I don't know about you, but I see a president working his butt off.

[Drunken Irishman]

I see a president who entered office a bit over six months ago pushing, by himself, the most comprehensive healthcare plan in this country's history. I see a president going up against not only the Republicans and insurance industry and the healthcare industry and the media, but his own damn party. I see a president pretty much doing this alone through press conferences, speeches and town halls. I see a president who could have pushed off healthcare reform for a year or two or three to save his political ass, but decided to go ahead anyway. I see a president who is working his butt off for the American people and yet every powerful entity out there is working against him.

But he doesn't give up. He continues, pushing his plan and forcing the dialogue.

If Pres. Obama fails, it won't be for a lack of trying. If he fails, you can put full blame at the feet of the Democrats because it's them who should be out there fighting with him.

But they're not.

They're cowering in the shadows and forcing him to do it solo. Well it's no wonder he's struggling right now, because his supposed allies left him at the beaches of Normandy to fend off the Axis troops alone.

[CountAllVotes]

1. I have every confidence in the President

I would not have voted for him if I didn't think he could do the job. And that is what he is doing - THE JOB!

:kick: recommend !

[Historic NY]

49. Absolutely........

people want miracles I want real results.

[ZombieHorde]

2. Um, I don't know about you,

but I see a President who is skinny enough and does not need to work on his butt. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

If Pres. Obama fails, it won't be for a lack of trying. If he fails, you can put full blame at the feet of the Democrats because it's them who should be out there fighting with him.

Depends on the nature of the fail. If the health care bill does not have a decent public option, and President Obama signs it, as opposed to vetoing it, then much of the blame will be on Obama as well as the bill creators.

They're cowering in the shadows and forcing him to do it solo. Well it's no wonder he's struggling right now, because his supposed allies left him at the beaches of Normandy to fend off the Axis troops alone.

I don't think many have claimed the job of POTUS to be an easy one.






p.s. I lied, I am not sorry and I could have resisted.

[Drunken Irishman]

9. I hope he does veto the hell out of a bill that doesn't have a public option.

And all signs point to him doing just that.

If he does that, then put the blame on the Democrats in Congress and force them to defend this shit.

But right now, Obama is getting the brunt of the crap and I think it's shit. It's shit because this guy has done far more than any Democrat in Congress right now could hope to do when it comes to advancing healthcare reform.

[ZombieHorde]

14. I believe he has stated that he would veto any health bill which excludes a public option

and I have no reason to disbelieve him, but if he didn't veto such a bill, then the blame would be on him as well.

If he does that, then put the blame on the Democrats in Congress and force them to defend this shit.

I agree.

[Engineer4Obama]

19. He already pretty much promised to

He said in his radio address a few weeks ago that any bill that gets to his desk "must have a public option to keep down price and keep insurance companies honest".

[bluescribbler]

96. I take exception

You wrote: this guy has done far more than any Democrat in Congress right now could hope to do when it comes to advancing health care reform.

No person who ever served in the US Government has done more than Sen. Kennedy.

[trayfoot]

75. I wholeheartedly agree!!!

President Obama has done far more work in 6 months than bush did in 8 years!

[mzmolly]

3. Absolutely! Recommend this sucka peeps!

;)

[BlooInBloo]

7. "sucka peeps"??? What is this - basketball court meets internet?

:rofl:

[mzmolly]

13. LOL

More like mid-western housewife meets too many tweens as of late! ;)

[BlooInBloo]

17. hahaha!

[HopeOverFear]

4. Right on Irishman

tell it

[BlooInBloo]

5. After what I've seen, if we don't get a decent plan, I'm not blaming Obama...

I might have a few weeks ago, but not any more.

[MADem]

6. I agree with you. He's speaking plainly and forcefully, too. If the GOP don't want to understand

what he is saying, it's on THEM.

[bdamomma]

53. Congress needs to go, damn, just pass the bill.

[Thrill]

8. No Democrats out there fighting with him. Its just like the Gitmo thing

The way its seen through the media is Obama is trying to do something that Democrats and Republicans are against.

And the public support drops. We saw it with the Gitmo closing. All of a sudden the majority of people don't want it closed. And then the Democrats joining the Republicans to vote against giving the money to close it.

[babylonsister]

10. You are so right-recommend! nt

[Sebass1271]

11. Thank you. My heart breaks for him. He is really working his

butt off all by himself asking us every day to support him and what do we do? nothing! we don't contat our local reps, we dont contact baucus, reid or the blue dogs who are halting his plans.
We don't do shit!. He is SOLO and he is still trying!.

CAn we do something? Now that congress is going back to their constituents for month, can we contact them once they are in our communities? If they have planned a rally or a town hall, can we go and speak out in favor of the president and what he is doing?

We should not let the right wing wackos do this. We should be doing this too!.

Question: Where can we check out our congressmen local schedule?

[BlooInBloo]

21. "breaks"

[Sebass1271]

26. thanks.

fixed.

[Jennicut]

12. Obama is doing what he can...can't help it if we have tons of Conservadems in the Senate

[uponit7771]

16. Yeap, I pray they are exposed for the scum they are

[Jennicut]

24. I've got Joe Loserman as my Senator...but isn't he an independent?

Anyway, they are pure scum. I guess I can understand somewhat that that is as far left as we can elect in some red states. Better then a Rethug but it still pisses me off.

[Drunken Irishman]

27. My congressman, Jim Matheson, might as well run as a Republican.

We have no Democratic senators, but our lone congressman is so far to the right, it's ridiculous.

[Sebass1271]

29. have you written to them? have they heard from you?

will they hold any town hall meetings now that they will be going home to "listen" to the constituents? Will you go and speak up and support our president if they do?

Please do!!! Don't let them only hear from rigth wingers, these ppl shoul hear from us as well!!

[Drunken Irishman]

35. I'm going to call him...

And then write. I doubt he'll hold any public forums.

He's an asshole. :(

[Sebass1271]

36. I am sorry to hear that. and he is a "d" ? ..

I will be contacting my senators and congresmen as well next week. Will be checking if they will hold public forums, if they will, i am going.They need to hear from me.

[Drunken Irishman]

39. Yes.

Jim Matheson comes from a long line of Democrats. His father was our last Democratic governor. His brother ran for governor here as a Democrat.

He's also the most conservative of the bunch.

[defendandprotect]

90. DLC/Emmanuel RECRUITED those Blue Dogs . . . and is still hatching blue eggs -- !!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

97. Let's not conveniently forget that they'd not be Democrats were it not for Rahm/DLC.

They'd be Republicans instead and we'd not be talking health care reform at all.

[defendandprotect]

101. Not true . . . many of those areas may have suppressed poor voters?

But, let's stop arguing for the downward spiral -- and

arguing fear-based reasoning.

We need to more fully penetrate these areas with progressive messages.

And by offering more progressive candidates.

[uponit7771]

15. AMEN!! He's got my attention, he's NO LONGER passive on the issue

[Window]

18. Absolutely.

[Engineer4Obama]

20. Two town halls in one day

WHERE'S THE LEADERSHIP

:sarcasm:

[Frustratedlady]

22. If DUrs would sign petitions and write to their Congresscritters,

he wouldn't BE working alone. I've signed so many, I fear they will be thrown out for duplication-ad-nauseum and I've written to my Congress people.

Not only is he out there speaking and answering questions, but have you ever seen a president who has been on TV interviews as much as Obama? He said visible -- no one can argue about that. Same with Michelle.

We got our money's worth when Obama was elected. What a wonderful first family AND an excellent POTUS.

Never forget who served before him. It hasn't been that long ago.

[goclark]

40. Can we do an Activist PDay and we call, write, email

everyone of these Dogs and tell them we need a Health Care Bill that they would want for their families.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

54. Maybe this information will be of interest to you -

any Internet petitions that are sent to legislators are routinely tossed. They have no standing, and so they are ignored.

Same with emails to the offices. They might get boilerplate responses, they might not.

The only written communications that get any kind of attention, and even that is minimal, are written letters, either faxed or sent Snail Mail.

Sad but true facts. The internet stuff is just so easily faked, it cannot be read or taken seriously.

So, you might consider directing your energy in those ever-so-traditional routes.

It's what I do....................

[JDPriestly]

70. My congressman (Becerra) frequently holds town halls.

He told us at one of his town halls that the best way to reach him is via e-mail. Letters are not good because there is a long delay before the letters are received in Congress because they have to check them for anthrax, etc. E-mails are the best. Phone calls take a lot of time.

My congressman has stated that people write him with good ideas and he appreciates it. Of course, he is a great guy.

[Frustratedlady]

74. Now that Cheney is no longer in office, can't they stop the anthrax checks?

Just sayin'.

[Frustratedlady]

73. Thanks for the info. I'm not sure it is always true...

I receive answers from Grassley and Harkin whenever I email them. It may be a couple weeks, but I receive a snail mail response.

As for the petitions...who knows? I have always suspected they are mainly for the purpose of gathering addresses for donations. Looking at my mailbox, I'm probably right. :-(

[JDPriestly]

69. I've been writing my senators and congressman several times a week.

[tavalon]

23. I'll admit I don't like everything he's doing, but

damn, it makes me tired seeing how hard he's working. I don't think I've seen a President in my lifetime work as hard as this man is.

[Sebass1271]

28. he repeats things over and over and over and over because

people still are not getting what he is saying, that it is better we pass health care reform now, otherwise the consequences will be much worse in the future.

Geezzz how stupid can the american people be? How many times does the president need to say that he will not raise your taxes, that this will not be a socialist program, that he will not kill seniors... and on and on!.. pheww!..

[HopeOverFear]

30. I know man

some people are so thick, they're also deceived by republicans and blue dogs

[Frustratedlady]

31. I agree, but then you have the Rush/Beck/O'Reilly types who stir up the lies

One I heard the other day about caused me to wreck my car.

They even gave the page number where you could find it in the health bill.

They were saying that the government (Acorn) is going to check out your refrigerator to see what you eat, and they are going to make you fill out a report to show how much weight you've lost and what you've eaten for the month so they can get everyone slimmed down and healthy.

They went on with other "rules" we'd have to go by, but I turned the radio off. I forget whose program it was on, but it was so far out, I couldn't bear to listen to any more.

[tavalon]

34. Did you mean to respond to my post ?

I'm having trouble understanding how your response relates to what I said.

[Sebass1271]

37. actually, it wasnt related to your post. It was a mistake that

i posted under yours.

[tavalon]

38. Thanks. I was confused.

[angee_is_mad]

25. kick

and double-kick!

[phleshdef]

32. Rec'd. No one can deny he is digging in with all he has got. We need to have his back.

[bigwillq]

33. Obama is indeed working hard.

Can't deny that.

[99 Percent Sure]

41. Yes, he is. n/t

[Adelante]

42. k&r

:kick:

[_dynamicdems]

43. AMEN. K&R n/t

[bkkyosemite]

44. Since yesterday he is backing off on a Public Option...first he backed off on Single Payer now he is

backing off on a Public Option now calling it controversial. I am angry.

[Amos Moses]

45. Give the man a break. He's working his ass off for

Goldman Sachs

[dionysus]

50. hoookay

[HopeOverFear]

57. Right. Two more for the ignore list.

:eyes:

[defendandprotect]

92. People really think we're going to get citizen-friendly legislation while our elected

officials are PRE-BRIBED with campaign finance funds --

it's amazing!!!

[HopeOverFear]

56. That's a fucking lie. He is not backing off a public option.

Do your research before you spout off bullshit.

[bkkyosemite]

99. That is what I feel is happening. He called it three days ago controversial then only mentioned it

once quietly in his next town meeting. The media picked up on what he said and they called it controversial. I listen to everyone of his speeches. I feel he is working very hard! But I feel that the legislators are piling high on him and I am conerned he is going to make concessions on the public option. He once wanted single payer/universal and now wants a public option. But he has said to go ahead with the watered down version of bill the blue dogs want. I understand that is just one bill. So either what I'm hearing is not true and I will stand corrected on that or what I am seeing is what I think is happening. I really hope not and perhaps he has something up his sleeve.

On another note...I worked very hard for him and I am not a fucking liar!!!

[redqueen]

79. He failed to mention it at ONE appearance.

He was back on message the next time he talked about it.

Don't buy into the spin.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

46. AMEN DI - K&R

[DissedByBush]

47. Obama surprised me about party

I thought he would follow orders. The party establishment probably thought so to.

Boy were we wrong.

I am so happy I was wrong.

They probably aren't.

[Stellar]

88. LOL, Your first clue should have been

when they told the junior senator from Illinois that he's supposed to wait his turn...that it was Hillary's turn.

[JBoy]

48. At this point in Bush's first term

He was heading off on vacation, to clear brush and ignore warnings of an imminent terrorist attack.

[Fire1]

51. Totally agree! n/t

[jwirr]

52. Absolutely and you are beginning to be able to see the tiredness on

his face. Take care Mr. President.

[bkkyosemite]

55. Yes I noticed that too. He is a hard worker.

[MadMaddie]

58. Drunken Irishman you are absolutely right

I bet the hours that President Obama has put into the first 7 months of his administration dwarfs the first two years that * put in.

He is leading by example.

[givemebackmycountry]

59. And he is doing it with grace and class and dignity...

I work with three Right Wing hand-jobs, and they know ZERO about Obamas plan, they know zero about him, other than he's a Democrat and as such he sucks.
Oh, and he's black... so they REALLY hate him.

If it's not a Republican(Rush/Hannity/FoxNews/Neil Cavuto is "brilliant") saying it, then they don't want to hear it.

These are my peers.

And today I laid into them and ripped them a new one.
Especially, the Christian whack-job.
Her husband is a freaking county sheriff, and she's spouting "socialism" and couldn't understand why I called her just that, a "socialist" every time you cash your husbands paycheck.
Stupid freaking Cow.

I ain't taking their shit anymore.

They are my peers, and they need me a whole lot more than I need them, since I'm the only one with half a fucking brain.

One of them (the guy that thinks Neil Cavuto is brilliant) may have set off a hiring HR issue, when he hired his under-qualified white friend, over a highly qualified female, and a African American male that works for me.

She's talking about getting a lawyer and she'll win too.
She has a serous case.

I can't wait to see these assholes go down one by one.
We'll see if they go and try to draw that "socialist" unemployment when their asses get fired.

I'm a lot of things, and a very good manager who knows his shit is one of them.

[Bluerthanblue]

60. thank you for this - K& R !!

something that needs to be remembered.

:hi:

[YvonneCa]

61. He is working very hard. I'm proud to...

...have voted for him, and a few Dems who DO support him. :patriot:

[VPStoltz]

62. I've watched two full town meetings and he is doing an excellent job.

I can not believe the "rumors" he has had to debunk. And where do they come from?
That's the problem with scared and stupid.

[TankLV]

63. Well, Obama has LOST IT - especially regarding the "DEATH CLAUSE" in some recent bill...

The woman asked him directly whether there was a provision in the Health Care bill that would have government officials "asking/telling/forcing people to DIE" - and Obama danced all around it and talked about "living wills" and only MADE THE SITUATION WORSE!!!

Worst of all, Obama DID NOT ANSWER THE WOMAN'S QUESTION AT ALL!!!

He should have said "Of course not!" or "That's ABSURD!".

But he DIDN'T!!!

What happened to the OLD Obama that WON last November?!!!

Something is NOT right, and THAT'S why his polls are FALLING...

[jeanpalmer]

64. The effort is nice

but I'll judge him by results. In the end, results are all that count.

I remember the credit card effort, and now everyone is paying 29%.

[grahamhgreen]

65. If he fails it's because he failed to push single payer or even throw us a bone.

[HopeOverFear]

68. Wrong.

If he fails it'll because Republicans used fools like you as an excuse to beat Obama's plan.

[grahamhgreen]

77. Right. The buck stops with me. I forgot.

It's not my fault if your plan has real problems that I can not sign off on.

Here are just a few of my issues with HR3200:

1) Section SEC. 162. ENDING HEALTH INSURANCE RESCISSION ABUSE Bill should be amended to eliminate rescission for any and all reasons.

What I want to avoid: Getting a notification that my insurance is rescinded and then having to jump through endless hoops while I'm dying of cancer. Also, having a team of sharp lawyers argue that since I failed to inform the insurer when I signed that I had taken a medication for acne when I was seventeen, I committed fraud.

There are mechanisms already in place for the the prosecution of fraud, and recouping losses. The onus should be on the Insurer to prove the fraud, not for the citizen to prove his/her innocence, IMHO. At a minimum, only after a citizen is convicted in a court of law of fraud should the insurer be allowed to rescind insurance, if ever.

•HR 3200 IH
SEC. 162. ENDING HEALTH INSURANCE RESCISSION ABUSE.

(a) CLARIFICATION REGARDING APPLICATION OF
GUARANTEED RENEWABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL HEALTH
INSURANCE COVERAGE.—Section 2742 of the Public

‘‘(f) RESCISSION.—A health insurance issuer may rescind health insurance coverage only upon clear and convincing evidence of fraud described in subsection (b)(2).
The Secretary, no later than July 1, 2010, shall issue guidance implementing this requirement, including procedures for independent, external third party review.’’.


2) SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, should be amended to apply this tax to the persons premiums, and, when paid, should fully cover the person for the next calendar year. Better yet, just take out our premiums in our payroll taxes for the public option.

This is completely outrageous and unacceptable, IMHO. Why would we tax the working poor after the fact as a penalty, rather than before the fact to make sure they are covered? It is taxation without remuneration or benefit.. In a way it is fining you for simply simply being alive. What this will produce are cheap plans by fly-by-night insurers that meet the legal requirement, but actually pay no benefits.

"From HR3200
SEC. 401. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.
`(a) Tax Imposed- In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of--
`(1) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
`(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer. "


3) Sec. 221 ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF A PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION AS AN EXCHANGE-QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN. Should be amended to provide one plan for all Americans, not four. Ideally the public option should be HR676 - single payer.

What i want to avoid: A citizen signs up for one of the plans, but the benefit they need is construed to being in a different plan, not the one the citizen actually has been paying for. Also, if there is only one plan it will provide further cost savings.

(3) PROVISION OF BENEFIT LEVELS.--The public health insurance option--

(A) shall offer basic, enhanced, and premium plans; and

(B) may offer premium-plus plans. "


THIS SHOULD BE AMENDED TO READ:

(3) PROVISION OF BENEFITS.--The public health insurance option--

(A) shall offer the same plan for all Americans."

4) Y1 start date should be 2010, not 2013 or 2012.

5) Allow for collective bargaining for prescription drugs.

6) The Kucinich amendment for state single-payer is a must have (as is the public option).

[depakid]

66. Not to ever knock a work ethic- but in the end, results are what count

[Hello_Kitty]

67. I was thinking the same thing today.

I'm not always happy with everything Obama is doing. No, my pony hasn't arrived yet. ;) But I never cease to be impressed by our President's willingness to address the people directly and without flinching. What a refreshing change after the lily-livered pisspants that preceded him!

[bkkyosemite]

100. This I absolutely agree with.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

71. Considering what a brilliant campaign he ran

I have been surprised at how the message is getting out. IMHO, he should do more fireside-chat type settings in speaking directly to the American people and decrease the number of press conferences. He needs more control of the message and fewer questions about the Cambridge police brush-up, or those silly AARP people asking stupid questions, for example. The pressers, in particular, put him too much on the defensive, and his answers can get too long-winded.

[MannyGoldstein]

81. +1 n/t

[Jeep789]

72. K & R nt

[SharonRB]

76. Well put.

I'm in total agreement with you.

[redqueen]

78. Nicely said.

:thumbsup:

[MannyGoldstein]

80. It's The President's Job To Lead The Team - By Force When Necessary

Instead of reading Goodwin's "Team of Rivals", Obama would have been better off with Caro's biographies of LBJ. Much more relevant for today. Candidate Obama's compelling speeches have given way to President Obama's wonkish pleas.

Obama let the thing get away from him, and now we're sunk. Health care will go the same way as the Banker Bailout Plan - Goldman Sachs and the insurers get the dollars, and we'll get the change.

[treestar]

83. Force?

And what about the people who voted for him supporting him, so that those conservadems have to think twice? That would work, rather than insulting him on internet boards. If Bush tried "force" you know what you'd be saying.

[MannyGoldstein]

84. Force Was Figurative

As was Teddy Roosevelt's "big stick", and Obama's bringing a gun if the opposition brings a knife. (In Obama's case, it seems to have been extraordinarily figurative).

I supported Obama from the start. But he has declined, at virtually every turn, to support me back. It's getting pretty old.

[defendandprotect]

91. Emmanuel/DLC promised the Blue Dogs they wouldn't be pressured . . .

see the Maxine Waters video, still up, I presume . . .

[MannyGoldstein]

94. Then The DLC Should Be Removed From Obama's Admin

I saw the video.

[defendandprotect]

98. DLC shouldn't have been in the administration in the first place --

besides Emmanuel/DLC -- HRC is DLC leadership -- !!

[DeschutesRiver]

82. I see the same thing. and I admire his determination and skill. nt

[firedupdem]

85. Rec'd....

He's basically out there alone pushing for reform. The media is working 24/7 to kill any reform and the rest are hiding in the shadows. Ridiculous

[graywarrior]

86. I agree

[Stellar]

87. K&R That made me cry.

I thought I was the only one feeling that way. Sometimes the President appears so exhausted he looks as though he could drop in his tracks. :cry:

[defendandprotect]

89. You don't think the right wing works their butts off .. . ???

Or that the DLC works it's butt off in the White House?

[defendandprotect]

93. Notice . . . I don't agree with the sentiments of this thread, but I didn't UN . . .

that's because I think that the thread has a right to succeed or fall

based on how many people found it interesting and agree with it --

not on how many people want to kill free speech.

[Boomerang Diddle]

95. Damn right! n/t