More bipartisanship? Axelrod and Emanuel please say it ain't so
I saw President Obama talking to Katie Couric before the Super Bowl, and I didn't breathe for a few minutes as I took in what he was proposing. I guess they are spooked by the losses of the mythical independent voters in recent polling, but even if that's the case, it's a horrible idea from my perspective.
President Obama said Sunday that he would convene a half-day bipartisan health-care session at the White House to be televised live this month, a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as Democrats and Republicans try to break their political impasse.
Mr. Obama made the announcement in an interview on CBS during the Super Bowl pre-game show, capitalizing on a vast television audience. He set out a plan that would put Republicans on the spot to offer their own ideas on health care and show whether both sides are willing to work together.
“I want to come back and have a large meeting, Republicans and Democrats, to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward,” Mr. Obama said in the interview from the White House Library.
Mr. Obama challenged Republicans to attend the meeting with their plans for lowering the cost of health insurance and expanding coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Republican leaders said they welcomed the opportunity and called on Democrats to start the debate from scratch, which the president said he would not do.
I understand the strategy behind them doing this, but the country is too polarized at this point to really turn perceptions enough to make any difference.
This will accomplish nothing except to possibly empower Republican obstructionists even more. They will tell us what wonderful new ideas they have and that if only Obama opened up competition in all the states, it would solve all the problems in health care. Here's Crying Boehner's response:
"The best way to start on real, bipartisan reform would be to scrap those bills and focus on the kind of step-by-step improvements that will lower health care costs and expand access. The House Republican alternative, which would lower premiums by up to 10 percent while increasing access for Americans without health insurance, would be a solid starting point. I look forward to discussing these issues with the Democratic Leadership and the President."
America didn't elect President Obama so that Republicans could rule the legislative process, but through the guidance of David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, that's what's happening now. There is no way Republicans will sign on to anything at this point unless the president gives in to all of their demands.
Funny thing how Obama keeps reaching out to the other side instead of his own. I'd much rather have a liberal blogger meeting with President Obama instead of having to endure this.
Digby also adds a lot to this discussion and brings a really smart observation to the discussion. Much sharper than what you'd hear from the MSM.
It's fascinating, of course, because it's gossip and because some in the White House and others close to the administration have decided to try to dethrone these four. The courtiers are rebelling...read on
UPDATE: And here comes the reinforcements. There's and article in FT.com that says the Chicago team is hurting the Obama White House and I can't disagree on that one.
Financial Times Washington Bureau Chief Edward Luce has written a granularly informed insider account about those who hold the keys to the inner most sanctum of Obama Land -- Rahm Emanuel, Robert Gibbs, Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod.
--
The article goes on to document how people like Health Secretary and former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius were kept off television -- along with others like Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Add to this others that Luce does not name -- including important voices like Paul Volcker and Austan Goolsbee on Obama's economic team, who saw their public voices choked off by a media-dominating Lawrencean Summers with support from Robert Gibbs and Rahm Emanuel.
I've been complaining about the lack of surrogate speakers to go out and sell his ideas and the lack of a cohesive legislative strategy and that's been a huge problem also. Read the piece---it's very good. Oh, and Obama is the president and isn't a child so he still has the ultimate say.
the repukes are going to refuse to take him up on the offer
Me Mine More Now.
"Decay"
The President does not intend to Quit and the repubs have quit on the American people. Two decades with no meaningful legislation is a good indication of republican dedication to the American people! or Not !
To offer NOTHING but want to scrap what would cover 30 million and has limited cost containment--is a false choice--irresponsible and anti American...Appalling childlike behavior ..
For our President to continue to reach out shows the determination of someone who has faced 'no' all his life due to nothing he could do anything about but perservered none the less...This is true courage and real change --Instead of tacking to the right when his agenda is stonewalled like clinton did--he has kept to the hope of a congress for the people instead of their corporate donors..
Axelrod and Rahm are just scapegoats for the repub meme--It is the President who wants a Govrnment for the PEOPLE
WTF???
to play checkers. When they decline that you invite to a friendly game of HCR tic-tac-toe. The message gets through. The Republicans have no game.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
the DLC/DSCC/DCCC is showing itself to be purely DINO.
Some stuff you can't make up!
to get some confidence in this country?
Investment, job growth, infrastructure, etc.,
I can't think of anything else.
Some stuff you can't make up!
The Republican does not want a Health care policy. The Republican does not want democracy. A televised meeting will force the Republican to make these things known. It will force the Republican to make it official that the Republican rejects health care and democracy.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
get anything until we turn around this culture of unaccountability and petty bickering in every class segment.
Let's see the Republican plan then. They don't have one.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco&fe...
Corruption favors the wealthy.
that will be the major news. "Obama gave a 'half-day bipartisan health-care session at the White House [that was to be] televised,' and nobody came." Ever see that old 'Nam era poster that said, "What if they give a war and nobody came?" The Republikans take everything, make it their own, and use it against us. This Mr. Nice Guy act has to stop. I hope it's an act.
by going on all the media outlets and lying about Obama's policies and their own.
Some stuff you can't make up!
..this bipartisan bs has got to stop. Its all so very noble but it ain't getting the laundry done. There's a Super Minority in the Senate and wait, just a mere nine months to go before the next election the results of which will pretty much shut the government down with more obstructionism and NO votes. I voted for the change but it was ALWAYS going to take BOLD acts. Just remember Mr. President, you don't want to end up with too little, too late.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
mass infrastructure projects and renewal, new industry's, revitalization all across the board. We can't keep going with 8000 people a week getting pinks slips.
that wipes out china and most of europe
then we need a new marshall plan
that will put us back on top for the next 50 years
then our grandkids can worry about it
At this point Too Little, Too Late sets the bar too high. Good Night Nurse. Lord keep me medicated.
Perhaps they'll listen then. A national strike by ALL who are unhappy. A good idea--actually a GREAT idea. Brilliant!
until the middle class is destroyed.
Some stuff you can't make up!
Should they just die? Move to Mexico? What?
but I think you might be wrong. If this weren't televised I'd say you were right but putting the Republicans on the spot on televison is brilliant. No more hiding behind closed doors. The Republicans will have to put up, shut up or explain why they won't do either.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Yep. The Republicans are toast. the bluff is called.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
no matter what happens, the media will work against any progressive idea, especially if a Dem supports it.
Some stuff you can't make up!
..its the follow-thru the VOTER/viewer has to do as in: how did the republican't vote? Too much time between trying to come up with a solution and voting for the solution that's already been hammered out over the last year.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
It is from a previous thread: I take it more than a few people here have never chaired a committee meeting of any sort. They usually feature at least one sourpuss who is always ready to torpedo anyone and everyone's ideas. The wrong tactic is to argue endlessly with such a person. The right way is to let them get all their angst out there and then put them on the spot. You invite them to put their solutions on the record. You won't ever persuade the Gloom Monster to your view but he will persuade others to yours.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
..not currently on the spot? They've been obstructing since day one and the country is swinging right. Has anyone noticed enough to write those gop senators and congressmen and ask, WTF, mate? I'd give them the chance but their act is getting boring and its hurting the country not just the 45000 people dying every year without health care. How do we go from 70% or so of American wanting a Public Option (or supporting the idea of it) to the dreck of a bill we currently have? I have chaired numerous committees and sometimes it takes a clear head and a head of steam to get things done even when being respectful of other points of view.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
The Republicans had a lot of lobbyists and astroturf organizations running interference for them and muddying the waters. I don't believe those groups have been invited to this show. The onus will be on the Republicans to offer solutions now instead of hot air.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
..so? When the spotlight is on the right, they'll say all the right things. When it comes time to vote, they vote against their own amendments and other than people like us on left wing blogs complaining about republican'ts, what is the rest of the country saying? (crickets) This has been going on for over a year; why isn't there more outrage and why isn't being published in the MSM? Why aren't the tea-partiers up in arms? (They have as much to lose as anybody else.) Why should we listen to people who's party drove this country into the ground? Do you think they really have a BETTER idea? Let's see if they recommend reversing the w tax cuts on the rich, support a public option, reverse the anti-trust status of the health care companies, anything of substance. I'm sure tort reform is a valid concern but its not the only one. The bottom line is AMERICA can do better and should. But with a bunch of WATB's constantly bitching about birth certificates and underwear bomber's getting mirandized, well, I'm not holding my breath. I did that last year waiting for change. Remember, IOKIYAR. Not really but it sure seems that way.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
is that I see only two possible reasons for attempting to blow the Republican's cover at this stage of the game. The first reason is that such exposure might actually make a couple of Republicans sufficiently nervous about their re-election chances to start playing ball. (Admittedly a long shot) More likely is that Obama is going to burn some serious political capital to get this done so first he's going to neutralize the oppositions arguments by showing they have none. I see a reconciliation coming and it isn't between the Republicans and the Democrats.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
YEP.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
..the republican'ts will come to the table/meeting if reconciliation is NOT used to pass the bill before Congress.
This may make the republican'ts look bad but "bad" to who? Us - Yes. anybody else - depends on if they find out about it. Who's going to tell the public at large - the MSM? OK, that'll work.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
because Obama made backroom deals many months ago ensuring the lobbyists that there would be no government-run plan of any import in exchange for their political 'support'. That is entirely the reason for the healthcare reform debacle - Obama sold out. You have the Democratic leadership acting behind the scenes in direct opposition to what his base wants, all the while pretending to be for what they want. So he has to be constantly saying one thing and doing another using bipartisanship as a cover, and confusing the heck out of everyone.
The appeal to Republicans to enter the discussion now is to kill reconciliation and any lingering prospects for a public option or expanded Medicare. The progressives are going to be set up to look like the obstructionists, *not* the Republicans, who are toe-to-toe with Obama on making the corporations happy, at the expense of the people.
the media lying about this? Or should I say letting people appearing on their shows lie unchallenged?
with the added fact that the followup will be another full-on media blitz against Obama after the repugs embarass themselves. I fully expect 'death panels' to re-emerge as a theme. pretty much every debunked idea the repugs had will resurface as if there is some validity to the false argument over any fact.
Some stuff you can't make up!
Make the GOP put up or shut up. That way they can't hide behind "death panels" and "medicare cuts", etc.
..of that so far.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
Obama and Rahm are trying to prove that some people will not learn that a stove is hot by touching it until their hands are completely burnt off... and then they will wonder what happened.
when every dismal consequence of the current health care system is examined. Let me guess: tort reform! Now the Republicans will have to explain how tort reform will end rescission or job lock or bend the cost curve more than minutely. They'd sound like a bunch of sitting parrots. Or just shut up. I expect the offer will be declined. The best thing Obama can do is renew it daily until everyone gets tired of the sound of silence.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
corporation that hurts you. And by "hurts you," I mean by exercising any of the old AND new rights they have, and do only as they please. Tort reform, the coup de grace.
who's gonna referee this time? (no more "mainstream news anchors")
How about Oprah and/or Jerry Springer? (should we let Rash Limpbaugh ask questions? ...(Olbermannn?)
500 on the spot "fact checkers" maybe? (since the media can't?)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
exporting chicken feet to China. Obama's constant spin about this and that is bullsh*t.
You idiot.
Not keep trying to talk sense to the crazy party of "Obama is a socialist-fascist dictator trying to kill you" while you get nothing done.
Democrats never pass up an opportunity to get on their knees for their re=Thug masters.
*
We are just stupid. Why do we believe that Obama is a good guy surrounded by a few bad guys who interrupt him doing the right thing. To believe that, is to believe that the bankers didn't mean to drive the economy off the cliff, that Alan Greenspan is really a good looking young man. Him and everyone in Washington are working for their own and their benefactors benefit (maybe there are a few who aren't). What we have is mafia crime syndicate acting as a gov't. And until we actually get off our bums, walk off our jobs, and march on washington, they will continue to loot and pillage this planet at the expense of the rest of us. You want to see Obama act in the best interest of the country, within a day of millions of people marching in front of the Lincoln Memorial you will see things getting done. Or, they will send out the military and then it will be a mess.
The Republicans reject democracy entirely. That's serious.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Why did that smart man surround himself with such cretins?
...is not who you think he is.
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
The smart man is confident that the Republicans will be recognized for what they are.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Lieberman, Axlerod, Obama and Arlen Spector as Republicans. (how about you?)
audit-prosecute-incarcerate
I recognize Obama as being different. I sure hope so anyway.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
..I think he's more like Carter - just tryin' to please everyone. How'd that work for him? Oh yeah, one term.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
They're wringing again.
I'm really sick of the crybaby handwringing every time someone suggests that the GOP should be allowed to speak. Look, everyone knows by now that the GOP isn't serious about reform and that they're a bunch of bedwetting crybabies. No one is going to adopt their stupid proposals that do nothing, so quit your damn crying about it. Eric Cantor (R-moron) has already taken the bait and said that only 100% capitulation to their way is acceptable, and that ain't happening with bills that have already passed each house.
I thought you were better than that. You're tuning out to be as useless as Hamsher.
but wrong in a very important way. "Look,everyone knows by now that the GOP isn't serious about reform" isn't true at all. I imagine everyone here knows it. The Republicans have created a myth that their solutions have been ignored. There are, moreover, a large number of people who've had the crap scared out of them by the shit the Republicans, the insurance companies and other vested interests have stirred up and those people have to be shown that the Republicans have no solutions. I'll stack Obama's communication skills against any sitting Republican.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
All I've been hearing is how letting them speak at all is playing into their hands. Bullcrap - that's only if their scaremongering goes unanswered like it did last August. Now that the GOP's charges are being slapped down and peed on in public, the handwringers still have a problem?
I don't give a crap about being rude, because the handwringers have ignored facts for their own pleasing narrative to feed to the rubes. Better to be rude than dishonest.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100208/ap_on_bi_...
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
push them out of the way or run them over but quit fooling with the retarded basterds!
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness!
How many times did George Bush or any Republican reach across the aisle?
Do you remember the Rove method of bipartisanship? Push critical votes before elections, then threaten any dissent with labels of traitor or weak on terror.
The Democratic Part is either weak or inhabited by conservatives or both. There is no party unity. At least not when it comes to meddling in the profits of big business. DC as a whole is weak on that, and it seems all they care about is the money that gets funneled back to them through the profits they enabled in the first place.
41 men and women are preventing much-needed reform and those who don't have the balls to stop them will forever be labeled as weak or in bed with them.
The weak Democrats will fold under the threat of being called weak. How meta is that? Is this a genetic anomaly like the fainting goats
Hasa Diga Eebowai
will revolt when they realize how they are being used by the Republikans, while probably being absolutely correct, is the same thing that will happen to all the politicians who are being bribed now by the corporations. There will come a time when they will no longer be needed by the corps, and will not be paid for their continuing to legislate for the benefit of their corporate bribers. The latest SCOTUS decision certainly put that ability in place. Then what will they do? Spend all the money they have received in bribes? I mean campaign contributions? Boy, is it going to get ugly. Short-sightedness. It's a killer.
..the republican'ts have put forth their answer to Obama:
lots of pre-conditions including not passing the current bill through reconciliation.
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
that Axlerod HAS to go. He, ummm, ahhh, ummm, is, ummm, ahhhhhh, really bad, ummmmmm, ahh, at speaking.
As opposed to being a butt kisser with never ending patience I sure hope that this is just shrewd politics and a long drawn out set up , that Obama and company will then pull the rug out and go right over the Repugs saying they tried to reason with the them but ...
.
So do I savannah43, but one can hope . It would be pretty cool .
Barack Obama is the most clueless dumbass SOB ever elected! This empty suit is going to go down as an absolute catastrophy for the american people.
Anybody stupid enough to hire Rahm and govern center right - after the largest liberal left mandate in history - is a moron! I don't care how well he reads a teleprompter, or how rediculous he makes the mentally challenged republicans look in a debate, he is a huge freaking zero as a leader.
Bush may have been so stupid he couldn't talk coherently on stage, but when the cameras wern't rolling behind the scenes, the evil little fascist fuck new how to get his minority agenda through.
Rush Limbaugh is what a smart person thinks a stupid bigot sounds like.
By the elections of 2010 they are going to be seen as the party of obstruction, which is all that they are.
Axlerod and Emanuel both work for Obama. It is Obama who insists on pointlessly appeasing the GOP by selling out the people who voted for him for.......nothing.
Wake up out there. Obama is too weak to lead. He has been in office over a year and has been an disaster.
His weakness has led to a HCR bill that is worse than doing nothing, no financial or banking reform but billions in banker bailouts, no policy change concerning Iraq, domestic spying and Guantanamo Bay, no jobs bill and squandering of an electoral mandate.
The Democrats need to find a primary challanger for this failure of a President.
If President Obama gives in to calls to become decidedly less forgiving of republican and "moderate" democratic obstinacy, we will witness the quick death of any chance for reasonable debate on just about any issue at any level of government in the United States of America. We will be reduced to gangs of shouting thugs where, God forbid, the loudest and most rabidly populist - yes, I'm talkin' 'bout Sarah Palin and her horde - just may win the day.
Paralysis (spelling)and in-action is what we have now, so quick action is better than standing around waiting for the opposition, who has shown you a year filled with No and doing NOTHING is all there about, wasting you majority.
Sarah is not as important as may think, she's a polarising figure and whom ever hitches their horse to her will ride over a cliff.
Ministerbruce
.
can be repeated this year, offer a hand if not taken quickly move on without them, make a show of moving on, no more repeating last year.
Stop this dragging out and arguing, slow walking Legislation, get it freakin' done.
If this year appears anything like last year failures, if there is not a 180 turn and charge for change, the mid terms will be brutal. Blue dogs are the first one to openly, stand in the way of Democrats majority, they should be run over and burned rubber on, they are the people in the God father movie, who come to you with a deal from your opposition.
Ministerbruce
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