Posted on 02/08/2010 2:46:30 PM PST by tobyhill
Could this turn into something more than political theater? President Barack Obama's televised dialogue with Republican lawmakers on health care, promised for later this month, has the makings of an entertaining exchange. But the differences between the basic Democratic and GOP ideas are stark — and the two sides have increasingly hardened their positions in this election year.
Yet, in a story with more twists than a soap opera, Obama's invitation to congressional leaders of both parties to attend a Feb. 25 meeting can't be dismissed as a mere diversion. Although many Americans have doubts about the Democrats' sweeping plans to cover the uninsured, Republicans can't afford to be perceived as oblivious to the health care insecurities of middle-class families.
"My expectations? Probably below 50 percent, but not zero," said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., a moderate who serves as president of the Democratic freshman class in the House. "At some point, the public is going to demand that Republicans participate like mature adults, and not just say 'no' to everything."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Republicans to Rats: Own it. If you dare.
O-Creepo got a bump from the SOTU from his far left base when he lambasted Repubs and the SOTU and when he "took on" the GOP during their conference.
He's trying to schedule events where he can come across as superior again on tv because the left is already deserting him again and his numbers are sagging.
Brown was elected just for the purpose of saying "no" to your bill. You and your Messiah refuse to rewrite the bill and demand Republicans agree to your monstrosity. You Dims are like a child who after the parent says "no" just keeps bleating, "but I want it!" thinking that will change the parent's mind. So, who's acting immature, hmmm?
The major news outlets are probably not going to show Scott Brown sputtering “Why... you... this isn’t anything at all like what the voters sent me here for! Get back to your lurky den!”
And no, this is political theater. Our oh-so-smart Ivy League leader thinks he has set a plot to trap those dastardly Republicans. He hasn't. Instead, he will provide the Republicans with a platform to show the people they do have alternative ideas that the administration has been lying about and the media have been embargoing.
Who, exactly, on the GOP side have been invited? Or is it an open invite to all GOP on Capitol Hill?
And how are they going to accomplish anything in half-a-day?
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This is all for show. Sort of like the beer summit.
Republicans prefer better quality beers, though.
“”when he “took on” the GOP during their conference””
Indeed. I find it ironi8c that he coached Dem congressman to pull their heads out of the MSNBC echo chamber and instead listen to the people, because that is exactly Obama’s problem.
No honest voice on earth could have watched that GOP retreat thingy and leave with the notion that Obama did anything note worthy.
Coulter nailed it- regardless of the flesh and blood right there in his face- he chose to put reality aside, build up a straw man, and address it instead. The repeated use of this child like tactic was striking and prevalent.
Before any meeting with the snake, the Republicans MUST proclaim loudly and often that they are ONLY interested in ideas which will REDUCE the cost of medical care and insurance, MAINTAIN quality and quantitiy of care, increase access to insurance, reduce government involvement in medicine, and reduce federal spending on health care.
Then explain that the reason Republicans universally oppose Obamacare is because it fails miserably on all these levels.
And then say- sure Mr. President, we’d love to meet with you and iron out our differences.
They should als
The GOP needs to make it clear that there will be no talks until the current bill is scrapped. No hedging their words or giving any assumptions that they will attend.
I agree completely.
It's more than that.
It's a full-fledged AMBUSH!
.
GOPers should insist on televising the Congress's (heretofore closed) debates on the topic; and then let the (alleged) president weigh in after the fact.
GOPers might also insist that all who vote AYE on the final bill swear under oath that they have read and understand all of it.
.
The stupid party needs to not be stupid for once !!
refuse to participate.
Amen. The Republicans must refuse to meet unless the current bill is declared dead and the whole process starts over with true bipartisanship. They better not let Obama and the liberal media sucker them into meeting Obama on his terms. We have him against the ropes and we need to kill the bill now.
At some point, the public is going to demand that Republicans participate like mature adults, and not just say ‘no’ to everything.”
Translated from the liberalese:
We want every single thing that we want - we don’t want anything you want and we’re going to have it our way because we won. If you keep getting in our way we will call you names in the press until you get out of our way.
Make the Democrats respond to the proposals of torte reform and allowing companies to sell insurance across state lines. They have rejected those ideas over and over, but I have never heard them say why. It is time they have to stand up and give a reason for their stance and it better be something better than “we just don’t want to upset the trial lawyers!”
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