Any thoughts on the new 23 trillion cost of free healthcare?

[FORD]

Let's not get too far off the subject here. I still want to know how someone can be a nurse and not have their own health care.

I can't imagine going to a hospital that doesn't even give a shit if their own employees are healthy. Not a very good example they set there. Elvis, do you work for Bill Frist's corporation? (Humana/HCA)

[ELVIS]

It's called Lousy-Ana...

[kwame k]

Looks like it's a dead issue till the Fall.......

WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic leaders on Thursday abandoned plans for a vote on health care before Congress' August recess, dealing a blow to President Barack Obama's ambitious timetable to revamp the nation's $2.4 trillion system of medical care.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., delivered the official pronouncement on what had been expected for weeks, saying, "It's better to have a product based on quality and thoughtfulness rather than try to jam something through."

Link

[ELVIS]

It

will

never

happen!

[FORD]

Spineless Harry Reid strikes again.

I hate that worthless motherfucker more than I do any admitted Repuke.

[kwame k]

We'll see some reform but I doubt we'll ever have a national healthcare system like other countries.

[kwame k]

Spineless Harry Reid strikes again.

I hate that worthless motherfucker more than I do any admitted Repuke.

Reid and Pelosi are two of the most worthless people ever to hold office, IMO.

[FORD]

As usual, I think Howard Dean has the best strategy for solving this problem....

1) Create a true Public Option to compete with the corporations.

2) People have the choice whether to stay with their corporate plans or go with the public plan.

3) If the corporations don't clean up their act, and everybody goes with the public option, they drive themselves out of business, and we're left with single payer by default. And since we all know the insurance corporations have no intention of changing their criminal ways, that would be the outcome.

Dean's strategy allows this to happen as the choice of the people, rather than the government coming in with HR 676 (the single payer/Medicare for all bill) and saying, "This is it now, you have no choice". Even though recent polls show 75% of the population favors a single payer system.

[kwame k]

Would of been a good plan but sadly it will never happen like that. Whatever comes out of congress will benefit no one but the Drug Makers, Insurance Companies and the Hospitals themselves.

[FORD]

Thom Hartmann just pointed out the fact that President Obama has the Constitutional authority to keep one or both houses of Congress from their vacations......

Article II
Section 3.

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

Will Obama (the former Constitutional law professor) play this card? I know I damn well would.

[kwame k]

He's talking in Ohio right now......

CLEVELAND – President Barack Obama stepped up his us-against-them pitch for overhauling health care Thursday, saying the American people need it and must overcome resistance from opponents in Washington, whom he described vaguely as naysayers and skeptics.

"Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington," Obama told hundreds who packed a high school gym in the Shaker Heights suburb of Cleveland. "But it's not soon enough for the American people."

The president took a few swipes at Republican critics. But his biggest obstacles are fellow Democrats, who control the House and Senate and are moving slowly on his call for widespread changes to U.S. health care.

Senate leaders said Thursday they could not meet Obama's deadline for a vote before the August recess. And a key House committee is struggling to placate moderate Democrats worried about the plan's costs.

Starting with a news conference Wednesday in Washington, Obama increasingly is pitching his remarks directly to American voters, hoping they will pressure reluctant lawmakers. He ratcheted up the rhetoric at the town hall forum here, likening the bid to overhaul health care to the manned missions to the moon 40 years ago.

"There are those who see our failure to address stubborn problems as a sign that our best days are behind us," Obama said before taking audience questions. "Well, I believe that this generation, like generations past, stands ready to defy the naysayers and the skeptics."

Link

[kwame k]

Doubt he will keep them in session, FORD.

[FORD]

July 22, 2009

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC

Dear President Barack Obama,

On behalf of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, we write to you regarding healthcare reform.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for prioritizing the working poor in accessing guaranteed, affordable and quality healthcare.

We have been watching and engaging in the healthcare debate over the past five months and we were particularly encouraged by your commitment to the public option.

As the healthcare proposal continues to move forward in the House and Senate, we ask that you continue your commitment to the inclusion of a strong public option and do not weaken the language that has already passed through two committees.

Let us be clear: a strong public option is already a compromise for the CPC. Many of us strongly supported a single-payer approach. We will not support a weakened public option.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands united to provide high quality, affordability and accessibility in healthcare choices for all Americans.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus believes the public plan should provide a guarantee of coverage, affordable, high-quality and accessible healthcare, and lower costs -- regardless of income, health status, race, employment or gender. We strongly oppose any conditions or triggers undermining and limiting the availability of the public option.

We look forward to our continued involvement in the process.

CPC membership list can be found here

[Blackflag]

The Honorable

Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC

Dear President Barack Obama,

On behalf of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, we write to you regarding healthcare reform.

Thank you for your leadership on this issue and for prioritizing the working poor in accessing guaranteed, affordable and quality healthcare.

We have been watching and engaging in the healthcare debate over the past five months and we were particularly encouraged by your commitment to the public option.

As the healthcare proposal continues to move forward in the House and Senate, we ask that you continue your commitment to the inclusion of a strong public option and do not weaken the language that has already passed through two committees.

Let us be clear: a strong public option is already a compromise for the CPC. Many of us strongly supported a single-payer approach. We will not support a weakened public option.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands united to provide high quality, affordability and accessibility in healthcare choices for all Americans.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus believes the public plan should provide a guarantee of coverage, affordable, high-quality and accessible healthcare, and lower costs -- regardless of income, health status, race, employment or gender. We strongly oppose any conditions or triggers undermining and limiting the availability of the public option.

We look forward to our continued involvement in the process.

[jacksmar]

Drug user, karaoke slut, and Halfrican queen performs for the press and the AMA.

Barry to Louis Wolcott: Your calypso act can't hold a candle to my Tina Turner impression.