democrats pull this off with only 58.
Posted by: jhw539 | December 16, 2009, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm
Definitely Bush’s fault. Bwahahaha!
Posted by: LongT | December 16, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Hey Denbo Dumbutt and JHW, the two independents caucus with the Democrats, meaning the Senate has 60 Democrat votes.
If Democrats actually acted in a bipartisan manner instead of crafting legislation in Reid’s super-secret bat-cave and then having votes and then blaming Republicans, there might’ve been a bipartisan bill by now. Instead PEBO and the Democratic leadership acted like spoiled little brats and then blame Republicans when they can’t all get along.
Please stop parsing words. Repeat, the Democratic caucus in the Senate is composed of 60 members, 58 D’s and 2 I’s. They all caucus together and make 60. Should we go over this with our toes and fingers so it is more clear?
No more lies. No more stalling. Pass this bill if you believe it’s good for America. You know in your heart of hearts that it isn’t and that’s why it still isn’t passing.
Posted by: Aaron | December 16, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
“Instead PEBO and the Democratic leadership acted like spoiled little brats and then blame Republicans when they can’t all get along.”
PEBO was the acronym for when Obama was the President Elect.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm
He’s in your caucus. The number is 60. It’s a fact. Please no more 58 nonsense.
And yes Ryan C, you are correct. President Obama and his friends act like spoiled children. Thank you for correcting. PEBO was a poor choice of abbreviation.
Posted by: Aaron | December 16, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
“Coburn forced the Dems to read 767 page amendment, we’ll do everything we can to stop the government takeover of healthcare.”
Bernie Sanders blasted the GOP. He was very animated while speaking on the floor, and I don’t blame him. I agree with every word he said, especially “It is wrong.” The Republicans want a repeat of the madness of August– lie, smear, distort, scream, delay. It is wrong– and it burns me up.
I think the Republican party is missing all good will, compassion, and meaningful intention. They are a party with no brain and no heart. All they have is self-centeredness and the tenacity to hold on no matter how deep down in the mud they have to go.
I don’t see how anybody can be all that into them, seriously (oh wait, not many people are, according to polls.) And yet their scorched earth policy is working on crucial policy matters that affect lives– as in life and death. And what do the tea party “independents” do? They co-opt Christmas as in “”Tis the season to kill… health care reform.” Might as well say Tis the season to kill on behalf of the insurance company shills. The Republican senators and reps will lap up anything and agree with it. (“Just re-elect us despite our lack of solutions and honor– cuz looky how tricky, lowdown and cynical we are.”)
Posted by: Elsa Marie | December 16, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
gibbs err ryan c…why I am NOT surprised by your irrational/child like comments…ummmm
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
gibbs err ryan c…why I am NOT surprised by your irrational/child like comments…ummmm
______________________________________
Because you make so many yourself?
Posted by: tierra | December 16, 2009, 6:49 pm 6:49 pm
Please specify…t…and PLEASE try keep it on an adult level…
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
“gibbs err ryan c…why I am NOT surprised by your irrational/child like comments…ummmm”
I see you emerged from under your bed after cowering there because of terrorists in prions guarded by our military or something.
Good for you, irrational cowardice is not a way to live one’s life.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
“Please specify…t…and PLEASE try keep it on an adult level…
Posted by: Parallex View | Dec 16, 2009 6:54:02 PM”
ROFLMAO!
“gibbs err ryan c…why I am NOT surprised by your irrational/child like comments…ummmm
Posted by: Parallex View | Dec 16, 2009 6:47:25 PM”
Right wing hypocrisy…its what’s for dinner.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
LOL….Try your irrational/child like liberal rants and ravings on someone else gibbs..err ryan..just doesn’t work with most people of adult intelligence….LOL..
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
The Obama presidency is imploding.
Judging by many of the comments on lefty blogs Howard Dean should challenge Obama in 2012.
Dean actually has a spine.
While Obama just pretends to have one.
But my girl Sarah Palin has more courage than Dean and Obama put together.
Posted by: hank | December 16, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
gibbs err ryan…Not your mommy or daddy..need to man up if you are going to blog on these sites..if at all possible…LOL…..I SMELL PANIC…
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
“But my girl Sarah Palin has more courage than Dean and Obama put together.”
Yeah remember when she stood up to media critics and did her job as governor…oh wait.
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
As for the 60 Dems in the caucus, and where the blame lies for the mess, it’s certainly true that the Dems aren’t blameless and that there is tension, and subtle rifts. I don’t see how that fact makes the Republicans any less culpable.
But anyway–
I disagree with Howard Dean about killing the bill and going to reconciliation. He’s never been a senator and I think he’s missing the cold hard reality, and also ignoring that the current bill is still better than what he proposed and thought was possible in 2004. I agree with Kevin Drum who wrote:
“If you don’t like the Senate bill, fine… But in what universe will healthcare reform get revived anytime soon if it dies this year? 2010? With the legislative plate already jammed, healthcare reform probably polling in the mid 30s, and midterms coming up? 2011? After Republicans have gained a bunch of seats in both the House and Senate thanks to public disgust with Democratic disarray? 2012? A presidential election year? 2013? 2014?….the fate of failed major initiatives is so obvious that I can’t believe anyone is taking this seriously. ”
Puh-lease. That is SO true. Killing the bill is exactly what the opposition wants– a kill or a long delay that lasts another 16, 20, 24 years, until we’re paying 50% of our paychecks toward premiums and still being dropped and going bankrupt.
I’ve lived in Europe and Australia and our system is archaic and nonsensical! It’ll still be somewhat archaic and nonsensical, but its a start– the seed that can grow some roots. As Ezra Klein puts it, “Look at the development of Medicare and Social Security, of Medicaid and S-CHIP, the Swedish and Canadian health-care systems, public education. Social Security was designed to exclude African-Americans. Medicare didn’t cover prescription drugs. Medicaid was mainly for pregnant women and their young children. Canada’s system was limited to a single province. There was no University of California at Los Angeles…”
He goes on to point out that these type of things march forward and improve and expand over time. That is what scares the crap out of the GOP and their tea party rebel cousins. We must stick together and stand with the true heroes of this debate– folks like Ron Wyden, Sherrod Brown, Tom Harkin and others who are fighting on despite disappointments.
As Nate Silver asks, (there are 20 questions for those who wish to kill health care but the first one is particularly poignant and relevant to those with a heart and a sense of true concern about human rights alongside liberty and equality):
Nate Silver has 20 questions for liberals — or anyone — who want to kill the Senate bill. The first one is particularly good:
1. Over the medium term, how many other opportunities will exist to provide in excess of $100 billion per year in public subsidies to poor and sick people?
Posted by: Elsa Marie | December 16, 2009, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
“gibbs err ryan…Not your mommy or daddy..need to man up if you are going to blog on these sites..if at all possible…LOL…..I SMELL PANIC…”
Keeping it on an adult level I see.
So is it hypocrisy or just plain old dishonesty?
Posted by: Ryan C | December 16, 2009, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
poor ryan c….
Posted by: Parallex View | December 16, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
Nobody can say Dean doesn’t call it like he sees it.
Posted by: Skip | December 16, 2009, 7:41 pm 7:41 pm
“If we don’t pass it, here’s the guarantee….your premiums will go up, your employers are going to load up more costs on you,” POTUS said. “Potentially they’re going to drop your coverage, because they just can’t afford an increase of 25 percent, 30 percent in terms of the costs of providing health care to employees each and every year. “ — from the Fearmonger in Chief
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
If you are stupid enough to think that 40 Republicans can win a cloture vote then you are certainly stupid enough to support this garbage of a bill and you are stupid enough to support it no matter what they put in it.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Dean said on GMA that in Washington, DC, “passing any bill is a victory. And that’s the problem. Decisions are made about the long-term future in this country for short-term political reasons.”
==============================
Everything word, action, speech, trip, WH visitor, etc. is a measured political action by this WH. Obama could care less about the “average American” as evidenced by his obsession with re-making the healthcare sector while doing nothing (next-to-nothing?) to improve employment.
Given a choice between Obama, Gibbs, and Dean, I would choose Dean as the most truthful. Hands down.
BTW – Appears House has passed a $100 BILLION “JOBS” BILL – Wasn’t the purpose of the ARRA aka “stimulus” to stimulate the economy and create jobs?
BUSH = BAD, OBAMA = DISASTER
Posted by: tjp612 | December 16, 2009, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
The Obama Administration is imploding, taking on water, and receiving fire from all sides.
Unfortunately, it is dragging the country down with it.
Posted by: tjp612 | December 16, 2009, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
If we don’t pass it, here’s the guarantee….your premiums will go up…
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Dec 16, 2009 7:44:03 PM
I totally agree with the President. Its not fearmongering if its true, imho and its ridiculous to hear the President called out for fearmongering while the fearmongering of the Right goes unchallenged. Personally, I would’ve stressed how many lives will be lost if its not passed, given studies that show lack of health care coverage results in higher probabilities of death for all ages, and the uptick in the number of uninsureds, which will increase dramatically if Republicans regain power. Even today Cantor was mouthing off about COBRA for the unemployed.
I think it will be very sad and costly if it doesn’t pass– and blood will stain many hands. Problem is many of those with blood on their hands don’t have a conscience and won’t give a care till something happens to them or a loved one.
Posted by: Don't EVER want to go back to the GOP-driven Dark Ages | December 16, 2009, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Bush = War
Obama = War + Huge Deficits + Big Government + More Welfare + Bigger Union + Weaker National Security + $$$ unknown Deficits in the future. So …
OBAMA = Bush. So I don’t think Obama has the right to bash Bush again and again. I ha-te to hear him saying the word “inherit …” from Bush.
We elect him to govern, not send him to WH to play the blame game. It is not working! If the DNC is not selecting someone like Hillary to run on 2012 …
Posted by: talk from sf | December 16, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
wow, who is the guy above? Dean? Gibbs?
He looked terrible. He looked like a …
Posted by: talk from sf | December 16, 2009, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
I just got an email from the once-I-supported candidate John Kerry. He asked me for donation to trash Sarah Palin.
I said NO NO NO NO NO NO to him. I’ll depart DEM for the next 3 years and might be back with someone I trust.
Posted by: talk from sf | December 16, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
I totally agree with the President. Its not fearmongering if its true, imho and its ridiculous to hear the President called out for fearmongering while the fearmongering of the Right goes unchallenged.
Posted by: Don’t EVER want to go back to the GOP-driven Dark Ages |
The “fearmongering” of the right is a daily theme for some who post here as you should know.
And I love the excuse making for POTUS’s comments. 25 or 30 percent increases? That’s right up there with the 20 foot rise in sea levels.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
BTW – Obama signed today the omnibus bill to fund the federal govt. for fiscal year 2010. Highlights:
- Bill contains THOUSANDS of earmarks (didn’t Candidate Obama and President Obama promise to end this practice?)
- Spending is 10% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR! While the citizenry tightens its belts in these tough times, Obama/Pelosi/Reid keep spending.
The new theme of Obama and the Dems will be “deficit reduction” now that they have massive spending bills out of the way. They’ve gorged at the trough and are now saying they are going on a diet…Blatant hypocricy and dishonesty.
Posted by: tjp612 | December 16, 2009, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
They’ve gorged at the trough and are now saying they are going on a diet…Blatant hypocricy and dishonesty.
Posted by: tjp612 |
Have another doughnut Dems. It’s wafer thin.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm
25 or 30 percent increases? That’s right up there with the 20 foot rise in sea levels.
___
So you disagree with most health care experts that the premium trendline shows premiums doubling every seven years, or is it that you agree with projections in sea level rise?
Between 2002 and 2009, health care premiums in California rose almost 118%
Posted by: Don't EVER want to go back to the GOP-driven Dark Ages | December 16, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
“Yeah remember when she stood up to media critics and did her job as governor.”
When the Governor announced her decision to resign on July 3, she pointed out the then 15 frivolous ethics complaints that had been filed against her and dismissed. It was intended to explain, in part, her decision to resign as well to educate the public about the abuse of the Alaska Ethics Act through a repetitive stream of baseless partisan accusations.
The Democrats engaged in dirty tricks and abused a loophole in the state law that requires all charges be seriously investigate no matter how frivolous, fictitious and fraudulant, deliberately draining time and money from the State of Alaska.
It was shameful and vicious and celebrated by the left and their win at all cost personal, financial and political attacks on the Governor and her family.
I will never vote Democrat again.
Posted by: Anchor | December 16, 2009, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
Dean, I do believe Gibbs called you a liar. Demand an apology or challenge him to a slap fight.
Posted by: jerry | December 16, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
So you disagree with most health care experts that the premium trendline shows premiums doubling every seven years
Posted by: Don’t EVER want to go back to the GOP-driven Dark Ages |
POTUS does. At 25% it would take less than half that time to double. That’s why it is fearmongering.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Congressional interference and regulation destroyed HMOs causing health care costs to rise.
Anything involving more government causes us to pay more either in taxes or directly out of pocket. We are on to you Congress. Stop meddling and treating us like stupid children who don’t know what is good for us.
Posted by: Wild Blue Yonder | December 16, 2009, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
SO…… NOW WE HAVE CONFIRMED REPORTS OF THE POSSIBLE CLOSING OF OFFUTT AFB IN NEBRASKA IF SENATOR NELSON (Dem) DOESN’T COME AROUND AND SUPPORT THE LATEST HEALTH CARE DISASTER. SEEMS PROBABLE AS EXTORTION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME FROM THIS WHITE HOUSE.
Posted by: Manitu | December 16, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
The bill is structurally wrong for what it portends to do. It is a monstrosity that will increase costs while decreasing access and quality of health care for all Americans.
The bill is so far to the Left, so expensive and so incoherent, it has justly unnerved a number of Democrats.
As pollster Peter Brown puts it, “It’s a good thing for those pushing the health care overhaul in Congress that the American people don’t have a vote.”
But, we still have a voice and Congress is starting to hear us, even if Obama refuses to listen.
Posted by: Tea Leaves | December 16, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
Every major poll recently taken has shown a vast majority of Americans opposed to the current health reform bill. Even with the dropping of the gov option and the medicare option will increase premiums, cut into medicare coverage and will result in a major decrease in the supply of medical doctors. NOT TOO BRIGHT OBAMA!!!!!
Posted by: Jimbo | December 16, 2009, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
“It was intended to explain, in part, her decision to resign as well to educate the public…”
Sarah Palin: one of the best fundraisers the Democrats have ever had. So when the going gets tough she quits to go sell books. I don’t need any education on how that works.
Posted by: Skip | December 16, 2009, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
When the public sees their health costs rise along with their premiums and shortage of medical doctors as a result of this crazy health care bill, it will be a long time before the libs will govern this country again.
Posted by: Temagami | December 16, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Sarah Palin: one of the best fundraisers the Republicans have ever had. Now Democrats just show their hatred of women every chance they get, don’t they?
When I was a Democrat, we didn’t hate.
Posted by: Anchor | December 16, 2009, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
NBCNEWSWSJ POLL: Americans Souring on Democrats…
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
PELOSI: NO HEALTH CARE DEAL THIS YEAR
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
BIG SCARE: OBAMA WARNS USA ‘WILL GO BANKRUPT’ WITHOUT HEALTH BILL…
========================================
Fearmongering by Obama..Facist Tactics
Posted by: welcome to Obamaville,the fastest growing homeless community | December 16, 2009, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
I used to love the Dems…I was a Dem for over 50 years…that was when Dems were not total idiots!! Now I love the Repubs….they may be idiots but the believe in “get off your butt and help yourself instead of waiting for someone else to fill your pockets”!!!! That is way Americans used to act…not any more…since this country is becoming the “gimme” and “I don’t want to work for what I want” generation! This lazy generation would not even fight for this country if Chavez moved in..they would just roll over and give in! What a bunch of ignorant, lazy bunch of ingrates this generation has raised. Too bad, this used to be the greatest country on earth where people from other countries wished they could be. Not any more! We are a now a laughing stock all over the world and OWE CHINA the future of our children and grandchildren!! Nice going you losers!!
Posted by: ross | December 16, 2009, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
“Now Democrats just show their hatred of women every chance they get, don’t they?”
What on Earth are you talking about? We appointed a woman Sec of State, put a woman on the Supreme Court, our Speaker of the House… and on and on.
Posted by: Skip | December 16, 2009, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
“I love the Repubs….they may be idiots but they believe in “get off your butt and help yourself…”
Can’t argue with that. They’ve always been great at helping themselves.
Posted by: Skip | December 16, 2009, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
Skippy said, “Can’t argue with that. They’ve always been great at helping themselves.”
Although liberal families’ incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227).
Conservatives also donate more time and give more blood.
People who reject the idea that “government has a responsibility to reduce income inequality” give an average of four times more than people who accept that proposition.
Posted by: The Audacity of Copenhagen | December 16, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
I am seventy years old and receive social security and medicare. I am scared to death that the fiscal irresponsibility of this administration and congress will most probably resulting a major depression, causing the destruction of Social Security – let alone health care.
Posted by: Manitu | December 16, 2009, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Re: “The bill is so far to the Left…”
No, it’s a corporate bill. It’s a handout to the insurance companies. If this were a leftist bill there would be a public option or it would be single payer.
Obama just pretended to be a progressive. I knew he was a corporate con man, and so did many others, but the liberals are just figuiring it out. DUH.
I liked it better when the Democratic Party was run by the working class. Now it’s run by elite liberals who stuck us with Obama.
Posted by: Bubbles | December 16, 2009, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Posted by: Manitu | Dec 16, 2009 9:56:40 PM
The country was headed for a major depression until the current administration stepped in.
The entire western world went through a major economic breakdown, and nobody is out of the woods yet.
And every western industrialized country took the same approach; stimulus plans, deficit funding and reduced taxes – including the U.S.
Posted by: tierra | December 16, 2009, 10:33 pm 10:33 pm
This bill is too far to the left; this bill is too far to the right . ..
Face it – most people don’t have a clue what’s really in ‘this’ bill.
Including you.
Posted by: tierra | December 16, 2009, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
Giveaway to the insurance and drug companies. In what universe is Obama a progressive?
Posted by: Marilyn | December 16, 2009, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
This lazy generation would not even fight for this country if Chavez moved in..they would just roll over and give in! What a bunch of ignorant, lazy bunch of ingrates this generation has raised.
___
What and who are you talking about? Which generation? Surely not the generation that is serving in Afghanistan and Iraq at the moment, or the generation of parents who raised them? Surely not the generation of first responders on 9/11?
Ingrates,huh?
Wow.
Posted by: Elsa Marie | December 16, 2009, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
This bill is too far to the left; this bill is too far to the right . ..
Face it – most people don’t have a clue what’s really in ‘this’ bill.
Including you.
Posted by: tierra |
But you don’t need to know what is in it to support it with both pompoms.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | December 16, 2009, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
“Although liberal families’ incomes average 6 percent higher than those of conservative families, conservative-headed households give, on average, 30 percent more to charity than the average liberal-headed household ($1,600 per year vs. $1,227)”
I can only imagine where these statistics came from. Is that the 30% of Americans that currently claim to be liberal including some billionaires like Oprah? Yes conservatives donate slightly more money–they have more, despite typical right-wing statistical manipulation to show otherwise.
Posted by: Skip | December 16, 2009, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
Ross Said: “This lazy generation would not even fight for this country if Chavez moved in..they would just roll over and give in! What a bunch of ignorant, lazy bunch of ingrates this generation has raised.”
======================================
Ladies and Gentlemen… I present to you, the typical “right-whiner” republican’s point of view of our awesome younger generation that has been fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
How sad.
Posted by: RossThe-I-D-1-O-T | December 16, 2009, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
Whew!” … you guys had me worried!!!! … For a while there, I thought that a bunch of you non-government, private enterprise-type “commoners” were going to be “buying into” … “my”… government subsidized (public option) insurance, i.e., the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) insurance program. Well, at least that’s what those damn 10 Democratic senators were talking about last week.
But then came the saving grace–the Republican “socialized medicine” scare! Damn, I’m so glad that so many of you fools bought into that and, basically, shut down this health care reform bill! Thank God! Now, all you non-government type commoners out there won’t be trying to “buy” into “my” Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program (public option), with that “Buy-In” “crapola” those 10 Democratic senators were talking about last week. I mean, can you imagine if that happened?… Then, all those public option-type benefits that I get to enjoy would have to be shared with you commoners! … Hey, let me make this PERFECTLY CLEAR to all you non-government types out there…ONLY “us” government-employee elites get to enjoy cheap, “public option”, health insurance like our FEHB program. If more of you commoners try to “buy-into” our program, guess what? It messes up my public option insurance and that won’t make me too happy! LOL…You know, the old saying, “too many cooks spoil the broth”… well, same principle applies here with “MY” public option insurance, the FEHB! So stay the hell away common people!…. LOL
In the meantime, oh yeah, OK, OK (LOL) go ahead and “whine”, I’m used to all your silly complaints… so your health care insurance premiums, outside of our government systems, have risen on the average of 8.8% each year for the past ten years? (“wah, wah, wah”… LOL). Oh!…and you happen to be paying $9 more for every $100 you spend on health care each year, and every year it goes up by another 8.8%, and it’s going to continue like that… “OK, and?” …(hehehe)… THOSE ARE ALL YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE (LMAO)!
Just remember this “commoners”, when your insurance premiums climb next year, by $40, $50, $60… and the same thing happens the year after next… and the year after that… and so on, and so on….. please, remember to send your “Thank You” notes to the Republican party and Joe Lieberman! They earned your thanks and mine also! As I said at the beginning, “Whew!” … LMAO!
God I’m glad I work for the federal government! …. LOL!
Posted by: GeorgieBushie | December 17, 2009, 2:19 am 2:19 am
What else can they say this has always been a bill to give the Insurance companies including AARP 30 million customers that werent paying before, pay now or you get fined or go to jail
Posted by: earl | December 17, 2009, 6:38 am 6:38 am
Seems this regime calls ANYONE crazy that doesn’t bow and agree with them.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | December 17, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Everybody on the Left is blaming the Republicans for holding up ObamaCare. Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe regularly cross the aisle to vote for Democrat proposals. If you can’t get either of these RINO’s to vote for this government healthcare takeover, then it is obviously too radical.
Posted by: Health Czar | December 17, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
“Always been great at helping themselves.” Yes, yes I would definitely agree with your statement skip in regard to the above comment, taking personal responsibility for ones self and family is a GREAT thing…Just too bad that SOME present that ideal as less than….ummmm..the right thing to do…
Posted by: Parallex View | December 17, 2009, 11:46 am 11:46 am
I still don’t understand the GM bailout. Why didn’t congress just mandate all families MUST buy a GM car?
Since Congress has decided it can force all of America to make a purchase that Congress chooses; why don’t they do this instead of bailouts?
It isn’t like your money is yours, or you should have any freedom or control over your spending. Any money you have is just money the Government didn’t take from you. You don’t deserve it and the Government can take it or force you to spend it as they choose.
Oddly now some liberals are opposing this view… I can’t imagine why.
Posted by: Gekkobear | December 17, 2009, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
Like most people intuitively know — that “if we can just get our Foot through the door, we have a chance of opening that door all the way! And, if we don’t begin somewhere, and start the “cooking of the egg”, then how much more expensive will healthcare costs become. And, if this is not a good thing, why are they (GOP/ Conserva Dems) fighting so hard to stop it. They too know that if we just get our foot through the door, there will be no stopping. Yes, it is too bad that there are not more in Congress who work for the people, but we have to work with what we have at the moment, take stock of this and work harder for true Jeffersons, and Washingtons and Franklins in the future. They will come…
I have not given up on Pres. Obama; he is fighting old, intrinsic patterns which will not die easily. He is however planting the seeds to their destruction. Take Heart!
POSITIVE EXERCISE: Sit quietly, focus in the third eye, link up with your Soul (the soul is light and always works for the good) and visualize health care reform As passed, implemented into law with a public option — for energies always follows thought!
As an aside, I am afraid that poor Ariana is upset that Pres. Obama has not yet reversed “don’t ask, don’t tell”.
Posted by: Angellight | December 17, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
“planting the seeds to their destruction???” WOW…And what angle do you represent…Ummm never mind, I am not a person of religion but your kind of talk is well…to paraphrase gibbs…crazy…WOW…
Posted by: Parallex View | December 17, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
This health legislation is too far left for the Republicans and the right and too far right for the liberals.
Sounds like its about exactly where it should be then.
Posted by: tierra | December 17, 2009, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
So, when’s someone going to fact check Dean? Is he right or not? I google “Howard Dean fact check,” and I get nadda. Isn’t that the media’s JOB?
Besides, I thought the details of this compromise were under wraps until the CBO could finish it’s review.
We really need some clear and concrete information on this Jake. The extreme left is going bonkers, and trying to blow the entire thing up.
Also, I hope you take over as host of This Week. :) I can’t BELIEVE George went to GMA. I can’t see him playing the clown over there. I’m shocked.
Posted by: Teri Beaugez | December 17, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
“This health legislation is too far left for the Republicans and the right and too far right for the liberals.
Sounds like its about exactly where it should be then.”
Ahhhh, so Dean becomes the useful idiot to try to make a far left socialist ploy to take over another private industry in America seem “centrist”.
Thanks, Tiara, for clearing that up for us.
Posted by: The Audacity of Copenhagen | December 17, 2009, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm
“The extreme left is going bonkers, and trying to blow the entire thing up.”
I wasn’t aware that the majority of the country is on the extreme left. Thanks for clearing that up.
Posted by: Flash Override | December 17, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
“Everybody on the Left is blaming the Republicans for holding up ObamaCare”
Thats just a flat out untruth, which probably results from the fact that nobody on the Left ever appears in the corporate media.
If you read what people on the actual Left say, you’ll find that the Repubicans are generally considered irrelevant, and that the Left is blaming the corporate Democrats.
Posted by: Flash Override | December 17, 2009, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
Dr Dean says:
“And you will be forced to buy insurance. If you don’t, you’ll pay a fine.”
Yes, threats of massive fines and jail for not having insurance have been in the bill from the beginning.
What took Dean so long to read the bill?
Posted by: Joe White | December 17, 2009, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm