[freedomtowernight_edited.jpg] 26th Parallel: Thank You, Mr. President

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Thank You, Mr. President

Thank you, Mr. President, for being ready to admit that the "public option" was a mistake and to strike it from your health care bill. Maybe it's the pragmatist in Obama, or maybe he knows a sinking ship when he's in one. Regardless, the media will most likely play this out as a "victory" for Obama because he will be seen as having reached out and compromised (how much remains to be seen). Remember, just a few days ago he was in full "bravado" mode telling Republicans to "get out of the way". Of course, waking up on a Sunday morning and realizing that your side is taking a beating kind of makes one reconsider, eh? Perhaps a lot of mainstream Democrats will love Obama even more for this, but I wonder if most independents and centrists will forgive him for taking it this far. The far-left, ironically enough, will have an even harder time forgiving Obama for abandoning the public option, but where else are they going to turn to?

Despite a media-based perception of an Obama rescue, what does this say about the power of the American people? I mean, Obama is less than a year removed from a huge political victory and has a overwhelming majority Democrat Congress that he could have and will still use to drive home his policies. Yet, the people spoke out and not even a super-majority in Congress was enough. If there's one thing conservatives have learned, and I hope this is only the start, is that speaking out and sticking with a theme despite the inevitable cries of "mob" and "racist" pays dividends.

Now, Mr. President, it's YOUR turn to get out of the way and let BOTH sides of Congress sit down and work out a deal. Despite the lack of reporting in most of the media, there is a reasonable alternative health care plan presented by Republicans that can serve as a starting point for discussion. It's the Patients' Choice Act and it's currently going through committee in Congress. Republicans and conservatives have much to gain from this, so let's see if they take advantage.

9 Comments:

Blogger Rick said...

Successfully scaring the American public with rumors and distortions is hardly something to pat yourselves on the back about, Robert, but then again, I guess Republicans will take "victories" where they can get them these days.

BTW, were you aware that the so-called "death panel" provision was actually inserted into the healthcare plan by a Georgia Republican? Or that in 2003, Republican leaders signed off on almost the exact same "death panel" in another proposed bill?

Not that it matters much, eh?

.

11:47 PM, August 16, 2009  
Blogger Robert said...

Believe what you want to believe, Rick. The public option stunk to high heaven and was too expensive. The CBO indicated as much. That's not scaring anyone, it's telling the truth. Obama knows it and he couldn't get away with it.

BTW, what does the "death panel" have to do with this post, anyway? Scoring "gotcha points" where there are none to score is bad form, Rick, and shows you have no answers. If you have a beef with someone else about that, bring it up with them. I have no interest in hearing about it.

7:24 AM, August 17, 2009  
Blogger Rick said...

I confused the "public option" with the so-called "death panels." My mistake.

.

7:35 AM, August 17, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ricky boy confused? That's a first...

8:32 AM, August 17, 2009  
Blogger Rick said...

At least I'll admit it, George...

.

9:14 AM, August 17, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Your humility is legend.

8:17 PM, August 17, 2009  
Blogger Jorge Costales said...

Robert - I like that you point out that we really don't know why Obama caved - was he being a pragmatist [his inner Clinton, the male] or was he told that the rats were not just jumping ship, they were using trampolines.

9:41 AM, August 18, 2009  
Blogger Robert said...

I love the imagery of rats using trampolines! Apparently the White House hasn't confirmed this yet...interesting.

12:07 PM, August 18, 2009  
Blogger La Ventanita said...

trampoline??? Hilarious.

Rick I don't know about your town hall, but the one I went to had DEMOCRATS skewering their congressmen as well as Conservatives.

People are most scared at the COST of this thing, and the fact that they feel this is being rushed, and even more so, at this point in time and economy.

Scare tactics are used by both sides so cry me a river. I do remember Obama using scare tactics to get the stimulus bill approved, because it was urgent to get it through. And the money is trickling out slower than a tar drip.

9:20 AM, August 21, 2009  

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