Obama to hold televised summit on healthcare

[kpete]

Source: BBC News

Page last updated at 01:57 GMT, Monday, 8 February 2010

Obama to hold televised summit on healthcare

Obama said healthcare reform was the best way to cut the US deficit - courtesy CBS

US President Barack Obama will hold a televised, summit-style meeting to discuss healthcare reform with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

Speaking on CBS News, he said the discussions would aim to explore the "best ideas", "step-by-step".

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said "shelving" the bill would be best to reach consensus.




Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8503403.stm

[Cleita]

1. Thanks for the heads up. I suppose there is no time and date yet.

As far as Mitch McConnell, maybe it would be a good idea to shelve him first.

[harun]

14. They should only let moderate Repub's come to the meeting.

When I think of it, that wouldn't be anyone would it?

[24601]

32. Disagree strongly - make the opposition determine their own reps

If you pick their representatives, then you are responsible totally for the outcome and their leadership is completely off the accountability hook.

The "we won, bite me" approach has cost enough independents to lose the House and probably 5 or 6 Senators. Winning them back will not be accomplished with more of the same.

[Oregone]

2. Explore the "best ideas" like single-payer?

Or is it just to pay lip service to mandated & subsidized private insurance?

[Deep13]

4. Right, we all know single payer is the best idea.

Hmmm. Medicare, 1% overhead.

Corporate insurance, 30% overhead.

That's a tough call.

[truedelphi]

7. And he knows it too. His mantra while running for the Senate was

"The best and most logical approach to HCR is Single Payer Universal health Care. But we can not bring about that approach until we have a majority in both Houses and a Democratic President in the Oval OFfice."

He didn't realize that if that Democratic President had an overwhelming need to be "bi-partisan" than the fate of SPUHC was about the same as the DoDo bird.

[Mithreal]

18. +1

[Mithreal]

19. I thought when Obama was sworn in we put irony behind us

I thought the adults were supposed to be in charge, hear it often enough here. Instead it just looks like TBTF corporations are in charge.

[No Elephants]

28. What are you trying to do, get the Secret Service to have you arrested?

If you did not see Bill Moyers Journal this past weekend, that was the fate of Dr. Flowers and her colleague.

Obama did his usual grandstanding/showboating in Washington, D.C. about anyone having a better plan {than the Senate bill} should let him know. So, Dr. Flowers showed up at the White House and asked a guard to pass a paper to the President. The guard told Dr. Flowers that she would have to mail it in. (I don't know if Flowers did or not.)

Shortly afterward, Obama issued a similar "challenge" in Baltimore. Dr. Flowers was there with her "Medicare for all" proposal and her colleague. They both got arrested and the Secret Service questioned her about her thoughts of harming the President.

So much for "If anyone has a better idea, let me know." The line still gets applause, though, so it's a winner.

(What in hell are we going to do for truth on TV after Moyers retires?)

Read the transcript or view the podcast. http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/profile3.html

[Deep13]

3. I other words he's going to chew them out in front of everyone.

:woohoo:

[abelenkpe2]

5. please please please let this happen! nt.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Or talk to a bunch of empty chairs with names tags on them......

whichever one; could make for great teevee!

[Andy823]

8. Yep.

Or when most of the republicans don't show, it will prove who is working on helping the people, and who is simply trying to stop "anything" from happening!

I think this is a great idea, and it may not affect the nuts on the right, they will still complain no matter what, but it will help bring in sensible people who want to see health care reform, and let them see the facts, and not just the right wing talking points that all the bill will do is kill granny!

[dflprincess]

10. Chew them out for what?

Not agreeing to pass the insurance bailout or will he suddenly decide he supports real reform?

[Deep13]

12. For an absolute failure to act. nt

[No Elephants]

29. When their inaction should have been totally irrelevant, given

an overwhelming Democratic majority in the House, 60 Senators in the Democratic caucus and a Democrat in the Oval Office?


the portion of the American public who care enough about politics to watch this dog and pony show on TV know better. But, it will no doubt be every bit as entertaining as professional wrestling on TV--and just as meaningful.

[Mithreal]

21. swishhhh, all net

makes a big damn difference

[Mithreal]

20. Chewing out or universal healthcare? Chewing out or UHC? Chewing out or UHC?

I know false choice. We could have had neither.

[Kahuna]

34. Exactly!!!

:popcorn:

[LeftHander]

9. so another opportunity for the Chimps to throw dung...

Americans love that.

[Jefferson23]

11. And will this be confined to ideas offered, or will anyone be

challenged with substantiated facts as they spew the same crap about medical malpractice as a serious cost problem related to health care.

Tort Reform Unlikely to Cut Health Care Costs

Studies Show Malpractice Awards Are Not Big Driver of Skyrocketing Costs
http://washingtonindependent.com/55535/tort-reform-unlikely-to-cut-health-care-costs

I want to hear anyone defend (Blue Dogs included), WHY they do not wish to eliminate a federal antitrust exemption for health insurance.



From the OP: "He said he would seek specific answers from Republicans on how they would propose to lower costs, extend coverage to the uninsured and revise insurance rules which currently block those with pre-existing conditions from getting coverage.

The half-day meeting will take place on 25 February, after a congressional break between 15 to 19 February.(end)


If Obama is going to publicly throw this ball in their court, GREAT strategy!

If no honest conversation about how to achieve meaningful health insurance reform is the result, then fuck them all.

[Doctor_J]

13. This was the headline in July, 2009, wasn't it?

or at least it should have been.

[Demeter]

15. Rather Like Grilling the BBQ After the Charcoal's Burned Up and Ashes

I have lost any ability to see change in our future under this administration.

[BP2]

16. There's only 2 outcomes: 1) The Pukes say "hell no"; or 2) The Pukes say "hell yes" and water down

the HCR Bill even than it's already been by Big Pharma and Big Insurance, under the false pretense of bipartisanship.

Except for scoring political points for Option 1, neither of Options 1 or 2 get us any closer to the HCR that America needs.

[ixion]

17. He can talk all he wants, I still won't support mandated health insurance

period.

[Lil Missy]

30. I'll notify the press immediately.

[Lil Missy]

31. I'll notify the press immediately.

[Mithreal]

22. It's not like this would be corporate MEDIA controlled, right?

President Obama is responsible for taking the best solutions and some of the better amendments Off The Table.

Should just let Lieberman moderate.

[DFW]

23. Republicans will say ANYTHING is better that appearing on TV holding a discussion with Obama

They know from recent first-hand experience that he will wipe the floor with them. They'll knife him in the back
after the cameras are off, of course. They always do. But the last thing they want to do is appear on TV with him
again. "NO!" works a lot better when needy constituents don't see you saying it when it applies to them.

[DallasNE]

24. Let's See How This Plays Out

Initially it looks like the Republicans plan on remaining the party of no (and that doesn't mean New Orleans either). Can they continue to get away with gridlock with the cameras rolling? One would think not.

[Tumbulu]

25. This is a fabulous idea and hope that it occurs soon

soon enough to continue shaming the repugs.

[JBoy]

26. To McConnell: Going and fucking yourself would be a good place to start.

[No Elephants]

27. I can remember back in the day when Obama promised that ALL the negotiations would be on C-Span.

Then, he started negotiating privately with Big Health and the "transparency" was so great that "the Secret Service" even refused an FOIA request for the White House logs.

Good times.

[Kahuna]

33. I'm thinking a, 'Thrilla in Manilla' beatdown for the repukes.

:patriot: