Obama Press Conference 7/22

[Jake Denning]

It's going on right now on TV and youtube, your thoughts?

[J.C.]

I think he's done a good job tying health care into our broader economic situation.

[SpacePunk]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71HXEVSS12L._SL500_AA240_.gif

[peder458]

I think he's done a good job tying health care into our broader economic situation.

agreed. red or blue, it is nice to be able to laugh with not president; not at him.

[Love As Arson]

I think it was a poor performance. He didn't seem forceful enough.

[peder458]

I think it was a poor performance. He didn't seem forceful enough.

he did say health care will get done by the end of the year... that is kind of forceful? or is it just me... all in all you are right. he didn't provide any dagger statistics.

[saysmydoctor]

I agree with JC, he made it obvious that healthcare ties into the budget deficit being controlled. With that being said, I think he did a poor job as well. Though I did love the "I have great healthcare" line which I think put the discussion into context. The senators and representatives decrying government healthcare all have it. (I have it.) I don't hear them complaining about that though.

[Love As Arson]

he did say health care will get done by the end of the year... that is kind of forceful? or is it just me... all in all you are right. he didn't provide any dagger statistics.
Originally, the deadline was August. He seemed to back off from that.

[saysmydoctor]

If you want to be technical, the real 'back off' was promoting a public option instead of pushing a single-payer program that he has admitted to supporting.

[peder458]

True and true. point taken. do you think it will get passed??

[saysmydoctor]

In the House, probably, by a slim margin. In the Senate, nope.

[peder458]

In the House, probably, by a slim margin. In the Senate, nope.

this might be a really stupid question, but then what happens? it is just forgotten about until next election?

[saysmydoctor]

That I think will be Obama's only success in the matter, in legitimately making healthcare forever an issue if it is not solved. He has specifically and I think forcefully (and this was what I saw as the singular strength of the press conference) said that healthcare is a black hole of the US budget.

If nothing happens, it won't be his fault.

[Justin_stacy]

I think he had a pretty rough night. Even with softball questions from the press he seemed to stumble around alot more than usual with his non-answers.

I'm starting to have more hope that he doesn't have the support to rush through some disastrous quicky bill like he wants. I'm interested to see what the poll number are in the morning, I wouldn't be surprise if they dip some more.

[new_arbiter]

I don't think it's going to give him the push he needs on the issue.

[MyScene.MyLife]

Lol @ Barack Obama. He simply does NOT know what he is doing..

[WarpSpeedChewy]

I actually thought he hit a number of good points. I was glad to see him tackle some of the political hopes on him failing on the issue. J.C. was completely right when he tied health care into the economy and overall I think he handles the issue very well. I kinda of agree with the assessment that he could have been more forceful but I don't think he was lax on it either. He does a good job of acknowledging peoples perceptions on issues too and working them in.

[open mind]

what democrats don't seem to be able to comprehend is that people respect confidence and conviction...especially when it's backed with logic and reasoning.

they have the better platform, they're just total pussies about it.

[Praetor]

If you want to be technical, the real 'back off' was promoting a public option instead of pushing a single-payer program that he has admitted to supporting.
This is the only post in the thread that matters.

[saysmydoctor]

Lol @ Barack Obama. He simply does NOT know what he is doing..
In the same vein as you don't know what you are talking about.
what democrats don't seem to be able to comprehend is that people respect confidence and conviction...especially when it's backed with logic and reasoning.

they have the better platform, they're just total pussies about it.
Bingo.

[Jason Tate]

I think he had a pretty rough night. Even with softball questions from the press he seemed to stumble around alot more than usual with his non-answers.

I'm starting to have more hope that he doesn't have the support to rush through some disastrous quicky bill like he wants. I'm interested to see what the poll number are in the morning, I wouldn't be surprise if they dip some more.
Looks like you were wrong.

[Animalhill]

Lol @ Barack Obama. He simply does NOT know what he is doing..
:gunhead: Oy vey.

[Mercy Medical]

Originally, the deadline was August. He seemed to back off from that.
A lot of things he has originally said have changed...that seems to be the case with him.

[Justin_stacy]

I think everyone has agreed that August is off the table. That's probably a good thing regardless of where you fall on the issue.

[Mercy Medical]

I think everyone has agreed that August is off the table. That's probably a good thing regardless of where you fall on the issue.
Honestly, as much as I think we need proper healthcare in this country, I think it's better that this issue isn't rushed. I'd rather them take the time and get something well thought out then speed through it just to get it out there.

[Justin_stacy]

Honestly, as much as I think we need proper healthcare in this country, I think it's better that this issue isn't rushed. I'd rather them take the time and get something well thought out then speed through it just to get it out there.

I'm not against any idea on reform, I've been going thourgh hell just to keep my wife and kid covered while i'm out of work. I'm just scared they're gonna do some hatchet job, and were all gonna suffer for it in the end.

If it takes a year it takes a year, the rush shouldn't be on to meet some random deadline that doesn't fit the issue. it will probably do the moderates some good to go back home and hear what the citizens have to say on the matter.

[Mercy Medical]

I'm not against any idea on reform, I've been going thourgh hell just to keep my wife and kid covered while i'm out of work. I'm just scared they're gonna do some hatchet job, and were all gonna suffer for it in the end.

If it takes a year it takes a year, the rush shouldn't be on to meet some random deadline that doesn't fit the issue. it will probably do the moderates some good to go back home and hear what the citizens have to say on the matter.
And I think that's important. I think there are a lot of people out there right now (Democrats, Moderates, Independents, Republicans, etc) that are hurting and would really like to see some kind of health care reform. I think people need to look past the politics and see what the American people truly need right now.

[Justin_stacy]

I think people need to look past the politics and see what the American people truly need right now.

I completely agree, although I'd add 'want' to the ending there. Its the public, primarily the middle class, that's going to be shouldering the price tag for this bill and they should have some say in how its finally written.

[saysmydoctor]

Last time I checked, that the middle class will be shouldering the price of this bill is a complete and utter lie.

[AbsentTruth]

This health care plan is bullshit.

[saysmydoctor]

This health care plan is bullshit.
Look at all those facts and elaborations you presented to support this opinion.

[Praetor]

Look at all those facts and elaborations you presented to support this opinion.
Shocker?

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=49222142#post49222 142

[Justin_stacy]

Last time I checked, that the middle class will be shouldering the price of this bill is a complete and utter lie.

...and you're a fool if you believe that.

[J.C.]

Do I really need to explain myself? This health care plan is another step in the wrong direction. See through the lies and figure out their real agenda. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with helping the common man.

I love apt usernames.

[Jason Tate]

...and you're a fool if you believe that.
Well, I've looked at the math ... have you?

[paper halo]

Do I really need to explain myself? This health care plan is another step in the wrong direction. See through the lies and figure out their real agenda. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with helping the common man.

Would you mind explaining what this real agenda is? Does it involve the Illuminate?

[saysmydoctor]

Do I really need to explain myself? This health care plan is another step in the wrong direction. See through the lies and figure out their real agenda. Unfortunately it doesn't have anything to do with helping the common man.
Yes, you do. What is the real agenda?
...and you're a fool if you believe that.
What, the simple numbers behind it that are IN THE BILL? Yeah, how dare I not believe things printed in black and white? Unless the Middle Class includes people making 350k all the sudden--which it doesn't.

[saysmydoctor]

http://images2.dailykos.com/images/user/30549/obama_witchdoctor_muck.jpg

Nevermind, I found Obama's real agenda. He is creating socialized medicine. It's revolutionary in that the doctors aren't hired by the state and there are other health insurance companies and it doesn't have ANY of the traits of socialized medicine while still being socialized medicine.

Goodness, how could I have missed it?

[Justin_stacy]

Yes, you do. What is the real agenda?

What, the simple numbers behind it that are IN THE BILL? Yeah, how dare I not believe things printed in black and white? Unless the Middle Class includes people making 350k all the sudden--which it doesn't.

:-d you seriously believe THE BILL will work as WRITTEN, and the costs figures are true (and not sugar coated as many have said)? No, you're kidding me. Someones pulling poor old Justin's leg. No one's that intentionally naive.

The costs will almost certainly fall back on the middle/working class. We always take the back end of Washington's antics. You don't create new tax burdens on the so-called rich and think they'll absorb it on there own. Won't happen. Few small businesses are going to be able to afford these new costs, and the few that can are just going to push them right back on there employees and customers. Then you've got to into account the cost overruns that always follow big government expansion. Lost money, corruption, waste. Someones going to have to pay for those, it might shock Obama but we can't print our way out of those messes. Medicare is already awash with waste, and spends next to nothing to fight it. You don't think that's not going to continue with this plan?

Outside of being completely blind, there's no way you can reasonable assume these new massive costs aren't going to effect us in the middle. Knowing that I think we have every right to voice our opinions on the proposed bills to our congressman, and they should used the Aug. break as a way of hearing out the public. Cause in the end we're going to be the one's paying for what ever they do.

edited

[saysmydoctor]

Only about 2% of small business are actually affected by the new tax, so few small business will have to worry about the assumed burdened of these new costs.

[Justin_stacy]

I guess we'll see. We disagree on how likely this thing is to pass. I think its still coming and relatively fast. So we should see soon enough who's going to foot the bills.

[Love As Arson]

Typically, nations with universal health care use their purchasing power to decrease costs. As for small businesses, they are crushed by health care's rising costs, so the best thing to do would be to alleviate their burden with a single-payer system. For those to say we must wait, what do you think we have been doing since the end of WW2 when other nations implemented nationalized health care? What's more, let us not be dishonest: Waiting isn't about finding the best bill, because the opposition has no alternative, it is about political tactics.