Posted on 09/09/2009 9:52:51 PM PDT by PhatHead
After all the rhetoric is put aside, one principle ran through President Obama’s speech tonight: that increased government involvement in health care can solve its problems.
Many Americans fundamentally disagree with this idea. We know from long experience that the creation of a massive new bureaucracy will not provide us with “more stability and security,” but just the opposite. It's hard to believe the President when he says that this time he and his team of bureaucrats have finally figured out how to do things right if only we’ll take them at their word.
Our objections to the Democrats’ health care proposals are not mere “bickering” or “games.” They are not an attempt to “score short term political points.” And it’s hard to listen to the President lecture us not to use “scare tactics” when in the next breath he says that “more will die” if his proposals do not pass.
In his speech the President directly responded to concerns I’ve raised about unelected bureaucrats being given power to make decisions affecting life or death health care matters. He called these concerns “bogus,” “irresponsible,” and “a lie” -- so much for civility. After all the name-calling, though, what he did not do is respond to the arguments we’ve made, arguments even some of his own supporters have agreed have merit.
In fact, after promising to “make sure that no government bureaucrat .... gets between you and the health care you need,” the President repeated his call for an Independent Medicare Advisory Council -- an unelected, largely unaccountable group of bureaucrats charged with containing Medicare costs. He did not disavow his own statement that such a group, working outside of “normal political channels,” should guide decisions regarding that “huge driver of cost ... the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives....” He did not disavow the statements of his health care advisor, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, and continuing to pay his salary with taxpayer dollars proves a commitment to his beliefs. The President can keep making unsupported assertions, but until he directly responds to the arguments I’ve made, I’m going to call him out too.
It was heartening to hear the President finally recognize that tort reform is an important part of any solution. But this concession shouldn’t lead us to take our eye off the ball: the Democrats’ proposals will not reduce costs, and they will not deliver better health care. It’s this kind of “healthy skepticism of government” that truly reflects a “concern and regard for the plight of others.” We can’t wait to hear the details on that; we look forward to working with you on tort reform.
Finally, President Obama delivered an offhand applause line tonight about the cost of the War on Terror. As we approach the anniversary of the September 11th attacks and honor those who died that day and those who have died since in the War on Terror, in order to secure our freedoms, we need to remember their sacrifices and not demonize them as having had too high a price tag.
Remember, Mr. President, elected officials work for the people. Forcing a conclusion in order to claim a “victory” is not healthy for our country. We hear you say government isn’t always the answer; now hear us -- that’s what we’ve been saying all along.
“He’s still an American hero, and that comment was uncalled for. “
So what the hell do you know about it? Were you there? he’s a hero in the same vein that Kerry was a hero. Certainly a hero to the VietCong...
He still has no comprehension what is in "his" plan. Tonight Sarah Palin nailed his lack of knowledge about it. Instead of straightening out the fraud and errors of Medicare and Medicaid, he wants to start anew and bungle more American tax dollars on a plan NO ONE understands, and what we do understand, we don't like, want or need.
Politicians who buy into Obama's theatrical act (disregarding constituents) should be apprised they'll need a bit of theater themselves when they look for new jobs afterwards.
I found it online, so I don’t see why not. Just watch out for Darth Obama and Grand Moff Biden. ;-)
Her ability to interject herself in the middle of the debate at the highest levels was just punctuated and her political capitol went WAY up.
He's parsing words, blowing smoke, baiting and switching like crazy to get his monstrosity through...and she is just standing there blowing them away with common sense.
...and most Ameericans, with open minds and who are understandably leary of government intervention, see it.
Darth...has a certain ring to it.
They don't know how to handle anyone with brains. They are used to their mealy mouth name callers & are at a disadvantage by not being able to be truthful about their beliefs. If they were - they'd be driven out of the country on a rail.
Do I need a tin foil hat to think google is cooking her numbers?
Maybe you just need to put the decimal point in the right place?
18,1000,000 = 181,000,000
Hehe...right on - you betcha!
I’ll try again 18,100,000 on google.
108,100,000 on yahoo.
BINGO>
God Bless Sarah, I wanna have her campaigning in 2011 so I can volunteer for her!
McCain isn't just "too civil." McCain is in bed with them!
I don’t mean disrespect to McCain either but I’m not calling him a hero. After all he went through & still he comes out a RINO, Gang-of-Six charter member & co-author of the most anti-First Amendment legislation seen thus far (McCain-Feingold). I see many here with that same Vietnam-Hero-paean post-criticism. He was a hero once, but that’s all gone now. Wasted on his ambitions for power & relevancy.
I concour with your statement 8 day’s a week.
“they do not sense the new costs that will swamp them and this nation”
Unfortunately my FRiend, they have spent years learning to swim in the sweat of the citizens who have been filling their pool.
They not only sense it, they relish it. This is what they have been praying for since at least FDR.
Some of our fellow “citizens” are just misdirected, many are evil. I submit the election of 0bama as evidence.
Our future and that of our Nation relies on our ability to inform those who are wrongheaded and to defeat those who are evil.
Crap. No disrespect to you, but a hell of a lot of better men died performing much more heroic deeds and do not have the label of 'heroes.' He was unfortunate to get shot down while performing his duty. He was fortunate to be the son of an Admiral and survived prison for seven years. He didn't risk his life saving another, others saved him.
April is absolutely correct, he was irrevocably changed by his prison experience. He is not suited to lead but ran as a'hero' and got in. Look at the damage he has done to his country since he was released. I'm sorry, but my bile rises when I hear him referred to as a 'hero' and this time it ran over. His is a POS sorry-ass American apologist who doesn't wash his hands before leaving the bathroom.
The hell he is! What he has done in the “U.S Senate” since being a “hero” has more then shown him for the coward and left wing nut he became. I would never want to go where he was but what he is now and the laws he has helped to pass are borderline treason to the Constitution of this the United States of America.
When is she gonna do some interviews, is she too busy with her book, or doesn’t want to be ambushed? Seems like Beck or Hannity would be good ones to consider.
That last is so pertinent: From his speech and mannerisms, you’d think we work for the President and not the other way around.
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