No to Bad Healthcare; No to Bad War; No to Bad Obama

by YankeeJim | December 17, 2009 at 05:10 am

351 views | 44 Recommendations | 19 comments

No + No = No Obama

Howard Dean says no to new Senate & House Healthcare Legislation

Nancy Pelosi says no she won’t rally the support to fund troop expansion in Afghanistan

Obama’s constituents did not vote for Obama to produce politically expedient laws and decisions. They wanted boldness with results that make a difference and measure up to his and his party’s promises. So far, no go.

The tide is high and we’re not having fun. If you still want to be my number one, you’ll have to work, until it’s done.

“Health-care bill wouldn't bring real reform

By Howard Dean

Thursday, December 17, 2009

If I were a senator, I would not vote for the current health-care bill. Any measure that expands private insurers' monopoly over health care and transfers millions of taxpayer dollars to private corporations is not real health-care reform. Real reform would insert competition into insurance markets, force insurers to cut unnecessary administrative expenses and spend health-care dollars caring for people. Real reform would significantly lower costs, improve the delivery of health care and give all Americans a meaningful choice of coverage. The current Senate bill accomplishes none of these.”

“Pelosi says rallying votes for troop surge in Afghanistan will be Obama's job

By Paul Kane

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 17, 2009

President Obama will have to argue his own case to House Democrats as he seeks support for a planned surge of 30,000 troops into Afghanistan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Wednesday, adding that she is finished asking her colleagues to back wars that they do not support.”

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:15 on December 17th, 2009

I would tend to agree, that a health care bill, that doesn't have the results that were promised, makes support pretty difficult. Where is the cutting of pork?

Leadership is what was needed and was not provided.

YankeeJim

at 05:25 on December 17th, 2009

You were fast to the draw today, Cowpoke.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 05:50 on December 17th, 2009

You blink, you lose:)

But politically, the Democrats are in trouble. They are at one another's throats over health-care legislation that should be seen as one of the party's greatest triumphs. They are being held hostage by political narcissists and narrow slivers of their coalition.

When Democrats make deals, they are accused of selling out. When they fail to make deals, they are accused of not reaching out. Moderates complain that their party has gone too far left. Progressives chortle bitterly at this, asking: What's left-wing about policies that shore up banks and protect drug companies?

Rural-state centrists insist on more fiscal discipline -- as long as it doesn't affect farmers and small-town hospitals. Progressives ask why debt should be the priority when so much more needs to be done to relieve unemployment.

YankeeJim

at 06:02 on December 17th, 2009

We lack the data and analysis to know how close we are to a tipping point on debt.

snuffysmith

at 07:14 on December 17th, 2009

Maybe we would all be better off if Congress stayed home for five years.

YankeeJim

at 07:23 on December 17th, 2009

Wish it was that easy. I want our government to perform. We the people need to learn how to pick better representatives.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:23 on December 17th, 2009

The problem is that people are submitted to sophisticated ad campaigns financed by special interests. How can someone in Congress for 40 some odd years still be in touch with reality. We have discussed an elected Senate in Canada as well, instead of just one appointed by the Prime Minister. I'm starting to think that we should be careful what we ask for.

YankeeJim

at 08:45 on December 17th, 2009

You nailed it. In my book, Smart Data, I address this head on. I really don't think that members of the US Congress have the skill set to deal with their workload.

nanute

at 08:42 on December 17th, 2009

I want our government to perform. Me too. I just don't want them to continue performing for corporations at the expense of the governed. We are seeing the pernicious effects of corporate influence over the process in health care, just as we saw the effects on so called financial reform. Watch closely for the SCOTUS decision in the pending Citizens United v. FEC to see if the so called "conservative" Roberts Court will extend further, corporate rights at the expense of individual citizens rights.

YankeeJim

at 08:43 on December 17th, 2009

I agree.

truthteller (not verified)

at 08:44 on December 17th, 2009

No deal is better than a bad deal. This adage can also be applied to Copenhagen.

juliaredstone

at 09:09 on December 17th, 2009

People are attacking Obama in a lot of areas... Barney Frank did that due to foreclosure situation

YankeeJim

at 09:16 on December 17th, 2009

I campaigned for Obama with the promise that he would deliver on his platform. Unfortunately, he is a political compromiser, compromising the needs and values of his constituents.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 10:32 on December 17th, 2009

The abortion issue, and to a lesser extent Medicare cuts, remain major points of contention as at least one Democratic senator -- Ben Nelson of Nebraska -- indicated he'd break from party lines to strike down the sweeping legislation if the bill does not toughen restrictions to ensure taxpayer dollars don't fund abortion.

YankeeJim

at 10:58 on December 17th, 2009

i agree that abortion is a sticking point, but not for religious reasons. I just don't want to see lines of teenagers taking advantage of wholesale opportunity.

eastvanray

at 13:51 on December 17th, 2009

"Opportunity"? How on earth can you describe someone having access to abortion as an opportunity. Any opportunity for what? Do you honestly think teenagers are going out to get pregnant so they can take advantage of this "opportunity" to get a funded abortion? Honestly?

nanute

at 14:07 on December 17th, 2009

How right you are. It is and always has been about men (for the most part) wanting to tell women how they may or may not treat their body. It is a religious based moral argument. Period.