If Republicans would apply the same bipartisan fetishes that the media demands of the Democratic party, I might change my mind, but you know that will never happen, so I hope we never see another "bipartisan" summit again on anything. If the GOP gets control again -- and that's very possible -- they will lead with a sledgehammer. All Democratic politicians will be called obstructionists and the party with no ideas by the Villagers if they stand in their way. That's a given.
The Village was happy to see that it was a mostly civil event -- except for Chris Cilliza, who thought that calling out Republican lies was a "loser."
The Politico called it a draw. A draw?
And why is Dan Gerstein their go-to man? It would have been nice if the Dems had pressed the Republicans on most of their falsehoods. And maybe force Paul Ryan to explain how under Republicans, they would do away with preexisting conditions that so debilitate Americans from getting or changing their health insurance. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi did a good job, but it should have been a constant theme for them throughout the summit. Otherwise you get articles like this Politico one. Is a lie a lie if it's told politely?
Democrats have been far too reliant on our president's intelligence and speaking skills to magically transform the political dynamic. His mastery of the details of the job is impressive and after our last goofball it's a relief. But Obama's best moments yesterday were when he challenged Republicans on their lofty assumptions about what people can afford --- he repeatedly asked these Representatives and senators to imagine what it's like to met these expenses if you make 40k a year. It was a nice populist moment for the president, speaking on behalf of the average folks and it put the Republicans off balance.
Certainly debating is part of the job, and he's good at it. But I suspect that what people need from the president and the Democrats right now is a sense that they understand the urgency of their problems, not the details of how they're going to fix them. I recall Clinton relating a story during his "laser beam" interview right after he was elected that I always thought was clever. He said he'd understood that he had to act quickly when he saw a man standing beside the road with a sign that said "For god's sake just do something." That's effective stuff.
I hope that this summit is soon forgotten and they move to the next phase quickly. And I also hope the Democrats let go of the idea that this is a good way to deal with the Republicans. They are a lot slicker than the White House gives them credit for and it's never a good idea to give them a forum in which to appear as if they are operating in good faith. They are not, and it does the country no good to help them pretend otherwise.
There are plenty of post-summit wrap-ups all over the Internet, so have at it, but the White House needs to pass health care after this latest dog-and-pony show.
I agree with you John, these "summits" are a waste of time. They are little more than forums for the GOP to spew their rigid and dysfunctional trash. Their media enablers will never call them out and continue to boast of the GOP's efficacy and importance so, really, President Obama---no more of this nonsense.
"We will find fulfillment not in the goods that we have, but in the good we can do for each other."
Robert F. Kennedy
Rather, it did show that any future wankfests would be totally useless. We saw what should be a typical eight-hour work day for our taxpayer-paid pols in (in)action, live on TV, and we should be disgusted that we pay most of these fucks at all. I'd rather they go back to watching kiddie porn or whatever constructive thing they do during the week. I need to spend my time hunting for a job, a place to live, and some healtcare.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
who does not look to the needs of the people but to their idiot partisanship...Call them on their intractability and anti- American behavior!1.800.828.0498
This will shed some light on the mental agility of the repubs or total lack thereof:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/26/liberals...
I don't understand why Obama has dithered so long on bipartisanship. Like Colbert pointed out, if the Republicans are saying that Obama is a Marxist socialist radical, any compromise with a person so identified would be political suicide. So they can't compromise with Obama, or the Dems in general.
... support, We the People should be very afraid. Let's face it, both sides can't be pleased.
I watched the first hour of the "summit", and Lamar Alexander just about made me throw up. Seemed that he was saying that nothing "the majority" wants should come to pass. That could only mean he thinks his minority should do all the deciding. How much sense does THAT make? What planet are these Repugs from? Have they all gone crazy?
At least with the weasely and dishonest stuff. I just got yelled at by a med student because ethics are important to me, like most liberals, I guess. I did not know that was wrong. See? Dumb as a box of rocks. I am so ashamed.
because both political parties are owned by and afraid of big Pharam and the insurance industry.
Both parties are afraid of the public option.
So both bloviate, say it is or is not good theatre, and we get noplace.
Exactly John , absolutely . Other than the first one these summits are an exercise in futility , if Obama hasn't figured that out by now he never will . At this point Obama is just giving the Repugs a platform to propagate more lies and disinformation and come off like they are sincere and legitimate , it's plain as day to us but the majority of the public , if they watch this stuff at all , are not sophisticated enough to recognize the Repug tactics .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
let's see... Obama has sacrificed so many things to the altar of bipartisanship... and it's netted him zero right wing votes, and lost him many of the 'retarded left of the left' as his chief of staph so eloquently puts it...
Medicare for All.
Corruption favors the wealthy.
right on dude
A tête-à-tête we're having at the Dallas Morning Nudes:
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
San Antonio had a couple of places that you could see that in the AM, but mostly they were leftovers from the night before who couldn't get rides home, I think.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
How else to explain Obama’s reluctance to pass any meaningful reform other than they are also owned by the CORPORATIONS. The change of party at election time is a sham with both parties in collusion playing out the good cop, bad cop scenario for the masses.
I go back and forth but you may be right , if there is no end to Obama's rope and soon , we'll have our answer.
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
'If the GOP gets control again -- and that's very possible -- they will lead with a sledgehammer.'
I think it will be more like scorched earth. The GOP has already proven they have completely lost their collective minds and don't really care as to the consequences as long as the Obama Presidency suffers. I am convinced that there will be no meaningful or even workable HCR at this point. Not as long as this country's wealth stays in the controlling hands of the Federal Reserve and umbrella corporations...the elite, the few. It simply won't happen. It isn't good for business and certainly not profits. Besides, if people had access to health care, they wouldn't die as quickly, thus increasing the surplus population. Someone once said that when the Government becomes obsessed with this or that and makes that obsession a consensus among the population...it's usually a distraction from a much bigger issue. If that is the case, what are we being distracted from?
Government + the Federal Reserve = organized crime
My guesses:
1) Complete and total meltdown of our financial system is looming.
2) Looking for the opportunity to blow the sh*t out of Iran.
Just guesses.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
When the Repugs get full control and power again , put it this way , I don't think we've seen anything yet , Bush / Cheney will probably seem like the good old days . But have no fear , we have the twin hammers , Obama and Reid . Man , this is not looking good is it ?
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
More like a squeegee and a feather-duster.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
As an American Citizen finishing the final chapter of my life, I must say that the performance of our sElected officials deserves the ruby red raspberry award for leading us over a cliff. Every song and dance (and kitchen sink) was thrown to see if anything would stick... and nothing did. The shadows of our ancestors stood around that room watching with us in horror and disgust... for over eight hours you could cut the hypocrisy and corruption with a knife. Truly an outrageous demonstration of elitism, deception, and umms and ahhhs. Truth could hardly be found anywhere. It all stunk to high heaven. There has got to be intelligent life on this planet somewhere... certainly not in that room. It has taken us decades to dig ourselves into this ditch of neglect and greed. Medicare for all is the solution, yet that option is dismissed out of hand as not viable. Liars all. So be it. There will be such a purge of incumbents that it will become perfectly clear: Fascism has no place in America. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eedLQ006ciM
Earlier today happened to watch Stones Wall Street and was thinking Gordon Gekko didn't seem to bad in comparison to the mofos of this era. At least he really beleived in the power of the free market not like these a-holes who talk the talk but went crying to big gov't to bail them out when they couldn't walk the walk. Obama has done little (as yet) to curb any repetition. Also agree with above that if this bunch of Pukes gets back into power it will be "Do you miss me yet" for sure.
Why don't we start a public enemy's deck of cards, several decks actually. We could put the faces of all these republican scum on one side and on the other a list of all the crimes they have commited, a good sampling of the lies and hypocracy, and their address. Then we can hope some nut cases get them and in short time our problem could be taken care of.
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness, it has almost totally destroied our economy, our morals, and the sprituality of America!
House, Senate, and Executive/agencies.
Bring it on!
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
For one, they were able to shoot down the talking points and for two, you would have to be incoherent not to see the GOP cares nothing about insuring the uninsured. Then of course there was the Pelosi/Bohner smack-down on federally funded abortions. And Obama agreeing with McCains point on Florida, left the doddering old fool slack jawed, dentures clacking like castanets.
Obama is killing the Democratic Party by letting this HCR debate go on forever. He has risked no capital of his own, but he has destroyed the party by refusing to get them to wrap it up and go on to something else. If the thugs get into power, which seems more and more likely, they will box him in for the rest of his presidency...no legislation, no judicial appointments, fights over foreign policy, and the invariable congressional investigations into bullshit items that will make all our lives miserable. He looks so damned WEAK. Accomplish something, wimp!
Candideinnc
To you and the teabaggers he looks weak.
And look at any poll. The same thing happened to Clinton his first term. It is a recipe for disaster. The inaction of Obama makes him not only look weak, but impotent.
Candideinnc
until somebody, anybody in that room actually FIGHTS for Single Payer.
NOBODY 2012
Hear, hear, Johnny Bravo!
How it is that the rethugs are bested rhetorically and made fools of by Democrats each and every time they open their mouths, and are STILL able to be a major pain in the ass?
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