First thoughts: Focusing on health care

Posted: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:18 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Focusing on health care: A week after his fiscal responsibility summit, President Obama today holds another summit -- this time on the topic of health care. The format is pretty much the same: Obama delivers opening remarks from the East Room at 1:00 pm ET, participants then attend breakout sessions, and finally the president holds a question hour with beginning at 4:00 pm. Per NBC’s John Yang, the president will tie health care to the economy his opening remarks. "The cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes," he is expected to say. "If we want to create jobs and rebuild our economy, then we must address the crushing cost of health care this year, in this Administration. Making investments in reform now, investments that will dramatically lower costs, won't add to our budget deficits in the long-term -- rather, it is one of the best ways to reduce them." By the way, HHS Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius won’t be at today’s summit, but Nancy-Ann DeParle will be.

*** The two goals: Today's summit is about a couple of things. The first goal is to show off the idea that this will be an open process. The White House is live-streaming all five of the breakout sessions, allowing C-Span to broadcast at least one of them. What’s more, the live streams will be archived for the public. The other goal of this summit is to make it appear as if all the stakeholders have a say -- so they invited as diverse of a group as they could, including prominent opponents of Clinton's health care plan from the early 1990s.

*** The four health-care horsemen: As for the policy debate itself, the administration’s starting point is Obama's plan from the campaign. But in talking with key White House officials, they realize their best chance at getting something big to pass is to let the plan get written in the Senate (sorry, Mr. Waxman). That means there will be at least four key players. The biggest is Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus; he'll be the guy who probably will end up as the plan's architect. Then there are Sens. Wyden and Bennett, who have a surprisingly popular bipartisan idea that, among other things, proposes shifting the Medicaid burden away from the states (we think we know 50 governors who will LOVE that idea). The fourth big Senate player: Sir Teddy. This is not to say the House won't be involved, but the reality is the Senate is the more difficult lift.

Video: Kennedy honored with knighthood.

*** Party like it's 1993? With today's focus on health care, it's worth noting that the new NBC/WSJ poll doesn't show a huge appetite for an overhaul of health care right now. According to the poll, 49% say they would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance, versus 45% who say they'd be unwilling to do this. Yet back in March 1993 -- just as the Clintons were embarking on their health-care drive -- 66% said they'd be willing to pay higher taxes here. And, of course, we know how that effort turned out. This is probably why you're seeing the Obama administration focus on lowering health-care costs than press for universal care. That said, the poll does find that, by a 69%-25% margin, Americans support increased spending on health care.

*** Demonizing Rahm: The Democrats have found their boogeyman in Rush Limbaugh, and now Republicans have found their own in … Rahm Emanuel. That’s right, House Minority Leader John Boehner released a statement yesterday blaming “political operatives” in the White House from diverting attention away from the country’s economic challenges to Rush Limbaugh (even though Limbaugh was in the news because he was the concluding speaker at the same conservative confab Boehner addressed). And on TODAY this morning, Newt Gingrich compared Rahm to Nixon chief of staff H.R. Haldeman.

*** A Fu(gate) good men: Think Team Obama learned not to repeat this Bush administration mistake -- appoint someone to head FEMA with little prior experience in emergency management? Yesterday, Obama named Craig Fugate, director of Florida’s emergency management -- who knows a thing or two about natural disasters -- to lead FEMA. And today, Fugate will appear with Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan at an event in New Orleans to signal the Obama administration’s commitment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Fugate is a Republican, and the pick was praised by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and current Florida Sen. Mel Martinez, who said in a statement: "Florida's loss will be the nation's gain. Craig is a top-notch individual who has helped Florida through some very severe hurricanes. He set the national model for disaster preparedness and I look forward to his swift confirmation."

Countdown to NJ GOP primary: 89 days
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Countdown to Election Day 2009: 243 days
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Comments

Sudden thoughts and second thoughts

What is bigger, Jabba the Hut’s waste line or Rush Limbaugh’s? Why are we giving any credence to Limbaugh? Note to WH: Don’t lower yourself to his level. Note to MSM: if we want to watch walrus wrestling, we will tune in the Discovery Channel or Planet Earth, or go to SeaWorld.

Why is the FY10 budget going to be 3 trillion dollars plus? Would one year of reduced spending and services really hurt? Can we wait until FY11 to go for a health care plan?

What is older, the moaning and groaning about taxes and spending from John ‘Boner’, or dirt? Note to Speaker Pelosi: one district in California and a slightly larger caucus elected you, the whole nation elected Obama. Lay off your agenda or the highway crap.

Note to moderates in both parties: Speak! Your voices are equal to the ‘complainers’. Don’t tow your party line all of the time. And OBTW, people from other parties need representation in your districts and states before some party ditto heads.

Is the GOP falling faster than Obama is rising?

Chuck, WA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:22 AM)

Health Care! Good!! I like free stuff! I like it a lot!!

Liberal Dem (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:24 AM)

First Read: Team Obama learned not to repeat this Bush administration mistake -- appoint someone to head FEMA with little prior experience in emergency management?

We just elected a President will little (actually no) prior experience. GM just went under, and the market is plunging again, so that will tell you how well that's working out.

Welfare State (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:26 AM)

"The other goal of this summit is to make it appear as if all the stakeholders have a say -- so they invited as diverse of a group as they could, including prominent opponents of Clinton's health care plan from the early 1990s. - First Read"
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Make it appear as if all stakeholders have a say?

Are you saying they don't?

If so, what are you basing this on, your own cynical view of the world?

Gee whiz folks, can we at least have the summit before you decide how much "say" these groups will have?

How will we ever get ANYTHING done with the cynical media running everything down before it can even get started?

Good grief.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:27 AM)

"... and now Republicans have found their own in … Rahm Emanuel. That’s right, House Minority Leader John Boehner released a statement yesterday blaming “political operatives” in the White House from diverting attention away from the country’s economic challenges to Rush Limbaugh (even though Limbaugh was in the news because he was the concluding speaker at the same conservative confab Boehner addressed). And on TODAY this morning, Newt Gingrich compared Rahm to Nixon chief of staff H.R. Haldeman."
_________________
The Obama White House should have gone after Rush Limbaugh. The guy wants the President - no, he wants the country - to fail. He's an idiot. He's just looking for attention. Well, he's getting it and as usual, it hasn't helped the GOP one bit.
__________________
It seems to me that the only person in Washington DC who doesn’t want to hang President Bush and Vice President Cheney is President Obama. He continues to says that no one is above the law – but he looks very uncomfortable when he says this. There appears to be a tidal wave of support out there for delving deeper into the last 8 years. We now hear members of Congress coming out and talking about us perhaps having just lived under a dictatorship during the Bush Administration. I always thought this was the case.

I just wonder what will happen when President Obama makes his first trip overseas. I would imagine that a lot of the questions he is going to have to answer will no doubt have to do with George W. Bush and his entire Administration’s policies. And however he answers these questions will be heard all around the world.

It seems we have paid a terrible price because of Richard Nixon’s pardon. The message clearly being sent at the time was that no price had to be paid for executive abuses of power. And while many have said over the years that President Ford’s intentions were good - that he just wanted to put Watergate behind us – I don’t believe now it was the right thing to do, even though I agreed with President Ford’s decision at the time.

So I think we all need to get over this notion of “moving on”.

Because since 1974, we have had the Reagan & Bush Administrations. By the end of his term, 138 Reagan administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever. And we have now gone through 8 years of the Bush Administration.

Nixon. Reagan. Bush. All from the Republican Party. All believing that they were above the law.

President Obama I believe is in a very difficult position right now. But as he said so often during the campaign – this election wasn’t about him - it was about us. And we as a country can no longer allow abuses of power to go unpunished. Because as history has shown - if we turn a blind eye - it will happen again and again and again.

We have taken a huge hit internationally. And now President Obama has to go out and show the world that we have a new Administration with new policies. I don’t know if this will be enough for the rest of the world.

He truly is in a very difficult position. But he is correct. This isn’t about him. It’s about the United States of America.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:27 AM)

Funniest scene yesterday in Washington? Tim Geithner testifying to Charlie Rangle about the need to crack down on tax cheats.

Can't Make This Stuff Up (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:28 AM)

WHO WILL BE OBAMA'S SACRIIFICIAL LAMB (LIKE WAS HILLARY)ON 'HEALTH CARE REFORM' WHICH WILL GO DOWN IN FLAMES AS DID CLINTON'S HEALTH CARE PROPOSALS?

AFTER SPENDING US INTO A TOTALLY UN-RECOVERABLE DEBT --- OBAMA THINKS THE VOTERS WILL WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES SO EVERYONE - INCLUDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - WILL HAVE FREE HEALTH CARE.

OBAMA THINKS THE VOTERS ARE COMPLETE FOOLS. HE IS WRONG. ONLY OBAMANUTS ARE SUCH FOOLS!

OBAMA THINKS THAT THE VOTERS ARE COMPLETE FOOLS ! (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:30 AM)

"GONZO-GATE" IT JUST WILL NOT FADE AWAY. STAY TUNED.

Z (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:30 AM)

We got some important 2010 news yesterday as well, with the new Kansas Governor saying he will NOT run in two years and Pat Quinn drawing his first Republican opponent. (Roundup: http://campaigndiaries.com/2009/03/04/brady-watts/ )

Dan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:30 AM)

If government takes over health care, will health care work as well as the public education system we have in the country?

Lois T., NY (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:31 AM)

With today's focus on health care, it's worth noting that the new NBC/WSJ poll doesn't show a huge appetite for an overhaul of health care right now. According to the poll, 49% say they would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance, versus 45% who say they'd be unwilling to do this. - First Read
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How can you take a poll number that is basically 50-50 and interpret that there isn't a "huge appetite" to reform healtcare right now?

Could it be that the way the question was worded, with a heavy emphasis on TAXES instead of HEALTHCARE is part of the problem?

Even so, half of the electorate is willing to do whatever it takes to fix healthcare - that represents a BIG APPETITE, don't ya think?

We have had people elected President with a smaller mandate than that.

Stop imposing your personal biases on reality. Healthcare must be reformed in order to SAVE us money, not to raise our taxes.

The "high tax" boogeyman is not gonna fly this time, you're gonna have to do some thoughtful analysis.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:34 AM)

Has First Read been hacked again? Just got an email from "Megan Metz" to the First Read mailing list.

Gail, TN (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:35 AM)

Well now Obama, GM just went under. What's your "Car Czar" have to say about that little problem? Maybe you should expropriate the car companies, just like Chavez is doing to all the major industries in Venezuela.

Karrs Kidds (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:35 AM)

Lets just the throw the book at Rove and Miers considering they have no respect for laws of this country and due process and while we're at it why is'nt John Yoo not being hauled in as well? Thats right, what a waste of ti.me, they're just going to plead the fifth and/or the bogus execuetive privilege.

Juan,Ft lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:36 AM)

Oh yeah, about demonizing Rahm?

*yawn*

Wake me when he gets his own radio show and starts spouting off 3 hours of lies everyday that people in the media are afraid to correct, because the don't want to be on his sh!t list.

Until then, Rush stands alone. (Sorry Hannity.)

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:36 AM)

Best wishes to Mrs Barbara Bush but who is paying her medical expenses?

Seattle Sue (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:37 AM)

Look how much smarter Obama is at making appointments. He has appointed another republic party operative, this time to head FEMA. Instead of worrying about personal political loyalty the way Boy Georgie did in appointing incompetent Brown Obama has looked for a qualified person to run FEMA despite political loyalty. While I'd like to see a liberal appointed I'm more interested in seeing someone competent get the job.

That is so funny how the repugnant ones try to fiund anyone but Obama to demonize because they are cowards who are too chicken to take on Obama just as they are too chicken to take on Mount Lushmore. The Blubbering Mouth is running the repugnant one chicken hawks over the cliff and they're just a bunch of lemmings being led to extinction.

In Obama We Trust!
In Lush Limburger they Bust!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:37 AM)

"The other goal of this summit is to make it appear as if all the stakeholders have a say"

Kinda like Obama's so-called reach-out for bipartisanship with the Pork Stimulus Bill.....he only wanted it to APPEAR that he was listening to the other side. But in the end it was "I won. Do it my way."

Appearances (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:39 AM)

OBAMA RUNS THE WHITE HOUSE JUST LIKE NIXON, SO WHY WOULDN'T HIS STAFF ACT JUST LLIKE NIXON STAFF. OBAMA LEFT CHICAGO , BUT TOOK CHICAGO/ILLINOIS POLITICS WITH HIM TO THE OVAL OFFICE

jp,michigan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:41 AM)

The cost of health care causes foreclosures and bankruptcy???? I think it's the lack of jobs and income. When you have no money, it's THE COST OF LIVING AND SURVIVING that brings us down. Health care is a part of it, but not the only reason.

Give us jobs first!! How many has Obama created or saved this week? NONE. Unemployment keeps going up.

Anonymous (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

I confess it was fun watching the Republicans bow low to King Limbaugh. Steele will not last two months. The big vacuum in leadership is already filled by big Rush. When I saw that the GOP favorability poll numbers were lower than whale sh*t at the bottom of the sea, it became apparent that the Limbaugh nonsense is not where the action is.

It is big that GM auditors doubt the automaker's viability. After bankruptsy, GM will restructure down to maybe two or three brands, Chevy, Cadillac, and a hybrid/green car.

Months ago I predicted the Department of Justice will hire a special prosecutor to investigate torture and wire tapping in the Bush administration. That will likely happen. There will be evidence to prosecute Bush/Cheney, but President Obama will eventually pardon both. It just doesn't look good to see a past POTUS in a prison.

It is easy to minize the importance of PM Brown's speech to the joint session in Congress. The nugget in his comments is that several world governments are working to address the global recession. It is not just a US problem. President Obama, House and Senate Democrats and 3 GOP senators supported the American stimulus plan. China will announce their own stimulus package. Japan will bail out Toyota. European governments will follow suit. So what are the Republicans in Congress going to do? Probably follow Rush and oppose the world. That is how out of step they are! Pathetic!!

Bank on Franken in the Senate by April 1. No joke. Judges will not throw out this election.

McCain is a jerk and a sore loser.

BTW Hillary is not involved in the Health Summitt, because she is SoS and it is not her job. Don't be dumb with comments about her not attending.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

First Read "The other goal of this summit is to make it appear as if all the stakeholders have a say "
---------------------------------------

How do you know that President Obama's goal is to deceive the public and not to _actually_ let stakeholders have a say? You're attempt to insinuate that the motives of the president are dishonest is pretty obvious.

As was the case with Bill Clinton, the corporate media seem to be in a war against the president, starting from his first day in office. It's only during a Republican presidency that the media fawns, even when the president is G. W. Bush, one of the worst in history.

Media Skeptic (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

Doesn't anyone else think it's the least bit unusual that a President, and his administration, are waging a coordinated attack on a radio talk show host? Never has a President attacked a member of the media on a personal basis like Obama has. It's Nixonian what Obama is doing. Not only does Obama have an Enemies List like Nixon did, but he's very open and public about who is on that list. And Obama goes after Limbaugh like Bush went after terrorists. Frankly, doesn't Obama have better things to do? Look at Bush who had main stream media types attack and lie about him on a daily basis (Dan Rather anyone?). Did Bush whine and cry about it? Nope. Bush never said a word. But the first thing Obama does when he gets in office is not pick a fight with terrorists, but he does pick a fight with, Rush Limbaugh? It really makes Obama look weak and naive to go after a radio talk show host.

Len Pasculluie, Omaha, NE (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

Hey First Read, let's demonize 'Boner' before we start demonizing Emanuel.

Common Sense, USA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

"And on TODAY this morning, Newt Gingrich compared Rahm to Nixon chief of staff H.R. Haldeman."

Who?

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

Despite the early bipartisan rhetoric, health care will not be easy for Obama. The GOP will rant as loud as they can about "socialized medicine" and cost overruns, and the Blue Dogs will always be wary of costs, too.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

matt (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:43 AM)

I like how Obama is so upfront with his plans, so unlike Darth Cheney's Energy Taskforce who plotted behind closed doors. So hilarious to hear the repugnant ones whine about Obama not being forthcoming about his plans when he's so much more honest and upfront than Clueless George ever was.

Isn't that funny how Neuter Gingrich is trying to compare Rahm Emanuel to a Nixon badboy Haldeman? So hilarious that he uses a fellow repugnant one to use as the example of someone bad, but then Nixon gave us nothing but bad apples. Why does MSNBC tv still keep that Nixon hack Pat Buchanan on? He is mentally disturbed and his quakery just makes me switch the channel until I figure he's done mouthing off his nonsense.

Dump Buchanan MSNBC TV!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:44 AM)

Newt Gingrich was on 'today show' this morning and admitted republicans held the house for 12 years. He said repubs got the house in 1996 and kept it for 12 years; yet most Repubs keep blaming the Democrats for our failed economy. Repubs should agree with Newty, they had control and did the worst job since the Great Deppression of the 1930's.

gepa (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:44 AM)

People are wising up to the idea that someone is going to have to pay for all of Obama's deficit spending. And people are starting to realize there are not enough "rich" people around to do so. It's getting to be that a "rich" person is anyone with a job.

Broken Arrow (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:45 AM)

Love Is In The Air. In The Rising Of The Sun.

I notice this week that Joe Scarborough keeps asking his guests how they would “fix” the Republican Party. Joe should have a suggestion box set up on his set, so people can extend both their suggestions … and sympathies.

Carlos Watson, Michael Crowley, Chris Cillizza – great work this week. And of course always Lawrence O’Donnell – a handsome man who possesses a charming personality. But one who can knock anyone down in an instant with the actual truth. It appears that since President Obama gave his non State of the Union speech, the GOP has been on a downward spiral, starting with Bobby Jindal’s response and continuing with Rush Limbaugh calling for President Obama to fail. Oh well.

Ron, Indiana (wink). – Thank you!! I enjoy your posts as well. Some of the democrats on this Board are awfully funny. Baseball is coming. Real soon. Yes, love is in the air. And so is Spring.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:45 AM)

Competence over ideology. What a novel concept!

Heckuva job!! (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:45 AM)

I just wanted to apologize for my earlier post insinuating that Rush Limbaugh told 3 hours of lies on his radio show.

It turns out that there are in fact commercial breaks, and so in fact, my statement was not entirely true.

Rush, sometimes I just get in front of the keyboard, and I get carried away, but I recognize what an important source of misinformation you are for America . . .

Can you EVER forgive me?

*sigh*

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:46 AM)

I certainly hope that the 4 wise men that Obama is relying on to get health care passed can do the trick. It's way past time for Universal Health Care for all, just like all the other civilized countries have whose health care systems rank above ours.

That was so cool that Gordon Brown could announce yesterday before Congress that Ted Kennedy had been knighted by the Queen. Just have to love that the repugnant ones were given a kick in the seat of their pants by the Queen as she knighted one of their favorite Democrats to demonize. Bow down before Sir Ted repugnant ones!

Universal Health Care Now!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:48 AM)

So now drunken Irishmen are being Knighted. How quaint. The Queen must have choked back her crumpet on that idea when Brown brought it up to her.

Tommy O'Tool (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:48 AM)

Interesting that the Dems have succeeded somewhat in taking some of the heat off Obama for what is now known as The Earmark Bill by concentrating on Rush Limbaugh's remark about not wanting Obama to succeed.

Hey, I don't like Obama's policies and I want them to fail too, because they're a waste of taxpayer's money and will only make our economical situation worse.

And with all of this wild spending by our president you can take Bush out of the equasion.

The only positive is that the Dems will drown with the rest of us.

Monkberry Moon (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:49 AM)

Sure, let's try to capitalize on the crisis created by Washington, to transfer even more control to Washington! Brilliant! After all we wouldn't want to "waste a serious crisis," right Emanuel?

A "Timothy Geithner moment" has also already appeared in our lexicon. He is testifying again today, so we can probably expect to shed the modest gains in the market we had yesterday (already down 100 as of this morning) and then some.

Great work on the economy, guys. really. While the Obamanation continues to ramp up the highest debt in all of human history, he continues to look elswhere to save, like the Defense Department. He is like a girl on a shopping spree, bragging about how much money he "saved." Pathetic.

Bob Smith, Obamanation, USSA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:49 AM)

The Mayor of San Francisco was on Morning Joe this morning explaining how they've been able to provide health care for the uninsured in San Francisco without adding to total expenditures; in fact, they've saved federal dollars. How did they do it? By focusing on providing "care," rather than providing "insurance," they came up with ideas for providing medical services without breaking the bank.

In other words, by removing "profit" from the equation, and focusing solely on the "problem," they were able to solve it.

Maybe from this success conservatives will FINALLY learn that universal health care isn't socialism, it's humanitarianism. After all, as someone on the show so aptly pointed out, we're all in this together.

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:50 AM)

Think Team Obama learned not to repeat this Bush administration mistake -- appoint someone to head FEMA with little prior experience in emergency management?
-------------------------------------------

Obama didn't have to learn that. Anyone with a functioning brain wouldn't hire someone who trains Arabian horses to head a major federal agency that manages natural disasters. Unlike his predecessor, Obama's brain seems to function quite well.

His choce of a _qualified_ Republican is also in line with his campaign promise of bipartisanship. There's nothing at all surprising about Obama's choice for FEMA.

Media Skeptic (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:51 AM)

Boy the GOP is really getting desperate; relying drug loud mouth addicts and skinhead writers to keep the message alive...
Oh democracy we need you more now than ever...
Obama's in the drivers sit so let's buckle up, shut up and put up our best side..or are we doom to grind our teeth for four years...

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:51 AM)

On the Daily Show last night, John Stewart went over CNBC's record
WHAT a bunch of BOZOS !!

They were WRONG about EVERYTHING !!
'... If I followed CNBC's advice, I'd have a Million dollars today (as long as I started with a Hundred Million dollars)

They were advising people to buy real estate before the crash
To buy AIG, to buy B of A .....

These guys are BOZOS !!

Now, Santelli is complaining about foreclosed homeowners ???
STFU !!

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:52 AM)

Rahm Emanuel. Barack Hussein Obama.

Now those are two good clean-cut American names, don't you think?

Polythene Pam (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:52 AM)

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:52 AM)

Did you know that Teddy Kennedy's father was the ambassador to England during WWII. The English had to send him home because he was frightened by the bombings of London by the Germans. Joe Kennedy was known as "Jittery Joe" for his propensity to run for cover to an air raid shelter at the slightest sign of an attack.

And now his son, the drunken son, is a knight. The standards certainly have been lowered haven't they?

Jitts Joe (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:54 AM)

Newt and the Republican congressional leadership are displaying very good message discipline regarding the 'Limbaugh as head of the Republican Party' theme by claiming the issue is nothing but a diversion and reminiscent of tactics used by the Nixon Administration. Comparing Rahm Emmanuel to H. R. Haldeman, however, will likely fall on many deaf ears inasmuch as the vast majority of the electorate won't have a clue who Haldeman was or what he and Erlichman did. This seems to be a recurring problem for Republicans. The veneration of Reagan is another example of Republicans living in the 'good 'ol days'. If they really want to attack the Obama Administration they should try to live in the 21st Century. Meanwhile, no one doubts that Limbaugh remains the titular head of the Republicna Party.

Regarding the newly selected head of FEMA, what ever happened to "Heck of a job Brownie"?

Bruce Oregon (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:54 AM)

Not only is it ironic, but it goes to show how desperate republicans truly are when they begin comparing Rahm Emanuel to H.R. Haldeman. Or did they simply forget which party provided the democrats with the role model for cut-throat politics?

And since when did the republican party become the party of warm fuzzies? Give me a serious break.

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:55 AM)

Stabilizing foreclosures and the housing market is the primary key to our economic recovery/survival. A very close second is reforming healthcare. Many family healthcare plans cost more than most Americans pay for housing. And the lack of portability (COBRA costs are not reasonable or sustainable) is what puts an undue burden on those who have health insurance - ESPECIALLY in a downturn, with high unemployment. People seek emergency treatment, knowing they won't be turned away, for non-emergent care. We all pay for this. These two things will do more to reframe our prosperity potential then any other issues.
-------
Of course at some point today someone will start to blame Obama for the stock market. I think the following article should be required reading for anyone who ventures into that murky water:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/17-03/wp_quant

Tzalaran is correct (and I wish I had his/her restraint) when trying to frame the discourse. I let my 'not better side' react to the stupidity du jour and my point gets lost in my venom. So, I will work on that. But derivative trading, swaps and all of the 'risk' sharing that occurred with other people's money is really how and where this all went south. These were untested models based on fantasy assumptions that there would never be a downturn. The fact that we are now picking up the pieces by sharing the loss; while the ones who enjoyed privatizing the gains slink quietly to an offshore location; well that should have more people incensed than they apparently are. Until we unite to solve the problems, well the problems will magnify and the distractions will be plentiful. Stepping off my box in 3-2-1.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:55 AM)

Demonizing Rahm? I don't think so. All this spin about Repubs not bowing down to Limbaugh as their great political guru is pure horse hockey. The crowd at the CPAC meeting was practically slobbering during his speech. The Repubs are embarrased by it, but can't risk the wrath of Limbaugh so they blame it on the Dems. Good luck with that.

The entertainment value of the Repubs trying simultaneiously to distance themselves from Limbaugh while maintaining that GOP Goosestep is absolutely priceless. Who needs the funny papers--Limbaugh and the rest of the Republicans give us a laugh a minute.

J. Ellis, Virginia (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:56 AM)

Another Day, another summit. Still he persists in attempting to fix problems that are laudable but pale beside what the economy is going through.

To me it is now apparent why he did not stop his campaign during the beginnings of this crisis last September. It was because he had nothing useful to contribute. The unfortunate fact is that in six months he still has nothing useful to contribute.

Hey President Obama, go talk about change again, or why don't you tell us that Limbaugh is the leader of the Republics? I could care less who leads that bunch of dopes. However, you are the leader of the country and you seem to have an inability to prioritize.

Alan, NJ (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 10:01 AM)

RUSH LIMBAUGH resembles a fart:

All Air
No Substance
And he Sure Does Stink!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 10:02 AM)

Some cheese with your wine John Boehner.Lets get real for a change,your party has seen how the country has responded to your party of NO.You and your out of touch party needed a distraction,Rush is your scape goat,your out of touch party saw your numbers in the tank,while Mr.Obamas numbers are soaring.So bring in the Rush to fight your battles,MR windbags,Mr, Hop head,MR.Racist.he is the voice of the wing-nuts,he admitted it.While Boener,Cantor, and the rest of the talking heads have seen little or no press the last few days,like you are don't exist.So let me see ONe of you so called party heads come out and shut up jelly roll Rush,not one of you have any backbone,it's easier to slither around on the ground like a snake,thats how low you and your party has gotten,lower then a snakes belly.So you needed another name to throw out,trying to blame someone else for your partys short commings,which seem to number into the thousands.So you whiners just keep your glass's full,your cheese cold and your dope leaders mouth a flowing,since you and your party have given up your leadership rolls to the new Mouth of the south The Rushster,the Rush man,the pill poping hip hopping bag of wind.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, March 05, 2009 10:06 AM)

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