Obama Delays Asia Trip (Again) for Health Care Vote
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller:
The White House announced today that President Obama will postpone his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, due to health care bill hanging in the balance.
The president was to have left for nearly a week-long trip on Sunday morning– but as the House moves towards what looks like a Sunday afternoon vote, the White House said today the president will delay his trip.
“The president is pleased that the House will soon post the health care legislation on the internet and that a final vote is coming,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said today, “Since the House rules rightly provide for a 72 hour public review period, it is clear that a final vote for health insurance reform cannot take place before Sunday afternoon.”
Mr. Obama called the president of Indonesia, and will call the leader of Australia later this afternoon, to inform them that he must postpone his visit for a later date, “in order to remain in Washington for this critical vote,” Gibbs said.
The president is expected to now visit Indonesia and Australia in June.
“The president greatly regrets the delay,” Gibbs added, “The president believes right now the place for him to be right now is in Washington seeing this though.”
This is the second time the president has delayed this specific trip – earlier this week the trip was moved back three days, to allow for the president to help make the last-minute pitch for reform, as well as reaching out to specific members of Congress.
Gibbs said with the extra time the president will continue to work the phones rallying up support for the bill.
-Sunlen Miller
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
“The president is expected to now visit Indonesia and Australia in June.”
Yay! Now the family can join him! We taxpayers love subsidizing vacations for our political elite!
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
A current example of how the government stiffs private companies and doctors. Will Obamacare fix this problem? (A: No, Obamacare will make things much worse)
The Seattle Times
Effective April 16, Walgreens drugstores across the state won’t take any new Medicaid patients, saying that filling their prescriptions is a money-losing proposition — the latest development in an ongoing dispute over Medicaid reimbursement.
The company, which operates 121 stores in the state, will continue filling Medicaid prescriptions for current patients.
In a news release, Walgreens said its decision to not take new Medicaid patients stemmed from a “continued reduction in reimbursement” under the state’s Medicaid program, which reimburses it at less than the break-even point for 95 percent of brand-name medications dispensed to Medicaid patents.
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Limited Vote Raises Constitutional Questions…
Court Of appeals Judge:
WILL NOT STAND A LEGAL CHALLENGE
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Idaho first to sign law to sue fed gov’t over healthcare; 37 other states consider…
AMERICA VS OBAMA
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
Well maybe he has to give some of the congressmen joy rides on Air-force One to change their vote. Like Dennis Kucinich, pretty cheap if you ask me for a vote.
Posted by: Lizzie | March 18, 2010, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
Sure…..rob from the seniors, and claim it is a “savings” ten years down the road.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 18, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Sure…..rob from the seniors, and claim it is a “savings” ten years down the road.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Mar 18, 2010 1:59:38 PM
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Here we go with the ‘kill Granny’ type nonsense again . .. they’re actually ‘robbing’ from the insurance companies on the Medicare savings – and distributing it to seniors via filling the prescription medicine donut and extending the viability of the program.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
The OFA employee assigned to this blog has arrived…
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
The OFA employee assigned to this blog has arrived…
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 18, 2010 2:12:34 PM
_________________________________
As is often the case, you’re wrong . . .
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Tierra, this legislation affects US citizens. Nobody here cares what Canadian citizens pretending to be US citizens think.
Posted by: Mary | March 18, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Tierra, this legislation affects US citizens. Nobody here cares what Canadian citizens pretending to be US citizens think.
Posted by: Mary | Mar 18, 2010 2:17:45 PM
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Another incorrect guess . . . that’s two in a row.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
“Gotta love it how the Republican right attacks the person rather than the discussions points”
Based on your history of posts, there is an expression that includes a pot and a kettle.
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
Obama is probably relieved that he doesn’t have to go.
Muslim students in Indonesia have been throwing shoes at his pictures.
So it’s not just Bush they hate.
Pretty embarrassing for their hometown hero.
Posted by: ollie | March 18, 2010, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
Of course he would cancel his trip why wouldn’t a tyrant miss out on an opportunity to legislate and tax his plebians into submission.
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“tyrant” – wash your mouth out with soap. Tyrant – a cruel and oppressive dictator; you should learn what words mean.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
This is his time.
This is his moment.
How many times has Obama said “seven presidents have tried and failed” to get HCare.
It’s not about the people, it’s about his moment.
Can you imagine the Oscar-worthy performance Obama will give at the signing party?
I bet he’s been practicing in front of the mirror since the Iowa caucus.
Posted by: fran | March 18, 2010, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
Obama is a tyrant. I think the word choice is good.
Posted by: No To Marxism | March 18, 2010, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
The people clearly DO NOT WANT ObamaCare–according to a news outfit that is obviously reputable, since Obama himself just agreed to be interviewed on it.
—As Americans wait for Congress to act on health care, a Fox News poll released Thursday finds 55 PERCENT OPPOSE THE REFORMS BEING CONSIDERED, while 35 percent favor them.
In addition, just over half of voters think House DEMOCRATS ARE “CHANGING THE RULES” to get their bill passed.
About a third of voters (31 percent) think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are “playing by the rules” to get health care through, while 53 percent think they are “changing the rules.” Looking at the results by political party, 53 percent of Democrats think their party is playing by the rules, about one in four think they are changing the rules (27 percent) and the rest are unsure (19 percent). Varying majorities of Republicans (78 percent) and independents (57 percent) think House Democrats are changing the rules to pass the bill.—
Posted by: Slaughter House Rules | March 18, 2010, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Obama is a tyrant. I think the word choice is good.
Posted by: No To Marxism | Mar 18, 2010 2:57:42 PM
______________________________
The President is neither an ‘oppressive dictator’ nor a ‘cruel tyrant’.
He is the democratically elected President of perhaps the world’s greatest democracy.
Your use of language is inflammatory, extremist and inaccurate.
And you attempts to demonize the Democrats and the President are typical Republican right fear and smear campaign hogwash.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Poll: 55% in U.S. Oppose
Health Care — and Rising
As Americans wait for Congress to act on bill, support for plan drops to 35 percent,
OBAMA VS AMERICA
Tyranny in America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Posted by: Slaughter House Rules | Mar 18, 2010 3:04:23 PM
No well-informed person think Faux News is a reputable outfit, though it certainly is an outfit. LOL.
Meanwhile, kudos to the Dems. As Ezra Klein of WaPo puts it after reviewing the CBO scores: “This was a hard bill to write. Pairing the largest coverage increase since the Great Society with the most aggressive cost-control effort isn’t easy. And since the cost controls are complicated, while the coverage increase is straightforward, many people don’t believe that the Democrats have done it. But to a degree unmatched in recent legislative history, they have. ”
In relation to polls, see Chris Cizilla’s take on the five myths over the health care reform debate.
Clearly the country is divided on health care reform. Many people wish the legislation would go even further in a few different directions. But most support several of the provisions within the bill. And those who voted for Obama and Pelosi and other good progressive Democrats want them to keep going and get this thing done.
Its time.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Top Blue Dog: Slaughter solution is ‘poison’…
OBAMA VS AMERICA
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
IT’S STARTING: REGIONAL WALGREENS SAYS ‘NO NEW MEDICAID’…
Idaho first to sign law to sue fed gov’t over healthcare; 37 other states consider…
Virginia will sue…
OBAMA VS AMERICA
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
GALLUP Shocker: OBAMA disapproval 47%
approval 46%
Obama VS America
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | March 18, 2010, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
“This was a hard bill to write. Pairing the largest coverage increase since the Great Society with the most aggressive cost-control effort isn’t easy. And since the cost controls are complicated, while the coverage increase is straightforward, many people don’t believe that the Democrats have done it. But to a degree unmatched in recent legislative history, they have. ”
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Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
“Its time.”
Well if you believe that it’s time to pass this bill and tear the country even further apart (while tying up Congress, the Supreme Court, and state legislatures for YEARS), add BILLIONS more to the national debt, risk our triple-A rating, all while taking attention away from more serious and pressing matters (10% unemployment, Iraq on verge of obtaining nuclear weapon, the exploding national debt, lousy primary/secondary education systems, etc.), then yes, it’s time.
Progressives: Ideology first, country second.
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
(10% unemployment, Iraq on verge of obtaining nuclear weapon, the exploding national debt, lousy primary/secondary education systems, etc.), then yes, it’s time.
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Gee, I wonder how things got like this? Iraq’s secret nuclear facility developed on the Republican president’s watch, the collapse of the economy on the Republican president’s watch, the national debt doubled on the Republican president’s watch (plus the collapse of the economy), the crumby school system after 8 years of a Republican president . . . isn’t it about time the Republican right shut up and let the elected government get on with its job?
You had your chance and we saw the results. We know your bias – big deal.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 18, 2010 3:31:27 PM
Nice rip off of Tierra. I guess its a form of flattery– you must admire her posts greatly despite your denial (ever hear of protesting too much?)
I’ll stick with T’s version, however.
the scaremongering in your post is pretty hilarious btw. You really have to think about that comedian thing.
(p.s. working the angle you’re going for is a big miss– I think the Republicon action is predictably shrill, hysterical and hypocritical, and I’m not the least bit worried about health care reform tearing the country about. I get great amusement from the temper tantrum — just as long as the legislation passes. If it doesn’t I’ll be calling out some Democrat cowards.)
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
“No well-informed person think Faux News is a reputable outfit,”
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | Mar 18, 2010 3:18:35 PM
Barack Obama obviously does, since he went bowing to them in order to sell his Ponzi scheme on a cable news network which actually gets viewers.
Posted by: Slaughter House Rules | March 18, 2010, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
“You had your chance and we saw the results. We know your bias – big deal.”
Wasn’t The One elected to make things better?
Answer: Yes. Which is why his approval numbers are below the % of (disillusioned) Americans who voted for him.
I could care less about this guy’s party. I care about results. Obama is not delivering (yeah, yeah, Bush Did It!, etc.)
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
The only thing that is bipartisan in D.C. is the quality screw ups.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 18, 2010, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Raising the bar on Republican opposition maneuvers in the Senate, Mr. Coburn on Thursday threatened to put future holds on any Democratic House members who switch their vote in favor of the health care bill, lose their election as a result next November, and then are rewarded with a high-ranking job in the Obama administration.
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LOL!!!! Threatening to do something we all know they’d do ANYWAY given their track record since Obama was inaugurated isn’t a real threat. Who cares?
Well,there are some Dems who aren’t exactly courageous, but on the other side of the coin AFL-CIO has joined SEIU in agreeing to pressure any Dem that is thinking about voting against health care reform– and Move on has agreed to primary anyone who votes against it.
Pressure and hardball tactics all the way around.
Meanwhile, I read that Dennis Kucinich has stepped up and is now helping lobby potential no votes to flip to yes.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Posted by: Noz | Mar 18, 2010 4:12:33 PM
I salute your diligence. The scary thing is that she is probably considered of average/higher intelligence among Progressives…
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
“Meanwhile, I read that Dennis Kucinich has stepped up and is now helping lobby potential no votes to flip to yes.” – Truth has liberal cancer
! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
How desperate do you have to be to get Dennis Kucinich to lobby for your cause?
Hey Truth-hlc, Kucinich might flip more yes votes into noes than the other way around.
Yikes!
Posted by: Noz | March 18, 2010, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
If this health bill passes our country is in big trouble. We DO NOT want this bill rammed down our throats. If Obama and the Dem’s work to pass this bill I can guarentee you this will be the last term in office for all of them. The Dem’s don’t listen to the people. They think by raising taxes, bigger government and pushing their agenda’s our nation’s people will be happy with it and after all “they are speaking for the litgle guy”. No way do you speak for me. If you like your jobs VOTE NO is you don’t listen then be prepared this will be your last term.
Posted by: Karen | March 18, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
“How desperate do you have to be to get Dennis Kucinich to lobby for your cause?
Hey Truth-hlc, Kucinich might flip more yes votes into noes than the other way around.
Yikes!
Posted by: Noz | Mar 18, 2010 4:32:32 PM
In return for his support, did Kucinich require that the healthcare bill cover aliens arriving on UFO’s (which he claims to have seen)?
Posted by: The Price is Right | March 18, 2010, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
Obama continues underwater slide:
Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval
Approve: 46%
Disapprove: 48%
And he sure didn’t do himself any favors on Fox last night….
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
tierra,I think that George Bush did something about Iraq’s secret nuclear facility.Unlike Corpseman Obama,who has done nothing about Iran’s not-so-secret facility.The American people have caught on to this empty suit who compares Katrina to a minor Hawaiian earthquake which did no significant damage.The Democrats are like the Grits- when the media finally reports the truth they will loose everywhere.
Posted by: Nephron | March 18, 2010, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
We DO NOT want this bill rammed down our throats.
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Gotta love it – when its the Republicans doing it, it’s ‘passing legislation’. When the Democrats do it, the bill is being ‘rammed down our throats’.
Since when did passing legislation = ramming down throats? Since the Republican right found their new smear phrase.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
tierra,I think that George Bush did something about Iraq’s secret nuclear facility
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You ‘think’? You don’t think very clearly. Iraq’s secret nuclear facility was developed on the Republican president’s watch (same as North Korea’s first nuclear weapon test was on Bush’s watch), and was uncovered on this President’s watch.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
“Gotta love it – when its the Republicans doing it, it’s ‘passing legislation’. When the Democrats do it, the bill is being ‘rammed down our throats’.”
How about a relevant example, Professor?
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
How about a relevant example, Professor?
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 18, 2010 5:23:47 PM
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This health care legislation is a perfect example. Health care bills were passed by majorities in both the House and the Senate.
Clear majorities.
Now the two bills are being reconciled through a completely legitimate process.
And yet, the new Republican parroted phrase is ‘ram down the throat’ . . .over and over again.
It’s a smear campaign – the usual tactic of the Republicans. Smear and fear campaigns with cheap slogans that attempt to demonize the Democrats and the President.
Legislative process = legislative process.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 5:30 pm 5:30 pm
How desperate do you have to be to get Dennis Kucinich to lobby for your cause?
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I wouldn’t talk about desperate if I was the one squeeeeeeeeing about health care reform that is fiscally responsible and apologizing for the party that had Palin on the ticket in the last presidential GE. But I know the average IQ of conservatives is significantly lower than the average IQ of liberals, per studies. And consistency isn’t a strong point.
Besides all that, Dennis is no more nuts than many of the Republican congress persons (see Michelle Bachmann). We live in a country where a good number of people believe in UFO’s and angels and one third of Texans believe humans roamed the Earth at the same time as dinosaurs. Some kooks have influence.
I think Dennis is an interesting voice in the various debates that he concerns himself with. An outlier to balance out the outliers on the Republican side– though he’s not quite far out there enough to totally balance THAT :^)
(And again, its unsurprising that cons think truth has cancer simply because you all are allergic to truth…)
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
“Now the two bills are being reconciled through a completely legitimate process.”
Posted by: tierra | Mar 18, 2010 5:30:56 PM
Not according to some leading Democrats in the House.
From the Boston Herald:—Even one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s FLOOR WHIPS, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, says a proposed parliamentary move to pass health-care reform would be “DISINGENUOUS” AND HARM THE CREDIBILITY OF CONGRESS.
In a sign of how tough it’s been for Pelosi to round up votes for the massive bill, Lynch – a South Boston Democrat who supported a House reform package last year – said he’ll probably vote against a key Senate version of the legislation, unless unexpected major changes are made soon.
“It’s disingenuous,” said Lynch, who considers unfair a Senate provision to tack a surcharge on higher-end health plans. “IT WOULD REALLY CALL INTO QUESTION THE CREDIBILITY OF THE HOUSE.”—
From the Hill:—The co-chairwoman of the Blue Dog Coalition says that using a controversial “DEEM AND PASS” MECHANISM TO PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM WOULD BE “POISON.”
In a conference call with reporters today, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.), who is a “firm no” on the bill itself, said the process Democrats are considering would spell DISASTER FOR THE CLIMATE IN CONGRESS.—
Posted by: Most Ethical Congress EVER! | March 18, 2010, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm
will be interesting to see if he turns to the center after midterm defeats? I think he’s left of Karl marx
Posted by: madmax | March 18, 2010, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Come Sunday…A BIG SHOUT OUT.. Welcome to California America…..There will be a point, and we’ve reach that point in Cali, in which you will no longer be able to get blood out of a turnip….Sell your stock in the insurance industry and buy lots of stock in the 99 cent store and Dollar Tree….They are booming here…
Posted by: Parallax View | March 18, 2010, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Obama qualifications to reform health care:
No birth certificate
Cannot stop smoking
Difficulty telling the truth.
Narcissistic personality disorder
Therefore, I Igor produce Obama Birth Certificate at XXXX
Compare Obama Care vs Igor Care at Obama vs Igor Care
Posted by: Igor Marxomarxovich | March 18, 2010, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
tierra stated twice that Iraq had nuclear facilities.You claimed that those facilities were developed under George Bush.Lastly, you claimed that despite years of military occupation those facilities were uncovered by Barack Obama.Have you ANY documentation for your claims?Are you prepared to apologize for your smears of George Bush after you have confirmed TWICE today the reason for this country going to war in Iraq?To repeat: tierra has stated twice on this blog that Iraq had nuclear facilities uncovered by Barack Obama.
Posted by: Nephron | March 18, 2010, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
I thought he said to John McCain in Sept 2008 a President has to be able to juggle many things.
Posted by: GO | March 19, 2010, 9:10 am 9:10 am