White House Believes 'Liberal Angst' Over Healthcare Will Go Away

[IndianaGreen]

Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

- Proverbs 16: 18-19, the Bible

Published on Sunday, January 10, 2010 by CommonDreams.org

White House Believes 'Liberal Angst' Over Healthcare Will Go Away

by Donna Smith

In an NPR story this week, White House aides and Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer summed it up: (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122366587)

White House aides believe a lot of the liberal angst about health care will go away once the president actually signs a bill. And to the extent that the Democrats have a problem motivating their core voters, they've got time to fix it.

"We're not overly concerned about these things, first and foremost because there isn't an election tomorrow, not an election the next day," says Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director.

Our angst will not go away anytime soon.

When we see our paystubs and our tax returns reflect the collection of our hard-earned money for the huge bail-out of the for-profit, private insurance industry instead of for the guaranteed right to healthcare, we will feel angst. When we are forced to purchase the defective financial product sold to us as health insurance or face penalties or even criminal charges, we will feel angst.

When we continue to have trouble affording truly comprehensive health coverage that provides a single standard of high quality care for all, we will feel angst.

When we cannot see a doctor without paying a big co-pay or deductible, when we bury a child whose treatment was denied by the insurance company, when we avoid seeking care because we cannot afford our medicines, when our employers cut our benefits to avoid paying the excise tax, when the insurance company CEOs continue to earn mega-salaries, obscene bonuses and retire with huge golden parachutes funded by our tax subsidies, when thousands of our neighbors and friends still go bankrupt because their coverage just wasn't good enough to protect them - oh, we will feel angst.

I am sorry, Dan, this is an angst that is loaded down with intense human suffering. It isn't just political or ethical or intellectual bantering angst. It is very real human angst caused by those with prideful, haughty attitudes who cared little about promises made and the human right to healthcare so boldly proclaimed.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/01/10

[mdmc]

1. once the bill is passed, and fails to create access to affordable

health care, the white house will see the need for reform. Then our angst will disappear..

[shopgreen]

117. I think you are right on this.

[CoffeeCat]

2. That's why this Presidency is frontloaded...

...with horrible policies that Progressives hate. They figure that we're stupid, and
that we will forget that we were promised meaningful healthcare reform and habeas corpus
restored. They continued the Bush terror/torture policies, and never held
anyone accountable. Our civil rights and our democracy are still in question as
corporations run wild in a deregulated environment.

None of that is changing.

They figure they'll throw us a few crumbs in 2010--some Progressive appointments
that mean little. We'll get a lot of lip service too. However, the corporations
will remain firmly entrenched and in power--as "We The People" are put on the
back burner.

[NJmaverick]

3. The irony is that the liberals are failing to see their own pride

leading to a huge fall.

[Parker CA]

14. +1

[Mark D.]

122. Pride?

What? Senate-candidate Obama openly campaigned saying we need Single-Payer, but to get it, we need a Democratic House, Senate and President. We got all three. Oh, he'd backed off Single-Payer, using 'in an ideal world' or 'starting from scratch' excuses (both of which he didn't say, he campaigned previously saying it could be done in the existing system). We let it go, as the true Medicare plus 5% type Public Option could cost so much less it would lead to an eventual Single Payer as insurers couldn't cut prices enough to compete. Well, we can't have that. Somehow, 'conservatism' meant we had to 'compromise' (with who? insurers?) and not have that price control. In other words, a public option so expensive it is the same or more than the existing plans. Then what Obama campaigned against (mandates) were included. Well, that's okay, we will have subsidies (that won't pay enough, and will exempt too many people). Now we hear the 'reform' might strip out protection for those with pre-existing conditions. What's going to be left? We hear your 'any reform is better than none'. But really? Animosity toward 'reform' by the GOP designed to make it appear they and the corporate masters they really work for (ie. the insurers) will get their way, while appearing to be against this golden goose we are handing to them. It's the ultimate 'bait and switch' plan.

It's like winning a brand new BMW! They park it in your driveway. Oh, wait. It's got those 'flashy rims', you're not a hip hopper, they'll take those off, you can just buy aftermarket hub-caps instead. They don't cost much. Oh wait! Why don't they just take those tires while they are down there. Tires are cheap. You know, without tires, you don't need an struts or the whole suspension system. Wait a minute! Now that's going to be expensive to replace! Stop complaining, you've got the rest of the car. You know, those leather seats are hot in the summer sun, let's take those out. You know, tinted glass isn't good driving at night, we'll take out all the glass. Before you know it they take out the last thing and all that's left is the frame. So they grab the frame, what's the point without an engine, right? Then you see a big garbage bag under it. And it's full of shit. 25 lbs of shit they hid in the frame. That's all of the 'winnings' you have left. Hope you enjoy it. At the end of the day, we are getting a bunch of little bits they can hold up to say 'see? reform!' and what we really get is a mandate to force everyone to buy insurance. Oh, well, they raised Medicaid qualifications from 'so poor you are homeless' (100% of poverty) to 'not so poor you can't afford a tent to sleep in' (133%). What a gift! Can't have that, get 'em Lindsey! A campaign of unfulfilled 'hope' continues.

[KakistocracyHater]

161. if you have a pre-existing condition & are rejected by Ins. will U be fined?

that's what I'm wondering. If you can't find a for-money-making Insurance Racket because of a pre-existing condition, & then you are fined for not qualifying-do you end up jailed because you are sick?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

23. Is it pride that drives

homelessness
joblessness
lack of health care options
seeing sons and daughters sent off to fight in two countries that want nothing to do with us?


I call bullshit on that. The fall will be Obama's efforts for a second term, if he continues on the same path.

[Hello_Kitty]

25. Bullshit

You spend all your time bashing the dirty hippies but don't have boo to say about Nelson and Stupak threatening to kill the bill (which they had actual power to do) so they could sniff womens' panties. Oh I mean, except to tell us silly ladies that the anti-choice language in the bill is no big deal. You have nothing to say about insurance lobbyists watering down the bill and stripping out everything that would REALLY bend the cost curve, unlike the stupid-ass poorly conceived excise tax. You have plenty to say about Jane Hamsher but nothing to say Joe Lieberman.

[pj.smith]

39. cool

we can say bullshit here at DU! wow! this is great

[KansDem]

105. Hang around...

You'll be surprised! I've even read the words "magnanimous" and "graphite" on these threads!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[inna]

151. enjoy your stay

:hi:

[freddie mertz]

27. Nonsense and piffle.

It's about sound progressive policy vs. nakedly corrupt corporate give-aways and regressive legislation penalizing the middle class.

You have nothing but ad hominems.

[depakid]

33. Wow- double down irony!

The people going down this election will mostly be so called blue dogs- and Republicrats in the Senate.

The reason? Standing in the way of popular and effective progressive policies.

[Krashkopf]

34. The BLAME GAME begins . . .

Obama and the DLC Democratics have forced through a health "reform" plan that won't benefit anyone except for their friends in the Insurance Industry . . . and it will be the LIBERALS who are responsible for the "huge fall" that comes when the American public realizes that it has been fucked over!

I gotta call a pre-emptive BULL SHIT on that one, NJ.

[pj.smith]

38. pride schmide

this is not about pride. this is about the right thing and justice....

[roguevalley]

45. actually, the inhumanity of the bill is fueling our anger. if it was even

reasonable we would be on board. given that its a piece of shit, I am in no way compelled or required to clap. And 'the liberals' are the people who made all the good parts of America possible. Just in case you forgot. Just saying.

[niceypoo]

51. Joe Lieberman couldnt have said it better

[Lydia Leftcoast]

53. Projection much?

We'll see who falls in 2010.

[placton]

55. spare me NJ liberal

WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS - you need to start to see that, and join us - Obama and his merry pranksters sold us out

[Ken Burch]

57. You know perfectly well it will the non-liberal wing's fault if we lose seats this fall

Asking us to fight for the Senate bill is asking us to give up forever.

[dflprincess]

60. Another post from a member of the

"we don't need the left, but it will be their fault if the we go down in November" crowd.

[GreenPartyVoter]

73. +1

[grahamhgreen]

68. It is the party that is falling, not the base, ace.

[sabrina 1]

69. The irony is that if the WH is depending on its defenders

such as yourself to 'fix liberal angst' they are far more inept than has been thought so far.

Unless they plan to send out some new talking points. But the DLC hatred for the Democratic wing of the party will be hard for them to hide.

[liberation]

79. That technically can not be considered "irony" and I think you know what "pride" means...

Dr. House would be ever so ashamed of you... LOL

[jefferson_dem]

95. Basically, I agree but not "liberals" in general...

only a handful of serial-complaining malcontents.

And there won't much of a fall.

[austin78704]

98. What fall?

We've been screwed out of universal healthcare.
We've been screwed out of a public option.
We've been screwed out of a hundred minor (all things being relative) changes.
We've been screwed out of a hundred smaller changes that we were supposed to get.
Then there's the insulting "pro-life" crap stuffed in there.

And that's JUST healthcare. Then there's the war. Oh, wait, multiple wars. The mass giveaway to the rich. Hiking taxes in a way that will mostly fall upon what's left of the middle class. Backpedaling on torture, rendition, secret prisons, mercenaries, etc.

That's only one year after "Victory!" Imagine how disappointing it'll be in three more.

You can't fall off the bottom of a deep hole.

[Javaman]

106. oh mav, you are at it again...

when will you blue dogs ever learn?

your brand of bizarro reality works really well when you are off your meds.

but to the rest of us, that, you know, have to slave for a living and have to pay out the ass for health care or work at a low paying job or can't find a job or lost our homes, etc, our reality is a harsh buzz kill to your rose colored world.

So keep peddling your half wit remarks, it just makes us all, who live in reality, that much more determined to get rid of the blue dems, DINO's and conserv-a-dems out of congress whose ivory tower philosophy is just like your own.

pashew, you crazy nut, you!

[mkultra]

111. +infinity

[Orsino]

119. The liberals are obviously to blame...

...for all the right-wing bullshit bogging down these bills. :eyes:

[dflprincess]

134. +1

[Mimosa]

165. WHAT 'liberals'? There's no diff between Blue dog DLC and RWs on Healthcare! n/t

[ChiciB1]

120. NJmaverick... That's Just A S--t Load Of TRIPE! I WILL NOT FORGET!

And I'm determined to spread the word far and wide! They say we would rather have "THIS" than a Repuke! I say... THIS IS WHAT A REPUKE WOULD DO!!

Where is the difference? HCR is ALL the Repukes want and they didn't even have to cast a SINGLE VOTE!! Just their carping alone made the bill a piece of CRAP!! And it seems to be getting worse as each day goes by!!

We can't even stick together enough to mount a decent REVOLT, because we are much too fractured! Plus it takes MONEY to do it and too many are scraping the bottom of the barrel just to get by!

Perhaps you have a nice nest egg, but thousands upon thousands of us wonder if we will make it through this year alone!!

[tomp]

123. no , the irony is that you don't see....

....that the fall has already happened, and it wasn't "liberals" who caused it.

[Mithreal]

124. So says the one with the forked tongue.

Nasty liberalses

[shireen]

125. PRIDE?

You must be comfortable and clueless to make such a ridiculous statement.

:mad:

[CakeGrrl]

136. Agreed, but that will NOT be well-received

Here's how it seems to go (a hypothetical 'we'):

We're right.

And when we're right, there's nothing wrong with the things we say or do, because our intent is honorable.

If you don't agree with us when we're right, you have a problem. We can't believe you think the way you think. How could anyone NOT see things the way we do?

****

The problem, of course, is that no one is perfect, including those who profess to stand on solid principles. People can go off the rails in defense of a position if it's staked with enough personal investment or emotion behind it, while facts may not necessarily back them up all the time.

[inna]

149. .

Wow. This comment is fucked up on so many levels that all I can say is just :wow:

[KakistocracyHater]

160. NOT Liberal-New Democrat

*

[Me.]

4. When Reality Hits The Shan...

They are so misguided on this. I wonder which brainiac convinced them of this and if they used the old 'where else are they going to go' argument?

[TheEuclideanOne]

35. Sad, really.

But you do know that there is somebody shoveling out this crap. They could not be more mistaken. Everything is so out in the open, that this can't just be somebody with wishful thinking that people will forget. Actually, it might be if they did not cave on every single thing in the book.

Here is the rub.... Obama campaigned on a number of things that were very effective in getting him elected. He campaigned on them because he knew what the country wanted. In short....He KNOWS! He KNOWS! He is not blind to what the people who elected him are looking for. He knows how it will be received when everything fails. Obama, simply stated, is one of the most brilliant people in the country, IMHO. There is no way that he is unaware that caving on all of these issues will lose the election. He also knows that, being in his position, that it will not be simply a single failed presedency, but will kill the democratic party for many years to come.

[ProSense]

5. Yeah, when...

When we see our paystubs and our tax returns reflect the collection of our hard-earned money for the huge bail-out of the for-profit, private insurance industry instead of for the guaranteed right to healthcare, we will feel angst. When we are forced to purchase the defective financial product sold to us as health insurance or face penalties or even criminal charges, we will feel angst.

When this doesn't happen, some people will still spin angst.

[flyarm]

85. see most of us are not Paid propagandists or work for big Pharma or the insurance industry, we are

Americans..we know when we are being sold out..we have seen it enough in our lifetimes ..we are not dumb ..and we will fight with all our might back at those who are treating us so!

emptywheel January 7th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
7
In response to WilliamOckham @ 1
Actually, the problem is much greater than that. People have repeatedly used Gruber’s work to support arguments that they don’t actually support (his only “proof” that the excise tax will raise wages is a study on how employers raise wages on non-fertile women after maternity care is mandated, and on that EVERYONE has based their claims).

So you have to ask–did a bunch of “intelligent” people just lose all their critical thinking skills? Or is someone feeding a bunch of other nominally independent “journalists” Gruber’s claims, and they’re publishing it for some reason or another?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Follow the Money: Your Tax Dollars Bought Jonathan Gruber’s Services

Follow the Money: Your Tax Dollars Bought Jonathan Gruber’s Services
By: Rayne Sunday January 10, 2010 10:30 am http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/23174

Firedoglake has been researching the relationship of MIT economist Jonathan Gruber with the Obama administration with regard to health care reform. You’ll find posts by emptywheel, dday and Jon Walker about the apparent conflicts of interest on Gruber’s part, that of the Obama administration and the media covering health care reform.

We’re still looking at the money – yes, follow the money, as Deep Throat once said – paid out to Gruber by the government. OUR MONEY, our tax dollars, paid out to Gruber under three administrations. You can view the numbers at this link, at which you’ll find a published spreadsheet with all information compiled from USASpending.gov and NIH websites (links to sources at the end of this post).

But there are more questions after looking at the data; perhaps the answers are innocuous and amount to nothing, but it would certainly be nice to have some answers.

What permits Gruber to be offered “non-compete” contracts?

What does it mean that a substantive number of the contracts offered to Gruber were let under classification, “Available only for groups such as disabled persons, prisoners, and regulated utilities”?

Why does Gruber have two business identities documented by two DUNS numbers, one of which is a nonprofit entity?

Why are the 2009 contracts for HHS paid to the nonprofit?

Why are there so many fields with “invalid” content or no content where one would reasonably expect some information?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

edit to add: please take the time to read the comments section..much is disclosed here that should make every American suspect to what is going on!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jonathan Gruber Failed to Disclose His $392,600 Contracts with HHS (Updated)

By: emptywheel Thursday January 7, 2010 8:35 pm
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2010/01/07/jonathan-g... /

MIT health economist Jonathan Gruber has been the go-to source that all the health care bill apologists point to to defend otherwise dubious arguments. But he has consistently failed to disclose that he has had a sole-source contract with the Department of Health and Human Services since June 19, 2009 to consult on the “President’s health reform proposal.”

He is one source for the claim that the excise tax will result in raises for workers (though his underlying study is in-apt to the excise tax question). He is the basis for the argument that the Senate bill reduces families’ risk–even if it remains totally unaffordable. Even Politico stenographer Mike Allen points to Gruber’s research.

But none of the references to Gruber I’ve seen have revealed that Gruber has a $297,600 contract with HHS to produce,

a technical memorandum on the estimated changes in health insurance coverage and associated costs and impacts to the government under alternative specifications of health system reform. The requirement includes developing estimates of various health reform proposals on health insurance coverage and cost. The alternative specifications to be considered will be derived from the President’s health reform proposal.

(h/t Mote Dai)

The President’s health reform proposal? But I thought this was the Senate’s health reform proposal?!?!? (wink!)

Now, HHS says they had to put Dr. Gruber in charge of evaluating health care reform proposals because he’s got,


read the rest at the link!

[Mithreal]

96. When it comes to spin, I defer to your professional doublespeaking experience

[Mithreal]

97. It's all in their minds. Nation of whiners, right? Sounds familiar.

Where have I heard that idea before?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NVjq2py7BA

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. Barack "Carter" Obama

[Fire1]

13. This is why I believe he wanted to get some semblance of

health care reform in before 2010 elections. Once congress has the republican majority in either the house or senate or both, it's OVER. He will be just like Carter and nothing the dems want will pass.

[dflprincess]

61. This is not even a semblance of HCR

not by a long shot. Even Obama started calling it "insurance reform". He just wants something passed so he can babble about it in his SOTU address and pretend that something was actually accomplished.

Like Lincoln, Obama knows that you can fool some of the people all of the time - and those are the people he'll be aiming his speech at.

[Mithreal]

100. That sounds revisionist even though it obviously contains a kernel of truth.

The DLC will be plenty happy with what it has already accomplished and any potential Republican wins will just be used as an excuse. President Obama is transformative, I will give him that. Transforming the Dem party into the old Republican party, yeehaw. Where else were all those disenchanted righties supposed to go? Here are a few examples but feel free to add another dozen or so reasons President Obama is truly transformative.

Privatizing education, NCLB on steroids.

Further restricting women's privacy and health. Someone is going to whine about my including that one. I understand why the whining, but too bad. President Obama is in the executive branch and never influences Dem representatives or legislation and doesn't have a magic wand, whatever. I am tired of the excuses.

Escalating wars, always feels good to flex the military muscles, got a fake war to fight. Oh, what's that you say? Wars for resources are not fake. All right, I concede.

[katkat]

155. Fire1

If there's a Repig majority, Obama has only himself to blame. If he'd done the right thing on healthcare, he and the Democrats would have a mandate that would look like an avalanche.

[katkat]

154. Carter is honorable, Obama,not so much n/t

[90-percent]

7. 45,000 unnecessary deaths per year

Yeah, what's the big deal with choosing to execute 45,000 of my fellow Americans annually? By denying them affordable health care insurance.

45,000 is much less than the total of 58,202 American dead in Vietnam, and that took what, 15 fucking years to achieve that number.

45,000 souls is an acceptable casualty rate to keep the health insurance corporations happy.

But, you have to admit, if the number per year approached the 495,000 Americans that made the ultimate sacrifice in WW2, then we might consider we have a problem.

The 45,000 die annually so that insurance fat cats can 'earn' $86,000 a day for all their talent and hard work.

-90% Jimmy

:sarcasm:

[WCGreen]

26. If these 45k were theatened by Terrorists...

Money would be no object...

[stillwaiting]

94. Only if said terrorists were from a country with natural resources we covet and could exploit.

Oh yeah, we'd have to destabilize that country in order to accomplish said mission too.

[Mithreal]

103. Simpler even. Fear versus love.

We need to overcome our evolution.

[peace13]

8. Health Care is a life or death matter for all Americans.

There are more jobs to be lost, more insurance premiums to be raised and this issue will not go away. If Obama signs on to a plan that does not address the real problems then he can expect more Americans to lose coverage. The current plan seems to focus on low income individuals and does not address those in the middle who use funds that should be banked for retirement to shore up outrageous insurance premiums.

Small business owners pay double Medicare and Social Security along with huge insurance premiums. When these businesses finally close their doors I hope that the elected Einsteins realize that the funding for these government programs will vanish as well. Wake up people.

[jtrockville]

9. "oh, we will feel angst"... Damn Straight!

I won't forget that the democrats turned an opportunity to provide health care to all into an opportunity to protect industry profits.

[DisgustedInMN]

10. Shame on them.

I will "forget"?????


Dream On RahmCo...

I've a great memory and a grip like a pitbull.

[cascadiance]

101. The Rahm-per room needs to stop treating us like children with its koolaid!

It ain't going to f'in work with adults Rahm! Just because we're not the "elephant" party doesn't mean we don't forget when we're getting

SCREWED!

[msongs]

11. the obamas have great healthcare...how bout u? nt

[Goldstein1984]

12. My letter to President Obama re "Angst"

Sent to www.whitehouse.gov at 08:05 AM AST:

Dear Mr. President;

I just read that the White House believes "liberal angst" over health care reform will go away once a bill is signed.

I have one particular statement from the White House in mind: "We're not overly concerned about these things, first and foremost because there isn't an election tomorrow, not an election the next day," says Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director.

I promise you that, minus a health care bill with a public option that directly competes with private insurance, already a watered-down compromise on the universal care Americans need and deserve, my angst will be accompanying me to the polls in 2010 and 2012.

Regards...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. Pfeiffer is short-sighted and suffering from the Beltway Disease.

His importance and insight are typical of someone bitten by the horrid affliction. We, in his view, are immaterial, sheeplike, and should act like obedient little children, as Pfeiffer and the other geniuses concentrate on the most important task they have ever faced. Getting sufficient funds for re-election.

[Goldstein1984]

22. Then people like him are all of our problems

in microcosm.

[GreenPartyVoter]

74. +1

[FedUp_Queer]

82. I've but one correction...

My angst will not be accompanying me to the polls because I, for one, won't be going. Yes...that's right for the "you have to vote; do you want the GOP to take over" crowd. Really...look me in the eye and tell me this health care bill, the surge in Afghanistan, the now delay in Gitmo etc. would not be the exact same with a President McCain. There's no fucking difference where it counts.

[katkat]

156. FedUp

Please go to the polls and vote third party or write-in. If you don't vote at all, you're sending the message that you don't care what happens. They can't tell you from an apathetic voter.

[shireen]

126. +1!

[emsimon33]

153. My sentiments

[Hawkowl]

15. Fury is not angst

It is easy for them to label the liberal fury as angst, since all the politicians have impeccable health care, and the majority are incredibly rich.

The fury exists because of the betrayal of campaign promises such as: 1)no taxing benefits; 2)no mandates; 3) a robust public option. Without these three core tenets Obama's health plan resembles the worst combination of McCain's and Hillary's. Indeed one could say that Obama was in large part elected because of his campaign stance, which he now glibly disavows.

It is not just angst. It is fury. Fury at lying politicians and fury at ourselves for allowing ourselves to be duped once more.

If there is one cure for the democratic party to avoid its complete collapse, it is the PRIMARY. Corporate dems need to have the fear of god instilled into them by credible progressive candidates. Up to and including the presidency. I hope someone like Dean primaries Obama and really puts him on the ropes enough for pragmatic Obama to shift permanently and decidedly to the left.

[tbyg52]

24. +1

They must think we are stupid.

[Dinger]

50. I Was Thinking The Same Thing (nt)

[tsuki]

88. I am glad you brought up the misuse of the word "angst". nt

[janet118]

16. Soon all working Americans will all have "angst"

The Senate "plan" is modeled after the "Romney care" we have in Mass. It is a lose-lose proposition for the middle class, unions, self-employed and unemployed. If changes are not made in conference, Americans are all screwed and the Republicans who voted against it will take over and repeal anything "good" in the bill. The House is making noises like its going to cave despite all Pelosi's reassurances about a "public option." Right now the progressives are the only ones paying attention. If/when this "compromise" bill goes into effect, everyone who has to work for a living or loses his/her job will turn on this administration with a vengeance.

Heck, we don't even know what's going to be in this so-called reform bill and probably won't until it's a done deal. Then it will be, pass it or the Republicans will win. Guess what - they already have won with the help of all the insurance company and health care provider moles in the Democratic Party.

[bbgrunt]

17. this haughty attitude will be their undoing.

[highplainsdem]

What a snide, condescending remark from Pfeiffer.

But I guess the WH communications director is just communicating the administration's attitude toward the people they were elected to serve, when they don't feel an immediate need to try to convince us they're really on our side so we should vote for them.

We have limited terms precisely to try to curb that sort of arrogance.

[TheWraith]

18. They're right.

The blogosphere has become so obsessed with the idea that this is a bad bill that they don't even really know what the hell the bill is anymore.

[TheKentuckian]

30. Knowing what is in the bill is causing as much anger as anything

Supporters have nothing on what is in the bill or how is structured to work other than the provided talking points. The bill is poison and must not pass as the Sen...err...the insurance industry has written it.

[Mithreal]

108. Wraith, who knows what all will be in the final bill?

And the blogosphere isn't some single entity.

You sound like a talking point in this post? Intentional or just your angst?

It's all in people's heads after all, nothing to take seriously, am I right?

[rug]

19. And we'll all suck up Afghanistan to go canvassing.

[woo me with science]

20. Why is "liberal angst" in quotes here?

I don't see anywhere in the story where an administration official used those words. They seem to be the words of the reporter.

The administration is assuming we will all forget, which is arrogant in and of itself, but attributing these words to the administration doesn't seem fair, unless a direct quote was omitted.

[Jackpine Radical]

48. Actually, you're right about the wording.

Also, I googled "liberal angst" and find it's a common framing term for progressives taking exception to "centrist" policies and actions.

[CakeGrrl]

70. And pardon my swearing, but is anyone paying attention to the fucking CONTEXT

of the WH remark?

There is NOTHING that says that the WH comms director is referring to concerns about Healthcare when he says "We're not concerned about these things". I suspect he might be referring to the perceived wholesale loss of Progressive support and was possibly asked directly about whether the WH was alarmed or concerned by it.

But whoever put out this article this way framed it for maximum ire directed at the WH, and it's worked like a charm here. Look at all the mouth-frothing and foot-stomping at the PERCEIVED insensitivity of the White House.

This is red meat for the makeup of DU lately, and it was posted for just this reason. The hot-button subject line gets a Pavlovian reaction, never mind that the article is possibly manipulated to make the WH appear to be spitting on the concerns over Healthcare when there's a good chance that wasn't the case.

If this is proved wrong, that correction will be met with crickets. Don't let anything get in the way of some good outrage.

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

71. I think most people already know we've been spat upon

and don't need a new column to point that out to us.

[Odin2005]

28. FUCK THAT SHIT!

[last1standing]

29. I'm "unconcerned" too, Mr. Pfeiffer.

I'm so unconcerned that I'll probably have much more important things to do come election day than to wait in a line to pull a lever for Obama.

[shadesofgray]

32. +1

[shadesofgray]

31. So what is their cut-off point for screwing us over? How close does the election

have to be before they think we develop amnesia?

[Jackpine Radical]

52. Well, lessee, the corporate media can keep a story going for about a week

unless it involves missing blondes or sex scandals, so & spose they'd best have their screw jobs pretty well wrapped up by early October to be on the safe side.

[tsuki]

89. Or crotches. nt

[WT Fuheck]

36. bwahahahahahahaha!

same geniuses who thought bipartisanship was a good idea.

[bhikkhu]

37. It all boils down to what they put on the table.

I don't mind waiting patiently, even not complaining or taking part in the rumors and angst. At some point, however, the thing is done and on the table, then I'll see what it looks like...if its a steaming pile of shit, as has been suggested, I'll know it pretty quick.

...but if it helps, I'm happy. If it doesn't, then its a nail in the coffin, more or less. Anything before then, however, is more or less irrelevant speculation.

[twitomy]

40. Two things that come to mind when I read this...

1. Arrogance


2. Taking your base for granted. They have the attitude, "The will come back, where else can they go?"

[CakeGrrl]

41. Why is "liberal angst" quoted as if the WH said it?

Please show me where they characterized anything as such.

If they didn't use that characterization, it's not fair to use it to whip up the anger crowd with more fuel to believe the WH is dissing them when this is interpretation on the author's part.

This is part of the problem with this place. If it sounds inflammatory, it gets posted. Damn the accuracy, go for the score!

[Autumn]

42. I'll tell you what Dan Pfeiffer, don't bet the

fucking farm on it.

[Enrique]

43. progressives' expectations have changed

we won't sit around waiting for him to lead like we did on the public option. "Just shut up and wait for the speech! You'll see, he's REALLY for the public option."

No, it's clear if there's going to be a robust EFCA, progressives will have to shove it down Rahm's throat.

[Ken Burch]

58. By the time Rahm gets done with EFCA

It will say that union organizing is ONLY punishable by life imprisonment...for the first offense. And we'll be expected to see THAT as "a start".

[harun]

44. How often did Bush have to deal with fixing Conservative angst?

[kath]

46. Hey, "White House" -- FUUUUUUUUCK YOU!

with a rusty fork.

[Kermitt Gribble]

47. Keep believing that, WH

and you'll be looking for new jobs after 2012. We Liberals have wised up to your tactics and a few crumbs thrown our way before the election will not earn you another term.

[davidwparker]

128. +1

[girl gone mad]

49. Just like angst over the bank bailouts has gone away?

:nuke::banghead::nuke:

[quaker bill]

92. it will go away

when the economy recovers. In two years it will be considered an act of financial genius.

[Mithreal]

114. What are you talking about? They are already patting their backs

for saving Wall Street and the Big Banks.

The fundamentals of the economy are broken.

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/01/08/plutonomics/

Of course, Kapur says there are risks to the Plutonomy, including war, inflation, financial crises, the end of the technological revolution and populist political pressure. Yet he maintains that the “the rich are likely to keep getting even richer, and enjoy an even greater share of the wealth pie over the coming years.”

All of which means that, like it or not, inequality isn’t going away and may become even more pronounced in the coming years. The best way for companies and businesspeople to survive in Plutonomies, Kapur implies, is to disregard the “mass” consumer and focus on the increasingly rich market of the rich.


Oh, but wait, we should give the next bubble a chance to burst before naysaying or suggesting we are close to a double dip. Nothing to see, move along. All the suffering out there is just in the little people's heads. They don't count anymore anyway, Dem leadership has evolved.

[placton]

54. bbye Dems support from liberals

for a loooooong time - this is not your father's Democratic Party

[scentopine]

56. Just like we'll get over that fucker Geithner

[donheld]

59. It will go away.

Along with our money and our votes.

[BrklynLiberal]

62. I feel insulted. I've been screwed, and never even got dinner...or even a kiss..

[Fire1]

63. If more people had jobs the chances of it 'going away' would

be better. The angst the WH is describing is the result of severe trauma in the lives of citizens. Alot of things will have to improve before the 'angst' dissipates. I hope they realize that.

[slipslidingaway]

64. So people forget - some do and others do not. WTH kind of remark...

is this...

"We're not overly concerned about these things, first and foremost because there isn't an election tomorrow, not an election the next day," says Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director."

[EndElectoral]

65. Unfortunately, they've been underestimating liberal angst since Day One.

[shadesofgray]

66. Such arrogance and stupidity. Did Obama appoint anybody who wasn't an asshole?

[Enrique]

67. Sotomayor, for one

she's probably the most important one.

[EFerrari]

72. Agreed. No flies on Sonia. She's going to be majorly great.

[dana_b]

142. arrogance, condescension and disregardment of

a lot of people who support them. I can't take that attitude anymore.

[LibDemAlways]

75. I'm going to be feeling some serious angst when the voters punish the

Dems for this shitful bill by installing a repuke Congress in the fall. The repukes will run on repealing this turkey, and I have no doubt they will make big gains.

[TheKentuckian]

76. Don't bet on any repeal but do count on them using it to bash us on the head all the way

The worst thing is it will be the liberal health care bill, like we want this shit.

IF YOU WON'T FIX IT THEN KILL IT!!!!!

[Roland99]

77. Hey, White House? F U C K Y O U

What a fucking arrogant statement!

:mad:

[OneBlueSky]

78. there's a difference between "liberal angst" and . . .

opposing a shitty bill . . . and dismissing opposition to a shitty bill as "liberal angst" is insulting, degrading, and totally out of touch with reality . . .

the White House has their collective heads so far up their collective butts they're farting out of their ears . . .

[Romulox]

80. Well, the Obama admin successfully ran out the clock on the AIG bonus issue...remember?

:hi:

[smalll]

81. Yep. After all, the public option was just "symbolic" -- everyone knows that. /nt

[kitfalbo]

83. heh.

This will only be true if they give us other shit we want, no more DADT or DOMA. Actual regulation of financial industries and the passage of the employee free choice act.

[TheKentuckian]

162. Might get DADT, this wing of the corporate party welcomes all to die for profits

[flyarm]

84. and pink pigs fly!! This retired Union member will not let it go away!

Because i worked my entire adult life for my benefits..and gave up a shit load for my benefits to now be told I have to pay and excise tax on my Health care benefits..fuck them!

I will sit out the next election ..and maybe 2012 as well!

Or I will vote to remove all incumbents...and put my money to work on making sure they have primary opponents !

Count on that Democratic Senators and Congress people!

[davidwparker]

129. "I will vote to remove all incumbents" - good plan. This is

what I'll be doing. If they can be taken out in the primaries, even better. Just as long as they go.

What an OPPORTUNITY blown with this Administration and Congress.

[progressoid]

86. Angst doesn't even come close to what I'm feeling.

They really don't get it, do they.

[fasttense]

87. And all the unemployed will go away too? n/t

[flyarm]

90. the "ANGST" will not go away and we won't forget these lies either!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wmN3wvhNM&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pO1oJPps1I&feature=player_embedded

[quaker bill]

91. To be replaced with liberal "angst"

over something else. The angst is endemic, the focus merely changes from time to time. It is in the character of liberals to be angst ridden over something. I can think of no time over the last 30 years when it was any different. Failing a real present crisis, one will be created to meet the need.

[TheKentuckian]

163. There has been no time in the last 30 years where people shouldn't have been in the streets

much less a time when "angst" was appropriate. The time period you point out has been one that has seen substantial dismantling of the country.

[NewJeffCT]

93. They better hope it goes away by January 19th or Coakley will lose

and the media will have a field day with a conservative Republic taking over for Ted Kennedy.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

99. The bitterness is wide and deep. No one likes being played for a chump

The health care "reform" at least has opened the eyes of many as to how our system of governance actually works, even when American lives are literally at risk.

[Faith No More]

102. Dream on you one term disappointment............

[zoff]

104. "Angst" shall go away, hand in hand with "Votes".

[freddie mertz]

107. When this arrogant, tone-deaf White House gets the wake-up call, it will be too late for them.

One term, loss of both houses.

How sad to see an opportunity squandered so totally, so quickly.

[ananda]

109. Sad and delusional is the WH.

Besides it's not a matter either of angst or
one's liberalness relative to a rightwing
corporate WH.

It's a matter of reality: life and death.

[BrainDrain]

110. Patience be damed

This morning I have read how we, as progressives need to have “patience and endurance” in order to achieve our goals. I have read how “compromise is touch and go” and how we have to “fight through the pain”. I have to say, with all due respect, bullshit.

Back during the Clinton Presidency, when HCR got shot down we were told to be patient. When The Moron stole the election of 2000, we were told to be patient and wait for 2004. When he stole it again in 2004 we were told to be patient. When we found out about the outright lies The Moron and his cronies used to justify invading Iraq, we were told to be patient, because The Moron and his neocon Masters would be held accountable once we controlled the Congress. Haliburton and war profiteers of every stripe had free access to the trough refilled every year by the American taxpayer. Billions simply vanished into the greedy pockets of Wall Street. The 2006 elections came and went and still nothing was done. Scooter Libby was a blip and nothing more, and even then The Moron commuted his sentence. We were told that 2008 was coming, be patient a new day will dawn if we can control the Congress and the White House. In the mean time the blood sucking corporatists continued to drain the life from the American people.

2008 arrived with the collapse of the economy and the elections. The day of deliverance had arrived. We had it all, the House, The Senate and the White House. Clear, unambiguous majorities. From there we all know what happened. HCR gets gutted, billions in taxpayer monies wind up in the pockets of Wall Street barons in the guise of a bail-out, while middle-class Americans watch their houses and retirement accounts vanish before their eyes. Iraq continues, Yemen begins, 3 children die everyday from the fighting in Afghanistan, and Wall Street is getting ready to announce multi-million dollar bonuses for the rapers of the American dream.

How much more patient do we have to be? Teabaggers get plenty of air time as they jump up and down and froth at the mouth about saving “their” America. I am not in the least bit interested in saving “their” myopic, narrow, bigoted, neocon, imperialistic, money grubbing sepia toned version of this country. I, and a whole lot of other people, voted for a progressive America, an enlightened America. When I read that the White House thinks that all the progressive angst will die down once this tepid version of HCR is signed, I say patience be damned. Who do they think we are? Unruly 5-year olds? Should we be sent to our rooms?

The time for patience is OVER. The time for direct action is NOW. I have seen many articles decrying the lack of a truly vocal and demonstrative movement from the left. Well I am here to tell you that if we don’t get one moving and soon, anything we think we voted for will be gone in less than a year. The wars will continue, the modern Robber Barons will continue, and if we don’t take to the streets and the halls of power, we, the progressive left will scream all we want here on the inter-tubes, to less and less effect.
Fuck it, PATIENCE BE DAMED.

[avaistheone1]

118. Wall Street banksters didn't need to be patient, big Pharma didn't need to be patient, the military

industrial crime organization didn't need to be patient, why should we be patient about our and our families' critical health needs?

[beltanefauve]

143. Wecome to DU

Well written! I look forward to reading more of your posts!:hi:

[DisgustedInMN]

146. Hello fellow...

... "newbie." I didn't notice your post count when I read this earlier, but I sure did notice your delightful way of laying it on the line. I'm right there with you on virtually everything you had to say. Done run out of patience a while ago myself.

As you've probably already noticed, not everybody exactly agrees with us, but then, what fun would that be if they did. Look forward to hearing more from you. Welcome!

[closeupready]

112. K&R

n/t

[closeupready]

113. Just wanted to add - I am an American first, a Democrat second.

Proud of belonging to both categories, and I hope that continues.

[raccoon]

115. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. " nt

[daleanime]

116. That depends on the final bill that passes...

if it's as bad as we fear, no we're not going to calm down:grr:

[blackbear79]

121. IT WILL BE REPLACED BY FUCKING RAGE

When people realize this bill does virtually nothing for them, increases premiums and mandates the purchase of a policy the angst may go away...AND BE REPLACED BY FUCKING RAGE.

Only the Insurance Companies angst will go away.

[ooglymoogly]

127. + three hundred million. If they think the elderly will forget

they better think again or hope they die before the next elections; Or the sick and dying, the poor and dwindling middle classes; They better think again or hope they die before the next election.

Like Her. B-sh they are living in their own created, self absorbed la la land. Doing dastardly things and hoping folks will soon forget is B-sh doctrine 101 and a recipe for disaster. B-sh had the elections caged and fixed. I don't think the democrats do; but then who knows; Leading emocrats are acting a lot like pugs these days.

[debbierlus]

130. The arrogance is breath-taking - and this isn't angst - it is full out rage

Spitting in our faces on health care reform doesn't cause 'angst' - what a fucking insulting term.

It causes full out righteous anger.

[busymom]

131. Get ready to get bent...

because it will happen to all of us!

[katkat]

132. Dan Pfeiffer is a son of a bitch. n/t

[CakeGrrl]

133. This is a bullshit secondhand interpretation of a quote from a WH staffer

The original NPR article DOES NOT have the White House referring to "liberal angst", nor is there a direct confirmation that Dan Pfeiffer was addressing concern over Healthcare. I believe his reference was in regard to losing some of the base before the next election cycle, NOT about Healthcare.

The responses in this thread are proof that the mob mentality is taking over this place.

Anyone who carefully read the original and source wouldn't be foaming at the mouth. This was posted to generate more anger at the WH, but it's based on a secondhand interpretation by another angry Progressive blogger who's interested in firing up the base against the Administration even if it's a dishonest charge.

[closeupready]

135. But what does it say about an administration who ostensibly represents people here, and yet,

it is so easy, apparently, to stir up voices of anger and discontent?

In other words, if most people here were happy with Obama's term, don't you think you'd have a lot of people defending his record? Instead, it takes one single story (which you claim is some kind of misrepresentation) to get a large number of "WTF?!" type responses.

I'd say they need to shape up, because this HCR blunder very well could be another "Read My Lips" scandal.

[CakeGrrl]

140. This thread is not representative of the general population

and I would say that also extends to the whole of DU.

As you probably well know, certain topics will draw a certain crowd to it - namely those who strongly agree regardless of the position. Some will dissent, but I also believe that a good number of people avoid hot-button threads because they almost always end up the same way. One viewpoint will usually outweigh the other, and the thread falls silent after a while.

If you were to poll the respondents to this thread about the President's overall performance, I'd bet $$$ that the result would be quite a bit lower than a more random sampling.

[ibegurpard]

148. Ah, the old "DU is not representative of the real world" mantra

It's worse out there...trust me.
No idea what circles you're hanging in but if you think the general population is pretty satisfied you're in for a really rude awakening.

[DisgustedInMN]

137. Are you kidding?

Or just plain delusional?

Keep whistling past the graveyard and pretending everything is just fine.

That'll work! :sarcasm:

[CakeGrrl]

138. No, I have perspective.

I am not wrapping my arms around the Healthcare debate as a whole. I'm citing this example as a poor one around which to rally righteous anger.

[DisgustedInMN]

144. Oh please..

...I think I'm going to hurl.

:puke:

[CakeGrrl]

147. Do whatever you need.

I stand beside the point I'm making.

[shopgreen]

141. Read betweens the lines and it comes out as liberal angst. No matter how you

try to rationalize it, it is what it is. The WH is playing us for fools.

[shopgreen]

139. with several years for most of it to take effect-the anger will only INcrease.

[debbierlus]

145. This is the quote that tells the entire story:

"We're not overly concerned about these things, first and foremost because there isn't an election tomorrow, not an election the next day," says Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director.

I see. So the ONLY thing they are concerned about is how this suck ass legislation will effect them come election day. No concern about how their sell out will decimate the working class of this nation and leave them at the continued mercy of the brutally unethical and profit motivated health care industry.

Got it. The majority of Americans (the left) are to be placated with meaningless words and empty gestures come election time and just forget. After all, where are they going to go?

Well, everyone. Where are we going to go?

According to them, straight to hell.

(Written in response to this DU post - journaling for future reference)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=433&topic_id=118397&mesg_id=118397

[Raine]

150. No, the "angst" will only get worse

when the general public sees how we've all been screwed over with this thing. x(

[emsimon33]

152. Maybe when we don't show up in 2010 they will stop dissing us

[Mimosa]

157. Emmanuel Rahm is a genius! NOT. n/t

[Mimosa]

158. When Rahm Emmanuel became Chief I knew we were screwed. n/t

[Moochy]

159. Lower Your Expectations until you are satisfied!

Keep going.

Lower.


lower still.





down here yet?

Yay Public Mandates! Yay no Public option! Hooray Team! :patriot:

[Mimosa]

164. LOL Moochy! SOS,DD.... I used to dream of real change. Silly me. n/t