Posted on 09/08/2009 8:16:25 PM PDT by kingattax
The media has been promoting Obama's Wednesday speech to a joint session of Congress as a major event that could shift the momentum in the health care debate, but I think it's important not to get too carried away. I have no doubt that Obama has the ability to make a great speech that could momentarily boost support for health care legislation just as Bill Clinton's speech did in September 1993, but no amount of rhetoric can change the fundamentals of the debate.
The reason is that Americans may favor action on health care in the abstract, but get cold feet when they learn more about the details.
Once the pageantry of a major presidential address fades, lawmakers will still be stuck with the same set of problems that have plagued health care over the past few months. Liberals say that a bill can't get through the House without a government plan, while moderate Democrats say a bill can't get through the Senate with one. Any bill is likely to cost in the neighborhood of $1 trillion or more at a time of already unprecedented long-term debt, meaning paying for it will require a combination of tax increases and cuts to existing government programs.
The major cost saving measures -- electronic medical records, preventive care, a Medicare advisory commission -- will not put a dent in health care spending, and in some instances, may exacerbate the problem. If you expand Medicaid, the governors will be up in arms about the cost to states unless the federal government picks up the tab -- but either way we'd be adding to our massive entitlement burden.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Got a feeling the real story afterward will be how few Americans paid any attention to it.
Obammy’s giving a Speech to a Joint Session of Congress? Aren’t those reserved for things like State of the Union addresses and Declarations of War?
The SotU was last January, right? So who’s he declaring war on?
us as in the US
40 Million more people will be using the US Healthcare system if everyone gets covered, without a corresponding increase in the supply of physicians. Secondly, if medical care is “free”, think how many yahoos will be going to the doctor’s office for a hangnail or a headache, tying up the system. And I thought the currentwaiting times to see a doctor were long! Wait till this monstrosity passes.
I think the story Thurs am--"ratings were low, and the speech fell flat. He took a belligerent tone and come off like Van Jones or Rev Wright." And Fox, please get a shot of him speaking between the teleprompters!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.