Here's what I didn't hear last night: "I will veto any plan that doesn't have a public option."

[Cyrano]

Without those words, who knows what we will end up with?

As much as I like Obama, here's what I came away from the speech with: "Have patience. You're still getting fucked, but we're going to fix it -- someday."

Someone is going to have to point out to me this "change" thing that was discussed during the presidential campaign.

[The Straight Story]

1. Got to keep powder dry for midterms. Besides, congress has insurance

so no need to rush, they will be ok.

[WeDidIt]

2. HE could nto threaten a veto like that

That's politically impossible.

[armyowalgreens]

3. How in the world is that "politically impossible"?

[WeDidIt]

7. Had he threatened to veto any bill without a PO

Health care reform would ahve died right there because no bill would ever make it to his desk.

Clinton made that mistake.

[TransitJohn]

14. Meaningful health care reform did die right there last night

we'll get token health insurance reform. But profits will be maintained as now we'll be mandated to give those fuckers money. Welcome to the new open corporate slavery in the United States.

[Cyrano]

4. Ummm, Why???

[WeDidIt]

9. Clinton made the veto threat in '93

and that threat killed any chance of any bill ever making it to his desk.

[vi5]

5. I've seen 4 newspaper headlines today...

...about the speech. And all make mention that Obama is willing to drop the public option.

Wonderful.

[bobburgster]

6. A trigger will work.

A well worded trigger mechanism for the public option would address the political concerns of those up for re-election, as well as put in place the mechanism to kick in the public option. We know the insurance industry will figure a way around reducing our costs and real competition...so it's just a matter of time before the option kicks in.

[joeycola]

10. ah, lets see. So far, this 'reform' will wait for 4 years to kick in and then

how many years waiting for the trigger to kick in?

[karynnj]

22. If you are going to do a trigger, why not do these two things in parallel

Spend the money to design and set up the public option - just as all public option proponents want. Put in a trigger that says if the insurance companies have NOT made the needed improvements - it goes into effect. If they have, the public option will have accomplished its goal without even existing. It would then not start, but monitoring could continue and that plan would be held over the insurance companies as a threat to insure they continue to improve.

[bobburgster]

23. Absolutely!

Thanks for explaining it so well.

[bobburgster]

25. Hopefully not too long...

but it sure as well beats giving defeat to the reps on a silver platter.

[customerserviceguy]

13. A trigger puts this in the hands of the enemy

And they can always figure out a way to finagle things until they can buy the WH back for a Repuke. It's hard to take something away that's already been enacted, but relatively easy to take away things that are planned for down the line, yet have not been activated.

[bobburgster]

26. The trigger would be law!

[customerserviceguy]

27. Yes, it would be law

but the timing of the pulling of that trigger would be firmly in the hands of the insurance companies. They could always finagle ways of keeping the trigger from going off for a couple of years while they wait for a more favorable political climate.

[bobburgster]

29. Anythings possible, but I would like to believe...

the trigger would be worded to safeguard that from occurring.

[Richardo]

8. That's because he's the President, not some denizen of an on-line message board.

[spanone]

11. i didn't hear his brownie recipe either.

[customerserviceguy]

12. Joe Wilson is a sideshow

What really counts is what happens (or doesn't happen) under the big top.

My prediction is that it will be pretty much nothing. Congress has heard from its constituents, and for every wingnut teabagger that showed up to heckle at a town meeting, there were 1000 letters from the same ilk who could not find a corporate sponsor for a bus ride.

[stray cat]

15. I think the senate votes may make more difference than a speech on what we end up with.

If we want a public option - we need to get the votes in the senate - if you can contribute to that go for it!

[stray cat]

16. I will not regulate insurance companies and I will give them free reign to prey on you

if you don't include a public option - is that what you want him to say?

[SheilaT]

17. Something along those lines.

I'm so disappointed that I can hardly stand it.

There is no meaningful control over the insurance companies that I heard. And four years for this to kick in? How many will die in the meantime because the almighty insurance companies will continue to deny care? How many will lose their life savings and declare bankruptcy because even though they have insurance their share will be immensely huge?

Too little, too late.

[robcon]

18. The reason you didn't hear it is because he will not veto it.

The president, IMO, will sign whatever bill is passed by Congress.

[Beacool]

19. Bingo!!

That's what I've been thinking for months now. No matter what bill is presented to him, I think that he will sign it.

[robcon]

20. I said that last year when "competing" health care proposals were discussed.

There were several DU threads on the 'differences' between Clinton's and Obama's heath care plans last year. At the time I said either one will sign whatever Congress passes, so the 'differences' are moot.

[Beacool]

21. The difference to me is that Hillary would have fought tooth and nail for her plan.

And not allowed Congress to do whatever pleased them and lose control of the issue until the speech last night. Nice speech, let's just hope that it produces results.

[The Magistrate]

24. There Will Not Be a Veto, Sir

"Never make a threat you will not follow through."

[Joe Fields]

28. get real