Obama: "Don't think for a moment that power will concede without a fight."

[FrenchieCat]

This was never going to be easy. As candidate Obama said just three days before the election:
"Don't think for a moment that power will concede without a fight."
Now, we're seeing how true that really is.

These same well-financed forces have killed reform in the past, and they're aiming to do it again.



So what are you going to do about it, apart from analyzing what Obama is or is not doing? :shrug:

Netroots For Healthcare Rally Report Edition
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/30/774544/-Top-Comments:-Netroots-For-Healthcare-Rally-Report-Edition



Through one grassroots movement, built from the bottom up, millions of voices called for change and elected President Barack Obama. They proved that ordinary people, together, can achieve extraordinary things.

Those voices enabled a new beginning. But now it’s time to make that promise of change a reality.

Through Organizing for America, Americans across the country will continue to organize in their communities and stand with President Obama to bring about a new era of security and prosperity.

The challenges we face can’t be solved by one person alone. We need you to get involved.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/ofavolunteer?source=www_navbar

[Cha]

1. They knew it and they've been preparing..

so much behind the scenes that we don't even know about.

[HopeOverFear]

2. +1

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Don't I know it.

Thanks for the reminder, Obama.

[TomCADem]

4. K & R - Many Folks Forget That Medicare Was A Five Year Fight ...

...that spanned two Presidents. Indeed, in 1962, Kennedy had demanded Medicare be passed immediately in his State of the Union speech after campaigning on it extensively back in 1960.

[JNelson6563]

5. Thankfully President Obama

can think long term. He knew this and all worthwhile things would take a great deal of time and effort and signed on for the long haul.

Julie

[polichick]

6. By choosing Rahm, Daschle and others, he has aligned himself with that "power." nt

[high density]

7. What am I supposed to do about it if the President can't even sell his own plan?

Sorry but the blame right now on how messed up this issue has become is focused directly at the White House. Congress dropped the ball too with its shenanigans, but the fact is that his administration has been far less than unified on its effort for health care/insurance reform.

They are far too weak-kneed on the public option, which itself is already a compromise. I agree completely that we need reform. I agree with the idea for a public option and Obama's rationale behind it. I don't agree with the mixed messages that do nothing to placate the Republicans and just sets the liberal base in a disarray. It's time for elected Democrats to be unified and that needs to start with Obama. (The grassroots is already unified.) And it DOESN'T start with immediate concessions to the Republicans who say they already won't vote for anything.

USA elected the Democrats to fix stuff. Time to start fixing instead of playing footsie with the Republicans.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. And what exactly are we supposed to be marching and rallying FOR?

Some amorphous blobby undefined "reform?"

The signs will have to say

"Whatever the Dems finally define as reform I'm for!"

You can't even put "public option" on a sign because there are versions of public option being floated out there that are anything but.

This has been pathetic from the getgo and it remains pathetic. The only thing worth rallying for is "Medicare for All". At least that's clear, which is more than I can say about anything coming from out of the White House.

[slipslidingaway]

9. How do you win a fight if you silence the harshest critics of those who hold power....

Please do not tell me that you are fighting the entrenched interests when you invite them to the discussions and private meetings and exclude those who have been fighting the For Profit companies for decades.


President Obama calls on Karen Ignagni of AHIP to speak on HC reform.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x328837

Imagine if P. Obama had called upon Dr. Maria Angell to speak at the WH summit instead of Karen Ignagni, members of Congress might be pleading for a public option.

Dr. Marcia Angell not invited to attend and therefore not called upon to speak, Conyers asked that two single-payer advocates be invited to attend....Dr. Quentin Young and Dr. Marcia Angell - his request was denied.


Watch the first few minutes of this testimony from Dr. Angell who was not allowed to attend the WH summit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQNphM6xUsE

"The reason our health system is in such trouble is that it is set up to generate profits, not to provide care..."

[slipslidingaway]

10. kick for an answer to my post above n/t