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Summit Stratagems

By Quin Hillyer on 2.26.10 @ 6:09AM

How Obama gained at Blair House.

Forgive me this stream of consciousness. I had another topic in mind entirely for this column, but the live coverage of this health care "summit" has distracted me all day. President Obama's superciliousness infuriates me; his insistence on speaking each time between each speaker is outrageous; his Democratic colleagues are not much help to him (although, much as Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is smarm personified, his misleading riff in defense of jackpot justice trial lawyering was, unfortunately, very effective); yet I can't help thinking that the president is winning among his intended audience, which are the Democrats in Congress. By going on for six full hours about his plans, all in a reasonable tone of voice, he makes those plans somehow less scary, no matter how many good licks the Republicans get in. All he needs to do is to lower the volume, provide enough reassurance to congressional Democrats that there is a defensible set of talking points in favor of his plans (even if it isn't logically defensible, he makes it sound politically defensible merely by defending it for so long without cracking), and keep from making any major gaffes, and... presto!… Obama convinces wavering Democrats in Congress that they already have taken all the body blows that can possibly come, and that they can't get hurt any worse than they already have been, so they might as well roll the dice and vote his way.

Since this is stream of consciousness, I'm not sure I explained that as well as I could or should, but the point is this: As long as Obama keeps this alive, he, yes, keeps it alive. In that tautology lies his continuing chance to get a bill passed.

It's like this. I once sat in a meeting of the board of an organization on which there was a bitter division. I was the vice-chair; the chairman was on the other side. There were, I think, nine people on the board, with four (including me) on my side, three (including the chair) on the other, and two swinging back and forth with each argument. At one point the chairman said each side had clearly made its points and that he would call a vote after he wrapped up his last points. But as he wrapped up, he could tell that one of the two "swing votes" he thought he was swaying had, instead, become puzzled, and he wasn't sure he had her vote after all. So when he wrapped up, despite my objections, he decided not to take the vote after all. Instead, he called on the swing voter to ask what was puzzling her. Well, that re-opened the whole shebang again. The debate went back and forth, and then he again promised to finally hold the vote. This time, because of who had spoken when, I had what should have been the last word. When I finished, the body language in the room made it clear I had won the day: Both swing members were about to vote my way.

So the chairman didn't take the vote. He started making his arguments again, and threw in a new wrinkle. And the swing members started swinging back his way.

Well, this process repeated itself about six more times. No matter what happened, the chairman would not, absolutely would not, actually allow the vote to take place until he felt sure beyond a doubt that he had the majority. It didn't matter how many times he promised a vote after "just five more minutes." Unless he could win, he wouldn't hold the vote, and unless he held the vote, he couldn't lose. This went on for something like two hours overtime, late into the night. And when I objected to his tactics, he said, in effect, "Tough: I'm chairing this meeting. I decide when we vote." It sounded an awful lot like Obama saying "I won."

Finally, having worn down everybody, the chairman saw that just in order to get out of there, both of the swing members would give in. Reading their expressions correctly, he suddenly called for a vote, and he won, 5-4.

That's what Obama is doing. But refusing to admit defeat, by keeping the subject open, he is hoping to find the one window of opportunity when the stars and votes line up, and then have Congress pass this health care monstrosity.

What Thursday's summit did was buy time. It kept everybody at the table. It kept the issue open. And the whammy vote is still waiting to be sprung on us.

That said, Obama is so wrong on all this that it is outrageous. He made a terribly false analogy. He spoke about the advantages of purchasing power, saying that with greater purchasing power that supposedly comes from consolidating into a large purchasing pool, costs will go down. He used Wal-Mart as an example. But it's a bad example. What happens with Wal-Mart is that, once Wal-Mart has driven all of its nearby competition out of business with low prices, then it slowly hikes its prices -- because it can afford to do so, because it has no competition. At least to an extent. The other thing Wal-Mart does is it starts buying more and more from small-shop suppliers, until it becomes a majority of the suppliers' business. It then pressures the suppliers for "exclusive" deals, so that because it purchases in bulk, it corners the market for that particular supplier. Then, and only then, once the supplier is hooked, it unleashes the whammy: It dictates to the supplier the prices at which it, Wal-Mart, will buy the suppliers' goods. So while consumers of Wal-Mart benefit in the short term, the suppliers all get squeezed. In the long run, the suppliers, the wholesalers, get squeezed almost out of business -- and the repercussions can spread, so that sometimes a whole community gets pinched.

This isn't to knock Wal-Mart. Thank goodness Wal-Mart is there to provide goods at low prices. And thank goodness that no community acts entirely in isolation, and that cars exist, because market forces still apply from community to community and state to state so that Wal-Mart itself answers to market forces too. The market is mostly self-correcting. If Wal-Mart squeezes too much, its supplier runs out of business. That hurts Wal-Mart. So Wal-Mart answers the market forces. And we all benefit.

But health care cannot work that way, or at least not with government in the role of Wal-Mart -- because the government does not answer to market forces. We saw that with Fannie and Freddie. When they "failed," they didn't go out of business: Government just bailed them out. By borrowing from our children, and by raising taxes or fees. Meanwhile, thousands of banks were forced to adopt new lending standards that are too strict, even though their old lending practices were fine under normal circumstances -- and the economy slowed down even more without enough credit acting as necessary grease for the works. In short, the downstream consequences were horrible, while Fannie and Freddie skated.

So too, in health care, will the downstream consequences be horrible. Once government takes over the huge role of "bulk purchasing agent," it faces no real pressure -- but the doctors face pressures, and the remaining insurance companies face pressures until they go out of business, and the patients face rationing, and.... and so on.

In short, Obama's argument is nonsense. Yet even nonsensical arguments sometimes can start sounding reasonable when you are tired of a subject -- and even if there is only a small window when the argument is taking hold, the "chairman" or president can call for a vote right at that moment -- especially in a closed universe such as Congress -- and pull out a "win" on the issue at hand.

The Democrats tried the bulk purchasing argument, by the way, with the Medicare prescription drug program. In what was otherwise an execrable new program, Republicans insisted on one market-based provision: namely, that drug prices be determined by the market rather than by having government do the negotiating. Democrats desperately wanted government to negotiate the prices, through bulk purchasing power. When they couldn't get their way, they did some math and tried to insert a provision saying that government would at least set the premium prices that the private companies would charge. The premium they wanted to set to start at $35; they thought that without such price controls, the premiums would rise astronomically, well above that.

With G.W. Bush in the White House, that premium price control also was blocked. So, to the dismay of the Dems, the market was allowed to set premium prices.

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About the Author

Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (194) | Leave a comment

clayusmcret| 2.26.10 @ 6:36AM

I watched most all of the health care summit, probably more than the yawning attendees. What I heard and saw reinforces my original opinion, either start over and actually try to come together on a bipartisan bill, or stop altogether. Democrats, justifiably, are going to get massacred at the polls in November if they ram the existing garbage bills through. Yesterday was the first time these bills had any Republican input whatsoever and it was clear our previous judgments on the bills were spot on. Either start over or stop. If Congress does either there's hope for Democrats in November. However, if they they choose to press on against
the will of the American people, the November 2010 election will be taught in schools for years to come; long after key provisions have been overturned in court.

CNewman| 2.26.10 @ 11:06AM

I agree, but the Democrats will cut their losses on the issue Obama identfied for them because he thinks they can't address it. The issue is pre-existing condition coverage. I hope the Republicans will prove him wrong.

Bud Parker| 2.26.10 @ 12:52PM

Expecting either Party to ultimately "Pay the Price" for their misdeeds sounds logical. However, in reality the reelection statistics after every Congressional election show otherwise. Often, polls indicate that the citizens think Congress does not do a good job, yet mere weeks later their reelection rate is 96% to 98%. In 1970 the House reelection rate hit it's lowest since 1964. A measly 85%! http://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/reelect.php

Expecting voters to do the right thing in the voting booth is far too often a recipe for disaster. Believe me; the incumbents know exactly what the odds are of their being voted out of office. Close to nil. Without Term Limits we will always have professional politicians foisting any damned thing they please on the American people. We even have Senators, Congressmen, and White House appointees continue to serve after being caught red-handed committing criminal acts. By the way, they are not prosecuted nor censured for their misdeeds.

MTB| 2.26.10 @ 5:05PM

Right on, Bud. When my oldest son was a young boy, he'd occasionally do something wrong in front of us, like hit one of his siblings. When we called him on it he'd say, "No, I didn't" or "I didn't do that." Same with the lying dems. They'll lie about their voting record, the words that they said, everything, and they'll get re-elected. Happens (almost) every time.

Embryo| 2.26.10 @ 5:21PM

Clearly, there exists no mandate from the electorate for the passage of ObamaCare. Using reconciliation to spite the American people and the electorate will be precedent setting . Then you will see in full bloom the wrath of the American electorate. It is possible that 85% of the incumbents, WILL NOT BE RE-ELECTED, as reimbursement for their arrogant abuse of power and defiance of the American citizen's wishes. From what I have witnessed during the last three years from Congress, out of pure spite, I would not vote for any one that has failed to vote the will of their constituents on every single issue in their term.

Shamus| 2.26.10 @ 6:43AM

The only question here is whether the handful of House Democrats seduced by the Stupak language can be persuaded to vote for the Senate bill. I'm guessing they will not, but it's still in play.

Siegfried X| 2.26.10 @ 6:44AM

Yes, the Democratic leadership decided to use reconciliation within a few hours after Scott Brown was elected. The summit was just another attempt to round up the votes.

As Nancy Pelosi said about another bill, "If we had the votes, we'd be voting today".

Old Guy| 2.26.10 @ 7:20PM

Pelosi has the numbers, but not the votes. Why can't the Republicans paint a very clear picture by voting "Present?" The Dems have the numbers and there wouldn't be a single Rep. "NO" vote on the board. After all, Obama apparently started his path to the presidency with a number of "present" votes in the Illinois State Senate.

Ret. Marine| 2.26.10 @ 6:45AM

I saw something quite different in his body language yesterday, arrogant, condesending all full of himself but, worried. At best, the dem's had a pity party at the expense of themselves. But, more than likely the expense will be us, We the tax payer. They couldn't even get that right. It seeemed that each and every dem had more of a pathetic story than the last and at best made them look like desperation waiting for a place to happen.
I think they are truely worried for their messiah, he's looked like a lone survivor of a ship wreck in the drink surrounded by hungry sharks knowing full well it was just a matter of time before his fate was all but sealed. This was nothing but cover for these croocks, they just wanted an excuss to tell everyone the Repub party doesn't want to play nice about their naked power grab over our lives and 10 to 1 this issue of reconcilliation will be brought up first thing this upcoming week.
The question I have for this usurper calling himself our president is, "do you feel lucky punk?, well, do yah". Go ahead, payback is best served cold.

Alert1201| 2.26.10 @ 8:07AM

I like the one about the women who had to wear her dead mother's false teeth.

Coyote| 2.26.10 @ 8:13AM

Maybe the Dems could publish a collection of sob stories... "The Saddest Stories We Never Heard".

Simpleton| 2.27.10 @ 5:40PM

What good will that do, goober? It is not as if you read anything -- all your "information" comes from FOX "News".

It might help if you cared. You don't.

Go back to bang*ng your sis in the double-wide, and hope she does not opt to abort

Eric Carman| 2.26.10 @ 8:47AM

The more I thought about that story, the more I laughed. I'm still laughing about it. I was waiting to hear that now the whole family shares the teeth because no one has teeth so it takes all day to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner because of the need to eat in shifts which takes a long time and you have to be at home or lose your turn with the teeth and that's why they don't have jobs - that and the bad economy Bush gave us.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.26.10 @ 8:55AM

You're funny Eric: By the time they're done eating dessert, it's time for breakfast again. I hope they sleep between denture turns, otherwise they must get very tired. They must go through a lot of denture cream?

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 9:08AM

Hi L3! Well, it works out because they only have on bed, so you can sleep while the others eat, so thank God for small miracles. The denture cream problem has been solved with Velcro and the lady's Bedazzler tool. And the kids get that fashionable "Up In Your Grill" look with the gold rhinestones. So it has its benefits.

MikeBee| 2.26.10 @ 10:10AM

Eric,
Sounds like we've finally found the solution to the obesity problem in America! We all just need to share teeth with one another, like this family. We'll eat less often, and become thinner. In fact, over time, a government-run health program would do just this. Families would be forced to share teeth, as the lines are too long to get new ones.

Grzmlyk| 2.26.10 @ 11:52AM

But they also don't have food because of Bush. All they have is a tin gruel of dirt soup, perhaps some potato shavings and a daily ration of flour.

They don't need their teeth to sip gruel.

I must say that Obama's unshakeable belief that his is the most superior person this planet has ever produced is both laughable and infuriating - because his self esteem knows no boundaries, he is not subject to the self-doubt that plagues thinking people (and by "thinking people," I mean people who are not intellectuals).

It is his kevlar and his teflon - he CANNOT be wrong, so if things blow up in his face, he knows it is NEVER his fault. His only mistakes, of course, are overestimating we puny people's ability to comprehend his greatness.

I hate to agree with this article, but it's true: Because Obama's faith in himself is absolute, it provides him with a huge and impenetrable bubble of omniscience.

the irony, of course, is that the ONLY people who believe in their omnisicence are children and fools, and Obama's guilty on both counts.

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 1:34PM

Good point about the gruel and dirt soup! As MikeBee said, sounds like an Rx for obesity! Viva gruel! More Dirt Soup!

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 8:59AM

And if that isn't bad enough, the family dog doesn't have any teeth so he has to use them and they REALLY don't fit him and so they fall out of his mouth when he barks and that's why the robber got away with everything because when the dag barked it didn't go "Woof, woof!" like it would normally and instead sounded like "Oof, oof" which everyone thought was the neighbor kid practicing his tuba and that's why the robber took everything - including now the teeth! It is a sad tail, indeed.

chuck| 2.26.10 @ 12:32PM

And what about the chilrens, and the grandbabies, do they also have to borrow the teeth, and try to eat with teeth about 8 sizes too big? How could we allow this to happen in this country. Thats what Bush and Cheney gave us, chilrens and grandbabies eating with their dead aun't teeth. I bet their from Alabama

Margie| 2.26.10 @ 2:05PM

And you can't leave out the family cat. The question is can they be retrofitted with human teeth too? Does this new "health Bill" include them as well? What about whales?

Zhora| 2.26.10 @ 2:30PM

Hey! What about me?! Screw the dog and his teeth. I need rehab and about a gross of nicotine patches a day! Look, its all you guys fault I'm the way I am! I was happy with bananas and eating ticks off my pal's head. Now I'm swilling a fifth of Jack and 4 packs of Marlboro Reds a day! Obama owes me!

Zhora the Boozy Ape| 2.26.10 @ 2:33PM

Now my web site is down, too! Try this: http://www.montrealgazette.com.....story.html

B Davis| 2.26.10 @ 9:38AM

Eric: The bad economy Bush gave us is the direct result of the democrats, mainly Barney Franks, Dodd, and Conrad with their sweetheart deals on Countrywide just before it buckled, and Franks's committee's refusal to listen to the regulators and treasury secretary who testified 22 times, starting in 2002, that Bush sent over to warn about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae's decline but Franks told the press that all was okay everytime, and why would "they want to mess with something that was working so well" as they loaned money for houses to people with no documented income and sold houses way out of reach to the people buying them. There were over 150,000 homes sold to illegal aliens and in foreclosure, reports said that most of those houses were trashed when the occupants moved out..Also, Obama was the attorney for ACORN who sued Citigroup, forcing them to either loan to unqualified borrowers or to give the money to ACORN so that they could sell them to those people...Also, Clinton is the president who signed away the regulations on the housing market saying "he hoped he was doing the right thing". So, Bush wasn't perfect by no means but the lack of oversight by congress who was in control-democrats-set us up for this fall..We didn't know about this mess but the liberals in Washington now trying to hide the facts and issue regulations-by the way, no regulations are on Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae yet-they set all this into motion...I quess we give them a fiddle to play as Rome burns unless we stop them in November's election.

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 10:26AM

Really? Are you telling me that Democrats would lie about this poor lady's teeth AND the economy? I can hardly believe . . . . Well, okay - I'll write that down for future reference.

MarshMan| 2.26.10 @ 10:48AM

That was great! You sounded like a Democrat! No, really. That's the exact kind of logic they would try and persuade the dept. of Unsocial Services in order to obtain benefits!

Amcelroy| 2.26.10 @ 9:14PM

That was really good. I hope you don't mind, I sent your comments on to some of my like minded friends. Thanks for the laugh.

Stephanie| 2.26.10 @ 9:08AM

Do these chalatans really think we believe their made up stories? Especially obama. I can see him and Michelle, sitting in bed at night, a stack of letters scattered around them and they are reading then aloud to one another.
What a bunch of manure.
Yeah, the teeth one was priceless.

Grzmlyk| 2.26.10 @ 12:06PM

Come on, Stephanie: Obama says he talks to regular folks all the time and I believe him. I mean, to paraphrase Bill O'Reilly, why would our beneficent president lie?

So before he and Michelle snuggle in the presidential bed, I'm sure they go out amongst the hoi polloi - well, ok, they always seem to wind up on K Street where the hoi-est of the hoi polloi pull down $1.3 mill a year lobbying for GE and the SEIU, but whatever.

I think it's touching that Our Dear Leader takes the time out of his busy, busy day looting every single institution in this country that is not unionized to talk to the little folks and to read their touching letters of trying to survive the hellish torments of evil, evil capitalism - as Rockefeller said yesterday, the shark that circles each and every one of us.

Obama is SHAMELESS. When it comes to mendacity, he makes Clinton look like a piker. He doesn't care how outrageous the lie he tells is - if he says it, it is so.

As the New York Times says, some things are just too good to fact-check.

I'll say it again: Our adolescent in chief is like that story of Richard Pryor lying in bed with a hooker. His wife walks in and accuses him of cheating on her. He says, "who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?"

That, in a nutshell, is the Obama administration.

Old Oak Tree| 2.26.10 @ 9:52AM

My immediate thought was, oh, so now my spouse and I are expected to pay for dentures for everyone? The productive Americans, and/or the retirees who saved for their own retirement, are supposed to provide full dental care including dentures, for those who can't pay for their own?

Banjo| 2.26.10 @ 10:06AM

It was a dead sister's teeth.

Louis Jenkins| 2.26.10 @ 10:40AM

Dear Old Oak Tree:

A new government program can be initiated from this experience. Not only can you donate your organs to those less forunate who do not have to pay medical costs for three years, but you can also donate your false teeth. What a novel idea.

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 10:47AM

That's all fine and good, Banjo. But what about the dog? The poor dog has no teeth and "Oofs" instead of "Woofs". That alone should mandate free teeth for everyone - and their dog. What kind of country do we live in that allows a dog to "Oof" instead of "Woof"!

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.26.10 @ 11:19AM

They must really scare the hell out of their neighbors when they're out playing frisbee with the dog (when they find the time between eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Knock, knock!! "'cuse me, my 'izbree 'anded on 'our 'oof."

Umm, excuse me, what?

Meanwhile, the dog is smiling that hauntingly human looking smile at the neighbor. "oof"!!

Door slams!!

'ow 'ude!!"

Gummy the Dog| 2.26.10 @ 1:13PM

"Oof oof!"

Deborah D| 2.26.10 @ 1:40PM

Eric -- You should write a book. You are totally hilarious and so creative. You could even collaborate with a few of the responders to your posts.

Thanks for the belly laughs. I had to read your first post aloud to my husband. He loved it!

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 2:22PM

Thank you, Deborah,

It's easy when you rely on the Democrats for material ;-)

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 4:23PM

Deborah, Eric:
The problem is the Left actually believes this apocraphal stuff and thinks public policy should be based on emotion not reason and law.

Good job Eric :)

WRTolkas| 2.27.10 @ 1:16PM

Dear Eric, Et al,

This web site has driven me to rage, tears, and hatred. Today, thanks to Eric and the group from the conservative underground, I have had nothing but belly-laughs. Thanks to you all.

When the One's brown-shirt army attempt to dominate our dear country, we will be able to identify the true conservatives with the following cryptic message: Oof, oof.

Thank you all,

WRTolkas

Kitty| 2.26.10 @ 6:50AM

You had me, Quin, until you veered into a 'story,' which, unfortunately, reminded me of The Won.

I fumed as Fox News cut into Glenn Beck's show for the 'wrap-up' of the summit. I had to mute the sound because it was nothing more than The Won blathering on for TWENTY-EIGHT MINUTES. Then came Fox's wrap-up of the wrap-up.
...

martin j smith| 2.26.10 @ 7:41AM

What were the uses of this so called " summit"
1) It allowed Repbus and Consertives to argue directly withe the opposition
2) BHO and his merry band looked phoney, stupid and defensive
3) Perhaps, time will tell, many more Repubs ( NOT JMcC and a few other RINOS ) get it: They are in a "winner take all war" with the democrat Party., And with that, realizing there is no possibility of serious bi-partiship given the current leadership.

Were the Repubs "fooled" no. They were well prepared and outdid themselves with the exception of one or two who could have done better-JMcC for example.

alarm1210| 2.26.10 @ 8:10AM

Even Rush was impressed with the Repubs performance. He even admitted he was wrong in saying they should stay away from the summit. They came loaded for bear and won.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.26.10 @ 8:16AM

The Presidents remarks to Senator John Mc Cain (even if he isn't one of our favorite Republicans) were pompous and arrogant, and he once again showed his true personality which I can't put a name to here. "We're not campaigning anymore, the Election is over" (to Mc Cain). There's a lot of fence sitters out there (now don't ask me why they can't form an opinion?), but I think that a whole bunch of them, just fell off their fence to the right side yesterday. The more the President talks about this legislation, and the more he defends this monstrosity, the more fence sitters out there keep falling to the right. So keep talking!! And if he forces this Bill through with reconciliation, this will be the death of the Democratic Party come November, and Jimmy Carter will be laughing his ass off down in Plaines, Georgia. "I'm no longer the worst!! I'm number two!! In your face!!"

megapotamus| 2.26.10 @ 10:48AM

This snotty little outburst was a big, big error for Obama. One of his tactical knocks on McCain was on his legendarily volcanic temper. I am beginning to think that is mostly legend especially as this juvenile outburst would have provoked a man of less self control to open a can of Hanoi Hilton whoopass on this brat, this poseur, this doofus Barack Obama. But no. Johnny Mac did not attack, but he did hold his ground. Heads were nodding around the globe when McCain averred that every day a reminder of the election outcome presents itself, ruefully. So a swing and a miss there by Barry, and a great Freudian admission that no non-partisan could miss. O charges McCain with campaigning??!? In office!?!? On the job, as it were? This comes the very DAY after Valerie Jarrett of all people has to go out to throw cold water on the revelations that Barack's warroom for 2012 is already being formed and IN Chicago; obviously also OF Chicago. We could forgive Barack thinking that his ever over-estimated long talk could square even this circle but that particular tool is dull, dull, dull at this point.

RustyG| 2.26.10 @ 8:00AM

Obama and the dems, according to their talking points, seem prepared to die on some strange poll number hill. Every time it is pointed out that the polls show overwhelmingly that the people reject their plan they say that their poll shows support for the specifics, therefore full speed ahead. That idea baffles me. For instance if the bill proposed:

--$100 every Tuesday ... which would result in a kick in the privates every Wedneday.

--A steak dinner every Thursday ... which would result in a prostate check every Friday.

Polls say the people reject that plan. Obama and the dem response.... "Yes but when we ask specifically if the people want the C-note and the steak they say yes....therefore Reconciliation."
Are they really going to defend that logic?

WRTolkas| 2.26.10 @ 8:06AM

Lady and Gentlemen,

I had the opportunity to listen to a majority of the debate (approximately 90%) while performing circuit design on my computer. I witnessed a democratic pity party drudging up tales of sorrow and a fiscal slight of hand, worthy of Harry Houdini, to pay for this mess. The democrats were never able to rebuff or answer Senator Ryan's remarks and challenge. Harry Reid was insignificant in this debate. All he contributed were threats to Republicans and the American people. If I were a democrat, this should be troubling as he is the Majority Leader. I also caught on to the One's use of I word. Normally when a person refers to them self and another, the proper wording is: you and I, or so-and-so and I - placing another before self. You get the idea. With the One, many, many, times the phrase was: I and you, or I and the democrats. Personally, I think a psychiatrist could pan much gold from a shallow stream like the One.

Unfortunately, my belief is this: The One and his henchmen (and henchwoman) will resort to the nuclear option (reconciliation). Last night, I wrote to my senator (Stabenow) and reminded her that if she approves this nuclear option, she can kiss her political future good-bye. I do hope the readers of this site write their senators the same message.

One last thought: considering the Republicans were walking into a trap, and the agenda controlled by the One (by word and body language he never let the Republicans forget), the Republicans did a mighty fine job. I congratulate all of the Republicans on their knowledge of the issue that caused the One to pause and the Republican's steadfastness to remain united in a common cause that this bill, as is, will not stand.

All have a safe weekend,

WRTolkas

Old Oak Tree| 2.26.10 @ 9:56AM

Stabenow and Levin are my senators too. How I wish we could get rid of them. I call and write, call and write, but they remain liberals. Too bad neither is up for election in 2010.

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 11:23AM

Typical of the Left to couch ther argument in anecdotal rather than systemic fashion.

Personally, were I McCain, Alexander or the others, (and I am no fan of McCain) I should have been incensed by the patronizing behavior of President Al Naqis.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.26.10 @ 2:25PM

Brilliant!

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.26.10 @ 2:25PM

Brilliant!

Coyote| 2.26.10 @ 8:09AM

Obama's disgraceful behavior in lashing out at John McCain ("... the election is over") spoke volumes about Obama. He knows the majority of American have no faith or trust in him and he attacked McCain to compensate for his own insecurities about his failed job performance as President.

gaetano| 2.26.10 @ 9:36AM

Mccain answer to Obama should have been ("and you were the one elected to lead,but you are not leading.")

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.26.10 @ 8:12AM

The summit was a mistake for Barack Obama because for the first time the nation could weigh and review the facts. That occurred even though the pompous lying political jackass named Barack Obama cut people off when they started reviewing facts, claiming they were talking points.

The most revealing thing that occurred during the pompfest was not stimulative to the Obama argument that we need health care. There was merely a litany of sob stories, some so ridiculous that they were eliciting humor from liberal pundits in real time.

One example of that was Louise Slaughter whose friend needed her sisters teeth. Another example was Tom Harkin's "We are the USA, we are racist" joke fest. It's not that I think racism is funny, it's that Tom Harkin is a clueless clown. Senator Harkin may be dumber than Joe Biden, but I wouldn't want to live on the difference. Harkin mentioned he was a farmer several times, and as he was finishing a cell phone could be heard in the background. I assumed he was getting the latest taxpayer subsidized crop reports.

At one point Joe Biden was caught on an open mike stating, "The job of Vice-President is the greatest in the world. You really don't have to do anything." Now we all know that. But it's obvious that's Joe Biden's game plan. Do nothing. Ironically, it also look's like Obama's game plan too.

It was hard to believe a hard core tax cheat like Charles Rangel could sit there with a straight face and talk about spending other peoples money after he tried to get out of paying tens of thousands in federal taxes but there it was in living color. Perhaps the Congressional Black Caucasus demanded that Rangel be utilized. Or maybe it was Senator Harkin, and Obama selected Rangel on the belief that a black who cheated on taxes was better then the whites who showed up who cheated the public too.

A perfect example of that was Nancy Pelosi, who fidgeted and looked like she was suffering from taxpayer financed jet separation anxiety. Several recent junkets she lead to foreign lands cost the taxpayers over $250,000. According to Nancy Pelosi, her jet, which cost over $280,000 a month to operate, "It's not a plane, it's a ride."

In the offing, Obama spoke as much as all the Republicans put together, and the Democrats had twice the time as the Republicans. All this at an allegedly bi-partisan summit. In fact, it was simply another rip off to the taxpayers who footed the bill with only the Republicans giving their moneys worth.

I doubt if Obama changed anyone's mind, including any Democrats. They know he has failed. Now we all see why he's a failure. When he speaks it's in general terms. Obama tripped over his own lips and never once gave any facts to support the details behind his health care fiasco. As Obama stuttered, mumbled and lip synced his way through the performance at Blair House I was reminded of T.S. Eliot.

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

Bohred| 2.26.10 @ 11:45PM

This will be Obama's "Army Hearings".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAur_I077NA

JGlynn| 2.26.10 @ 8:13AM

People must realize that Obama will never stop trying to pass a health care bill. In his mind he is like a father who knows what is best for the children. Of course he is also like a parent who makes rules for the kids that do not apply to him.

MacAoidh| 2.26.10 @ 10:11AM

JGlynn, you're probably right about that. But so long as they're short on votes to pass Obamacare, and so long as the American people are adamantly opposed to it, it's good for us that he keeps trying. Just magnifies the electoral holocaust the Democrats will go through this fall.

More: http://thehayride.com/2010/02/.....obamacare/

DAC| 2.26.10 @ 8:31AM

Have to comment on the reference to TS Eliot's "The Hollow Men," above. I have always despised poetry of all kinds, but I remember reading TS Eliot in high school and thinking, this guy, bitter and morose as he is, is onto something very important about human nature, 20th century politics, and the nature of evil, all at once. Which makes the reference so apt to the current "health care" debate.
As most who post here know, this debate isn't about health care, medical insurance, actuarial tables, Medicare Advantage, or any of the other aspects of the bill. It's about whether the US government will truly become the Leviathan; whether the American people value freedom at all, or whether we (like the proverbial frog in the hot water) are boiled slowly into a slavish socialism, presided over by arrogant, corrupt jackals like Maobama and his buddies.
That is the debate, and it's not over. At best the beginning of the end of that debate will come in November 2010. Until then, buy guns, ammo and land. Be prepared--I wouldn't put it past the foaming-at-the-mouth totalitarians in this Administration to pull a "1975 Rhodesia" on us.

Louis Jenkins| 2.26.10 @ 8:37AM

Folks, why all the sad faces? Pelosi promised that the Health Care Bill will create "400,000 jobs" almost instantly. So 400,000 will go to work the week after approval? Now that's government job creation!! What a comforting thought.

http://www.realclearpolitics.c.....ately.html

The GOP representatives did us proud. I only wish I could live in this make-believe world that these statist have dreamed up. But when the rubber hits the road it is going to be a horrible day.

B Davis| 2.26.10 @ 9:49AM

Jenkins: You are absolutely right and quess who these jobs are going to mainly-SEIU..Can you imagine them coming into your house to issue your health care? I wouldn't want them near my dog much less my mother or dad if they were still alive...Another thing, they keep wanting to take our medicare money that we paid in for over 40 years to start this thing up-if they would pay back the medicare money and social security that they have stolen from us, used in the general fund, and handed out to illegals over the past, we wouldn't be going broke on medicare or social security..I remember reading that Rosevelt promised that that "money would never be touched by the government" until Johnson came along and they wrote a new law that allowed the feds to use our "pensions" freely in any way they choose. This health care deal is another of Obama's give-aways to unions and planned parenthood, etc. One other item is that there is a fund set aside in the stimilus package not being counted in the CBO's offering on health care cost of about $3 Billion dollars for SEIU and ACORN who is now changing it's name so it can steal our taxpayer dollars again...What an incredulous mess up in Washington and where is the CONSTITUTION IN all of this-it's just not constitutional period.

Pat| 2.26.10 @ 12:45PM

So, why are we not talking impeachment?????

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 12:51PM

Pat,
Can you say President Biden?

JP| 2.26.10 @ 8:44AM

"By going on for six full hours about his plans, all in a reasonable tone of voice, he makes those plans somehow less scary, no matter how many good licks the Republicans get in."

Quinn,
And what makes you think that the President hasn't had "heart to heart" talks with key members of the House these last 8 months? Nothing the President said yesterday addressed the 12 members of the Stupak Coalition. The Senate version is unaccetable to them. And promises of "fixes" after reconcilliation hold no water with members who know full well thier own party's bait and switch methods.

These are grown men and women, not children. Many (but not all) are old Beltway Pols, who know smoke and mirrors when they see one. This isn't Jan 2009. The Obama Magic is gone; his approval ratings slip with each job lost and every speech he gives. IMHO, yesterday's summit backfired. The GOP summit members represent the 65% of voters who are vehemently against ObamaCare. The summit only underscored the fantasy world the President lives in. Remember, many of the fence sitting Dems helped craft the bill -they know better than the President and his sychophants what this bill really intends to do, and what its costs are.

At best, Pelosi has 195 votes. With each passing week, the chances are she will lose more. With each passing week November looms closer. With each down tick in the President's polls, sitting Dems up for re-election face a tougher task in raising money (esp for those Dems who voted Yes in Nov); with each passing week incumbent Dems become more vulnerable.

The question remains, are the House Dems (and Pelosi) ready to cashier thier careers in order for the President?

megapotamus| 2.26.10 @ 10:58AM

The abortion issue is one very few are addressing, even as Stupak becomes a household name. Absent the Stupak language it seems unlikely that the bill would have passed the House. If Stupak hadn't been understood as a PR move by the Lefty Dems they would have bailed. So the House vote is based on an open lie, one that Stupak seems to not endorse at this point. And this is all AMONG Dems; the Reps might as well be in another dimension. But they have not abdicated which was about as much as we would reasonably expect from them, given recent history. I echo Limbaugh's estimation that now the Republicans are slowly, precariously, evolving into vertebrates before our eyes. They should be cautiously encouraged.

JimP| 2.26.10 @ 9:12AM

On the positive side of Quin's scenario, while the Dems keep talking about it, November draws ever closer, which helps our side. I know the Dems have quite a few Kamikaze volunteers, but I think most of them are reluctant Samurai. My guess is they will live (bail on BarryCare) to fight another day.

Siegfried X| 2.26.10 @ 9:18AM

The Democratic leadership is supposedly going to force the reconciliation decision within the next month (before recess).

If they can get the votes then the house will pass a new, correction bill which "deems" (assumes) that the old bill has passed. (That gets around the chicken & egg problem of which one to pass first.)

The Senate approves the new bill.

Then the House approves the old bill.

Siegfried X| 2.26.10 @ 9:22AM

I forgot to add that one big problem with the Democrat plan is they can't fix the abortion and immigration language with reconciliation, so they would need a third bill. That bill would require the support of at least one Republican Senator since it could be filibustered. Maybe they would attach it to some "must-pass" legislation.

Gary Gross| 2.26.10 @ 9:39AM

President Obama probably did give congressional D's new talking points so he got a temporary bump from yesterday. Unfortunately for him, that work will disappear the minute the polls show that Republicans won yesterday's event.

If it's a fight between re-election & party loyalty, this fight is over because re-election wins every time.

Catherine| 2.26.10 @ 10:29AM

At the Daily Kos his approval number went down from yesterday.

Rasmussen has him at -20 but the poll was only partially done after the HC summit.

I think it will go lower on Sunday's #s.

megapotamus| 2.26.10 @ 11:01AM

I don't think the circus will have measurably improved Barack's general #s. Much of that generic approval is driven by tone and image, neither of which were even acceptable; the McCain and Alexander exchanges exemplary.

Radioman777| 2.26.10 @ 9:45AM

I don't think it worked for him at all and it's doubtful that any Democrat Senators or Reps gained any confidence whatsoever out of this. Where's the evidence?

Mike| 2.26.10 @ 9:49AM

The woman who had to wear her dead mothers false teeth was a classic yet typical democrat sob story. The question is did that woman have a job? Does her husband have a job, when was the last time anyone in that household held a job? I will pay my own way in life and I wish more people would do the same.

megapotamus| 2.26.10 @ 11:03AM

There is some outfit advertising in Altanta that claims to do dentures for $300, like a LensCrafters.

Margie| 2.26.10 @ 2:20PM

LOL, yep, and some advertise that they will even come to your house and fit you for them!

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.26.10 @ 11:30AM

Mike: She has no teeth, right? But I'll bet you, that she's got cable, a DVD player (with disc's), a cellphone, and eats out at some fast food joint that sells "soft" food (remember she's got no teeth?) several times a week. Oh yeah, and she probably drives her car to that soft food selling fast food joint. It's all a joke, it's all a lie, it's just the Democratic Party!! But what about her dog?

Thunderbottom| 2.26.10 @ 11:39AM

...and I'll bet she has to light her own farts in the winter to keep warm!

Mike| 2.26.10 @ 9:49AM

Ken Roberts | 2.26.10 @ 9:50AM

false teeth these people are pathetic , no one has the same mouth and that would be all but impossible any way for some one to do that is like eating manure . they just trotted out the manure eaters to make a point and the point being is dental insurance is the cheapest and the most over charged insurance you can have yes they pay half of the dentures and that was fine ten years ago when your cost would have been 300 bucks today it is 2,000 , there are places that charge 350.00 for a complete set; surly this woman could have scrapped together that much .
How pathetic do they have to get .

Rocky| 2.26.10 @ 9:52AM

Obama is indeed looking for that window of opportunity. However, it is a windo that is slowly closing. with Mid-term elections approaching, the closer we get to summer the less likely he can get anything to pass. In fact, I believe the Summit has backfired on him. It will not be lost on wavering Dems that Obama dominated the conversation yet was unpersuasive among voters. The debate also highlighted this truth...while people may like the benefits, they won't stomach the cost. That is why polls reflect popularity for aspects of the bill while at the same time finding the bill a stench. I would also add, the endless sob stories have the net effect of dulling the senses to that emotional appeal and heightening the senses to the objections to the bill.

Tom M| 2.26.10 @ 10:01AM

Maybe if George II hadn't rung up $5 trillion in on-budget deficits in 8 years, we could afford health care.

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 10:28AM

And teeth!

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 11:17AM

We can. But why do we think it should be paid for by someone else?

Bram| 2.26.10 @ 1:25PM

Tom,

Bush was the President. Congress creates budgets. Since 2006, Democrats have been creating the budgets and ringing up record deficits.

We'll fix that in November.

F Krautner| 3.1.10 @ 12:42PM

If a GOP administration actually creates a surplus, it will be a first since the War Between The States.

The GOP rants about "shrinking government," but their patron saint for smaller government, Ronald Reagan actually increased the size of the US Government substantially. Ditto for George Herbert Walker Bush and George Walker Bush.

The GOP always does exactly the opposite of their announced fiscal policies.

Rmm| 2.26.10 @ 10:08AM

What jumps off the page the most, is O does not care to have any honest debate on this issue or any other for that matter. The guy is inherently intellectually dishonest. When your opponent is routinely labeled as the villain, what is the purpose of engaging in honest discussion.

Anthony| 2.26.10 @ 10:08AM

It was Roosevelt's first V.P., the infamous Texas Jack Garner, who described the office of the V.P. as amounting to a "bucket of warm spit".
Only Joe Biden could manage to reduce the office lower than that.

Clint Lovell| 2.26.10 @ 10:23AM

The reality is that the president's plan cannot save money - not because the ideology is a malady - but, the basic rules of mathematics conspire against the outcome. It is not mathematically possible for the government to enter the private-sector economy, confiscate funds (taxes or borrowings, it's all the same - money remitted out of the economy) from the private-sector economy, pay its own fees and expenses and then (somehow) contrive a benefit (health care) at a cost that is less than the private-sector because the private-sector program doesn't have to include the costs of governance. This is the "tale of the tape" for the retirement insurance, education, agriculture and heavy manufacturing sectors of our economy. There has never been a documented case of the government contriving a product, service or market more efficiently than the private-sector because it is not mathematically possible to do so. If we want the government to succeed at this we have to change the way we have structured our economy; until we do that it is not possible.

On the other hand, if we do change the structure of our economy, we can "instantly" change our current economic nightmare, but nobody wants to do that. After all, when you can be perfectly miserable having to "owe money" and "pay taxes" to some privileged insider in our economy, why change the game?

gaetano| 2.26.10 @ 10:42AM

Obama has his priorities screwed up. We need jobs. Weneed to make this country self sufficient again. We need to bring our troops home.We don`t need bailouts for banks when we don`t make any money to put into banks. We don`t need auto bailouts when we can`t make money to buy one. Quit wasting time. give all citizens health care immediately and worry about paying for it later instead of giving money to everyone else

Robbins Mitchell| 2.26.10 @ 10:48AM

"L'etat c'est moi"

~King Louis XIV~

"I won...shut up"

~Barokeydoke Hubris Obozo~

MattZ| 2.26.10 @ 10:50AM

I love this nonsense. It gives so many angry white guys a platform to bitch and complain.

So many conservatives talk about health care like France, Germany, England and Canada don't exist, and a milquetoast market-based foray into government-sponsored health care is a radical departure from sanity. Your logic makes me cringe.

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 11:16AM

Matt,
Oh they exist all right. Why is it you can't understand, "We don't want to be like them."?

Explain to me why "health care" is different from any other service or commodity one can chose to pay for or not?

Clint Lovell| 2.26.10 @ 11:17AM

There is nothing laudable about the examples you site, Mr. Z. It is not possible for the government to create an economic outcome that would be more efficient than that which would be contrived in the absence of said government intervention by the private-sector.

By its very definition, all government spending must be inefficient compared to those allocations made by the private-sector economy in observance of Rational Choice Theory or the premise for the government spending would be a non sequitur. There is no escaping these two fundamental issues because of the way our economy is structured. If you want government spending to be stimulative and you want government spending to have no real limitations then you have to change the structure of the economy and change the means of funding government activities. Until that happens, all of your plans will remain unworkable because the laws of mathematics will always trump political philosophy.

Robind| 2.26.10 @ 12:06PM

Mattz you apparently haven't been listening to the great O. He has said that government healthcare will be run on the tables and charts he has seen. This is about a free market society, personal responsibility and the freedom to persue happiness.

Since when does any country on this earth offer a better standard of living than we do? How many other countries out there have the freedoms to give people the opportunity to succeed or fail based on their own work ethics.

How many times do we hear of an immigrant coming to the US with only $50 and making a better living than the one he left?

Matt, you don't agree so you just resort to name calling. Very typical of your ilk! BTW, I am neither white nor male!

Roseburgh| 2.26.10 @ 11:13AM

The things I have always disliked most about the President were on full display yesterday - his arrogance, condescension and total disinterest in anything that doesn't come out of his own mouth. That he takes the people in this country for such fools is so insulting. I hope he is in for a very rude awakening, along with those who voted for him. He is not even anything resembling a patriot or a servant of the people. He is even more disappointing than my worst nightmare. Democrats need a lesson in public service. May they all receive it at the next election.

Pingback| 2.26.10 @ 11:19AM

Differing views on who “won” the health-care summit : Peoples Press Collective links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…the very existence of an ongoing debate and the fact that Americans might let their guards down just through becoming tired of hearing the arguments means that Obama is winning: http://spectator.org/archives/2010/02/26/summit-strategems/ What do you think??? Link to Original post at Rossputin.com. Category: Health Reform, Syndicated Tags: Rossputin > Syndicated Comments NOTICE: Comments do not necessarily…

JC| 2.26.10 @ 12:03PM

It is broke so fix it or is it? I hear broken system from everyone but few answers when I ask what is broke? A few items should be improved i.e. tort reform, state lines, and inclusion. While that plays out STOP and put experts in a locked room with a goal to present within 12-24 months a comprehensive (means simple and small) plan and path; Congress can not peak until complete.

RAMIII| 2.26.10 @ 12:04PM

They will do this and ram it ("new" health care) down our throats. These politicians are all about changing the rules so us serfs won't be able to do anything about it.

The people who hold elected offices (even at the local levels) seem to live and operate in sound proof environments. It's like the old Tiger Woods Lexus commercials. When they don't want to hear us they just insulate us poor, dumb slobs out. They are the "elite" who will not give ground.

BTW John McCain has nothing he can say about this health care debacle, since he basically did the same thing with Campaign Finance "Reform" Laws, which George W. signed.

We are doomed I say: face the facts people -- you may not like it, but by November all this will have been forgotten. The Republicans have no dynamic leader (e.g. why would Sarah Palin endorse John McCain in AZ?)

Get ready for socialized health care. As an FYI when government takes over and eliminates market competition we will by default be competing against one another as INDIVIDUALS for health care due to government rationing. The healthy against the sick -- mark my words it will get ugly.

Remember when the Nazi's took away Jewish businesses in Germany? The people who benefited said and did little or nothing (even when it affected their neighbors). Scary stuff people, scary stuff!

Steve the Soothsayer| 2.26.10 @ 12:14PM

It's surprising that no one seems very upset about Obama's continual attacks on the Medicare Advantage Plans as though they personify evil. They are the one government health care program that really works well. Perhaps they are too richly funded by the government, but that does not render them a poor mechanism for providing health care. The fact is that these kinds of programs should be expanded, along with Health Savings Accounts/high-deductible plans. This approach could serve as the foundation for all government-sponsored health plans, including Medicaid.

Joe D| 2.26.10 @ 12:21PM

Quin, don't forget the Government when they are the owner of a company, by start up or buying (GM & Chrysler) will also intimidate their competitors (Toyolta).

Otherwise, that was another great article.

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 12:41PM

Interesting comments, but here's some reality:

At age 55. after working for 37 years, the organization I worked for was merged with another and I lost a good job with good health benefits. I found another job with an employer that does not provide health benefits. From age 55 to 65, I purchased my own health insurance. Every year, I got older and the premiums got higher. In order to pay the premiums and co-pays and uncovered expenses (dental, vision, prescriptions), every few years I moved to plans with higher and higher deductibles. I paid it and made it but didn't have much left for anything else. I still have this job and I still drive my clunker. Finally, two years ago, I became elegible for Medicare. What a relief!

I'm sure many with lower paying jobs can't afford what I paid and go without health insurance.

I think our nation's healthcare programs should make something like Medicare available to everyone.

ds80| 2.26.10 @ 1:18PM

Sadly, you do not know how free market capitalism works. But to make yourself happy, you should get some brochures on Venezuela.

Oldefarte| 2.26.10 @ 12:41PM

You cannot use Wal Mart as an example, since it is a PRIVATE entity, whereas the government is a PUBLIC one. WM determines prices by the demand and supply market principle, whereas government [ie healthcare] would simply be practicing price control/manipulation, irrespective of D&S. WM forces lower prices by negotiation with its suppliers, and because of WM's market powet and influence, they receive a lower price for selling to WM but they also are allowed access to WM's constant presence to them as a continual buyer of their products at a fair/market price. The government's price control policy would only cause health insurance companies/medical practicioners to go out of business, since they eventually would not be able to profitably stay in business when being forced to receive government's below market price for their product/service. That is what Obama/Democrats would want to happen, sinc then, the government would control the entire healthcare market and be able to dictate its socialistic ideas and philosophies to medical patients. As to Obama's constant injecting of his ideas at the meeting, I'm not alone in being completely disgusted and revolted each/every time he opens his wide mouth about anything; and I think that the Republicans were foolish to even attend that meeting, as there was no advantage in them doin so. This whole Obamacare thing is nothing but WELFARE, and has nothing to do with lowering medical/insurance prices and/or reforming medical industry practices/procedures [which is what it should be about]!!!!!!

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 12:47PM

I would not like to see our healthcare industry go out of business. I would like them to provide quality care at a reasonable price. I would like to see some data on the amount of overhead and margin for-profit health care providers and insurance companies are making....and compare that to Wal-Mart, Costco, etc.

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 1:16PM

Jeanne,
Why should any service be "like Medicare available to everyone."? Why should we pay other's expenses?

As to "quality care at reasonable price" who might define quality and reasonable? Apparently the government thinks it's new Health Care agency can. Do you really believe the governmant should get to tell us what we need?

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 1:47PM

Al Adab,

Thanks for reading my post and for asking reasonable questions.

The reason something like Medicare should be available to everyone is that everyone needs healthcare. I have been paying into the Medicare system since it began and will continue as long as I have a job. People without health insurance get sick just like we do and they often don't get care. They pass their illnesses on to others and often finally get emergency care after their illness has gotten worse and is much more expensive to treat. One of the reasons we spend so much on healthcare in the USA is that we don't have a system of preventive care that includes everyone. We're all in this together and we all pay for it, one way or another.

I did not suggest that government agencies should be the only ones to track, measure and report quality outcomes. Many responsible companies, organizations and foundations do. We need to make decisions about our healthcare coverage based on data.

I don't want the government to tell me what I need. I want us, the people, to work together to build a system that helps us all to be healthy and productive.

RAMIII| 2.26.10 @ 2:03PM

Jeanne,

One observation, if I may.

The people who rely on government (state or federal) to insure them do not wait till they're so sick that they need to go to Emergency Care. They go to Emergency Care when they have a headache or sore throat because they are aware that they do not have to pay for this. I am personally aware of this occurring regularly.

This in turn drives up the cost for everyone because of the abuse and frivolous use of health care services.

My insurance requires me to pay on a 50/50 ratio for Emergency service which is an incentive to get preventative care. Also "preventative care" does not guarantee the outcome, so the money spent on this, if it "includes everyone", could be a very expensive gamble. I am not in favor of playing that lottery.

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 2:44PM

RAMIII,
As a Medicare enrollee, whose healthcare is subsidized by the federal government, I go to a not-for-profit, primary care clinic that provides me with preventative care, encourages me to participate in healthcare decisions, exercise, stay healthy and stay out of emergency rooms. I have a high co-pay if I go to ER or Urgent Care. I can get same-day advice from my physician on-line and from a help-nurse by phone. This may not be perfect but it seems like a rational approach. I understand that the amount of money they spend on me each year is a lot less than the average spent in private, for-profit programs in this country.

I hope someday we will figure out how to provide good healthcare to everyone in our great nation.

I understand the most under-insured demographic in the USA are children of working parents who don't have health insurance through their jobs and make too much to qualify for Medicaid.

RAMIII| 2.26.10 @ 2:53PM

Jeanne,

"I hope someday we will figure out how to provide good healthcare to everyone in our great nation"

With all due respect, I take offense at this statement. We actually have the best health care in the world, and I have lived/been in several countries.

As well as the fact that a Canadian official of some status chose recently to come to the US to get his heart care, rather than be subject to the Canadian system of rationing.

The process of supplying health care to "everyone" requires the use of scarce resources, which means that if it is free it will require either rationing or incentives to reduce costs. The government is incapable of reducing costs which means we are reduced to a system of rationing. This is extremely undesirable.

Oldefarte| 2.26.10 @ 4:24PM

Health insurance companies' profit margins are very low [5%-8%], in comparison to other insurance companies and other industries in general; but Obama's/Democrats' desire is to takeover the entire healthcare industry from PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES and to therefore have the government confiscate that 5%-8% profit structure, to eventually enlarge it by denying health claims of sick seniors, and to REDISTRIBUTE those profits towards more WELFARE for their indigent constituents!!!!!

RAMIII| 2.26.10 @ 5:08PM

You are spot on.
And when that government boondoggle fails to meet expectations (think VA hospitals) the consumer/end user (individual human with real suffering and sickness) will have no recourse because the govnmt will not allow itself to be sued.

This is real and has real (negative) consequences. These power hungry bloodsuckers will not stop.

Brian Mc| 2.27.10 @ 8:06AM

Jeanne,

A couple of thoughts brimming over after reading your remarks...your 'concern' for margins inherent with various products smacks of socialism. What right do any of us have to see the profit margin for any product the consumer is willing to pay for in order to gain from that product, regardless of the margin?

Secondly, I don't recall a need for health care. I might want it now and again, but, with that said I would rather be the lowliest member of this Nation in the 21st century than the richest nobel of 15th century Genoa. I believe my health care options far surpasses theirs...not to mention the quality of life we are BLESSED with and that I so easily take for granted as I attempt to pursue my own personal happiness...only the pursuit is to be guaranteed by the way. I refuse to pay for someone's guaranteed happiness. The fact that this unattainable perfection is even pursued nauseates me. Healthcare legislation is only one hair on that festering hide.

Lastly, this just in: No one gets out alive...hence the falacy with "preventive" care.

Wally| 2.26.10 @ 12:44PM

A lot of personal hatred for President Obama here. As usual. But back to healthcare. All the program cuts in the world will not reduce the enormous deficit that George Bush built up by two wars, tax cuts and the massive entitlement program for old white folks, called Medicare Advantage. The only way to do that is to restrain spending on healthcare by reforming the healthcare INSURANCE system. The. Only. Way.

Now, most of you old white guys who have Medicare will get your guns out before that happens. But the rest of the country is trying to figure out a way to actually cute the budget deficit.

BTW, are you people aware that Medicare - is a government run INSURANCE program? Essentially, what most middle and lower middle class people in this country want - when specifically asked about details - is something approaching the same deal that you old white folks have. And you don't want them to get it. This is all very logical on your part but it is remarkably selfish.

RAMIII| 2.26.10 @ 12:55PM

You clearly have no idea what you are talking about!
You bring up the deficit? It defeats your argument about George W.

BTW a lot of the money that goes for health insurance ends up in attorneys' and law firms' pockets. Hmm! Most people in congress are . . . . .

Attorneys -- you guessed it.

Al Adab| 2.26.10 @ 1:20PM

Wally,
It's not hate for the President it's complete disagrement with his government action first policies for whatever is defined as the current "crisis" .

The ends (solving the problem, do something)justify the means (government regulation, federal control) without examination of other alternatives. This wolkenkukkukshiem world view leads nowhere we want to go. Question your premises.

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 2:48PM

Al Adab,
Thank you for introducing me to the concept of wolkenkukkukshiem, which I take to mean unrealistic optimism.
I believe in reality-based decision making.
I believe giving up is not a practical option.

Al| 2.26.10 @ 3:26PM

Jeanne,
Cloud cukcoo land.

ds80| 2.26.10 @ 1:21PM

Your class warfare is showing. Which makes you ripe for "scroll past...".

Oldefarte| 2.26.10 @ 4:29PM

[To Wally, from an 'OLD WHITE GUY']:

Oldefarte| 2.26.10 @ 4:38PM

Oh Wally, concerning your statement ["....BTW, are you people aware that Medicare - is a government run INSURANCE program? Essentially, what most middle and lower middle class people in this country want - when specifically asked about details - is something approaching the same deal that you old white folks have. And you don't want them to get it. This is all very logical on your part but it is remarkably selfish...."], let me try and 'SPAIN' Medicare to you, okay? Medicare is tied economically to Social Security, and when SS deductions [tax] are made from workers' paychecks, they are PAYING FOR their eventual medical claims against same. Get it, Wally? People PAY FOR Medicare, they don'ts gets it FREE FROMS THE GOVMENT. Yous bees things abouts ........MEDICAID, nots Medicare, okays???????

Pingback| 2.26.10 @ 1:21PM

» Financial News Update – 02/26/10 NoisyRoom.net: Where liberty dwells, there is my links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Program Economy Grows by 5.9 Percent in Late 2009 Yeah right – and pigs fly… Exclusive: What happens next in health care Obama May Prohibit Home-Loan Foreclosures Without HAMP Review Summit Strategems Morning Bell: Someone Needs to Tell the President His Health Care Plan is Dead Germany’s Economic Engine Health-Care Reform ‘Reconciliation’: One View Inspired by Frank Zappa Nancy…

Christopher Holland| 2.26.10 @ 1:36PM

Obama is a gigantic, hopeless fool - he thinks that if he wins this battle, he wins the war. Wrong - even if he manages to win this, which looks doubtful, he will burn his own house to the ground and end up with nothing. The man is a egomaniac with not a whit of judgement, he thinks he can ride over Niagra Falls in a barrel and survive and be a hero. By the time he leaves office in 2012, Obama will be completely discredited and despised by his own party for his incompetence and poor leadership. Obama is the president you get when you vote in a stupid boy to do a man's job.

tigereye| 2.26.10 @ 2:11PM

In regards to health care and this so called summit? When this Presidend campaigned one of his key campaign promises was to have a bi-partisan debate regarding health care. Obama did not begin the debate this way. It was all behind closed doors with only democratic party members allowed. Kind of like a country club, members only allowed.. Obama had the trust of the American people based on his statements of willingness to work with all parties. He even promised to put the whole debate on C-Span from the beginning. This did not happen, the President lied to the American people who voted him into office. Who thinks he's speaking the truth now? He made a statement about not being able to start over, because we have work to many months on this bill already and we can't start over for that reason alone. Hmmm, lets see if I applied this logic to say sheep running towards a cliff, they can't stop now because of the herds speed and commitment to their leader. After all they have been running this direction for so long now. Even if political death awaits us lets forge on after all we must follow the leader. Sheep need a sheppard, Obama is not a sheppard and the democrats who follow him don't know he's the wolf and buzzard rapped in ONE. If he corners you at the cliffs edge when you stop knowing the danger you're in; he will kill and eat you there. If you fall off the cliff the buzzard in him will pick your flesh to the bone. This man has no heart or concern for the American people and their health care issues, nor does he intend to fix any problems. He is the problem and yes we should impeach him. If I were a politician I would steer clear of this Presidents agenda and provide clear leadership to the American people or get out of politics all together. If you follow the Presidential example of leadership you will be replaced in November 2010

To all of you who have used race as a basis for this civil conversation I say to you consider Gods statements about all people being equal and then consider our own Constitution which was designed by Godly men and women. Your racist comments only demean and offend while taking away from your intended message.

Tigereye

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 2:18PM

Wally,
Thank you for your comment. I'm sure there are many ways to approach the issue of health care in America. I keep reading and hoping to find a humane, rational, data-based proposal. So, far, something like Medicare makes sense. We all pay for it; we have some choices of the types of coverage we want and can afford and most of us can choose where we get our care. If someone has a better idea, please let us hear about it.

Darla| 2.28.10 @ 3:09PM

Medicare sounds pretty good, until you look at the fact that it is going broke.

Jeanne| 3.2.10 @ 3:47AM

In order to keep Medicare (and any other form of health insurance) from going broke or becoming too expensive for the common person, we need to do three things:

--Make the group of people covered as large as possible, i.e. share the risk and the investment.
--Require higher income tax payers to pay a little bit more into the pool and
--Require healthcare providers to put more attention on less expensive, preventative, primary care which will lead to fewer expensive treatments that often come too late to be humane or cost effective.

Bob| 2.26.10 @ 2:22PM

Did anyone really look at what transpired yesterday in front of America.

We had perhaps the Worse POTUS in our history talk for 131 minutes, leaving little doubt that he was lying, deceitful and full of himself and his alleged power. This was the Chicago Politics that we see the ole TV shows. Where the BOSS gets things his way or he KILLS those who disagree with him.. or do not do what he wants.

Notice all the Demos walled like lemmings into the sea when he attacked McCain, and Alexander and some of the other Repugs.

He INSLUTED MCCAIN on national TV for telling the Truth about the Obama Administration.

Not sure what others saw... the kool-aid and democrats other there... are all for this DICTATOR to be.

Where is the concern about America instead of about politics or race relations.

We will find that the Obama years will be a blight in the history of the United States. His comedy yesterday will be saved for future generations to see how DUMB the American voter is.

I doubt seriously that if he spends 2 Billion of Arab money on his re-election that he will get re-elected in 2012.

We the people must organize... we must VOTE OUT all those that have voted for and will vote for this Obamacare.

They must pay the extreme price (for them) sent home with their tails between their legs like the dogs they are.

We must insure that the Scum are voted out of office in 2010, so that in 2011 we can IMPEACH Obama for High Crimes and Treason against the
Constitution and We the People.

Lavaux| 2.26.10 @ 2:23PM

Since when have Democrats ever been bound to facts, reason or logic? Not in my memory has this been so. That's why every Democrat who spoke at the Summit (of abysmal nonsense) led off with an anecdote designed to demonstrate in a folksy and fatuous way just how badly America needs ObamaCare.

Look, folks: You're being governed by arrogant morons who can't wreck the country soon enough to satisfy their egos. Toss all the bums out at first opportunity because it's either them or you, and it should be them.

Bob| 2.26.10 @ 2:25PM

Beyond numbers and particulars, the purpose of the President's health care legislation is the reason why it should be defeated. It cannot be viewed as a single piece of legislation. It is a single move on the political/cultural chess board that is part of a progressive strategy that will lead to a single payer system insuring that the government will be in your face always and for evermore. It will also change the character of the citizenry, moving it toward that of being a placid, bovine collective. It will profoundly change the country from the United States as we know/or knew it into a wan simulacrum.

W.P. Koch| 2.26.10 @ 2:30PM

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN

Congress and the White House should stop squandering the people’s money first and then improve quality of basic entitlements. No new taxes. Congress should stop vote bribery and restart the process. Citizens come first.
It is time the U.S. limits its human rites and military policeman for the World by lobbying the United Nations and NATO to “take on more”. 800 bases across the world should be reduced. Starting with Iraq, remove most troops in 2010 and continue consulting for self reliance. After a surge in Afghanistan repeat, remove corruption and substitute same value food crops for drugs. Reduce forces in selected areas such as Germany, Bosnia and Okinawa.
Cut bureaucracy. Combine CDC, EPA and FDA. Combine the FAA and Transportation Department. No CSZARS Mr. president.
Contribute to only one of: The World Bank or International Monetary Fund.
Reduce foreign aid. For example, no aid to oil rich -Iraq.
Reduce the “stimulus” by halting ridiculous earmarks. Please--no research of frogs or rats.
Please- no private or military jets for congress including Pelosi’s family at taxpayer expense.
Stop the “bailout”. To big to fail” is obsolete. No more executive bonuses of losing companies at taxpayer expense. “.
Reduce medical costs by no insurance buying restrictions, “tort reform”, and limiting “red tape”.
Enforce immigration laws. Entitlements or benefits are for citizens. Deport criminal “illegals”. Workers with visas should receive only needed medical benefits.
Improve medical expense tax deduction for citizens reaching age 65. Provide employer tax reduction incentives for employee healthcare.
Full funding will support “Medicaid”,” Medicare”, and “Veteran’s Affairs”.
Healthcare quality should be at least that for Congress or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). A result: no drug “benefit hole”, dental coverage, improved visual coverage and no co-pays except for extended skilled level nursing.
The savings can aid unemployment compensation, and stabilize Social Security.

san s| 2.26.10 @ 3:37PM

Some of your suggestions are valid, but you contradict yourself when you suggest combining departments while at the same time calling for 'NO CSZARS' (I never saw it spelled that way - are you a Russian?). If you had everything combined into one then you could potentially have a CZAR with one person having too much power. Also the fact that you singled out Nancy Pelosi with regard to private or military jets (which by the way is for their safety considering the number of right wing wacko domestic terrorists s mulling about in bedlam waiting to carry out their self proclaimed jihad) is suspicious. But at least you took time to think and list some solutions which is more than comes out of the right wing paranoia schizos.

W.P Koch| 2.28.10 @ 6:19AM

I have corrected the spelling of CSZARS for more submitals. Thank you san s . Regarding your" right wing" comments, please let's remain objective and factual. Pelosi needs to set travel expense standards and control them when using taxpayer funds. For example , no more exhorbant congressional vacations to Copenhagen. The media reports were disgusting. This systemic problem is one reason why there is a monetary shortage.

W.P.Koch| 2.28.10 @ 6:12PM

Mr san s- The one person will not have more power but will have more responsibility. Combining departments reduces duplication, employees and forces increased effectiveness similar to private industry.

Jeanne| 2.26.10 @ 2:57PM

Sounds good to me. Now, how do we get people to come together?

Freeranger| 2.26.10 @ 3:15PM

As an Independent and former Republican it was comical and sad at the same time to watch Obama and the Democrats debate the issues with pragmatism and facts while the Republicans could only sputter ideological rhetoric, such as Boehner's "This is a dangerous experiment.." Childish but effective.

David| 2.26.10 @ 3:29PM

Yep, the false teeth story is all a lie. Our mouths and teeth are so different from each other that dental records are used to positively identify people that otherwise can't be identified.

san s| 2.26.10 @ 3:29PM

It is obvious the majority of posters here are right wing babies who apparently enjoy watching a bunch of immature white ugly old men whining while they are outclassed by a black man with intelligence and understanding of the issues. Of course, these right wing babies perceived the health care summit with a baby's perspective. The Obama/Dems bill may not be perfect, but Americans cannot sit around being bilked by corporate America who fills the pockets of their CEO's while Americans go without health care because of high insurance rates. As John Stewart pulled the covers from Bill Kristol, we already have the best health care system for the military, but the GOP seems to think that the rest of America, except for themselves, do not deserve health care. Sh** on the GOP and you right wing blowholes.

Gummy the Dog| 2.26.10 @ 4:42PM

"Oof, oof, oof! Oof! Grrrrrrr, oof! Oof, oof, oof, oof, oof! Grrrrrrroof! Oof! Grrrrrrr! Off, oof ,oof! Grrrrr,grrrrr. Oofoofoofoofoof!

Eric Cartman| 2.26.10 @ 5:04PM

Where was this black man with intelligence people like san s keep talking about? All I saw was some crazy old black guy talking about the community teeth and how they don't fit the community of toothless people in some town in SC. I didn't see any "intelligent" black guys in the room. I saw this half-black, skinny guy who was trying to not look mad at having his arguments shown to be toothless. Hey! Wait a minute! Was that the guy? Because he should hook up with the toothless people in SC the crazy old black guy was telling that funny story about and borrow their teeth for his arguments. Then he might have something.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 2.26.10 @ 5:08PM

Have you ever been in the Military Sanatorium? If not, then how would you know? Did you hear about the "best health care system for the Military", on the Jon Stewart show? Is this where you get your new from? From the "comedian" Jon Stewart? From Comedy Central? And you wonder why, everybody you know, thinks you're a complete idiot? And you are!! Oh yeah, and by the way, you're a race baiter too!! You're very classy Sanatorium!! Sh** right back on you too, you left wing cock*ucker!! How's that for classy?

Tigereye| 2.26.10 @ 5:42PM

san s,

Initially you started to sound like an intelligent and your comments may have been worthy of considersation. It all ended when you like many others decided to play the race card. To bad I thought you might have something to say. I just can't hear you past your racist remarks.

Tigereye

David| 2.26.10 @ 3:33PM

San s, that was solid argument. You convinced me. Shoot, Obama and the dems could have used you at the summit. You argue the same way they do - all emotion - ignore how the real world works.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.26.10 @ 3:51PM

Freeranger,
I cannot decide if you are a bald faced liar.....or just too stupid to breathe air and swallow the water.
Please go back to the playroom of KOS. heh

martin j smith| 2.26.10 @ 3:51PM

This how I saw the summit: Obama had a plan to force the republicans to look foolish or seem obstructionist. He failed. The Democrat Party failed in this regard. he would do reconciilation all along--everyone knew it. But, with his defeat and his exposure as a sham. a phony and a thug
the value of his stock is not so good. The MSM are adrift and dismayed by his performance. Thus I say this: Ther epublican Party for the first time in my memory has shown that they know what they dealing with in regard to the Democrat Left--This version of the democrat Party they seem to now understand cannot be trusted. True, in our national environment most voters , while opposing the Obama agenda do not in my view see just how dangerous we are in leading to a implosion of our economic system. There is still the value of" Bi-partisanship, can't we all get along and all that rot. Republican played their hand very smartly and it showed. i hope that that more voters come to understand who this current group of democrat members really are. Left Socialist, some communists, some even more radical. Interestingly whilethere was preoccupation with the Health Care summit, Democrats were trying to put CIA at risk of being arrested for the "wrong kind of interrogation" and I understand republicans are on the ball on this as well. But the point is this: Not only do you never let your guard down, you always remember exactly whom you are dealing with and some day, and the right moment someone will call the Democrat Left on who they really are: European,Left Sociailists not the Democratic Party we used to know.

Northern Rebel| 2.26.10 @ 4:38PM

I guess we can't say the democrats argument has no teeth, any more! :o)

Freeranger:

You call that pity party pragmatic? Do you own a dictionary? Perhaps you meant pathetic.

It was hard for any conservative to get their point across, since "President" Anti-Christ and his socialists did more than 75% of the yapping.

I loved how childish Bamster looked, as he fussed like an adolescent school girl every time someone had the nerve to disagree with his Godness.

What an immature punk.

JP| 2.26.10 @ 4:53PM

Here's the Obama Plan:

1)Somehow convince 218 House Dems to vote Yes to ObamaCare. They'd be voting for the Senate Version (which even many libs complained earlier they could not support).

2)Obama then would sign the law, and all heck would break out. Yes, the Dems would get shellacked in November. But the GOP wouldn't have the numbers to rescind ObamaCare. At that point, Obama would wave the white flag and invite the new GOP domnated Congress to compromise. They would tweak ObamaCare around the edges, but the most important parts of the bill would survive. GOP members who compromised with the President would be the toast of the town, and all would be well.

3) Of course, all would not be well. Private insurers would get out of the offering health insurance, leaving Medicare and Medicaid as the only option for the citizens. Employers would dump offering health insurance, and simply pay the fine. The entire system would get overwhelmed. Doctors and hospitals would go broke, and patients would be without care.

4)And of course, the GOP would take the blame. Obama and the liberals would scream for a complete takeover, and demand huge regressive taxes to pay for it all. They would offer only 2 options: pay the taxes or die.

Of course, things are never this clear. If the Dems do succeed in reconcilliation, the political fall-out would be immediate. The President for one would be finished as far as politics were concerned. His poll numbers would nosedive. And the first of the premium increases to hit working Americans, and the first withdrawl of Medicare benefits to hit retirees would cause a political shockwave this nation hasn't seen in years -if ever.

The simple fact is we cannot afford ObamaCare, even in the short run. Next year, $400 billion in Treasuries are coming due (that's almost the same amount we spend on Medicare). If the Treasury cannot pay for it (which they cannot), they will have to re-finance that huge debt (through printing of more money and depositing it in the Fed). That alone may cause a meltdown in the bond market. Tack on a huge new unfunded entitlement, and things could meltdown very quick. Reconcilliation would be a game changer alright.

If reconcilliation passes, the President's administration may go down as one of the biggest disasters in our history.

voice of reason| 2.26.10 @ 5:22PM

this is not 12 angry men

logic and reason

will never be on the side

of obamacare

if it walks like a duck

and talks like a duck

and limps,

its a lame duck

rdman| 2.26.10 @ 6:16PM

Obami in Overview:

Behind the nice guy facade, Obami is completely ruthless, despotic and tyrannical, oppressing people, taking away their constitutional rights, their freedoms and their dignity.

The law of the Chicago ghetto jungles gives Obami the rationale for using intimidation and force when it suits his ends. He believes he is a law unto himself, cynically living in the world of realpolitik where what matters is having the might to prevail, regardless of right or wrong.

It is impossible to be intimate with and dangerous to trust a person like Obami, since he takes every sign of friendliness or cooperation as a sign of weakness and therefore an invitation to take advantage of others. Treacherous and immoral, Obami has absolutely no compunction about lying, cheating, stealing or reneging on his promises. He will resort to any unconstitutional illegality or ruse to get what he wants. He will blatantly and outrageously lie repeatedly so endlessly and vehemently that it begins to be accepted as the truth. The smallest hint of opposition from others will bring an avalanche of retaliation from him.

Obami is able to destroy because he does not identify with anyone else. His egocentricity allows him to see only himself in the country, and if the country does not reflect him, he will eventually hate the country so much that he will attempt to destroy it.

To quote the philosopher Hillel, “If you are not for yourself, who will be? But if you are for yourself alone, what are you?”

breffnian| 2.26.10 @ 7:38PM

Bravo. That's the best analysis of Obama I've heard. He seems to be totally egocentric. He uses people to get ahead and then dumps them (Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, ACORN). His politics are hard to pin down as he doesn't really beleive in anything. Instead he's defined by arrogance and ambition. He'll break any promise and compromise any position. His politics are assumed and not real. He's nothing but a charming, ruthless, empty suit. "Progressive" politics gave him an identity and a platform and he ran with it.

rdman| 2.26.10 @ 8:54PM

A Study In Contrasts

Obami in Profile:

Relentlessly aggressive and ruthless, dictatorial, a tyrant and bully. Develops grandiose delusional ideas about himself, megalomanic, feels invulnerable. Brutally destroys everything or everyone that does not conform to his will. Vengeful, dark and sinister, barbaric, murderous.

A punk-a$$ thug in a $2000.00 suit!

Ronald Reagan in Profile:

Inner-directed, authentic and genuine, self acceptance, everything he seems to be. Self-assured, self-generating, energetic, adaptable, physically attractive and popular. Ambitious to improve self, becoming outstanding, a kind of human ideal, embodying widely admired qualities. Others are often motivated to want to be like him in some positive way.

Perfect attributes for a President of the United States.

Pingback| 2.26.10 @ 7:51PM

Health Care Summit Video Replay « The Move Right links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…CSPAN’s coverage of the GOP’s press breifing CSPAN’s coverage of the Dem’s press breifing Opinions pieces: http://blog.getliberty.org/default.asp?Display=2064 http://spectator.org/archives/2010/02/26/summit-strategems/ Obama Shows Testy Side at Health Care Summit fox news Who Won the Health Care Summit – Politics – The Atlantic Why This Health- Care Summit Won ‘t Be a Game…

DanMingo| 2.26.10 @ 8:12PM

I read a lot of comments on this page.
America is in trouble.
We are a really stupid people. Just look at the inane and insulting things people here have to say, and this is supposed to be a respected conservative group of intellectuals.
You advertise this quote "Wit, brains, and devastating reporting. Reagan loved it, Clinton hated it. Hollywood stumbles over the vocabulary. That speaks to the importance and quality of The American Spectator. It's so good the Pulitzer Committee would never consider it."
– Ann Coulter
My God, do you people all together think you could come up with an idea or two. Something other than insulting whatever politician or party you disagree with?
Not even constructive criticism, just partisan insults and name calling.
You watched the health 'debate' and all you could see was an arrogant uppity n*^#&( tring to dictate how you live your lives.
Some people saw the President clearly showing the Republican party was 'dissembling' about certain factual matters and had to set the record straight.
Most of the posters here are also ignorant of the facts, and hold on to their cherished belief that the Republican party represents their interests (well, if you're a millionaire, maybe).
They have you voting against your own best interests.
They own you.
They and the corporations they represent OWN YOU.
Get used to it.

Dai Alanye| 2.26.10 @ 11:47PM

Thank goodness! I was beginning to think I'd never see any calm and reasoned argument on this thread, but DanMingo has stepped into the breach and saved the day.

I hope all you uppity and arrogant (let's not forget ignorant) white folks take his strictures to heart. BO is the greatest President since Lincoln… No—since Washington… No—since Fidel Castro! And he's as humble as they come, despite what your lying eyes and ears might have told you.

Thank you, DanMingo! I feel a whole lot better now. My faith in humanity is restored.

John II| 2.26.10 @ 11:49PM

You didn't read jack, Mingo, or you wouldn't be capable of spewing such drivel. On the other hand, maybe you WOULD be--your hero Professor Obama certainly is and always does. Like his predecessor Clinton, he lies when it isn't even politically necessary for him to do so--just comes natural to him, I reckon.

His performance at the "summit" was objectively rude, mendacious, and offensive--and the usually dumb-ass Republicans held their own rather well, I thought, which doesn't bode well for our narcissist-in-chief. Or for you. Get used to THAT.

RE: Dan Mingo, Male Prostitute| 2.27.10 @ 6:42PM

And who is it who is calling people names? Ignorant of the facts? I think not, Mr. Dan Mingo, Male Prostitute! Just because you don't get the nuanced and cleaver ways we have of taking apart stupid ideas and Democrat sob stories, doesn't mean we are the ones spouting gibberish. It's the Democrats and Liberal Idiots who tell these insane stories of legless waifs rolling in the gutter and toothless grannies sharing the community teeth. These pathetic tales have nothing to do with whether we should administer another Trillion Dollar enema to tax payers on behalf of illegals and people too lazy or stupid to get their own teeth. If this is too hard for you to comprehend, I cannot help you. We don't wish to be owned by China Inc. We can't afford to take care of every sad sack and lay-about. Someone has to say, Enough! No mas, no mas. That someone is us!

When we create more wealth through work, investment and ingenuity, individuals will be in better shape to take care of themselves and society becomes better - this is how the world works, Mr. Dan Mingo, Male Prostitute.

DanMingo| 2.26.10 @ 8:14PM

And about this quote:Wit, brains, and devastating reporting. Reagan loved it, Clinton hated it. Hollywood stumbles over the vocabulary. That speaks to the importance and quality of The American Spectator. It's so good the Pulitzer Committee would never consider it."
– Ann Coulter

Hollywood stumbles over the vocabulary.
Reagan loved it.
Do you see it?

Tigereye| 2.26.10 @ 10:09PM

DanMingo,

You are right and wrong about the two parties being talked about here. They both have ties with different types of businesses and for now they are only fighting over who controls what they own. Our votes they don't own, our taxes they own, our freedoms they are trying to take so they can own more of us. The Soviets/communist have nested with us and now are in our political system with one intent. To turn American into a socialist country where government is in complete control. It appears the current administration is hell bent on helping that happen. You are owned, it is evident from your statements. Good luck trying to get traction with your argument sir/mam

Tigereye

John II| 2.26.10 @ 11:55PM

You're right. Reagan wasn't really all that good as an actor. Most actors are stupid, and he was intelligent. And that rarest of all denizens in the forest of life: a good politician. In the second book of the Politics, Aristotle tells us that a bad man can be a good citizen but not a good leader. Reagan was a good leader. Obama isn't. Go figure.

stephanie| 2.27.10 @ 5:23AM

Hence, the reason there will more likely than not, never be any tort reform.. blood sucking lawyers.
I mean, just look at John Edwards!

martin j smith| 2.27.10 @ 10:31AM

On DanMingo: troll or fool ?

wankel| 2.27.10 @ 10:34AM

If he can't woo them with his so-called charm or wear them down, I suppose he could send Rahm to work them over.

Northern Rebel| 2.27.10 @ 11:08AM

Leave it to a liberal like Dan Mingo, to see race in every argument. They are supposed to be the "open minded" ones among us.

I don't care if "President" Anti-Christ is purple, all I see is someone attacking the Constitution of the United States of America.

Here's a new idea Mingo-breath, how 'bout we follow the documents our forefathers created, and gave the world the greatest bastion of freedom ever known?

Barack Capone's Chicago thuggery will not cut it, with real Americans!

Yosemeti Sam| 2.27.10 @ 11:36AM

Appreciate the photo of Biden tutoring BHO.

He who had brain surgery with he who would
benefit from such.

LOL.

Titan Democrat politicians - in their own minds - conniving on putative behalf of 300 million
Americans' welfare.

College Student| 2.27.10 @ 5:23PM

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Osamas Pajamas| 2.27.10 @ 5:48PM

Time to lay out a Boulwarist approach. The RNC and Republican leaders all over the country should proceed with the identical message. If the Demos pass this bill or anything remotely like it, we will repeal every noun, verb, adjective, comma, and period, at the very first opportunity, because this legislation is bad for the country. We deny that you Demos hold any "high moral ground" whatever; dictators never do. See here, you! We are an inch away from tattooing the word "NO!" in three-inch black letters upon our foreheads, in case anyone has any doubts about where we stand! The market has always produced better products and services than governement has and there is no reason to suppose that the health profession performs any less well than other endeavors in the market.

Jeanne| 3.2.10 @ 3:28AM

Osamas Pajamas said, "The market has always produced better products and services than government.....".

Some products and services that were produced by people who demanded it of their government and were not produced by the market:

Meat that's safe to eat because of laws regulating the meatpacking industry.
Knowledge of the contents of packaged food and shampoo and other products we put in and on our bodies because of laws requiring labeling.
Air that is clean and safe to breathe because of environmental regulations which stop industries from polluting our air.
Government subsidized buses and subways that give us affordable public transportation.
Unemployment compensation.
Safe bank accounts where we can save our money thanks to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation).

Pingback| 2.28.10 @ 4:18AM

Text Mining: Will 2010 be the year when text analytics is adopted … | Business Intell links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…(0) 207 375 7163 Text Analytics News is part of FC Business Intelligence Ltd. … More: Text Mining: Will 2010 be the year when text analytics is adopted … Related Blogs on Summit The American Spectator : Summit Stratagems Related Posts Text mining tool and text mining software Business Intelligence: Week 13 Text Mining and Web Mining Text Mining and Web Mining « Business Intelligence The Year of Social…

Tenn Slim| 2.28.10 @ 8:16AM

Opine
Sitting at an endless diatribe filled seminar does, indeed, go much as the author states. There is an anti Corrolary, however. It goes like this.
bt
The Waverers will ALWAYS waver. Their opines and allegiances are simply driven by the last word, exactly as stated. However, there is always the quiet ones either pro or con, sitting in the back. Occasionally, one or two will get up, say "enough". We decide, you are not in control. If not for our "Labor, our status, our this or that, " you would not have a Company, a HC Bill, or anything to discuss. We decide. You don't. OUT with you, and the meeting is ended.
bt
You could see it in faces of the staffers on both sides. These are the folks that write the talking points. These are the detail folks that actually write the bills. The Left" Ctr for Amrcn progress" folks were there, as were the Heritage folks.
bt
WHO WAS NOT THERE was the USA Electorate. We have and are standing tall for Re Election rules, that prohibit such nonsense. The Left will not go quietly into the night, and neither will the Heritage folks.
bt
The fight for the USA Survival is on. We will Prevail.
Semper Fi
end

birther1957| 3.1.10 @ 11:09AM

A must see video. www.oilforimmigration.org/facts/?p=5672

Alicevivi| 3.1.10 @ 10:19PM

Here are many Chinese special products sold online, you can choose them for your friend as the Birthday present or send to your parents. They must feel very surprise.

William W. Wexler| 3.4.10 @ 11:13AM

Well, Quin, you may have a point in there somewhere, but the plain fact is that the existing health care system is crushing people and businesses financially and it is primarily due to insurance company gouging.

The right has no solution for this except to blame the people who get sick for getting sick, accuse the people who don't have insurance of being slackers and ne'er-do-wells, and obstruct everything the Democrats propose.

Yeah, THAT'S helpful.

What we should have done, and still may do, is extend Medicare to all who are not covered by a corporate plan. That suits me just fine. Medicare is an immensely popular plan that works well, and it will work better after this bill passes and the so-called "doughnut hole" is closed.

Just one more comment... the right wing of the American political spectrum seems to be all about violence and authoritarian government. You pick wars, torture, think domestic spying is OK, support assassination of legally elected leaders you don't like, etc etc etc. And on top of it, you're willing to pay any amount of taxes to fund it.

Why not spend a little bit of that on your own neighbors? You say you don't want America to be in the charity business. Well, the plain truth is that if charity worked, we wouldn't have 30 million people with no health insurance, would we? We wouldn't have over 10 per cent of Americans living under the poverty line.

What's happening is that the rot that the right wing has brought onto the economy through the very Wal-Mart-esque trade and tax polices has wiped out our manufacturing base. It used to be that you could graduate from high school and go to work in the local factory, join a union, and make a living wage to support your factory. Now the right wing has killed the union movement and sent the jobs overseas.

Nice. And these are the people you want to trust to fix the health care crisis?

NOT ON A BET.

-Wexler

Jon B| 3.9.10 @ 2:30PM

You need a "Faith-Based" plan, William: Pray you never get sick. The sad irony of all of this is that Jesus taught people to help the poor, stick up for those who have nothing, who can't speak for themselves. These people are mostly anti-Christians who think they aren't. They absolutely hate the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Charlie| 3.7.10 @ 8:04PM

An over"educated", truly ignorant leftist zombie,
cannot fully appreciate the overwhelming good
and generally inherent giving kindness of the
american people. His marxist rot and the stench
of his commi cabinet will soon be repudiated by
the majority of the public. I wish for him, and all
the subhumane debris he brought with him,everything they most definetly deserve in life. November 2010 is readily at hand. Sleep well,
dirt bags!

سوريا| 6.25.11 @ 12:54AM

http://www.soryh.com

Air Jordans| 8.14.11 @ 11:08PM

is good

The American Spectator

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