The Hill: What happened to the new plan?
posted at 10:12 am on September 10, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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The Hill locks onto an aspect of the President’s speech that escaped me during my earlier analysis, which is the expectation that Barack Obama would bring his own plan to Capitol Hill. The White House had told the press last week that Obama would take charge of the debate by offering a new plan that would address many of the concerns raised in the debate and assume leadership of the crusade. What happened to the Obama plan? It turned out to be a no-show:
President Barack Obama’s address to Congress on healthcare reform was short on specifics and long on ideas he and his advisers had already floated this year.
The historic speech left some liberals wanting more details and conservatives emboldened to torpedo the president’s top domestic priority. …
Still, while the speech once again illustrated the president’s extraordinary oratory skills, it was not a game changer and appears to leave the president with the same quandary: Healthcare has become the pinnacle legislative issue of his first term, but has divided his party in Congress and run into almost universal GOP opposition. Polls suggest Americans are not convinced reform will help their lives and it is unclear whether the legislation Obama seeks will reach his desk.
Obama was expected to take the wheel on healthcare reform after the Democratic-led Congress drove it into a ditch over the summer, but it did not appear he did so.
The White House blew expectation management with this speech. They built this up as the moment that Obama would wrest control of the debate from the partisans of both parties and return it to the middle, where Americans want to see real reform without massive government intervention. That set-up strongly implied that Obama had become dissatisfied not just with the tone of the debate but also the direction of legislation.
Even if Obama didn’t have his own plan at the ready, he had an outlet to claim the middle. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) just produced his own plan, one which keeps mandates but eliminates the public option, a component that has gotten less support from the administration in the last couple of weeks. Had Obama wanted, he could have just pointed to the Baucus plan as a start on a reasonable compromise. Instead, Obama never mentioned Baucus once in his speech, and doubled down on the public option instead.
Given the White House preparation for the press on this speech, it suggests that no one there has a clue what they’re doing on health-care reform, least of all the President himself. One day they’re insisting that the public option isn’t essential, then it is, then it’s not again, and then the President demands it on national television. They’ll have their own plan, they claim, and then Obama’s speech has no specifics but instead endorses HR3200.
If there’s a strategy involved here, it’s inscrutable. The only argument the White House appears to be making at the moment is one of incompetence, especially in messaging, and a growing sense of desperate flailing.
Update: On the center-left, Eric Black agrees that this was no game-changer. Eric thinks Obama tried to do too much in one speech. Be sure to read it all.
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Obama is cranky.
(no sex during Ramadan)
seven on September 10, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Yeah.
Participating in election fraud in South American countries.
Blatant, classless Bush-bashing.
Resume enhancers to liberals.
Lanceman on September 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Plan? What Plan? We don’t need no stinkin’ Plan!!
whatzit2u on September 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Yep. Bad?
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Ann is setting the agenda again. Brilliant trolling, A+.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Actually, I was thinking about Habitats for Humanity. My family got involved with that, and they built houses all over. Cool project.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Oh he’s the Great Uniter alright. He’s also in the party of unintended consequences. Been to a TEA party lately? 2010 is going to be beautiful.
Blacksmith8 on September 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Some of the Blue Dogs sounded placated after the speech. They may vote for some compromise bill. That was my take, anyway.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Ah, but Lance, she refuses to talk to me. She said I’m rude.
ladyingray on September 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM
And in bed with ACORN.
What’s not to like?
Lanceman on September 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM
But… but… NPR said this morning that the President “got specific” about his plan! Mara Liasson wouldn’t just make stuff up out of thin air would she? I mean unless she had to, to help Obama, right? Isn’t that what journalism is for?
If you get your information about Democrats from NPR, you are by definition willfully ignorant, and probably proud of it.
drunyan8315 on September 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM
Ann, thinking that Bill’s blatant abuse and sexual assualt of women is fun stuff proves that you are trash. This is my last response to you, you are worthless.
TXMomof3 on September 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Okay, you simply have no standards. I could tolerate Helen, but this?
I just threw up in my mouth.
Are you trying to out-Lorien Lorien?
ladyingray on September 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM
I thought that’s what I’ve been trying to be;)
Lanceman on September 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM
One thing I don’t get is that obama will cut $200B in waste and fraud from medicare. Why isn’t that being done now and not waiting for a health care bill.
rjoco1 on September 10, 2009 at 11:23 AM
My take on the speech is he was signalling, “I’ll take most anything that includes just a few progressive steps.”
He may have beat up on the GOP for criticisms, but he sure didn’t threaten VETO if there was no public option.
Therefore, I conclude, they’ll give him some kind of odd bill, and he’ll claim victory and try to get out of this discussion fast.
Here’s his problem, in my opinion. Once this discussion is over, here comes Afghanastan.
And it’s not going to be pretty, either.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:25 AM
yep, our “Ann” is quite a gal.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Always your choice.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:26 AM
You must be mistaken, I didn’t ask for it. It’s been quite pleasant around here without her.
And now she’s totally hijacked yet another thread.
Ignore the troll from California.
Knucklehead on September 10, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Ann is Tokyo Rose, broadcasting from inside the country. She’s a siren luring unsuspecting boats into the rocks.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:26 AM
That’s a great non-partisan question that Obama should attempt to answer.
misslizzi on September 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Just ignore her.
misslizzi on September 10, 2009 at 11:28 AM
They’re not really a good idea – they let the dog wander off with little control from the person.
It’s not good “Pack leadership”, not to mention all the kinds of trouble she could get into at the end of long lead.
They were originally designed for tracking – probably the only situation where the dog is supposed to walk out ahead of the person. They commonly use long leads, but those get all tangled up, so the idea is that it will retract automatically.
You probably will want to get a regular 4′ or 6′ lead instead.
Chainsaw56 on September 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM
You guys are funny.
I’m chirping away here, trying to talk about the issue, and you’re all making it about me.
Let me remind you all, you never have met me. You don’t know me. And you’re working out your own personal issues here with someone on-line with a moniker.
How silly are you?
LOL*
I’m SO not worth this type of attention. Let it go. Just a regular gal here.
I agree with you on some stuff and not on other stuff. Live with it.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM
You need to pick up your game, man.
ladyingray on September 10, 2009 at 11:30 AM
This is Ann’s modus-operandi:
Ann uses democracy to destroy it.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:30 AM
There never was a “new” plan. Obama just had to say there was to get people to watch.
He had nothing new to say. My favorite part was when the GOP waved copies of their bill – the one Obama says doesn’t exist.
Ed’s commentary was great, too.
ladyingray on September 10, 2009 at 11:32 AM
And still a LIAR after 10 days off!
BigMike252 on September 10, 2009 at 11:35 AM
She has gotten into trouble. I’m pretty deft with spotting it coming and pulling her back, but you’re right. I can’t be perfect on that one.
I’ll switch. Thanks, btw. She’s doing SO much better on the puddling already.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Teacher says:
Every time a PC bell rings,
into action a dingbat swings.
Loxodonta on September 10, 2009 at 11:36 AM
I agree. That was all the hype was about. He has good results from his speeches, and he needed to pull up his polls. He needed people to tune in.
That was all the hype was about. To pull up his poll numbers.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I’m SO not worth this type of attention. Let it go. Just a regular gal here.
I agree with you on some stuff and not on other stuff. Live with it.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM
I have watched you, slyly and not so slyly, hijack thread after thread with, as Jianxdad aptly described it, your Toyko Rose act. You’re fooling no one. I would say it is also reminiscent of the Hansel and Gretel story.
kingsjester on September 10, 2009 at 11:37 AM
I missed the part where the purple robed choir burst out and began singing ‘A-Amen, A-Amen, A-Amen A-Amen A-Amen’
bloviator on September 10, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I don’t hijack threads at all. What happens is that people react and focus on me personally.
I don’t ever ask for that.
It’s not me.
But, I have blogged long enough to know, if that’s happening, then the topic is probably worn out.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:40 AM
“The Democrat Party: Because no one should have to choose.”
DrSteve on September 10, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Try hanging a little bell by the door and over time teach her to ring it when she needs to go out.
Unfortunately, that won’t help when you’re away, but at least when you’re there she can let you know when she needs to ‘go’.
Chainsaw56 on September 10, 2009 at 11:41 AM
I know exactly where Obama’’s new plan is hiding. It is in the Democratic “New Plan box” the very same place – right next to Gary Hart’s “new Ideas” plan and John Kerry’s “secret plan to end the war” and the social security “lock Box:”
Sorry buy FOI and a giant can opener won’t get them out in the open -unless you believe in Fairy Tales.
What Joe Wilson said!
Don L on September 10, 2009 at 11:41 AM
What do you mean”Barry’s going out of town”?
Wasn’t everyone supposed to drop by for a beer and some teachable moments?
katy the mean old lady on September 10, 2009 at 11:42 AM
I heard that it is hidden under his BC – in the photoshop file.
OldEnglish on September 10, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Ann, one more thing, you know what’s worse than what Barry did by stealing Hillary’s tiara? She can never get it back again. He stole all her chances of being prom queen, and she’s never going anywhere. The first female President will be your worst nightmare.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Absolutely true. He won.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:50 AM
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Our president is exactly what his resumé claimed… a community organizer. Few community organizers really lead; they have no plans of their own. Instead, they find out what their “community” wants, and take it to the powers that be. If the community has enough leverage, the plan moves forward.
I’m afraid our president has become stuck on what he knows best. Unfortunately, there isn’t any “community” out there to organize. He has allowed Congress to create a pig that nobody wants, and no matter how much lipstick anybody puts on it, the “community” of the USA isn’t ready to buy. Worse, he has evaded responsibility for any of the possible options. Evasion of responsibility is not leadership. Community organizing is not leadership… it is merely facilitating.
When will our president actually begin to lead us?
DaveK on September 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
I have a “plan” for Barack Obama:
1) Resign
2) Emigrate
3) Take every Congressional Democrat with you
My plan will return peace and prosperity to the United States.
I invite every American to get behind the NoDonkey Contract on Democrats.
NoDonkey on September 10, 2009 at 11:56 AM
You Lie! That’s not what the White House said, at all. They said that the moron-in-chief was going to offer a gnu plan. Try and get it straight.
This sort of negative press and intentional twisting of The Precedent’s words would never happen in Indonesia …
progressoverpeace on September 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
He’s the head of the exec. branch. The country’s leaders are elsewhere, some w/out political power. It’s a leaderless government, but it’s run by some people.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Well, we have differing viewpoints. I saw Bill Clinton as the beginning of the real transformation of liberalism, into a more mature version. He heralded in Welfare Reform.
I saw the battle with Hillary as the old-school liberals against the new-school. The old-school mounted a comeback and won.
Obama is the result.
He is the quientessential old-style liberal.
His policies, maybe not his politics, will fail. I say this because Bill Clinton was right.
So the policies will fail.
And I predict, Democrats will be in the same spot soon as Republicans are.
We may be on the cusp of new parties emerging, frankly. Both of these parties are presenting pretty much dead policies and dead ideas.
Everyone is sick of them all.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 11:59 AM
He may resign, as the economy worsens and he is revealed as unable to cope. He may emigrate, to try to escape his fate. Most of the current Congress will be gone soon enough. When people recognize the Depression for what it is, they won’t be able to keep their jobs. Political ideology will take a back seat to food and clothing and shelter.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 12:02 PM
The thing is he did not even really come out in support of the public option, not the real public option. He just acted as if it was some vague not so important thing that would only effect about 5% of the population…and I thought, well what the hell, just give that 5% vouchers or something.
That is part of the confusion, people can not even agree on what the terms mean.
Terrye on September 10, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Let’s all hope so! The Republican party left me long ago, and on the other side…even the people on the most hard-core libtard websites I lurk on are getting purple-faced frustration at the utter inability of Obama-Lama and his Democr@ps do to anything but play the blame game and break campaign promises.
They have an ironclad majority in Congress and the Senate, the Prez is one of theirs, and they still can’t force anything through. Even some of the most mindless Obamabots are realizing that their community organizer makes as effective a national leader as a cardboard hammer makes to a carpenter.
Dark-Star on September 10, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Anyone who honestly posts that the president should resign is a complete nitwit.
Sorry, but that’s just plain stupid talk.
He was elected the president of the most important country in this world.
He isn’t about to resign.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 12:06 PM
Ann:
I don’t think there will be new parties, not of any size. I remember watching Perot hand Clinton a victory and thinking Thanks a lot sport…and then in 2000 Nadar managed to steal more votes from the Democrats than Buchanan did from the Republicans and I think he became more hated than Bush was when that was over.
That is the problem with third parties, they are too often spoilers and that just makes people angry.
I think it is more likely that the parties will be changed from within by new leadership and changes in rank and file. It has happened before, the parties have changed course many times over the years.
Terrye on September 10, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Certainly not of his own accord, that’s for sure. And impeachment at is a pipe dream. If we couldn’t stop the least-credentialed president ever from being elected how the heck are we going to get him out?
Barring an assassin (God forbid) or a lethal/crippling accident, Obama is here to stay. Wether for four years or eight is the question now.
Dark-Star on September 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Well,you could be right. But we also may be seeing a tipping point.
I love reading histories. Parties galvanize around various issues. When those issue are gone, parties often change.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Thanks for your comment, sven. +100.
As I’ve watched and listened to the ungodly and evil Obama and his ungodly and evil plans, I’ve been saying the same thing for several months.
The question is: How much longer will God allow us to be under His judgment through Obama, and what will it take for God to relent and allow our country to be restored to its greatness?
Answer:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 12:13 PM
He should resign. He has none of the skills required for the job and is in way, way, way over his head. What we have is a nasty 12 year old playing at being the captain of a nuclear aircraft carrier, whose only relevant experience was that he used to play with rubber ships in the bathtub in Indonesia.
Well, you are certainly an authority on stupid talk. I wouldn’t argue with that. But you are just adding to your own ’stupid talk’ credentials on this.
Yes, we know that he was elected to be The Precedent. So what? He’s a moron and an America-hater. He should resign before this nation is forced to pull a Zelaya on his commie a$$.
But, then again, he might just get tossed out for being ineligible. Discovery arguments commence on Aug 10th and the general hearing starts on Jan 26th. That should, pretty much, do it for the America-hater. I hope he rented a house in Costa Rica that’s ready for him.
progressoverpeace on September 10, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Indeed…she must think Dhimmi Carter only builds houses.
sven10077 on September 10, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Speaking of which, any news on how they’re holding up so far?
Dark-Star on September 10, 2009 at 12:19 PM
He really is. There is no way he could have fooled so many without some force beyond media biad and laziness….
I don’t think he’s the anti-Christ but I could see him being a harbinger.
sven10077 on September 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Not Costa Rica……PLEASE!!! I have a condo being built down there for my retirement. I’m trying to get away from this idiot.
Knucklehead on September 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Why do you people bother with anninCA? It’s obvious she makes every effort to say the most ridiculous things she can just to generate attention.
Besides I don’t EVER want anyone to confuse my posts with hers!
anniekc on September 10, 2009 at 12:23 PM
He sure as h*ll doesnt act like it.
Koa on September 10, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I’m sure nobody does. You speak your opinions. I’ll speak mine.
I’m sure that we’ll not be confused.
AnninCA on September 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM
You seem to be participating in polite, on point discussion and actually naming the people you’re talking with. So, perhaps you haven’t been trolling this thread, although I haven’t read it through.
However, I have a very different recollection of old school liberalism than you do. Perhaps it’s difference in age or region, but I recall liberals as being proudly pro-American, strong on national security, strong supporting individual liberty and freedom while opposing bigotry of any kind, very religious, and relatively good on fiscal matters while supporting publicly funded charitable like activity. This is somewhat akin to what I consider many Libertarians to be today, and nothing like the elitist and anti-American leftists that are currently running the show in the White House and Congress today. And I see the Clintons as being in between these Leftist and the classical liberals.
As to the GOP being dead, it’s true that there is no current governor or member of Congress leading the way out of the wilderness. But as to everyone being sick of them, there is a lot of work being done at the grass roots level of the GOP, and not in third p[arties. Of course, excess anger and factionalism are impediments in the GOP, but I believe that 2010 will be a banner year for Republicans, regardless of whether ObamaCare is passed in any form or fails. And frankly, if it is passed in a version closer to what I recall you wanting, I believe the GOP will pick up even more seats in 2010.
Loxodonta on September 10, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Not much beyond us pulling all funding a couple of weeks ago and Shrillary meeting with Zelaya.
I had never heard anything but good about Costa Rica before, but it seems that they are succumbing, finally, to the standard Latin American disease.
progressoverpeace on September 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Dang. Anyone inside the country itself we can contact to ask how things are going?
I considered sending a donation, jobless as I am, but on more careful consideration I think that between the recently-passed snoop laws and the liberal slander machine that would be a very unwise idea…
Dark-Star on September 10, 2009 at 12:30 PM
That was a joke, right?
We’re still running around with a geo-political ‘pooper-scooper’ cleaning up after that chucklehead’s ‘good-intentions’.
At least we were, until Dear Leader got his hands on the wheel.
CPT. Charles on September 10, 2009 at 12:31 PM
If you can find any Honduran products you like, buy them. That’s probably the best thing to do. elduende knows a lot more about the particulars down there. Try to catch him on a thread.
progressoverpeace on September 10, 2009 at 12:36 PM
He should resign, because he’s incapable of doing the job he was elected to do. And I say he may resign, because I don’t think he’ll be able to handle the pressure for 3 1/2 more years. He nearly lost it last night, after 7 mos.
The fact that he was elected as Pres.of the most imp. country in the world only leads credence to the notion that he should resign. If he was running Kenya or Indonesia, I’d tell him to stay on the job.
He isn’t about to resign…yet. He’s a product of a committee, and can only function in a group. He isn’t a leader, and only a leader can survive this job. Resignation isn’t out of the question at all.
JiangxiDad on September 10, 2009 at 12:37 PM
The idea Bama and his staff could come up with a solid, thought out plan about anything this complex in the time they had to get it done…in 10 times the time they had to get it done…was ludicrous.
It is all very easy to emote and envision, patting each other on the butt and enjoying the “win”, but doing the job is much different, and very few WH denziens have ever done a “job”…designed, built and managed anything. In their hubris, I suspect they would bring a new plan to the game without understanding what they were undertaking. Reality set in, and the day before this Speech it leaked out Bama was planless.
Just like the school speech…fire, ready, aim. Materials flew out before anyone thought through what they were doing.
In this regard, we do get to see what these people think more clearly.
A thin resume and very little experience is not offset by oratory or ideological purity.
The question remains how the radical left will react to failure, between graceful acceptance and blood in the streets. Their hopes soared so high when Bama “won” and all the toys became his. The blitzkreig began well, Porkulus, then Crap + Tax, firing Rick Wagoner, blah, blah…and now resistance has stiffened, the unsustainable house is creaking badly and the “mandate” is evaporating, independents are leaving.
The economy, which Bama is doing all he can to hinder, may be the “General Winter” which took such a toll on German forces who went into Russia in War 2. You can only spend so much money you don’t have. Bama’s purposeful ignorance here may undo the chances for both health and C+T.
Harry Schell on September 10, 2009 at 12:49 PM
‘kc. Your posts have the sweet smell of roses, without the hidden thorns. No one will confuse if they pay attention and want to avoid the pain. (I was going to use “avoid the pri*ks”, but figured it would get caught in the filters. ;-) )
Yoop on September 10, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I bet not. Ann appears to be a Clintonista. Putting aside possibly honest differences of opinion about policy, the Clintonistas overlook the massive personality flaws in both Bill and Hill.
But that may be due to the vast right conspiracy.
Loxodonta on September 10, 2009 at 1:05 PM
That somehow infiltrated the Obama camp last year….funny that.
sven10077 on September 10, 2009 at 1:14 PM
We ruin everything! Don’t we?
Loxodonta on September 10, 2009 at 1:29 PM
VRWC-Screwing up America for Democrats since 1993…because we care.
sven10077 on September 10, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Maybe Obama has the plan in a drawer somewhere with his college thesis, and his long form birth certificate
Obama made a huge tactical error.
For this speech he had to have a package ready to had out to press
Otherwise, his speech is just a bunch of promises.
I promise you my promises are real
Obama should have held this speech until a package was delivered to Congress for review.
Now, a package will appear (hashed out by Congress behind closed doors) and it will be unveiled as the new plan. People will have to read what it says, and the game starts again
Then Obama will have to do another Speech to the Nation in a fancy suit to convince people the printed plan is the same as his fantasy plan from the last fancy suit speech
It is becoming like Ground hog day.
I call this level of politics infantile
entagor on September 10, 2009 at 3:55 PM
FREE JOE WILSON!
leftnomore on September 10, 2009 at 4:15 PM
AnninCA
Stop posting so damn often! That’s the thing I find most annoying about you. Stop making every thread about you by posting constantly. You need to relax. Posting over a dozen times on this page alone is just too much. This is why so many people don’t like you. It’s not just your opinion. It’s because you insist on dominating every discussion you engage in. Do you notice that you post more than anyone else?
Ampersand on September 10, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Again, I agree with you, Sven.
I shudder to think what will become of the USA if Der Leader publicly turns against Israel and supports her enemies.
Never thought I’d see this in my lifetime, but under Obama perhaps we are seeing the biblical “beginning of the end.”
Keep looking up!
GrannyDee on September 10, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Stay down with your bad self!
Gang-of-One on September 10, 2009 at 6:19 PM
I am very weary hearing the obligatory comment that President Obama is a great orator. The statement reveals that the writer of such comments is ignorant of what oratory is. I do not know of a single great orator from the past : Churchill, Lincoln, King, Cicero who had to rely and rely heavily on a teleprompter. It also reveals how little history someone knows who insists on such comments. The President has a series of verbal formulae he uses- over and over and over. He is addicted to a preaching rhythm which is fine up to a point but tedious after numerous hearings.
tullius on September 10, 2009 at 8:54 PM
New plan? Who said he would have a new plan? Ohh. He did. Sorry. Well, maybe he meant he had a new plan on how to talk down to 350 million people and get them to quit resisting his old plan.
MikeA on September 10, 2009 at 10:55 PM
I think that is going to happen as sure as God made little green apples. With this administration it is not a matter of if, but when.
MikeA on September 10, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Thanks Dad, I understand her better now. I thought her weird mental transformations were simply varying doses of Haldol, perhaps taken too close together or at times, too far apart.
I was thinking with the crash of the Precedent she was really ready to swear off the meds and embrace Freedom and personal responsibility; however the Carter/Clinton comments were very clear and frankly, bizarre.
GunRunner on September 11, 2009 at 3:29 AM
Two months in Senate
Taught Barack very little
Of Legislation.
Haiku Guy on September 11, 2009 at 5:20 AM
Oh, he added his plan. 1. anybody that disagreed with his vision was a fool- plan. 2. He will look into maybe possibly thinking about the issue of forming a committee to study tort reform, headed by the former president of a trial lawyer association- plan. 3. Let’s see how long I can stand up here and tell whoppers until somebody says something-plan. 4. Look like a deer in the headlights and then plan revenge when somebody did call me on it-plan.
He is going to be busy, he has a lot of plans. None good for us, but plans.
archer52 on September 11, 2009 at 6:03 AM
Comrades, a strange thing happened to me last night while I was doing my patriotic duty and watching Olberman; I went into a kind of waking dream state. This often happens to me while watching Olberman; the way his frenetic ranting turns the foam around his mouth into a cloud of spittle has a hypnotic effect on me. Oh, don’t get me wrong; it is a self righteous socially-just people’s spittle cloud, but it is a spittle cloud nonetheless.
Anyway, to continue, I began to imagine a time in the future; my vision went something like this….
It is the year 2034, the 25th year of His Royal Highness Obama’s glorious presidency. His Holiness is sitting in the Oval Office (now called the “Hall of Mirrors”) and consulting with his image on important matters of state. There is a knock at the door; it is Milton Megachump, Obama’s 467th Press Secretary (the other 466 were driven to suicide by Rethuglican terrorists.) Milton is granted entrance and curtsies, but does not speak until spoken to. His grand benificence looks up from his favorite mirror and greets him: “Ah, Milton, how is my 467th favorite press secretary today?”
“Generally well, oh Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler, but there is a small problem I must speak to you about”, Milton replies.
“Damn, we’re not out of the one-million-dollar-per-pound Japanese steaks again, are we?”
“No, no, sire, nothing that bad. However, it is a bit of a sticky situation, sir….”, Milton stammered.
Obama, getting impatient, demanded “Milton, make like Olberman and spit it out. I’m losing valuable mirror time here.”
“Well, sir”, Milton began, “Healthcare IS a constitutional right, is it not sir?”
Obama frowned. “Yes, of course, Chief Justice Sotomayor discovered the right to free healthcare in the Constitution years ago. It was on a page that was stuck to the back of another page for two hundred and thirty years. What’s your point?”
Milton took a deep breath and then blurted out the bad news as quickly as he could: “Sir, we’re running out of physicians. The subjects are demanding the healthcare they are entitled to, but there is nobody to provide it. The other day, a riot broke out in the waiting room of the last remaining plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. Susan Sarandon and Madonna were beating each other with their canes and walkers over an opening for a face lift procedure 3 years from now. Sir, we’re in desperate need of more doctors and nurses!”
“That’s ridiculous”, Obama sneered. “We had millions of medical professionals when my healthcare reform passed Congress! What happened to all of them?”
“Sir, many just retired or left the profession, claiming that between the cost of liability insurance and the reduced payments from the Obamacare program, it just wasn’t worth the trouble anymore.”
Obama considered for a moment, then countered “Well, what about replacements? The medical schools are full of students!”
“They all go back to China and India as soon as they graduate”, Milton retorted. “They don’t practice here.”
Obama was becoming increasingly baffled and couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What about Amerikkan kids? There must be SOME smart kids from THIS country? Aren’t any of them becoming healthcare practitioners?”
“No, they all become tort lawyers”, answered Milton sheepishly.
“Tort lawyers????”
“Yes”, Milton began, “the last stimulus bill, ‘Stimulus XVII – The Search for Spock’ which was rammed thru the Congress by Speaker Svetlana Pelosi (Nancy Pelosi’s granddaughter) contained a hidden clause inserted by the trial lawyers lobby allowing anybody to be sued for anything unless they also happened to be a lawyer. Ever since that bill became law, there has been no profit in any kind of work except tort lawyer. So every college graduate these days either becomes a tort lawyer or a community orgranizer.”
“So we have no more doctors and nurses”, Obama concluded.
“Now you got it, sir” replied Milton.
Obama stared into his favorite mirror and pondered the situation. There was silence for about a minute and then he blurted out, “I’ve got it! We need doctors and nurses so we’re just going to have to create some. I’m instituting a para-military draft of young men and women aged 18-45. Beginning immediately, they will be conscripted and trained to be physicians, nurses, and associated practitioners in the People’s Medical Service. We should be up to speed and have an adequate number of professionals within a couple of months.”
“A couple of months?”, asked Milton with more than a trace of skepticism. “Sir, it takes YEARS to train a competent doctor or nurse! How can we be ready in a couple of months?”
“Compentent?”, roared Obama. “Who said they had to be competent? Look Milton, the Constitution says people have a right to healthcare, it doesn’t say anything about it having to be COMPETENT healthcare!”
“You have a good point, sir”, said Milton, proud of his sycophancy. “No wonder you’re the best president ever!”
“Thank you, Milton”, spake Obama. “Now get busy and start lining up our allies to begin demonstrations demanding the Congress pass my medical draft bill. And start coming up with arguments to refute any critics the plan might have. ‘All Obama’s opponents are racists’ is a good one to start with.”
“You got it, sir!”, Milton said as he left the room, leaving His Excellency alone with his favorite hobby.
“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the greatest leader of them all?”
At this point, a rather loud commercial for a combination fat burner, miracle cleaner and fabric glue came on the television and woke me from my dreamlike state before I could see how the vision turned out. Kinda scary, wasn’t it? Anyway, it had to have been a dream, there’s no way something like this could ever be real. I mean, talk about implausbile happennings…. a million dollars a pound for steak???? Yeah, I must’ve been asleep and this was all a dream. Forget I mentioned it.
sargentj on September 11, 2009 at 9:25 AM
…For anyone who may be confused, I’m pretty sure AnninCA is talking about Jimmy Carter (Habitat for Humanity), not Bill Clinton (peripatetic womanizer/fundraiser)…
alwaysfiredup on September 11, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I have a feeling when Obama says cutting waste in medicare/medicaid he is thinking the people who cannot be saved or the elderly…
Holger on September 11, 2009 at 11:25 AM
.
America is against the plan too, but nevermind them. They’re only the constituents.
drjohn on September 12, 2009 at 8:26 AM
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