it's just agonizing to watch Obama contorting himself into a pretzel for bipartisanship

[cali]

The repukes have no intention of responding in kind. they're scheming how to further demonize him as an evil commie.

He looks like a fool wearing a kick me sign pinned to his back.

[DesertFlower]

1. i think when he was elected they

took a pledge to fight him on everything.

[AlinPA]

5. Of course, they are out to stop everything, no matter what it is.

[Bitwit1234]

29. What good is it going to do for him to do this...

DAMN IT TO HELL NONE.

[MadHound]

2. Worse yet, he is doing this all for a POS of a bill

He's working it hard to bring us a bill that is going to destroy the middle and working class via a mandated monopoly.

At this point it is best to kill the bill, start over again with a truly progressive piece of legislation that includes a strong public option and has the rich paying for it instead of middle class folks who belong to strong unions.

Otherwise we're all going to lose.

[TheWraith]

8. Wake up. It's time to go to school.

There is going to be a ton of crow eating here at DU when they pass a decent reform package.

Well okay, no there won't because the offenders are incapable of admitting they're wrong. But there SHOULD be.

[sendero]

14. How's that going to happen?

The senate bill is a piece of shit. To pass a "decent reform package" it will have to be a long way from there, and it isn't.

This bill is going to be the Democrat's waterloo. You wait and see.

[MadHound]

15. We'll see who is going to eat crow

At this point I'm resigned to the fact that we're going to get the Senate version of the bill. No public option, excise taxes on so called Cadillac plans, more limits on women's right to choose, and handing a mandated monopoly to the insurance industry.

Tell you what, when, in a few years, the premiums continue to go up and up and up, with absolutely no control, then we can talk about that fowl dish. Yes, I know that there are supposed price controls in the Senate package, but they're weak and I guarantee you at this very minute there are dozens and dozens of insurance industry lawyers who are going over the bill with a fine tooth combs, finding every possible loophole. Look for fun things like new, ridiculous fees and such.

Tell you what, I'll be more than willing to eat that dish if my premiums go down under it and I don't have to pay taxes on my health care plan that I get through my union. Will you be willing to eat that dish if premiums continue to rise and union members are forced to pay through the nose?

[Mike 03]

3. Cali, that wasn't how I perceived what happened today. It seemed like Obama and the Dems

were finally saying, "We will do whatever it takes to get our bills passed."

What am I missing?

Today really made me happy.

[Captain Hilts]

12. His closing comment the other day made me feel that way. But we've given up too much. nt

[polichick]

4. It's easier to take if you just think he's going for political cover...

...thinking about the indie vote in 2010 and 2012.

[spanone]

6. it's getting embarassing

[jefferson_dem]

7. Pssst...

Today wasn't about the repugs. It was about steeling the spine of wavering Dems to get this sucker done, with or without the gNOp.

[AlinPA]

18. That's the way I saw it. His remark about not being sure if it is politically risky, but that it

is the right thing to do was aimed at the Democrats who are acting like cowards at this time.

[babylonsister]

9. I'm not agonized. He's made it very 'publicly' clear that he's offered

the olive branch. Even those not paying attention can't help but see that (well, most of them).

Now, HCR will be rammed through with or without them, and with no regrets.

[SPedigrees]

28. what sister said +1000 nt

[frazzled]

10. He just said screw the Republicans, we're doing this by reconciliation

So what's your issue?

This man did everything to show that Republicans were listened to and that some aspects of their ideas had been incorporated. He sat their for 7 hours the other day. And today he said that no Republicans are going to support it anyway, so reconciliation will be used. The Republicans are the ones who look like fools.

[sendero]

11. For the life of me..

... I cannot figure Obama out. These people could not BE more transparent. I could see him playing along for a time to give folks an opportunity to also see, but time's up.

Bush and his henchmen spent 8 years steamrolling their way. Time for a bit of steamrolling.

[Saturday]

13. Why are you saying this?????

I thought he was great today. Didn't see him contorting into a pretzel.

[Mike 03]

16. Well, here is the link to what he said today.

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/03/03/HP/R/30189/President+unveils+revised+health+care+plan.aspx

He seemed about as firm as Stanley Kubick to me, but maybe I am not perceiving reality correctly.

And there was also a very impressive press conference by other Dems today, here:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2010/03/03/HP/A/30268/Congressional+Democrats+Press+Conference+on+GOP+Obstructionism.aspx

Does it get any clearer than this? Maybe I am just ignorant, but it sounds like we are finally drawning the proverbial line in the sand.

[Pirate Smile]

23. He did. I don't know why any Democrats would think he is actually trying to gain Republican votes.

[asdjrocky]

17. I gotta figure no man would look that foolish unless it was on purpose.

Using logic it's the only way I can see it.

[Mike 03]

19. Kick and Rec. NT

[yourout]

20. Like this?

[bertman]

21. For everyone who can't grasp why she's saying this after President Obama's saying he is

going to go forward regardless: he could not resist making even more overtures to the Republicans by saying he's going to consider several of THEIR proposals about medicare fraud, etc.

I agree with cali. If he thinks those proposals are so potentially worthy why doesn't the President just have the Dems stick them in the bill THEMSELVES and go forward with the damned thing instead of acting like he's "reaching out" once again to get his hand bitten. Pretty soon all he's gonna have is what's left above the wrist. And that means no fist.

Screw the Republicans, Mr. President. They have no one's best interest in mind except their own. They will screw you, us, and the rest of the country to get what they want. Why the fuck can't you see that and deal with it?

Rec.

[Pirate Smile]

22. He knows he isn't going to get any Republican votes. He is helping

Nancy get some Blue Dogs.

[nevergiveup]

27. Exactly

[David Zephyr]

24. As Helen Thomas wrote: he's channeling his inner GOP

I loved the title to your OP, cali. :hi:

[malaise]

25. Maybe he's just collecting ammunition

to expose the party of no.

[Raineyb]

32. I think there's more than enough ammunition to expose those bastards.

Has been for quite some time at that. I have no idea what the hell this is all about. Stevie Wonder can see that the Republicans have no intention of voting for ANYTHING that's put out.

[heli]

26. It's like calling 100 times and begging for a date

It's freakin' ridiculous.

[depakid]

30. "He looks like a fool wearing a kick me sign pinned to his back. "

I've used almost those exact words- for close to a year now.

Looks like a successful strategy on the part of Republicans, though- who rather than being relegated to the fringe for a generation, have been re-enabled. and legitimized thanks to Obama's tireless efforts to appease and accommodate.

And- interestingly enough, it may well be that, thanks to his efforts, Obama finally gets the wish they've denied him. He'll be a bipartian president working with Republican majorities- and will go down in history as "the Great Conciliator," even as more and more of the nation slides further into third world socioeconomic status.

[bvar22]

31. He's NOT doing it for "Bi-partisanship".

That is just the excuse.
Surely you don't think Obama is that stupid.
I don't.

Look at the end product.
His "contortions" moved the HCR Bill steadily to The Corporate Right.
Each contortion produced another gift to the Health Insurance Industry.
Don't listen to the pretty speeches.
Look at the results.
There is a disturbingly obvious pattern.
When something is working, you keep doing it.

After today's "concessions" to the Corporations, there is nothing left to "give up".
So NOW its time for reconciliation!

Perfect Corporate scripting.
Perfect Corporate timing.

[jannyk]

34. Sadly, You've totally nailed it bv!!! nt

[lamp_shade]

33. I think Obama would willingly admit that "I came just short of wearing a kick me sign on

my back in order to get a bipartisan bill. We tried like sunzabitches." We'll always be able to hand him that. I like what Nancy had to say about "It's a bipartisan bill although it may not have bipartisan votes". Republicans can yell "partisan" all they want, but I believe Americans by now can see right through the bullshit. Obama thinks long-term.