Boxing Oneself In

Yes, Reagan did work with the Democrats in Congress.

Obama says "So all I'm saying is we've got to close the gap a little bit between the rhetoric and the reality."

I couldn't agree more. Obama's rhetoric doesn't match his reality. There's no better example than health care reform, where none of the Republicans best ideas were incorporated or even considered. Then Obama turns around and says it's the Republicans who were not working in bipartisan fashion. What a joker Obama is. Who believes this poppycock ??? Oh, I forgot. The Reverend does.

Besides, Obama IS doing a bunch of crazy stuff that will destroy America. He's not alone, however. D.C. has been doing crazy, America-destroying stuff for years. That's what I wrote about on my blog today.

Repent – the destruction is near.

Spoken like a true Tea Party charter member.

Perhaps you could remind me about those "Republican best ideas". I'm sure I've simply forgotten all the times during the Republican control of Washington beginning in 1994, when a GOP Congress presented "best idea" health care reform legislation to a GOP president's desk for signature. Probably just slipped my mind.

Well…to be fair…there was the deficit exploding, not-paid-for entitlement giveaway to Insurance and Pharma, aka Plan D. But.."best idea"? Would you call Plan D a "best idea" from Republicans?

The Republicans made two attempts to do something about health-care.

First, you mention Plan D, I assume you are talking about Medicare Part D.

Everyone knows that when you show up at the hospital with a serious medical decision, the hospital can not turn you away. The same could not be said about prescription medicine. You could be sent home to fend for your self for meds. This was a real problem. This was not a made-up crisis. It was real and a solution, albeit non-perfect, was attempted.

Second, the Republican Congress tried to do tort reform. President Clinton was able to use the threat of a veto to fend this off. You screech about the insurance company making a 5% profit as stealing money from the system. But it is fine for a lawyer to swipe money from the system, as long as they use some of the ill gotten gains to fund slimy candidates.

Gee if the republicans really want to work with Obama why the heck didn't they present their ideas to him in the question and answer session they had with Obama recently? Instead they flashed some pamphlet of their ideas accused Obama of not looking at them , didn't say what these ideas were . Obama then said he actually did look at their pamphlet . They went on to say that their Republican plan would insure nearly all Americans without raising taxes.
"That's just not true," said Obama. And he called such claims "boilerplate" meant to score political points. And still no specifics were given by the republicans . Wont you say that's a bit odd when they got his attention?
The only idea I heard from them during the 66 minutes of questions was would he do round the board tax cuts for all. Of course they had no concern that they would run up the deficit.

Gee if I had a opportunity to ask the president about health care reform and I wanted him to consider a plan of mine or an idea , I surely say what I wanted and would he think about it . Instead all the republicans used the 66 min repeating their talking points in a effort to score political points . What a waste of time for them. Is that how you get things done if you really want to ? Come on be real

Rev,
It is obvious that you are wasting your time trying to make teabaggers,wingnuts conservatives etc. understand the wisdom of the progressive ideals. We have been too indoctrinated to long by the corporate media to be salvaged. Why not concentrate on getting amnesty for all the illegals. They have not been as exposed to the lies and fear mongering of the ruling elite as the bitter clingers. Since as a group they are composed of the least educated and skilled they will be the beneficary and thus support those that promote the government as the great arbitrator and provider. By implementing a liberal chain migration program in no time at all the wingnuts will be nothing more than an insignificant minority that will be powerless to impede the glorious progressive march to economic and social justice.
Not only will the rest of the world love us but it will usher in the golden era of shared interests and world peace that progressives have promoted.

Good stuff angry.

Giving up on wingers would be like giving up on America, wouldn't it?

I realize your comment was facetious…meant to be….but you have a lot of truth in it. It is true that many conservative voters have been "indoctrinated" by whore-media. Perhaps it's my past religious background…..but I don't think any winger is beyond the grace of truth…know what I mean?

One side never has the complete answer….you know, ying, yang, all that. Democrats are timid little weenies, for the most part, Republicans are ignorant bullies, for the most part.

But in the modern era, I can't even recognize the GOP. Reaganism was one thing….but now, it's Rovianism….and an in-our-faces, we-don't-give-a-damn-about-the-people ideology meant only to fill the coffers of the already wealthy. Shameless and wingnutty.

Democrats are still basically spineless weenies.

bzzzp….yes, Plan D. A taking of federal dollars through subsidies…and giving those dollars to insurers and pharma. Also not paid for from the federal level, charged on the national card. The same kind of program, when advocated for by Democrats in the health reform discussion, deemed by Republicans to be socialistic and a government takeover of health care. Odd, don't you think….or are Republicans normally schitzophrenic…or prone to bouts of amnesia?

Tort reform, something Obama clearly is willing to consider in health care reform, might knock off 1%….might….but tort reform is not a national health care reform plan. It's a sop to big corporate interests.

This is the problem with the Party of No. Health care costs are not sustainable….it's been known for years that they aren't….and during GOP rule nothing of significance was done or even offered.

The kick in the butt is that what the GOP did offer, giveaways to big business, are exactly what they have stonewalled in the Democrats health reform legislation. It was good enough for them, but for Democrats to pass such a thing……it's taboo.

With our economy teetering on the edge, our deficits and debt exploding out of sight, and the coming unfunded entitlement tsunami sweeping in to shore very shortly as the boomers retire……..I have a real problem with the Reverend demonizing those who want to right the ship before it's too late (if it's not too late already) as teabaggers, wingnuts, etc. This whole Democrat vs. Republican sideshow is simply a distraction. The problem is, our country is on an unsustainable path to economic destruction. Who wins the battle of political rhetoric is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic if we don't fundamentally change course. I watched the Obama meeting with the House GOP'ers on friday, and you'd think liberals won the Super Bowl, they're so giddy over their perception that Obama won that debate. I submit that nobody won anything, because nothing has changed. We're still on a path to destruction. We still have a federal government that's growing and growing beyond our capability to fund it. There is no cause for celebration. There is only cause for deep concern.

As proof of real insanity…..

The Reverend complains about Bush's Medicare Part D because it was unfunded. That is a valid concern, but what about the $55 trillion in Social Security and Medicare that is unfunded ? No complaints from the Reverend about that, because, oooh, those are Democrat programs, therefore inviolate. Crazy.

The Reverend complains about the Bush tax cuts, which, btw, came during a recession, but he has no complaints about Obama's tax cuts that were part of his stimulus package to lift us out of the recession.

The Reverend complains about the Bush deficits, another valid concern, but he has no complaints about Obama's projected $1 trillion+ deficits as far as the eye can see. Instead, he buys into the inanity spouted by the President that he INHERITED those deficits (clue #1 – the DEMOCRATIC majority Congress passed those budgets with those $1 trillion deficits. Clue #2 – Obama voted FOR those budgets. Clue #3 – Obama increased spending by 24% in his first year in office at the same time federal revenue fell, and that doesn't include the $862 billion stimulus).

The mental disconnect is bizarre at best, insane at worst. This is what happens when a person is totally taken in by party talking points. He ends up cheering for the destruction of the country when the solutions are staring him right in the face.

Another example of the Reverend being totally taken in by party talking points….

Rev says, "Tort reform, something Obama clearly is willing to consider in health care reform"

Consider WHEN ??? They've been working on health care all freaking year, and tort reform wasn't a part of ANY bill. I swear to God, Obama just says something, something that flies right in the face of his own actions, and you just repeat it like it's one of the Ten Commandments. What part of "Obama is not being honest" don't you understand here ? This dishonesty couldn't be any more obvious. We've had all year to witness it.

How often do I have to agree with you that the national debt is a problem which must be dealt with before you stop accusing me of not taking it seriously?

But it doesn't all have to be dealt with, and can't be, during one Democratic president's watch. It simply doesn't.

On Friday's meet with GOP'ers….you say…"nobody won anything." That is simply not true. Obama destroyed GOP talking points and demonstrated that many, if not all of them, were fabrications…..just made-up stuff.

Medicare Plan D was a brand new program…and Republicans chose to not fund it. That makes it even more relevant to any modern discussions about debt and fiscal conservancy.

Yes, Social Security will need the cap raised, especially on those making $200,000 per year or more. But it's not an emergency. Medicare is a bigger and more imminent problem….but Republicans had no interest in starting to bring down overall health care costs with new legislation, they just didn't.

The recession Bush inherited isn't even in the same ballpark as what Obama inherited. Bush's tax cuts benefitted the richest Americans the most….while Obama's, small as they were, helped 95% of working families. Big difference.

Obama's $1 trillion responsibility was for the purpose of preventing a deep and agonizing depression. His PayGo intentions and his health care plan deficit reductions are clear examples that Obama is not just a carefree spender like Bush was.

There's no "mental disconnect" at all. I, correctly, acknowledged America's debt problem…I do not dismiss it as irrelevant…..and I have accurately portrayed the Bush years, and the first Obama year.

And on tort reform……why would Democrats insist on inserting a provision which Republicans love, but one which maybe makes up 1-3% of overall health care costs…IF….Republicans are still going to vote against it? Why would they do that?

Sorry…Obama is being honest. I don't agree with everything he has done or intends to do…and will continue to blog why….but he's a pretty straightforward guy with very little, if any, guile to be found. In contrast, nothing Bush or Cheney ever said was trustworthy. Quite a difference.

Finally…on the TeaBaggers….you may have interest in this movement because YOU are concerned greatly about spending and debt issues. But you are being less than candid when you tell us that spending and debt is the central theme of the movement. There is no central theme except for rejection of Obama's presidency. Tea Parties began in March, 2009….before Obama had a chance to implement anything. That's basically all a person needs to know to comprehend that the movement is simply a sore-loser rejection of Obama movement.

Rev,
I don't remember you agreeing with me about the debt being a very serious problem. I only remember you arguing with me. I hope you do see the seriousness of the situation, but all your raving on about the teabaggers and such leads me to believe otherwise.

Obviously, Obama can't pay off the entire $12.3 trillion debt. I don't expect him too, but I do expect him not to add another $8-10 trillion to it. I expect him or any other President to get us to a significant federal surplus (say, $500 billion per year) to start paying down that debt. If we don't do that, we're screwed.

As for Obama "destroying GOP talking points," not hardly. Obama only made a fool of himself by playing partisan games and abdicating responsibility. We're still on the path to economic meltdown, no matter how unpresidential Obama wants to act. See my latest post.

I agree with you about Medicare Part D not being funded, but you're being disingenuous about Medicare. Through the years, it was always the GOP wanting to cut Medicare costs, but every time they tried the Democrats starting talking about how the GOP wanted to kill old people. Bush tried to cut Medicare costs WITHOUT A MASSIVE GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE TAKEOVER full of mandates that will actually INCREASE health care costs overall. The Dems screamed bloody murder.

No, Obama is not a big spender like Bush was. Obama is a much bigger spender than Bush ever was. And Paygo, though I actually support it, will only be used by the Dems to raise taxes along with their massive spending increases (which total about $1 trillion per year more than federal spending only three short years ago, before the Dems took control of Congress).

Because about $500 billion of Obama's stimulus has not even been spent yet, how about returning most of that money and reducing the deficit with it ? Why can't Obama do that much ? Then he wants to use the TARP money for other purposes than to return the money to the people and reduce the debt further. There is nothing about Obama that smacks of responsibility.

You already supplied the reason that tort reform should be implemented, whether the Republicans vote for ObamaCare or not. It will reduce medical costs. The question is, why would a cost reducing measure NOT be implemented ? That's what makes no sense. It also makes no sense not to have nationwide insurance company competition. There is no reason not to do that either. This isn't about Democrat vs. Republican. It's about good policy vs. bad policy.

I find Obama to be fundamentally dishonest, along with being a condescending whiny crybaby. His administration reacts to every single news day with a new blizzard of bs. That isn't even presidential. He honestly believes that the only problem is that he hasn't explained things well enough to us dummies. Well, sorry Mr. President, but when our country is on the path to destruction, I don't think the problem is us. The problem is Obama and those like him (that includes Bush and the GOP too).

And all you keep proving about the Tea Party movement is that you have no idea what it's all about. You think it's about what Olby and company tell you it's about. It isn't. The Tea Party movement was against all the government bailouts of big business. That started before Obama's presidency. The Tea Partiers are against the rapid increases in government spending. That started before Obama's presidency, though Obama and the Dems have really ramped up spending (aside from stimulus). Yes, the Tea Party movement is against ObamaCare and the stimulus too, but that's part and parcel of the movement to limit government, lower taxes, and restore liberty. I don't know why any sane person wouldn't be on board with these principles at this moment in history.

There were no Tea Parties before March 2009, 2 months after Obama took office.

No conservatives or libertarians were protesting squat until Obama became president. That's simply factual.

Why, again, would Republicans not vote for bills with tort reform or tax cuts in them? That's right…because they want Obama to be a failure. You seem to be arguing for allowing GOP'ers to simply deny goverance for the people by stonewalling everything.

Republicans want to reform Medicare by lowering medical service to seniors. Republicans still want to do that. Obama was trying to reform Medicare by getting the for-profit parasites off Medicare's back.

Want to recall what a lie looks like?…..G.W. Bush "America does not torture.", "When we're talking about wiretaps, we're talking about getting the proper court orders." "Saddam is a grave and gathering threat."

That's what lies look like.

So because Bush lied, it's okay for Obama to lie because his aren't as bad?

Obama isn't lying. Not yet.

Come on Rev….. I guess lying is like the truth, it all depends who is doing it determines whether you believe them or not. Personally I don't think Bush lied, he did some dumb sh*t. I think he did what he had to do to protect our country and it's interests. (Just as Obama said about the republican health care ideas and his not closing gitmo etc.We know Obama pretty much locked them out of the planning of this) What do you think of that statement. Really, what did he lie about? Aren't there laws against lying? If so why isn't he being put on trial? He is being called a liar like the Right is calling Obama a liar, without real proof and mostly through gossip type accusations.
Maybe Obama isn't lying,I hope not, the right media say he is and are using thier proof and talking points and sound pretty convincing. You have to admit he is stretching his position on many election platforms.
I like that he called out the Rep congress. Bush should have done the same with the Dem led congress in late 2007. This crash would have never been this bad. Right now as I said before it feels to me we are in a stalemate being led by the desire for poltical gain and protection of politcal jobs in Washington,damn what is good for Americans or what Americans want. Obama said this in his meeting with the Republicans and I feel it pertains to both parties. They even admit that some things won't be voted on this year because they don't want to risk losing seats in congress. If they are so adament about their positons on things why be afraid to vote? This is ridiculous.

Bush was wrong about spending but he didn't lie. Comparing his personal integrity to Obama's is like comparing the Hope Diamond to a mound of elephant feces.

I hear ya' on that one, average.

Here's what I don't understand, larry….if it's the case that the nation is somewhat in a jamb right now, almost all of it occuring under a GOP watch from 01-09,…why is it that the guy who is trying to keep the ship from capsizing has less integrity than the reckless, cowboy, jokester who tipped the ship over?