Obama on Health Care: Let’s Sit Down, Take Our Time, Then Move Forward on a Vote
From Sunlen Miller: President Obama assured his supporters today that even though governing is hard and change is harder to achieve than anyone thought- that he is “still fired up and still ready to go.”Summoning the message back that once mobilized his grass-roots campaign, the president spoke tonight in front of the same people – Organizing for America and DNC members – who poll show some are feeling somewhat discouraged by the first year of the Obama administration.”I know some of you might feel discouraged,” Obama admitted, “Because changing the ways of Washington is hard. It’s harder than a lot of you thought it might be. Sometimes it made you feel like it’s not possible. You might want to give up. Don’t give up.”The president said that they have to push harder, and keep up the fight.”The forces of the status quo may not give an inch, but we will not give an inch. Because we didn’t come this far to put things off, or to play it safe. We didn’t do all this work to take the easy road to get to the next election.”Health Care: Let’s All Sit Down, Take Our Time, Then “We’ve Got to Move Forward on a Vote” Mr. Obama said that he’s got his own pollsters who warned him last December of not to take up the issue of health care reform, because it would be bad for him politically.”I knew this was hard. I knew seven presidents had failed. I knew seven Congresses hadn’t gotten it done. You don’t think I got warnings?,” Obama said laughing, “So yes, we took it on.”Asked by an online questioner what the strategy is to move forward on health care reform, the president outlined in broad strokes what he’d like to see happen. As called for in his State of the Union address the president said the phase they are in right now is to call on Republicans for their ideas. After that he’d like to invite everyone to the table for a discussion and then take this to a vote.”What I’d like to do is have a meeting where I’m sitting with the Republicans, sitting with the Democrats. Sitting with health care experts. And let’s just go through these bills. Their ideas, our ideas, let’s walk thought them in a methodical way so the American people can see and compare. What makes the most sense. And then I think we’ve got to go ahead and move forward on a vote.”The President gave no hard deadlines to his outline for reform – but he said they would be working on it during the next few weeks. A jobs bill, he said, has to be the number one priority ahead of health care reform. He added that while he wants “to take our time,” the key though, is to “not let the moment slip away” on health care. So what happens if the bill in Congress does not pass? It’s an election year, Obama said to remember. ”If Congress decides we’re not going to do it, even after all the facts are laid out, all the options are clear, then the American people can make a judgment as to whether this Congress has done the right thing for them or not. And that’s how democracy works, with the elections coming up. And they will be able to make a determination, and register their concerns one way or the other during election time.”And what may be a lasting anecdote for the president’s push on health care reform – Mr. Obama told for the first time a story about a woman in St. Louis who had been part of his campaign. She couldn’t afford health insurance and put off her exams. After a tough battle for four years, throughout the campaign. She died 5 days ago. ”She insisted that she is going to be buried in an Obama t-shirt,” Obama said, “She was fighting that whole time not just to get me elected, not even to get herself health care, but because she understood that there were others coming behind her who were going to find themselves in the situation. And he didn’t want others going through that something.”The President questioned, then how he could give up on health care reform now. ”How can I say to her, ‘you know what – we’re giving up?’ How can I say to her family, this is too hard. How can Democrats on the Hill say this is politically risky? How can Republicans on the Hill say we’re better off just blocking anything from happening?”"That can’t be the message,” Obama concluded.The president did not divulge the name of the woman – but the White House says he was referencing Melanie Shouse, 41, who passed away on January 30th. The President will speak at two fundraisers for this evening – which Democratic officials estimate will rake in between $2 -$3 million dollars for the party. Mr. Obama laughed off some of the hysteria around the massive snow storm headed into the Washington, D.C. area, telling everyone, “we can handle it.” -Sunlen Miller
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MOVE FORWARD ON WHAT VOTE?? IF IT PATCHES UP THE LOOPHOLES OF PRIVATE PLANS I AM ALL FOR IT. IF THE FED IS GOING TO RUN IT….. FORGET IT!!
Posted by: Tom Barnow | February 4, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
I have to give them credit — they have very smoothly and convincingly launched their massive all-points attack campaign to get themselves back in favor.
What they don’t get is that when it comes to fundamental beliefs about the proper role of government, no amount of manipulation make people do what they want.
People might believe other types of BS, like the idea that Michelle Obama was flummoxed and bewildered by hearing about her daughter’s high BMI. But they aren’t going to believe that Obama is not an ideologue or that the answer to our problems is expanding government. It really doesn’t matter what they say or how they say it — that’s not the country they were elected to govern. Sorry.
Posted by: Chiara | February 4, 2010, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Dear President Obama,
It’s the economy, stupid. Listen to us now, or listen to us in November.
Sincerely,
An Increasingly Angry American Public
Posted by: Woody | February 4, 2010, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
Posted by: What? | Feb 4, 2010 8:32:43 PM
Please post the source and date for your list of ‘factual’ information.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
Posted by: Chiara | Feb 4, 2010 8:43:22 PM
Sorry Chiara, people are not going to believe the lies and the smear campaign from the Republican right – the younger people in particular see through the fear and smear campaign and hate you for it.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
tierra, I’m not a Republican and I’m not on the right. But that was a revealing admission of hatred on your part — it will be remembered.
Posted by: Chiara | February 4, 2010, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
What an incredibly brilliant idea brought forward by President Obama. Consulting with all sides? I’m all for it as long as it doesn’t end up as halfway to socialism.
Posted by: Bob | February 4, 2010, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Their is only one possible way Obama could be elected for a second term. He needs to forget about socialism and become a pro business president. All he is is doing for business now is throwing crumbs out here and there which are supposed to create job growth. Ain’t gonna happen – SEE THE MARKET TODAY? REALITY IS SETTING IN THAT WE ARE IN BIG ECONOMIC DOO DOO AND GETTING WORSE. WHILE….. OBAMA IS PUTTING US TRILLIONS MORE IN DEBT. I AM SEVENTY-ONE. IF THESE CRAZIES (OBAMA, PELOSI, REID) GET THEIR WAY, I FULLY EXPECT THAT ALL ENTITLEMENT (SS, MEDICARE, ETC) PROGRAMS TO BECOME WORTHLESS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
Posted by: Diane Cahill | Feb 4, 2010 9:01:29 PM
The first two are involved in State politics which has an entirely different dynamic.
Scott Brown pretended to be a Kennedy.
The smear and fear campaign against the President and the Democrats will fail – because it doesn’t deserve to win. It’s all the Republicans have got and they deserve to lose.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
tierra, I’m not a Republican and I’m not on the right. But that was a revealing admission of hatred on your part — it will be remembered.
Posted by: Chiara | Feb 4, 2010 9:08:49 PM
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You people hate the smear and fear campaign from the Republican right – if you don’t feel you’re part of that don’t feel so guilty. Phony.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
It’s astonishing to see President Obama’s capacity to lie with a straight face to any audience he addresses.
“You guys just keep shoveling the money, we’re gonna wrap your Dream Bill up with a nice pretty bow, it will be EXACTLY what you want! We’ll clean up the mess we’ve made of it and we’ll put on a show like we’re gonna work with those evil Republicans — they are such fools they may actually believe us, haha. Yessir, we’re gonna deliver to YOU. Never mind about those “stray dogs and cats” in the bills, much less just how AWFUL the Bills actually are, or how bankrupt. Just keep shoveling that money over here, right here, to MOI, and you’ll get EVERYTHING you ever wanted. That’s the truth!”
You deserve this guy!
Posted by: Carol | February 4, 2010, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
Millions in Stimulus Spending Being Doled Out for Questionable Jobs
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Nonsense. A huge portion of the stimulus money is going out in tax relief ($288 Billion) just as the Republicans demanded.
An additionally huge portion ($144 Billion) is going out in shoring up State budgets. You have no idea what chaos would be occurring at the State level without the stimulus money.
And many funds went out to shore up unemployment, food stamp programs, COBRA and so on – just to help families damaged by the collapse to survive.
You people don’t seem to get it – this was a major world-wide economic meltdown that occurred under the last administration.
We’re lucky not to be in a depression, and we’re still struggling to get out of the severe recession. The entire world is suffering.
Quite your pretense and political posturing.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
How can I say to her, ‘you know what – we’re giving up?’ How can I say to her family, this is too hard. How can Democrats on the Hill say this is politically risky? How can Republicans on the Hill say we’re better off just blocking anything from happening?”
==================
Here’s what you say.
“We Democrats had a real opportunity to take the high road, work with the opposition and craft a bipartisan health care bill but we blew it. We acted like we had absolute power because we did. We had a supermajority in the Senate.
“Well as the saying goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely, and that’s exactly what happened. We all got greedy, none more than Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landreau. This public display of contempt for the American people awoke a sleeping giant, the ol’ Silent Majority. Now we’re scrambling to pretend we had your best interests at heart. I don’t think it’s working.”
That would be a good start.
Posted by: Woody | February 4, 2010, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
It’s not young people, it’s young voters. I was featured in that Newsweek article at MSNBC.
Posted by: young_voter | February 4, 2010, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
Obama’s idea of bipartisanship is agreeing with him. On many issues
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Nonsense. As the President pointed out in the Q&A with the Republican caucus, many of the component parts of the health care bills are the same as those put forward by Howard Baker and Bob Dole – both Republicans.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm
Get a clue. We don’t want this – the majority of the American people don’t want this. Hello????
Posted by: Pat | February 4, 2010, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Take the unpopular Senate health insurance reform bill, add a public option, and all of a sudden two out of three like it.
What is so freakin’ hard about that, Obama?
Why spend all this time with the Republicans? Nobody likes them anyway.
Posted by: Flash Override | February 4, 2010, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
ONE MAJOR ITEM THE REPS WANT IS TORT REFORM WHICH COULD CUT BILLIONS FROM HEALTH CARE COSTS ANNUALLY. BUT…… THE DEMS WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN BED WITH THE TRIAL ATTORNEYS.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Then, why won’t the President meet with the doctors of PNHP who call for a single payer program?
Posted by: Ellen | February 4, 2010, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
TORT REFORM, NO BACK ROOM DEALS, and some common sense…… Oh Ya, and that Border fence to keep out the TERRORISTS.
Is that too much to ask for?
WON’T Get FOOLED AGAIN in 2010
Posted by: Tad in Arizona | February 4, 2010, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
The President on TORT reform, 29 January 2010
“If I’m told, for example, that the solution to dealing with health care costs is TORT reform, something that I’ve said I am willing to work with you on, but the CBO or other experts say to me, at best, this could reduce health care costs relative to where they’re growing by a couple of percentage points, or save $5 billion a year, that’s what we can score it at, and it will not bend the cost curve long term or reduce premiums significantly — then you can’t make the claim that that’s the only thing that we have to do.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
Posted by: tierra | Feb 4, 2010 9:20:17 PM
Actually all three were state races. Two were for governorships which can impact congressional redistricting and therefore national politics. Scott Brown’s election was also a state race since only legal and registered residents of Massachusetts could legally cast a vote. And yes Brown’s election will have national implications.
You might also want to review newspaper and Internet articles and blogs, especially comments, to refresh your memory of which side is predominately prone to using the most vile labeling of the opposition and the most likely to have over active imaginations. Which side is most likely to attack family members, especially children, of the opposition?
Why are objective criticisms of policies and agenda discounted as being racism? Can’t defend your position with sound arguments or facts, just call the opposition as radical extremist racist.
Posted by: JohnFLob | February 4, 2010, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
TORT REFORM – MORE BS FROM OBAMA – IN OTHER WORDS HE DOES NOT WANT TO CONSIDER IT.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 10:12 pm 10:12 pm
Posted by: JohnFLob | Feb 4, 2010 10:09:23 PM
We’ve all seen the fear and smear campaign against the President, his family and the Democrats. You only have to play attention to this blog to see it clearly EACH and EVERY day.
Juvenile name calling, cheap shot insults, fear and smear campaigns against the current administration.
The President gets smeared for taking his kids for ice cream, taking a one-week holiday, increasing benefits for returning soldiers, paying respect to the coffins of fallen soldiers – you name it; whatever it is it shows the President is either evil, or corrupt or inept, or a traitor, or a commie, or a terrorist, or a foreigner . . .and on and on and on.
Sorry pal, it’s no contest when it comes to smear campaigns – the Republican right are the worst and set a very poor example for the nation.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
the younger people in particular see through the fear and smear campaign and hate you for it.
Posted by: tierra | Feb 4, 2010 8:49:24 PM
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I don’t know how old you are, but I’m 21 and very much resent the direction this country is going under the Obama administration and the democrat congress. The debt this country is accumulating is unsustainable. Who is going to be burdened with this debt…I am. My friends are angry and disillusioned. I can honestly relate to the tea-party idea rather than these progressive democrats who pretend to have such high ideals and then demean and devalue those who disagree with them. I now feel this is more about power than good intentions, and our country has been had.
Posted by: ktm21 | February 4, 2010, 10:15 pm 10:15 pm
The debt this country is accumulating is unsustainable.
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If you’re worried about that, you would be a fool to vote Republican. The last Republican administration promised ‘smaller government’ and ‘the elimination of the deficit’ – and what did they deliver?
The Bush administration added as much to the national debt as almost all the other administrations in history combined.
And here is the big problem – left the economy in almost complete free-fall collapse.
The problem with collapsed economies is they put extreme strain on government programs and strip out tax revenue – adding up to deficits.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
What is exactly is a smear campaign? VA, MA. NY, IL, ND. MN. OH…… and bunches of other states where the sleeping giant is awakening. BAD IDEAS THAT DON’T WORK ARE BAD IDEAS THAT DON’T WORK – IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TRASHING THE PRESIDENT. Maybe a smear campaign is how do you pronounce corps? Obama is the top military officer and he cannot pronounce corps?
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
Posted by: Stanley | Feb 4, 2010 10:19:30 PM
What politician has ever done everything he/she promised?
Bush promised ‘smaller government’ and ‘the elimination of the deficit’. Instead we got a doubled national debt, increased spending, a huge deficit and a collapsed.
I believe the current President far more that the last. There is no contest.
And I believe the current President when he said on Friday . . .
“In terms of lobbyists, I can stand here unequivocally and say that there has not been an administration who was tougher on making sure that lobbyists weren’t participating in the administration than any administration that’s come before us.
“Now, what we did was, if there were lobbyists who were on boards and commissions that were carryovers and their term hadn’t been completed, we didn’t kick them off. We simply said that moving forward any time a new slot opens, they’re being replaced.
“So we’ve actually been very consistent in making sure that we are eliminating the impact of lobbyists, day in, day out, on how this administration operates. There have been a handful of waivers where somebody is highly skilled — for example, a doctor who ran Tobacco-Free Kids technically is a registered lobbyist; on the other end, has more experience than anybody in figuring out how kids don’t get hooked on cigarettes.
“So there have been a couple of instances like that, but generally we’ve been very consistent on that front.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 10:26 pm 10:26 pm
Tort reform = denial of victim’s rights
Posted by: Flash Override | February 4, 2010, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
I’m a business student…I study this stuff. Stop the blaming, there was so much more involved in the economic collapse and you can blame multiple entities. Both parties can take responsibility for the situation we’re in.
I’m going to vote for the party who shows some fiscal responsibility. I’ve been disgusted with the behavior of this congress. I’ll look at the candidates on an individual basis and judge accordingly.
Posted by: ktm21 | February 4, 2010, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
This is the most corrupt administraton in American history.
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Compared to Reagan’s? Or Bush’s?
Hahahahahaaha!
Bush had his administration scaring Americans with warnings of a coming ‘mushroom cloud’ from Iraq. What is that? A little fib? Iraq wasn’t even close to having that capability.
Just a little fib I guess . …
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
Tort reform = denial of victim’s rights
Posted by: Flash Override
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
not true! Even liberal California has tort reform.
Posted by: wow | February 4, 2010, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Corpse-man,did he say corpse-man? And he is supposed to be brilliant?He is supposedly a Harvard trained lawyer?And he is supposed to inform us about health matters?Tierra,how do you explain “Corpse-man”? If Bush had said that you would be shouting to the high heavens about how stupid he was.
Posted by: Nephron | February 4, 2010, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
tierra wrote: “many of the component parts of the health care bills are the same as those put forward by Howard Baker and Bob Dole – both Republicans.”
.
And most of the health care bill has provisions in it that would only be supported by communists…. so just because a bill has something that Baker and Dole (both Republicans, whoopee) supported means that everyone is supposed to bend over and take one for “bipartisanship”?
Posted by: gk | February 4, 2010, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
tort – can refer to a “wrongful or illegal act.” Or, in the sense we are often using the term now “Legal compensation for the illegal act.” TORT REFORM refers to the tightening of the procedures for obtaining compensation.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
tierra wrote: “The Bush administration added as much to the national debt as almost all the other administrations in history combined.”
.
So if the supposed Bush debt is what has you lefties all wee-wee’d up, then you think you’d be going ballistic over the debt that oBama has in store for you. But you’re not, and that tells us all we need to know.
.
“The problem with collapsed economies is they put extreme strain on government programs and strip out tax revenue – adding up to deficits.”
.
When my “revenue” is under severe strain relative to my expenses, I have no choice but to cut my expenses to make things balance out. If I ran my household like the lefties want to run the government, I would take up bank robbery to reduce the extreme strain.
Posted by: gk | February 4, 2010, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
And most of the health care bill has provisions in it that would only be supported by communists….
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Again, complete nonsense . .. most industrialized western democracies have ‘universal coverage’ and their plans are not ‘communist’ except to someone looking for scare tactics and fear mongering.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
Nephron – Obama REPEATED the wrong pronunciation THREE TIMES. He is the top military officer and pronounces corps as corpse.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
Corpse-man:how do you explain it tierra?
Posted by: Nephron | February 4, 2010, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
So if the supposed Bush debt is what has you lefties all wee-wee’d up
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You don’t understand the difference?
The Bush Republicans promised ‘smaller government’ and ‘the elimination of the deficit’ and then rang up record deficits and record national debt . ..
And they did this during ‘good’ economic times when government programs were not under strain and an economic collapse had not stripped out tax revenues.
During ‘good’ economic times, you’re supposed to be saving up for a rainy day, not blowing your wad on the taxpayers’ credit cards.
That was the Republican administration under Bush. You’d have to have the attention span of a fruit fly to think they have any kind of answers.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
“Most industrialized western democracies have universal health coverage.” Right – and where do their patients come to when they can’t get service in their own country???? Duh.
Posted by: Manitu | February 4, 2010, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
tierra wrote: “Again, complete nonsense . .. most industrialized western democracies have ‘universal coverage’ and their plans are not ‘communist’ except to someone looking for scare tactics and fear mongering.”
.
So you think that forcing someone under the penalty of fines and even jail time for not purchasing the DEMOCRAT mandated health coverage is something that freedom loving Americans can wrap their arms around?
Posted by: gk | February 4, 2010, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
Posted by: gk | Feb 4, 2010 11:14:43 PM
Gee gk, you seem to have overlooked a key part of the quote . .
“In terms of lobbyists, I can stand here unequivocally and say that there has not been an administration who was tougher on making sure that lobbyists weren’t participating in the administration than any administration that’s come before us.
“There have been a handful of waivers where somebody is highly skilled — for example, a doctor who ran Tobacco-Free Kids technically is a registered lobbyist; on the other end, has more experience than anybody in figuring out how kids don’t get hooked on cigarettes.
“So there have been a couple of instances like that, but generally we’ve been very consistent on that front.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
“Most industrialized western democracies have universal health coverage.” Right – and where do their patients come to when they can’t get service in their own country?
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Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
-”Most industrialized western democracies have universal health coverage.” Right – and where do their patients come to when they can’t get service in their own country???? Duh.-
That guy from Newfoundland is just vititing friends!
Posted by: Maple Leaves | February 4, 2010, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
That guy from Newfoundland is just vititing friends!
Posted by: Maple Leaves | Feb 4, 2010 11:27:36 PM
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So what? Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
So you think that forcing someone under the penalty of fines and even jail time for not purchasing the DEMOCRAT mandated health coverage is something that freedom loving Americans can wrap their arms around?
———————–
At least you didn’t use the word tax. Thanks.
Posted by: Dr. Barry | February 4, 2010, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
So what? Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
But Michael Moore said Canada was the best. It was in a movie. You’re saying it isn’t?
Posted by: Maple Leaves | February 4, 2010, 11:30 pm 11:30 pm
how is health care bankrupting the country?
Posted by: wow | February 4, 2010, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
tierra wrote:”"There have been a handful of waivers where somebody is highly skilled — for example, a doctor who ran Tobacco-Free Kids technically is a registered lobbyist;”
.
Highly skilled huh? I guess that’s why we have Mark Patterson who was a lobbyist for Goldman Sachs or Cecilia Munoz who was a lobbyist for La Raza or Patrick Gaspard who was a lobbyist for SEIU. Why, we even had Tom Daschle who never even bothered to register as a lobbyist while trying to get favors for his clients in the health care business. What exactly was their skills that got them a waiver?
Posted by: gk | February 4, 2010, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
—-
What system are you referring to? SS, the USPS, Fannie and Freddie…Please be specific. And bankrupting? You tell Barry to keep digging…
Posted by: Shovel | February 4, 2010, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
So what? Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
But Michael Moore said Canada was the best. It was in a movie. You’re saying it isn’t?
Posted by: Maple Leaves | Feb 4, 2010 11:30:50 PM
_____________________________________
Your inability to understand the english language does not affect the legitimacy of my argument.
“Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
“What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
Highly skilled huh? I guess that’s why we have Mark Patterson who was a lobbyist for Goldman Sachs or Cecilia Munoz who was a lobbyist for La Raza or Patrick Gaspard who was a lobbyist for SEIU. Why, we even had Tom Daschle who never even bothered to register as a lobbyist while trying to get favors for his clients in the health care business. What exactly was their skills that got them a waiver?
I’m glad you didn’t mention that secret meeting with Big Pharma. People might think I was doing stuff behind closed doors.
Posted by: Dr. Barry | February 4, 2010, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
Posted by: gk | Feb 4, 2010 11:31:31 PM
Like the President said . . a handful of waivers.
You apparently have no idea of how many lobbyists were in the previous administration – and how impressively that has been contained.
That’s your bias showing.
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
“Your inability to understand the english language does not affect the legitimacy of my argument.”
Right. How come you haven’t moved to Toronto?
Posted by: Maple Leaves | February 4, 2010, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
My friend has been unemployed and uninsured for over six months now. We went to dinner yesterday at McDonalds, having a Big Mac and a 1/4 pounder. It was a unique dinner. He asked me to pray for him since he lost his jobs and say grace before we eat. I told him that it’s better for me to pray with him than for him: “Father, forgive Mr. Obama, for he knows not what he has done and about to do”.
Posted by: young_voter | February 4, 2010, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
And it is bankrupting the country.”
You don’t say?
From abc…
part of a record $3.8 trillion budget that would boost the deficit beyond any in the nation’s history while only slowly beginning to put Americans back to work.
If Congress goes along with Obama’s election-year plan, the nation would still end the year with unemployment pushing double digits at 9.8 percent and this year’s pool of government red ink deepening to $1.56 trillion under the administration’s accounting.
Posted by: Beijing Banker | February 4, 2010, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
You apparently have no idea of how many lobbyists were in the previous administration – and how impressively that has been contained.
That’s your bias showing.
Ah oui! Plouffe! Uh, I mean touche!
Posted by: Francois | February 4, 2010, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
“Your inability to understand the english language does not affect the legitimacy of my argument.”
Right. How come you haven’t moved to Toronto?
Posted by: Maple Leaves | Feb 4, 2010 11:37:02 PM
_______________________________________
Again . . . read it slowly so the comprehension comes through; it’s not that complicated.
“Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
“What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
“What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.”
Weird. I’m not rich, but my healthcare is damn good. I also pay taxes. Must be one of a kind!
Posted by: Lucky Clover | February 4, 2010, 11:45 pm 11:45 pm
Again . . . read it slowly so the comprehension comes through; it’s not that complicated.
Sure. Like I said, why haven’t you moved? Wait, you must be rich! Share, share!
Posted by: Maple Leaves | February 4, 2010, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Weird. I’m not rich, but my healthcare is damn good. I also pay taxes. Must be one of a kind!
Posted by: Lucky Clover | Feb 4, 2010 11:45:48 PM
___________________________________
Read it again slowly. . . it’s not that difficult to comprehend.
“Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
“What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.”
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
“What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.”
______________________________________
we can all read it. it just doesn’t make any sense.
Posted by: wow | February 4, 2010, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
wow,
She’s really rich. Be nice and she’ll help you out with your healthcare.
Posted by: Lucky Clover | February 4, 2010, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
I’m never wrong!
Posted by: M. Moore | February 4, 2010, 11:52 pm 11:52 pm
Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
____________________________________
Which part of it don’t you understand?
Posted by: tierra | February 4, 2010, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
tierra,
Tell me you live in Brooklyn. I’ve got a bridge for sale. Great view, classic design, great part of town too. I’ll make a great profit and I will give some of the money to those in need. ‘Course I gotta payoff that guy Vinne who I owe money too, but hey, whadda guy!
Posted by: Sal | February 4, 2010, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
Which part of it don’t you understand?
—
So health insurance companies are going broke? Or is the federal gov’t going broke? If the Feds can’t run the USPS for a profit, why should they run healthcare (or car companies).
Posted by: ? | February 4, 2010, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
So health insurance companies are going broke? Or is the federal gov’t going broke?
____________________________________
Yes, the poor health insurance companies are going broke? Have you not studied this issue at all?
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 12:00 am 12:00 am
Yes, the poor health insurance companies are going broke?
Which ones? And how’s the USPS doing?
Posted by: ? | February 5, 2010, 12:02 am 12:02 am
why should they run healthcare
Posted by: ?
that’s not what healthcare/insurance reform is about….. it’s a nice republican throw away line, but hardly accurate
Posted by: Rex | February 5, 2010, 12:04 am 12:04 am
If the Feds can’t run the USPS for a profit, why should they run healthcare (or car companies).
Posted by: ?
makes one wonder why Bush, aka ‘the Feds’ had to sub contract out 2 wars and refused to rely on the American military humiliating them in the eyes of the world.
Posted by: IOU | February 5, 2010, 12:08 am 12:08 am
that’s not what healthcare/insurance reform is about….. it’s a nice republican throw away line, but hardly accurate
What’s it about? Maybe Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are fine examples of Federal success. What could go wrong?
Posted by: Orszag | February 5, 2010, 12:08 am 12:08 am
“that’s not what healthcare/insurance reform is about….. it’s a nice republican throw away line, but hardly accurate”.
.
Sure it is. Government has proven that they are not good stewards of the taxpayer dollar. If they insist on proceeding anyway, then you can rest assured that the program will be buried in fraud, waste, and abuse. There are already hundreds of examples of this staring you in the face.
Posted by: gk | February 5, 2010, 12:09 am 12:09 am
makes one wonder why Bush, aka ‘the Feds’ had to sub contract out 2 wars and refused to rely on the American military humiliating them in the eyes of the world.
True. FedEx and UPS have got nothing on the Post Office.
Posted by: In the Rain, Snow, Night... | February 5, 2010, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Again, you right wingers miss the point . . .
Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
————————–
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 12:16 am 12:16 am
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
My dad is old and sick and has a plan as good as mine. He pays the bill too. Of course, we didn’t get into debt like some people have who are irresponsible and don’t plan ahead… Anyway, like you were asked, what health insurance companies are going broke or in debt?
Posted by: ? | February 5, 2010, 12:22 am 12:22 am
Libs…stifle it! I don’t want to hear
your screams as you relive the “silence
of the lambs” metaphor in November.
You chose it…..you OWN it when it
fails. The “Obama Experiment” is coming
to a history book soon….for those of
you that can read at a 4th grade level.
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | February 5, 2010, 12:26 am 12:26 am
those damaged in the military.
Good news! This institution was just created:
“VA provides a Medical Benefits Package to all enrolled Veterans. This comprehensive plan provides a full range of preventive outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system. Also, once you enroll in the VA’s health care system, you can be seen at any VA facility across the country.”
Posted by: Corpseman | February 5, 2010, 12:26 am 12:26 am
Anyway, like you were asked, what health insurance companies are going broke or in debt?
______________________________________
As far as I know, health insurance companies are not going broke – they are skimming off the cream from the young, the employed and the healthy.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 12:37 am 12:37 am
.for those of
you that can read at a 4th grade level.
Posted by: Sir Toby Belch | Feb 5, 2010 12:26:11 AM
__________________________________
The level of discourse from the Republican right.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 12:40 am 12:40 am
Yes, the poor health insurance companies are going broke? Have you not studied this issue at all?
vs.
As far as I know, health insurance companies are not going broke – they are skimming off the cream from the young, the employed and the healthy.
Which one?
Posted by: ? | February 5, 2010, 1:00 am 1:00 am
How terribly sad the president would use the tragic story of a woman who died from breast cancer when it appears the president is doing all he can to prevent passage of health care reform that would benefit other breast cancer patients.
Oh no you didn’t, Mr. President. I’m almost ashamed to be a Democrat after that story.
Posted by: Betsy McCall | February 5, 2010, 1:10 am 1:10 am
Yes, the poor health insurance companies are going broke? Have you not studied this issue at all?
vs.
As far as I know, health insurance companies are not going broke – they are skimming off the cream from the young, the employed and the healthy.
Which one?
Posted by: ? | Feb 5, 2010 1:00:38 AM
___________________________________
You’re left to figure it out all on your own. I’m sure you can handle it. Here’s a clue – which one has a question mark at the end?
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 1:11 am 1:11 am
How terribly sad the president would use the tragic story of a woman who died from breast cancer
Posted by: Betsy McCall | Feb 5, 2010 1:10:17 AM
_____________________________________
No, its not tragic. It will be tragic if no health insurance reform comes out of this.
You in favour of the public option? “Betsy”?
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 1:18 am 1:18 am
You’re left to figure it out all on your own. I’m sure you can handle it. Here’s a clue – which one has a question mark at the end?
How’s the Federal Gov’t doing?
Posted by: Timmy G. | February 5, 2010, 1:18 am 1:18 am
You’re left to figure it out all on your own. I’m sure you can handle it. Here’s a clue – which one has a question mark at the end?
And who’s bankrupt? Which system?
Posted by: ? | February 5, 2010, 1:21 am 1:21 am
How’s the Federal Gov’t doing?
Posted by: Timmy G. | Feb 5, 2010 1:18:54 AM
_________________________________
Nobody said the American system doesn’t work for those with wealth, or excellent coverage that hasn’t been denied or cut off by the insurance companies.
What it doesn’t work for is everybody else and the taxpayer – the system is going broke as is. And it is bankrupting the country.
————————–
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 1:22 am 1:22 am
No, its not tragic. It will be tragic if no health insurance reform comes out of this.
You in favour of the public option? “Betsy”?
————-
I can’t wait for your charity. I say at least another 30% of your taxes. I am an indigent who lives on the street!
Posted by: Not Betsy | February 5, 2010, 1:22 am 1:22 am
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
Read that before…Now please tell me how the Federal gov’t is doing debt wise. I read a recent article form just the other day.
Posted by: Timmy G. | February 5, 2010, 1:24 am 1:24 am
I can’t wait for your charity. I say at least another 30% of your taxes. I am an indigent who lives on the street!
Posted by: Not Betsy | Feb 5, 2010 1:22:48 AM
_____________________________________
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
And it is bankrupting the country.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 1:26 am 1:26 am
As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
And it is bankrupting the country.
—-
Different, but the same! Wait, just the same:(
Posted by: Cuttin Paste | February 5, 2010, 1:28 am 1:28 am
Posted by: tierra | Feb 5, 2010 1:26:04 AM
So you won’t help me? Your generosity would be a great example.
Posted by: Not Betsy | February 5, 2010, 1:30 am 1:30 am
When the enormous debt (created by Republicans, Democrats, Mr. Bush, but really exploded by Mr. Obama) comes due, the effects on everyone of us will be terrible. Don’t think you will escape, no one will. We must act now to stop this madness.
Posted by: Quo Warranto | February 5, 2010, 1:50 am 1:50 am
When the enormous debt (created by Republicans, Democrats, Mr. Bush, but really exploded by Mr. Obama)
_______________________________________
Every western industrialized country has been running deficit funding because of the economic crash. Bush had no such excuse for doubling the national debt.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 1:53 am 1:53 am
yes we all know Bush faced no challenges during his administration…that’s a rather warped version of history but i’m sure that’s the intent.
Posted by: wow | February 5, 2010, 2:07 am 2:07 am
yes we all know Bush faced no challenges during his administration…that’s a rather warped version of history but i’m sure that’s the intent.
Posted by: wow | Feb 5, 2010 2:07:56 AM
____________________________________
That’s surely not what I meant.
“When the enormous debt (created by Republicans, Democrats, Mr. Bush, but really exploded by Mr. Obama)
_______________________________________
Every western industrialized country has been running deficit funding because of the economic crash. Bush had no such excuse for doubling the national debt.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 2:11 am 2:11 am
The last thing I will say, though — let me say this about health care and the health care debate, because I think it also bears on a whole lot of other issues. If you look at the package that we’ve presented — and there’s some stray cats and dogs that got in there that we were eliminating, we were in the process of eliminating. For example, we said from the start that it was going to be important for us to be consistent in saying to people if you can have your — if you want to keep the health insurance you got, you can keep it, that you’re not going to have anybody getting in between you and your doctor in your decision making. And I think that some of the provisions that got snuck in might have violated that pledge. —-Barack Hussein Obama
Posted by: Ferrari5858 | February 5, 2010, 3:21 am 3:21 am
If you look at the package that we’ve presented — and there’s some stray cats and dogs that got in there that we were eliminating, we were in the process of eliminating. —-Barack Hussein Obama
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 5:44 am 5:44 am
If you look at the package that we’ve presented — and there’s some stray cats and dogs that got in there that we were eliminating, we were in the process of eliminating. —-Barack Hussein Obama
—-
And I’m sure you honestly believe that. Obama had his chance to work for an honest bill that people would support. For a number of reasons, he thought the US was brimming with more Obama worshippers. He was badly mistaken. Or they woke up when they realized what he was actually advocating. Cherry-picking his words can not change the FACT that the US doesn’t want his health care, with or without the “cats and dogs”. Congress is in shambles today and the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of Barack Hussein Obama. Dems, as a whole, and in Congress, do not trust Barack Hussein Obama. Inds really don’t trust Barack Hussein Obama.
The US’ refuge could lie in the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is too arrogant to see that reality.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 5, 2010, 6:44 am 6:44 am
What happened to:
- this is an emergency, it must be
passed by September
- the economy will collapse if we don’t
pass this bill right now
This guy is a piece of work.. he obviously doesn’t understand the congress or the U.S. citizens.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | February 5, 2010, 8:16 am 8:16 am
It is no longer possible for Obama to talk health care. There are too many more pressing issues to be dealt with, which have gotten zero attention from the administration.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 5, 2010, 9:18 am 9:18 am
It’s an obvious move now for Obama to call their bluff. It should become apparent pretty quickly that the Republicans have no intention whatsoever to reform healthcare in any way. Everything they’ve done and said so far has been just stalling tactics; they’re operating exclusively in the interests of the insurance industry.
Posted by: Skip | February 5, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Mr. Obama dallies while the national debt skyrockets. There is going to be a bad ending for all, no one will escape the harsh consequences.
Blame whoever you want, but the time for action is now, before it’s too late. The man in the White House is Mr. Obama. He needs to quit carping about the problems he inherited and start doing something about them.
Posted by: Quo Warranto | February 5, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Republicans have no intention whatsoever to reform healthcare in any way.
—
Or anything else. However, I’ll acknowledge Republicans aren’t the only problem– and they likely think they make sense.
Krugman gets it right on the whole Republican mindset that Dems sometimes buy into–
“To me — and I’m not alone in this — the sudden outbreak of deficit hysteria brings back memories of the groupthink that took hold during the run-up to the Iraq war. Now, as then, dubious allegations, not backed by hard evidence, are being reported as if they have been established beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now, as then, much of the political and media establishments have bought into the notion that we must take drastic action quickly, even though there hasn’t been any new information to justify this sudden urgency. Now, as then, those who challenge the prevailing narrative, no matter how strong their case and no matter how solid their background, are being marginalized.”
Meanwhile, per TP, “health care spending grew to be 17.3 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2009 — a 1.1 percentage point rise — despite the economic recession. The increase was the largest in a single year since 1960, according to the new report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. By 2019, health care spending is anticipated to be represent 19.3 percent of the economy.”
Posted by: progressive mama | February 5, 2010, 9:40 am 9:40 am
“Mr. Obama dallies while the national debt skyrockets”
See? Only a right-winger could characterize working on healthcare reform as dallying.
Posted by: Skip | February 5, 2010, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Healthcare does need attention but just break it down one piece at a time and move on. Pick those things with the broadest consensus. Trying to keep that monstrosity of a health bill that only people who were exempted from it would support is indeed dallying.
Posted by: GO | February 5, 2010, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Sadly to hear Repblicans talk about health reform is a joke. For 8 years they had little interest in the health of the American people. The health care is now a buzzword word. For 8 years the previous administration under Bush had no real interest in health care. The Nation has a serious diabetes problem that got worst under Bush’s administration. I congratulate Obama for actually moving on the issue.
Posted by: Scott | February 5, 2010, 10:30 am 10:30 am
I congratulate Obama for actually moving on the issue.
——
You’d better pay up then. Why wait until 2014? Oh wait, found this…
“As it stands right now, the health insurance companies skim off the cream from insuring the young, the employed and the healthy – leaving the tax payer to foot the bill for the old, the sick, the indigent and those damaged in the military.
And it is bankrupting the country.”
What’s the line for the day?
Posted by: New Original | February 5, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Posted by: Scott | Feb 5, 2010 10:30:18 AM
Nothing a meeting with Big Pharma can’t help!
Posted by: Rx | February 5, 2010, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Sadly 2 wars did this to this country. As George Bush went crazy for Sadam Hussain.
1 trillion dollars spent on war that could have help people right in this country. Chasing”bad guys” all over the world while the USA became a weak financial disaster,
Bush,Powell,Rumfield and the rest were always more concerned with running other countries than their own. This is why we have a health care problem
Posted by: Scott | February 5, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
First of all, Obama should stop talking like an emperor of USA, by ordering his party’s lawmakers to pass the health care bill. He should recognize that his party have suffered a humiliating defeats in recent elections in VA, NJ and MA. Now it is the election year, the lawmakers are becoming more sensitive to the opinion of their constituencies, and the health care bills passed by the house and senate have insolvable differences. Even the senate bill passed earlier can not hold today as it is because some Dem. senators have back out of Reid’s notorious bribery offer and the Rep. now have votes to fillbuster the bill. Speaker Pelosi believes that she could not get enough votes in the house, after the bill is merged with the senate bill.
Posted by: austin | February 5, 2010, 11:00 am 11:00 am
There is no way moderate Democrats in the House or Senate back health care as it stands now. Passing it in bipartisan chunks is the only possibility.
Posted by: matt | February 5, 2010, 11:04 am 11:04 am
Obama said “still fired up and still ready to go”. Why doesn’t he talk this way about creating jobs?
According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, the American people want the government to focus this year on the economy, creating jobs, and fighting terrorism; health care reform is ranked 8. Why Obama gets “fired up” about health care Americans are wanting jobs FIRST.
Obama is so out of touch with us that he is solely responsible for Scott Brown’s victory in Mass. Obama’s blame Bush is full while his fix the economy box is empty and collecting dust.
By ignoring the needs of Americans Obama is revealing his true colors: a thinly disguised dictator.
Posted by: EPU | February 5, 2010, 11:14 am 11:14 am
“Healthcare does need attention but just break it down one piece at a time and move on. Pick those things with the broadest consensus. Trying to keep that monstrosity of a health bill that only people who were exempted from it would support is indeed dallying”
That’s the whole problem: When you visit these issues one at a time you get consensus, but when you put them all together you get– TA DAH– the healthcare reform bill, that Republicans have been able to scare people away from as being a “monstrosity”. It’s purely a propaganda war for the Republicans. They aren’t really interested in putting together any kind of reform. So who are really the ones who are dallying here?
Posted by: Skip | February 5, 2010, 11:25 am 11:25 am
According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, the American people want the government to focus this year on:
1. the economy
2. creating jobs, and
3. fighting terrorism;
health care reform is ranked 8.
So why does Obama give a big pep rally to the Democrats telling them to stay “fired up” about health care and not the economy? Obama says, “The forces of the status quo may not give an inch, but we will not give an inch.”
Obama’s purpose is clear: he didn’t become president to serve the American people. He became president because America is his little experimental pet project – and we are his guinea pigs.
When he refers to the American people as “the status quo” he isn’t representing us. When he refers to addressing the needs of Americans by focusing so much attention and energy on an issue ranked #8, by saying “we will not give an inch”. Obama then simply ceases to represent America. Obama chooses to keep us cornered like a rat and toy around with us with his personal pet projects – all against our will.
He isn’t a public servant he is an outright dictator.
Posted by: EPU | February 5, 2010, 11:35 am 11:35 am
===we were in the process of eliminating. —-Barack Hussein Obama===
No they weren’t. They were trying to get the danged thing passed before it came undone. I hate lying liars.
Posted by: Axey | February 5, 2010, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Obama told the Democrats, “we didn’t come this far to put things off, or to play it safe. We didn’t do all this work to take the easy road to get to the next election.”
Americans want the president to focus on the economy and Obama knows this. But health care is his priority not ours. His statement is telling his Democrat servants to ram through health care for him not for America. He is telling his democrat servants to join him in taking a kamikaze plunge and kiss your political career goodbye.
So we can now add democrat political careers to the list of what Obama has destroyed.
Posted by: EPU | February 5, 2010, 11:48 am 11:48 am
“health care reform is ranked 8″
So if healthcare reform ranks at #8 we should all just forget about it altogether despite the fact that healthcare costs are going to have a detrimental effect on the economy, which ranks at #1. -How convenient for the insurance companies.
Posted by: Skip | February 5, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am
By ignoring the needs of Americans Obama is revealing his true colors: a thinly disguised dictator.
Dude, he can’t even keep Reid in line. or Rahmmy. I can smell the weakness…
Posted by: Off Shore | February 5, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Jonathan Chait has a good article posted called “Decoding Obama’s Health Care Plan”:
“I think Obama sees the perception that the process is broken — that it’s backroom deals and “ignoring the will of the people” — to be the biggest impediment to passage of the bill. So he’s proposing a remedy to that perception.
The most important part is what Obama says should happen first: Democrats should settle their differences and work out a final bill. That’s crucial. Then he wants to sit down with both parties, and health care experts, and walk through the details in a methodical way. I’d guess he’s imagining a process that might look a little like his back-and-forth with House Republicans — they present him with wild claims about a government takeover, and he calmly responds. They insist that their ideas are better, and he gets to show that they’re not. Then you vote. …Obama gets to demonstrate that the plan he has is the product of having considered all the alternatives and arriving at the best way to solve the problem, not just cooking up a backroom deal. The idea seems to be to use his wonky, technocratic style to counteract the process-based objections and sell the bill.
Another key element of Obama’s remarks is his insistence that Congress actually have a vote….He’s saying that Congress can’t just ignore the issue and let it die in quiet….these remarks suggest a deep commitment to success and a pretty smart plan for making it happen.”
I think Chait has it right, and I hope the Dems can do their part to get this done.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 5, 2010, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
So if healthcare reform ranks at #8 we should all just forget about it altogether despite the fact that healthcare costs are going to have a detrimental effect on the economy..
———–
Doesn’t make any sense at all, which is typical. Btw, naysayers, it helps with jobs, too, which is number two.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 5, 2010, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Doesn’t make any sense at all, which is typical. Btw, naysayers, it helps with jobs, too, which is number two.
Just the the stimulus! Oh, wait…
Posted by: The Usual | February 5, 2010, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Skip: “So if healthcare reform ranks at #8 we should all just forget about it altogether despite the fact that healthcare costs are going to have a detrimental effect on the economy, which ranks at #1. -How convenient for the insurance companies.”
Of course we shouldn’t forget about health care, but let’s not falsely inflate it’s importance to number 1 again like the president did last year. The further the government entrenches itself into health care, the more expensive it becomes. Focus on the costs, including tort reform for example, not taking over the whole industry as Obama and liberals would like.
The fact that the economy is number 1 and jobs is number 2 isn’t convenient for insurance companies — people buy less of everything, including health care and insurance, during rough economic times. It is certainly not convenient for the American people either. Unfortunately, it took a whole year for the president to get the message in the form of losing Ted Kennedy’s longly-held liberal seat as well as his super-majority — it’s the economy stupid! Yet, his solutions are sadly always the same — spend, spend, spend! November and 2012 can’t come soon enough!
Posted by: Anonymous | February 5, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
The coming debt tidal wave will swamp heath care and every other government program. It’s going to get very bad, and no one will escape the consequences, especially those that depend on the government for their sustenance.
Now is the time for drastic action, but Mr. Obama does not act. Months from now, we will look back and wonder how he could have been so blind.
Posted by: Quo Warranto | February 5, 2010, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Funny how the approach has turned to “let’s sit down, take our time, then move forward on a vote”. Just 2 months ago, if the healthcare bill DIDN’T pass, we were told that THOUSANDS of uninsured people were going to die. We were told that the Republicans wanted us to “get sick and die”. Remember that? It was an urgent passage…one that we couldn’t go another day without. Then, the American public spoke. They spoke through the vote in Massachusetts, putting Scott Brown in, and effectively saying “no, we don’t want THIS healthcare bill”. Of course the majority of folks in this country would like to see reform. That DOES NOT mean they want THIS bill.
So, what was once the bill we could not live without, has now become the bill that can wait. Funny how one little election can make such a BIG impact.
BTW, Obama was just yesterday making a big deal of the two parties getting along, working together, passing legislation, etc. Today I just read an article that Patrick Kennedy says Scott Brown’s election (and earlier swearing in) are a “joke”. Boy, one of the members of the “first family of Democrats” just took a shot at the Republican. Any comments Mr. Obama?
Posted by: Shoe | February 5, 2010, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Hey Mr President Oduma go baCK TO SCHOOL learn economics.study the US CONSTITUTION. Its no wonder your grades and records are hidden.
Posted by: Joeray | February 5, 2010, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
===we were in the process of eliminating. —-Barack Hussein Obama===
No they weren’t. They were trying to get the danged thing passed before it came undone. I hate lying liars.
Posted by: Axey | Feb 5, 2010 11:44:29 AM
___________________________________
Yes they were. They were in the process of reconciliation and they were discarding some things, keeping others. The President was having direct input.
Posted by: tierra | February 5, 2010, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
ObamaCare is Dead.
Cap and Trade is Dead.
Card Check is Dead.
Congratulations Obama, on becoming the fastest President to reach Lame Duck status.
Heckuva job, Barry.
Posted by: Obamatopia | February 5, 2010, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
The American people have carefully considered Obamacare and have resoundingly, thumpingly rejected it. His agenda is in tatters, because the people are strongly opposed to every shred of it.
We right-wingers are rubbing our hands together with glee, just waiting for the first Tuesday in November. How ’bout you goofballs? You excited?
Remember the stupes who told us that VA and NJ meant nothing, and the only thing that mattered was NY-23? Hey folks, life’s tough, but it’s a lot tougher if you’re stupid.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | February 5, 2010, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Hey folks, life’s tough, but it’s a lot tougher if you’re stupid.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Feb 5, 2010 2:55:05 PM
Sounds like this is advise from someone who’s been there, done that and is ready to give it another go. The same old, same old. If the multitudes follow you off a cliff, does that REALLY make you all that much brighter than you were the last time? Still following the same pied pipers. Its sad and I’m sick of watching the same morons try to ruin the country, but I’m not giving up. When it comes to November, I say bring it on.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 5, 2010, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Hey, “Mama,” how you doin’v
Hate to disappoint you, but I didn’t go off any cliff, and I didn’t ask anybody to follow me, nor did I follow anyone else. I vote for candidates according to how much they will leave us alone.
When those candidates win, I increase my already substantial wealth. I don’t harm anyone; I just prosper by doing things that people are happy to pay me for. When your candidates win, I don’t do anything at all– I just sit back and laugh.
Too bad if you went off a cliff. You must be exceptionally stupid.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | February 5, 2010, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Too bad if you went off a cliff. You must be exceptionally stupid.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Feb 5, 2010 3:37:20 PM
If it makes you feel special to think so, go for it. No skin off me. I didn’t catch it in the first post, but now that I get it I actually find your parodies of a wealthy right wing Republican “big shot” very humorous.
As if.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 5, 2010, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
The President was having direct input.
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Which president was having direct input? According to Obama, he wasn’t.
Reality sucks.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 5, 2010, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
Obama on Health Care: Let’s Sit Down, Take Our Time, Then Move Forward on a Vote.
Obama blaming congress for NO Health Care (and trying to keep their jobs): “And it may be that … if Congress decides we’re not going to do it, even after all the facts are laid out, all the options are clear, then the American people can make a judgment as to whether this Congress has done the right thing for them or not,” the president said. “And that’s how democracy works. There will be elections coming up, and they’ll be able to make a determination and register their concerns.”
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Yes We Can!
Yes We Can!
Yes We Can!
Posted by: smartlillena | February 5, 2010, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Perhaps Ms Miller should have pointed out(and somebody should have told our Pres.)that current health care plans no longer allow mammograms for women under 50 years of age. So sadly for this women at 42 she would not have qualified for testing even if she had health care.
Posted by: geow | February 5, 2010, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
So if healthcare reform ranks at #8 we should all just forget about it altogether despite the fact that healthcare costs are going to have a detrimental effect on the economy, which ranks at #1. -How convenient for the insurance companies.
Posted by: Skip | Feb 5, 2010 11:58:01 AM
==================
How do health care costs have a detrimental effect on the economy?
Posted by: Woody | February 6, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
So if healthcare reform ranks at #8 we should all just forget about it altogether …
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We should put it in the #8 spot in line and allow obama’s legacy to take care of itself. Or it will take care of obama’s legacy all by itself.
Posted by: smartlillena | February 6, 2010, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm