Anybody else beside me glued to the tv watching the "summit" all day?

[gateley]

I think it went well and I think Pelosi opened up the door to be able to utter "public option" again.

I'm cautiously hopeful.

:hi:

[PatSeg]

1. I watched a lot of it

though I started a bit late. It was fascinating television and I was very impressed with Obama. He looked a like leader. I particularly enjoyed the republicans who actually had to present some substance instead of their usual BS talking points.

Tom Harkin and Dick Durbin were great!

[gateley]

4. I agree it was fascinating -- and I found I was just as rapt when they were

showing clips of it afterward. Obama suffered no fools -- he wasn't taking any shit. And Pelosi! Wow!

I've posted that maybe Obama was doing this as a "see? what else can I do?" gesture to then be able to usher in the reconciliation with a PO -- I've been laughed at, but after yesterday, I'm not so sure I was that far off track.

On the other hand, I may be attributing more strategy to this than is warranted, but I'm beginning to think Obama plans all his moves carefully and strategically.

[PatSeg]

5. Obama definitely is a very strategic thinker

It is possible he let the republicans dig themselves deeper and deeper for months, knowing he would eventually call their bluff in a highly public way. The more he ignored them, the more outrageous they became with their endless contradictions and flat out lies. Then he made them sit down and act like grownups!!! They were clearly uncomfortable, as if they'd been called to the principal's office after months of unpunished pranks.

Your scenario sounds pretty reasonable to me. I wanted to believe that, but didn't want to get my hopes up. If it is true (hope, hope), he is a VERY patient guy!

[gateley]

6. I hope it's true, too, although I didn't let myself really believe it for the same

reason -- getting my hopes up.

IF it was all strategy, can you imagine what's coming down the pike? :woohoo:

[PatSeg]

8. Yeah

This could be a VERY interesting ride. I like the way Obama breaks with tradition and throws his adversaries off their game.

I'll continue to be critical, but for the most part I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

[PatSeg]

2. In case anyone missed Dick Durbin

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x437957

[gateley]

7. He was awesome! I enjoyed watching THAT again, too! nt

[PatSeg]

9. I love Dick Durbin

He is definitely one of the good guys.

[PatSeg]

3. Photos of Joe from the event

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/25/840788/-HCR-summit-photo-quotes-diary-%28Updated-with-vid%29

[jillan]

11. Tweety and Chuck Todd were praising Joe last nite for his remarks.

They were both saying that Biden had the best remarks. I'm beginning to think that Biden gives Tweety leg tingles. He's always praising Joe lately and defending Joe if anyone on his show says anything negative. If only he had those tingles in 2008.

[PatSeg]

12. I think he started to have those tingles back then,

but I'm betting that his producers told him to chill.

Oh well, he speaks very highly of Joe now. A compliment coming from Chuck Todd is really rare. I swear, Joe is finally getting the respect he deserves.

[jillan]

17. Looking at the second photo -

do you get the feeling that was from when Boner was speaking? Or should I say sputtering? lol...I know, that was in bad taste - lol... oh gosh, I couldn't resist.

[PatSeg]

19. Oh yes, thats what it looks like

Oh not in bad taste at all. The man does sputter. At least he came to the summit sober. What on earth are the qualifications to be House Minority Leader? Out of all those people, they picked Tom Delay and then John Boehner???

[jillan]

10. Me! I watched as much as possible.

It was very frustrating that Msnbc didn't carry it - or Cspan. I started watching it on CNN, but they kept cutting away to analyze every little thing. I have to confess that I watched most of it on Faux - yes Faux - they played it almost non-stop. Go figure!
Shepard Smith balled out John Thune - R SD...that was great. Shep asked him "what the hell are the republicans doing?" Why do they keep saying that we need to start over. You know the Dems wont do that. Obama wants Republican ideas - why isn't anyone giving that to him? You know the Dems are going to pass healthcare with or without the Republicans so why aren't the republicans trying harder to wrok with Obama. hahaha - it was priceless!!!

I know alot of people here were watching the live stream from C-Span. I don't have the patience to sit at the computer for hours like that to watch.

[PatSeg]

13. Oh that is too funny

about Shepard Smith. What great questions!

I was pissed at MSNBC. They can play the Olympics on NBC nonstop. MSNBC is supposed to be NEWS and this was a huge event. I watched it on CNN and it was so insulting. Who is their target audience? 4th graders? During the summit they'd put up words and phrases along with the definitions. Anyone who is watching the health summit KNOWS what "pre-existing condition" means. FOX may be outrageous and absurd, but CNN is going all silly these days. And their political commentary is usually for shit.

Why is Wolf Blitzer their number one anchor anyway? He has no personality, doesn't seem all that smart, and his voice is an annoying drone that puts people to sleep. I just don't get it. I get the feeling that he is CNN's Ted Baxter.

[jillan]

14. Wolf is the number one anchor? No way!!

I can take him more than I can take that Gloria Boerger. Ugh - that woman can't hide her disdain for the Dems, and they had Mary Matlin on, that's when I changed over to faux.

[PatSeg]

15. He gets prime time and more on air time

than anyone else. I just don't get it. I really don't understand how most of their top personalities reached that status as they are really pretty unimpressive and dull. What is the basic requirement at CNN? I'm trying to figure out what they are going for. There is Dana Bash who blinks a mile-a-minute and has nothing intelligible to say, but found out recently that she is married to John King. Well I have a dish rag with more personality than John King.

I know that there are a lot of intelligent, talented people out there, but somehow not one of them ended up at CNN. I love Christiane Amapour though. As for the rest, I am saddened.

[jillan]

16. You know who I like at CNN?

Candy Crowley. She doesn't put on airs, and she seems to be one of the only true fair and balanced reporters out there.
Plus I love it that she looks the way she does, like a real person. I heard she took over CNN Sunday show...I just might start watching it again.

[PatSeg]

18. Oh yes,

I like her too, really down to earth. I miss Aaron Brown. He looked like a real journalist.

And of course I have always loved Jack Cafferty. Not a pretentious bone in his body. The contrast between him and Wolf is always amusing to watch. I always feel like Cafferty is laughing at the little bearded twerp.

[jillan]

20. And I always get the feeling that Wolf is intimidated by Cafferty.

They are an ODD couple!

[PatSeg]

21. Oh yes

Wolf becomes very uncomfortable when he talks to Cafferty, a real journalist. I can't imagine anyone wants to listen to Wolf's annoying, boring voice and Cafferty seems to be laughing at him. I love Jack Cafferty and have great sympathy for him - he is surrounded by fools and assholes and he knows it.