Feb 25th Healthcare Showdown

[RobinFinderson]

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?

[tooblue]

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?

I have health care -- what's the big deal?

[RobinFinderson]

I have health care -- what's the big deal?

Now you are sounding like a Republican.

[Jacob]

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?

What about the summit is going allow the different participants to attempt to persuade the public that their plan is better?
I was under the impression that the starting point here is Obama's or Reid's plan. That this is not a place to share ideas and choose the best one. What's the format? How is it different that senate debates broadcast on CSPAN?

[RobinFinderson]

What about the summit is going allow the different participants to attempt to persuade the public that their plan is better?
I was under the impression that the starting point here is Obama's or Reid's plan. That this is not a place to share ideas and choose the best one. What's the format? How is it different that senate debates broadcast on CSPAN?

I don't think most Americans have a real sense of what the Republican solutions are. I also think that most Americans have come to believe that the current bill is the byproduct of backroom dealings rather than something that directly fixes the problem. I would assume that a nationally televised summit would receive more viewers than CSPAN and thus serve as a better tool to inform the public of each side's propositions.

[thesaint258]

Personally, I'm a bit wary. It hasn't been the case that Republicans have just said they don't like the bill without putting their own ideas forward. Democrats just haven't listened to them at all. It strikes me as odd that all of a sudden President Obama wants to hear from Republicans, and on TV no less. It could very well be that the administration has heard the criticism of the entire process (I'm sick of the behind closed doors crap too), but given the past year of incredibly partisan politics, I'm just not willing to believe that the Democratic leadership is suddenly ready to do a complete 180. What would help convince me is if, instead of putting on a show for a couple days on CSPAN, journalists get into all the negotiations that happen and the entire process is performed in the open.

[Moliere]

A public forum is a great idea. Why didn't Obama think of it 9 months ago?

[Medfordcoug]

I am all for a public forum. Unfortunately, I think it will just be a bunch of grandstanding by the different parties trying to score points for this election cycle.

Right now, I'm not sure I care for anyone in Washington and I do not feel either party represents my interests.

[dabrockster]

I am glad it is happening, but if he was truly open from the beginning why did he not allow for the Health care discussion the Dem's were having last year be open to the public..

I am still undecided if he is truly trying to reach out or if he will stay the course on his agenda...

[NorthShoreCoug]

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?

I'm ambivalent. I would genuinely like to see bipartisan efforts on major bills like this one, and I'd like to see if any Republicans are genuinely looking at the issues, or are they just being obstructionist. But from what I understand, the Dems are moving forward on using reconciliation to get what they want, and it looks like this summit is just meant to score political points while they do what they want anyways.

[Sleeping in EQ]

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).

[tooblue]

Now you are sounding like a Republican.

Or, an American living in Canada with permanent residence status.

[SloanHater]

I am glad it is happening, but if he was truly open from the beginning why did he not allow for the Health care discussion the Dem's were having last year be open to the public..

I am still undecided if he is truly trying to reach out or if he will stay the course on his agenda...

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.

[dabrockster]

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.

Yes. I agree. And believe me. I am gratefull Bickering in his own party and the relucatance from some caused it to die. So I would say that is a much larger "FAIL" on Obama then anything else. He couldn't even provide the leadership to convince his own party on health care......

[Goatnapper'96]

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.

I tend to think we all are lucky. But the root cause of why we are having this forum is that President Obama is inept as a leader. Forums are the dude's forte. He can sit and talk and sound Presidential. But when it comes time for something to actually get done and he is required to move people toward a goal, that ain't where the big fella's strong points lie! In the annals of history his Presidency will be revered with such transformationist Chief Execs as Franklin Pierce, Millard Fillmore and Warren G. HardyHarHarHarding. I think President Obama is doing us all a favor by reminding us that intellectual capacity and leadership are not the same traits. It is best when one has both and debateable as to which is most important if a President is only endowed with one or the other. Barry is a smart fellow but he is pretty much a geek.

I will be surprised if the Democrats do this through reconciliation. I also think the forum is a great idea. Whether or not if it is a political ruse, if it leads to approaching high profile yet divisive issues like this in the future, it will go a long way to making government more legitimate.