Feb 25th Healthcare Showdown

[Hallelujah]

I like this move. I've been wanting more of this kind of thing from President Obama (as opposed to just getting it from candidate Obama).

Then why would Obama bring out his own bill days before the summit if he was truly interested in listening to all sides. It sounds like the only thing he wants to do is shove the Senate/House/WH bill down everyone's throats? He is NOT interested in what Republicans want or he would have included tort reform, abortion issues, etc.

It's show time for the biggest snake oil salesman in recent history.

[Hallelujah]

The Stewart and Colbert are chomping at the bit for the President's public discussion with Republicans about solutions to the health care situation. He has responded to the Republicans' complaints that they were being excluded from the discussion by inviting them to a public summit to hear out their ideas for fixing the problems. The Hannity/Limbaugh branch of media is calling this setup a 'trap,' which Stewart gleefully mocked with video clips of Admeral Ackbar's famous line. Stewart goes on to summarize it thus: The Republicans asked to be included in the process and wanted their ideas heard, but now that the President is creating the opportunity for the Republicans to persuade teh public about the rightness of their ideas, they are calling the summit a 'trap.'

HERE is the clip.


What do you all think of this public health care summit? To me it seems like a refreshing change of conduct -- the presentation of policy in a way that is designed to inform the public about the challenges and solutions that are available. I'm sick of all of the behind closed doors crap. What do you all think of a televised public health care summit?

Do YOU honestly think Obama cares what the Republicans want? Does he need a summit, because he doesn't know what they want? He knows exactly what they want. Tort reform. Not included. Ban payments for abortions. Not included. Insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. Not included. Just to name the top 2 or 3. So he already knows what they want and he comes out with his plan that doesn't address any of those top items. But he wants a summit? You're not that gullible.......I hope.

[Hallelujah]

Umm.. Democrats had Super Majorities in both chambers of Congress and had just won the White House. I don't think they really cared what Republicans thought.

Republicans are lucky a few moderate Dems. were more worried about their jobs than reform and that Kennedy wasn't around to bash heads, or we wouldn't be having this forum. We would already have healthcare reform.

The Dems could have passed anything. They owned both the House and Senate. They had to bribe at least 3 senators to sign on. It's not the republicans that stalled his healthcare. It was his own party and the people of the US. The people have put the fear into the hearts of their elected officials.

As a side note, why would Obama and the Dems want to shove a plan down the throats of the American people when the people are solidly against this plan? Arrogance?

[Hallelujah]

How many of these are negotiable? How many of them would get costs under control? How many of these will make health care affordable to the millions of newly unemployed?

I don't think any of these are terrible ideas (and some of them aren't really Republican ideas, like getting rid of limitations due to pre-existing conditions). But is the Republican party willing to meet half way?

Give us one or two ways this new healthcare plan is going to get healthcare costs under control?

You'll appreciate this: "On Obama's proposal, Waxman said he was pleased it would eliminate a compromise provision that would have boosted Medicaid reimbursements only in Nebraska—the so-called “Cornhusker Kickback”—and that it would take steps to address affordability and waste, fraud and abuse."

Steps to address waste, fraud and abuse? How? In fact, under the current Medicare program, Medicare's waste, fraud and abuse costs Americans about $60Billion per year. The government has been so effective with Medicare, let's let them have input to the entire healthcare system?

Unbelieveable. Are the Waxman's of the world that naive or out of touch with reality?

[statman]

Where is the Republican's Healthcare Plan?

Right here: http://www.gop.gov/blog/10/02/22/whe...ublican-health

AND - it's got enough detail in it that the CBO can actualyl predict what it will do -- LOWER health care premiums by ~10%. The CBO can't even score anything proposed by either the House or the Senate - too fuzzy around the edges.

But it's good of Robin to keep to the Democratic talking points...

[Hallelujah]

Where is the Republican's Healthcare Plan?

Right here: http://www.gop.gov/blog/10/02/22/whe...ublican-health

AND - it's got enough detail in it that the CBO can actualyl predict what it will do -- LOWER health care premiums by ~10%. The CBO can't even score anything proposed by either the House or the Senate - too fuzzy around the edges.

But it's good of Robin to keep to the Democratic talking points...

And Robin simply can't answer how this new plan is going to reduce costs. But he is very good with the liberal talking points. Unfortunately, the talking points don't make practical sense.

[dabrockster]

Leeeeeeeeeeeet's get ready to RUUUUUUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!


In this corner you have Barack Obama weighing in as THE Undisputed President of the United States.


And the new challenger, the Republican Minority party.




Who will win this battle on National TV...

[dabrockster]

Watching on C-Span now...

[dabrockster]

I think Republican are not winning this media blitz..

I think they should have looked to compromise and agree to some of the Dems stuff but then put it back on the Dems to compromise by removing some of the things..

Right now I only see focus on the Dems two Bills, rather then republicans showcasing their bill more. The topics of Midnight signings, behind closed doors etc. I think that is not the best approach to put more pressure on the Dems...


Obama is doing a very good job strategicly by trying to "Stay above" the fray..

[dabrockster]

Quote that made me chuckle from the Times of London..


"Watching American politicians argue about health care can be seriously damaging to your health. Symptoms include migraines, extreme fatigue and sudden violent urges."

[dabrockster]

Reconciliation seems to be the next approach.

Will this happen? It seems even among the Dems they are having a hard time passing this.

What impact do you think this will have come November?

Link:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...care-bill.html