The Summit's over...phew! Now we can go back to where we were before this thing started. It's fair to assume both sides want reform (I agree), but while the GOP wants smaller steps ensuring success along the way the Dems are prepared to dive in head first. The two sides are so polarized at the gate it's impossible to seek middle ground on specific provisions when you can't even compromise on strategy.
Here are some quotes and thoughts...
Harry Reid speaking of Obama said this today: "He sat through that and listened to everything and was so patient and responsive. It was an issue-oriented meeting. The president let everybody talk and talk and talk."
And by "everybody" I'm assuming Reid is talking about his fellow democrats and the president himself considering the time breakdown looked like this:
- President Obama = 117 minutes
- Democrat lawmakers = 114 minutes
- Republican lawmakers = 110 minutes
And what I love is this little bit of arrogance from our President (referring to the Republicans lack of speaking opportunity:
"You're right, there was an imbalance on the opening statements because I'm the president. I didn't count my time in terms of dividing it evenly."
So, yes, he's king...he's exempt from the rules. Or should I say, Professor/King. The summit basically turned into an Obama lecture, but the embarrassing fact was Obama wasn't even too familiar with the material.
See for yourself:
Exhibit A: When Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) referred to the estimate from the Congressional Budget Office stating individual policy premiums would be 10-16% higher than premiums under current policy, Obama claimed this was "not factually accurate," when it's actually right in the bill.
Obama later clarified the rise in premiums would be for "better coverage" than the "bad insurance" people currently have. Yeah, all that insurance we currently have is "bad" alright. If it doesn't have Obama's name on it, it must be "bad".
And is that justification for lying to the American people? Promising costs will go down, when actually they'll go up? The Dems defense is yes, costs will go up but there will be subsidies to help defray these costs. But no matter how you slice it, the subsidies must come from somewhere...taxes...and it's still an increase.
Exhibit B: I don't know much about Sen Tom Coburn (R-OK), but from his talking points at the summit I think he and I might get along. Here are a few great quotes:
Talking about fraud in Medicare/Aid, which is $1 out of every $3...can you say wow!? Coburn said:
"I don't know many people that will disagree that one in three dollars doesn't help somebody get well...we ought to be going for that one in three dollars. And we ought to do it NOT by creating a whole bunch of new government programs but by creating an incentive to reward people."
Did you know Coburn is a physician? I would suggest he has relevant and noteworthy background experience. I am a big supporter of public incentives to encourage responsible management of one's health care. As I mentioned in my last post, we pay a lot for our coverage but we are also much more cognizant of our health costs (we have a high-ish deductible). It works people. I am a living testament.
Also, Coburn talked about doctors and how their fears of malpractice suits was "akin to extortion" that drives doctors to order tests for their own protection rather than for patients.
It's no secret the people of this country are sue-happy...medical malpractice regulations could go a long way in cutting medical expenses and the cost of care.
Exhibit C: Bob Moffit's analysis, as quoted by The Heritage Foundation, notes a scary provision in the government plan, which Obama continues to deny as a government takeover of the health care system:
"Since the inception of the debate, it should be noted that the President insisted that his health policy agenda did NOT constitute a federal takeover of the health care system. In fact, it is very much a federal takeover...In the outline of his proposal...the President would add to the federal powers embodied in the Senate bill. The most important would be a new Federal Health Insurance Rate Authority, which would provide federal "assistance and oversight" to the states conducting reviews of "unreasonable rate increases" and "unfair practices" of health insurance plans. This, of course, establishes for the first time a legislative basis for the imposition of price controls on health insurance. If government can control both health benefits and health care pricing, that's the proverbial ball game. Private health care would be "private" in name only.
Now, if that doesn't scare you, you must be so dang progressive you can't see the forest for the trees. It's alarming. Now THAT would keep me awake at night.
And do you want to know what made me smile? Seeing Obama distracted and lose focus so easily. I felt he often pulled off topic and simply said, "That's just a talking point, we're not going there"....or to McCain, "We're not campaigning anymore" or my favorite?...
When Obama lays into Rep Eric Cantor (R-Va) about Cantor bringing copies of the health care bills calling it "stagecraft" and a "political stunt".
Wait a minute...you mean, Cantor brought the background material that was the basis for the summit and Obama thinks this is a political stunt? That's laughable!! This WAS a discussion about the health care bills right?
It's been suggested the entire summit was a political stunt for Obama and the Dems to put a face to the gridlock. Well, it's done and I actually think the GOP had a decent showing. Of course there was no compromise...of course the House and Senate will now work towards reconciliation...and, of course, our President and his congressional minions will forge ahead and rule against the will of the people.
Sources:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_022510/content/01125106.guest.html
Republicans have nothing to gain from any type of health care reform so essentially they behaved like I expected, continuously politicking rather than accomplishing anything so the extra seven minutes that the president got was probably better spent with him. OOOoooooh seven whole minutes you're right he is evil! There were a couple of good suggestions from the republican side, but they are already in the bill. Too bad they didn't read it before hand. Bring on health care reform!
ReplyDeleteJust some interesting reading...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/weekinreview/28abelson.html?ref=weekinreview