Open thread: Obama health-care summit; Update: Video link added
posted at 9:30 am on February 25, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
This health-care summit is already off to a great start. The White House leaked a scaled-down proposal just days after unveiling a formal proposal so vague that the CBO couldn’t score it. Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi will kick things off at the summit by laying out her approach to any hint of a new direction for ObamaCare. In her opening statement, Pelosi will specifically reject what she calls “incrementalism,” demanding instead the kind of sweeping reform that has made ObamaCare political poison for Democrats living outside of San Francisco:
Traveling around the country, we’ve all heard stories about people unable to pay their medical bills. I’ve even seen a grown man cry – a senior citizen from Michigan, whose wife had been sick for 16 years. He didn’t know how he’d pay the medical bills. He was too proud to ask his children for help – they had financial challenges of their own. He worried he might lose his house because of the cost of care. All he could ask was: how can I tell my children?
His story and others illustrate why reform is so critical and why inaction and incrementalism are simply unacceptable.
Both “inaction and incrementalism” are unacceptable? They’re not the same thing, as even some of her Democratic allies have begun to realize. A sweeping reform in the wrong direction would be much worse than incrementalism that could later be reversed without doing extensive damage to the system — and it would be worse even than doing nothing at all.
What do you think the outcome will be? Take the poll:
Update (AP): NBC should be streaming it live in this player as it gets going.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 51 52 53 54 Next »
Is the House going to reconcile in favor of Health Care Reform paying for abortions? Ummm… I don’t think so.
Sultry Beauty on February 25, 2010 at 5:33 PM
So, you are admitting his intellect is vastly overrated?
Logic on February 25, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Fifty-two pages of comments! Hell, I was born in ’52
Rovin on February 25, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Meanwhile,during this HealthCare Circus,
and I.. I.. I.. ME.. ME.. ME..,Obama,
the Jihadys are plotting/planning!!
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:35 PM
Not that he doesn’t like him, he is scared of him.
Boehner is an alpha male.
carbon_footprint on February 25, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Fifty-two pages of comments! Hell, I was born in ‘52
Rovin on February 25, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Rovin: U-2 Gary Powers shoot down,59 for me!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Prediction: no more bipartisan summits called for by Obama.
WisCon on February 25, 2010 at 5:37 PM
How about the killer whale at Sea World?
Steve Z on February 25, 2010 at 5:37 PM
’53 for me…do I win a prize? ;-}
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM
He sounded very nervous. He evaded the hell outta’ Tom’s questions, too. I will try to run into him, while he is here. I have one brother who is a raging libtard that thinks Judas is a conservative traitor, and he wants someone left of Bernie Sanders to replace Judas, but he is well connected to local dems.
OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Prediction: no more bipartisan summits called for by Obama.
WisCon on February 25, 2010 at 5:37 PM
WisCon: I second that!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM
I heard two pundits (can’t remember who) saying if they want reconciliation, the deadline is April for the Senate bill. If they don’t pass it with reconciliation by then, they have to start all over from scratch.
txsurveyor on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Really? Why does it feel like it should be over already?
donh525 on February 25, 2010 at 5:39 PM
They have until December to pass the Bill the regular way but only until sometime in April (2 months after budget was introduced) to do it by the reconciliation procedure.
At least that is how I understand it.
I also believe they need 67 votes to change the Senate rules on reconciliation. Am I right on this?
Greyledge Gal on February 25, 2010 at 5:39 PM
He said that at the end. “We” would not be doing this again because it took tooooooooooooooo long. Uh huh….evah boob
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:40 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being least, how close did Obama come in his closing statement to being a dictator?
Greyledge Gal on February 25, 2010 at 5:42 PM
What a sad spectacle for the Dems. They thought they would be greeted as Liberators…
RINO in Name Only on February 25, 2010 at 5:43 PM
I made the mistake of turning of the TV at 1:00 to watch a few minutes of the BS theatre and next thing I knew, it was 3:00 and I needed to clean the sleepy dirt out of my eyes. So, I guess it has been a pretty good birthday.
bopbottle on February 25, 2010 at 5:43 PM
9.99
texgal on February 25, 2010 at 5:44 PM
Can’t wait to hear Dr Savage tonite.
LtE126 on February 25, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Well,another year down the drain for Hopeys
one term!!
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:33 PM
Really? Why does it feel like it should be over already?
donh525 on February 25, 2010 at 5:39 PM
donh525: The Hot Air Crystal Ball,projected this on
Feb 19,a day before he had to do his OATH
Do-Over!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:46 PM
All the world is a stage for a D- actor. A 5 year old talking about a space ship makes more sense.
tim c on February 25, 2010 at 5:46 PM
OMG. What a day to be away from Hot Air. Over 5K posts??? Been busy all day, still haven’t ate breakfast… oh boy, I’m going to have a lot of reading to do.
El_Terrible on February 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM
‘53 for me…do I win a prize? ;-}
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:38 PM
sicoit: Welcome to the club!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM
By all means do
thomasaur on February 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM
I’m glad he’s failing.
LtE126 on February 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM
Tom’s callers are going to be interesting….they already are!! The HATE word is being tossed around quite a bit.
Pizza Boy is going to lay low while in Omaha….no chance of having a slice of pizza lobbed at his head!!!
Your brother sounds like my husband’s siblings.
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM
I hate to sound stupid, but I had to bail about 45 minutes before the end…might I find a transcript somewhere of those closing whinings? Or would I have to sift through a tranny of the whole 6 hour trainwreck?
Chewy the Lab on February 25, 2010 at 5:49 PM
They don’t have the votes for reconciliation. After today’s beating?
Even fewer.
AnninCA on February 25, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Being in the club beats a prize everytime. WOOO HOOOOO!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:51 PM
There were eight of us, and only one lib’ in the lot. Take a guess which one has quit the church?
OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 5:52 PM
The GOP won the day.
No question about it.
They spoke succinctly to WHY they vote NO, and they offered alternatives that make a lot more sense.
That was the goal.
Kudos to the GOP “team.”
BTW, That opening speaker was terrific.
McCain? Not so much.
AnninCA on February 25, 2010 at 5:53 PM
hate to sound stupid, but I had to bail about 45 minutes before the end…might I find a transcript somewhere of those closing whinings? Or would I have to sift through a tranny of the whole 6 hour trainwreck?
Chewy the Lab on February 25, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Chewy the Lab: Chewy,stand by,for the TRANSCRIPT!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Good for you. Great day here, my granddaughters’ guinea pig just gave birth to 3 piglets(?)! What a day! She said now I am a guineapiggrandma too! Life is good.
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:54 PM
Take heart, folks.
Really. What you just witnessed was some Democrats climbing up on the horse and putting the noose around their own neck.
There are two many blue-dogs who are going to decide that the unemployment line isn’t looking all that good come November. They will rebel. Barry, Nancy and Harry; gonna get caught cheatin’ at the gaming table.
Yoop on February 25, 2010 at 5:54 PM
That last parting shot, something like “well if we can’t get it done, there’s always the elections” …. I can’t believe that the zero is so arrogant and so deluded as to think that not passing this monstrosity of a bill will somehow be bad for the re-election chances of the Rep.s or for that matter for the majority of Dems. I truely wonder what color the sky is on the planet he lives on.
James Moriarty on February 25, 2010 at 5:55 PM
Judas Nelson is already desperately looking for a loophole to distance himself from this debacle.
OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 5:55 PM
HEALTHCARE SUMMIT TRANSCRIPT!
=================================
=======================================
Full texts of healthcare summit opening remarks: Obama, Alexander, Pelosi, Reid (Updated)
============================================
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/02/obama-lamar-alexander-healthcare-texts.html
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Same old cr@p….still campaigning with the sob stories. Move on.
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:57 PM
I’m glad I am an only child….so was my mother. ( :
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Good for you. Great day here, my granddaughters’ guinea pig just gave birth to 3 piglets(?)! What a day! She said now I am a guineapiggrandma too! Life is good.
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 5:54 PM
sicoit: It could always be worse!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:57 PM
Been away from the computer all day, holy cow…5229 comments!!!
Listened to the radio as much as possible, sounds like The One got his a** handed to him. I have lots of catching up to do.
JoeAvg on February 25, 2010 at 5:59 PM
True dat….I could have run out of whiskey and with all of the Gorebull warming falling here in western NY, I couldn’t go and get any more! The HORROR!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM
WH Health Care Summit: Members React To Meeting
==========================================================
http://www.c-span.org/Topics/Health-Care-Insurance-Reform-Legislation-Town-Hall.aspx
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM
This is interesting!!
==================================
SenateDoctors RT @philipaklein: Gergen on CNN: Dems didn’t get “breakthrough” they wanted. “Intellectually, Republicans had their best day in years.” about 1 minute ago reply
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 6:02 PM
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:57 PM
———————————————–
True dat….I could have run out of whiskey and with all of the Gorebull warming falling here in western NY, I couldn’t go and get any more! The HORROR!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM
sicoit: Oh da Horror,hehe!:)
Heres the view from GOES 12!
===============================
http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/goescolor/goeseast/overview2/color_lrg/latestfull.jpg
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 6:05 PM
Yup….I’m feelin it…I’m feelin it!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:07 PM
You people are still going at it? Impressive.
Only 53 pages of comments??? We’re weak!!!/
Abby Adams on February 25, 2010 at 6:08 PM
Somewhere, Hillary is cackling her evil cackle…
hamnj7 on February 25, 2010 at 6:09 PM
The GOP did well when they could get a word in edgewise between all the sob stories.
I said the GOP shouldn’t go. I stand corrected. The GOP presented well and pwnd the dems.
dogsoldier on February 25, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Where have you been? We could be up to 63 pages by now!
;-)
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Nice of Nancy to end with bold face lies, and Obama threatening reconciliation. Says they will run on this in November. DO IT!
sybilll on February 25, 2010 at 6:12 PM
did anyone get the final time of the D versus R versus ZERO in talk time? I bet ZERO talked as much as either the full time of the D and Rs put together.
karenhasfreedom on February 25, 2010 at 6:13 PM
BHO is going to evaluate her performance and pat himself on the back.
We, on the other hand, have to gear up for the fight.
madmonkphotog on February 25, 2010 at 6:13 PM
ONE TERM, ONE TERM, ONE TERM, yay Cheney and Conopfor! I think Barry needs a Red Eye Robot Theatre with lotion!
margategop517 on February 25, 2010 at 6:16 PM
I guess he should stop campaigning…no just you john.
tomas on February 25, 2010 at 6:17 PM
the big o really loves to hear himself talk!!
whatzit2u on February 25, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Did someone hack AnninCA’s account or do we really all agree with her?
Surely the summit couldn’t have gone that poorly for Obama, did it?
RachDubya on February 25, 2010 at 6:25 PM
http://www.bizarro.com
Red State State of Mind on February 25, 2010 at 6:35 PM
Too bad the “site meter” is gone. I’m curious to know what the peak traffic looked like.
Zorro on February 25, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Just heard on FOX that the letter Harkin read on air was from the brother of a staff member…transparency!
lovingmyUSA on February 25, 2010 at 6:47 PM
I missed the end too. It actually sounded like the Dems were picking up some points towards the end. Waxman of all people had a point that I think needs rebutted and strongly.
He said something to the effect that this bill would give all Americans the same choice in health care that the congress has!
If that is allowed to become the truth… as things are wont to do when the MSM gets a hold of them… that could change people’s minds!
So any power brokers out there… counter that please!
petunia on February 25, 2010 at 6:47 PM
No no! Harry Reid said no one was considering reconciliation! I think it was a promise! That should actually be a sound bite and they should spin it to mean it was a promise!
That is the Democrat way. Why can’t we do it too?
petunia on February 25, 2010 at 6:55 PM
Yup….I’m feelin it…I’m feelin it!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:07 PM
sicoit:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 6:55 PM
The summit went badly for the anointed one and the dummy-crats, and I think the repubs came out looking good. They showed the public that the Repubs have been and do have alternative suggestions.
I read on another site that the left is now complaining that the Repubs had, oh boo hoo boo hoo, prepared for the summit ahead of time!
Dhuka on February 25, 2010 at 6:57 PM
Damn! I missed Special Report. Had to run a quick errand and caught poor Mara looking all distressed about how gloomy this looks for the dems come November. And I missed Dr. K’s parting comment cause the phone rang. Damn!
OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 6:58 PM
A. Congress does not have the power to grant “all Americans” cadillac health care.
B. Such a notion does not rebut the top-down bureaucratic mess that will ensue if this … this thing is passed.
C. We. Can. NOT. afford. it.
Edouard on February 25, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Fifty-two pages of comments! Hell, I was born in ‘52
Rovin on February 25, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Rovin: U-2 Gary Powers shoot down,59 for me!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:36 PM
‘53 for me…do I win a prize? ;-}
58 here, should we have a 50s reunion?
Willie on February 25, 2010 at 7:06 PM
ONE TERM, ONE TERM, ONE TERM, yay Cheney and Conopfor! I think Barry needs a Red Eye Robot Theatre with lotion!
margategop517 on February 25, 2010 at 6:16 PM
margategop517:ONE TERM,baby,and by Obamas very own hands!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 7:08 PM
Fifty-two pages of comments! Hell, I was born in ‘52
Rovin on February 25, 2010 at 5:34 PM
Rovin: U-2 Gary Powers shoot down,59 for me!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 5:36 PM
‘53 for me…do I win a prize? ;-}
58 here, should we have a 50s reunion?
Willie on February 25, 2010 at 7:06 PM
Willie: A heck of a good idea,a Hot Air Shindig!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM
This was a bad way for Obama to re-begin his campaigning. He looked petty & snarky; very, very, very un-presidential. Messy. The Democrats, backed by Obama, refused to start over with a new bill. What a waste of time.
TN Mom on February 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM
Ann! Two good posts in a row? Wow, the Texas air has done a world of good. I’m impressed!
katy the mean old lady on February 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM
True dat….I could have run out of whiskey and with all of the Gorebull warming falling here in western NY, I couldn’t go and get any more! The HORROR!
sicoit on February 25, 2010 at 6:00 PM
tru dat. . . same in north Jersey; kept missing parts to go out and shovel!
Willie on February 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM
That line has been around since last year. Pompous power policitions use that to trick people.
I dearly hope that someday the “moral” argument that that statement is premised on can be shown to be immoral.
But sadly people don’t want to confront it.
It conflicts with our own self-image (plus the total media domination of all things PC).
r keller on February 25, 2010 at 7:11 PM
So much for the ‘Party of No’ meme. Republicans brought ideas, specifics, passion… and all Obama and his sour-faced lumps could say was ‘no’.
Democrats had ZERO new ideas and ZERO willingness to compromise. If fact, they never budged an inch.
Instead, they brought “more of the same”, an endless litany of sob-stories and their own subjective versions of morality. And in the end, it couldn’t have been more clear that their view of compromise and debate was that Republicans should get on board OR ELSE, a point made “transparent” in Obama’s closing remarks.
These people are like little children, sulking and pouting about not getting their way. They had the better part of a year where they could’ve passed any lame-brained piece of nonsense that occurred to them if not for their own squabbling. But now that they can’t do that anymore… they resort to theatrics and ultimatums.
What an absolute embarrassment to the nation that we’ve allowed such a childish, talentless pack of schoolyard bullies to be in charge of our country. November can’t come soon enough.
Murf76 on February 25, 2010 at 7:12 PM
PS…53 pgs of comments…I guess that means the servers are pretty much up to speed…what a carbon footprint
r keller on February 25, 2010 at 7:13 PM
canopfor – Can I come to the nifty fifty Hot Air Shindig too? I’ve provided the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmbn4ptB_0&feature=related
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 7:14 PM
When you’ve even lost Ann you’ve truly lost.
SittingDeadRed on February 25, 2010 at 7:14 PM
According to “Special Report”
Uhhhhbama 119 minutes
Democrats 114 minutes
Republicans 110 minutes
darwin-t on February 25, 2010 at 7:15 PM
is it me or is Pelosi relly showing what a $1000/week alcohol tab will do to you?
No… it’s not me.
jukin on February 25, 2010 at 7:23 PM
Wonder which corpsewoman she swiped them
teethfangs from.OmahaConservative on February 25, 2010 at 7:32 PM
5271 comments. Someone should tell Kilgor that there is a hateful comment about the Little Green Johnson and pony tailed freaks buried in here somewhere.
BL@KBIRD on February 25, 2010 at 7:35 PM
My first thoughts after watching her today: Granny McBotox is a common drunk. I’ve always tried to put my finger on what (besides the ghastly frozen plastic surgery face) is off about her, and today it hit me. She’s a drunk. Imagine what the hell that face looks like at 8 in the morning, no make-up, all hung over, and wondering where the hell her bra is. Yikes!
Rational Thought on February 25, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Ryan schooled Obama on Obama’s deficit-reduction quackery. Yeah, Barry. You need some more of these confabs so your crew of O-bots can talk about your campaign-mode coolness.
ddrintn on February 25, 2010 at 7:40 PM
canopfor – Can I come to the nifty fifty Hot Air Shindig too? I’ve provided the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmbn4ptB_0&feature=related
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 7:14 PM
yoda: Anytime,hey,thats the first time,I`ve heard of that
show,my grandfather always had that saying,a little
shindig,bonfire on the beach,at camp!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 7:44 PM
Can I bottom-line this?
Obama didn’t hear one word any Republican said. He had already made up his mind and didn’t care what the people wanted. He acted like an arrogant, petulant child whenever any Republican was speaking. He folded his arms, seemed disinterested and often interrupted the proceedings. He had to have last word on everything, regardless if he knew anything about the subject being discussed. He made numerous childish claims of, ‘Hey, its my ball so we’re going to play by my rules.’
Obama didn’t offer any coherent ideas to fix whatever problems we are having regarding healthcare. He allowed his team to continue to lie with their sob stories. These people are rarely ever produced and those who are are found to be frauds.
No doubt Obama thinks he scored a solid “B+” with his performance, but there is no doubt his upcoming poll numbers will reflect what the people really think of him: “F”. To him, this will mean that the masses still don’t get it, so he will do what he thinks is best for us and reconcile ObamaCare down our throats.
Obama, you were a failure going into the debate, you failed miserably during the debate, and you will continue to fail post debate.
ConservativeTony on February 25, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Nah, I think Obama knows he flopped. The aim was to embarrass the Republicans, but the Republicans didn’t cooperate. They knew their stuff, while Obama and the Dems could only change the subject or recite sob stories. But you’re right, they don’t care, ultimately. The idiot peasants will have to take it, in their view.
ddrintn on February 25, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Short and sweet.
1. I don’t think he looked very good. Very arrogant.
2. I don’t think reconciliation is going to work. The Dems won’t get enough votes for their own bill. If they swing for the fence and lose this time – they’re real losers.
They should listen to the voice of Tupac …
“You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve, would’ve happened… or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the f&4k on.”
HondaV65 on February 25, 2010 at 8:02 PM
The Healthcare Bill is as healthy as Tupac.
Star20 on February 25, 2010 at 8:05 PM
And, as such, turns me on no end. (Is that bad of me? Or uncool or something?)
Alana on February 25, 2010 at 8:07 PM
5,280. A mile of comments. PBHO, you want so badly to say STFU, America. Too late.
NaCly dog on February 25, 2010 at 8:07 PM
Obama gave his closing arguments as if he scored well with the jury, but in his mind the jury is the Democrats on the hill.
OTOH, the Republicans presented their case to the real jurists–the American people.
Verdict coming in about eight months.
ConservativeTony on February 25, 2010 at 8:08 PM
Tomorrow’s Ramirez cartoon says it all!!!
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/PhotoPopup.aspx?id=522248
Star20 on February 25, 2010 at 8:12 PM
Willie: A heck of a good idea,a Hot Air Shindig!!:)
canopfor on February 25, 2010 at 7:09 PM
canopfor – Can I come to the nifty fifty Hot Air Shindig too? I’ve provided the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmbn4ptB_0&feature=related
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 7:14 PM
Im totally in for it. . .how ’bout you canopfor?
Willie on February 25, 2010 at 8:12 PM
GGGGGGRRRRIIDDDDLLLOOOOCCCKKKKKK!
Sapwolf on February 25, 2010 at 8:19 PM
Almost brings tears to my eyes. Sweet cartoon.
Alana on February 25, 2010 at 8:21 PM
Here’s another old 60′s show…Hullabaloo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amvE30VCk0w&feature=related
yoda on February 25, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Pf-f-f-f! Youngsters.
Yoop on February 25, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Epic postings! ‘Pubs did good today, the Present…not so much.
indypat on February 25, 2010 at 8:31 PM
Extraordinary.
joshlbetts on February 25, 2010 at 8:41 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 51 52 53 54 Next »