If the “deem & ream” scam is such a sure thing, why is he even bothering?
Posted by: smartlillena | March 18, 2010, 7:45 am 7:45 am
This is like an episode of that reality show where the contestants swallow worms and cockroaches for money and prizes. Why do the Deemocrats HATE THIS BILL?
Posted by: cindy | March 18, 2010, 7:58 am 7:58 am
***If the “deem & ream” scam is such a sure thing, why is he even bothering?
Posted by: smartlillena | Mar 18, 2010 7:45:58 AM***
Because he wants the support of the american people, which he doesn’t have in great measure at present, with regard to this reform bill.
Last polling averages put approval at about 42% and disaproval at 48% and about 10% undecided. Around 70% beleive it will make their situation worse.
Doctors by a large margin hate the bill, enough that about 25% are considering retirement or early retirement, according to the AMA, if it passes because they think it will destroy the doctor-patient relationship.
34 states, I think, are passing laws to protect their citizens from some of the mandates, with Virginia in the forefront, because they think it infringes on states rights according to the 10th Amendment.
This also doesn’t count the many potential lawsuits that are being prepared as well.
He doesn’t have the people or the state governments behind him and he desperatly needs both to pull off something like this.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 18, 2010, 8:37 am 8:37 am
The Democrats must be hard of hearing as the majority in the country deplore the actions the Democrats may use on this healthcare bill. For many of us, we see the direction this political wing brings as government control. The United States is a free country and a free people. Free people will fight for their freedom, no matter who tries to take it away.
Posted by: David Hedlund | March 18, 2010, 8:45 am 8:45 am
***correction:
Just looked at rasmussen: 43% for, 53% against.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 18, 2010, 8:48 am 8:48 am
W took more than 4 years to run up $2 trillion in new debt. O did it in less than 14 months.
Last month Feb 2010—the 14th month of Obama’s Presidency–the deficit was $221 BILLION, more that the deficit FOR ALL OF 2007. And all we hear is Socialists chattering about how the evil Boosh ran up huge deficits.
Now we are going to add a new, vast, revolutionary, deeply intrusive, MULTI TRILLION DOLLAR entitlement using the Slaughter strategy–where the House votes for the goodies but not the painful, costly, unpopular stuff–and a 50 Dem Senator plus VP Biden vote in the Senate. So is this the new era of bipartisanship Obama promised??
Gee, what could go wrong?
Posted by: Most Fiscally Responsible Government EVER! | March 18, 2010, 8:49 am 8:49 am
What many people (leties) don’t grasp is that this bill is not the ending of anything. It’s the beginning. Democrat politicians wiill use health care benefits as their personal chum in trolling for votes. They will promise more and more benefits in return for a vote caring not at all for the consequent cost.
Democrats will add a public option, they will provide unlimited abortions paid for by all of us, and health care for illegals. And that’s still not the end.
This has become a freak show in which the President of the United States doesn’t care about the Constitution any longer as long as he gets his Marxist programs through.
This thing will cost far more than advertised and provide far less than promised. Democrats have never, ever been able to control the cost of anything.
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Obama said people are worried about losing their houses ebcause of healh care. They’re going to lose their houses because they don’t have a job.
The economy is in tatters. People need jobs, and that is not even on the Democrat radar.
Barack Obama and the Democrats have polarized this country in a manner not seen in 150 years. They no longer represent the people. This is no longer democracy- it is tyranny and the situation is approaching a dangerous state.
Once Democrats destroy the rules of the Constitution, what’s left? Is it worth destroying the country to win this one?
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
Let’s hope he fails miserably.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 18, 2010, 9:05 am 9:05 am
If Obama was trying to sell it on conservatives by his interview with Bret Baier on Fox News last night, he instead crashed and burned. If you have not had the opportunity to see or read the interview, please take the time to do so. Baier tried his best to get ‘straight’, explanitory answers, but only got the same old talking points and round & round dodges. It was a very eye opening account of how little Obama really knows about this bill.
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Obama said he doesn’t care about procedural rules, in other words he doesn’t want to get his majestic hands dirty.
I thought Obama was elected to change the dirtiness of Washington not make it worse.
After watching Obama on the Fox interview it’s obvious why he is running away from a press conference.
He can’t handle tough follow-up questions.
Posted by: cal | March 18, 2010, 9:40 am 9:40 am
I jokingly told Pelosi, “Why bother with a vote at all, just deem it passed on mighty Queen.”
I didn’t expect her to take me seriously.
Posted by: Denbo | March 18, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
“If you have not had the opportunity to see or read the interview, please take the time to do so. Baier tried his best to get ‘straight’, explanitory answers, but only got the same old talking points and round & round dodges”
I didn’t see the whole thing but from what I saw my interpretation is Baier asked the same old stupid questions all over again while pretending not to hear the answers…standard right-wing propagandist procedure.
Posted by: Skip | March 18, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Why do the Deemocrats HATE THIS BILL?
Posted by: cindy | Mar 18, 2010 7:58:25 AM
Cute wordplay, but the more important question is why to the Republicans and so-called “conservatives”
Ezra Klein previews the CBO score: “The bill will cost $940 billion over the first 10 years and reduce the deficit by $130 billion during that period. In the second 10 years — so, 2020 to 2029 — it will reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion. The legislation will cover 32 million Americans, or 95 percent of the legal population.
To put this in context, that’s more deficit reduction than either the House or Senate bill, and more coverage than the Senate bill.”
Oh noooooo! Deficit reduction and near universal coverage!!!!!
The anti-health care reform types make no sense to me.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Will this 2,400-page “deem and pass” Washington monstrosity get me a better doctor or better medicine at a better price?
The answer is no, which is why the latest WSJ/NBC poll has opposition to Obamacare at 48 percent, a new high. Only 36 percent of Americans support it.
But Democrats aren’t even talking policy anymore. They’re all about the politics. They’ve got to pass a bill – any bill – to save this inept president from himself.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
House leaders are so ashamed of the Senate bill that they have concocted a procedural process to pass the Senate bill without having a direct vote. In short, they hope to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent history, which will affect one-sixth of our economy, without the public knowing.
Even House Democrats are criticizing this charade. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), a member of the Blue Dog and New Democrat coalitions, called this process “wrong.” Altmire and other wavering Democrats understand that once the House passes the Senate bill, the Senate will have little motivation to clean up the bill under the arcane and complex reconciliation process.
The fundamental problem with the current reform bill is that it fixes the wrong problem. In medicine, we call this treating symptoms rather than the disease.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Supporters argue that the bill will save taxpayers $100 billion over 10 years, but this estimate is a sham. The numbers Congress gave to the Congressional Budget Office include 10 years of tax increases but only six years of benefits at the back end. This is unjust and deceptive Enron-style accounting. No homeowner would allow a bank to tell them they have to make mortgage payments for four years before they can move into their new home. Yet that is precisely what Congress is telling the American people.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
But Democrats aren’t even talking policy anymore.
_________
Right. Which is why they’ve put out specifics as to what the bill will do — and others are putting forth ideas about improvements they’d like to see made down the road– while the Republicons are whining about procedures they’ve used a plethora of times themselves.
The conservatives are freaking out because we’re all over their obstructionist scorched earth tactics.
The whining is getting old.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
only six years of benefits at the back end.
__________
not entirely true, though its funny that Republicons whine about fiscal responsibility when they see what it looks like. Many have laid out the timeline, and there will be many benefits and reforms that kick in in 90 days, then more 90 days later, then more at the start of 2011, then the exchanges will be up in 2014– and they may be able to move that up. Its been explained that we need to phase it in and why.
This is more obstructionist disinformation– which really decries common sense.
I also got a good guffaw about this: “they hope to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent history, which will affect one-sixth of our economy, without the public knowing.”
Ummm… who is daft enough to think the public is unaware of the pending passage of the legislation?????
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am
“Baier asked the same old stupid questions all over again while pretending not to hear the answers” – Skip
To be fair Skip a lot of those “answers” were not answers at all just spin.
Question from Baier – “So do you support the use of this Slaughter rule? The deem and pass rule, so that Democrats avoid a straight up or down vote on the Senate bill?”
Answer from Obama – “Here’s what I think is going to happen and what should happen. You now have a proposal . . . . . . .. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or the Senate.”
Well I couldn’t tell if his answer was a Yes or a No.
I guess Baier couldn’t tell either so he tried again.
Question from Baier – “So you support the deem and pass rule?”
Answer from Obama – “What I’m saying is whatever they end up voting on — and I hope it’s going to be sometime this week — that it is going to be a vote for or against my health care proposal. That’s what matters. That’s what ultimately people are going to judge this on.
If people don’t believe in health care reform — and I think there are definitely a lot of people who are worried about whether or not these changes are, in some fashion, going to affect them adversely. And I think those are legitimate concerns on the substance — then somebody who votes for this bill, they’re going to be judged at the polls. And the same is going to be true if they vote against it.”
I guess that kinda sounds like a No, sort of, but I can’t tell for sure.
Sometimes Obama really answers questions clearly.
Here’s an example.
Question from Baier – “Mr. President, I’m getting wrapped up, and I don’t want to interrupt you, but to finish up, do you think this is going to pass?”
Answer from Obama – “I do. I’m confident it will pass.”
Perhaps President Obama only answers questions directly that he likes.
Posted by: Noz | March 18, 2010, 10:48 am 10:48 am
“If people don’t believe in health care reform”
This is usual Obama blather. There are numerous Republican alternative plans and all have struck down by Democrats.
It was fun seeing Obama have to beg to be on Fox, eh, Skip?
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 10:53 am 10:53 am
From Congressman Paul Ryan, Thursday morning:
—The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that there is CURRENTLY NO OFFICIAL COST ESTIMATE. Yet House Democrats are touting to the press – and spinning for partisan gain – NUMBERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED AND ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM. Rep. James Clyburn stated he was “giddy” about these unsubstantiated numbers. This is the latest outrageous exploitation by the Majority – in this case abusing the confidentiality of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office – to pass their massive health care overhaul at any cost.—
Posted by: Obama, You Lie Again! | March 18, 2010, 10:58 am 10:58 am
There are numerous Republican alternative plans and all have struck down by Democrats.
_________
By Democrats? Ha. Try by the Republican caucus, conservatives and/or the CBO analys which acknowledges the House plan’s utter failure to address coverage (see also the mocking of it by conservatives.) Only one Republican-generated plan outside of Wyden Bennet addresses health insurance/care reform and that one doesn’t have caucus backing. Plus the better ideas from it have been incorporated into the legislation that will pass.
Meanwhile, Ryan’s roadmap has turned out to be a regressive Potemkin plan that won’t balance the budget.
The Republicans have no good ideas or actual solutions.
meanwhile, its time to move on and pass this health reform.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 11:04 am 11:04 am
What happens if you don’t pay? Perhaps you become one of the 9.7% of people unemployed. The IRS is a government agency and they have a fine record of fairness. I hope to get a federal job as an enforcer of health care – anyone with late payments or no payments is fair game for my taser. Hope you all enjoy that world.
Posted by: ronjon | March 18, 2010, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Posted by: Obama, You Lie Again! | Mar 18, 2010 10:58:30 AM
Poooor P. Ryan. He doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “preview” as in a preview of the numbers that will be released later today so everybody can confirm them.
Anything to whine, I guess.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Is he succeeding? Not with the American people: the March 18 Gallup Poll reports that 47% disapprove of Obama while 46% approve.
Posted by: EPU | March 18, 2010, 11:31 am 11:31 am
More bad news for Democrats in the latest Pew survey. FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT OPPOSE THE HEALTH BILL, 38 percent approve. OBAMA’S JOB APPROVAL IS DOWN TO 46 PERCENT, with 43 percent disapproval. A majority says HEALTH CARE COSTS WILL INCREASE DESPITE PASSAGE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM.
Posted by: HealthCare Redistribution Czar | March 18, 2010, 11:45 am 11:45 am
kuchinik?……………joh well, guess you can do anthing if you own the candy store.
Posted by: justj joey | March 18, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Gee, what would make you think the Dems numbers are rigged? Just because it takes TEN years of tax revenue to cover SIX years of benefits??
Posted by: Most Fiscally Responsible Government EVER! | March 18, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
So Obamacrae really isn’t about the people and their health care,
it’s about saving Obama.
Obama’s oversized ego has taken a big hit, but he hides it well.
Not only has he had to bow down to unions, make sleazy backdoor deals with Phrma, but he has had to beg his own party to save him.
And worst of all he had to reach out to FOX, after saying they weren’t really a news organization.
I suppose legacy trumps integrity any day in Obamaland.
Disclaimer from the CBO letter to Pelosi:
“Although CBO completed a PRELIMINARY review of legislative language prior to its release, the agency HAS NOT THOROUGHLY EXAMINED the reconciliation proposal to VERIFY its consistency with the previous draft. THIS ESTIMATE IS THEREFORE PRELIMINARY, PENDING A REVIEW OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE RECONCILIATION PROPOSAL, as well as FURTHER REVIEW AND REFINEMENT of the BUDGETARY PROJECTIONS.”
Final CBO score not expected until tomorrow or Saturday.
ObamaCare is full of goodies for special interests who will pocket taxpayer’s money.
Billy Tauzin, one of the top drug lobbyist helped draft ObamaCare.
Remember Obama’s backdoor deal with Pharma that stopped any chance of negotiating for lower drug prices.
OCare is a shady bill full of favors.
Obama promised an end to these kinds of deals done in the shadows.
He is a liar.
Posted by: kyle | March 18, 2010, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
The following piece came from a regional newspaper in the area I’m from:
“Cancer research has cost the US government $100 Billion since 1971 and the price of care, accounting for inflation, has more than doubled to $90 Billion since 1990, according to six journal reports that raise key questions about the past and future success of the US “War On Cancer”, announced by then-President Richard Nixon in 1971.” *Part of an article taken from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
So, here’s the problem. How is it possible for any one or any entity to KNOW how much the healthcare bill is going to cost? According to the piece above, research and care alone equal $190 BILLION dollars. It doesn’t even talk about insurance coverage. As research becomes more and more technologically advanced, and newer and better treatments come about, the cost, naturally, is going to rise in treatment. That would mean, naturally, that health insurance costs would rise as well. It would seem that one would have to be a crystal ball ‘seer’ or a prophet or something to even guess at the cost and savings of a healthcare bill.
And remember, this is just for cancer research…not AIDS, or MS, or epilepsy, and so on. $100 BILLION dollars. This is just for cancer CARE…not AIDS, or MS, or epilepsy, and so on. $90 BILLION dollars. So what happens when the costs get out of control? Do we stop researching? Base the level of the cancer to who gets the treatment? Raise taxes AGAIN? Does anybody even KNOW?
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
I suppose legacy trumps integrity any day in Obamaland.
Posted by: ollie | Mar 18, 2010 12:20:26 PM
____________________________________
For the Republican right haters . .. sure. Let’s hope they get a better game to play.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Is he succeeding? Not with the American people: the March 18 Gallup Poll reports that 47% disapprove of Obama while 46% approve.
Posted by: EPU | Mar 18, 2010 11:31:39 AM
______________________________________
You need to get a sense of history and perspective.
President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.
You’re clamouring for the President to fail, this much is obvious, but a little historical perspective would provide you with better insight.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
“President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.”
As pointed out to you many, many times Reagan finished up both of his terms with 60%+ approval ratings. The One will NEVER sniff 60% again. Never.
Reagan also turned around the economy. Obama will not. Not this year, not next year, not ever. His policies will do just the opposite.
Big difference.
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 18, 2010 2:15:30 PM
You seem unable to grasp the simplest of points – President Reagan’s approval rating fell FAR below the current Presidents.
Sixty percent of Americans DISAPPROVED of the job Reagan was doing. At one point during his first term, only 35% of Americans approved of the job Reagan was doing.
President Obama being at 46% approval right now – is excellent compared to where Reagan fell to . . . it’s not that difficult.
Your imaginings about the future are just that. You’d do better to deal with factual information.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.
Posted by: tierra |
Reagan spent about one month of his 8 years below 40%.
You need to get a sense of history and perspective.
“President Obama being at 46% approval right now – is excellent compared to where Reagan fell to . . . it’s not that difficult. Your imaginings about the future are just that. You’d do better to deal with factual information.”
Your fervent ideology and lack of reading comprehension skills are greatly hindering you. My point is that Reagan’s popularity fell at the depth of the recession (which, arguably, is worse than the recession Obama “inherited”). But, while he was president the economy turned around. The U.S. will NOT see sub-8% unemployment under Obama. The U.S. may also lose its triple-A debt rating which means we will pay even more for the trillions Obama is borrowing (I might be getting above your head here).
Reagan bounced back. Obama will not.
A year ago would you have ever guessed you would be defending The One by defending him vs. Reagan’s approval numbers… My, how the “mighty” have fallen…
My point is that Reagan’s popularity fell at the depth of the recession (which, arguably, is worse than the recession Obama “inherited”).
_________________________________
Unemployment under Reagan INCREASED for 2 full years to a peak of 10.8% and then stayed around 10% for 6 more months.
And his approval rating fell to 35%.
Tough economies are tough on presidents.
We know you’re clamouring for the President’s failure – you’ve been doing that since before he was elected, so your bias in consistent. But try to deal in facts not your imaginings about the future.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
p.s. – you can say the economy ‘turned around’ under Reagan, however the national debt tripled under Reagan AND the stock market collapsed on his shift in 1987.
Try to keep a bit of a historical perspective, it will help with your gross misjudgement of the current President.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
p.s. – you can say the economy ‘turned around’ under Reagan, however the national debt tripled under Reagan AND the stock market collapsed on his shift in 1987.
Posted by: tierra |
You wanna talk national debt? You wanna talk about Obama’s two trillion?
You forgot to mention that the Soviet Union collapsed on his watch too.
Try to keep a bit of a historical perspective, it will help with your gross misjudgement of the current President.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Mar 18, 2010 3:46:42 PM
Awwww. Yesterday Fl was parroting misinformation from Fox News and the Republicon echo chamber (and also desperately exclaiming bbbbbut Bbbbig Pharma). Today s/he’s resorted to repeating Tierra and evoking Ronaldus Magnus (never met a big deficit he didn’t like as they can look after themselves, proved to Cheney deficits don’t matter, and thought pollution was caused by plants and trees) and the USSR.
LOL.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Posted by: Shoe | Mar 18, 2010 1:36:11 PM
Would anyone be interested in answering my post from earlier today? It might take some thought, not just talking points, so be careful.
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
It was fun seeing Obama have to beg to be on Fox, eh, Skip?
Posted by: drjohn
—
He almost said “trust me”!
Posted by: smartlillena | March 19, 2010, 6:30 am 6:30 am
Email
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
If the “deem & ream” scam is such a sure thing, why is he even bothering?
Posted by: smartlillena | March 18, 2010, 7:45 am 7:45 am
This is like an episode of that reality show where the contestants swallow worms and cockroaches for money and prizes. Why do the Deemocrats HATE THIS BILL?
Posted by: cindy | March 18, 2010, 7:58 am 7:58 am
***If the “deem & ream” scam is such a sure thing, why is he even bothering?
Posted by: smartlillena | Mar 18, 2010 7:45:58 AM***
Because he wants the support of the american people, which he doesn’t have in great measure at present, with regard to this reform bill.
Last polling averages put approval at about 42% and disaproval at 48% and about 10% undecided. Around 70% beleive it will make their situation worse.
Doctors by a large margin hate the bill, enough that about 25% are considering retirement or early retirement, according to the AMA, if it passes because they think it will destroy the doctor-patient relationship.
34 states, I think, are passing laws to protect their citizens from some of the mandates, with Virginia in the forefront, because they think it infringes on states rights according to the 10th Amendment.
This also doesn’t count the many potential lawsuits that are being prepared as well.
He doesn’t have the people or the state governments behind him and he desperatly needs both to pull off something like this.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 18, 2010, 8:37 am 8:37 am
The Democrats must be hard of hearing as the majority in the country deplore the actions the Democrats may use on this healthcare bill. For many of us, we see the direction this political wing brings as government control. The United States is a free country and a free people. Free people will fight for their freedom, no matter who tries to take it away.
Posted by: David Hedlund | March 18, 2010, 8:45 am 8:45 am
***correction:
Just looked at rasmussen: 43% for, 53% against.
Posted by: bobtherepublican | March 18, 2010, 8:48 am 8:48 am
W took more than 4 years to run up $2 trillion in new debt. O did it in less than 14 months.
Last month Feb 2010—the 14th month of Obama’s Presidency–the deficit was $221 BILLION, more that the deficit FOR ALL OF 2007. And all we hear is Socialists chattering about how the evil Boosh ran up huge deficits.
Now we are going to add a new, vast, revolutionary, deeply intrusive, MULTI TRILLION DOLLAR entitlement using the Slaughter strategy–where the House votes for the goodies but not the painful, costly, unpopular stuff–and a 50 Dem Senator plus VP Biden vote in the Senate. So is this the new era of bipartisanship Obama promised??
Gee, what could go wrong?
Posted by: Most Fiscally Responsible Government EVER! | March 18, 2010, 8:49 am 8:49 am
What many people (leties) don’t grasp is that this bill is not the ending of anything. It’s the beginning. Democrat politicians wiill use health care benefits as their personal chum in trolling for votes. They will promise more and more benefits in return for a vote caring not at all for the consequent cost.
Democrats will add a public option, they will provide unlimited abortions paid for by all of us, and health care for illegals. And that’s still not the end.
This has become a freak show in which the President of the United States doesn’t care about the Constitution any longer as long as he gets his Marxist programs through.
This thing will cost far more than advertised and provide far less than promised. Democrats have never, ever been able to control the cost of anything.
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Obama said people are worried about losing their houses ebcause of healh care. They’re going to lose their houses because they don’t have a job.
The economy is in tatters. People need jobs, and that is not even on the Democrat radar.
Barack Obama and the Democrats have polarized this country in a manner not seen in 150 years. They no longer represent the people. This is no longer democracy- it is tyranny and the situation is approaching a dangerous state.
Once Democrats destroy the rules of the Constitution, what’s left? Is it worth destroying the country to win this one?
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
Let’s hope he fails miserably.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 18, 2010, 9:05 am 9:05 am
If Obama was trying to sell it on conservatives by his interview with Bret Baier on Fox News last night, he instead crashed and burned. If you have not had the opportunity to see or read the interview, please take the time to do so. Baier tried his best to get ‘straight’, explanitory answers, but only got the same old talking points and round & round dodges. It was a very eye opening account of how little Obama really knows about this bill.
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Obama said he doesn’t care about procedural rules, in other words he doesn’t want to get his majestic hands dirty.
I thought Obama was elected to change the dirtiness of Washington not make it worse.
After watching Obama on the Fox interview it’s obvious why he is running away from a press conference.
He can’t handle tough follow-up questions.
Posted by: cal | March 18, 2010, 9:40 am 9:40 am
I jokingly told Pelosi, “Why bother with a vote at all, just deem it passed on mighty Queen.”
I didn’t expect her to take me seriously.
Posted by: Denbo | March 18, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
“If you have not had the opportunity to see or read the interview, please take the time to do so. Baier tried his best to get ‘straight’, explanitory answers, but only got the same old talking points and round & round dodges”
I didn’t see the whole thing but from what I saw my interpretation is Baier asked the same old stupid questions all over again while pretending not to hear the answers…standard right-wing propagandist procedure.
Posted by: Skip | March 18, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Why do the Deemocrats HATE THIS BILL?
Posted by: cindy | Mar 18, 2010 7:58:25 AM
Cute wordplay, but the more important question is why to the Republicans and so-called “conservatives”
Ezra Klein previews the CBO score: “The bill will cost $940 billion over the first 10 years and reduce the deficit by $130 billion during that period. In the second 10 years — so, 2020 to 2029 — it will reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion. The legislation will cover 32 million Americans, or 95 percent of the legal population.
To put this in context, that’s more deficit reduction than either the House or Senate bill, and more coverage than the Senate bill.”
Oh noooooo! Deficit reduction and near universal coverage!!!!!
The anti-health care reform types make no sense to me.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Will this 2,400-page “deem and pass” Washington monstrosity get me a better doctor or better medicine at a better price?
The answer is no, which is why the latest WSJ/NBC poll has opposition to Obamacare at 48 percent, a new high. Only 36 percent of Americans support it.
But Democrats aren’t even talking policy anymore. They’re all about the politics. They’ve got to pass a bill – any bill – to save this inept president from himself.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
House leaders are so ashamed of the Senate bill that they have concocted a procedural process to pass the Senate bill without having a direct vote. In short, they hope to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent history, which will affect one-sixth of our economy, without the public knowing.
Even House Democrats are criticizing this charade. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), a member of the Blue Dog and New Democrat coalitions, called this process “wrong.” Altmire and other wavering Democrats understand that once the House passes the Senate bill, the Senate will have little motivation to clean up the bill under the arcane and complex reconciliation process.
The fundamental problem with the current reform bill is that it fixes the wrong problem. In medicine, we call this treating symptoms rather than the disease.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Supporters argue that the bill will save taxpayers $100 billion over 10 years, but this estimate is a sham. The numbers Congress gave to the Congressional Budget Office include 10 years of tax increases but only six years of benefits at the back end. This is unjust and deceptive Enron-style accounting. No homeowner would allow a bank to tell them they have to make mortgage payments for four years before they can move into their new home. Yet that is precisely what Congress is telling the American people.
Posted by: bl | March 18, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
But Democrats aren’t even talking policy anymore.
_________
Right. Which is why they’ve put out specifics as to what the bill will do — and others are putting forth ideas about improvements they’d like to see made down the road– while the Republicons are whining about procedures they’ve used a plethora of times themselves.
The conservatives are freaking out because we’re all over their obstructionist scorched earth tactics.
The whining is getting old.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
only six years of benefits at the back end.
__________
not entirely true, though its funny that Republicons whine about fiscal responsibility when they see what it looks like. Many have laid out the timeline, and there will be many benefits and reforms that kick in in 90 days, then more 90 days later, then more at the start of 2011, then the exchanges will be up in 2014– and they may be able to move that up. Its been explained that we need to phase it in and why.
This is more obstructionist disinformation– which really decries common sense.
I also got a good guffaw about this: “they hope to pass one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent history, which will affect one-sixth of our economy, without the public knowing.”
Ummm… who is daft enough to think the public is unaware of the pending passage of the legislation?????
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am
“Baier asked the same old stupid questions all over again while pretending not to hear the answers” – Skip
To be fair Skip a lot of those “answers” were not answers at all just spin.
Question from Baier – “So do you support the use of this Slaughter rule? The deem and pass rule, so that Democrats avoid a straight up or down vote on the Senate bill?”
Answer from Obama – “Here’s what I think is going to happen and what should happen. You now have a proposal . . . . . . .. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or the Senate.”
Well I couldn’t tell if his answer was a Yes or a No.
I guess Baier couldn’t tell either so he tried again.
Question from Baier – “So you support the deem and pass rule?”
Answer from Obama – “What I’m saying is whatever they end up voting on — and I hope it’s going to be sometime this week — that it is going to be a vote for or against my health care proposal. That’s what matters. That’s what ultimately people are going to judge this on.
If people don’t believe in health care reform — and I think there are definitely a lot of people who are worried about whether or not these changes are, in some fashion, going to affect them adversely. And I think those are legitimate concerns on the substance — then somebody who votes for this bill, they’re going to be judged at the polls. And the same is going to be true if they vote against it.”
I guess that kinda sounds like a No, sort of, but I can’t tell for sure.
Sometimes Obama really answers questions clearly.
Here’s an example.
Question from Baier – “Mr. President, I’m getting wrapped up, and I don’t want to interrupt you, but to finish up, do you think this is going to pass?”
Answer from Obama – “I do. I’m confident it will pass.”
Perhaps President Obama only answers questions directly that he likes.
Posted by: Noz | March 18, 2010, 10:48 am 10:48 am
“If people don’t believe in health care reform”
This is usual Obama blather. There are numerous Republican alternative plans and all have struck down by Democrats.
It was fun seeing Obama have to beg to be on Fox, eh, Skip?
Posted by: drjohn | March 18, 2010, 10:53 am 10:53 am
From Congressman Paul Ryan, Thursday morning:
—The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that there is CURRENTLY NO OFFICIAL COST ESTIMATE. Yet House Democrats are touting to the press – and spinning for partisan gain – NUMBERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED AND ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONFIRM. Rep. James Clyburn stated he was “giddy” about these unsubstantiated numbers. This is the latest outrageous exploitation by the Majority – in this case abusing the confidentiality of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office – to pass their massive health care overhaul at any cost.—
Posted by: Obama, You Lie Again! | March 18, 2010, 10:58 am 10:58 am
There are numerous Republican alternative plans and all have struck down by Democrats.
_________
By Democrats? Ha. Try by the Republican caucus, conservatives and/or the CBO analys which acknowledges the House plan’s utter failure to address coverage (see also the mocking of it by conservatives.) Only one Republican-generated plan outside of Wyden Bennet addresses health insurance/care reform and that one doesn’t have caucus backing. Plus the better ideas from it have been incorporated into the legislation that will pass.
Meanwhile, Ryan’s roadmap has turned out to be a regressive Potemkin plan that won’t balance the budget.
The Republicans have no good ideas or actual solutions.
meanwhile, its time to move on and pass this health reform.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 11:04 am 11:04 am
What happens if you don’t pay? Perhaps you become one of the 9.7% of people unemployed. The IRS is a government agency and they have a fine record of fairness. I hope to get a federal job as an enforcer of health care – anyone with late payments or no payments is fair game for my taser. Hope you all enjoy that world.
Posted by: ronjon | March 18, 2010, 11:10 am 11:10 am
Posted by: Obama, You Lie Again! | Mar 18, 2010 10:58:30 AM
Poooor P. Ryan. He doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “preview” as in a preview of the numbers that will be released later today so everybody can confirm them.
Anything to whine, I guess.
Posted by: Truth has a liberal bias | March 18, 2010, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Is he succeeding? Not with the American people: the March 18 Gallup Poll reports that 47% disapprove of Obama while 46% approve.
Posted by: EPU | March 18, 2010, 11:31 am 11:31 am
More bad news for Democrats in the latest Pew survey. FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT OPPOSE THE HEALTH BILL, 38 percent approve. OBAMA’S JOB APPROVAL IS DOWN TO 46 PERCENT, with 43 percent disapproval. A majority says HEALTH CARE COSTS WILL INCREASE DESPITE PASSAGE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM.
Posted by: HealthCare Redistribution Czar | March 18, 2010, 11:45 am 11:45 am
kuchinik?……………joh well, guess you can do anthing if you own the candy store.
Posted by: justj joey | March 18, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Gee, what would make you think the Dems numbers are rigged? Just because it takes TEN years of tax revenue to cover SIX years of benefits??
Posted by: Most Fiscally Responsible Government EVER! | March 18, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
So Obamacrae really isn’t about the people and their health care,
it’s about saving Obama.
Obama’s oversized ego has taken a big hit, but he hides it well.
Not only has he had to bow down to unions, make sleazy backdoor deals with Phrma, but he has had to beg his own party to save him.
And worst of all he had to reach out to FOX, after saying they weren’t really a news organization.
I suppose legacy trumps integrity any day in Obamaland.
Posted by: ollie | March 18, 2010, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
The Dems are giddy over the CBO score.
$940 billion for six years of benefits, but telling the people it’s a ten year score.
Another gimmick.
Posted by: phillip | March 18, 2010, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
Disclaimer from the CBO letter to Pelosi:
“Although CBO completed a PRELIMINARY review of legislative language prior to its release, the agency HAS NOT THOROUGHLY EXAMINED the reconciliation proposal to VERIFY its consistency with the previous draft. THIS ESTIMATE IS THEREFORE PRELIMINARY, PENDING A REVIEW OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE RECONCILIATION PROPOSAL, as well as FURTHER REVIEW AND REFINEMENT of the BUDGETARY PROJECTIONS.”
Final CBO score not expected until tomorrow or Saturday.
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
ObamaCare is full of goodies for special interests who will pocket taxpayer’s money.
Billy Tauzin, one of the top drug lobbyist helped draft ObamaCare.
Remember Obama’s backdoor deal with Pharma that stopped any chance of negotiating for lower drug prices.
OCare is a shady bill full of favors.
Obama promised an end to these kinds of deals done in the shadows.
He is a liar.
Posted by: kyle | March 18, 2010, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
The following piece came from a regional newspaper in the area I’m from:
“Cancer research has cost the US government $100 Billion since 1971 and the price of care, accounting for inflation, has more than doubled to $90 Billion since 1990, according to six journal reports that raise key questions about the past and future success of the US “War On Cancer”, announced by then-President Richard Nixon in 1971.” *Part of an article taken from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
So, here’s the problem. How is it possible for any one or any entity to KNOW how much the healthcare bill is going to cost? According to the piece above, research and care alone equal $190 BILLION dollars. It doesn’t even talk about insurance coverage. As research becomes more and more technologically advanced, and newer and better treatments come about, the cost, naturally, is going to rise in treatment. That would mean, naturally, that health insurance costs would rise as well. It would seem that one would have to be a crystal ball ‘seer’ or a prophet or something to even guess at the cost and savings of a healthcare bill.
And remember, this is just for cancer research…not AIDS, or MS, or epilepsy, and so on. $100 BILLION dollars. This is just for cancer CARE…not AIDS, or MS, or epilepsy, and so on. $90 BILLION dollars. So what happens when the costs get out of control? Do we stop researching? Base the level of the cancer to who gets the treatment? Raise taxes AGAIN? Does anybody even KNOW?
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
I suppose legacy trumps integrity any day in Obamaland.
Posted by: ollie | Mar 18, 2010 12:20:26 PM
____________________________________
For the Republican right haters . .. sure. Let’s hope they get a better game to play.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Is he succeeding? Not with the American people: the March 18 Gallup Poll reports that 47% disapprove of Obama while 46% approve.
Posted by: EPU | Mar 18, 2010 11:31:39 AM
______________________________________
You need to get a sense of history and perspective.
President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.
You’re clamouring for the President to fail, this much is obvious, but a little historical perspective would provide you with better insight.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
“President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.”
As pointed out to you many, many times Reagan finished up both of his terms with 60%+ approval ratings. The One will NEVER sniff 60% again. Never.
Reagan also turned around the economy. Obama will not. Not this year, not next year, not ever. His policies will do just the opposite.
Big difference.
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Posted by: tjp612 | Mar 18, 2010 2:15:30 PM
You seem unable to grasp the simplest of points – President Reagan’s approval rating fell FAR below the current Presidents.
Sixty percent of Americans DISAPPROVED of the job Reagan was doing. At one point during his first term, only 35% of Americans approved of the job Reagan was doing.
President Obama being at 46% approval right now – is excellent compared to where Reagan fell to . . . it’s not that difficult.
Your imaginings about the future are just that. You’d do better to deal with factual information.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
President Reagan fell to 35% approval (60% disapproval) during his first term.
Posted by: tierra |
Reagan spent about one month of his 8 years below 40%.
You need to get a sense of history and perspective.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | March 18, 2010, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
“President Obama being at 46% approval right now – is excellent compared to where Reagan fell to . . . it’s not that difficult. Your imaginings about the future are just that. You’d do better to deal with factual information.”
Your fervent ideology and lack of reading comprehension skills are greatly hindering you. My point is that Reagan’s popularity fell at the depth of the recession (which, arguably, is worse than the recession Obama “inherited”). But, while he was president the economy turned around. The U.S. will NOT see sub-8% unemployment under Obama. The U.S. may also lose its triple-A debt rating which means we will pay even more for the trillions Obama is borrowing (I might be getting above your head here).
Reagan bounced back. Obama will not.
A year ago would you have ever guessed you would be defending The One by defending him vs. Reagan’s approval numbers… My, how the “mighty” have fallen…
Posted by: tjp612 | March 18, 2010, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
“We’ll do whatever it takes to pass this bill.”
Posted by: 4civility | March 18, 2010, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
My point is that Reagan’s popularity fell at the depth of the recession (which, arguably, is worse than the recession Obama “inherited”).
_________________________________
Unemployment under Reagan INCREASED for 2 full years to a peak of 10.8% and then stayed around 10% for 6 more months.
And his approval rating fell to 35%.
Tough economies are tough on presidents.
We know you’re clamouring for the President’s failure – you’ve been doing that since before he was elected, so your bias in consistent. But try to deal in facts not your imaginings about the future.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:33 pm 3:33 pm
p.s. – you can say the economy ‘turned around’ under Reagan, however the national debt tripled under Reagan AND the stock market collapsed on his shift in 1987.
Try to keep a bit of a historical perspective, it will help with your gross misjudgement of the current President.
Posted by: tierra | March 18, 2010, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm
p.s. – you can say the economy ‘turned around’ under Reagan, however the national debt tripled under Reagan AND the stock market collapsed on his shift in 1987.
Posted by: tierra |
You wanna talk national debt? You wanna talk about Obama’s two trillion?
You forgot to mention that the Soviet Union collapsed on his watch too.
Try to keep a bit of a historical perspective, it will help with your gross misjudgement of the current President.
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | March 18, 2010, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn | Mar 18, 2010 3:46:42 PM
Awwww. Yesterday Fl was parroting misinformation from Fox News and the Republicon echo chamber (and also desperately exclaiming bbbbbut Bbbbig Pharma). Today s/he’s resorted to repeating Tierra and evoking Ronaldus Magnus (never met a big deficit he didn’t like as they can look after themselves, proved to Cheney deficits don’t matter, and thought pollution was caused by plants and trees) and the USSR.
LOL.
Posted by: progressive mama | March 18, 2010, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Posted by: Shoe | Mar 18, 2010 1:36:11 PM
Would anyone be interested in answering my post from earlier today? It might take some thought, not just talking points, so be careful.
Posted by: Shoe | March 18, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
It was fun seeing Obama have to beg to be on Fox, eh, Skip?
Posted by: drjohn
—
He almost said “trust me”!
Posted by: smartlillena | March 19, 2010, 6:30 am 6:30 am