The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Politics & RKBA => Topic started by: Kid Shelleen on September 04, 2009, 11:44:24 AM

Title: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: Kid Shelleen on September 04, 2009, 11:44:24 AM
White House signals openness to health compromise
By CHARLES BABINGTON and JENNIFER LOVEN Associated Press Writers The Associated Press
Thursday, September 3, 2009 6:23 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as liberals urge President Barack Obama to demand bold, far-reaching changes to the nation's health care system, the White House signaled openness Thursday to compromises that might attract moderate congressional Democrats as well as some Republicans.
Obama believes in "fundamental principles" about overhauling health care, top presidential adviser David Axelrod told The Associated Press, but "he's not dogmatic about how we get there."
Axelrod's comments did not definitively answer how hard Obama will push for the most ambitious parts of his proposal, including health insurance for virtually all Americans and a government-run plan to compete with private insurers. But his diplomatic tone was in keeping with the administration's approach of refusing to flatly demand several parts that are dear to Democratic activists who helped elect him.
Those are the type of conciliatory hints that frustrate many liberals. They fear Obama will dilute the bold health care proposals he campaigned for, even though Democrats control the House, Senate and White House. One group, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, sent a mass-distributed e-mail quoting a Texas man saying he is "dropping out of political activism" because of his disillusionment with Obama over health care.
Also, former President Bill Clinton told Esquire Magazine that Obama should forge ahead with his health care proposals. "I wouldn't even worry about the Republicans," Clinton said. Obama is doing the right thing, he said, "even though he's jamming a lot of change down the system."
But many Democrats wonder if Obama really will jam a robust plan past overwhelming GOP opposition and the reservations of many centrist congressional Democrats eyeing their next election. Those Democrats will listen carefully for clues when Obama addresses a joint session of Congress next Wednesday night.
Axelrod's cautious answers Thursday might offer little comfort to those seeking forceful signs from the administration.
Asked if Obama might accept a Republican senator's idea for creating a public health insurance option only if private insurers prove unwilling or unable to meet certain affordability targets, Axelrod replied: "We need choice and competition within the pool that's created."
The plan has been floated by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. She often is seen as the most likely GOP lawmaker to support a primarily Democratic-crafted health bill. She would have nonprofit agencies offer health insurance only if private insurers could not cover 95 percent of the people in their regions with plans costing no more than about 15 percent of the person's or household's annual income.
Many Democrats want prompt creation of a government-run program to compete with private insurers, who stand to gain millions more customers if Congress mandates coverage of the nation's uninsured. Obama has often said he favors such a "public option." But he and his aides have repeatedly stopped short of saying he would sign no bill without it.
Obama's pollster Joel Benenson sent new survey findings to Democratic lawmakers Thursday in an apparent bid to reassure them that support for health care changes can be politically popular. The somewhat lukewarm support for Obama's initiatives, his memo said, is "based in large part on a lack of awareness of the details of the plan."
"When voters learn about the composition of the plan, support grows considerably," the memo said.
Liberals hope the administration's conciliatory words will eventually give way to a forceful move to enact a far-reaching bill, even if it draws no GOP votes. Some are warning Obama not to take them for granted.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, comprised of 83 liberal lawmakers, sent Obama a letter Thursday saying a health bill "without a robust public option will not achieve the health reform this country so desperately needs. We cannot vote for anything less."
But some moderate Democrats in the House and Senate are wary of a government-run insurance plan. It might amass enough leverage over doctors, drug companies and others to eventually drive private insurers out of business, they say.
The Congressional Black Caucus called on Obama Thursday to show "unwavering support" for "a strong public health option" and the full funding of health care expansions included in a pending House bill.
Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday the administration is fiercely determined to get a health care overhaul, although he conceded it probably won't happen without "an awful lot of screaming and hollering."
Appearing at a Brookings Institution gathering, Biden said it will be difficult to find a consensus on remaking the health care system. But he also predicted that "we're going to get something substantial." He declared that "we're going to get there."
Meanwhile, a top Republican player in the health care debate said Americans should expect a rather modest bill from Congress this fall. Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, one of three GOP negotiators seeking a bipartisan bill in the Senate Finance Committee, told Iowa radio station KMCH, "It may be a scaled-own bill. It may be kind of miniature to what we're talking about."
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: tombogan03884 on September 04, 2009, 12:00:25 PM
 They don't really care what gets passed as long as SOMETHING does, then when continued half assed Govt. meddling continues to fail as it has in everything else Govt has interfered with they can take it over completely the way they have banks with the Dem manufactured Mortgage fiasco.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: WatchManUSA on September 04, 2009, 12:22:28 PM
Do I believe Obama?  HELL NOoooo!

This is a ploy.  He is going to trot out some lame thing he can call a concession.  The republicans will reject it.

The next thing we will hear the administration say is, “See, we tried to meet them half-way and instead of negotiating they just said no!  I didn’t want to do this but we are going to pass it despite the objection of these out-of-touch republicans, their insurance company palls and the drummed up astro- turfing mobs.”   

I fear they will use the rejection as a way to pass it in the Senate with a simple majority.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: PegLeg45 on September 04, 2009, 12:24:35 PM
Q: Do you believe this change of heart?

A: NO.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: Hazcat on September 04, 2009, 12:32:54 PM
NO.  In the end there will be a bill and slipped in there somehow will be the governments foot in the door.  Very quickly it will kick the door in and we will have full blown socialized medicine.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: shooter32 on September 04, 2009, 12:34:15 PM
NO
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: tt11758 on September 04, 2009, 01:54:52 PM
Quote from: Hazcat on September 04, 2009, 12:32:54 PM
NO.  In the end there will be a bill and slipped in there somehow will be the governments foot in the door.  Very quickly it will kick the door in and we will have full blown socialized medicine.
.

I think it will be more than just a foot in the door.  I think these a-holes will slip in some sort of amendment in the dead of night that will give the post turtle what he wanted in the first place.

You can tell he's lying............his lips are moving.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: CurrieS103 on September 04, 2009, 02:31:23 PM
NO!
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: 2HOW on September 04, 2009, 02:55:13 PM
A change of heart NO, a change of strategy YES. He sees the writing on the wall, he will do what ever it takes to save his ass and his Democratic majority.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: twyacht on September 04, 2009, 08:28:01 PM
Not just NO, but HELL NO.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: Woody on September 06, 2009, 11:33:44 AM
Sorry, we know that kind of man, we have seen his past voting record and affiliations. A good compromise is to admit them all to the insane asylum, get rid of the HMO's and start going back to your doctor and pay him less. Get rid of all the middle men.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: tombogan03884 on September 06, 2009, 11:40:43 AM
 Across the board, Private as well as public institutions and business in general should cut their administrative overhead by 50% at a minimum. neck tie wearing deadwood has become the curse of business as well as the military and Govt.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: pioneer on September 08, 2009, 03:07:44 PM
History teaches us that the socio-crats have socialized medicine as a core belief. 
There is no change of heart, but a change of tactics.  Baby-steps. 
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: tumblebug on September 08, 2009, 03:43:44 PM
no NO NO PASS NOTHING TILL WE HAVE  NEW PEOPLE NO NO NO IMPEACH NOW NOW NOW
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: pioneer on September 08, 2009, 04:07:39 PM
Quote from: tumblebug on September 08, 2009, 03:43:44 PM
no NO NO PASS NOTHING TILL WE HAVE  NEW PEOPLE NO NO NO IMPEACH NOW NOW NOW

I'm sure most of us, if not all, agree with you on that one.  The reality is; articles of impeachment have to passed by the House of Representatives and the trial is held in the Senate, both leftist Democrat controlled.  How do you propose going about that?  It would help to have a sea-change and 180 degree change in the news media, but don't hold your breath.  We're going to be stuck with something and the resultant loss of freedom, the only question is a matter of degree.  I wish it were not so and we tried to avoid electing obama, but wishing is for children.  

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb294/pioneer461/Obama/obamaobey.jpg)
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: tombogan03884 on September 08, 2009, 04:26:46 PM
Black mail. The dirt on these low lifes is out there, document it and use it to make them either do what they are told or resign.
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: WatchManUSA on September 08, 2009, 04:42:13 PM
Obama Maximus is scheduled to give a speech on Obama-Care tomorrow night to a joint session of Congress.  He is going to tell us what we want to hear.  Do not be duped.  He will tell us one thing to try and placate the masses (his poll numbers) but he will do something quite different.

Do not be tricked - this guy cannot be trusted!
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: Sgt Z Squad on September 09, 2009, 11:25:46 PM
Would you buy a car from this guy? ;D
Title: Re: Do you believe this change of heart?
Post by: WatchManUSA on September 10, 2009, 09:24:14 AM
From last nights speech I think Obama Maximus proved he has had NO change of heart.  He is hell bent to force Reconciliation in the Senate to make it happen.  He has heard the people but he does not care and he will not listen.