Tonight's Healthcare Speech.....

dieseldiva · Sep 9, 2009

To be honest, I can hardly tolerate another speech from this ego-maniac but I'm going to try and hang tough with this one tonight as I think it's imperative that we all try to stay informed about something that will have such long lasting consequences in all of our lives.

I found this short article from Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard and I think Mr. Barnes is dead on with his questions and what the answers to these questions will tell us.

Barnes: Five Question for Obama

For what it's worth, I have five questions I'm looking for President Obama to answer in his health-care speech tonight. The idea is to determine if Obama is serious about moderate, preferably incremental reform the American public wants or is still seeking reform that delights Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and liberal interest groups.

1) Does he advocate real tort reform? Curbing lawsuit abuse by putting a cap on non-economic awards is the only way to reduce health care costs. And Obama has said cutting costs is his top priority.

2) Does he offer anything of significance to Republicans? Not just kind words, but actual concessions such as no tax increases as part of Obamacare or a requirement that those getting subsidized health insurance show proof of citizenship. I could go on and on. Saying he's not demanding a public insurance plan doesn't count. Democrats have already killed it.

3) Does he once again trot out the straw man that the only alternative to ObamaCare is "doing nothing"? Republicans do have alternatives. So do Democrats like Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon.

4) Does he demonize health providers he's made deals with -- insurers, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, hospitals? A president who says he wants a cool, rational discussion of health care issues would not use this tactic.

5) Does he repeat any of the untruths from his stump speeches? That abortion would not be covered at all in Obamacare or that no one could lose his current health insurance and so on.

Obama has a chance tonight to "reset" the health care debate. But he can only do this by changing -- by scaling back dramatically -- his plans for Obamacare. If his answers to my five questions are no, no, yes, yes, yes -- if we hear the same old Obama boilerplate -- we'll know he's learned nothing from this summer's discontent.

Posted by Fred Barnes on September 9, 2009 12:30 PM | Permalink

aristotle · Sep 9, 2009

Diva.... I understand the healthcare takeover attempt by Obama must be followed closely. However, I never watch or listen to Obama as a matter of principle. Yet, I do read from many sources everyday about the socialist agenda Obama is pushing. If Obama can be stopped on the trumped-up healthcare crisis, then most likely he can be stopped on many issues dear to his socialist heart. Obama truly is America's first openly socialist president.

The next 30 to 60 days are crucial to derailing the Democrats' power grab. Not only healthcare reform, but looming large is the Afghanistan war. Very soon, Obama will have to decide either to ramp up troop numbers in Afghanistan or continue the stalemate where US troops die every week for no discernible reason. Obviously, we aren't there to win. Just treading water to placate American prestige. Afghanistan may become Obama's Vietnam. Let's hope not.

Anyway... my mind, ears and heart are impenetrable to Obama's mush and I imagine many Americans take a similar position. Put me in the ranks of the hardcore unpersuadable. 8pm tonight will find me working for the betterment of my family as I strive to resolve that eternal conflict between distance and time... 500 miles by 6am.

Poorboy · Sep 9, 2009

I'm Not gonna Bother to watch it either cuz that boy has Nothing to Say That I want to hear, Except ofcourse----I Resign! But Everything that comes out of his Jaws are Nothing But Lies!!

Darmstadter · Sep 9, 2009

I'd rather hear it from him firsthand and come up with my own opinion. Trusting the political pundits seems like just a different flavor of Koolaid dontya know.

aristotle · Sep 9, 2009

Darmstadter said:
I'd rather hear it from him firsthand and come up with my own opinion. Trusting the political pundits seems like just a different flavor of Koolaid dontya know.

You haven't formed an opinion at this late date in the healthcare scare?

greg334 · Sep 9, 2009

The problem I see is who is he trying to convince? The people? The congress? Too much airtime is a good thing, let's see this happen when Sweeps week is on us and how many people will be telling the WH they are tired of seeing his face. Right now there is nothing going and and the importance of a joint session of congress being address for a sales pitch cheapens the event. If I was in charge of the republicans I would tell my members not to attend at all, it is not important enough.

I formed my opinion by knowing how the system works and it doesn't if the government is involved. No matter how you look at it, if Medicare and Medicaid worked then we would not have to fund it but we do.

They use these stupid examples on how efficient it is and so on but when you run adjust the numbers and make it compatible to the real world, then it is a screwed up situation that is truly out of control.

Reforms have nothing to do with the people who are "uninsured", it has to do with control and capping cost.

SO WHAT if people are uninsured, it does not mean that they can not get health care. I did it, I know others who have without insurance and they never got past the 9th grade.

People have to take responsibly for themselves, not have others do it. Once we go down this road, we will never ever return.

muttly · Sep 9, 2009

1. No
2. No
3.Yes
4.Yes
5.Yes
(answers to Fred Barnes' questions.)

Tennesseahawk · Sep 9, 2009

Funny he mentions politicians lying, among others. Usually, they refrain from using that word. Guess nothing is sacred... like presidents not criticizing former presidents.

davekc · Sep 9, 2009

I listened to it tonight and I heard nothing really different than we have heard before. Nancy wants the public option and it looks like he supports that.
I am still surprised he is beating the drum of having this public option, only to be followed by, "it won't cost the government a thing". Who is he kidding?
50 plus agencies to run this thing, and a "must have czar".
This plan is anything but being free.
Sounds like Amtrack.
The taxpayer is certainly going to be paying for it somewhere.

aristotle · Sep 9, 2009

Calling together a joint session of Congress for a primetime televised speech is usually reserved for war and matters of national emergency. Obama is about to experience his first major defeat as his grandiose dreams begin to slip away. The prospect of a humiliating political loss is just too much for this underwhelming man who has overplayed his hand.

chefdennis · Sep 9, 2009

Hey did you see this!?!?

Derek Jeter Ties Lou Gehrig For Yankees -- FanHouse

Oh and barrys speech was full of lies....

aristotle · Sep 9, 2009

Tennesseahawk said:
Funny he mentions politicians lying, among others. Usually, they refrain from using that word. Guess nothing is sacred... like presidents not criticizing former presidents.

Shouts of "You lie!!!" distracted Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress, courtesy of Congressman Joe Wilson(R-SC). Wilson later apologized for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. We would be better served to give Mr. Wilson a bullhorn.

dieseldiva · Sep 10, 2009

aristotle said:
Shouts of "You lie!!!" distracted Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress, courtesy of Congressman Joe Wilson(R-SC). Wilson later apologized for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. We would be better served to give Mr. Wilson a bullhorn.

Yes, it was the high point of the evening.......

VIDEO

dieseldiva · Sep 10, 2009

I started this thread with a list of Fred Barnes' questions so I guess I should at least provide a LINK to his response after the speech.

This quote pretty much sums it up in my mind....

There was one mild surprise. Instead of scaling back his plan to comply with public sentiment, Obama stuck to every promise and provision on which he's dwelled in more than two dozen speeches. There was nothing new, except the size of his audience.

From this, it's clear he's decided to push a partisan bill through Congress with Democratic votes alone. We could tell this from the pleased expression House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had on her face throughout the speech. She's belongs to the no-compromise school.

Surprised and yet not surprised that they (a. don't "get it" or (b. don't care. We're still stooopid and they're still smart. Oh and don't forget it's all Boooosh's fault.

I just hope and pray, as others here have said, that John Q can stay strong, keep fighting, and REMEMBER all of what's taken place here when they go to the polls in 2010.....and AGAIN in 2012.

Darmstadter · Sep 10, 2009

Disappointed (not surprised) to find nothing new in the speech.
The shout of "You Lie" was amusing, but uncalled for. Just as bad as Obama's ridicule of the Bush administration after taking office.

Poorboy · Sep 10, 2009

chefdennis said:
Hey did you see this!?!?

Derek Jeter Ties Lou Gehrig For Yankees -- FanHouse

Oh and barrys speech was full of lies....

Barry's Always been a Liar! Everytime he opens his Yap he's Lying! You would think that after all his Lies that His "Supporters" would get tired of him and start calling him on them in Public! But Like when I played Football back in High School the "Other" Name for a Supporter is called a "JockStrap" and it sure fits in His Case!

greg334 · Sep 10, 2009

I want to know why there is a need for any apology at all. Wilson's outburst was not just appropriate but needed in our congress.

We have too many spineless republicans who stood up there and applauded at times, who fall for the twisted decorum of congress and no one wants to FIGHT for the people. They should not have even attended out of protest of the one sidedness of the entire "debate". This is what the real problem is, republicans don't know how to fight.

I think respecting the president when addressing the congress is not about sitting there silent and applauding when the sign lights up, it has been trivialized by Obama and his need to do what he feels is needed while "communicating" to the wrong people about what they already want.

I feel the brits have one up on us when the MPs in the house of commons can rip into the prime minister in thier chambers while he is giving a speech or presenting a plan. It sometimes gets nasty and that was the way is used to be in congress, the opposition would openly oppose people, including the president.

Wilson should have stood up and ask the president to prove what he is saying is true, not just stop short of it.

Pilgrim · Sep 10, 2009

FREE GOVT. MEDICAL CARE IS ON ITS WAY!!

greg334 · Sep 10, 2009

I don't beleive this "speech" is going to make a difference, the problem is the people.

85% of the overall population is insured, taking the invaders out of the mix of estimated uninsured, that number goes up to more like 92% depending on which estimates you look at. Out of that remaining leaves you with 8% who are "uninsured" which is about right.

when you look at those numbers, a majority of them refuse health insurance through different means (Medicaid, parents, so on), then you have others who won't use any sort of insurance, then there are the people who are on Cobra (which the government claims as uninsured), then you have the people who don't want to pay anything at all then you have the people who can't can't afford it at all.

So the best option is to leave most of the system alone, harmonize the policies, allow the insurance companies more control, allow insurance between states and let people deal with it themselves.