Obama: “The stars are aligned” to destroy American health care, the economy
posted at 5:40 pm on May 13, 2009 by Allahpundit
In fairness, the economy’s already well down the road to ruin so we shouldn’t blame health care overly much for that. A minor detail per today’s NYT number-crunch: Insuring the uninsured will cost $120 billion a year — assuming the program runs as efficiently as they’re hoping, which it won’t — and they’ve only come up with, er, $30 billion so far. Possible solutions include tax hikes (“probably necessary” in the short term), cutting tens of billions in wasteful spending (good luck), or rolling back part of the deduction for employer-provided health insurance, which could help if not for the fact that it was McCain’s proposal during the campaign and would therefore require The One to swallow part of his ego. I.e. forget it. Ah well. I’m sure they’ll figure something out. Maybe later, after the bill’s already passed.
Anyone else get the feeling that not only is the GOP demoralized on this issue but worrisomely disorganized too? They only way they’ll have any leverage over the final product is to wage an exceedingly shrewd media campaign about universal health care’s weaknesses. Instead, radio silence thus far. Gulp.
Blowback
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He’s a constellation now?
lorien1973 on May 13, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Let’s pass a resolution calling them socialists or something. That’ll show em.
TheUnrepentantGeek on May 13, 2009 at 5:43 PM
erm….Barry I thought you were elected because you had the answers, in fact were ready to lead from day one, and that all that was needed was fiscal sense….
oh and AP they’ll tax soda, they’ll tax grease, they are gonna tax everything but arugula and poupon….
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 5:43 PM
Morion
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
The stars aligned to wreak havok? Gee…and who was it that was pushing the stars around?
GAH!
Sarjex on May 13, 2009 at 5:45 PM
They aren’t demoralized. They simply agree that DC needs to run every sector of the economy. Haven’t been paying attention for 8 years?
lorien1973 on May 13, 2009 at 5:45 PM
we failed the revolution when we allowed Newt’s shutdown to get spun by Beijing Billy and the newsies….it put the KStreet Mafia in charge.
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM
When the chief GOP guy in charge of the budget votes for it “because he hasn’t read it”, what other feelings are available for people to have?
radiofreevillage on May 13, 2009 at 5:47 PM
+10 HAH!
GoodBoy on May 13, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Makes sense since Obama is a typical hollywood President. He is a star more than a leader.
William Amos on May 13, 2009 at 5:48 PM
There comes a point where we tip over the cliff…in hindsight, that happened on Nov. 4, 2008. When I said in the comments that day about learning what it’s like to live in a 3rd world country, I didn’t think we would seal that up for 2 or 3 years. Looks like Obama’s done it in less that 5 months.
AUINSC on May 13, 2009 at 5:48 PM
Obama will do the McCain tax thing because the press isn’t going to call him on flipping. The Republicans will call him on it, maybe, but the press won’t listen.
Sin taxes and employer taxes… yeah, that’s the ticket.
myrenovations on May 13, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Maybe I have bailout fatigue, but $120 billion seems pretty cheap. We should get two or three of them since it’s such a bargain.
rw on May 13, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Morion
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
That’s funny.
txag92 on May 13, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Gosh, that’s just so unlike the GOP. I can’t understand it at all . . .
/sarc
califcon on May 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Yup. Honestly, there is no way out of this anymore. It’s coming, and it’s going to be wicked bad.
Weight of Glory on May 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I don’t need your help Obama, I’m a responsible adult.
But all the losers are listening to you intensely.
fogw on May 13, 2009 at 5:53 PM
The GOP isnt demoralized just our leadership is.
I still seee the same stupidity from our glorious party leaders. There isnt one brain amoung them.
I just got my 4 straight GOP email and it is the SAME TIRED OLD THING !
Its “We have to stop Obama and its up to YOU to do it !
So please send up your money or give us free work and we will squander it liek we did in the last few elections !”
I see the same begging and same stupidity every single email I get. The leadership just preaches at me and expects me to fall in line and bail them out.
I refuse to do that. I am more than willing to step up and fix the GOP but I will no longer give to someone else to do that when all I get from them is the same old tires rhetoric and poor judgement skills.
The GOP cant win on just demonizing Obama. It must fix its own problems first. And it MUST STOP with the stupid way it is doing things now.
The dems run their campaigns like a well oil buisness. The GOP runs its campaigns like a high school play.
Im tired of the very poor leadership our party has.
William Amos on May 13, 2009 at 5:54 PM
What ticks me off is that the GOP isn’t fighting this at all. Why aren’t they proposing anything?
deidre on May 13, 2009 at 5:54 PM
I’m in the process of reading a book called “The Forgotten Man” by Amity Shlaes. It’s about the Great Depression – and, it turns out, FDR was almost a mirror image of Chicago Jesus when it came to spending. A very compelling book – proves that history, when ignored, tends to repeat itself.
uncivilized on May 13, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Don’t worry, congress and the executive branch have a great track of fixing things. Right? Right?
WashJeff on May 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Thus, he will get reelected in 2012. Auughh!!
WashJeff on May 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I don’t think it would take anything exceedingly shrewd. Not at all. First, you do not call it “universal health care”. Then have TV spots where a Doctor Kevorkian look alike explains how socialized medicine works in reality with queues, long waits, rationing, untreated maladies and death. The whole solvent green nine yards.
MB4 on May 13, 2009 at 5:56 PM
I guess Michelle read “The One” his horror-scope this morning. He must be a taurus or something.
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on May 13, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Mark Kirk and Paul Ryan plan to offer an alternative health care plan next week for the Republicans, so hopefully that can get things started.
Illinidiva on May 13, 2009 at 5:57 PM
FDR, having had an ego that rivals Obama’s, is spinning in his grave that you would dare say that he is a mirror image of Obama and not the other way around.
myrenovations on May 13, 2009 at 5:57 PM
They only way they’ll have any leverage over the final product is to wage an exceedingly shrewd media campaign
………
LMAO!!!!!!!
We
are
FINISHED!
artist on May 13, 2009 at 5:58 PM
GOP is a disgrace.
youngO on May 13, 2009 at 5:58 PM
Bravo! You nailed it!
And I am starting to wonder just how venal and stupid they are, that we all get it and they don’t.
califcon on May 13, 2009 at 5:58 PM
It won’t get any press. They need to be out there speaking against this right now, should have been speaking out yesterday actually
deidre on May 13, 2009 at 5:58 PM
The Republicans are asleep. They just can’t come to grips how many wars against the economy he can start and run at the same time. ACORN surgeons stand by ready to deliver.
seven on May 13, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Perhaps instead of worrying about what to call the democratic party, they should worry about the best approach to argue how his policies are horrible?
deidre on May 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Weight of Glory on May 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Yup.
Not only is it coming, it will NEVER be reversed.
artist on May 13, 2009 at 6:00 PM
Can they really steamroll this thing through and make it effective prior to 2012? Just preparing myself mentally.
sherry on May 13, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Never say “never”….
The Texas Republic will likely leave the little joy back in the USSA….
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 6:02 PM
Heh.
Weight of Glory on May 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM
You can tell it’s a lie… count the amount of times Pelosi blinks….
CynicalOptimist on May 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Im sorry please explain is that pronounced mo-ri-on or mo-re-on?
canditaylor68 on May 13, 2009 at 6:03 PM
And I swear I have to stop from strangling any RNC member who preaches to me that the GOp has a “Technology” advantage. Yeah we have millions of names that can be emailed big whoop.
Its just reinforcing laziness. Saying you can use emails to get votes is as stupid as it gets. And to BRAG about it is even more dumb.
I hate that the party has been taken over not by Busness or military leaders but my marketing managers.
William Amos on May 13, 2009 at 6:04 PM
A few are, but like you said, it doesn’t get any press. Most of the rest are trying to figure out how get in on this Democrat ‘Super State’ idea so they can keep their seats in the next election…
AUINSC on May 13, 2009 at 6:04 PM
More like “The stars are aligned” to destroy America.
roopster217 on May 13, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Never say “never”….
The Texas Republic will likely leave the little joy back in the USSA….
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 6:02 PM
That is different from being reversed.
I will say this, it is FAR more likely that TX leaves, than Univ Health Care gets eliminated.
Not only will it not get eliminated it will GROW.
artist on May 13, 2009 at 6:04 PM
I find it quite sickening how Pelosi ran up to the microphone and was like having an orgasm talking about Bambi.
deidre on May 13, 2009 at 6:05 PM
That will be the downfall of the GOP, as it was the downfall of British conservatives in 1957. People need to get moving on this issue now–hot and heavy. The idea is to poison the well and try to force the Dems on the defensive when they’re pushing it forward.
My guess is that since nobody will tell us what the plan is, the GOP isn’t really capable of attacking it. It’s hard to attack the nebulous concept of universal health care in a vacuum. You can say “universal health care won’t work” until you’re blue in the face, but without any specifics, that argument doesn’t hold much water.
Outlander on May 13, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Have you heard of Stimulus?
myrenovations on May 13, 2009 at 6:06 PM
lol
That kind of bold attack seems to sum up the GOP anymore.
Mulligan on May 13, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Obama knows what he’s doing and that it won’t do anything but make people more dependent on the dole. There’s no way that adding more layers of bureaucracy will make anything cheaper, more valuable, or more “just”. This guy is a drug peddler.
foucaultsvac on May 13, 2009 at 6:07 PM
Dont ever say that again.Some of us are eating and can do without those kinds of visuals ya know…=)
canditaylor68 on May 13, 2009 at 6:07 PM
That’s because it’s a lie, to get the foot in the door.
I’m just glad I can rely on my taxes not going up, because President Obama promised me that.
Splunge on May 13, 2009 at 6:09 PM
Of topic but does anyone know where Mark Levin is hiding?
BrideOfRove on May 13, 2009 at 6:09 PM
His MIL died.
artist on May 13, 2009 at 6:09 PM
IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN’T SUSTAIN IT GET THE OBAMA OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!!!!mad as Obama and not going to take it anymore eyes!!!!
- The Cat
P.S. It’s past time for Health Care workers(Doctors Specialist etc etc), Pharmaceutical Companies, and insurance companies to form a coalition and threaten a nationwide shutdown.
Industries as a whole need to do this.
MirCat on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Because they no longer matter. They are like chickens without heads, running hither and yon, no plan, no ideas, no cohesion, no nothing.
It is time for the American people who oppose the current occupant in the White House to take to the streets for ourselves, and not sit around fiddling while Rome burns, waiting for the career politicians to represent us to our government. They can’t because they don’t. They are completely disconnected from the grass roots.
C’mon, people! Get off your butts and make your voice heard. OUR COUNTRY IS CAREENING OFF THE CLIFF!
Puddleglum on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Fine, whatever. This jerkoff will own it. Hopefully as a result not another liberal socialist fascist pig like 0bama, pelosi, or reid or any of their brown nosers will ever come close to holding an office again when the public finally wakes the f*ck up and sees them for what they are.
Again, I say screw social issues, conservatives can win easily against this pack of douchebags just being fiscally conservative and leaving the social crap out of it.
However, there’s going to be one hell of a mess to clean up after the current pigs leave office. Byt he tims the nazi in chief is done, anyone with any dollars at all will have withdrawn them from the economy, and unemployment will be around 40-60%. Yay socialist scum.
Spiritk9 on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Oh Mannnnnn. So sad to hear that.
BrideOfRove on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
0bama has a list of economic sectors he intends to destroy. Banking, auto manufacturing, energy, healthcare, he’s working his way through ‘em.
Cicero43 on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
What are you talking about?? I’ve been hearing about this on Hannity, Rush, Medved…all going over what a one-payor plan will do to the private industry. Askheritage.org also has a great analysis on the subject. There is no radio silence…there’s just GOP leadership whimpering.
Wileygrl3 on May 13, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Specifics? You mean we can’t just call them names and make it all better?
/s
califcon on May 13, 2009 at 6:11 PM
0bama has a list of economic sectors he intends to destroy. Banking, auto manufacturing, energy, healthcare, he’s working his way through ‘em.
Cicero43 on May 13, 2009 at 6:10 PM
In less than 4 months.
artist on May 13, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Government is never on your side who knew?
Dr Evil on May 13, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Yeah… Pie in the sky….
CynicalOptimist on May 13, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Trainwreck. That’s what this guy is.
But he’s got style, and is a good speaker. The American people aren’t paying attention, generally.
And that is the sad part.
therightwinger on May 13, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Get ready for State sponsored eugenics from the Left. Only this will be a racially cleansed version of it, at least for now.
Blue Collar Todd on May 13, 2009 at 6:16 PM
On a side note,Nancy Pelosi’s Liar relif valve
has been set,for both eyes blinking,per second!ahem.
canopfor on May 13, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Exactly. What good will it do to call them socialists, probably half the Obama voters either don’t know what that means, or they think they’re in love with the idea, or don’t give a care.
scalleywag on May 13, 2009 at 6:17 PM
Indeed, one might say it sounds too good to be true. But, fortunately, we have Obama’s word on it.
AUINSC on May 13, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Sweet.
So one of the big reasons why health is so costly is that the people who pay have to fork over more money for those who don’t pay (citizens and non-citizens).
Golly-gee, can anyone guess what they will have to pay now, when more freebies are given out?
Oh, wait, you mean Uncle Sammy will pay? With who’s money?
I can take a page out of the Obama book; when the government starts soaking business, forcing them to raise prices to cover costs (for example), it’s like a tax-hike.
Let’s add one more layer to the healthcare system. Brilliant. Let’s add a new layer of the most inefficient, fiscally-wasteful, and corrupt organization in the history of all time – THE FED.
Smart powa!
reaganaut on May 13, 2009 at 6:18 PM
Wait, so “the Obama Recovery is on” meme is back to standby and the “This is the worst Economy EVAR!!!” one is back on point?
Glad that’s cleared up.
Techie on May 13, 2009 at 6:18 PM
See that old dude over the Messiahs right shoulder.
This loon is George Miller, a congressman near my area.
Folks, if George Miller thinks this is a good idea we’ll be standing in line for toilet paper soon enough.
jjshaka on May 13, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Doesn’t seem too difficult to me. Start talking about the variety of affordable plans that exist and tell the people where to look, maybe even set up a database for consumers. Then flood the networks with commercials showing a woman waiting in line for an hour to get a new driver’s license. When she complains about the wait, the person in front of her tells her she’s in the line for MRI scheduling.
kongzilla on May 13, 2009 at 6:19 PM
I thought I was the only one getting 5 emails a day begging for money from Steele.
I would swear a group of high school marketing kids are running the email platform, which may be in line with your analysis:The GOP runs its campaigns like a high school play.
Odie1941 on May 13, 2009 at 6:19 PM
And what do you do except demoralize the GOP and conservatives repeatedly all day, every day?
Blake on May 13, 2009 at 6:20 PM
That works out to about $2,400/year to insure each of the uninsured.
I gotta see this!
Harpoon on May 13, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Productive, responsible citizens are the ones getting pouponed.
mr1216 on May 13, 2009 at 6:22 PM
The Republican Party: All the bold, aggressive, effective tactics of the United Nations, but with elephants.
TheUnrepentantGeek on May 13, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Woot! Secession thread! However, I am begining to think that leaving won’t be good enough. We may also have to pre-emptively invade DC, just to be safe. bwahahahaha.
bitsy on May 13, 2009 at 6:24 PM
you pay the 24 hundred and “coverage” consists of an aspirin and a band-aid….
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Banking Industry run by the Federal Government…Check
Auto Manufacturing under Government Control…Check
Projected Budget Deficit 4 times the level of that awful Bush guy…Check
Socialized Medicine…Check
Stock Market in a shambles…Check
Is it safe to say that Obama succeeding yet?
PappaMac on May 13, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Nah leave the moral clarity issue definitively solved by having the USSA cross into Texan territory….if Texas is lucky most of the Central south and a portion of the plains and SW will come along.
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 6:26 PM
… And a pre-emptive strike on California might be necessary too. We will take the hot conservative babes and your oil since y’all don’t seem to appreciate them.
bitsy on May 13, 2009 at 6:29 PM
And Obama is not a socialist/communist?
Johan Klaus on May 13, 2009 at 6:29 PM
you aren’t kidding! I couldn’t concentrate on what Obambi was saying with her blinking, sometimes twice a second!
ctmom on May 13, 2009 at 6:29 PM
I’d bet that it’s income based subsidies to buy private insurance, so moderate wage earners are probably paying full fare for their insurance.
rw on May 13, 2009 at 6:29 PM
I own a small company. 2 owners and 2 employees. I just wrote a check to Kaiser Permanente for $923. That is what it costs to ensure all four of us for a month. All spouses are covered by their respective companies. Granted K-P is not gold plated insurance – but I have no complaints.
So let me get this straight… the scum bag wants to take away the tax credit I get for paying my employee’s insurance and use that money to pay for insurance for someone else?
oceansidecon on May 13, 2009 at 6:30 PM
sven10077 on May 13, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Meh. Why bother with moral clarity? We are already evil Nazi cowboy monkies. Or something.
bitsy on May 13, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Urgency, I notice all the Talking points are aligned!!
Determining
Historic Legislation
Unsustainable
The stars are aligned allright,the gapeing Black Hole
will be sucking in everything thats not politically
nailed down!!
canopfor on May 13, 2009 at 6:31 PM
I don’t know why but I get this unbearable depression anytime I see the words “Republicans” and “be exceedingly shrewd” expressed in the same thought.
Cicero43 on May 13, 2009 at 6:32 PM
He’s killing us.
But Heaven forbid that we call him and his party socialists!
baldilocks on May 13, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Oops,should be relief,not relif!
And,its another “CRISIS” BABY,too good to pass up!!
canopfor on May 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM
I think Cheney should start taking this to task with Obama. At least all the news channels would cover what he says. or even Palin. You know she could get on any media network she wants to.
deidre on May 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM
God help us all.
Moaneeca on May 13, 2009 at 6:35 PM
My grandma gve birth to my mom in communist Czechoslovakia. Ask her what she thinks of socialized medicine.
bitsy on May 13, 2009 at 6:35 PM
I Hope® that we can Change® healthcare for the better!
Rightwingguy on May 13, 2009 at 6:38 PM
All my GOP emails are the same
It goes as follows.
1) We need your input at this critical time. Please fill out the survey and return it to let us know what issues are important to you.
Its called targeted marketing people. If you know what the primary issue of the marketing campaign is you can focus your message
2) We need to stand up to the Powers that be in Washington. Its critical to get your feedback
Yeah but the “Feedback” in this case is said survey where I cant do more than check a box and get their prepackaged message.
3) Its cricial for conservatives to unite. Please send up your contribution of $20, $50, $100, or $500 Dollars.
Here is the money pitch. I swear I can almost hear the infomertical Tim Robbins salespitch in perfect tune.
4) Our country stands at a crossroads. It is important for people like you to step up and help us get America on the right track.
So now America is dependant on me giving them my money or volunteering my time ? Id say America needs the GOP to get its head out of its arse and stop with the tired old marketing ploys. Its like talking to a robocall or listening to a telemarketer drone on and on.
The GOP stopped being a party of leadership and became a party of marketing fools.
William Amos on May 13, 2009 at 6:38 PM
They really don’t have to be socialist- just hating capitalism and working to wreck it is quite fine by them.
Power by any method at hand-regulatory, economic, legal.
This countrys soft-headedness has allowed these to gain hold and flourish assuming they would never be turned on them.
Historical illiterates.
jjshaka on May 13, 2009 at 6:38 PM
I guess technically, that could be true about the one single dime, since what’s the point of raising everyone’s taxes by 10 cents. Instead, it’s gonna be a whole helluva lot of dimes.
CP on May 13, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Okay, this is too depressing. I am going to the pool. Play nice kids.
bitsy on May 13, 2009 at 6:42 PM
I just looked thru the list of Republican Senators to try to find one who would stand on the floor of the Senate and tell the President directly, “YOU ARE BREAKING THIS NATION! STOP F**KING SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON’T HAVE.” But alas, I could not find one.
Rovin on May 13, 2009 at 6:42 PM
you aren’t kidding…
ctmom on May 13,2009 at 6:29PM.
ctmom: Tee Hee!:)
canopfor on May 13, 2009 at 6:43 PM
They’ll tax soda and beer. They contain carbon dioxide.
Steve Z on May 13, 2009 at 6:47 PM
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