[Ed. note: FDL continues its liveblogging of the president's address in the comments below.]
They have released more of the President’s prepared comments from tonight, including those on a public option:
The insurance reforms that I’ve already mentioned would do just that. But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear – it would only be an option for those who don’t have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.
"Not-for-profit" public option entered the White House lexicon on June 24, after Kent Conrad started talking about his co-op plan.
I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects. But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers.
[]
It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end – and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal.
No commitment to a public plan, just open to one.
For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies.
Obama is open to triggers.
Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring.
Obama is open to co-ops.
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Obama is open to anything. He’s a follower not a leader. How perfect in a President. Regrettable that he chooses to follow lobbyists rather than the public…
We will see how this flies.
#*(#*(!
Very weak tea.
He’s made an excellent single-payer case tonight. Applause for single-payer!
uht oh
Rahm is so lizard-like.
BO blows off both single payer and “you’re on your own” advocates.
thanks for the false equivalence, there, Mr. Prez.
Obama just equated Physicians for a National Health Program with Rush Limbaugh. Thanks loads, Prez.
Biden doesn’t look so happy any more…
dancing lizzard?
partisan – drink
you think that his sitting by the head of Homeland Security is a coincidence?
I’m thinking that Rahm is hiding behind the lady with the guns.
I think it is remarkable that “To my progressive friends,” is in the speech. This actually means WE HAVE BEEN HEARD! There is enough fear for them to put that directly in the speech.
So we’ve got to keep fightin’
I don’t give a rats ass about compromise with f’ing repukes or insurance companies that only care about how much money they can make.
1/2 sip
Uh oh. “The time for bickering is over.”
yup
We know how to fix it (single payer) but it would be too haaaaard.
rut-roh – he’s getting all bi-partisany….
Maybe he doesn’t like to be on camera when he’s not talking….hard for him;))
pre-existing ==> mandates
Do I hear triggers in the distance?
Michelle looks hawt.
Smart women are sexy.
T-
Oh lord, kum-bipartisan-ya.
bulllllllkacky
Will he discuss junk insurance?
So far it looks like a speech to put pressure on the progressive caucus by highlighting what they’ll be voting AGAINST.
He said “No one should go broke because they get sick”. Been lookin’ at the tweets?
Can’t wait to hear Jason try to spin that as “choice.”
Baucus muttering “Who is this tool?”
plan I’m announcing tonight…
details:
If you already have health insurance through your job, medicare, medicaid, VA… nothing will require you to change what you have (insurance, doctor). It will make insurance you have better for you.
it will be against the law for insurance to deny you coverage for a pre-existing condition. As soon as I sign this bill it will be against the law to drop coverage. No yearly or lifetime caps. Limit for out of pocket expenses – no one should go broke because they get sick.
insurance companies will be required to cover routine checkups and preventative medicine for things like mammograms and colonoscopies.
For the tens of millions that don’t have coverage…
All goody bag stuff
uht……….oh
Yes.
Yer catching on here!
“A new insurance exchange.” Singular — that’s important. But still not public option.
why do the Repubs keep standing?
I didn’t know that one could lie through clapping….
no Po…TRIGGERS
Barf! Thumbs up from McSame.
John McCain looks happy
MANDATES
4 years for exchange. For those with pre-existing conditions we will immediately offer coverage. Good idea from John McCain…
Mandates coming.
foreplay for mandates.
no longer foreplay. mandates are here.
That was frightening.
FUK HIM IM DONE WWITH HIM
mandate
Looks like under Obamacare only those with pre-existings get good government coverage…. for 4 years.
Mandate had better be real cheap.
“Unless everybody does their part” “Will be required to carry . . . insurance.”
Repug response? “Socialism!!!! Big Brother!!!”
mandates were implied as soon as he said “pre-existing”
go to hell you fukker
Was that laughter or applause when he mentioned “significant details still to be ironed out”? I couldn’t tell.
Time for a third party.
Sign me up with the Republicans and the cynics.
Kill Bill.
So the insurance companies are going to make an ever BIGGER buttload of money? Fucking fantastic.
Calling out the deathers: “A lie, plain and simple”
Mandate is OK, but only with very robust and inexpensive public option. With no PO, mandate’s got to go.
Lie plain and simple!!
Hope illegals don’t get any contagious diseases
Republicans sit still for death panels.
Demagogueing immigrants now.
the crazies are shouting him down. WTF! Pelosi was not happy with the breach of decorum.
What is going on?
You can tell the liars. They sat down when the others stood up and cheered.
some gooper yells “Lie!”
classy bunch.
What was the shout out about immigrants?
Too poor to get an abortion? You’re on your own, ladies.
laughter
I can’t watch O because sometimes it’s like doing drugs/alcohol, which I quit a long time ago. He’s good enough at this that I’d be in danger of feeling high, but then crashing once I start thinking about it. Better to cook dinner and read what you guys have to say.
The market doesn’t work.
The PO as choice argument. What a fraud.
no shit sherlock
I think you mean asshole suckers!
LOL
“Sgt. at Arms to Repug side of aisle. Cleanup needed on Aisle R.”
they’re whole party is a death panel these days
Wonder who?
Mandate is OK, but only with very robust and inexpensive public option. With no PO, mandate’s got to go.
Repubs should be pre-orgasmic about now. Now if BO doesn’t blow it by demanding the PO, it’s gonna be a bunch of hung-over R’s tomorrow.
Looks like Biden’s taking names.
Doesn’t wan to put insur cos out of business, just hold them accountaable.
I think Nancy and Joe were looking at a seating chart and figuring out who that was. They talked about it quite a bit.
Not actually an option then.
Public option!! But wait, there’s a catch . . .
what is an insurance exchange
“make available a not for profit public option”
Did the GOP side stand for holding insurance companies accountable? It looked like a lot of people stood.
Public option will do this. Insurance companies don’t like public option. private college/public college analogy.
My wife is confused. “Wait, does that mean we can’t join the public option?”
LOL.
If insurance companies aren’t competing for customers with the public option, their prices won’t be affected, sir.
okay hes REDEEMED
I’m so confused.
Patrick Mchenry, 7-1; Jeb Hensarling 5-2
He’s displaying the deficiencies of the HR 3200 public option as selling points.
Progressives: you can have a PO as long as nobody can join it.
Bring us together, Barack.
We should remain open to other options.
Are the R’s waving the bill? isn’t this the first time we’ve had members of congress act like that?
Co-ops are constructive ideas.
CHOICE!!
hallllllelujah
I don’t see how this level playing field crap makes any difference. Prices are going up. We’re screwed.
asymmetry
Thugs hate the word CHOICE.
Nothing new there.
“Public Option is merely a means to an end. But we should remain open to other good ideas.”
now *that’s* commitment. /s
what were those back benchers holding up?
“to my progressive friends”
You have some progressive friends!
“to my Republican asshole friends”
Assholes are not your friends. They are the enemy. At least my enemy.
“address any legitimate concerns you may have” Not giving away anything there..
Look at all those miserable, unhappy Republicans! I’M A HAPPIER CAMPER NOW!
All yer bureaucrats are belong to us.
What are the signs going up?
republicans have some props in response to his shout out to them on legitimate concerns.
Will not back down from giving people an affordable choice. And no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat will stand between you and care you need.
Sorry, this is bad for my digestion.
okay going for the vodka now
Chambliss was probably the one who screamed because O wasn’t showing ‘humility’
Demagogueing the deficit now.
In 2012?
Oooh, he’s going revenue-neutral.
Deficit spending is only for important things like tax cuts and wars and bail outs of corporations
Chuck Shumer is looking happy.
What a crock of shit.
pretty much. If we already have insurance we are screwed—have to keep it. Unless we lose it and go broke first. I think.
Canter’s texting or tweeting.
Have a Pepcid.
Oh, great, if the savings don’t materialize, Congress will have to cut spending. Kind of a reverse trigger to hurt poor people even more.
“I will not sign a plan that adds one dollar to the deficit.” Ah, if only we used that criterion for the Bush/Obama Oil Wars.
shout out to deficit hawks.
trillion dollar deficits – too many things were not paid for from the iraw war to tax breaks for the wealthy. Red meat for liberals.
except for single-payer or anything we at FDL have been pushing.
Aaaaand, here’s the defecit hawking.
Loving it… Boner just looked like he was about to puke.
To my Republican friends, instead of going nuts, why don’t we sit down and talk things out?
Trillions in deficits for defense. Not one dime for health care.
At least got a dig in about war spending. Not that he’s fixing that.
We’re screwed by this pathetic public option. Health care costs will wreck the nation.
707
Just tuned in. O leaving himself many outs? Weak tea?
I will make that same mistake paying for Afghanistan and the banks bai out.
Adding one dime, or trillions, to the deficit is reserved for Wall Street bailouts.
Won’t sign a bill that adds even a dime to deficit? Well, in the reality based community, that can only mean single-payer.
I’m so confused.
BO is doing a miserable job of trying to even explain what *he* wants to see.
Mentions the deficit that he inherited – Boner looks like he wants to kick a cat.
LOL
That’s the only way I can get VA help.
Death is an option, right?
Everybody stand up for Super-Weak Tea!
So, speaking of fiery rhetoric, was “public option” still in a “basket” of choices?
Or is it now in a “crock”?
Boner looks like he sat on his Can of Spray Wax …
708
Ha! Feingold?
Wait, what? That’s the last thread, isn’t it?
Oh, I’m sure this speech will give the Republicans an epiphany and tomorrow they’ll join hands to sing the praises of Obama.
This sucks. I’m gonna go do the dishes.
And eric cantor is a tweeter.
DiFi looking beatific. Or sleepy, hard to tell with her.
2/3 of what we spend doesn’t make us healthier.
Seniors – medicare has been demogogued. Not a dollar of the medicare trust fund will be used to pay for this plan. Eliminate waste and subsidies to insurance companies.
Savings go for Donut hole.
Or the world.
Hopefully, the President and Charles Biden can fix the problems we all face.
Oh, yeah, those too.
Oh. Jab at the Bush donut hole.
That’s smart to speak in equivalencies.
Actually, reading this thread, Obama seems to be doing just that….
I think it’s a crock amongst a basket of choices which BO is open to getting rid of completely and calling it public option co-op thingy.
200 + years was a decent run for an empire. Something new looms on the horizon.
Any bad day for Boehner is a good day.
very weak. wouldn’t stain a tea towel…
FWDiva
Who called the President a liar?
Medicare good. Public financing of health care bad. Good grief.
not hearing anything new.
Boner looks like he sat on his Can of Spray Wax …
He seems to have made the huge, though rare, mistake of showing up sober….
“maybe one of the provisions in obama’s plan will be some budget to research boehner’s tan”
Micromanaging the medical system thru best practices rhetoric. That will accomplish exactly nothing.
Big article in the local SF alternative paper quoting many Newsom advisers about how untrustworthy and unqualified to be Governor he is. That has to make her gubernatorial run more likely, greatly shortening her commute. At her age, that has to make her happy.
Or it might be gas.
Did he mention a pony? I thought I heard a pony too.
I already did my part by bailing out the banksters — to the tune of two trillion very not neutral dollars.
Now I want my bailout.
They were pre-stained months ago.
Kumbaya, beaches!
and what happens when he gets cancer from it.
Here comes the Trojan Horse part. We get forced to pay up to corporations. All those new customers.
Don’t know if there’s a panel for death for lack of healthcare.
I forgot the Big O speech was tonight. If I’d remembered and the night air weren’t so cool, I’d still be in my gazebo reading a good book.
Time to demagogue really sick and injured peoples’ wins from medical malpractice now, and their attorneys.
Rethug pony—tort reform. They like that.
It would be shorter at this point to list who hasn’t.
Everyone is getting a pony?
Oh great, put Kathleen Sebelius in charge of something. That’ll happen.
Oh goodie, a pony!
I’m an adult. I want a full grown horse, preferrably one that’s good at dressage and jumping.
This is not only pathetic drivel on the PO, he is now trotting out fucking “malpractice reform”. What a fucking pile of shit.
I think Nancy got the name . . .
Anyone identify who the miscreant is on the Rethug side who called Obama a liar?
oh – is he gonna throw out the tort-reform bone?
a-yup.
Anybody keeping a scorecard as to what we’re getting, and what he’s given away?
Reducing waste and inefficiency in Medicare will pay for most of this plan. Insurance companies will be charged a fee for most expensive policies. many on republican side have insisted reform of malpractice can help bring dwn cost of healthcare. … not a silver bullet, defensive medicine may be contributing to unneccessary costs. Bush proposed demonstration projects, order Sec HHS to move forward on this today.
Cost of $900B over 10 years – less than cost of wars and less than cost of tax cuts for wealthiest americans.
Less than war, less than tax cuts, less than Mars, bitchez.
Somewhat more “partisan” than I expected.
I just want one that does not bite or step on me.
Hunter tweets:
You can’t blame GOP congressmen for shouting: it’s pretty much their only remaining skill. Well, that and adultery.
Tort reform! Unfuckingbelievable! This address is so much worse than I imagined.
Public option good but it can’t cost the government anything, just like public colleges have to be self-supporting.
We only have money for war and banks.
We don’t need to lower the rate of increase, sir. We need to lower costs.
ooooooooooooooo! 900 billion over 10 years = less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghan wars
He’s already lost – and bored to tears – 95% of America. Totally uninspiring speech. Rehash of things he’s been saying for months.
He should have gotten up, explained that he’s a sell out to the insurance industry, explained that they will win no matter what, he’s not going to try to battle them, and said good night.
I want a My Little Pony TM to go with me in my coffin.
Wait, I won’t have enough money for a coffin. Never mind…
Delivered with a “confident new attitude” of leadership
Isn’t it about time we broke with the Democrats? Obama’s speech is a mass of lies, mealymouthedness, and false equivalencies, the intent of which is to organize one of the largest sellouts to corporations in our history. And he is doing it by playing to our fears of getting sick in America, because to get sick in America is to face ruination and death. In this we are all just props he is using. Does anyone believe anything this man says? Does anyone trust him or his intentions? It is so past time to break with these jerks.
(I believe the troll reply to that is supposed to be:) Freeloader!
Yes, thank heaven.
He gave the details about “his plan” and after that he discussed the public option (it wasn’t part of his plan). It’s pretty obvious that this speech was meant to obfuscate so he could continue to pretend that he’s for a REAL public option when clearly he’s not. He’s just trying to fool enough supporters so that there is less pressure applied. I’m so sick of being stabbed in the back.
“My door is always open.”
That got your Democratic predecessor in a heap of trouble, sir.
1/10 of 1% … yeah, aim high, Barack …
common ground … an ALMOST round table … My door is always open to those who get by Rahm ….
what are they holding up?
A friend who does that sort of thing for a living once told me – You want to make my job superfluous, pass single-payer. Most of the work he does involves companies trying to avoid paying for injuries their employees received on the job.
Good to mention cost of Iraq war; oops, also mentioned his war (Afghanistan).
I hope he read Atul Gawande’s report on the Rio Grande Valley medical costs versus El Paso – why medical care costs so much — in last month?’s New Yorker. Very significant.
Saw a clip of Sen. Franken explaining its findings to a group of teabaggers at the Minn State Fair.
And Texas has already done malpractice “reform.” No effect.
I think he just stretched this bill into next year +.
Whoo Hoo. He won’t waste his time with losers.
Come on….anything that makes the Repubs this unhappy has to have something going for it…
Hey, we’re not getting any equus at all, so we might as well fantasize about the best one we’re not getting.
So you have an option? Yeah…
Well, all things being considered, I think we can safely say that “must be well bred’ has been excised from the ‘Requirements for Public Office’ booklet from the RNC.
OOh he’ll call people out! I’m shakin in my jammies now.
I’m gonna get a pony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m gonna name my pony Trigger LOL!!!!
And Unka Max and Mr. Emmanuel are gonna bring some shovels over tomorrow and show me how to bury Trigger, because Trigger’s dead!
And- and Aunt Olympia told me Trigger could get stuffed! What did she mean????????
Dont worry, we’re all screwed
Wasn’t meant for the American people. Meant for the CEO’s and big donners. We’re just the little people.
Mars is a whole planet, though, and ripe for the taking. Unlike Iraq.
See my 210.
Winding up now. Here comes the anecdote.
It’ like he’s talking to himself.
AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Firepup Freedom Fighters:
It is time to take over the Democratic Party in every city and county…oppose everything that Obama presents to Congress and get the county and state officers to put the heat on state congressional delegations.
Obama made himself a one-term President tonight and he also lost the base of the Democratic Party…but we don’t hafta lose the Congress.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, ALL OUR OPTIONS ARE PUBLIC!!
Good.
Still, it feels like they will not have fixed anything until 4 years from now. Geez!
OK..then, I want a matched pair of Appaloosas.
Has anyone ever read any part of any bill? No? Neither has Congress.
oh gawd now hes on ted kennedys letter to the pope
oh no… creepy fear mongering … you have got to let me get ANYTHING passed … you have got to settle …
oh dear… Teddy mention
Playing the Kennedy card. Getting out my hankie.
Finding it hard to pay attention, and I care. What about those who don’t so much?
LOL – way to look on the bright side, RevBev!
Is joke, my friend.
Really, do you think a selective tax that discriminates against an identifiable group is going to pass Constitutional muster??
great way to use kennedy’s memory to bludgeon ppl into buying into insurance bailout bonanza;
BO why don’t you live up to the ‘character of our country?’
LOL
I know!
Got a story to tell you about wishes when time is more leisurely.
Obama is full of shit. He thinks we are going to buy this crap. He is toast.
oh, a letter from Ted Kennedy written when he was told his cancer was terminal to be delivered upon his death. Vicky and kids in attendance.
“The character of our country.”
Don’t confuse Obama with the facts. He’s more like a Republican every day.
that’s what it’s starting to feel like.
He brings up Teddy and goes off on a soliloquy.
I knew that; wanted an attagirl for anticipating the troll complaint.
Stand for something! Stop trying to please both sides!
Gaaaaaaaaa!
Oh god, pulling Hatch & McSame & GRASSLEY into the Teddy anecdote… I feel sullied.
It’ like he’s talking to himself.
I have no problem with that – just wish it made some kind of sense.
Tears in McCain’s eyes about Kennedy
Trying to shame Republicans? Grassley, McCain, etc. Not going to work…
What’s your better option? Explain, please.
Kennedy’s friends: Hatch; McCain; Grassley. Smart move.
pablum
Norske, it’s time to storm the Bastille.
Wow. It looks like Senator Kennedy only had Republican friends…Hatch, Grassley, McCain. PLEASE.
Oh, I think lots of them are getting a lotta bread, and are also getting a lot of…um…breeding…but not on the homefront.
Hasn’t he learned yet the other side is not acting in good faith?
This is infuriating.
OOh invoking big name GOP dudes along wiht Ted K’s bouwahahaah
Attagirl!!!! (Sorry, I have many dense moments.)
we don’t have the congress any more than we HAD china
must be coal soot
This is just code to cut Medicare and has already proved wildly unpopular with seniors.
And for all this, how many Rep votes is this bill going to get?
That, or regret for an evilly lived life. Hard to tell sometimes.
Just because your representative wears half glasses doesn’t mean they read legislation.
i resent him bringing ted kennedy into this travesty.
i like how michelle reached over and put her hand on vicki’s hand when he started talking about teddy. and kept her hand on vicki’s.
I’m convinced Obama, single payer now! Wait – what is it that you’re proposing here… WTF, I’m confused
Kennedy – care born not of ideology but of experience. Knew terror when 2 kids stricken with cancer. The ability to stand in another’s shoes, also the character of our country.
Umm, y’know, Trigger already is stuffed is stuffed …
they are without shame
We already KNOW what the character of our country is: I’ve got mine; screw you.
Repartee is machine gun rapid. Don’t worry about missing a tidbit.
Hasn’t he learned yet the other side is not acting in good faith?
No.
And I still have no idea what BO’s perfect bill would look like.
I agree. That is a crap sandwich. I think he thinks like Rahm: Progressives are expendable. Well, President Obama, corporations can’t vote for you and Republicans aren’t going to vote for you, so good luck.
Tonight may have been all about avoiding reconciliation on the bill.
He just managed to turn Ted Kennedy’s ideals into mush. Good going, Barack.
Gee, has he finally figured out that the Chicago School of econ. is all wet?
they’ll cut it out of the low income side of the program.
I came in late, but this is not a bill according to what I’ve heard. These seem to be suggestions, and nothing more.
With the exception of the specifics in the middle of the speech, all of this rhetoric is a ringing endorsement of single-payer.
Citizen Bluetoe:
I’m an active member of the county Democratic Party and will be an officer this next year…you can make jokes but I’ll kick sokme ass and make sure that this duplicitous bastard doesn’t win another election!
Marcy tweets:
Let’s send this poser back to the University of Chicago where he can help crank out the next generation of neo-cons.
We need a progressive option that is not wedded to business. There has to be an option to this crap.
Yes, only difference is he didn’t know the terror of wondering who will help and knowing that you can’t possibly pay for the treatment of said cancer because insurance wont.
precisely what I experienced at a town hall. Never seen such selfish haters.
Thank you for noticing.
careful of you ticker big boy
How could a guy this smart not get that Grassley et al are not going to negotiate in good faith-ever?
That’s still the only way it will ever pass if it is anything close to good.
Note to PBO: Zero points for achieving a useless thing.
Republicans are anti-future!
“I still believe we can act, even when it’s hard”….Yeah, great acting job.
Couldn’t any Republican president have given this same speech?
Kerry’s tapping his hand on his knee really fast — looks agitated…
Not feeling the magic tonight, Not at all.
WEAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. Obama officially lost me tonight.
And the great state of South Carolina steps up to the plate AGAIN!!
You and I know that. PBO may not. We’ll see who’s right.
well, if we can’t wait–then we can’t wait for triggers!
If people thought like he did in the 30s, we would have been made to buy mandatory annuities instead of getting Social Security.
I thought it was a good speech.
insipid clapping, imo
Bringing up Kennedy – i think Teddy wanted to be in this discussion.
With snarls, yes.
Oh, good – that it was caught and the creeep identified.
This crap has to stop.
Censure, I hope, at the least.
THAT was what I was asking for your option on. You have a primary challenger in mind? One who can actually WIN?
True, but no one would have called him a liar.
And now,the Repube response will be delivered by Vicki Reggie Kennedy’s first cousin, Senator Charles Boustany.
No, not today’s Republicans, really. Certainly not GWB.
That wasn’t a joke, Norske. The figurative Bastille has to be stormed. Under past and current leadership, whether Republican or Democrat, this ship of state is going down!
oh the horror. NOT
Ding!!!
This is only an oversight, and some very smart people are working overtime to fix it.
Yep. Like I said, that’s the only guarantees way to do this without adding “one dime” to the deficit.
But I don’t think that’s what he thinks.
When Obama is not sure of himself, doesn’t believe what he is saying, his eyes darken, he squints, and he doesn’t hold his gaze long enough when he looks in one direction, turns away to the other side. When he is honest and thoughtful he can hold his head with more stillness.
And yeah, guys, “character” … great word for y’all to end with. quid pro quo bribery. Oh lordy… now we get the corporate press. was on public tv but voice of david brooks drove me away.
George S saying how emotional BO. Faux-emotion. I say, too, BO looked po’d but not over issues.
Obama didn’t court Dems. He was like a man without a party. Party of the midsection.
Someone yelled out “LIE”
I have to say that up to now, I’d find myself swooning to Obama’s oratory despite my better judgment. Not this time. Bipartisan fail. Presidential fail.
We need to take him up on being the last president to “take up this cause.” It’s time to keep him and his party out of it, no less than the knuckle draggers. It’s not enough to try to “make him do it.” We must do it ourselves.
Have to run now and turn off Shields and Brooks before vomit ensues.
I’m watching CBS. Schieffer now guessing that Obama is saying to progressives that we don’t get a public option.
I am mad about the policy issues but glad that he took on the teabagger republicans so directly and a bit surprised by that.
Back to work.
Dean 2012, I guess it is.
Anarchy rocks!!!111!!! Right?
Uh oh, response from The Strom Thurmond Room (no shit) up next. Pass the Pepcid again.
seriously?
Well, we don’t get to choose our relatives…
yes, the republican response.
Oh, here’s the freak response.
Oh crap, the GOP guy was a heart surgeon.
Boustany, the caucasian jindal?
Repug better than Jindal; but that’s a really low bar, and he’s not much better.
A moron shouted out lie and is going to have his ass nailed to the wall painfully and at great length over it.
nope
Let’s begin doing whatever is necessary to make sure this poser is a one termer.
Same guy who’s been sued for malpractice and lost three times.
The only one that comes to mind is Howard Dean.
Ohhh, nice
slow down! Everyone wants you to start over!
more thug horseshit.
FWDiva
Citizen Raven:
This slippery, swede shoe salesman won’t give me a coronary…but I won’t rest until he and the Clintons are retired to K Street and Rahm is back with his buddies in the Likud.
Talking to the teleprompter. WTF? Look at the camera, dude.
He doesn’t read polls, apparently, CBO reports, or anything else he doesn’t like. He can interpret them to his own advantage, though, that much is clear.
Oh, all right. Can’t give up yet.
Boustany: Star power personified. Sheer animal magnetism.
He wants you to call him Lord Charles Boustany, or at least he tried to buy the title from scam artists… Here’s the linky from Rachel, and here’s the salient quote:
Yeah, I take him seriously…
Oh crap, the GOP guy was a heart surgeon.
If he only operated on Repub’s, it’s no wonder that he switched to politics – he was probably going broke…..
please!?!? I’m in.
at White House.gov communications director will be answering questions right now.
Welcome. To the Hall Of Rebuttals.
Politico confirms liar guy was Joe Wilson, (jackass SC)
Is that right?
I’d rather go fishin
I thought that was the IDF, the asshole was too good to stand with us.
He and the guy who was sued and formed that health care conglomerate pressure group should start a Fox News show.
@318
Yes. Vicki’s mother’s maiden name was Boustany,before she married Edmund Reggie. I posted this on another thread.
I was born in Louisiana and knew members of both the Reggie and Boustany families years ago.
Booorrrringgg….
Too many clothing exchanges tonight. D’s wearing red and now the Rethug response wearing a blue tie. Don’t these guys know that’s how we tell them apart (that and the size of the lapel flag pin).
Yes.
healthcare.gop.gov
That’s where all the cool bipartisan proposals are.
I am of course, being sarcastic.
“Taking away the freedoms . . .” Well, that didn’t take long to get back to the lies.
hahahaha been sued for Malpractice
Doctor of Malpractice, Boustany, “I am also a heart surgeon, but I do not have a heart. Under Obama’s program I will not be able to get either a heart transplant or brain transplant. And I need both. I also need more money from Health Care companies.”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/9/173952/7009
Let’s not forget he’s also a birther. Geez.
Lord B’s offering even more ponies than PBO did.
This is good for John McCain.
Oh, good
KO going ofter Boustany’s record.
FWDiva
He’s of Lebanese descent.
You haven’t learned yet that he already knows they’re not arguing in good-faith. He’s playing you, they’re not playing him.
This is so infuriating…
Wow. Some response! About as bad as any partisan D could hope for in a year of Sundays.
Well, to be fair, probably every cardiothoracic surgeon has been. But 3 times?
HAHAHA!!! KO just totally trashed Boustany. Sued for malpractice three times, tried to buy a British lordship. Had wooden teeth, chased Moby Dick.
Can I borrow your glasses? or goggles?
And they let him near sharp objects?
Jindal-esq? [snort]
Rachel – “a process-oriented grabbag.”
“To My progressive friends” = “F**k you DFHs. Suck it up.
Wizard of Oz. Are you related to Frank Baum, or do you just share a name by serendipity?
There’s gonna be a whole lot more than no health plan if Obama in effect attempts to go from this speech with the Ted Kennedy quotes at the end, to signing a law with no public option that forces people to buy private health insurance.
There’s gonna mobs with torches and pitchforks, too.
Ummm, that part about Moby Dick isn’t true.
well – at least Obama’s speech *was* better than Boustany’s.
yippee.
MSNBC headline:
Obama open to other health ideas
N.Y Times:
Obama Vows to ‘Deliver on Health Care’
WaPo:
‘Now Is the Time to Deliver on Health Care’
Sooooo inspiring.
Join us in the new thread, thanks
New post upstairs
heart surgeon…Aztec?
http://faculty.umf.maine.edu/~…..rifice.jpg
I’ve had just about all the politics and trolls I can deal with this evening. I think to clear my mind I’ll go watch an episode of “Dexter.” See y’all in the morning. Sleep well!
Absolutely an amazing plan the President outlined tonight! The public option will provide the NEEDED competition in the market, SO ALL AMERICANS WILL WIN, meaning, those who have insurance will see lower costs and those without insurance will be able to purchase the government’s option at a very low rate or will be able to purchase private insurance (with loads of regulations to protect the consumer!) without breaking the bank!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE PRESIDENT OBAMA. I’m not an Obamabot either. I see a man who understands that small businesses (which are the majority of businesses in our country) are hurting, individuals are hurting, and our nation as a whole can no longer go forward if we don’t DO MAJOR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE REFORM!
Bravo Mr. President!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll give him that much.
That’s about it.
That’s what happens when you load the response into the teleprompter before you have a clue what is in the speech.
So you’re not one of the stalwart “liberals” who want him brought down? Thanks!
The republicans looked like a bunch of deer with the headlights in their eyes tonight! Good. The bastards need to smarten their phucking asses up!
BRAVO MR. PRESIDENT! AMAZING PLAN YOU LAID OUT TONIGHT! Pppbbbblllllllllllltttttttt, to the republicans.
!!!
There. You forgot some.
Why are insurance companies considered sacrosanct? What good do they do for the ill?
No way! I’m am a proud far far far left lefty liberal socialist!!!! Which means I’m good. :-)
Okay, going to bed! Night all!
Well, I’d pay to see that, but it seems as though a lot of folks aren’t too involved yet. Yes, something like 3/4 of the country wants a PO (now), but they seem to think that it will happen without their doing anything. I doubt that’s going to change after tonight. It may change when millions of Americans are paying for not having health insurance, but I’m pretty sure even then it won’t be enough.
The mob will be the problem for someone a decade down the road when things are even more screwed up than they are now.
I invite you to join us in the new thread – thanks
I once met a large gentleman by the name of Queequeg who assured me that he did.
I think they make it easier (and quicker) for them to enter the kingdom of heaven.
LOL Thanks!!!!!! Going to bed pumped up after that terrific plan by our President. I love Nancy Pelosi too despite all the bullshit rhetoric. She’s left of me! LOL
Thank you….nothing like LA royalty…..we love those Mardi Gras Kings and Queens. He’s probably sorry everyone gets a vote.
new thread
He gives the impression he is above Party politics…he gives off the aura that he considers himself an Independent
Congressman Wilson from SC is the one who shouted Liar when Obama was saying that illegal immigrants would not be covered.
I think the ” lie” shout was on the illegal immigrant exclusion comment. Probably a rethug. I’d bet on Rohrabacher or Hunter.
Joe Wilson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina’s 2nd district
Addison Graves Wilson, Sr.(born July 31, 1947) is Republican politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina, currently representing the state’s 2nd congressional district (map), in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district is based in the state capital, Columbia, and stretches to the resort towns of Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. He is a douchebag that called the President of the United States a liar on national television and has no respect for the office he holds.
Also me…count me in.
Jane, join the fucking Greens and be done withn it. You really are hopeless. Hillary lost, remember?
What a witty and insightful point you make there. Really one for the ages. I’m having it engraved.
You won’t have to wait to get sick to go broke. Your mandatory health care premium will send you into bankrupcy.
Wonderful stuff! We got hosed soooo eloquently.
His one uncompromised principle seems to be his belief that he can broker bipartisanship. His presidency will fail because he refused to fight the crazies.
Here is a clip of Republican Joe Wilson yelling LIAR!!!
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2855
After a declaration of some high-principled commitment, didn’t he say something like ‘and to prove I’m serious…[blah-blah]?’ So every previous position statement without a proof qualifier has maybe (probably?) just been bs?
No, he was thinking about some hooker.
He’s not there, ya know.
Actually, there’s legislation somewhere buried in a bigger bill that will give Obama a One Button Stop privilege to kill the internets when he wants. Vis a vis the telco’s, no doubt.
I’d call that corp voting.
Course, there’s the banking/finan reform bailouts, the giveaways to Pharm/Med in May Meetings.
I’d call that heavy voting.
I don’t recall Jane supporting Hillary, and she gets just as much crap from people(like me) who think Democrats should be expanding Medicare so you don’t know what you are talking about.
Hoss, that would challenge big corps.
What I heard tonight was a HUGE slam on ReThugs (goes with the deal in May for corps to withhold funding for ReThugs) and a HUGE plug FOR corps.
We got a smidgen of reform. I keep hearing SOME progs tell me, that’s the best we can do.
So, as one of our leaders, what’s YOUR take?
I don’t see your optimism, on the corp side, but I am likely missin somethin . . . . whatcha got?
I just never saw or heard the ‘ringing endorsement’ of single payer. Are ya snarkin about that, or do you gots something I missed? Honest questions, no diatribe! *G*
Obama’s problem is just like the Clintons’ — none were ever trial lawyers.
No spine so they compromise. I have been a trial lawyer for 32 years and sometimes you just have to take the bastards on and go to court. Say what you will about Edwards, at least he knew you couldn’t trust the insurance lobby.
You would have never heard anything coming out of Edwards’ mouth about protecting the insurance industry or insurance jobs.
Obama is a real disappointment for this trial lawyer. No stomach for the mean and nasty when the going gets tough, and really no know-how to accomplish anything when the going gets tough.
The thing a trial lawyer learns early on is that you must be an advocate and you must have a take no-prisoners mentality. Obama reminds me of the lawyers who advertise on TV, suck in lots of clients with claims of competence, and then settle before they ever go to court, for pennies on the dollar.
I was afraid this was going to be what Obama was. Turns out my worst fears have come to fruition.
Yep.
Only happy point tonight was seeing some Republicans looking rather glum and unhappy
I’d prefer to see Rahm on The West Bank late at night without an AK47 or anyone in his foxhole.
In a non violent way, of course. ;-)
Flame on Norske, thanks for the throwin! *waves*
Hoss, there’s a time for huntin, and a time for fishin.
We’s huntin. We can fish after.
Thanks for your service.
Let’s get to it.
I’m in total agreement with you and your prediction.
There will be people in the streets, in legal and non-violent protest, by the millions.
This hc reform is the catalyst for change, or for recognition that we’re sold out, totally.
We are THIS close to all us progs taking it to the streets by the millions, like the old days.
No old fogey talk, no radical dreams. Just Truth.
Cuz we WERE there, en masse, for civil rights, women’s rights, anti-war.
We CAN be there, again. And likely, WILL be.
Kay, love yer enthusiasm, but I’m not sure he means what he said.
We’ll see when the final bill is issued, and we see who votes for what.
I wanna be positive, I’m not sure about my want. *G*
Ah, my black water divin pal! Good to see ya here!
Sure looks like that, huh.
He absolutely PUNKED the repugs, but sold us to the corps in the process.
We march on. I owe ya an email about the festin!!! *G*
So true – so sad.
I’d just like to add one word to your post.
Again.
We got hosed so eloquently ….. again (and again and again)
Listen to all the buffoons on teebee falling all over themselves praising this ‘new’ plan. When in reality, these same buffoons had rejected THE SAME PLAN(S) that Obama laid out tonight, for the past few weeks. Suddenly, they are all for it? That’s called … having ones chain yanked, yet again.
The plan has been posted
It was a good speech, alright. But the program he outlines stinks. It won’t reduce the inflation in costs, because it doesn’t provide real competition for insurance companies. But it does require mandates, a bailout for the insurance companies.
Alright, Larue! Good stuff. But I thought LibbyLiberal@311 had a great line:
“Obama didn’t court dems. He was like a man without a party. Party of the midsection.”
Perzackly.
He should have put all of his political chips on Public Option, if not Single Payer, and then gotten down in the trenches with us, to kick some GOP/Corporate ass. He/we could have won, and it would have made everything easier, down the road.
Instead, he took “the high road”, and now a lot of the people who helped him to his historic win, including nearly all the progressives, are wondering if we got a leader or an eloquent bullshitter.
Oh. The republicans aren’t wondering; they KNOW they’ve got a president who’s afraid of them and their Joesph-Goebbels-channelling asshats, even with solid control of both houses of congress.
Batten down the hatches, people. It’s heavy weather after this.
Obama and the dems have bitch slapped me for the last time.FISA vote was the first warning and this healthcare shit makes it perfectly clear.What’s been done about the banks.Anyone who would hire Ralm E. says a lot about his character.If a strong third party doesn’t show soon(Jane)it’s time to look for a new country. This country is third world toast.
You must not have been around during the primaries for you not to know Jane was for Hil.
So, all of this begs the question: what next?
Kos said it fairly eloquently; this is sort of our Waterloo (although that’s ominous phrasing… are we Napoleon, then? hope not…) We drew a line in the sand, and we’ve spent a ton of money and energy to get congresscritters to commit to voting against a bill without the public option.
Now, Obama’s speechified again (and nobody doubts he can make a STUNNING speech; I was fooled for a few minutes myself until I thought about it) and the pundits will be all electrified. Between that and the screaming Republican, almost all of the spotlight will be off the progressives for a little bit; they’ll assume that we’re whipped. They’ll assume that we’ll just roll.
So that’s the question: will we? Will we risk going against Obama’s newly re-popular plan and being seen as the folks who Nadered it in 2009? We know it’s a heap of dung, but the rest of the country doesn’t know that yet, and we’re for sure being set up to be the fall guys here.
So again — will we stick to our resolutions? We can sigh in disappointment that Obama is clearly not one of us — not that most of us really thought he was, not since FISA — and yet still keep pressing forward with our agenda. We can try to be the irritating little grain of sand that grows a pearl.
Or we can cave, call it a good game, and go home. We can fracture — split into warring factions calling each other names, claiming that Hillary wouldn’t have done this. We can lose our momentum and toss all those ActBlue dollars in the wastebin.
Which will it be?
Jane? Markos? Digby? Progressive blogosphere? We’re gonna need some leadership here to keep from fracturing; if we’re gonna stick to our guns, we’re going to need some marching orders (as horrible and sheep-like as that sounds, it’s true; it’s ESPECIALLY true of the progressive movement that is just finding its voice as separate from the corrupt Democratic party; Obama isn’t our leader, so who will be?)
I think thats really no concern of his.
is the only choice to win or quit? i think we have to stay on top of it, there will be many other issues and (im sure) a monstrously long and comlicated bill.
I was, and she was not for Hillary.
I watched the speech. I think he made a clear commitment to the public option and did now show himself open to triggers. He clearly said we can’t keep kicking this can down the road.
Well, I suppose….those who really hate President Obama inside themselves will never see anything positive coming out of his mouth. It’s a given.
If anyone was confused on what the public option is, they got a clear concise explanation last night! President Obama said the public option is only a sliver of the whole entire bill. Is that good enough for the Obama Haters (birthers, deathers, republicans, Blue Dogs, liberal retards)? Nope! They will never be satisfied. We need to stop listening to the assholes and put something through THAT CAN BE WORKED ON OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION.
Gees.
I’m with you Kay .I liked most of what the Prez says ,we’ll just have to wait and see what kind of final bill we end up with . I’ll save my complaints until I see the bill
Why is everyone so angry, hate is not a family value.