Blogs and Stories
Obama's Fake Bipartisanship
Pete Souza / The White House
Is the president delusional to hope for bipartisanship in the face of Republican demagoguery over health care? Far from it, says Eric Alterman. Obama’s using a strategy honed in last fall’s election.
Barack Obama says he still hopes the health-care bill Congress eventually passes will be “bipartisan."
This despite the widespread impression virtually everywhere, no matter what the White House gives away, that Republicans are not planning on taking “yes” for an answer. Just as they did in 1994, Republicans, as White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel appears to have finally realized, have “made a strategic decision that defeating President Obama’s health-care proposal is more important for their political goals than solving the health-insurance problems that Americans face every day.”
Barely a “handful,” notes White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, appear “interested in the type of comprehensive reform that so many people believe is necessary to ensure the principles and the goals that the president has laid out.”
Obama can certainly go to the country and swear he gave this bipartisan thing every chance but these folks are, um, more interested in defeating him “than solving the health-insurance problems that Americans face every day.”
Indeed, even ranking Senate Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who indulges in Sarah Palinesque nonsense about “death panels,” has acknowledged that he will likely refuse to vote in favor of a bill that gives him everything he wants if he “can’t sell my product to more Republicans.” And Republicans, like former McCain flack Michael Goldfarb, say they plan to demagogue the bill no matter what “because it’s really complicated… It would be political malpractice if Republicans didn’t exploit that confusion and use it to find their way out of the wilderness.”
Their strategy is clear. As the influential Republican strategist William Kristol advises, “With Obamacare on the ropes, there will be a temptation for opponents to let up on their criticism, and to try to appear constructive, or at least responsible…Resist the temptation. This is no time to pull punches. Go for the kill.”
So is the president delusional? An awfully large number of people are beginning to think so, particularly among his most vociferous supporters on the left. Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect, asks, on The Huffington Post, “Will somebody please explain to me why Barack Obama is still on his bipartisan kick…What do these guys think they are getting by continuing to kiss up to the Republicans?”
I think the answer to Mr. Kuttner's conundrum can be found in an article, ironically enough, by one Mark Schmitt, who happens to be executive editor of, you guessed it, The American Prospect. Way back in December 2007, when supporters of both Hillary Clinton and John Edwards were pummeling Obama on what they deemed was the wishy-washiness of his bipartisan appeal in the face of so nasty an opponent, Schmitt published an influential (among liberals) argument, “The ‘Theory of Change’ Primary.” In it, Schmitt argued that liberals were “too literal in believing that ‘hope’ and bipartisanship are things that Obama naïvely believes are present and possible, when in fact they are a tactic, a method of subverting and breaking the unified conservative power structure. Claiming the mantle of bipartisanship and national unity, and defining the problem to be solved (e.g. universal health care) puts one in a position of strength, and Republicans would defect from that position at their own risk.”
Obama invited me to dinner shortly after he became a senator, and I got exactly the same impression. This man is, like FDR, a genuine liberal, but also a serious politician. He is not interested in moral victories or noble defeats. He wants to win. What he’s figured out, however, is that—particularly after two full decades of Bush/Clinton/Bush wars—the American people feel more comfortable with a politician who appears to reach out to the other side, who gives them a chance to play ball. This works both as an electoral strategy and a governing strategy. He gave in a little on the stimulus, but just enough to keep the ball rolling. He could always come back for more, later if necessary.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Why America Must Learn to Bow
Martin Jacques is the cofounder of the UK think tank Demos, writes a regular column for The Guardian, and is a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics Asia Research Centre. His new book, When China Rules the World, is available now.
Going Rogue: The Index
Christopher Buckley's books include Supreme Courtship, The White House Mess, Thank You for Smoking, Little Green Men, and Florence of Arabia. He was chief speechwriter for Vice President George H.W. Bush, and is editor-at-large of ForbesLife magazine. His new book is Losing Mum and Pup, a memoir. Buckley's Daily Beast column is the winner of an Online Journalism Award in the category of Online Commentary.
Why Democrats Are Smiling
Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
The Speech of His Life—Again
Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
How E.L. Doctorow Does It
Eric Alterman is a professor of English and journalism at Brooklyn College and a professor of journalism at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. He is the author, most recently, of Why We're Liberals: A Handbook for Restoring America's Important Ideals.
As Clint Eastwood once asked: Are the Republicans finally gonna draw those guns or whistle Dixie?
At this point, I don't know how they could possible look more angry, hostile and recalcitrant short of falling down and foaming at the mouth, or actually start shooting. They have no more interest in working with Obama than the man in the moon.
All I know is that if I never hear the word "bipartisanship" again in this world or the next, it will be too soon for me.
Yup, your liberal leftwing narrow minded bigot political "cleansing" approach sounds so much better doesn't it?
Cleanse all the conservatives to the south. Cleanse all the black, hispanics, yankee transplants and retiree liberals from the south to the North. Oppress the south. Presto, you got that Blue State utopia you're seeking! If the pesky minority in the south gets violent, just let em sucede, you don't want anybody around disagreeing with you anyway!
Enjoy!
ThinkAgain: Actually, I think internment camps and forced reeducation would be a better solution for you guys. I'm sure FEMA has a few left over.
I educating your ilk might be a better way to go Think Again....teaching you how to spell those big words you attempt to use to insult might be the place to start......
Are you serious? Its not 1864, buddy. We won the South, its ours. I was thinking of putting all the conservatives in Mexico.
You don't get to lie like that. The only benefit of the doubt I will give you is that you may have fell and bumped your head this morning. Did you? Hope you have good health insurance else you will just have to deal with that traumatic brain injury through prayer alone.
It has been the GOP who has repeatedly stated that they were going to cleanse their party of the heinous moderates--Rush says it, Palin says it, all of them say it. It was the Repub gov of Texas Rick Perry who threatened to seceed from the union, we dems just said do it, I triple dog dare you! of course, he didn't and happily took the stimulus money. The fringe--which is all that is left of your party are folks who are largely scared because they realize that they are loosing their jobs and homes and are unwilling to admit their complicity in their own circumstances by supporting Bush's policies, so instead of taking responsibility they instead cry victim and blame Obama.
What we liberals want are thinking people who don't "feel" their way to conclusions but actually use a little critical thought and fact to reach conclusions.
The word "cleanse" is redolent of "ethnic cleansing," which is undoubtedly what ThinkAgain meant to suggest. The word is his however. Alterman give two quotes from Republicans to support his position. What does ThinkAgain say in response: nothing but nasty insults.
Unfortunately this is not atypical of what passes for argument on the Republican side. How can you have a fruitful discussion with people who either will not or can not discuss facts and issues? About all you can do is abide in Lincoln's faith that you can't fool all the people all of the time.
"Cleansing" - obviously a reference to ethnic cleansing.
My goodness, what a bunch of cry babies. If having people argue with you is "cleansing", if having a discussion with a doctor is a "death panel", if a bill to bring health care to everyone is "fascism" - then you are truly living in a fairy tale. It's painfully obvious you have no experience of countries where those things happen, otherwise you wouldn't make such ridiculous allusions.
Who's cleansing whom? The Republican Party has pretty much driven all moderates out. The gays are out. Pro choice-ers are out. Minorities are out. People who respect science are out. People who are not Christian are out. Who's left? Don't blame progressives for the problems Republicans are bringing on themselves.
mdreader: Don't forget Senator Arlen Specter - he's out too.
majormoderate: Mexico is too good for them. I say send them north to Alaska, to keep the polar bears and Sarah Palin company. (Oops, I forgot. She's not going to be in Alaska much longer, is she?)
mdreader - 'People who are not Christian are out.'
There are Christians in the Democratic Party and among the independents. People that equate Christianity with the Republicans are just as confused as those who equate the Taliban with Islam.
ThinkAgain didn't mentioned Christians, which would be problematic for him since there are many black Christians, Hispanic Christians, Yankee transplant Christians, and I would guess even some retiree liberal Christians. Plus he didn't even mention social liberal\fiscal conservatives such as myself, who might be Christians.
Plus I think he's assuming too much about who would want to actually secede from the United States, versus 'sucede' - whatever that might be. I don't think the entirety of the South would be needed, and that we would simply be better off buying a chunk of Greenland and using it as a colony for whatever it is that ThinkAgain represents. We could call it Moronica.
If government health care is anything like the DMV, Post Office,
Amtrack, VA hospitals, Public (Government) Schools, yippee !!!
Take a number !!!
AlanD2, you are scary, a political bigot out of control.
democracyforall: At least I'm not part of the Republican "Death Panel" like you are.
As for me being out of control? Me? Really? I'm meek and mild. You've never seen me really let go.
Regarding being a bigot, I think you're projecting again. "Projecting" is a technical term by the way. Any psychiatrist can explain it to you.
Are you ever able to hold a conversation with someone who doesn't think like you without using "liberal", "lefty", "Bill Clinton" or the new one, "socialist"?
ThisAgain is one of those confused people who thinks everyone has to be either a "liberal" or a "true American", with "true American" being defined as anyone who hates liberals. In his sad world, we are either "blue state" or patriots. This is as idiotic as believing that all Republicans hate gay marriage (even though recent polls show that a majority of republicans now have no objection to gay marriage). He will gladly accept his share of Social security and Medicare, but rail against "socialism" - a word that most Americans laugh at because it reminds them of those corny anti-communist propagand fils of the '50s. So, anyone who who disagrees with him is deemedintolerant and doesn't "want anyone disagreeing with you anyway", even though most liberals are in favor of someones right to disagree - even if they are reprehensible and disgusting like white supremacists and Nazi's. I mean really "cleanse all conservatives to the south" - who the hell would take a statement like that seriously. Only white racists even think of terms like "cleanse". This is just one more example of the very small, irelevant minority of people who go totown halls and scream, or don't get the joke in being called a "tea bagger"
No, we're going to put you to work in the fields down there. The immigrant laborers will join us in the Blue State. Assholes like you will pick cotton...forever.
The "OMG, we've become a regional, southern party" is a myth started by the GOP because they are losing ground in the South. Obama carried 3 southern states and MS, GA and Texas, yes Texas with its 34 Electorial Votes trended blue. Had the Dems run serious candidates in GA and MS they would have picked up two more senators.
thinkagain, I do believe it is the republicans who do all the talking of seceding, not the liberals. But you won't ever hear that on Fake News or Rush, where up is down and right is left. And I do agree with those who point out that it is the republicans who have "cleansed" their own party to the marrow...white, christian, know-nothing, racist, extremists. But there is hope for you yet...at least you are exposing yourself to thoughts other than the programmed Fake News talking points. Thanks for coming!
ThinkAgain:
Look, let's be clear about something. Some of us have been watching American politics a LONG time. I know--don't think but *know*--that if the situation were reversed the GOP would have steam-rolled over the Democratic party and the third of the country that calls itself liberal could be damned. The thing is, you know it too. Hell, I tell a colleague of mine who is *very* conservative that I envy the GOP's willingness to advance their agenda. I don't *like* the agenda, mind you, but when the GOP takes power they don't monkey about with giving a tinker's damn about what Democrats or liberals may or may not think about some issue. If it's in the GOP agenda, they will do all that they can get away with to make sure that they move their agenda forward.
As far as your little paranoid fantasies, it very well may be that the country IS ungovernable. I live in the West but was born in the South and they are wildly different places. Most of us liberals aren't foolish enough to want a utopia (I'll leave those dreams to conservative Christians who are far more utopian than any liberal I know). We want a country that has a government that works. Right now, we don't have that.
So conservatives can either come up with a *better* plan (and free markets uber-alles isn't going to fly any longer) or they can get out of the way and let liberals who actually *do* believe in good governance do the work. Conservatives don't believe that government can or should do anything *other* than the military or the police--it should come as no surprise to anyone that conservatives can win elections, they just can't govern.
mcmchugh99: Republicans have already drawn their guns - "Tiller the Baby Killer" and the security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in downtown Washington, etc. When conservative start playing with their guns, you gotta take them seriously.
you forgot the dude in Arkansas who killed the army recruiter.....well, he may not have been conservative.
The left has been in a state of rage for 8 years, but now the right is showing some passion and you start throwing around the "hate" word or "visceral". Such hypocrisy on the left. Nancy Pelsoi started the "swastica" and "nazi" talk. MSNBC reports on a guy carrying a gun at a town hall meeting and how this is creating race problems in America even though the guy with the gun was black (I'm sure you left leaning nuts think the Republicans "planted" the guy though right?) Tell me Wallysmom, how productive is this?
clearthinker: As I remember, that guy was a recent Muslim convert who was pissed by U.S. soldiers killing civilians in Iraq or Afghanistan. A conservative? Who knows...
The left has NOT been in a state of rage for 8 years. If it had been, Bush would never have been reelected in 2004. The problem with the left is that most of us don't give a damn. It's you conservatives who blow up at the drop of a hat.
Don't forget the three police officers murder due to Glenn Beck's drug addicted rant.
mcmchugh99 ~ fantastic post. Absolutely hits the proverbial nail on the head. ThinkAgain's post reiterates the points that you are making. The anger is visceral. And like most anger, counterproductive.
These three items would cut healthcare costs within a week: 1)- Allow cross-state insurance competition; 2)- make insurance premiums tax free; 3)- enact lawyer fee tort reform. These three simple mechanisms would reduce costs 30% minimum. Then we could begin to really debate real healthcare reform because we all agree there are problems -- now, and in the future. But without these three items, it's just delaying the inevitable. Why doesn't Congress do this? In closing, I want the same kind of healthcare coverage that Congress gives itself.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
At some point he can bring out the long knives and start carving up the GOP position (or lack of one) and no one will fault him for that since he has at least tried to work with them on solving this real health care problem. And even if it doesn't pass this session, who will take the hit? Who will the public believe didn't really give it their best try.
He will just as he did during the election. He is also a proponent of letting the right sink their own boat ie: Palin
Fact: there are not enough liberal dems in congress to pass an undiluted liberal health plan bill. So Obama must compromise to get a bil that will pass. Duh, duh, duh and duh.
Fact: there's always reconciliation. DUH.
Congress has two houses, not just a Senate.
devilsadvocate: But any health care reform bill will pass in the House, even if no Republicans or Blue Dog Democrats vote for it.
The Senate is the only real block to health care reform.
Actually he dosent. Try educating yourself as to how this works. They get a bill with 60 votes that does NOT contain the public option. It then goes into committee and the Public Option is added back. At that point according to the law they then only need 50 votes for it to pass and the blue dogs can foam all day long as there are 50 dems ready to vote for the public option. THAT's How it Works.
The Dems have been weak in the face of lies and slander. They need a coherent, assertive message that pulls the rug right out from underneath most of the garbage positions coming out of conservatives (granted there are some good ones, they're just not coming up), and above all they need a CLEAR MESSAGE - confusion=fear and will play into the Republicans hands. How about a powerful and simple web site? That spells out the plan and de-spells the myths. Finally, the plan needs to be actually more simple - complex plans always fail, especially ones by gonvernment. Obama needs to deliver some punches, not roll with them.
Republicans went after Justice Sotomayor with gusto. It was not beneath them to do so. They were interested in scoring political points, forget thetruth or reality. The public did not buy the message.
Mr. Obama has the votes in both houses of Congress to push healthcare reform, as he had the votes to confirm Justice Sotomayor.
This August lull by president Obama is the same as the 2008 campaign lull where Sen. McCain grabbed the attention and got some momentum. Reality made its ugly appearance in September and McCain/Palin were toast.
Mr. Obama is on vacation now and getting some needed rest. We should expect him to come out of this lull swinging and passing healthcare reform and win the day for the American people, again.
Yep but how soon the Right forgets any lesson they are taught...like honoring their marriage and not lying. They forgot how they were beat in 2008 and they do so at their own peril.
Good thinking! The REPS have lost all credibility with their 'no' attitude. They are in disarray because they have no leader. Let's hope you are right about the President coming out 'swinging'. We need that.
Are you saying we can look forward to a September of wall to wall Palin/Joe the Plumber and "palling around with terrorist talk?" OMG make it stop, make it stop. I'm stuck in ground hog day...
"This man is, like FDR, a genuine liberal, but also a serious politician. He is not interested in moral victories or noble defeats. He wants to win."
Yep. Noble Defeats, that's what Liberals love in the leaders they still yearn for like Nader, Kucinich, etc. They would be happier with Obama if he got nothing done but always passed their purity tests. Get Er Done Obama. Show your "base" how to get things done. This guy does like to win and the First Lady said so in an interview a while back and who would know him better?
and winning in your opinion is a bad thing? LOL Really?
"the American people feel more comfortable with a politician who appears to reach out to the other side, who gives them a chance to play ball."
I'm an independent but I was convinced to vote for Obama. I have since realized that I didn't really understand what I was doing. I was impressed that this president seemed to want to work with both parties for the greater good. I haven't seen any effort to be bipartisan. Only smoke and BS. Obama is not a centrist at all he is hard core Left. This article is right about one thing... Obama intends to win.
I now realize that there is no such thing as "bipartisanship" , centrists or moderates in the two big parties . There are only special interests. The groups that we have deemed "special interest groups: and the special interest of our elected officials.... reelection.
The "change" that we all seek is to be truly represented. For congress to read bills and actually care about the results of those bills. (Other than how it effects their own reelection). This is the kind of change I want to see. And yes I feel that both parties are guilty of this. I don't know what I would do if I had the opportunity to vote again but neither Obama nor McCain would get my vote. Maybe its time for a third party contender.
Yea, right. you didn't understand what you were doing?
Hairball: You will never see anything but smoke and BS from today's Republicans. To the extent that Obama really wants to want to work with both parties for the greater good (and personally, I believe that he does), he cannot succeed if the Republicans don't respond.
Bill Kristol said: "This is no time to pull punches. Go for the kill."
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint said,"If you're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."
With stuff like this coming from Republicans (and with their voting "NO" on every Democratic bill, regardless of its merits), I don't see how you can fairly blame Obama for this impasse.
Obama and Democrat Congressional Leaders have made zero attempt to listen to or understand the valid concerns and constructive proposals that have been raised to their bill. Anyone who has dared to question their bill or suggest alternatives have been labeled as "extremists" and "evil mongers." This has been true whether the alternative ideas came from within their own party (e.g. Senator Corker, Democrat from Tennessee) or from Republicans or from the general public at town hall meetings. Constructive debate is important to arriving at a good solution. Ignoring 50% of the country is not going to serve Obama well in the long run.
You are either lying or you have no idea what you're talking about.
Obama and the Dems have already modified the bill to deal with Conservative concerns about small business expenses. They've also wimped out and pulled the End Of Life Counseling stuff out because of the hysterical lies and fearmongering spread by folks like you. The fate of the Public Option itself is in the balance because of the phony uproar manufactured by the insurance industry and their big money Republican astroturf pals who spend their days duping gullible suckers like YOU to pimp their talking points over and over again.
You come here and write about "Constructive debate" but you're either lying through your teeth or you just don't pay attention to reality. Which is it?
Well, if you couldn't make your decision on your own, and didn't understand what you were doing, perhaps you should remove yourself from the conversation, because clearly you aren't equipped to add anything useful to the debate.
Although I do believe a third party would be useful, but not in the way you describe. A third party would keep the Republicans honest. The media, which despite the myth of being liberal, caters to them all the time, especially when they are out of power. There is this need to portray them as a serious opposition party, when they are proven to be unable to govern or offer any useful ideas. Can anybody name the Republican healthcare alternative? Or is everyone satisfied with the status quo? A third party would focus attention on the real facts of the legislation, and not just ensure that every cable news show would be some kind of debate between rational representatives and right wing hacks.
"There is this need to portray them as a serious opposition party, when they are proven to be unable to govern or offer any useful ideas"
I disagree. Republicans, for better or for worse, govern when they are in power. They squeak big agendas by with 51 votes all day long. They band together and they seek change, again for better or for worse.
Democrats dilly-dally and nothing ever happens. Their pussys and are always looking at the next election at the peril of Americans. These "Blue Dogs" are nothing more than Republicans with a "D" next to their name and I'm getting sick of it.
NickPeterson1979: You might also mention that Republicans used reconciliation dozens of times during the Bush administration to avoid Democratic filibusters of controversial Bush bills.
I agree about the Blue Dogs. But I have to feel sorry for the poor things. Where else could they go after the Republicans kicked them out?
Aren't you a little old to be that niave? Politics ain't ping pong, it's hardball. I believe that Obama has wanted to forge a centrist path and that as all pragmatists, he is a centrist. It took him a minute to realize that we aren't dealing with the GOP of the 50s who would set partisanship aside for the good of the people. No, instead he contends with the party of the corporations who will cheerfully bring this country to its knees to defeat Obama.
Someone really ought to point out to the GOP that over the last eight years they already brought the country to its' knees and if they push it further there will be nothing left for them to win. To the issue of a viable third party, yes, there should be one if for no other reason then to send the extremes from both parties to that party allowing the moderates to govern.
As a loyal supporter of Obama but one who has a considerable stake in this fight because, it remains necessary for me, on a daily basis to remind myself that the Presidential race was a nail bitter to the end.
Throughout the entire campaign, I and countless others were shouting at our TV's and computer screens at Obama's unwilligness to fight back.
But he won ! and despite the incredible relief and pleasure of the final announcement, when thinking about that night, the moment I am most reminded of is the McCain concession speech and the militant bitter crowd. Many of those same people are out there screaming bloody murder on this issue.
But Obama won and ultimately by, what today could be considered a landslide.
I hoping and starting to believe that, while he may dislike doing so, he is willing to put his most ardent supporters through considerable stress and frustration, knowing that in the end, people like myself will get what we want. He is willing to be called a wimp with the lack of will to fight back, because in the end, he knows he will get what he wants.
Lest we forget why the Republicans lost. It was largely because while at the beginning some were consoled by watching these militant anti Obama neysayers foam at the mouth on TV, there came a point where those sitting on the fence started to tire of all of this hatred and " same old " tactics.
As with the election, I sit here bitting my nails waiting for the outcome, but I believe I need to remind myself of how intelligent Obama and his team can be and that in difference to the election, while it is the public's welfare at stake, that this is not a political fight that can take place transparently, so in that way it is worse that the stress of the election, because Obama is not out there, every day, reminding us of what he has up his sleeve.
So we wait and hope.
Thank you Mr. Alterman for re-aligning my thought process.
Militant Bitter Crowd? No Group is More Hateful then the Left. None. You even sent Human Shields to Protect Saddam. Your party is so Radical Even Moderates are jumping off.
Exploiting confusion to promote an ideological agenda not consistent with (or even with reference to) the best interests of the American people is the self-stated strategy of the Republican Party. Wrapping themselves in the flag and carrying a cross, their cynicism is surpassed only by their hypocrisy.
Most notable achievement of this philosophy: Iraq.
Says a lot about their supporters ...
in other words he's a liar
Yes I believe that the majority of Republican have been shown to be liars.
Bulldoglover100: I doubt that many rank-and-file Republicans are liars. (Not that you would know it from the conservatives who post here.)
But I would agree that most elected Republican officials are liars (especially at the national level). And I would insist that all Republican talking heads on cable TV and radio new are liars (although I have occasional doubts about Shepard Smith of Fox News - he should really move to CNN).
The right has written their script and are sticking with it. Good. We will win this fight, without apologies!
Left and proud of it!
If you win this fight, we all lose the war.
Oh no! America might have the greatest tragedy of all - to have a health care system like the ones in Canada, Switzerland, Denmark or Sweden - oh the humanity!! People around the world are shaking their heads in disbelief at the nonsense coming out of the Republican party right now. It beggars belief.
The Republicans
Are only the enemy
Of healthcare reform in the PR sense.
This article merely describes the
Symbolic battle of political theater.
The Republicans are not important enough
To matter in this debate.
The bowls of our Senators and Representatives
Are being flooded with cash
Which is being delivered
By fire hose from Big Pharmaceuticals
And giant insurance companies.
Can anyone reading this figure out
Why they'd want to spend tens
Of millions of dollars in Washington
In such a short time?
Here's a hint-
It has nothing to do with benefitting
Or protecting the interests
Of the American people.
It's called REFORM because the fantastic
Amounts of money
Being siphoned from the system
Could be used to organize and manage the system.
We're being mercilessly ripped off
But that's what we seem to prefer.
The biggest single problem
The United States has
Is the overt corruption of it's Congress.
Amen, and the truly disgusting part is that all of the people currently debating "our" healthcare already have platinum-plated insurance, courtesy the taxpayers.
I agree completely with the last stanza. Congress is nothing but a bunch of legal gangsters.
Rita,
The problem is not Republicans in the PR war--it is message. the GOP has been like a swiss watch and the Dems have been like a bad pre-school play rehearsal. For the public option, drop the public option. Tax the middle class, don't tax the middle class. Reform must have the public option, true reform does not have to have the public option.
The healthcare town hall meetings have been a disater because most of the Reps. don't know or understand the bill. At least here in VT, we had great meetings with Sen Sanders that didn't get stupid and answered alot of questions.
Bi-partisanship is the way to go or the next election cycle will be a disaster. If every Democrat articulated the message as well as Anthony Weiner, we would have a differant picture right now.
I saw Weiner on TV, talking about healthcare. He was terrific! I wish all politicians could speak as clearly and plainly as he does.
Connie was fooled by the apparent sensibilty and reasonable SOUNDING
plan of Rep Weiner. There are two problems with his scheme, which sounds reasonable, and is to extend medicare coverage to all ,firstdown to 55, then down to 45 etc etc and eventually cover the whole population.
Problem #1. Medicare as it stands now has trillions and trillions in
unfunded liabailities and is projected to be insolvent in less
than 8 years. This just covering 65
Problem #2 This is the far more problematic situation. The gov't
mandated reimmbursements to health professionals and
hospitals under medicare are articially set way below
the prevailing rates, or even the actual cost of service
This huge deficiency is made up on the overcharges
made to the privately insured. As this private pool declines
under Weiners plan, a monumental financial disaster
will unfold
Should anyone doubt this payment imbalance simply ask any
doctor in private practice, or any hospital administrator.
Ritardita,
Your cute fable reminds me of my college poliical science professor. I remember two things about him: 1) not to sit too close because the stench of alcohol was overwhelming, and 2) he used to say that political stability in America was due to the overwhelming stupidity of the American public.
I'm not sure he ever published a paper on that or if he had research back it up, but your sweet nothings posted above reminded me of his view. In fact, I think he was thinking of you and your friend Connie.
Maybe Dobo-
But I doubt
He remembers YOU.
Thank you for contributing nothing. You add nothing to the conversation you just attack people, very helpful. But as far as your professors reasearch for his stance on the stupidity of the American people he probably had to look no further than his own class room
Do you really want bureaucrats to have access to your medical records? Several IRS agents have been disciplined for pulling up famous people's tax records, how many have pulled up the records of neighbors and ex's. Joe the Plumer had his personal records exposed by a pro Obama bureaucrat because he asked a question. HR3200 requires that you not only provide a new bureaucracy with your medical records but also your financial records. Do you want a fan of Sarah Palin or Barney Frank to have access to your records if you make some snarky comment on your face book page or a forum like this? How much of your information do you want readily accessible to any bureaucrat? Read the bill!
Don't you get it? Insurance company bureaucrats ALREADY HAVE ACCESS to your medical records and they pore over them the minute you make a claim to find an excuse to deny it.
Don't you get that? Do you like your access to health care being controlled by people who only want to make a buck out of you? By people who would literally rather see you dead than have to pay for your care? You whine about some nightmare scenario about the government but the truth is that Corporate bureaucrats are doing everything you fear and worse to millions of people right now.
Maybe when it happens to you you'll wise up and stop parroting whatever rich people tell you.
People need to understand the stakes--national healthcare has been on the Democrats' plate since Harry Truman (LBJ gave up on 'medicare for all'). The Pubs are going crazy on it because historically, any entitlement you add is impossible to roll back (see Social Security reform), and any victory Obama has establishes a beachhead for going forward.
I'm tired of the 'bipartisanship' crap myself, but if Obama gets any significant chunk of his proposal through, he will have proven himself smarter and more capable than most of his Democratic predecessors over the past 60 years. And maybe he comes back for the rest if success results in the kind of historic realignment FDR enjoyed in 1934.
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President's Obama appeal now, to an inner morality and ethical conscience isn't going to have the effect he expects at this particular time with the economy in such bad shape - hopefully it is getting better - because the way health care is being presented at the moment, it is just another expense without any sure clear advantage to the public.
When citizens are as hard hit as we now in this country, I doubt anyone is thinking of the Greater Good. I know my concern is for myself and my family's health care. I don't have any empathy/sympathy left over;maybe down the road when I get back in a financial position - if I ever do - I can be my usual charitable and empathetic self
If the President could personalize his health care message more, I think he would be successful. If he just passes a watered down plan, it will only fuel up more discontent.
the government can't run the programs they have in place. Why should we, the people, should believe the government can run a health insurance program? Maybe that is the real problem Eric. Maybe you should pull your head out of Barak's bottom and take in some oxygen so you can think clearly.
4-6-1960... is that your birthdate? You're the rotten spawn of a baby boomer, and as such are not qualified to comment on government spending. Look at the presidents we started getting once you guys were old enough to vote.
Rotten spawn? Nice language Embers. If indeed he was born in 1960 he probably feels sorry for you. He might acutally remember when our representatives were diplomats and not politicians. He remembers when hard work and honesty got you somewhere in this country. He remembers a time when people spent what they could afford and didn't rely on debt to get through life. You are the product of a "give me, give me, give me" generation and one day you will pay the piper. Get it through your head that you are not entitled to hand outs. The baby boomers that have worked their way through life are tired of handing their earnings to punks with no jobs that talk on cell phones and ride around on their 22" rims. Park the public option to the side and then reform health care and quit trying to get something for nothing.
Embers, and they just keep getting worse with every election cycle.
msn04061960: Our government is quite successful at running Social Security, Medicare, and VA health care.
If you would like to talk about the successes of the free enterprise system, I would be happy to mention Enron and Bernie Maddof. And banks? Colonial Bank just became the 6th largest bank failure in US history a few days ago. Washington Mutual, where I used to bank, was the largest bank failure in U.S. history in 2008. Or how about Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy in 2008. And let's not forget AIG and the auto industry.
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The private market obviously can't run the programs they have in place. I'm in favor of giving the government a chance.
The VA is not a great Hospital System. And no VA is in the TOP 200 Hospitals in America
In a gun fight it's good to check out what you are really up against. Obama has now seen the full arsenal of the right and has plenty of time to design counter-measures. It starts with, "There is a deep sickness in this country and I need your help to defeat those more interested in politics than The American People."
Ride that bipartisan warhorse Obama, its still got lots of miles in it.
Ya know what I love to giggle at? The birthers who show up at the rally's screaming that they want government out of their health care but when ask if they want to do away with Medicare they froth and with spittle running down their little chins shout NO....LOL They do not even realize how ironic they truly are being....they should be thanking the heavens that breathing is an automatic response!
msn04061960......Medicare or Medicaid or the Vet Admin. mean anything at all to you? Are you even aware that Congress sets the rules that govern your private insurance? Anyone with a brain KNOWS government has been involved in YOUR healht care all your life......
No evidence, in my view, to justify the high opinion of Obama's strategic or even tactical acumen, except as a campaigner. His presidential campaign success was a different matter from his understanding of the financial world, the geopolitical one or even the meaning of the Constitution's protections of civil liberties. His supporters are still living in hope while swallowing his smooth hype. The Left is showing signs of finally waking up. No matter; it is too late! Pres Obama has no stomach for fighting powerful corporations, and from his appointments one may doubt his commitment to so doing. Like all of our recent presidents, his strongest commitment is to the projection of military power.
Social Security and Medicare and the VA are very well run. They just need more funding and that can be done without much trouble. We elect our government to govern us. Why do you hate them? You believe the propaganda given to us by the big companies that only they can do it right. Yeah right!
To the author:
I figured out the same thing about Obama's strategy. Also, I will add to your argument that I think he is willing to take a stance contrary to his own position, when necessary, in order to gin up support among the liberal base. We have seen this most recently with his seeming sudden reversal with regard to the public insurance option. On the surface it appears to be a betrayal, but his doing so lit a new fire under the pro-public option faction, engaging the base in a way that put the public option front and center in the health care reform debate. (It is important to note that Obama's statement of seeming capitulation came just after the decision by the Senate Finance committee to drop the public option from its version of the bill.) In this way, Obama can appear to be attempting bipartisanship and to be a realist who is operating from the center, when in fact his strategy is much more calculated. He is willing to make the temporary sacrifice and manufacture outrage against himself among liberals in order to gain the benefit of an engaged political base that he then turns to his political advantage. I think it remains to be seen whether his strategy is a winner in this particular battle - but one thing is certain: this is one savvy politician. He may yet out-smart us all.
how does anyone not see that as shady? god, can i find some not-for-shady-president folks? am i supposed to just give up?
What makes a lot of us in the civilized world scratch our heads in wonder, (well, there are many, many things but I'll just go with these couple of points for now) is this business of "pre-existing conditions".
Are these not the individuals who need health care the most? Every time I hear people debating this I simply cannot believe that this is even an issue. It is just too incongruous to fathom.
Americans trust their government to kill people on their behalf. Witness capital punishment. This barbaric practice is carried out in all its often racist and classist horror. Alan Dershowitz had an interesting piece on TDB the other day about Scalia, which pointed out how bizarre this death penalty issue is applied.
Now if the majority of Americans trust their government enough to carry this travesty out, how then can they claim that their government is incapable of administering a universal health care plan?
These same people trust their government enough to let them interfere with the private rights of womens' bodies; read abortion.
Seeing working class/middle class people support corrupt, greedy and discriminatory private insurance companies right to make private health care decisions for them at huge costs and huge profits just does not make any sense.
Talk about voting against your best interests! And that miscreant calling President Obama a Nazi at the Barney Frank forum was beyond the pale. And others bringing GUNS to public forums? I cannot tell you how gobsmacked we pinko commies up here in Canada are at all this craziness.
Wow.
This topic is one of lies and political deceit.
Obama doesn't care about bipartisanship; if he did he would of put Pelosi and Reid in check from the get go. He only cares about the bottom line and he will use any means in his power to get it done. Lies, deceit and stirring up the murky waters of politics are his tactics of choice. So instead of listening to what he's preaching, let's watch what he's doing.
The fact is that the Democrats have the power and the numbers. They got other questionable bills passed without the Republicans, so now all of a sudden the Republicans are the ones holding up health care reform. The problem is that they can't even sell it to their own party let alone the Republicans or to the People. So they need a scapegoat, enter the Republicans.
What's the rush? Why not slow down and write a bill that the fixes the current problems without junking the rest of the system that works. Pelosi's HR 3200 is a travesty of a bill that is so poorly written and vague that either they wanted it that way or they are just incompetent. Most people agree that heath care needs to be fixed, but to scrap the current system with something that was drafted in a few weeks is laughable.
Pelosi said it best"We won the Election, we wrote the bill." The die was cast with those words and this President has done nothing to break from this mold, Politicians will tell you want you want to hear then go do want they were going to do anyways. Obamas has had the time, issue and the power to make a lot of changes, but it's still business as usual in D.C... Until Obama puts Pelosi and Reid on a short leash and starts listening to what the people want instead of preaching at them and telling them what he thinks they need, there will be no change in D.C.
"What's the rush? Why not slow down and write a bill that the fixes the current problems without junking the rest of the system that works."
Health Care Reform has been proposed by every Democratic administration for the last 60 years... any slower and we'll start moving backward.
I'll be you weren't asking "what's the rush" about the Patriot Act, which intrudes way, way more on our freedoms than anything in this bill ever would.
And nobody's talking about "junking the rest of the system". You're listening to crap and it's running out of your mouth.
If you notice, the GOP and conservative arguements are always rooted in emotion and "brattiness" they never can explain themselves or there arguements in an intelligent, thought out approach. It is always blame immigrants, minorities, poor lazy people etc. Everything is in black and white and they are no shades of gray. This is why they have to lie and gin people up and play on their ignorance. i have yet to hear an honest and sound arguement against healthcare reform. Where are their facts? Where are their solutions to the problems we face? The only thing they can offer is tax breaks for the rich and no reductions in spending. Throughout our political history, GOP administrations have always spent as much $$$ as Democratic ones. The money just goes to different places ie: miltary industrial complex and corporations.
Not much gray about a $1.8 trillion deficit and an IOU to the Chinese for $1.6 trillion. Its pretty black and white - you either see this as a major problem, or you don't. As a fiscal Conservative watching the Dollar erosion making us all poor, I see it as our number one problem. To continue to push a new health care entitlement in the face of our financial predicament is totally irresponsible. This is not an emotional or bratty position.
You don't need to be a conservative to appreciate the deficit. We all know that the debt is out of hand. The trouble is that the conservative answer to fixing the underlying cause of the deficit is... uh, "NO!"
Regan was partly right when he said government is not the solution, it's the problem. The trouble is that he is only right about that when we elect Republicans. Conservatives are so vested in Regan's "Govt is the problem" rhetoric that they go out of their way to prove it.
Neverlate...do you have a corresponding post sent to Bush Admin when they turned Bill Clinton's balanced budget into an $11 trillion national deficit the 8 years they bumbled through? or do you discount that sloppy management and just go for Obama's jugular because the Repug Party requires that of you?
They'll never stop blaming someone else for their problems. If they did then then they'd have to admit their own culpiblity.
The Deficit and National Debt are different things, Clinton added 1.7 Trillion to the Debt .
Reductions in Spending ? Under Obama? Are you joking?
The unfortunate truth is that for whatever wave of hope Pres. Obama came into office on, he has destroyed. I for one did not vote for the man, but accepted his victory and hoped that he would deliver on his promise of a new bi-partisanship, a new era of government. However, as has clearly been laid out in Alterman's article, it was simply a campaign strategy to get elected. Any hope of uniting the American public ended with his campaign.
The few truly great Presidents we have had, became great by uniting the American public behind there visions. They did this by being inclusiveness and not divisiveness.
The American public is much smarter than the politicians recognize. Make no doubt; the anger being displayed in town hall meetings is real. And it has been created by a sense of powerlessness created by President Obama and his politics. The American public recognizes his double speak and lack of sincerity in his talk of bipartisanship. They are empty words and the American public is reacting to it.
It is unfortunate that a man with such great potential has chosen to show himself for a selfish ideologue.
Dan047 is delusional!
Obviously, you had cherry-picked from the article. I see you did not quote the part of the article that stated that the GOP has no interest in bipartisanship and they are more concerned with destroying Obama's presidency than acting on the will of the people. The GOP's goal is to bring Congress to a stalemate so that thy can hope to regain power and do nothing again but prove that government doesn't work.
You call Obama a selfish ideologue but where is the outrage towards repubs? After all, it was their party that gave us the giant mess that Obama inherited and they are the ones that have been relentless in opposing him since his inauguration. What bipartisanship has the GOP offered? Obama could've acted like Bush and just said; "screw them, I'm the decider and I don't need to consult with the opposition to push my agenda, I have a majority". Yet, you want to put all the blame on Obama's shoulders. Only thing repubs have done besides offer no solutions, is create faux controversies like the birthers and death panels, which have been debunked as having no shred of credible truth behind them. This all part of their admission to "distract and distort" so that any non-political savvy American can be confused and led into their army of naysayers that try to tie the president to Nazism and Communism in the most nonsensical of ways. Wake up! Obama has held on to the pipe dream of bipartisanship long enough! Time to circumvent the GOP and get to work delivering on the promises that people voted for!
Stop blaming the GOP, They have no power. Dems have 60 Seats in Senate and a large majority in the House. This is an INTERNAL Dem Issue and they want to blame the GOP? Its Moderate and Conservative Dems who are blocking the rabid extreme leftist Dems
Dan047: Any hope of uniting the American public ended with Republican party's decision to refuse to cooperate with the Obama administration under any circumstances.
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint said,"If you're able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo. It will break him."
Influential Republican strategist William Kristol advises, "With Obamacare on the ropes, there will be a temptation for opponents to let up on their criticism, and to try to appear constructive, or at least responsible...Resist the temptation. This is no time to pull punches. Go for the kill."
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
The anger displayed at town hall meetings may be real, but it is based on the lies of the rightwing media bent on undermining confidence in our president.
The ridiculous alegations leveled against our president initially stuck with a racist minority, but have since spread to others who simply don't bother to visit factcheck.org
* He wants to kill old people
* He wants to take away your guns
* He is a Muslim
* He is a racist
* He pals around with terrorists
* He is a Socialist, Fascist, Nazi, etc...
* He was not born in America
The rightwingers know full well that this is all nonsense, but that doesn't matter. They will continue to spew these lies. Their goal is simple. Destroy
Obama at all costs. Taking the rest of the country down in the process will just strengthen their future case that Obama failed.
Remember how they flailed against Justice Sotomayor. There was a poll asking if people thought Sotomayor was a racist. Not even a majority of
Republicans believed it. Sotomayor was confirmed with no delay.
Republicans spew their poison words at their own peril. The public is not stupid.
Sotomayors Comments speak for themselves, If you didn't find them racist then you are as bad as she is.
Reason
Obama's relationship with Domestic Terrorist William Ayers is Proven and Indisputable. After the election Ayers admitted they were close friends.
Obama sat in Hate Whitey Sermons for 20 yrs and never batted an eyelash. He appointed Sotomayor who hates White Firemen and is friends with Gates who hates White Cops.
Obama is clearly a Socialist. His writings and positions are evidence of this.
Obama has resisted releasing his college and birth records. I am not sure where he was born but he has certainly made me curious by his silence,
Obama has said " My Muslim Faith" and belonged to a Church that made Nation of Islam Leader Farrahkan its " Man of the Year"
Obama supported the DC Gun Ban,
Bipartisanship. Bi-partisanship. Bi means "two". That means it takes two sides to make it work. You tell me who's been more willing time and again to reach across the aisle.
Not the Republicans, who come straight out and say that they won't vote for the bill, that they want to defeat this in order to "break Obama". If the Republicans were interested in bipartisanship then things would be moving forward in a bipartisan way right now. But they're not. They're playing politics and you're just swallowing their propaganda.
Your version of bipartisanship seems to be the "my way or the highway" kind.
Thank you.
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