Past presidents have occasionally been seen as out of touch with Americans. Usually, they would humbly acknowledge it, say something along the lines of "message received," and move toward the people's point of view.
Not this president. He figures we're the ones not getting the message.
When the people rejected the Democrats' massive health-care proposal, and it became clear the Senate would too, Mr. Obama announced that jobs would heretofore be his No. 1 priority.
Message received? Not if you judge his actions, rather than his words.
Instead of an all-out push for job creation, he called a health-care summit for Thursday -- and on Monday released his first health-care proposal of any significance. It happens to be what amounts to a reconstituted congressional health-care reform package. Even The New York Times said it "sticks largely to the version passed by the Senate in December."
Oh, and Democrats have already made it known that, while they "welcome" input from Republicans Thursday, they're perfectly willing, and are perhaps laying the groundwork, to reconfigure the Senate vote so it only requires 51 votes rather than the usual filibuster-proof 60.
So, come with your ideas on Thursday, but we're getting ready to do it without you.
Nice bipartisan tone they're setting!
In truth, the president and his leaders in Congress don't care what Republicans think or even what you think. They're hellbent on passing a government-centered health-care bill that breathlessly expands the role of government in all our lives.
The numbers say it's a path to political suicide: a whopping 58 percent of the public oppose the congressional Democrats' health-care proposals; 48 percent strongly oppose, while only 19 percent strongly support it -- and 61 percent say scrap the Democrats' cockamamie plans and start over.
Yet, Obama wants to put a new ribbon on the package and pawn it off as new and ignore the public's wishes. The American people will not be mocked and ignored this way for long -- only until the next election.
It's just tragic the way Mr. Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have handled this important issue -- that is, in such an autocratic, arrogant and condescening manner. Now, after their proposals have sunk like a cement dinghy, they simply want to repackage them and try to float them in a pretty new container.
Why on Earth? You would think that Democrats would want to win over at least some Republicans, and, oh, say, a slight majority of the American people before they take a blow torch to one-sixth of the nation's economy. Oddly, they don't seem to feel the need to bring us along.
Perhaps here's why: They know we won't go along with it. Their plans will tax health plans, will put the government in charge of what kind of insurance is available, will require you, under penalty of law, to purchase what they tell you to, will lead to government rationing of health care, and will limit patient choices in unprecedented ways.
If Obama, Reid and Pelosi really wanted health-care reform, rather than more government power, they would come to Thursday's summit not with an already-rejected blueprint, but with a new outline as a map to a fresh start.
But that's not their goal. Their goal is to trap Republicans into either agreeing to the disastrous government-centered plan, or to have the GOP be portrayed in the media as "obstructionists."
Well, guess what: Sometimes saying "no" is just the thing.
This is one of those times.
Obama will speak to the media after the Thursday meeting with the Republicans. He will say he tried, but the Republicans refused to offer any valid ideas so they will do it alone via "reconcilation." What the Republicans should do is demand a condition of their cooperation and participation be no reconciliation.
An interesting tidbit in the reconciliation threat is The Byrd Rule. The Byrd Rule says reconciliation cannot be used for provisions that would increase the deficit beyond 10 years after the reconciliation. Just how do the Democrats intend to get past that? Robert Byrd blocked Bill Clinton's health care plan with this.
The Democrats are simply making idle threats. In order for the Senate to exercise its reconciliation power, the Senate would have to pass the exact Bill coming out of the House without amendment. First, Pelosi doesn't have the votes now to pass anything in the House, and even if she did, I don't think 51% of the Senators would vote for it considering how different the House and Senate Bills were to begin with, and it would be political suicide in light of Massachusetts. Game Over!
Nat, at any other time in our history, I would agree with you. However, these people will stop at nothing short of getting this thing passed. By hook, or by crook. There are all sorts of parlimentary tricks that can be used here, all in the name of a crisis situation where they did what they had to do. I also do not put it past the "Gang of 3" to have some sort of reconciliation bill ready to put to a vote, that was hammered out in secret. Remember, these people are ruthless in their tactics, and they feel they are losing their advantage, and this is their last chance. Katy bar the door. Imho, the other shoe is about to drop, so stay tuned. Of course we all know the meeting on Thursday is nothing more than a ruse, as they would have included the Republicans months ago if they were the least bit interested in their input. However, this way he can look like he tried his best to include them, but they simply would not bend. What a joke. The man is shameless. River, you are right, of course, about the Byrd Rule, but remember that they have said all along that the bill is deficit neutral. Once it is passed and signed into law, it doesn't matter if they were wrong or right about that little detail. Much like all their other back door deals, and shady political maneuvers. I hope I am wrong. I really do. We will just have to wait and see how it plays out.
Fed, I surely hope that you are wrong...there will be anarchy and pandemonium in the streets. Tea bags will turn to blood baths!
God help this President!
Please include my name in the "obstructionist" column when "the list" is made. It still bothers me that they think we are too stupid to notice what they are attempting.
Nat the cat-Obama is not bright enought to be helped...and I really am sorry! How can he pass it when even the Democratic leadership doesn't know what is in the bill? As you point out Pelosi doesn't have the votes due to lost members. The anti abortion amendment (Stupac (sp?))kills with both edges of the sword, and it isn't in White House version, if it was it would kill it by the pro abortion folks. Obama promised to focus on jobs and now he is riding a lame horse just before midterms? Of course as Bill Maher says we are to stupid to understand...BWAHAHAHAHAHA
I have advocated basic universal health insurance for 40 years. I have supported the "one payer" (government) public option health insurance since 1992. But as long as President Obama continues to wage endless wars on ever widening fronts, I say NO to every domestic program this president proposes. If the only way to stop this country's ceaseless killings in foreign lands waged under the guise of "war on terror" then I say let this president fail because that is necessary for United States to fail and to be forced to end its misguided, highly costly, counterproductive wars.
There is something going on here and it is not as simple as it looks.
I see a final push into the Fall so the Dems can run on, "We tried and the Party of 'NO' would not let us help you"
But I do think that a soild majority of Americans are opposed to this kind of healthcare reform.
I support healthcare INSURANCE reform to help more folks be able to get fair healthcare. I don't like some of the 'pre existing conditions' being automatic reasons for being denied coverage no matter what.
Anyway, we need healthcare insurance reform not a government takeover of the healthcare industry.
Brad
Brad is right... We need good healthcare insurance reform...but with 2 partys fighting to the death & never working together we get NOTHING..The 2 party system is NOT working we need another choice. It doesn't matter if the other side wins the dems. will be the party of no.. Where does this leave us? NO JOBS-MORE TAXES-& CONSTANT STALEMATE..let's start over with a new bunch.
Until government gets out of the health care business there will be no reason for prices to come down. Whether the price is paid at the doctor's office or at the tax office, health care will continue to sky rocket as long as government interference is the order of the day. Unfortunately, our Marxist in Chief actually feels the unwashed masses are not "smart" enough to handle their lives and only the government can take care of them, including their health care. He feels the masses are smart enough to make money, but not smart enough to spend their money properly. Just because many, many messages have been sent to the hard left in control of the Dem party doesn't mean they'll change their approach to state control. Look for this assault on liberties to continue until the November elections. The desperate measures taken by the Obama, Pelosi, Reed trilateral will become more and more obvious as time goes on. I wouldn't be surprised to see them try to "delay" the November elections this year.
If the Democratic Congress were "hell-bent" on passing anything, it would have happened. Obama is too conciliatory in my opinion. He needs to be more like the "autocratic, arrogant and condescending" Bush/Cheney and get things done with or without the opposing party. Americans want health care reform. Oh, and you misspelled "condescending."
The villagers are upset and the shortage of rational senators and congressmen is dire, but this isn't revolutionary. It's the status quo! The few times it has been practiced throughout American history, bipartisanship has has served our nation well. Now is the time to dust it off and take it from the top. Places everyone. And remember, please, the monster becomes animated only AFTER Dr. Frankenstein throws the switch. QUIET ON THE SET PLEASE, and: ACTION!
Oh, I have no doubt the Democrats will ignore the Byrd Rule. I also believe the bill will be passed with the public option with promises to make changes later to those Democrats worried about reelection. Pelosi will ramrod this. Don't forget Biden can break ties in the Senate.
Mitch McConnell, said: “Using reconciliation would be an acknowledgment that there is bipartisan opposition to their bill, another in a series of backroom deals, and the clearest signal yet that they’ve decided to completely ignore the American people.” NY Times.
The good thing that may come out of this is that it could lead to a Republican sweep of the November elections.
Amazing at all of the complaints from republicans, about the current administration. If I recall correctly, the Bush administration sidestepped the law, and in many cases broke the law, to further their far-right agenda, without consideration of American Democrats, or for that much, consideration of the general population. The Obama administration has had a tough job cleaning up the rape and the mess left behind by the last administration. The republicans are acting like spoiled little kids who 'take their football and go home' when they don't get their way. If the republicans were truly interesting in the betterment of our country, they would be a little more cooperative when approaching legislation meant to help Americans, instead of being stubborn, and putting their own agendas and pettiness in front of the welfare of the people who elected them.
Brayton, let's turn that around. The Democrats were obstructing and threatening to filibuster everything Bush and the Republicans attempted. Appointments and every other matter were filibustered. But the most that came out of Republican use of reconciliation was two tax cuts that followed the Byrd Rule and expired in 10 years. They expire this year as a matter of fact.
So if this health care bill passes do we have assurances it will expire in 10 years under the law?
Riverman, doesn't what both you and Brayton described sound like business as usual in Washington? Both parties do it and then blame the other. As long as you point the finger and say "They're bad" you are perpetuating the situation.
There's a sentiment in these threads to do a complete changeover. How does that strike you? Of course, if you throw out only the Democrats and leave the Republicans in place then you are doing exactly what you have described here ... thumbing your nose at everyone so you can get your way.
BTW, we hear a lot in here and in the media about there being a meeting. Republicans say that the Democrats are unwilling to work with them. Yet, I haven't heard a single option being offered by the Republicans. They've said that they don't like this or that in the bill being worked. Where is their complete package? Maybe if a complete package to reform health care/health insurance is shown to the American public then the people can make their choice clear. Not to offer such a package for public scrutiny is just more of what you are complaining about with the current administration. When and where will it end? When the Democrats are out of power and the Republicans in? I think not.
If they pass a healthcare plan to which 60% of the public is opposed then there needs to be anarchy and pandemonium in the streets. Hopefully the only blood bath will be at the voting booths in Novermber. I don't think the Democrats realize the depth of the opposition to their takeover of healthcare. It is no longer just a healthcare issue. This has become something that represents deep feelings about constitutional issues, basic freedom, government control, unfair taxation, and socialism. This is not just a healthcare issue and opposition to having it shoved down our throats is becoming violent and rightfully so.
Orgpsych, so you want change, too. Great. The thing is there are only two parties and Joe Lieberman with the Democrats currently in charge. So take your pick. I'll go with the Republicans.
Well, I just heard Harry Reid tell the Republicans that they, "Should stop crying about reconciliation". That clinches the deal. They will most certianly use this if they can, as they are desperate and will stop at nothing to get this rammed through. The real problem for the Dems is that the President's plan actually increases federal funding for abortion, beyond what was provided in the Senate bill. Imho, until this issue is resolved, and the president backs down on this one item, they do not have even the 51 votes needed using reconciliation. Here is Mr. Hussein's dilemma. If he backs down and removes this item, to get the required 51 votes, then the other side will not support it either. The situation is delicious! I can't wait to watch the proceedings tomorrow, as this may well prove to be his worst blunder ever. One can only hope.
The Republicans have indeed become the party of no. The President correctly pointed out that Republicans routinely vote as a bloc against anything he supports, including bills that they themselves originally co-sponsored. This is pure political cynicism.
Federalist, as I said in my first post, this is all planned out. The Republicans need to have a plan to throw the plan back at the Democrats Thursday. One way is to announce before going in that they are doing so with the hope and understanding compromises will prevent the reconciliation tactic.
Obama will speak after the meeting and say they tried, etc., but now they plan to go ahead with reconciliation. That speech is already written. We need to have ours written to... countering what he WILL say.
Dingy Harry knows he is going to loose in Nov. so he has nothing more to loose so he will use the reconciliation. He wants his name on the health care.
Rhetor, the republicans should be the party of NO too what Obama and the rest of the liberals/progressives are trying to do. They should vote NO too government takeover of health care, too cap& tax, too bankrupting this country.
No where does Obama, Reed or Pelosi mention tort reform. They don’t want to make the trial lawyers mad.
No where does Obama, Reed or Pelosi mention tort reform. They don’t want to make the trial lawyers mad.
The effects of a broken health care system is already happening in our area. If you are in need of a specialist (in any field including mental health) good luck in finding a qualified Provider. Right now there is a mass exodus in the CSRA of seasoned mental health specialist such as Psychiatrists and Psychologist because insurance reimbursements are either non-existent or cut so it is no longer viable to stay in practice. Now all people will get if they need help or have children who need the services are the fresh out of college (online schools) Masters level mental health workers with little or no experience/supervision hanging their signs out like "Lucy" on "Peanuts".
For Pete's Sake! The economy is crumbling. Unemployment is over 10% with no signs of slowing down. Those who are still working are making significantly less money than they used to (unless you work for the federal government). Wasteful government spending is out of control. The debt and the deficit are both so high that the normal person cannot even comprehend the numbers. Pension plans are at risk because states are running out of money. Social security's ponzi scheme is about to blow up. Inflation has already started to rise and threatens to get wildly out of control. The Chinese & other countries are pretty much done loaning us money.
And the bozos in Washington are ramming through a $1 Trillion healthcare bill by using a loophole called reconciliation? I can't even believe that this is the United States anymore. I am so extremely disappointed in the government.
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