Bush chides Dems on reflexive response (radio address)

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - There's hardly a topic these days on which President Bush isn't asking the Democratic-controlled Congress to avoid "a reflexive partisan response."

That's certainly the case with Iraq, but it also applies to the domestic priorities of health and energy that he set in his State of the Union address.

"I have asked Congress to take several vital steps to address these issues," Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address. "Some members gave a reflexive partisan response."

~snip~

The president's opening strategy toward Capitol Hill's Democratic majority, as displayed most prominently in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, is to present himself as a leader taking the initiative to work across party lines. The hope is that Democrats will feel pressured to join him — or face public disapproval if they don't.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070127/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[spanone]

1. I guess when Cheney said Hillary wasn't qualified to be pres cause she's a democrat

had nothing to do with politics??? FUCK OFF GEORGE.

[angstlessk]

2. He is such a popular president..if anyone disagrees with him they will

surly fail. What an idiot!

[rodeodance]

3. " strategy....is to present himself as a leader taking the initiative to work across party lines.'

He praised the few Democrats who had "welcomed this opportunity to reach across the aisle."

"This is a good start," he said.

The president's opening strategy toward Capitol Hill's Democratic majority, as displayed most prominently in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, is to present himself as a leader taking the initiative to work across party lines. The hope is that Democrats will feel pressured to join him — or face public disapproval if they don't.

But bipartisanship aside, Bush has also been showing a willingness to talk tough.

On a collision course with Congress over Iraq, Bush had strong words Friday for the lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who are lining up to support resolutions opposing his decision to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq. Asked how he could go ahead with his plan without congressional support, he said bluntly, "I'm the decision-maker."

[rodeodance]

4. ."They're just dismissing things because of pure politics," Bush said....

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. Yeah, the "decision maker" is so reaching out to Dems. That BS doesn't fly

:eyes:

MKJ

[SemperEadem]

12. Oh, Lieberman? eff him, too

[MaineDem]

6. I guess it's all that political capital that allows him to "chide"

What a fuckwit!

[dethl]

7. Democrats chide * for lack of cognitive thought....

* doesn't have any ground to stand on anymore. His "policies" in the SOTU were nothing great. Energy: Everyone should drive 20% less. Medical: Everyone put money into an untaxed medical account. Yesh, great way to reach out to Dems.

[Liberal Veteran]

8. "reflexive partisan response"....in other words,

"anything dissent from my imperial proclamations"

[Kagemusha]

9. So it's not that there's any flaws in his brilliant surge plan

it's just that they're engaging in reflexive resistance without taking the time to understand his brilliance.

Oh and, he can put pressure on them to cooperate with a 28% job approval rate president.

[sutz12]

10. Perhaps he should offer fewer inflexible partisan proposals. nt

[SemperEadem]

11. eff bush,eff cheney and everyone who wishes them well

no one gives a good got damn what bush thinks. He's a liar and a manipulator and what makes it so sick is that he thinks he's slick.

[mitchum]

13. Fuck you, Fetal Alcohol Dictator

[kurth]

14. This from the most partisan president ever

Motherfucking douchebag.

[rodeodance]

15. Bush comments are a ----reflexive partisan response."

"I have asked Congress to take several vital steps to address these issues," Bush said Saturday in his weekly radio address. "Some members gave a reflexive partisan response."

[tabasco]

16. Didn't Cheney tell Duhbya he's not the "unitary executive" anymore?

Caligula Boosh --- more and more out of touch with reality.

[maddezmom]

17. kick

[rodeodance]

18. AP Bush brushes aside criticism of health plan [I so tire of his dissing

anything and everything except his OWN proposals!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070127/pl_nm/bush_dc;_ylt=AovaijlX4G_sNbN1I7aWdTnMWM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-


Bush brushes aside criticism of health plan

By Caren Bohan Sat Jan 27, 10:10 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Bush brushed aside criticism of his new health care plan as "reflexive" partisanship and urged the Democratic-led Congress to work with him on the issue.


The president's proposal, to offer tax breaks to people to encourage them to buy health insurance on their own while taxing some with employer-provide health coverage, has received a chilly reception from Democratic lawmakers, labor unions and some consumer groups.

But Bush, who unveiled his plan in his State of the Union address on Tuesday, said that he has spoken to some Senate Democrats who seemed willing to open discussions.

........

Bush's proposal would provide a new tax deduction of $15,000 per family and $7,500 for individuals who purchase private health insurance.

But families with employer-provided health plans that exceed the $15,000 cap would for the first time face a tax on some of their benefits.........

[rodeodance]

19. Secretary of HHS: comments:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0125/p25s01-usmb.html
USA > The Monitor Breakfast

posted January 25, 2007

Michael Leavitt
The Secretary of Health and Human Services outlined the challenges facing President Bush's new healthcare proposal.
By David Cook

Key elements of the domestic program President Bush unveiled in Tuesday's State of the Union address are aimed at helping cure Americans' discontent with the nation's healthcare system.

But getting the proposals through the Democratically controlled Congress will be a tough sell.
(Photograph)
Michael Leavitt: The secretary of Health and Human Services was the guest at the Christian Science Monitor luncheon Wednesday.
Andy Nelson - Staff
.........

"In my mind, it is simply indefensible for our country to have a tax policy that provides a tax benefit to part of our citizens and simply ignores the rest," Leavitt said. Currently, Americans who get health insurance through their employer pay no tax on the value of the insurance while those who buy insurance on their own get no tax break and pay for insurance with after tax dollars.

The president also rolled out what the administration called an "Affordable Choices Initiative." Under the plan, states that provide poor and hard-to-insure citizens with basic health insurance will get additional federal funding to help cover the cost of the insurance. To come up with funds for this new program, the federal government would give less aid to hospitals that serve large numbers of Medicare and Medicaid patients.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. silly rodeo. Nothing else EXISTS except for his plans.

Think ostrich, a nearby hole, and a ready bucket of sand.

[rodeodance]

25. yeah, silly me. i keep hoping and get hit in the face.

[bluerum]

21. Now wait a minute - I can get a plan for a single person through my chamber

of commerce for about $400 a month. That works out to,,, mmm less see,,,, how to do the Dumbya math. Well,,, my advisers say that works out to $4,800 a year. (Hey,,, they are the smart ones,,, I am just the presnit don'cha know.)

So,,, a $7,500 deduction for individuals? What is the deduction for? Medical expenses? Insurance premiums? Or do I get it just for having insurance?

I am so sick of this asshole playing the cutting taxes card. I am even sicker of the asshole kissers who fawn all over this crap and don't understand that they are taking it up the schnauzer.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

33. * says employees get "free insurance"

From recent speech: "One way to encourage you to make the right decisions when it comes to health care is to take the inequities out of the tax code. If you work for a company, you pay -- you get your health care free, in essence. It's part of the benefit package."

I guess the $300/mo. the government takes out of my wife's paycheck for health insurance is "free."

[gratuitous]

22. Uhm, "bipartisan" doesn't mean we just do what Bush says

I know that's kind of a difficult concept, because Bush has been using the word that way for six years.

[hashibabba]

27. It infuriates me when he and other Republics do that. He obviously

needs to look up the definition of the word bipartanship. It only means to him that they go with his plan and he doesn't have to listen to theirs. And WON'T listen to theirs.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. the Republics have not caught on to their new situation

The hundred hours deal thingie took them by surprise. Most of them never even read any of the bills. Hell, they never read any bills. And besides, last year, all they worked was 100 hours for the entire year.

[subterranean]

23. What's the real motive behind this plan?

When's the last time the bush administration did something to help average Americans? It would be out of character. I suspect that the main objective behind the plan is to reduce the insurance burden for large corporations while preserving the interests of the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. While relieving the cost burden on American companies is a worthwhile goal, I think this is the wrong way to go about it. It seems to me that this plan, although it has merits for self-employed people like myself, would make a grossly inefficient and complicated healthcare system even more so, while at the same time failing to help the vast majority of ininsured Americans.

It probably doesn't matter, though, because I think this plan, like Bush's plot to privatize Social Security, is going nowhere fast.

[rodeodance]

26. it is like a self "Health savings plan" as far as I can see.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

31. oh goodie. Let's start stacking pennies like in the depression.

my, that sounds so appealing.

The administration has successfully sucked the funds, the air, the life out of so many things, why stop there?

[tabasco]

24. With his complete and utter corruption he has worked overtime to divide

America and keep us weak against the erosion of our Nation!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

32. what you said.

and the best way to accomplish that is to use religion as a weapon, something this admin excels at.

[sakabatou]

29. It's either my way or the high-way

Heheheh.

[cap]

30. I think this is to help cost shifting while preserving profitability for

the insurance companies.

As corporations back out of giving people insurance, wealthy individuals who self-insure can have society help burden their expenses.

It's all helping out the well to do... Nothing is ever done for the little guy.