Speaker Nancy Pelosi will join C&L for a Live Chat scheduled at 10:30 PST am/1:30 EST pm today
By John Amato Wednesday Jul 15, 2009 4:30am
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to do a live chat with us today at 10:30 PST/1:30 EST. The topic will about the New Health Care Reform Bill they've just released. Henry Waxman says it'll be worked out in the House in the next few weeks and in Congress by the end of the year.
It's receiving very good marks so far. Please check out Ezra Klein's post also on the Health-Care Reform Bill so you'll have a better idea about what we'll be chatting about. I'll have more reactions to the bill when we begin the chat. We'll see you later.
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...from the progressives here who bought into the Fox propaganda B.S.
of duty, and the nefarious congressional leadership skills from both she and Reid.
Items, which IMHO are orders of magnitude graver than a couple of jackasses in a weblog spouting FOX's talking points.
Co-conspirator to war crimes?(see Johnny Thief below) Nope.
Ask her if she plans on visiting the hague as an accomplice & accessory to war crimes.
Dude, hasn't your claim been disproved?
Hooray
The blood sucking health insurance companies are bailed out, completely.
Bailout nation rejoice!
Having Pelosi here on such short notice is a complete sham. This bill is 1018 pages, I have gotten half through putting bookmarks on the titles and subtitles. Never mind a comprehensive study.
My question is: when the insurance companies have an overhead of 20% and Medicare has an overhead of 3%, why are we not doing single payer in the interest of cost containment.
The answer I see is: MORE CRONY CAPITALISM
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On Wendell Potter
Amy Goodman here
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As for progressives buying into Fox propaganda, where?
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As for the plan getting good reviews, not in my inbox.
Making the Democrats(specifically Pelosi) equally culpable to indirectly absolve themselves of some responsibility of war crimes is a falsehood pimped by Fox and repeated by some commentors at this site.
Those whom I call far right would call me far left. Left of Lenin.
Fox clearly acts as a mouthpiece for the far right.
I have not heard of them using terms like 'war crimes'. As I view it they do not even acknowledge such a concept. Instead they talk about 'treason'.
They have applied that term to Pelosi regularly.
This is a consistent with a Nationalist mindset.
I on the other hand view our government as State Capitalist.
Not the capitalism of your mom and pop enterprise down on the corner, if any have survived at all near you.
The Capitalism of the Multi National Globalization Corporation which through the World Trade Organization treaties make national sovereignty mute.
That is the Capitalism that controls our government.
The great irony of Fox news propaganda is that while it promotes a Nationalist agenda, because that is what the nitwits will relate to, the hidden agenda is of the globalization of trade and capital to greater glory of the Capitalist Aristocrats.
The right wing fringe breaks away and uses phrases like New World Order. Sometimes they will state a sentence that sounds coherent. They might even include the Military Industrial Complex.
It is their foundation that is the problem. They think that it is a World Government that is being promoted, sometimes in the form of the United Nations.
It is not. Government is the shadow that big business casts on society (Thomas Dewey).
American empire, globalization, the military industrial complex are all components of the same equation.
Mostly all I've heard so far is how unfair the tax increases, to pay for this, will be to the wealthy. But I guess that was to be expected since the majority of people are not "the wealthy". I'm sure the tea baggers will be firing up again real soon. You know, the fu*king ones who will benefit from the plan.
.."teh Wealthy"?
.
I WANT
CONGRESS
CARE !
.
At least she's coming. That's something.
Will there be Bush no-impeachment questions? Or can you ask her about that while you have her attention?
"At least she's coming. That's something"
We should be so honored she graced us with an appearance we should not ask any tough questions. Then go back to the usual bitching about health care, impeachment, etc... later.
What are you going to do after your electorate votes you out of office because you took "impeachment off the table"?
Sorry to be so cold with you Madam Speaker but its about time the Democrats ACT up on the previous administration's crimes. We are and have been before a nation of laws; we aren't that any longer.
... don't ask me what the people in SF are thinking, but they will re-elect her over and over again.
... any serious challengers. With all due respect to Cindy Sheehan, her entire platform was 'U.S. Out of Iraq,' and she never escaped the 'liberal loony' framing of her opponents or the media.
(Of course, having supporters at a rally waving a banner that read, "Five Years To Many!" doesn't help.)
She has seniority and power and the people in her district don't want to get stuck with some Freshman nobody who will be assigned to the "Libraries and Sewers Committee".
She only has that seniority because people kept on re-electing her over and over. Which is the problem with voting for the least of two evils, given that the choice tends to be between the bloody awful republican candidate d'jour and Mrs. Pelosi.
Frankly, at this point... it seems her constituents would get more benefits from a freshman nobody stuck with the sewers committee than from this ineffective socialite.
While I don't necessarily agree with the approach Speaker Pelosi has taken on certain issues (impeachment/prosecution of Bush/Cheney), I appreciate her taking time out of her day to speak to the C&L crowd.
I don't care much about her politics, I am a liberal, but I respect the fact that she is willing to take questions from people.
While she's in "the green room" you could give her some comics to read.
http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2009/07/14/t...
I imagine this conversation will be limited to health care or at least it probably should be. Let's be nice and not embarrass John by being our usual selves. :)
No health care, soaring inherited deficits made worse by having to spend more money to correct it, 2 failed expensive wars, record unemployment, a global recession and a prior administration who has gotten off the hook for a slew of crimes, and we should be nice and not embarrass ourselves? Those in power are the ones who should be embarrassed and cowering to us, not the other way round.
... is how they're asked.
*laying my egg shells on the floor*
I guess I have to watch how I ask wanting the same tax payer funded health care I fund for Nancy Pelosi and every other US congressperson, including 3 heart bypass operations for Dick Cheney, for myself.
for a homer!!:
sixandseveneights says, "I guess I have to watch how I ask wanting the same tax payer funded health care I fund for Nancy Pelosi and every other US congressperson for myself."
That is the ultimate question to ask. Please do it.
Say what you mean
Mean what you say
Just don't say it mean
We are some seriously pissed off progressives, she should have an inkling of what she's in for...or we could give her a clue.
I know what you mean. If everybody here came down on her (asked her the questions we'd REALLY like to ask) the entire thread would just be her and John talking and the rest would be "deleted by Site Monitor". Ha!!
But, seriously folks, I just read the synopsis of what the House is proposing and several questions jumped out at me that I have a SERIOUS problem with:
1.) Oral care is only covered for kids. Nothing about true preventive care for adults since many internal disease processes begin in the mouth. If a person has gum disease and bleeding gums, every bacteria in their mouth can migrate quickly to the heart for instance, and cause pericarditis. The mouth is actually a more important body part than the other end....the colon. (The colon is obviously important...how many colonoscopies have been "covered" by private insurance??) People do get "mouth cancer" etc. If you can't chew your food because your teeth are rotted then you will have poor health and be in a poor nutritive state. Which is why it's obvious that doctors/dentists don't seem to get much input into the process. Just the for-profit insurance companies. Dentistry is a big nut to crack and they just don't want to pay for it. I'm calling bullshit on the fact that dental, as usual, isn't included in "health" care. Eye care as well! A simple eye exam discovered malignant melanoma in a 35 y/o friend of ours and after chemo and radiation he was dead in a year leaving a wife and two children!
My point here is that REGARDLESS of what "plan" one has, the ENTIRE BODY should be covered!!!
2.) There is still a PENALTY for those who choose not to buy insurance. What if one has cash and hates the insurance companies and just wants to pay as they go? They STILL get fined??! I call bullshit on that as well. This is the tipping point in this whole process that makes my blood boil...and makes me wonder why "Single Payer" has been kept off the table?
3.) The so-called "Public Option" will be financed strictly by "premiums". No tax dollar contributions. The Congress enjoys their health care insurance that is paid for by our tax dollars. Why can't OUR health care be paid for by our own tax dollars?!! The way I see it, we've ALREADY paid for the health care, we're just getting Pentagon missile shows in Vegas and illegal wars, death, mayhem and destruction for our tax "investments" instead of the health care we NEED!
CUT THE PENTAGON BUDGET AND GIVE US SINGLE PAYER AND FORGEDABOUT ALL THIS BANDAID/PENALTIES/NO ORAL CARE FOR ADULTS WHILE CONTINUING TO PROP UP THE FOR-PROFIT CORPORATE HEALTH CARE COMPANIES B.S.!!!
Abbybwood, R.N. (Ohio, Florida, California and New York)
PoP. I hear ya, but "our usual selves" is why I keep coming here!!
I'll bring the impeachment table!
Will this table do?:
http://www.pioneeris.net/oldredbarn/images/Fu...
There's the articles of impeachment, hanging from the knob on the left. Somebody inform Nancy we found it!
Just a flick of the wrist and those articles of impeachment would be right on that ol' table, huh?
It wasn't completely off the table. Just needed someone with a little balls to flip it up top.
http://www.babyearth.com/sorelle-nicki-pine-c...
When John has guests here for a live chat, the questions pop up so fast that I usually can't keep up or add my own. Often I come back later and read all the questions and answers.
I agree with Shad..., it really does come down to how the questions are asked. I know there is frustration but I just think we need to show respect for the Speaker of the House.
Now, I'll hide over here behind this door in case any rotten tomatoes come flying my way.
We do need to ask her our questions respectfully.
(Here comes the but......).....
But, we must also realize that she is a PUBLIC SERVANT who is supposed to be working for the common man, not corporate America.
We are the primary tax payers and all we are asking is that we receive the same benefits for our taxes that she and the rest of Congress enjoy. If they receive full health care benefits as our SERVANTS, then certainly we should be receiving the exact same care and coverage they do.
And no need to hide behind the door.
Nany, nany home free!!! Come out Patricia where ever you are!!!
I completely understand what you are saying (and here comes the but) but if we come off all mean and angry, we won't be taken as seriously as if we are respectful. Okay I'll hop down off the soap box and keep my head low the rest of the day.
people can be courteous and polite, and still ask tough questions. She is after all, our servant... not the other way around. so it is ironic that it is us who have to fight for validation from our elected officials.
Don't keep your head low, look up and be proud, period. Never be intimidated or forced to show faux deference for an elected official. Mrs. Pelosi works for us, and she needs to be held accountable. So if anyone should be nervous or anxious, it should be her not you.
In a working democracy, it should not be an honor to get to interact with an elected official, it should be the bare minimum. That being said, people need to be in their best behavior, because things online can escalate rather quickly, mostly due to the anonymous format/approach which it is a tad impersonal.
What I am trying to say is, don't hide and don't be afraid of asking questions. ;-)
I'm not afraid of Pelosi or afraid to ask questions, I'm afraid of getting hit with rotten tomatoes being thrown by commenters here because I suggested we be respectful to any guest here, no matter who it is. I detest my neighbor across the street, but I am always respectful to him. Being disrespectful makes me look bad, and does nothing to him.
For me respect and politeness are two very different things. I have no problem being polite to Mrs. Pelosi, even though I have absolutely no respect for her.
But I know what you mean, I don't think there will be any significant problems given that most posts will be moderated. No worries...
..and wasn't told by the CIA in the briefings? Surely that topic will surface.
Why is my first urge-reaction to want to chain smoke?
Though I won't be here for it (fortunately, I've still got a job...), and it's probably just as well. Others here are far more capable than I, of asking pertinent questions with a respectable measure of decorum.
(Please refrain from drinking during the event. Code Pink T-shirts are permitted, however...)
Best of luck C&Lers and thanks in advance to Ms Pelosi.
Wow lucky you
(Kidding).
We could do naked commenting. Just a suggestion.
no summer for us!!
Here it is the middle of July and it went down to 45 degrees last night!! High today of 65!!
Naked commenting is NOT an option here!
... here in the SF Bay Area. 94 degrees in the late afternoon up in the North Bay. (Unfortunately, since I work the 4 AM shift, I was trying to sleep in that kind of heat. I'd much rather be hot and sweaty in bed in some more pleasurable manner, if you take my meaning.)
It's 90 on my patio in the shade. Naked is almost mandatory here.
1. Given that addressing health care for all Americans, restoring the economy, and other challenges facing Congress are, to some extent, addressing the oversights and/or failures of the Bush Administration, does it make sense for Congress to soft-pedal seeking accountability (and prosecution, if supported by the facts) of former President Bush, former Vice-President Cheney, and other Bush Administration officials?
2. If such prosecution, above, is of low priority, what kind of message does this send to our international partners, including those nations with whom we seek diplomatic answers to pressing issues?
3. It seems clear that, in withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocols, setting aside arms control talks, and asserting that the international criminal court would have no jurisdiction over our military personnel, that the groundwork was being laid for extensive breaches of international law. Do you feel that this places the Obama Administration at a serious disadvantage when it comes to diplomatic and trade relations? If there is no serious effort to bring past officials to account, what do you see as a reasonable approach to restoring/improving our standing/leadership role on the global stage?
As in perceived "standard-of-living" as measured in things like shopping mall sales and vehicle miles driven?
As in not being regarded as a stable economic partner and/or trustworthy broker for peace, as opposed to a regime packed with mealy-mouthed warmongers and torturers.
4. Given that Congress is about to undertake hate crimes legislation, and that the Department of Homeland Security has correctly assessed the temperment and dangers posed by right-wing extremist elements within our own country, would you be opposed to a legislative solution to curtail the media environment in which these elements seems to thrive?
So it wouldn't be cool for me to ask her what is her favorite color and how awesome does it feel to stand up there in front of the whole house of representatives and bang the gavel?
Okay, I'll go think up some more.
I'm just being a wordy bastard.
Where do you buy all those cool necklaces??
Or, Who does your hair?
What's President Obama really like?
Can you dish on some of the other representatives?
Does Rep Boehner look as orange in person as he does on teevee?
Do I look fat when I'm nekkid?
Would you wear a Speedo(tm) to the beach?
... does Rep. Boehner look fat when he's wearing an orange Speedo on the beach?
If you were bird, what kind would you be?
Pick one. Beatles or Stones?
HEAVY.
A Tweety Matthews softball?
Q. Why don't you open an investigation into Goldman Sachs's behavior in the area of securities fraud, insider trading, and misuse of government funds?
Why stop with Goldman?
then work down.
Answer me these questions three:
Do you realize you have the majority in both houses, and a President in the White House?
When will the Democrats start acting like a party with a majority in both houses, and a President in the White House?
When can we be done with "bipartisanship" and start enacting progressive legislation?
before it even started LOL . .
... bipartisanship for $100, Alex.
well played sir, well played...
I'll leave room for others to crawl over each other to ask questions for which Pelosi will give pat answers and then go back to her ivory tower and boast that she is in touch with the masses. Nothing will change. A good question to ask her is "Are you aware that I am never going to vote for you again?"
Ipod?
That's the spirit!
the focus is on health care, but please ask all your questions. I'm interested in the new commission myself..
Otherwise, they'll be pretty much as I stated above (except for the one about John Boehner on the beach, I think we can let that one pass).
Wow. That IS BIG NEWS.
I will be listening mostly because I don't want the site to crash.
It will be more expensive than than private ins because it will accept all people with out a pre-condition clause. Everyone with an expensive disease/condition that can't get private coverage will rush to the public option. I vote for SINGLE PAYER!
bastards who are victims but it's not your responsibility.
This is a wonderful opportunity to FINALLY BE HEARD OFFICIALLY.
Crooks and Liars has made it to the big time.
Please be polite and to the point and make sure the SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE feels not only that we ARE on her side (as compares to the side of the republicans - are you kidding?).
We need to treat her with dignity and respect. Please.
If we don't we will loose credibility as a grass roots group.
to let her know what I really think.
If she watched Bill Moyers on Friday night when he interviewed Wendell Potter, ex insurance executive at CIGNA? The show is a MUST SEE and it's free and available on the net at PBS Moyers Journal anytime.
Also there's a good write up by Amy Goodman on Wendell Potter too.
it's here:
These items show clearly how it is the our government has been stolen from us by the big corporations, who will never let loose and will fight us all the way. We need our country back. We need to get THIS MESSAGE to Congress.
Speaker Pelosi
I know how much women's rights mean to you and thank you for all your support in that arena.
In light of that what is the status of the various components of reproductive health care in the bill?
Is contraception included, I gather it is, but how is it included? Is it part of the regular commission?
And abortion coverage. As you know, at present 90% of all private insurance includes abortion coverage from early abortion to the heartbreaking cases of anencephaly and other anomalies. This of course would be a huge loss of rights that women have now...and make abortion unavailable to untold numbers of women.
Is abortion part of the commission? Or is it separated under the HHS secreatary, which leaves women's rights to the next anti choice administration?
Do you know what the HELP committee draft says?
Thank you again
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