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How Did Obama Do?
The Daily Beast's panel of experts diagnoses the president's bid to jump start his top domestic policy priority.
Obama Frees His Mojo
by Tina Brown
The president took all the political noise—the hysterical pre-performance commentary, the shouting GOP congressman—and used it to reduce the assembled Republicans to foolish members of his rowdy class. MORE >>
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A Man On His Way to Bitterness
by Tucker Carlson
Obama the candidate seemed to rise above his opponents. The president Wednesday night was battling enemies, real and imagined. MORE >>
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A Speech Worthy of Hillary
by Paul Begala
Candidate Obama attacked Clinton for her support of a universal mandate. President Obama gave a full-throated defense of one. Will liberals follow him? MORE >>
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A Tactical Half of a Loaf
by Sam Donaldson
With flourish, President Obama threw the public option under the bus tonight. It was the choice of a practical politician. MORE >>
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Bipartisan Flavor, Progressive Spine
by Katrina vanden Heuvel
The public option part was unsatisfying. But when he got to Kennedy—and the moral imperative of health care—it was one for the history books. MORE >>
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A Dramatic Address for a Dramatic Moment
by Matthew Yglesias
Obama rose to the occasion. But history shows big speeches don’t move the needle that much. Does Congress actually want reform? MORE >>
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Obama’s Thrilling Health-Care Rebuke
by Michelle Goldberg
Democrats may have been losing the health-care debate, but with his speech Wednesday night, the president began to shift the dynamic, writes Michelle Goldberg—and his tough defense of liberalism was stunning. MORE >>
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Nothing Is Going to Change
by Lee Siegel
For all the hyperbole, the speech didn’t matter much. The battle will resume, charges will fly—and Obama and the Democrats will ram a plan through. MORE >>
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In Defense of a Strong Government
by Michael Waldman
Obama’s speech was as powerful a piece of presidential rhetoric as you will ever hear. But the Democrats’ tactical sequencing this summer was off. He’d better get moving. MORE >>
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prisrob
Tucker carlson is the most biiter journalist- get someone who has a better pulse on the public.
mburls
Wait... you called Tucker Carlson a journalist?!
case1234
Throwing the Public Option overboard? this sounds like one those critiques written before the speech was given. Did you even hear his full throated defense of it as a concept and debunking of the attacks against it? The point he was making is he supports it but it is not the end all be all. (Some countries such a Switzerland have universal health care without a PO, by strongly regulating the private sector, but really the GOP doesn't want that either.)
anghiari
Hey Tucker baby...the President wasn't pissed cause he lost his TV show...he's talking about the state of a country and its citizenry...
butterflymcqueenie
tee hee...i really liked that one...
diamondgirl
prisrob, Tucker carlson has his finger on the pulse of the independant and conservative pulse. You are a left winger and just dont get it. You may never understand, so just be patient and when it explodes in your face, just like it did to the Republician party because of their mistakes, then you will the minority again!
unsuiatlarge
All, and I mean all, the polling on the Presidents speech indicate that Independents were won over and reassured by it.
Conservatives and true Independents are two very different groups and the "pulse" of one has nothing to do with the other, given the political climate created by the, apparently, insane Right.
prisrob
@Sam- don't be so sure about the publlic option- the public wants it!
idicula1979
Great speech, with that speech he clearly put healtcare on the offensive, and given time I am sure all the republican venom will look fookish in hindsight, as even the republican response looked as flat-footed as it did a few month ago when when Bobby Jindel showed us his Kenneth Parcell impersonation.
mclaubr1
Agreed, the speech was very good. It's purpose was clear - it hit the reset button in the public debate. But I really doubt that the WH will "call out" misinformation as it occurs. It continues today and the WH is silent. Remember, the Republicans have a term, "nuclear." Expect it. The noise level is going to be turned up and then some. Be prepared for it, Dems.
octavio
9/9/9
Michael Waldman is correct.Barack Obama's speech was the
best ever!.
His voice,style,pace,timing,presentation,content was
perfect.Barck Obama,also has integrity and an exellent I.Q
99.99% of the republicans and the blue-dog (traitors)
democrats do not have integrity and their I.Q. is defective!
If you have good morals ( if you are honest ) never
vote for those crooked republicans!
END!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------
Hotfrostins
It was good ,very good, super clear, super concise, in fact its so so good that after having watched and listened to Bush for 8 years, I now am suffering from a perplextion whiplash.
idicula1979
Obama showed the most SPINE I have seen in a long time by a Democrat !! Other then Nancy Pelosi who always shows her spine but she is not as visable because it is easy for the right wing to caricature her as it seems no other Democrat will stand by her.
BenGil
Tucker Carlson: Which enemies is Obama imagining? If there aren't members of the government whose sole goal seems to be derailing health care at any cost, then why are so many of them supporting the rumour of death panels? If all of these people who are attempting to stop reform at any cost don't exist, does that mean that Sarah Palin is all in my imagination? If so, I've got a sick, twisted mind.
Extremely unbalanced article, Mr. Carson. Perhaps you need another talking-to from Jon Stewart.
Uncommonsense
Tucker shoulda finished college.
trocar1970
Tucker is worthless
democracyforall
ditto
fenngibbon
Of all the commentary I've seen on the speech, I don't think I've heard any talking head take a position that I couldn't have predicted 24 hours before the speech.
While I suppose that could be a tribute to my intellect and insight, I suspect that it's actually an indicator of the by the numbers hackery that passes for political analysis nowadays.
cvillekid
fenn nails it. And speaking of hackery, how 'bout the crew Tina lined up for this thread. We're talking mega-hackery. Still, I find it disturbing that Rebecca Dana, Meghan McCain, and Nicolle Wallace were left out of this important discussion. Not to mention Gwynneth Paltrow. Doesn't "hollywood royalty", as Rebecca phrased it, deserve to express their opinion? Or isn't this a free country?
bcaldwell
POTUS should stand for Punk of the United States because tonight Barack Obama became a punk. If you are the leader, you DON't go on national TV and before Congress to tell your opponents they are wrong and go about defending yourself like that. You go out there and you say what you want, you don't mention the opposition and you certainly don't address their BS if you think it is BS.
You don't say something to the effect of" Oh you're mischaracterizing me, you are so bad, I need to set the record straight." Only a wimp does that. Yeah, I can see John Gotti going before the rest of the Gambino family and defending and justifying putting a few bullets into Paul Castellano" Many people see my dispatching of Big Paul as a wanton grab at power, but it's a lie I tell you it's a ie.....I only did it so that all of youse could be secure and get good healthcare.....badabing" I'm sure Sammy the Bull would have dispatched of him right there because on the street, he would have had NO juice, no respect.
Same here with Obama, he goes to Congress to plead for his health bill, that does not show me a leader, that shows me a wussy. I don't like Healthcare by Government, but dammit going to Congress and ninnying about how people are lying about me.....well that's unseemly. On the street he would get his ass kicked, he'll get the equivalent of from Congress, just watch....it'll be his own people.
By the way Wilson was unseemly too. Never let the opposition know what you are thinking numbnuts!!!!!
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n--Y--Portmanteauconnie47
Huh?
Don't tell me, you started drinking when the speech started and didn't stop until nearly 5 AM, when you posted this.
Hotfrostins
Twilight zoner on crack... what else could it be?
EdmondDantes
bcaldwell: Buddy, go get help. You obviously have issues. Get help before the Secret Service opens a dossier on you. (Might be too late.)
dwood7219
So bullies and liars are acceptable to you if they are screaming, delusional, lying sacks? But if a person fights back against those same lying sacks - that is a "punk" you will not support? Let me guess, you were the neanderthal in grade school beating up the little kids for their lunch money and then whining when they turned you in?? I thought I recognized you!
Cymatic
So... the best way to deal with outright lies is to ignore them even if they are hurting people!?! To even mention the failures of your opponents logic is somehow wrong? And by addressing his opponents' arguments directly and reducing them to ashes he is being a "wimp"!? And a convicted mobster would have killed him showing how wrong he is?!
My goodness, I hope you were drunk when you wrote that.
neverlate
If you are a strong supporter of unemployment going from 10% to 20% as we take money from sectors of the economy that need it (just about every sector) and put it into one that can't absorb it (healthcare) it was a good speech. Once it is deconstructed we will be back to where we were. You people are fools.
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n--Y--PortmanteauBasPos
Now when will President Obama find his Grant?
Johnnyappleseed
I want that affordable healthcare Obama referred to that congress has,one someone else is paying for, now that's a good deal.
It all boils down to one thing nothing is free, someone else is paying for it if you are not.
We are broke as a country, both fiscally and worse...morally!
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n--Y--Portmanteaubulldog17
The libs-oh, excuse me, progressives, are such naive fools. You all do not even see the truck coming up the road.
Picachu
Anybody who voted for Bush twice has no room to tell anybody else about not seeing trucks come down the road you blind idiot.
dwood7219
Oh we see the truck all right. It is filled with screaming, uneducated red necks. And guess what..it just ran into a big ole ditch. Enjoy it down in the mud buddy!
unsuiatlarge
Yeah, you really told em there, buddy. Whoo Doggy!!!
acordas
I like the Idea where if anyone votes against the Public Plan then their Goverment Health Care is removed. Then they have to pay the costs that the Insurance are forcing down our throats. And they must prove they payed for it personally not given to them from the Health Industries.....
CrazyRoger
The Democrats were giggling. Obama had just made a declaration that we own the American people the same quality of health insurance that we in government enjoy. Up rose the Democrats and clapping too. The poor Republicans had no choice but to rise and clap too, at exactly what they don't believe in! It was so funny!
drakg02
Who's writing Obama's speeches for him? It's the same glittering generalities and the silly fluff we always hear from this guy. We deserve a REAL president!
burda123
Oh really, you mean like the one you voted for twice. Who trampled over the constitution and disgraced our country for 8 years. Your REAL pathetic.
geniemaker
The One is not only trampling our Constitution, he is spitting on it and throwing it in the waste basket. Since majority rules, as Obama should know, 85% (Rasmussen) of the public are satisifed with their health care, as am I. Catering to 15%, many who are illegals, is insane. He should've made it clear that fraud, waste, abuse, allow insurance providers freedom to cross state lines, and tort reform would improve what we have. Not a re-write of the entire healthcare system. Our healthcare is the best in the world and the best will always cost more.
There is no way in hades the nanny government can add more non-productive citizens to health care without throwing some of us under the bus. WHO'S going to pay for the abomination?
Picachu
You had YOUR real president, and he was a REAL DUMBASS, much like you.
dwood7219
Majority rules. I agree! That is what ELECTIONS are for! So let us - the educated, caring majority do what we have to do without idiots YELLING to make up for the dismal lack of your numbers. You know the saying - lead, follow or get out of the way. No leadership from the right, just say NO is neither leading or following - so sit down shut up and get the HELL out of the way!
democracyforall
exactly, how did Obama do? a D-
Obama says, "But remember this-I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone." He thinks by saying this he is off the hook, but au contrare. Obama has wimped out at a time when we need a leader.
Alaric
Fearmonger in chief. Said the deficit would grow without his plan, what a laugher. CBO said the plans proposed all increase the deficit and do nothing to alter the cost curve. Since when is he worried about the deficit. His budget projections add at least 9 trillion to the national debt. Once again he lies to the face of the American people. He was clearly angry at the American people for not falling for his,Pelosis and Reids steaming pile of legislative dung. This speach will have inspired the left only and damaged his ability to reach those who don't support his plans but may personally like him.
connie47
Huh? I don't even want to hear how you spin it to reconcile your post with these polls, taken immediately after the speech:
1. The CBS News poll said Obama's approval rating soared from 62 percent to 69 percent after the speech.
2. According to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey of Americans who watched the address, 68 percent said their reaction to his address was extremely positive and another 24 percent somewhat positive.
Also, 85 percent said his speech made them feel more optimistic about the country's path in the next few years.
Alaric
could it be that 70% of those who watched the speech were democrats?
pennsykid2000
Amazingly, the response by burda123 above is a great reply to your sorry post as well. Virtually everything you complain about applies far more strongly to W, particularly the part about raising the deficit (fact, rather than prediction here) and lying (about Iraqi threats to the U.S.). To paraphrase Ben Franklin, three things are inevitable: death, taxes, and Republican hypocrisy.
Bunx05
Actually Alaric, when the CBO reviewed Obama's proposal (including the public option), they said that it would reduce cost roughly 4 trillion dollars over the next 15 years and ensure that roughly 97% of the population would be covered for healthcare.
That sounds good to me.
Alaric
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR200907160 2242.html
Bunx05
The Washington Post online has no record of the link you posted.
Please repost the link.
Thanks.
Alaric
CBO Chief Says Democrats' Proposals Lack Necessary Controls on Spending TOOLBOX
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By Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, July 17, 2009
Congress's chief budget analyst delivered a devastating assessment yesterday of the health-care proposals drafted by congressional Democrats, fueling an insurrection among fiscal conservatives in the House and pushing negotiators in the Senate to redouble efforts to draw up a new plan that more effectively restrains federal spending.
Under questioning by members of the Senate Budget Committee, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, said bills crafted by House leaders and the Senate health committee do not propose "the sort of fundamental changes" necessary to rein in the skyrocketing cost of government health programs, particularly Medicare. On the contrary, Elmendorf said, the measures would pile on an expensive new program to cover the uninsured.
Though President Obama and Democratic leaders have repeatedly pledged to alter the soaring trajectory -- or cost curve -- of federal health spending, the proposals so far would not meet that goal, Elmendorf said, noting, "The curve is being raised." His remarks suggested that rather than averting a looming fiscal crisis, the measures could make the nation's bleak budget outlook even worse.
Elmendorf's blunt language startled lawmakers racing to meet Obama's deadline for approving a bill by the August break. The CBO is the official arbiter of the cost of legislation. Fiscal conservatives in the House said Elmendorf's testimony would galvanize the growing number of Democrats agitating for changes in the more than $1.2 trillion House bill, which aims to cover 97 percent of Americans by 2015.
A lot of Democrats want to see more savings, said Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), who is leading an effort to amend the bill before next week's vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee. "There's no way they can pass this bill on the House floor. Not even close."
Republicans also seized on Elmendorf's remarks, with House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) saying they prove "that one of the Democrats' chief talking points is pure fiction." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Elmendorf's testimony should serve as a "wake-up call" to Obama and Democratic leaders to heed requests from lawmakers in both parties to slow down the process.
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) said she delivered that message directly to Obama at the White House yesterday, and strongly urged him to give up his August deadline so bipartisan negotiators in the Senate Finance Committee can craft a new reform plan that does more to control costs.
"I think it would be prudent for the president to be patient," said Snowe, whom Obama is courting aggressively. Bipartisan approval of a finance bill "can provide huge impetus for the success of this legislation and achieving broader support as it goes through the legislative process."
Talks in the Senate broke late yesterday, with plans to resume next week. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said the group is considering about a dozen options to cover the estimated $1 trillion cost of its package, including reductions in Medicare spending and additional tax increases.
Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), whose support could compel numerous GOP senators to take a serious look at the package, said he is "hoping" to embrace the final product. Otherwise, he said, "I wouldn't be at the table." After Elmendorf's testimony, Grassley said Senate negotiators are determined to "overcome the shortcomings" of the House proposal.
The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), also has taken a leading role in the Finance Committee negotiations. Yesterday, when Elmendorf appeared before Conrad's committee to testify about the nation's long-term budget problems, Conrad focused his questions on the House and Senate committee measures, which were drafted without Republican input.
"I'm going to really put you on the spot," Conrad said. "From what you have seen from the products of the committees that have reported, do you see a successful effort being mounted to bend the long-term cost curve?"
Elmendorf responded: "No, Mr. Chairman." Although the House plan to cover the uninsured, for example, would add more than $1 trillion to federal health spending over the next decade, according to the CBO, it would trim about $500 billion from existing programs -- increasing federal health spending overall.
Some provisions of the bill have the potential to trim spending further, Elmendorf said, but "the changes that we have looked at so far do not represent the sort of fundamental change, the order of magnitude that would be necessary, to offset the direct increase in federal health costs that would result from the insurance coverage proposals."
Asked what provisions should be added, Elmendorf suggested changing the way Medicare reimburses providers to create incentives for reducing costs. He also suggested ending or limiting the tax-free treatment of employer-provided health benefits, calling it a federal "subsidy" that encourages spending on ever-more-expensive health packages.
Key senators, including Conrad, have been pressing to tax employer-provided benefits, but Senate leaders last week objected, saying that the idea, which Obama opposed on the campaign trail, does not have enough support to win passage. Yesterday, Baucus said White House opposition had hindered acceptance of the tax, which critics said would target police and firefighters who receive generous benefits packages.
Grassley said he urged Obama earlier this week to reconsider the tax, which the CBO has repeatedly identified as one of the best tools available for driving down long-term federal health spending. Obama said he could not do that, Grassley recalled. "Does he really want to bend the cost curve? He ought to be out in front on this issue and endorse it," he said.
The benefits tax is also hugely unpopular in the House, which has instead proposed a surtax of as much as 5.4 percent on income exceeding $350,000 a year to pay for health reform. "You're not going to get a tax on health benefits," said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said she welcomes other efforts to improve the bill, including demands for additional savings.
"Can there be more? I think so," Pelosi said. "And that is what the legislative process is about. You don't write the whole bill, introduce it and then go to the floor. This is the time now for an open process of bipartisan review of the bill in the committees."
Meanwhile, a growing number of physician groups are also objecting to the House package. Although the chief executive of the American Medical Association pledged yesterday to "help build support" for the legislation, as many as 20 state medical societies have drafted a letter to congressional leaders vowing to fight creation of a government-sponsored health insurance program that could compete with private firms.
Staff writer Ceci Connolly contributed to this report.
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Hotfrostins
couple of thoughts I had while listening to the President.....
1. "My God I like this President, the refresh compared to the perplex of the former overwhelms with positive confidence".
2. "The markets are gonna go wild tomorrow."
3. "Oh boy, I thought I had seen the peak of GOP tail chasing on this issue,, this speech will drive them absolutely into a mass frenzy."
4. " He is making us all take a hard look in the mirror"
5. He is going to succeed in repairing the economy he was given, simply because he will not conform and he is a creative thinker.He has more than answers, he has solutions.
DustyMills
Well said and let's hope your predictions come to pass.....
democracyforall
what an unreal view.....
if the stock market is up today, it's because Ford posted it's first annual profit today since 2005.
atriedes4077
Check out the AP's list of lies that the President told during the speech. You guys like the leader of the Democratic Party telling lies, I don't.
Thank you.
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