Mr. President, excuse me, but sometimes you are too nice.

[JohnWxy]

President Obama opens the Health Care Reform Summit by saying that "I know there are philosophical differences between the parties on Health Care Reform..."..?????? --- Pres. Obama, this is not a college seminar. You are not the "Professor in Chief". You are chairing a singular meeting to address criticisms of you and the HCR process brought by the Republicans. Specifically, that you haven’t given them credit for or listened to their ideas on Health Care reform. You called for this meeting - for the Republicans. To give them a chance to present their (alleged) ideas on Health Care Reform. This meeting is not a seminar on political philosophy. This is "show and tell" time, "Put up or shut up" time. I suppose it's all (pardon the expression) academic now but what you should have said is: “Okay, you guys wanted this meeting ... to present your ideas. Well, I'm here, the cameras are here, show me what you got.” No philosophical differences, no preambles, just: “Okay, this meeting is at your request. You said you had ideas, so let’s see what you’ve got for me. OH, and by the way, these ideas better be in form that can be given to the CBO for scoring or I’m gonna get mad.”

And while I’m at it, if you will allow me, Mr. President, may I give you a tip? There is nothing philosophical about Republicans. They are no more philosophical than a snake biting a rabbit, a virus infecting a host, a Madoff swindling a sucker – they have no philosophy, they only have tactics. The only thing that moves them is the chance to gain political advantage. In the past they complained that they didn’t know what your Health Care Reform plan was. Now why would that be a problem for them? Because they do not have ANY ideas OF THEIR OWN. The problem for the Republicans was they needed to know what YOU were FOR so they would know what THEY WERE AGAINST. They have no ideas of their own because there is nothing that they believe in. Republicans are pure political opportunists. They are opportunism incarnate. They lust for power but once they get it they don’t know what to do with it (…except to pervert that power by hunting down Democrats (political prosecutions) and subverting Democracy (nominating fascists to the Supreme Court)). This exposes them as having no ideas or ideals. They only have a lust for power… and money, … money and power.


You yourself have noted that the Republicans have in the past supported a Health Care reform package much like the current Senate version. So why are they now so exorcized by your current plan based largely on the Senate bill. Again, Repubicans are moved by political advantage. The only goal they have right now is to see that you and the Democrats fail, no matter what the cost to the country. They have conjured up all sorts of chimeras about Health Care reform to frighten a public starved for information. These hobgoblins of Health Care reform were given verisimilitude by the Republican Noisome Machine by faithfully recounting these Health Care monsters and treating them as if they were legitimate considerations/questions.

The Republicans can smell the fear which they have created and it enlivens them to incite more hysteria with louder repetition of hyperbolic, hypothetical hazards (e.g. the Big Lie that the CBO said that comprehensive HCR would increase the cost of health insurance, or that the Health Care reform bills were “jammed” through congress after thousands of hours of work, in both Houses, which Republicans, were involved in at every stage, and “deals” with pharmaceutical firms and hospitals - which involved agreements to lower costs charged IF comprehensive reform were enacted.). A "deal" with benefits to the people, Republicans abhor. A deal to the advantage of corporations (disadvantaging the people) Republicans adore.


By opening (the meeting) with your statement about “philosophical differences” you not only gave credence to the Republicans Central Dissimulation but you also gave the Republican Media a convenient theme to build their fantabulous, disinformative, political exegeses around. There is nothing the Republican Noisome Machine relishes so much as an irrelevant story line which, when repeated and treated by all participants to the discussion as legitimate, achieves a currency which serves to distract, deceive and confuse a hapless populace.


It seems sometimes, Mr. President, that just when you should press your advantage, you “moon-walk” away from the embrace of victory. Just to let you know, Mr. President, most of the country wants you to succeed. Most of the country is counting on you to succeed. Your success President Obama, is our success. Keep up the Good Fight, Mr. President. We’re standing right behind you (we’ll catch you if you fall).

[tabatha]

1. He HAS to be a mature, composed, fair-minded, intelligent person.

Even being that, he is torn to shreds.

[gateley]

3. You're right. He came across as reasoned, intelligent; they came across as petulant

whiney little sore losers.

[gateley]

2. Oftentimes you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, and I think that was

a valid statement.

[Richardo]

4. You really think he doesn't know any of this?

He's a professional. He's a politician. He knows what he's doing. The honorifics and pleasantries are diplomatic, they are disarming. Coming out with a statement like yours would have accomplished nothing, in fact it would have been counterproductive - an outburst from a petulant tinhorn. That's what we considered Bush, remember? Look at the treatment Alan Grayson is getting from the media for his directness. You want that for the President too?

It's called 'maturity'. No matter what your fanstasies are, he will NEVER act the way you and many ofther DUers want him to. That's why he's the President, and not some nameless, faceless keyboard commando.

The last and I mean LAST thing he needs is some lecture on how to handle the opposition from the likes of... well, ANY of us. I certainly wouldn't presume to offer him 'tips'. Jesus, really?

[opihimoimoi]

7. I'm on your wagon.....+ 1000 from another armchair ole fart

[JohnWxy]

12. I am impressed with his professionalism. But he did not need to open the meeting with

the statement accepting that there are "philosophical differences" and giving credence to the primary Republican dissimulation.

It was a business meeting. It wasn't necessary to make the "philosophical differences" statement. NOBODY said he should even be testy. It was business meeting. the meeting was called to give Republicans a chance to present their ideas on HCR -- i.e. ways to achieve it. The statement of "philosophical differences" was unnecessary and not supported by the facts.

THe reason for Republican opposition to HCR is NOT philosophical. Obama has said that they supported a HCR measure in the past that was quite similar to the Senate version.

That is the key, the real point to my post. That is what Republicans don't want mentioned. That the reason for their opposition to HCR is political calculation - at the expensse of the nation.

If HCR isn't done now it will have to be addressed within 2 to 3 years. The costs will be killing.... not only to people who will not be able to afford insurance in a few more years but also to businesses who will not be able to pass along the costs and will drop participation in group plans.

We are heading for a disaster and the Republicans can only maneuvre to make Obama and Dems look bad.



I am glad when Republicans get angry at my posts. That way, I know I'm doing my job.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

5. Sometimes

I think we want Obama to snap his fingers and fix everything. There are complicated, complex issues. I perceive him to be an iron fist in a velvet glove. It takes some time to change the culture ie;the Repubs think they can push him around but so far they haven't been able to. A year from now, we may be grateful Obama was so polite and transparent. The other party will hang itself. He's just letting out the rope.....

[jackquil36]

6. well observed

Republicans are going down on this one.

All those manicured, coiffed politicians, they publicly aired their usual lack of concern for the public. And displayed their strong concern for money. In short if you have a medical crisis and can’t pay, Republicans just don’t give a twit.

That’s inconsistent with their public office. Elected politicians are supposed to reflect their constituents’ needs and interests. But this time, pal, you’re on your own. While they go home in a limousine.

Disgusting.

Are we a ‘me’ society, or a ‘we’ society?

[mifdsam]

8. It may be a tactic to discredit the Republicans

It's pretty clear to me that all Republicans know how to do is to whine and bitch about every little thing that the Democrats do

By presenting himself as serene, calm, and polite, Obama might be presenting a contrast between himself and the Republicans to the American people, asking them/us "Now, would you rather have a bunch of snotty brats making the decisions? Or would you rather have someone like me?"

[ShortnFiery]

9. Yeah, President Obama's playing three dimensional chess again.

:sarcasm:

[TheDebbieDee]

10. Pres. Obama spent 6 hours yesterday putting those uppity, racist repuke Senators

in their place. He gave them every opportunity to spout their crap to his face the way they lie to their constituents, he called those pricks by their first names and he shut their whiny $hit off at every chance. And he never even raised his voice.

[tabatha]

13. + 1 gazzilion

[Recoverin_Republican]

11. I agree, he did not need to mention "philosophical differences". And the meeting was it seems to me

to be set up because the Republicans said (at their Baltimore policy meeting where the Pres. met with them) he didn't (they claimed) listen to their ideas. and he didn't televise the Health Care legislative process.

Actually, re the televising of legislative process, the Republicans in the House Senate, did they ever bring this up last year?

The key point I agree with: that the opposition to Health Care reform is not on philosophical grounds, but political calculation. Did anybody notice in the OP it is stated that the Republicans supported a Health Care reform bill much like the Senate bill in the past?

[yurbud]

14. who would unrec this, especially after the last paragraph?

[JohnWxy]

16. haven't you noticed? Repukes have infiltrated DU. THey want to disrupt real discussion with

disinformation and ostensibly legitimate disagreement within the ranks.. It's just like the Cigarette and Oil companies creating fake "grass roots" organization in favor of cancer and pollution.

I have noticed that some of these creeps show 1,000 plus comments but look around and see if you can find any comments by them. I've looked and, in some cases, haven't found any. (weird, if someone supposedly has posted over 1,000 times!)

THat's why I said I'm glad when I get negative reaction from these creeps. It means I've done my job!

[yurbud]

17. if you change your user name, do you lose the post number with the old name?

[Enthusiast]

15. Success = HCR that

includes a strong public option. HCR that includes mandates but no public option = failure.

With a strong public option the HCR bill would be wildly popular. As it is now it is very unpopular. Why doesn't this matter to many DUers?

[JohnWxy]

19. "Failure??", Yeah, RIGHT, that's why you of the Corporate Lobbyist party are still against it

If this form was "Failure" you in the Corporate Lobbyist party would not be fighting it (one tactic being to try to convince Dems it isn't worth fighting for. Good Luck.)

The Obama bill (as posted Monday) includes a review of rates (as the states do now). I prefer the P.O. BUT, if you Corp. Lobbyists are still fighting this version too, then it must be capable of performing the function of keeping pressure on insurance companies to keep rates lower than they would be without the overview.

[Enthusiast]

20. It is the electorate that

concerns me. That and I wish to "stick it to" the insurance industry. The American people also want to punish the insurance industry. Just look at the polls. The HCR bill without a public option is unpopular, with the public option it's popular.

If you believe I'm a lobbyist for the for corporations I invite you to read my posts. Your allegation is ridiculous.

[JohnWxy]

21. Actually, I looked for posts by you and couldn't find any. Where (forums) do you post?

I sorted by name in , Editorials, Gen Disc, Health, Economy.... didn't find anything by 'Enthusiast'.

When I said Lobbyist I meant member of Corporate Lobbyist Party .. I regard them all as Lobbyists ..they just haven't declared themselves.


If I was wrong, I apologize. But, I consider characterizing Obama's current HCR proposal (which lacks a P.O. but has a regulatory agency) as a "failure" to be 'ridiculous'.

I have said on this site that Obama should NOT have thrown over the Public Option. I have said that is why Massachusets happened (I warned here and in emails, that not keeping the Public Option would result in disaffected Dems drifting away from the polls. And that is exactly what happened in Mass (en mass?).)

But, if I don't think the policy or bill being pushed can be changed I tend to support it, unless I think it is a complete disaster. The current HCR bill, as crafted by Dems and Obama, is not my preferred bill, but I definitely think it's worth fighting for and better than getting nothing. Apparently Obama thinks he needs to put it in this form to bring in conservative "Democrats" and get enough votes for it. It doesn't do you much good to put together a bill you can't get passed.

[Enthusiast]

22. I have over 7,000 posts.

I probably average something over 15 per day.

I disagree about the HCR bill as it exists. The electorate does not want a mandate without a public option. They consider it a give away to the insurance industry. The votes are there for HCR with a public option. Anyway, why not vote to find out for certain.

[Demeter]

18. The Accurate Word is "Disingenuous"

and no, it isn't a compliment.