By Jonathan Blakely

Mar 5, 2010 7:58am

Try, Again: Year after first summit, health care still on narrow path

By Rick Klein: You can hash out your new numbers — or just count the scandals this week — or just realize that the same dynamics around health care haven’t changed for a year now… And you come back to this reality, any jaunts through bipartisan woods notwithstanding: Health care has to pass with just Democrats on board. They control the votes to get it done. But they may not want to. And nothing that’s happened over the past 12 months has made them want it any more. There’s a path here. It’s not a pretty one, and deadlines hardly matter, and it’s going to take some trust on the part of members who aren’t inclined to be offering it these days. But it’s here. After a week marked by retirements, ethics scandals, and Democratic infighting, there’s really no other way to change the story than to follow that path. (Even if no one is quite sure exactly where it leads.) And after a year marked by how little things have changed (President Obama, at that first health care summit, March 5, 2009: “If we want to create jobs and rebuild our economy, then we must address the crushing cost of health care this year…”), there are no new arguments, only fewer ears willing to listen to them. Oh, and it’s the first Friday of the month again — and there’s only so much of that jobs number you can blame on the weather. But first — a reversal, at last (or something close to it): “President Obama’s advisers are nearing a recommendation that Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, be prosecuted in a military tribunal, administration officials said, a step that would reverse Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.’s plan to try him in civilian court in New York City,” The Washington Post’s Anne E. Kornblut and Peter Finn report. “The president’s advisers feel increasingly hemmed in by bipartisan opposition to a federal trial in New York and demands, mainly from Republicans, that Mohammed and his accused co-conspirators remain under military jurisdiction.” The big picture — tying together Rangel-Massa-Paterson-Blagojevich-Spitzer-Edwards, and beyond: “Taken together, the cases have opened the party to the same lines of criticism that Democrats, led by Representatives Nancy Pelosi, now the House speaker, and Rahm Emanuel, now White House chief of staff, used effectively against Republicans in winning control of the House and Senate four years ago,” The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny writes. “The mix of power and the temptations of corruption can be a compelling political narrative at any time. But with voters appearing to be in an angry mood and many already inclined to view all things Washington with mistrust, the risks for Democrats could be that much greater this year.” “As each example of this evidences itself, I think it makes it easier to make an argument that Democrats have just lost control of the system in Washington,” Matthew Dowd told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Friday. (And look for Dowd hosting “This Week” Sunday.) Gone far enough? “Watchdog groups say … that Pelosi’s actions have fallen woefully short of House Democrats’ promise to ‘drain the swamp’ of unethical behavior, a vow they emphasized when they won control of the House in 2006 after Republican corruption scandals centered on disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff,” McClatchy’s William Douglas and David Lightman report. “Now Republicans see an important campaign issue emerging for November’s congressional elections.” And to cap the week: “Representative William D. Delahunt will announce today that he will not seek reelection to Congress, ending a nearly 40-year career in elected office and giving Republicans hope of capturing the district, which stretches from Cape Cod to the South Shore,” Susan Milligan reports in The Boston Globe. “Voters in Delahunt’s 10th District gave Republican Scott Brown his best margins in the state in the Jan. 19 special election to fill Kennedy’s seat, giving the GOP hopes of breaking the Democrats’ lock on the House delegation. But Delahunt said the wave of anti-incumbent anger demonstrated by the surge for Brown also had no affect on his decision.” “Life is about change. I think it’s healthy. It’s time,” Delahunt told Milligan. Layer on another episode of anti-government violence, with the shootings at the Pentagon Thursday night: “There is a pattern, there is an increase,” ABC’s Martha Raddatz reported on “Good Morning America” Friday. “You’ve got to look at all of these missions: They have been suicide missions. This man last night did not have a chance; you cannot open fire at the Pentagon and not expect to be killed. Same thing with the Fort Hood shootings, and of course a man flew his plane into the IRS [building in Austin.]” That digested — how about some health care? Judgments, a year in: “What a disaster it has been,” Peggy Noonan writes in her Wall Street Journal column. “At best it was a waste of history’s time, a struggle that will not in the end yield something big and helpful but will in fact make future progress more difficult. At worst it may prove to have fatally undermined a new presidency at a time when America desperately needs a successful one.” Charles Krauthammer: “The man who vowed to undo Washington’s devious and wicked ways has directed the Congress to ram Obamacare through, by one vote if necessary, under the parliamentary device of ‘budget reconciliation.’ The man who ran as a post-partisan is determined to remake a sixth of the U.S. economy despite the absence of support from a single Republican in either house, the first time anything of this size and scope has been enacted by pure party-line vote. Surprised? You can only be disillusioned if you were once illusioned.” A tough argument to win: “The battle over health care reform could go all the way to the polls in November, with politicians still arguing over principles rather than experiences,” Bill Schneider writes for National Journal. Howard Dean, in a radio interview: “The plan, as it comes from the Senate, hangs out every Democrat who’s running for office to dry — including the president, in 2012, because it makes him defend a plan that isn’t in effect essentially yet.” If it was just one piece that needed solving… “Some oppose abortion, some are worried about premiums, and some have zeroed in on taxes. But House Democrats do have this in common: They’re all being heavily courted to support President Obama’s health care legislation,” USA Today’s John Fritze reports. “Obama’s revved-up personal involvement, along with the cautious tone of congressional leaders’ forecasts, illustrated the uncertainty still facing the president’s yearlong drive to push his signature legislative initiative through Congress,” the AP’s Alan Fram writes. Abortion, again, and always: “The effort depends on convincing as many as a dozen antiabortion Democrats in the House that abortion language in the Senate bill is more stringent than initially portrayed. But Democratic leaders must be careful that they don’t drive away abortion rights supporters who are increasingly concerned that the measure would prove severely restrictive,” Alec MacGillis writes in The Washington Post. One less headache (maybe): “The Roman Catholic bishops signaled Thursday that if agreement is reached with House leaders on anti-abortion language, the church would work to get the votes needed to protect the provisions in the Senate — and thereby advance the shared goal with Democrats of health care reform,” Politico’s David Rogers reports. Message to liberals: “[The president] pledged to push in the future for ideas championed by the group, including a government insurance option to compete with private insurers, said Representative Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democrat,” Bloomberg’s Laura Litvan writes. “Grijalva said Obama told the lawmakers he intends to sign both the Senate-passed bill and the reconciliation bill on the same day.” If you believe in deadlines… “Senior Democratic aides said Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) hopes to unveil the reconciliation bill early next week,”The Washington Post’s Michael D. Shear reports. “The process could then unfold over the next two weeks, although the final phase in the Senate could easily consume a week beyond that. The Republican strategy is to force multiple votes, possibly stretching out over several days.” If you believe in pressure…. “Lobbyists and activist groups on both sides of the issue have launched grass-roots and high-dollar advertising campaigns on the roughly two dozen members of Congress who may be the final swing votes on the controversial issue,” the Los Angeles Times’ Kim Geiger and Tom Hamburger report. Grover Norquist: “We want to be sure that any member who votes in contempt of their constituents knows they will lose the next election.” On the other side: “Obama is also hoping to mobilize the network of grassroots supporters that helped to elect him — this time in service of his legislative agenda. Organizing for America (OFA) volunteers have promised to spend millions of hours this year working for lawmakers who support the health care proposal,” NPR’s Scott Horsley reports. Making the fiscal case — yes, still. Peter Orszag and Nancy-Ann DeParle, in a Washington Post op-ed: “The president’s plan represents an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability: It more than meets the president’s commitments that health-insurance reform not add a dime to the deficit and that it contain measures to reduce the growth rate of health-care costs over time.” Deal him back in: The magic number is back to 217. “Having been deeply involved in all health care legislation for the past decade, I knew it was important to stay and vote down this bill,” Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., said in announcing that he’ll stay in Congress through the end of March after all. How many whip counts will this help with? “Despite steep odds, the White House has discussed prospects for reviving a major overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, a commitment that President Obama has postponed once already,” the Los Angeles Times’ Peter Nicholas writes. “Obama took up the issue privately with his staff Monday in a bid to advance a bill through Congress before lawmakers become too distracted by approaching midterm elections. In the session, Obama and members of his Domestic Policy Council outlined ways to resuscitate the effort in a White House meeting with two senators — Democrat Charles E. Schumer of New York and Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — who have spent months trying to craft a bill,” Nicholas writes. What might have been this week’s issue, but is more likely to be next week’s: “President Obama’s proposed fee on the country’s biggest banks receiving taxpayer bailout money would ultimately result in costs to the firms’ customers, employees, and investors, a non-partisan Congressional watchdog said,” ABC’s Matthew Jaffe reports. What might become the big issue again at any point: “President Barack Obama’s energy strategy came under attack on at least three fronts Thursday, highlighting the conflict that has hobbled one of the administration’s top domestic priorities,” Rebecca Smith and Stephen Power write in The Wall Street Journal. “The actions add up to a significant challenge to Mr. Obama, who took office promising a fresh approach to energy policy that would promote jobs, slash greenhouse-gas emissions and put the U.S. in the forefront of new energy-technology development. More than a year into his presidency, Mr. Obama’s policies are encountering resistance from big industries and members of his own party.” How much longer can this last? “Gov. David A. Paterson lost another top administration official on Thursday, when his communications director announced that he could no longer ‘in good conscience’ continue in that role for the governor,” Danny Hakim and Jim Dwyer report in The New York Times. “The official, Peter E. Kauffmann, submitted his resignation the day after he was interviewed for several hours by prosecutors from the office of Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, which is investigating the administration’s response to a domestic violence case involving another top aide to the governor, David W. Johnson.” Yes, Friday afternoon: “With the fate of New York Gov. David A. Paterson’s political career in the balance, his top aide is convening an urgent meeting of the administration’s entire New York City staff on Friday afternoon,” The Wall Street Journal’s Jacob Gershman reports. Stars on the trail… Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., stumps with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday: “McCain will attempt to enhance his conservative bona fides by hosting the party’s new darling, US Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts, on an Arizona campaign swing,” The Boston Globe’s Matt Viser reports. “Brown is planning to accompany McCain at a campaign rally and fund-raiser in Phoenix today, followed tomorrow by a trip to Tucson, where they will attend a University of Arizona Wildcats basketball game.” Sarah Palin speaks to Ohio Right to Life on Friday. Greeting her there… “The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today launched the second round of ‘PalinsPrimaries.com’ to provide Sarah Palin with a guide of the most divisive and messy House Republican primaries in the country. On the same day Sarah Palin makes a political trip to Ohio, the DCCC site will feature House races with tea party candidates, libertarians, and other third party challengers most likely to force establishment Republicans to the right.” Ron Brownstein reads Mitt Romney’s book as back to Plan A (maybe): “Romney’s natural audience is center-right voters who want to restrain and reform government, not raze it. But today, the conservative coalition’s most militant elements are ascendant. So he is offering the first group generally nuanced policy and the second incendiary rhetoric, such as his CPAC denunciations of liberal ‘neo-monarchists’ threatening to ‘kill the very spirit that has built the nation.’ He seems determined to simultaneously convey that he is reasonable and angry. Reasonable suits Romney better, and yet now, as in 2008, he appears uncertain that he can capture the GOP’s heart while wearing the clothes that fit him best.” Also on the Friday docket: House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., at his annual campaign breakfast at the Richmond Convention Center: “When historians look back upon this trying period for our nation, the question is: What will they write about us? Will they write of the decline of our people, the end of the American dream?” Cantor plans to say, according to advance excerpts provided to The Note. “Or will they write about the most prosperous land in the history of the world – the nation that summoned the strength of its people to regenerate? I think it will be the latter. That’s what motivates me. That’s what motivates you. That’s why we’re here. And that’s why the upcoming November election is so critical.” Heating up out of the Senate Judiciary Committee: “All 7 Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee joined together today in opposing Dawn Johnsen’s nomination to head the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel,” per the pres s release: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala: “As head of the Office of Legal Counsel, Johnsen would be the senior official responsible for making legal judgments in the war on terror. But her alarming record should disqualify her from this crucial role.” Roll Call’s Jessica Brady: “Thursday’s 12-7 vote marks the second time the committee has considered Johnsen’s selection. Johnsen’s nomination was the subject of numerous holds last year and never made it to the Senate floor for a vote.”
The Kicker: “This is rumor city.” — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “I followed orders. I dropped and gave him twenty push-ups.” — Karl Rove, in his forthcoming memoir, “Courage and Consequences: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight,” on taking an order from Colin Powell in the Oval Office.
For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:

Intern for the ABC News Political Unit: The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking full-time summer 2010 interns in Washington, D.C. The paid internship begins Monday, May 24, 2010, and runs through Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. Political Unit interns attend political events and contribute to stories for the politics page of ABCNews.com. They also help ABC News by conducting research, maintaining our calendar of upcoming political events, and posting stories to ABCNews.com. In order to apply, you MUST be either a graduate student or an undergraduate student who has completed his or her first year of college. The internship is NOT open to recent graduates. You also must be able to work eight hours per day, Monday through Friday. Interns will be paid $8.50/hour. If you write well, follow politics closely, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to Teddy Davis, ABC News’ Deputy Political Director, at teddy.davis@abc.com, by Friday, March 12, with the subject line: “INTERN” in all caps. Please indicate in both your cover letter and the body of your email your student status and the specific dates and hours of your availability.

User Comments

When are they going to stop beating a dead horse. American people need jobs to pay the extremely large bill the president wants to hand them for something that is going to bankrupt the country when the Congress tries to keep it afloat. Too bad Congress does not pass a bill putting themselves into the healthcare plan they are trying to push on everyone else. If it was so good they would be jumping in faster than greased lightning.

Posted by: Dan | March 5, 2010, 8:52 am 8:52 am

According to the World Health Organization the USA ranks #37 for Quality Health Care — Right between Cuba and Costa Rica — For that status we pay twice what every other Industrial nation pay for Universal Comprehensive coverage— Yet our expenditure gives us only a pittance of their coverage !!!! The GOP plan is Kicking the current Unsustainable, overpriced, can down the Road !!! What the GOP fail to admit to in all their banter about “Fiscal responsibility” — LOL — Is How the abject recklessness of Bush giving tax cuts to the Upper 3%, while fighting two simultaneous unpaid for wars– effectively emptied the Treasury !!!! The dems made a mistake dropping the public Option — And the Bill should contain more cost cutting features — So let the vote come — If it Fails or passes — doing Nothing — and obstruction, ( The GOP Plan) is not Governing !!!

Posted by: brian | March 5, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am

brian | Mar 5, 2010 9:22:27 AM….So because Bush spent recklessly, it is ok for Obama to spend even more?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 9:28 am 9:28 am

The Dems do not have sufficient support in their own party, to pass heath care as it is now written.
Nor can they find the common ground to accept it, in any single form.
It will not pass. It is a dead issue that an entire legislative year has been wasted on.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 5, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am

LITMUS TEST: If Obama is for it; I am against it!

Posted by: Ed Taylor | March 5, 2010, 9:39 am 9:39 am

A miracle that it has come this far. America wants health care reform and is going to get it, at least as best as a corrupted government can provide it. It’s typical that whatever band of stooges (D’s or R’s)are in power get the brunt of corruption scandals (I’m shocked!) while the minority makes bag as if they are corruption free (not!). Incumbents are out anyway so they may as well forget their paymasters and do what’s right for America for a change.

Posted by: justanotheropinion123 | March 5, 2010, 10:01 am 10:01 am

Well, we need health care reform. The problem is that this bill will violate the first rule of medicine, “Do No Harm”. The American people have come to realize this fact and that’s why they have increasingly abandoned this big government approach to reform. My hope is that Democratic Representatives have a strong backbone and resist the onslaught of lies, pressures and threats from Pelosi and Obama. This bill will destroy health care if enacted.

Posted by: BublerDad | March 5, 2010, 10:13 am 10:13 am

Just a question…..wouldn’t a sane person (or an elected official…..well, they can’t really be put in the same category) ….anyway, wouldn’t “you” think that the dems would have got it by now?” Seriously, I would think that “ALL” polls show that MOST Americans DO NOT want this abortion of a health care bill, aka, obamacare & everyone except dems GET IT! dems just don’t learn. BUT…..I’ll ask anyway…..”CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?”

Posted by: Richard | March 5, 2010, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Posted by: parma hts gary | March 5, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am

The USA IS ON THE VERGE OF REVOLUTION….

Posted by: joe averagae | March 5, 2010, 10:16 am 10:16 am

The system is broken, America is now ruled by a hand full of morons from very small states or districts that re-elects the same person over and over.
Just look at where Reid come from and Pelosi. Hitler could run in those areas and win if he ran as a democrat.
We need term limits for congress. Most every law we have was designed to the society we had in the 50′s and 60′s.
Just look at ther crimes today you would never had heard of them back than.
Jails are full of drug users not sellers.
We need some major changes. Back than we would never had elected Obama not because he is black but because he had resume of any accomplishment in his life. You had to have done something back then.

Posted by: A Citizen | March 5, 2010, 10:24 am 10:24 am

Obama is demonstrating his failure as a leader. He’d be better off to quit digging the hole any deeper.

Posted by: JiM | March 5, 2010, 10:29 am 10:29 am

The only strategy Obama has left is to threaten their kneecaps.

Posted by: JiM | March 5, 2010, 10:30 am 10:30 am

When the Republicans have destroyed all notion of Health care reform the truth will come out, while they sat around having coffee, and the talk will be about how they single handly destroyed healthcare away from the American people.

Posted by: we'r1 | March 5, 2010, 10:31 am 10:31 am

Brian, The ranking is based on a report released nearly a decade ago by the World Health Organization and relies on statistics that are even older and incomplete. Even the editor-in-chief of the WHO report that accompanied the rankings, calls the figures that resulted in some steps as “so many made-up numbers and the result a “nonsense ranking.” Also a WHO spokesman says the organization has no plans to update the rankings, and adds, “We would not consider it current.” Would you really go to Oman, Greece, Colombia or Costa Rica for your health care (they are ranked higher than the US by the WHO), I doubt it. Do some research before you attempt to run down YOUR country with dubious accusations. Quit drinking the kool-aid.

Posted by: luadda22 | March 5, 2010, 10:33 am 10:33 am

I think the Government owes it to the people to provide healthcare. They should cap all salaries at $150K a year and use the rest of the money for us middle class who are held down by the rich.

Posted by: Mac | March 5, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am

Strike another point for the corporate greed bunch. When election time comes, we can hope everyone remembers who squashed health reform, or was it Obama losing, because of the party of no, or was it they saved they insurance cos. from needed regulation. I’m sure the Republican will find something to help them continue with the Bush years. We had a great 8 years. Didn’t we????
===========Hate to tell you this, but dumBO is losing because he is a crook. Back room deals with unions and insurance. Porkulus spent on campaigning. Horrible handling of the economy. Glaring unemployment numbers. Yet, he insists on shoving a bill down our throats that nobody wants but him. The arrogant one has become delusional. We all agree health care reform is needed. We all also agree that government control of health care will be nothing but another bloated SS, Medicare, USPS nightmare. Wake up dumBO and his lemmings. Your king is wearing no clothes and has no morals.

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am

parma hts gary | Mar 5, 2010 10:16:41 AM
….How mny of Obama’s campaign ppromises has he kept (this list of those he has not is too long to list). He has been disingenuous at best and llying at worst on some of his healthcare bill. Can he be trusted?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am

Dan Said: “American people need jobs to pay the extremely large bill the president wants to hand them for something that is going to bankrupt the country when the Congress tries to keep it afloat.”
Bonbud Said: “….So because Bush spent recklessly, it is ok for Obama to spend even more?”
=======================================
It’s hilarious to read right-whiner comments like this because it demonstrates how so many on the right are clearly unable to “connect-the-dots” between what is happening with the rapidly high inflation rates of health insurance over the past 14 years, and how this one single aspect of our economy–i.e., health care–which consumes 17% of our GDP is effecting the overall economy and federal and state budgets.
Dan and Bonbud… do some reading! Go to the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC)website and read about the economic impacts that our current system is having on the economy. Here are some facts from the NCHC:
1. Premiums for employers have grown by 131 percent since 1999 and have been rising above and beyond salaries and inflation consistently year after year (See Figure 1) — making it more difficult for businesses to continue to provide health coverage for employees and retirees.
2. The surge in health care spending over the last five years is a drag on economic growth.
3. High health insurance costs slow the rate of job growth by making it more expensive for firms to add new employees or retain existing employees.
4. Health insurance premiums for employers increased 131 percent between 1999 and 2008, compared to wages which have increased by only 38 percent during the same period and inflation which increased 28 percent.
5. Due to high and rising health insurance premiums, businesses find themselves in a competitive disadvantage with foreign competition that have operations in countries with universal health insurance programs.
Between 2000 and 2006, when the Republicans controlled the White House and congress, health insurance premiums increased 76% during that six year period. The republicans sat back and did absolutely NOTHING about this issue which significantly impacts the rest of the economy.
BOTTOM LINE: Would recommend that you start learning how to “connect-the-dots” before you start spewing right-whiner rhetoric that demonstrates that you have not done so.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 10:43 am 10:43 am

I think the Government owes it to the people to provide healthcare. They should cap all salaries at $150K a year and use the rest of the money for us middle class who are held down by the rich.
Posted by: Mac ===========Then move to Russia and good ridance!

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 10:43 am 10:43 am

Americans need Jobs? Did you ever stop to think about where all our Jobs have gone? They were sent over seas to India and China thanks to Republican CEOs milking those Bush Tax Subsidies for US companies who sent our Jobs and Industries overseas! You know the Tax cuts and subsidies approved via Reconciliation! Wake UP! Republicans are EVIL and GREED is their Religion! Jesus Christ would not have been a Greedy Republican CEO, he would’ve been a community organizer who cares for the poor and in need!

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am

GeorgieBushie | Mar 5, 2010 10:43:40 AM….I never said we didn’t need healthcare reform, DID I????? While the majority of people do not want Obamacare, they do believe healthcare reform is necessary. Special treatment for Nebraska, Louisiana, Fla. So you believe WHATEVER IT TAKES – including screwing most other states? You never answered MY question about spending.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 10:49 am 10:49 am

Posted by: GeorgieBushie ====================Well georgie, got that lemming liberal crap out of your system? No one is argueing that reform is needed. The argument is that dumBO’s planned government take over is not needed. You liberals keep standing around with your hands out, but are running out of people to pay for your drivel. Government control is not the answer and will only compound the problem. Of couse you think the Postal Service is doing a bang up job huh? What about the Democrats that have sat on their hands while in control of congress and watched SS spiral out of control? Or maybe the Frank Dood Fannie Freddy debaucle.

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 10:51 am 10:51 am

Here’s a simple honest Question, is it in the best interest of the Republican Party for Obama to succeed? Simple answer is NO! So once you understand that logic you’ll understand why the Republicans will never support anything this President is trying to achieve even if it means Flushing the Poor and Needy down the Toilet. Their view is simple, in order for the Greedy Republican Party to Succeed, Obama must Fail” as Rush Limblah has clearly stated “Obama Must Fail!”

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 10:51 am 10:51 am

If the Dems were serious about saving money, not matter how allegedly small, they would have includes all of those Republican ideas FROM THE BEGINNING. How can they say they serious about costs and never have included them. Those ideas were proposed, most of them, from the beginning.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 10:52 am 10:52 am

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 10:54 am 10:54 am

NO MORE CAREER POLITICIANS, whether its Democrats or Republicians, Its time to take back Washington. We can do this at every election. No more career politicians. Join the movement and watch washington power broker’s shake in FEAR. No more incumbents back in washington. AMERICA ITS OUR TIME NOW TO SAY NO TO CAREER POLITICIANS. Trust me if we do this and get rid of every loser in Washington. AMERICA WILL GROW STRONGER.

Posted by: Scruce | March 5, 2010, 10:55 am 10:55 am

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 10:47:53 AM…..Does the fact that the US has either the highest or second highest corporate tax rate have ANYTHING to do with those jobs going to China and India?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 10:55 am 10:55 am

What part of Bush and his Republican Crooks didn’t give a damn about Blowing away a few Trillion of our $$$ and a few Hundred Thousand lives when they pushed two Faild Wars with ZERO, repeat ZERO plans on how they would be paid for? aren’t you Right Wing Guinea Pigs not understanding? They only see you as stooges that follow them blindly supporting them with your last dollars as you continue to look for the Jobs that they sent over to China and India… WAKEUP!

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 10:57 am 10:57 am

What party did Clinton belong to? He did reform welfare?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am

People in Canada and Mexico get free health care, why can’t we? We have more money than they do. Obama promised free health care and he needs to deliver. The rich Republicans need to stop fighting Obama and let him provide for us like he promised.

Posted by: Mac | March 5, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 10:57:51 AM….Have you ever taken an economics course? Seems you’re missing a few basics on economics.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am

Tell us all what Obama has done that has been worst then lying to us about Iraq and getting us into two Failed Wars with Zero plans on how to Pay for them? Providing a tax incentive to Corporations to ship your Jobs and industries to India and China. Killing Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi Women, Men and Children based on a pack of Lies? Not Capturing Osama in over 8 Years? Please tell us all why you would bash Obama over Bush?

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am

Doctors make too much money and that is a lot of the problem causing health care to cost so much. This is America where we are all equal. They shouldn’t make that much more than the rest of us.,

Posted by: Mac | March 5, 2010, 11:04 am 11:04 am

bonbud, I may have not taken a course on Economics but obviously neither did Bush! and I’m not the one responsible for starting two Wars with ZERO plans on how to pay for them.

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 11:05 am 11:05 am

I sure am impressed how Obama has united this country like he promised to do when he was campaining. If we get any more united I think we will all be sitting around the campfire singing kum ba ya together.

Posted by: Billy Bob | March 5, 2010, 11:07 am 11:07 am

Bonbud, No one is questioning whether Companies going over seas will make more money. The issue is that these companies with their higher tax rate were still very profitable and successful in the US. It’s simply a matter of Greed. Will the CEO get a 5 Million Dollar Bonus or a 10 Million Dollar Bonus. Forget the fact that he’s laid off 5,000 employees that busted their humps to prop up the Company.

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 11:08 am 11:08 am

Billy Bob, If anyone has divided this Country it’s been the Republican Spin Machine, Rush Limblah, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, the RNC etc.. Nothing but hate and fear spewing from their Evil lips. They’ve even been outed for having it as a prime strategy in that RNC PowerPoint.

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 11:12 am 11:12 am

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 10:57:51 AM….Are you working? If your company’s competitor offered you a job paying $10,000 more, woould you take it?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:13 am 11:13 am

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 11:05:34 AMbonbud, I may have not taken a course on Economics but obviously neither did Bush! and I’m not the one responsible for starting two Wars with ZERO plans on how to pay for them. ………….So, I will ask again. Because Bush spent too darn much money, it it ok for Obama to spend more? Do you have any idea of how much faster the debt is growing now?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:16 am 11:16 am

You cannot lead if your trying to lead a few hundred Bennedict Arnolds! The Republicans are only looking out for Big Business and thier Politcal Careers. Screw the Poor, Needy and Sick.. It’s part of their Skewed Christian Values.. We come first everyone else can go to H3ll.
Screw the poor and needy? Is that what dumBO is doing with the unions? Screwing the poor and needy? Or how about Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma. The auto union welfare? How about those bank bonus’s paid with you tax dollars and called porkulus? How about that photo op in Vegas that you thankfully put on your knee pads for and paid with your hard earned porkulus? Get a grip! Your kool aid addiction is sickening.

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 11:17 am 11:17 am

bonbud, you need a lesson in Reality, it usually costs a h3ll of a lot more to fix things then it does to Break Things.. How much do you think it should cost to fix what Bush and his Criminals have broken?

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 11:18 am 11:18 am

Healthcare costs so much because doctors make too much money. We are all suppose to be equal.

Posted by: Mac | March 5, 2010, 11:22 am 11:22 am

Mac | Mar 5, 2010 11:22:27 AM….We are all created equal; but, from there it is up to each individual to make what they want out of life. If you don’t have what you want, study more, work harder, spend less, long enough and hard enough and you’ll reach your destination.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:25 am 11:25 am

Mac: Healthcare costs so much because doctors make too much money. We are all suppose to be equal. ===========Another light bulb liberal. We are equal. You have the same opportunity as I to get off your lazy bum and go to work. Just because I work hard does not mean that I work hard to support you!

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 11:26 am 11:26 am

Mac | Mar 5, 2010 11:22:27 AM…Of course, there’s another option. Demand that the government give you everything you think you need and/or want because life is sooooooo hard and unfari.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:27 am 11:27 am

Folks, arguing against the Repubots is a waste of time. They do not believe facts… they think GWB was indeed the Decider, and he can do no wrong.
They hate.. its all they are capable of, and for you to try and convince them is as foolish as Obama thinking he could get bipartisan support of a bill America needs.
Repubs area dying breed, let them pass without scorn since they have tossed all of their dignity into Palin’s Chum bucket.

Posted by: DewyB | March 5, 2010, 11:30 am 11:30 am

bonbud Said: “..While the majority of people do not want Obamacare, they do believe healthcare reform is necessary. Special treatment for Nebraska, Louisiana, Fla. So you believe WHATEVER IT TAKES – including screwing most other states? You never answered MY question about spending…”
=======================================
LOL… let me disect your response:
“While the majority of people do not want Obamacare”… ACCORDING TO WHO? THE TEA PARTIERS AND FOX NEWS?
“…they do believe healthcare reform is necessary.” … SO WHY DIDN’T THE REPUBLICANS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IN THE SIX YEARS THAT THEY HAD THE WHITE HOUSE AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS?… LOL… “ONLY NOW” THEY HAVE A BETTER PLAN?
“Special treatment for Nebraska, Louisiana, Fla.” …. LOL! MAYBE FOX NEWS HASN’T KEPT YOU “INFORMED” (since you seem to lack in that area), THE CURRENT PROPOSAL BY THE PRESIDENT TAKES ALL SPECIAL DEALS OUT OF THE BILL!
“…You never answered MY question about spending…” LOL! First of all, and very bluntly, no one on the right has a right to “whine” about spending, especially when the largest increase to the national debt under one single president (IN OUR NATION’S HISTORY!) occurred under the last republican president, who by the way, had a republican congress for 6 of his 8 years.
Secondly, regarding your question, it would be impossible to explain all of the cost containment measures included in President Obama’s proposal. But for starters, go to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s side-by-side comparison of the current two drafts of the bills (and the White House’s proposal). You’ll sse the cost containment measures that are in each plan. Then, go to the National Coalition on Health Care webpage and read their “White Paper on Cost Containment”. You’ll see that a lot of what the White House recommends, are the same measures recommended by the National Coalition on Health Care, a non-partisan organization.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 11:32 am 11:32 am

It will be Obamacare
or richmancare or perhaps
nocare at all.

Posted by: pln0006 | March 5, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am

The Democratic congress made a big deal of their “Pay-Go” legislation, requiring the government to actually be able to “pay” for any spending they approve…. Nobody is telling you that when they pass spending provisions now, they just “exempt” that bill from the new “Pay-Go” rules —– Same old crapola!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am

It’s all the fault of George Bush’s tax cuts for rich republicans.

Posted by: Mac | March 5, 2010, 11:45 am 11:45 am

Todd Said: “…You have the same opportunity as I to get off your lazy bum and go to work.”
=====================================
LMAO! … another completely, “right-whiner” “assumption” that all liberals don’t work.
What’s that phrase? “When you ‘assume’, you make an ‘as_’ out of yourself.” … LOL.
FYI Todd, many liberals work…I happen to have done two tours in Iraq so far. Did you join in that cause? (LOL)

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 11:45 am 11:45 am

Georgie: Then you won’t mind me disecting your liberal drivel. “While the majority of people do not want Obamacare”… ACCORDING TO WHO? THE TEA PARTIERS AND FOX NEWS?======================Every poll in the United States. Thats who.
SO WHY DIDN’T THE REPUBLICANS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IN THE SIX YEARS THAT THEY HAD THE WHITE HOUSE AND BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS?… LOL… “ONLY NOW” THEY HAVE A BETTER PLAN?===============First off you havn’t answered my question from the last time you whinned about this. What were the Democrats doing while in power of the Congress for the last 6 years? Watching SS go down the tubes? Watching Franks and Dodd cause the motgage meltdown with fanny and Freddy while linning their pockets?
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL BY THE PRESIDENT TAKES ALL SPECIAL DEALS OUT OF THE BILL!
=================You don’t think exempting government employees and unions from this garbage is a special deal? You don’t think the back room deals with pharma/ AMA/ Insurance companies is a special deal? You don’t think the Louisina purchase was a special deal? You don’t think exempting our elected crooks from this garbage is a special deal? And hate to tell you this but the arrogant one has well over spent anything Bush ever dreamed about. And for what? Lower unemployment, campaign funds, photo ops in Vegas. Economic porkulus for union votes?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 11:46 am 11:46 am

Georgie: LMAO! … another completely, “right-whiner” “assumption” that all liberals don’t work.
What’s that phrase? “When you ‘assume’, you make an ‘as_’ out of yourself.” … LOL.
FYI Todd, many liberals work…I happen to have done two tours in Iraq so far. Did you join in that cause? (LOL)
No, I didn’t. To old. And Thank you ofr your service. But what does that have to do with going to work?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 11:49 am 11:49 am

GeorgieBushie | Mar 5, 2010 11:32:35 AM….Do you only read Huff Post and other progrssive blogs? The average of the polls show that the number of people against Obamacare has been increasing since last summer and is over 51% (even Obama agrees 51% is a majority). I thought you may be mature enough to give a mature answer to “If Bush spent too much, is is ok for Obama to spend more?” Has ANY, repeat ANY of the major government programs come close to long term spending projections?? No, they all exceed by significant multiples. So given this historical fact, how is the growing debt and deficits going to be reduced????

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:50 am 11:50 am

Mac | Mar 5, 2010 11:45:10 AM….Do you even know that the poor and middle class got a larger percentage tax reduction that the rich?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:52 am 11:52 am

Mac: It’s all the fault of George Bush’s tax cuts for rich republicans.===========Pretty sad when all the progressive liberals can do is blame Bush. It has been 14 months! When will dumBO be responsible for porkulus?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 11:56 am 11:56 am

TheLoyalOpposition | Mar 5, 2010 11:34:35 AM……I was very upset (and wrote my Sens) at the Republicans for not supporting Bunning in his demand the Congress HONOR the law they passed and find the money for the proposed bill. Washington is filled with hypocrits. Replaced the incumbents.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:56 am 11:56 am

DewyB | Mar 5, 2010 11:30:32 AM….I’m still waiting for something cogent.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am

GeorgieBushie….To compare apples to apples, what is the per year average spending of Bush compared to Obama?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm

Do you now want to rephrase that question? …. LMAO!
Sure! What were the Democrats doing when SS was going down the tubes? What were the Democrats doing while Franks, Dodd and Rangle were lining their pockets? Third time is supposed to be a charm, think you can answer the questions this time?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Term limits for congress are long overdue.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Wonder how people are going to afford ont of these Health Care Plans if they HAVE NO JOB!???
JOBs JOBs JOBs JOBs.

Posted by: ajax | March 5, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

bonbud — I think Mac is just trying to “get your goat”! — He obviously can’t be so naive as to believe the things he is writing —– If he did, he would give us his opinion of the three most important provisions of this healthcare reform debacle… and I will bet Mac the provisions don’t even accomplish what he thinks they do!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm

TheLoyalOpposition | Mar 5, 2010 12:05:05 PM….I try to respond as factually as possible. At one point I quit posting since I thought they all would never get out of the spell of the Pied Piper. But, when I came back, I was surprised to see fewer reciting the ‘WH daily talking points’ . There is hope!

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm

Todd… your question was this:
“…What were the Democrats doing while in power of the Congress for the last 6 years?…”
ANSWER: The Democrats were not in power for the last 6 years… do your homework, and get your facts straight.
On the other hand, the republicans WERE, in fact, in control of congress for the previous 12 years (1995 to 2007), and for six of those years they also had a republican president (2001 to 2007)… Why didn’t they do anything about health care then?

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

I just heard something interesting —- That Obama is actually lying to his own party members in the House of Representatives… He is telling them to “don’t worry about the abortion wording in the Senate bill, just pass it and we will fix it in Reconciliation”. —- The problem… If the House passes the Senate Bill without changing anything —-IT’S DONE!! No reconciliation is necessary if it’s passed exactly as the Senat passed it!!! —- Anybody see fault here??

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

While our congressmen and senators villainize the CEO’s, insurance companies and the other party, don’t be distracted from the fact that they are the ones who make the laws and thereby authorize virtually everything that occurs in this country. Our legislators are the true scoundrels. Vote for other than the incumbent……forever hereafter.

Posted by: gollywiggle | March 5, 2010, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

bonbud Said: “GeorgieBushie….To compare apples to apples, what is the per year average spending of Bush compared to Obama?”
=====================================
LMAO!…. Oh yeah, let’s try to compare apples-to-oranges instead (if you’re capable).
bonbud, do you know how much the federal government now pays out on the “interest” (ONLY INTEREST) on the additional $5 Trillion dollars of debt racked up during the Bush administration? You should go to the Treasury webpage and find this out. It’s very near 1/2 of a trillion dollars per year ($451 Billion in the last year of G.W. Bush, fiscal year 2008). To put that in perspective, the annual operating budget of the Department of Defense is equal to approximately $500 billion. So, with the interest we now pay on the national debt racked up during the Bush years, we could actually, very nearly, operate a second Department of Defense… the largest of all the federal departments.
Where do you think those interest payments come from? ANSWER: Annual Tax revenues.
So for you to try and compare Bush with Obama is rediculous. When Bush took over from Clinton, he wasn’t left with a huge interest payment on the national debt that took a huge chunk out of the federal government’s annual operating budget. On the other hand, when Obama took over from Bush, he was left with this huge interest payment on the debt that does in fact eat away at the annual operating budget.

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

Impeach the crooked lame duck before he can screw up anything else!

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm

Bushie: Have you forgotten to add the porkulus into your equation? Or has the last 14 months of nothing but lies, broken promises, stupidity regarding the economy and jobs flew under your radar?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm

Georgie —- The HIPAA legislation passed by a Republican House and Senate in 1996 was the most sweeping reform of healthcare in the US since Medicare! — Sorry you don’t remember it — The 1996 HIPAA legislation addresses portability and limits restrictions that a group health plan can place on pre-existing conditions. The “uninsurable” in Indiana can be covered by a “state pool” where Hoosiers can get guaranteed health coverage, funded by insurance companies, state allocations, and premium dollars from the insured! So in Indiana, when we hear stories that people are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions, it can only be because they wanted “free” coverage, not the state pool!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

Georgie —-Remember only congress can authorize the spending of government money, not the President!! — In Bush’s first six years, the GOP controlled congress – The deficit on 9/30/2000 was $5.67T and on 9/30/06 it was $8.51T, is an increase of $2.84T, or $470 Billion per year. — After 9/30/06, the Dems took control of congress and the deficit rose so that today the deficit is $12.4T. — In a little more than three years of a Democrat-controlled congress, the deficit has risen over $3.9T, or $1.3T per year!! — So in the last three years a Democratic congress has already “out-performed” the total of Bush’s deficit in his first six years with a GOP congress! — Again, GOP congress = $470 Billion per year; Dem congress = $1.3 Trillion per year!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

GeorgieBushie | Mar 5, 2010 12:52:24 PM….Why do you refuse to answer the question? Since Obama has not been in office a full 2 terms, I think the most logical way to compare spending is year by year? Nah, nah, nah. “I don’t like that way because the answer I will get.” I have been forthright and admitted Bush spent too much. Does your ideology prevent you from answering THE question?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

TheLoyalOpposition | Mar 5, 2010 1:15:33 PM….Thanks for your beakdown. I was pushing for Bushie to give me an honest answer. Kind of like an alcoholic must admit he has a drinking problem before the alcoholism can be dealt with. I am an independent that votes mainly Repub (Perot and Paul); but, I am willing to admit I drank too much Repub koolaide. And I am working to more objective.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm

Lets not forget Bush and his republican strategists other Great Ideas.. Send US Jobs and industries overseas and give the Companies sending them TAX BREAKS!!! Yeah Babeeee.. Howbout we take Social Security and tie it to the Stock Market!!! Just like those Security backed Mortgages, YEEEAHHHH Another Winner!!! Howbout I take $700Billion that the country doesn’t have and give it to my WallStreet Buddies on my last few days at work, No Questions asked!!!! Dayumb!! I shoulda been a NEWQUELARR scientist….

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

I am pro-choice, but not at the taxpayers expense. The Senate bill allowing the segregation of funds for abortion is a sham. If an individual is receiving subsidies to help pay for their insurance, then that individual needs to pay for their own abortion out of pocket if that is the decision they reach on their pregnancy. It is smoke and mirrors or the shell game, you pick, to state that the individual would need to write two checks if they want abortion coverage. Bottom line – if they have received federal monies (subsidies) to help pay for insurance, they have received federal monies to pay for abortions. The people may like individual portions of the bill, but in its entirety, most do not want this bill. Obama states that if it doesn’t pass now, the opportunity is lost. NOT SO. A pared down bill could be developed, debated, and compromises reached in short order. And, be forewarned, if reconciliation (although now they like to say 50+1) is used to circumvent the process, then rest assured, the Congress will have my support in stopping any and all legislation such as cap and trade. While reconciliation has been used in the past, it has never been used to affect 20% of our economy nor was it intended to be used that way.

Posted by: tired of it all | March 5, 2010, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm

Why isn’t there more about that Republican RNC Powerpoint Lesson on how to spread Hate and Fear to get people to give them $$$$.. Nah, lets talk nonsense about Obama and How Bush was soo much better then him… ROFLM-Liberal-AO…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 1:35:47 PM…..The financial crisis was almost 18 monts ago. What has Obama done to Wall St to prevent a recurrance? How hard would it be to re-institute the Glass-Steagall act that was undone in the Clinton adminitration?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

The sad thing is that Bush was almost a year and half ago and these people cannot let it go. Rather than discuss the issues relevant to today and the decisions being made which will affect our lives for years to come, they want to look at the failures of an administration that has been out of power for a WHILE! We all know what Bush did. I spent 8 years calling him out for it. He is gone and we have a new guy in the big chair now. How about all you Bush-Bashers get with the program and turn that critical perspective on the current administration. You decry Bush as though he is an answer to any question regarding Obama, or a justification for whatever Obama does today. This is about NOW!

Posted by: War919 | March 5, 2010, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm

Obama took office while the Market was at its lowest.. and thanks to his actions the Markets have revovered a 5000 Points from the lows… 401ks have gained Trillions in Value.. While they lost as much during Bushes last 2 years….

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm

RepubEvil — “How bout I take $700Billion that the country doesn’t have and give it to my WallStreet Buddies” —– Hmmmm interesting concept, but I thought the Democrat-controlled congress (who are the only people on earth who can vote to spend the our money) did that!!! — I distinctly remember Senator Obama pushing for it too!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

We cannot let Bush and his Republican Cronies go because of the Monumental Mess they’ve left this country in.. You idiots think Bush and Cheney the Elected leaders of the Republican Party are going to get a free pass on that one? ever heard of Accountability? They, Republican leadership are responsible for the Economic Mess they created over 8 years of Bush Republican Strategies…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 1:44:22 PM…Have you pulled your money out of the market? If no …… it could be back down at the 6000 level in the next couple of years. I moved my money out and some to short oriented ETF’s.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm

And all the Bush bashers forget that the Dems had Congress for the last 6 years. Congress writes and passes legislation. This administration has handled out billions of dollars and there is little to show for it. Pelosi to clean the swamp – starting in 2006 – hasn’t happened. There is plenty of blame to go around, but the issue is now and what actions now and how they will affect our future and our children’s/grandchildren’s futures. And childish as it is, two wrongs don’t make a right!!

Posted by: tired of it all | March 5, 2010, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm

A year after the first summit, and the American public STILL doesn’t like the bill. I don’t know how much longer they plan to blame the Republicans for ‘scaring’ the public about the bill, but I would think a year later, people have seen what they need to see and heard what they need to hear. At this point, I think a lot of people are wondering if the ‘reform’ is actually for the good of the country, or just for the good of Obama so he can ‘justify’ his success. It was my understanding that Obama and others in the administration were deeming 2010 as the year of “JOBS”. So far, all we’ve seen is healthcare as usual.

Posted by: Shoe | March 5, 2010, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

RepubEvil —- So Obama spends 14 months pushing his healthcare reform agenda rather than woring on the economy and jobs? — and he can’t even spend 60% of what was supposed to be “stimulus” money?? — All he can do is point to people and say “fatcats” while not controlling his own spending! — Is THAT working for the people or for the party?

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 1:57 pm 1:57 pm

The Majority of Americans like Myself don’t like the final Version of the Bill because of all the Republican Garbage added that has watered it down! but Obama is working on a final Bill that they will definitely like and support.. You’ll see.. Sorry Republican senators in the insurance Companies pockets but the Gravy train has to come to an end…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

RepubEvil — You wrote “The Majority of Americans like Myself don’t like the final Version of the Bill because of all the Republican Garbage added” — ha-ha-ha-ha… what a comment!!! — Provisions were “watered-down” because even the Blue Dog Dems wouldn’t vote for a bill THAT liberal!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

Blaming Obama for this Mess is like Blaming the Fireman at a house fire for the Fire while he’s trying to put it out? then getting offended when the Fireman reminds you that this fire was caused by an Arsonist called George Dumbya Bush.. Where’s your logic ?? You cannot condemn Obama for this mess without keeping in perspective that this is not a mess he created… Just like the Fireman he’s doeing his best.. but much of that house will have to be rebuilt and it will cost a lot of money…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm

RepublicansAreEvil | Mar 5, 2010 2:04:26 PM….Well …..? We’re still waiting for Obama to COMPLETE a campaign promise? Are the troops home? Did our taxes “NOT GO UP”? And the Patriot Act? Is Guantanamo closed? Oh…. he did have the healthcare summit on TV! But was it “the committee negotiating the bill”?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm

Bonbud – Term limits for congress are long overdue” I would definitely aggree 1000% too many Politicians making careers out of their appointments… at least we agree on that one..

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

RepubEvil — You said “Clinton… left Bush a Budget Surplus” —- Could that be because there was Republican control of the House and Senate for the last 6 years of the Clinton Presidency? (Remember, congress spends money)

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

TheLoyal- “Could that be because there was Republican control of the House and Senate for the last 6 years of the Clinton Presidency? So why did it all go so wrong under Bushes Presidency? he had Rep leaning Congreass and Senate…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm

RepubEvil — I think they call it a “war”!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm

He would’ve also come through with his health Care reform over a year ago if it weren’t for the Party of No doing what they do best, saying no… actually what they do best is take Money from Lobbyists… eg Insurance Companies..

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

RepubEvil —- You wrote “I believe he (Obama) signed into law that Torture of any kind would not allowed anymore” — Then why is he torturing us by pushing his rediculous healthcare reform bill 24/7??

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

RepubEvil — “Party of No”??? — Oh, you mean the “Blue Dog Dems”… who stopped the bills from passing while the GOP stood helpless against the 60 vote supermajority of the Dems??

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | March 5, 2010, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

Blue Dog Dems are just Dinos.. Democrats in Name only and will be out of office soon enough.. All will eventually balance itself out…

Posted by: RepublicansAreEvil | March 5, 2010, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

TheLoyalOpposition Said: “The deficit on 9/30/2000 was $5.67T and on 9/30/06 it was $8.51T, is an increase of $2.84T, or $470 Billion per year.”
======================================
LMAO! OK, let’s shoot some holes in this right-whiner’s theory.
First of all LoyalOpposition, you’re using the term “deficit” when you’re actually referring to the debt. Do you even understand the difference between the two terms: “annual deficit” and “national debt”? I doubt that you do.
Second, LoyalOpposition, your only going up to FISCAL YEAR 2006! Why didn’t you include FISCAL YEAR 2007, as part of the “Republican congress’s” spending behavior?
FOR YOUR INFORMATION, the FY 2007 federal budget was “submitted by George W. Bush’s Office of Manangement and Budget”, and APPROVED BY THE 109TH CONGRESS. Let’s see now, what was the composition of the “109th Congress”? Hmmmmmm…. doing a little research (which you’ve proven you’re incapable of), the 109th Congress consisted of:
House: 202 Democrats & 231 REPUBLICANS
Senate: 44 Democrats & 55 REPUBLICANS.
LOL… so, it looks like the fiscal year 2007 budget, which you conveniently left out of your totals, was actually ALSO approved by a republican congress.
So, Loyal Opposition, you’re stopping point for the Republicans should have been “9/30/07″ (the end of fiscal year 2007, i.e., the last budget approved by the republican congress before they lost the majority), at which point, the national debt was at 9.0 Trillion dollars…. a whole half-trillion short of your stopping point!
AND…if you “REALLY” want to say that only the congress is to blame for spending (i.e., that the President’s Office of Management and Budget has nothing to do with how the budget turns out… LOL), then why go only back to 2000? Why didn’t you go all the way back to 1995, when the republicans first took control of the congress during that 12 year period (1995 to 2007)?
And, LoyalOpposition, during those 12 years, did the republicans (i.e., the party of “fiscal conservatism”) ever try to reduce spending?… LOL… Answer: “NO!” Under the “fiscally conservative” leadership of the congress, the debt went from 4.973 trillion dollars to 9.007 trillion…. all under the mantra of “fiscal conservatism”… LOL!

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm

TheLoyal – No, I think they call it a Bogus War based on Lies fabricated by Bush and his cronies.. a War with absolutely no clue as to how it was going to be paid for… and that was Bushes doing.. So based on your conclusion that the Economy is a mess because of Bushes War..
How convienent of you to forget dumBO’s war in Afghan? And dumBO’s bumbling of the economy, and dumBO’s raise in the unemployment rate. How do you blame those on Bush? Or how about the mortgage meltdown hadled by franks and Dodd. I suppose Bush did that also?

Posted by: Todd | March 5, 2010, 2:41 pm 2:41 pm

everybody who thinks we can’t afford a new entitlement program of this magnitude needs to write, call, e mail their congressman and tell them what you think

Posted by: madmax | March 5, 2010, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

Mac, I don’t make $150,000. , but I don’t want to hold back someone who can. You ARE talking socialism or worse. “You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom, that my friend, is about the end of any nation.” Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005

Posted by: carol in Alabama | March 5, 2010, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm

I see GeoBushie still ‘cherry picking” his years, but won’t take a year by year comparison of our current progressive president.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm

Osama Bin Laden has the best health care plan “No American left behind”.

Posted by: freedom | March 5, 2010, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm

bonbud Said… “cherry picking”… LMAO! Is that “all you have to come back with?”
Face it buddy, only fools like you keep going back to that party that continues to claim their “fiscally conservative”, yet the actual data shows no evidence of it.
It would be hard to explain to someone at your level how difficult it is to shut off government expenditures that started during the Bush administration… Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. As once said before, it would be like “trying to have a conversation with my dining room table”… LMAO!

Posted by: GeorgieBushie | March 5, 2010, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm

GeorgieBushie | Mar 5, 2010 3:48:37 PM..Attack, attack, attack, without answering the questin. You must be afraid to put that comparison out there.

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm

GeorgieBushie | Mar 5, 2010 3:48:37 PM….Do you know who Cloward and Piven are?

Posted by: bonbud | March 5, 2010, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm

Kill this bill and start over.
We need health reform desperately, but not this bill.
Don’t be fooled into allowing the underlying 2700 pages bill, which the health care industry crafted, which will allow them to steal at will from us and the US Treasury, to become law.
It will force us to purchase questionable insurance to purchase overpriced care.
The health care industry reported paying $600,000,000. dollars so far for this bill.
What other deals and payoffs have been made?
Real Public Option reforms which would save lives and save money have been kept out of the debate by the President, Democrats, and Republicans, did anyone commit crimes doing it?
Eliot Spitzer should be put in charge of a federal squad of Untouchables to perform hard nosed audits and investigations of Wall Street and Washington which will ascertain what roll criminal activity has had and is having in the destructive behavior which has decimated individual wealth, political fairness, and the United States Treasury.
All 300 million people in the US could receive free public option health care, delivered from government VA system styled hospitals, paid for with sales tax revenues instead of insurance premiums, and it would save $1trillion dollars every year from the $2.6trillion spent last year.
Everyone choosing government, sales tax funded care, could have it free with no restrictions primary, inpatient, outpatient, long-term, mental, ophthalmology and dentistry including medications.
Either Free Public Option or Private Purchase Private Care options for everyone to choose from.

Posted by: Bill Watson | March 5, 2010, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm

donbud – you think that bashing Bush is an answer? Get over yourself.
Stick your hand-crafted studies…you think anyone buys that crap?
just how much will YOUR taxes increase to pay for free health care and all entitlements FOR today’s illegal immigrants who are tomorrow’s citizens – ala Obama?

Posted by: OldEnough | March 7, 2010, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm

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