Bipartisan Healthcare Summit, Anyone? Bueller?

[Mr Douglas]

All's good. It's hard to tell sometimes. I'm sure I'm hard to figure out sometimes. I'm a left-leaning centrist, whatever that may mean to whomever. You could call me a conservative/anarchist too, or God forbid, a Libertarian. My concept of what the Constitution says is a result of having read it over and over again throughout my life. We lack CONSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION these days. I wish Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich would dump their predictable differences and run a bipartisan race in 2012. It's 'both and neither' all at once, since if one wishes to participate on the national stage, he's got to get in there and be owned by somebody.

[edeevee]

\"Bipartisan Healthcare\" this doesn't seem like a Democratic topic at all! Just in your comments here I see you have taken your Dem. time to \"SLAM\" the Republican Party... how many times? Republicans want to start over so the whole Bipartisan anything can exsist!
Waiting around for the majority, this should not be too complicated after the left bring on more of their \"SUMMITS\". I just wish that the left would understand just make the \"Hope and Change\" happen and quit looking backwards blamming the previous administrations, or move out of the glass house before throwing stones. This could be one reason that your Bipartisan talks mean very little to so many!!

Insert scathing remarks and evil looks _here_.

[HomeyG]

I have an idea. Let's take 1 Democrat, 1 Republican, 2 pencils, 2 sheets of paper, with President Obama furnishing the beer, lock'em up in a room and no potty breaks until they write a bill that we all would like.

[Mr Douglas]

I have an idea. Let's take 1 Democrat, 1 Republican, 2 pencils, 2 sheets of paper, with President Obama furnishing the beer, lock'em up in a room and no potty breaks until they write a bill that we all would like.

I will gladly provide the pencil and paper. Hell, I'll buy the beer. (If I quietly take out the lobbyists, will somebody create a credible and fool-proof diversion?)

AWWW.... Now I'm starting to sound just like one of them.

[john40]

I have an idea. Let's take 1 Democrat, 1 Republican, 2 pencils, 2 sheets of paper, with President Obama furnishing the beer, lock'em up in a room and no potty breaks until they write a bill that we all would like.

Who is going to buy the Depends?

[edeevee]

I watched/listened to every minute of that days meeting that I could edeevee. I found it quite by-partisan too as I think you were saying.

Elected Officials are expected not to show their cards of taking care of the peoples light work/business and was going fine that way untill when what bummed me out I had only two TV channels that were covering the days event. And when one (CNN or FOX) would butt in and play their own so called cards as those in atendance were having their turn I often found both were butting in and found myself being disfranchised from how D.C. was trying to get it all on one page.

What I expect is this President as have most,if not all,is about to do an Executive Priviledge of the peoples light work/business.

Hi Copycatted, I had to work the day of the summit so I didn't get to watch any of the coverage. All I had were the transcripts -- but I didn't get any of the editorializing or network propaganda either so maybe I got the better end of the deal

[edeevee]

\\"Bipartisan Healthcare\\" this doesn't seem like a Democratic topic at all! Just in your comments here I see you have taken your Dem. time to \\"SLAM\\" the Republican Party... how many times? Republicans want to start over so the whole Bipartisan anything can exsist!
Waiting around for the majority, this should not be too complicated after the left bring on more of their \\"SUMMITS\\". I just wish that the left would understand just make the \\"Hope and Change\\" happen and quit looking backwards blamming the previous administrations, or move out of the glass house before throwing stones. This could be one reason that your Bipartisan talks mean very little to so many!!

Like Mr. Douglas, I am not a Democrat but a left-leaning centrist. I didn't used to lean much either way though. Until recently, in all of the presidential races I'd participated in, I'd voted for one Democrat, one Republican -- and three independents (two of those being protest votes). I didn't lean away from the Republicans; my ideals and philosophies are largely still the same. Instead, the Republicans ran away from me.

And they did it by using tactics like the one you employed yesterday. Instead of dialogue and compromise, they chose slash and burn. Instead of governing, they chose politics. I believe it is that choice that kept the Republicans from going forward with reforming healthcare when they had a chance to lead the way. But WHY the Republicans didn't push through their own proposals doesn't really matter that much. The fact that they didn't DOES matter. At least to me.

I am not pushing the Democratic platform. I am pushing MY platform: I WANT HEALTH REFORM.

And history tells me I can't count on the Republicans to give it to me. Although they had a policy put together in 1994 (1994!) they chose to not even present it. They have been in power for most of the almost twenty years since then. The problems we face have not magically gone away. But they did nothing (NOTHING!). I am not making this up, nor am I the only one saying this. Just in case you didn't actually read my post (that you blasted) I'll ask you to look at it again. I quoted REPUBLICANS who are frustrated with their own party's lack of progress. And not just any old Republicans - not RINOs or CINOs or whatever cutesy acronym of the day- Republicans. I quoted someone form the right's own beloved Heritage Foundation.

I think Republicans could have a very positive impact on health reform. They have some good ideas. They are also in a position to push out some of the less savory parts of the current bills. In order to do that they will have to set politics aside and focus on what is best for our country. They will have to negotiate. Are they willing to do that?

Are you?

[HoosierHelen]

As usual, very well said Edeevee!

[JoeHooker]

Like Mr. Douglas, I am not a Democrat but a left-leaning centrist. I didn't used to lean much either way though. Until recently, in all of the presidential races I'd participated in, I'd voted for one Democrat, one Republican -- and three independents (two of those being protest votes). I didn't lean away from the Republicans; my ideals and philosophies are largely still the same. Instead, the Republicans ran away from me.

And they did it by using tactics like the one you employed yesterday. Instead of dialogue and compromise, they chose slash and burn. Instead of governing, they chose politics. I believe it is that choice that kept the Republicans from going forward with reforming healthcare when they had a chance to lead the way. But WHY the Republicans didn't push through their own proposals doesn't really matter that much. The fact that they didn't DOES matter. At least to me.

I am not pushing the Democratic platform. I am pushing MY platform: I WANT HEALTH REFORM.

And history tells me I can't count on the Republicans to give it to me. Although they had a policy put together in 1994 (1994!) they chose to not even present it. They have been in power for most of the almost twenty years since then. The problems we face have not magically gone away. But they did nothing (NOTHING!). I am not making this up, nor am I the only one saying this. Just in case you didn't actually read my post (that you blasted) I'll ask you to look at it again. I quoted REPUBLICANS who are frustrated with their own party's lack of progress. And not just any old Republicans - not RINOs or CINOs or whatever cutesy acronym of the day- Republicans. I quoted someone form the right's own beloved Heritage Foundation.

I think Republicans could have a very positive impact on health reform. They have some good ideas. They are also in a position to push out some of the less savory parts of the current bills. In order to do that they will have to set politics aside and focus on what is best for our country. They will have to negotiate. Are they willing to do that?

Are you?

Our founders intended for our Constitution to VERY plainly enumerate the powers & responsibilities of our Federal Government. NO WHERE in our Constitution does it give our Federal Government ANY authority whatsoever to control medical care or insurance companies (with of course the exceptions of fraud, malpractice, & similar crimes)!
So, to sort of paraphrase JFK --- "quit asking your government to take care of you, & start taking responsibility for your government!"
Joe

[LuciusBeebe]

Our founders intended for our Constitution to VERY plainly enumerate the powers & responsibilities of our Federal Government. NO WHERE in our Constitution does it give our Federal Government ANY authority whatsoever to control medical care or insurance companies (with of course the exceptions of fraud, malpractice, & similar crimes)!
So, to sort of paraphrase JFK --- \"quit asking your government to take care of you, & start taking responsibility for your government!\"
Joe

Unless its the military, then its okay for the government to take care of you.
Or highways.
Or making sure your meat isn't contaminated.
Maybe keeping an eye on terrorists.
Or building a school so your kids can read.
Or...

There's many things the government does that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. That doesn't mean they're unconstitutional.

The government quite clearly has the power to decide how businesses conduct their business, including insurance companies.

In short, stop saying the government does not have the authority to reform health care: it does.

[Mr Douglas]

Unless its the military, then its okay for the government to take care of you.
Or highways.
Or making sure your meat isn't contaminated.
Maybe keeping an eye on terrorists.
Or building a school so your kids can read.
Or...

There's many things the government does that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. That doesn't mean they're unconstitutional.

The government quite clearly has the power to decide how businesses conduct their business, including insurance companies.

In short, stop saying the government does not have the authority to reform health care: it does.

I like airplanes..... or at least that they stay in the sky for the most part, and land where they're supposed to.
Nuclear power generation is great too. Unless it fails.

[LuciusBeebe]

Nuclear power generation is great too.

Its not in the Constitution! Who do they think they are?!!

[HomeyG]

Airplanes - I can choose to fly or not to fly.
Nuclear power - I can choose to use it or use something else.
Highways - I can choose to drive on them or not.
Schools - I can choose between public, private or none at all.
Health insurance - Either buy it or pay a fine . Where's my choice?
Which one is probably unconstitutional?

[evilkumquat]

Airplanes - I can choose to fly or not to fly.
Nuclear power - I can choose to use it or use something else.
Highways - I can choose to drive on them or not.
Schools - I can choose between public, private or none at all.
Health insurance - Either buy it or pay a fine . Where's my choice?
Which one is probably unconstitutional?

Airplanes: You may be able to choose whether or not to use one, but you certainly have no way of preventing one from crashing into your house. Good thing the government is there to mandate safety guidelines to help prevent such disasters.
Nuclear Power: If the community in which you live decides to build a plant, you may have the choice not to connect to the grid, but you're still living near one. Good thing the government is there to regulate the way such plants are constructed and maintained to keep the risk low.
Highways: You may be able to decide not to use them, but it's a good thing the government built them to allow good and services you use to be shipped along them (as well as to allow for deployment of military vehicles in the event of a natural disaster or war.
Schools: You have the option not to use a public or private, but you must provide for the education of your children up to a certain mandated age. Good thing the government is there to provide basic educational opportunities to the children in this country or we would likely be overrun by ignorance and poverty (well, even MORE so than we already seem to be).
Health Insurance: Funny how evil socialist countries in Europe and North America don't even give this option to their citizens (since they are enlightened enough to realize health shouldn't be a "for profit" industry and access to care is a fundamental right of society).

[LuciusBeebe]

Health insurance - Either buy it or pay a fine . Where's my choice?
Which one is probably unconstitutional?

You don't have a choice in any of the things I listed, Homey. Your tax dollars pay for all kinds of things you didn't choose. People are being forced to pay for all kinds of things.

Its called taxation.

[Copycatted]

You don't have a choice in any of the things I listed, Homey. Your tax dollars pay for all kinds of things you didn't choose. People are being forced to pay for all kinds of things.

Its called taxation.

This post goes back a ways but as E.K. became lost,strayed or stolen sometime back what about L.B. now?

But going to the forced to pay taxxes I heard this in a couple reports a few years ago of how only 5% is ruining it for the 95% who gets it. So I suppose a good part of those taxxes is worth the tab for those judicially working at the wake-up call for that 5%. We sure heard enough this past year didn't we...haven't even seen E.K. on for awhile,maybe it's just me-paging paging

[HoosierHelen]

This post goes back a ways but as E.K. became lost,strayed or stolen sometime back what about L.B. now?

But going to the forced to pay taxxes I heard this in a couple reports a few years ago of how only 5% is ruining it for the 95% who gets it. So I suppose a good part of those taxxes is worth the tab for those judicially working at the wake-up call for that 5%. We sure heard enough this past year didn't we...haven't even seen E.K. on for awhile,maybe it's just me-paging paging

You are so right Copycatted, we are missing input from several of our good members. Blue, Evil, LB, Ebbieday, Pixie, and more. Even Matt_s has slowed down on his postings? Hopefully, they are all just taking a spring break??

[matt_s]

You are so right Copycatted, we are missing input from several of our good members. Blue, Evil, LB, Ebbieday, Pixie, and more. Even Matt_s has slowed down on his postings? Hopefully, they are all just taking a spring break??

I've been on the road a lot so far this year and I've been trying to spend more time with my family when I have been home so I admit I've posted less. However, from a topic stand-point, I believe we have been going over a lot of the same ground. I haven't felt like I've had a lot to add that hasn't already been said by others or by myself in other posts. So I haven't felt as compelled to post as well.

[HoosierHelen]

I've been on the road a lot so far this year and I've been trying to spend more time with my family when I have been home so I admit I've posted less. However, from a topic stand-point, I believe we have been going over a lot of the same ground. I haven't felt like I've had a lot to add that hasn't already been said by others or by myself in other posts. So I haven't felt as compelled to post as well.

Matt, I do imagine that is the case with many of our absent members. At least you are still browsing and knew that your input is being missed.

I had expected some remarks today about the health care bill being passed yesterday evening...but I guess everyone is still holding their breath to see what the next step will be with the reconciliation bill that is going back to the Senate. That process could turn the outcome on this whole bill upside down.

Most all the media polls I've seen today has reported Obama's support to be in the minority after the vote. That surprised me due to his majority support when he was elected for this same promise of healthcare reform.

[ebbieday]

You are so right Copycatted, we are missing input from several of our good members. Blue, Evil, LB, Ebbieday, Pixie, and more. Even Matt_s has slowed down on his postings? Hopefully, they are all just taking a spring break??

Helen, I have not posted my opinion on this or anything else for two reasons.

1) Starting at the beginning of March I began training my fill-in at work, as I had carpal tunnel surgery last Thursday and will be off work for a while so I didn't have any time to visit the FP.

2) Because I admit I really don't know enough about this bill yet. Yes, we needed reform, but I just hope it's to the average Joe's benefit and not for the rich people. My husband spoke up the other day and said the bill should have never been signed until Obama read the whole thing (which I agree with) and it won't be a good thing. I said, "Have YOU read it from start to finish?" Of course he said no and I asked him, "How can you people who are against it say it's bad since Obama didn't read it when you haven't read it either. What do you base your opinion on? Has anyone you know read this whole bill? No, so stop trashing it until you know more facts!" This, is what I don't understand...nobody knows what it consists of 100% and the nay-sayers seem to just want to bust on it because a black Democrat got it passed. I heard it EVERY day at work and that's how I see it. I am so thankful to be away from there!