ThinkFast: September 9, 2009
ThinkFast: September 9, 2009
In his speech to a joint session of Congress tonight, President Obama “will press for a government-run insurance option in a proposed overhaul of the U.S. health-care system,” but will also say that “he is open to better ideas on a government plan if lawmakers have them.” Obama is likely to say that a public option will “not provide a level of subsidies that give it an unfair advantage over private insurers.”
Yesterday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee held an event outside the White House with former staffers of Obama’s 2008 campaign calling on the president to sign health care reform with a public option. Today, the group purchased a full-page ad in the New York Times.
Politico takes a look at congressional freshmen and writes that Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), the lead sponsor of the “birther” bill, “has taken a hit with his colleagues and most serious politicos of both parties.” Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said Posey’s bill “cheapens the debate,” and Rep. Peter King (R-NY) said “it’s harmful to the country.”
Environmental advocates yesterday “unveiled a major coalition aimed at getting a climate and energy bill passed this year.” The 63-member coalition includes NAACP, the Sierra Club, VoteVets, AFSCME, Catholics United, and others. The alliance “aims to combat the attacks against climate action and keep the issue atop the agenda this fall.”
41 percent: Europeans who “believe that transatlantic ties have improved over the past year,” double the percentage in 2008 during the Bush administration. Thirty-one percent of Americans believe the same, “triple the amount from one year ago.” Seventy-seven percent of Europeans also support Obama’s handling of foreign policy, compared to just 19 percent for Bush in 2008.
Color of Change’s successful campaign has thus far convinced over 50 corporate advertisers to drop Glenn Beck. Media Matters is keeping an eye on “who’s still advertising on Beck.” Check it out here.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) has decided that he will remain chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, likely clearing the way for Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) to take over the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee vacated by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Harkin’s ascension on the HELP panel could lead to Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) taking over the Agriculture Committee.
National Journal reports that key posts at the Department of Homeland Security remain unfilled. “Two of the most significant nominations still awaiting Senate confirmation are Rafael Borras to be undersecretary of Homeland Security for management and Tara O’Toole to be undersecretary for the department’s Science and Technology Directorate.”
And finally: Ever wonder what goes on “inside the mind of Mark Foley,” the congressman who had to resign after sending inappropriate messages to underage pages? Well, now you can know! Foley is set to debut a radio show on Sept. 22 on West Palm Beach radio station WSVU 960 AM. “You’re going to be amazed,” promised Foley’s spokesman.
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At this point, i’m much more concerned with Congress passing meaningful healthcare reform than I am with Congress passing ACES. Don’t get me wrong, I’d like to see ACES done….but I don’t see it happening before the year’s end.
And then there’s the Speech. There’s no question that Obama is the most gifted orator we’ve had in the White House since Kennedy (Clinton was magnetic, but just couldn’t reach that level of inspiration); let’s hope Congress takes heart. It’s entirely possible that we COULD have a real healthcare reform bill signed within a month.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:09 amOur President has to stand tall tonight.
Baucus already kow towed to K St., letting them read the committee report prior to the WH.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Republics try to milk some ’showtime’ at the event, given they have absolutely nothing positive to offer.
Could that be walking out or turning their backs on the President? We’ll see.
I hope we see fire & a thunderous oration with clear, concise points made about plans to move health care reform forward.
Recklessentative Bill Posey (R-FL) continues to beg for birthers, even though his own party doubts the wisdom of such.
A 1 party Democracy is a tough ship to sail.
I still believe we have the right guy at the helm of this Ship of State.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:12 amNational Journal reports that key posts at the Department of Homeland Security remain unfilled.
Ironic that the party that runs on fear and harps on how Obama is weakening the safety of the county keeps two such important positions empty by procedural tactics, isn’t it?
September 9th, 2009 at 9:13 amAlso, take a look at the wikipedia entry for healthcare in Japan. Is it just me, or is that the kind of system we direly need to adpot here?
Free screening for certain diseases, free prenatal care, strict government regulation for private healthcare, national health insurance program for those without insurance and the choice to select your own physicians or doctors.
And it costs half as much as the bloated clusterfk of the system we have now.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:15 amRep. Peter King (R-NY) said “it’s harmful to the country.”
WOW! I’d only be more shocked if Michele Bachman or Jean Schmidt or Sarah Palin said this. Mr. King must be up for reelection and running a bit scared. One could hope.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:17 am5. PLC,
Lest we forget, Mr. King represents one of the last three (soon to be 2, once McHugh is confirmed and the seat swings to the Dems) GOP congressman in NY. Methinks he’d rather not take the chance. As for Jeff Flake, he’s a Paul-ite. Pseudo-libertarian drivel, but, like Ron Paul, not an idiot.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:20 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Meanwhile, Saxby Clueless (DRT-AU) says that President Obama should “show some humility” in his address to Congress tonight. (translation –> “Obama should quit being so ‘uppity’”)
Couple of things, Saxby:
1. don’t worry . . . the President won’t be addressing you at all; he’ll be talking to folks who can make a difference
2. humility requires self-awareness; President Obama has that as opposed to morons like you, GDumbya, Limpballs, etc., who have the self-awareness of telephone poles
September 9th, 2009 at 9:28 amI suppose that’s important and worthy when his support among actual “Americans” has dropped considerably and is much lower.
I suppose that’s important and worthy when the “actual Americans” who claim to disagree with Obama’s foriegn policy can’t name a single part of it, but hate it because Fox News told them to.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:29 amtom @ 10:
When the likes of Sassby suggest that others show humility, it’s clear that their own hubris is showing…
September 9th, 2009 at 9:32 amWhat Chambliss would have liked to say is “That boy better know his place tonight. We don’t tolerate uppity in the Chamber.”
PEACE
September 9th, 2009 at 9:34 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Foley is set to debut a radio show on Sept. 22 on West Palm Beach radio station WSVU 960 AM. “You’re going to be amazed,” promised Foley’s spokesman.
So he’s only going to take calls from underage boys?
September 9th, 2009 at 9:37 amAnd only if they give him their phone number and set up a play date?
Anything else WOULD amaze me.
The state of Montana (and the rest of the country) would’ve done much better if Baucus has lost his re-election bid last year to “Republican” Bob Kelleher. Aside from being 85yrs old, a “Republican”, and stridently anti-abortion, Kelleher was in favour of:
Massive funding for alternative energy sources
Nationalizing the country’s oil/gas production
Single Payer Healthcare
Then Jay Rockefeller would be heading the Finance Committee and we would actually have a Senate bill with a strong public option. (he received “only” $150k or so from the insurance companies since ‘05. compared to the $550k Baucus has raked in). Also, I’d tend to think that, being a Rockefeller, he’s not particularly beholden to special interests…since he comes from the richest family in the history of the country.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:37 amObama may be talking directly to Congress, but he must be careful to include the specifics and message that the public wants – and needs – to hear regarding reform.
http://www.political-buzz.com/
September 9th, 2009 at 9:53 amI don’t recall Chyron actually saying who told him to “hate fox news”… unless YOU are just throwing a personal opinion out there.
Be that as it may, perhaps if Chyron “hates fox news” it’s because he has noticed that ‘fox news” distorts the debate seemingly as a matter of policy and serves an agenda under the masquerade of informing the public.
No one who has ever seen “fox news” needs TP to tell them that.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:56 amSorry… I mistakenly substituted “hate” for “blame” in my response to Tundra. I recognize that the alteration does change the tone and substance of the comment.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:58 amReminder to Republics & assorted Trolls…
Liberals began this health care reform journey wanting Universal Health Care coverage.
We still do.
This is just the beginning. You can laugh at us, cajole with your buddies or call us un-American. It doesn’t matter anymore.
Un-American is thinking somehow your agenda is more important than caring for our sick, disabled & elderly.
To date, you party has displayed disdain, alarmism & outright lies in an attempt to tip the balance of public opinion.
You call this bipartisanship. We call it total bullshit.
If any of you morons think corporate interests are going to take care of you in your time of need, think again.
Moving American into the 21st Century won’t be easy with people like you dragged along like the dead weight you are.
But we WILL prevail.
Personally, I believe that any Congress Hypocritter not supporting health care reform should be mandated ineligible for Federal health coverage.
So, as you watch our President tonight, remember, America is bigger than the small minds you possess.
*gets off soapbox*
September 9th, 2009 at 10:01 amFrom the Politico link:
“It raises an issue that is not real,” said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who said the birther bill can’t be divorced from the context of Obama as president and thus undermines the credibility of the commander in chief.
Did someone spike Rep. King’s corn flakes with… corn flakes this morning?
September 9th, 2009 at 10:03 amEnvironmental advocates yesterday “unveiled a major coalition aimed at getting a climate and energy bill passed this year.” The 63-member coalition includes NAACP, the Sierra Club, VoteVets, AFSCME, Catholics United, and others. The alliance “aims to combat the attacks against climate action and keep the issue atop the agenda this fall.”
So it’s 63 to 1? With the ONE being the energy industry?
Not good odds in Korporate Amerika.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:06 amPeter KING says the birther bill does harm to the country? Peter KING?
ha ha
THAT turnaround didn’t take long…
September 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am*gets out of his chair and applauds Zimzone’s FINE-ASSED rant*
September 9th, 2009 at 10:08 amWhy, Tundra…you’re actually defending FOX News. You have no credibility whatsoever with anyone except the craziest Americans out there.
We will now return to our regular program of ignoring Tundra.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:11 amIt shouldn’t be a surprise that the Science and Technology Directorate is being held up. It’s all a plot by the Anti-Science League, aka Flat-Earth Society, aka birthers, tenthers, the proudly idiotic.
‘Birther’ idiots are divorced from reality and shouldn’t be allowed near sharp objects. They don’t have the mental capacity to be unsupervised, and may harm themselves or others out of pure stupidity.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:14 amTundra says:
Why are you so bitter Tundra, is it because an uppity black man is now president of the United States?
Do you cling to your guns?
September 9th, 2009 at 10:19 amColor of Change’s successful campaign has thus far convinced over 50 corporate advertisers to drop Glenn Beck. Media Matters is keeping an eye on “who’s still advertising on Beck.” Check it out here.
What a laughable list of sponsors. There’s nothing there the average beckie listener would be spending any of his minimum wage on.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:24 amSome much needed humor in health reform debate. Must see ad by Scrubs stars.
http://axisofreason.com/2009/09/09/health-reform-worries/
September 9th, 2009 at 10:46 amTundra: “You are entitled to blame “fox news” because “TP” told you to.”
Hey stupid! Fox actually sponsored “Tea Party Events” and actively sold them to the public. Do you think our memories are that bad? We don’t need TP telling us whom to dislike. Unlike authoritarian sociopaths like you, we think for ourselves.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:51 amHey Tundra: when people can’t really describe what it is they are afraid of with Obama, you’ve got to think it’s racism, right? Reagan had scores of “czars.” The last five white presidents have talked to school children with nothing like the outrage that’s been exhibited recently. Reagan and both Bushes ran up the deficit and debt to new heights. They all had wars going on. Why do people like you get all worried about things you didn’t even consider when there were white presidents?
Are you people afraid of the black man? Sure seems like it.
September 9th, 2009 at 10:56 amZimzone: “If any of you morons think corporate interests are going to take care of you in your time of need, think again.”
They are on bended knee and want to believe the Padrone will be there for them. Corporate power is simply a carry-over from monarchy. We spent centuries under monarchies with landed aristocracies and some people with what psychologists call “authoritarian personalities” are simply expressing an inability to move beyond centuries of royalist butt-kissing.
Some of our country’s Founders felt that corporations were simply a new sneaky way of setting up a landed aristocracy which they felt was inherently not an American value. Now, corporate titans turn their power, castles and wealth over to their little princes and princesses just as royalty did for centuries. How many major corporations are owned not by the wealthy men who created them, but by their children?
Most of today’s conservatives are simply “royalists” and they don’t even know it.
September 9th, 2009 at 11:04 amexitstageleft @#29
Don’t have time to check out the link.
Is ChiaPet on it?
September 9th, 2009 at 11:36 amI’ve been having a sick feeling about tonights speach. The dem.’s seem to be hell bent on compromise – which means no real change. If health care is passed without single payer or a public option then it is just a giveaway to the insurance co.s.
I missed the entire scroll, but on MSNBC this morning I caught the tail end “…people will be fined $3,800. if they don’t have health insurance.” Must be the republican plan -right?
Tell me where not going to have some mandate that’s going to give the insurance industry another trillion dollars in “forced” revenue.
If something passes along these lines then Obama’s presidency is a total failure. Still in Iraq, escalating in Afghanistan, and reform that makes the insurances pigs piggier. Abject total failure.
I pray it’s not, but I haven’t seen any backbone yet.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:11 pmRich: “I missed the entire scroll, but on MSNBC this morning I caught the tail end “…people will be fined $3,800. if they don’t have health insurance.” Must be the republican plan -right?”
Conservatives are amazing, aren’t they? (And, I’m including Baucus) They scream and whine about the possibility that people will be “forced” on to a public option, so they come up with a way to force people to pay insurance companies more money.
One More Time!: We need public financing of all federal elections and a ban on corporate lobbying.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pmNinerfan,
O.k., so I guess that is the republican plan – makes sense (for them). But I’m still leary because I haven’t seen any backbone yet. I know I’m not going to see one in Reid, but it’s time for the President to kick some as*.
I’m afraid if he doesn’t the good fight for healthcare will be lost.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pmHey Rich. I hear you, but I’ve been saying all along that Obama has been sandbagging the right, giving them enough rope to hang themselves in front of the public by displaying their complete disregard for health care reform.
That case has been made. Few of the independents in the middle believe Obama hasn’t reached out to the right and that’s what they wanted him to do. They’re the ones who clamored for bipartisanship. All the Obama administration has done so far is rope-a-doped the right into punching themselves out and showing their true intentions. No sane person will blame Obama if he receives no support from the right.
September 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pmNinerfan,
The key being “no sane person will blame Obama if he receives no support from the right.”
How many sane republicans do you know?
September 9th, 2009 at 12:52 pmRight, but I’m not talking about repubicans. I’m talking about independents.
September 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pmObama receiving support from the right. Not hardly.
September 9th, 2009 at 3:07 pmThank you for your sharing.!
September 11th, 2009 at 3:10 pmMeanwhile, it remains unclear who will lead the Senate health committee following the death of its former chairman. karin ameliyati
September 15th, 2009 at 7:05 am