President Obama can give a speech! He's good! As I've been advising him, he should use his bully pulpit more often. He didn't draw the line in the sand that I would have wanted. He didn't say, "I won't sign a bill unless it includes the public option." However, if Congress passed his plan, many folks in the country would be better off. How hard will the president fight to keep the public option in the bill as it passes through the Congressional process? Senior White House advisor, David Axelrod, says the president will fight for it. We shall see.
I'm amazed that we sat back so long and endured abuse by the health insurance companies without screaming bloody murder. What's wrong with us?
What about that clown Joe ("It's a lie!") Wilson (R-SC)? A real class act, that one.
Mimi, I thought it was a really good speech. I especially liked the way he brought in the Republican friends of Ted Kennedy. Now the anxious waiting begins to see how it all ends up.
ReplyDeleteI very much disliked Obama's playing the Republicans and the Democratic "Left" as two extremes between which he was steering. He did this several times during the course of the speech.
ReplyDelete"It's worth noting that a strong majority of Americans still favor a public insurance option of the sort I've proposed tonight. But its impact shouldn't be exaggerated - by the left, the right, or the media. It is only one part of my plan, and should not be used as a handy excuse for the usual Washington ideological battles. To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it. The public option is only a means to that end - and we should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal. And to my Republican friends, I say that rather than making wild claims about a government takeover of health care, we should work together to address any legitimate concerns you may have."
"To my progressive friends" indeed. Patronizing prick! Is everything fueled by his need to be loved by the greatest number? Or by a perceived "need" to keep the Ship of State on a "centrist" even keel? Too much Rowan Williams and too little Franklin (or Teddy) Roosevelt.
This sorry mess underlines what a tragedy it was that Howard Dean was pushed out of the 2004 primaries. His continuing performance since then, as party chairman and an architect of Democratic success in 2006 & 2008, and as an honest, outspoken independent commentator this past year, shows what an excellent president he might have made.
Amelia, Obama has the gift of making a good speech. He heeded the advice in my letter to tell the stories of people who are hurting and even dying unnecessarily in the present health care system.
ReplyDeleteLapin, he was hard on progressives, and he made it seem that the crazies on the left and the crazies on the right balance each other out, which is not the case. An example is Mary Landrieu's town hall meeting. I was the most outspoken of those on the side of health care reform, the craziest, one might say, and I was tame compared to the folks on the other side.
Obama takes progressives for granted, and he if he takes that attitude too far, they will abandon him for the Green Party or just stay home in 2012.
Dennis Kucinich was my man. He is still my man, but he'll never have a chance.
Mimi,
ReplyDeleteDid you see this -- Kucinich talking about the speech?
Allen
Thanks, Allen. I posted the video. Dennis is right.
ReplyDelete