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AndreainNY

Listed below are comments made by AndreainNY between Friday, 18th September 2009 and Monday, 21st September 2009.

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President of cool keeps calm 1:22pm on 21 Sep 2009 74. powermeerkat: "P.S. It's hard not to notice that many who'd like to make the current dicussion a polarising quarrel between Democrats and Republicans, don't care to notice, let alone discuss, significant proposals re health insurance reform made by Libertarians."

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If Republicans are already considered "greedy" and "evil" for not advocating for a government option for the poor, sick and dying, you can imagine how the Libertarians' views will be received.
President of cool keeps calm 1:18pm on 21 Sep 2009 54.socialistlibertarian: "I hear or read something from someone adamantly opposed to a public plan it's mostly because "I don't want to have to pay for someone else's health care" (even though they already are paying for others' care and refuse to understand this)."

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Yes, you've reminded me of 2 intensive care nurses I spoke with while my mother was there. They were vehemently opposed to having to pay for the public option.

One said, "I work 2 jobs to be able to afford health insurance." The implication was that there were people who were "free-loading" and looking for a government giveaway. And she would be paying for it. At least, I think that's what she meant. I suppose they saw the public option as another welfare-type program, and welfare has a bad reputation.

Obama, himself, has implied he's willing to take from the rich to benefit the poor. I'm not sure this is the type of 'us' vs. 'them' scenario that resonates well with a portion of Americans. I've alway felt it was a mistake for him to pit one group against another.

Other than these 2 women, I know of no one who wants to deny insurance to anyone.

80. saintDominick: "Considering the fact that only a handful of Republicans support healthcare reform, ..."

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Support Obama's public option would be more accurate.

It's always interesting to read the Republican amendments that have been voted down.
President of cool keeps calm 02:37am on 21 Sep 2009 33. socialistlibertarian: "I ask because it seems to me that for some reason it is very difficult for most Americans to understand and feel empathy for situations they do not personally experience, and that this lack lies at the bottom of the controversy."
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I don't think Americans are as cold-hearted as they have been made out to be in this debate. Those in opposition to the public plan have been painted as many things: evil, cruel, selfish, inhumane, ignorant, easily manipulated, racist, biased, etc., etc. The case against them has been cultivated -- ex., because they don't want the public option, they want no change; or they don't care about the poor, sick person about to die.

My own observation is that many Americans would like to see everyone insured, but they are not willing to give up anything in their own health care to achieve it. Is there not another way to cover them without changing the entire system and upending the existing coverage?

What, beyond the public option, has really been proposed? Only now, after fierce opposition, are other options being explored. As someone who is opposed to the public option, I am happy we are finally considering other options. I wish there had been more that I could have supported.

I'd like to see everyone covered, including illegal immigrants*, but I'd like to see options that actually deal with the quality of care and costs. So far, it's been hit or miss, mostly focusing on how to get the public option to work. Where's the incentive for innovation? For new medical breakthroughs? The measures to prevent people from being dropped and to have everyone in the insurance pool are great, in my opinion, because they actually address the problem of covering everyone. (Wasn't that the primary issue?)

Obama knows reducing costs is important, which is why he's constantly promising it, but he's yet to show how he can achieve it. Rationing looms large behind every promise he makes because he hasn't been able to dispel the concern about it. What he resists, persists.

*In order to support insurance coverage of illegal aliens, we'd probably have to insitute some serious border reforms. Can't provide benefits and keep the doors wide open.
Obama - man with a message 12:56pm on 20 Sep 2009 109. David_Cunard: "'She's taking no prisoners. I guess she didn't get the memo from Obama about "compromise'"

Why should she compromise? The President isn't in charge of any part of Congress, or perhaps you've conveniently forgotten the separation of powers? She does what she sees fit to do".

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Well, it's Obama who is making promises about what's in those bills and Obama who promised to work with Republicans.

Since Pelosi's the one actually responsible for the details, I'd say there's a disconnect between what Obama's saying and what the Democratic Congress is actually drafting.

Yes, Pelosi is free to do as she wishes. Obama is free to promise that his "plan" will deliver what he wishes. And I'm free to wonder what his assertions really have to do with the actual bills.

Outwardly, it's the Republicans who are stonewalling, but behind the scenes it's Pelosi doing her share, too.

By the way, Obama's words are used as justification for claiming what health care bills will deliver, but whenever it's pointed out that his words don't actually match the details in the bills, the retort is a mini-lesson on how bills are drafted by Congress.
Obama - man with a message 02:59am on 20 Sep 2009 104. MagicKirin: Years back, Pelosi was called out for hiring only non-union employees and for not adequately protecting the environment at her golf course, but I don't recall any accusations like this about her hotel.

She's such a flake. It's hard to take her seriously...except that she's responsible for killing many of the Republican amendments to the health care bills. She's taking no prisoners. I guess she didn't get the memo from Obama about "compromise".
Obama - man with a message 4:26pm on 19 Sep 2009 93. fluffytale:
86

ninny
"(Sigh) So all of the millions who watch FoxNews are incapable of having a thought of their own without getting it from FoxNews?"

with you as an example I'd have to say even if sl wouldn't - YES

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Shall I hate you for lying? I don't watch FoxNews.
Obama - man with a message 2:48pm on 19 Sep 2009 58. socialistlibertarian: "It seems that the Fox audiences have never listened to Mr. Obama, but only to the Fox talking heads who, along with Limbaugh, tell them what to think."

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(Sigh) So all of the millions who watch FoxNews are incapable of having a thought of their own without getting it from FoxNews? What about the opposing viewpoints that are always included? Do the viewers stick their fingers in their ears and go "I'm not listening...I'm not listening" when the opposing guy argues his/her points?

Might its high number of viewers not also be because they report on things that other media don't report on, like the ACORN scandal?

I'm not saying FoxNews is not biased. It is biased. But to paint all its viewers as Foxbots is a bit much, too.

And to imply that Fox viewers have "never listened to Obama" is a bit of a stretch. First, most people have listened to him. It's impossible to not listen to Obama. He never stops talking.

Second, one can listen to Obama very, very carefully and become very, very unhappy with what he is saying about government expansion, despite his best intentions.

It is not surprising that Obama, himself, understands perfectly well why people are unhappy with him. It's not his race. It's the size of government. At least he's willing to admit he wants to greatly expand government.
Obama - man with a message 1:22pm on 19 Sep 2009 78. democracythreat: California is an interesting state. I wonder whether we'll be invited to comment on Nancy Pelosi's tears. Playing the "intolerance leading to violence" card?

Reminds me of when she spoke about immigration officials breaking down the doors of the terrified illegal immigrants in the middle of the night.

Have to hand it to her. She certainly knows how to pour it on for her audience.
Obama - man with a message 01:05am on 19 Sep 2009 48. saintDominick:

Ref 44, Andrea

"Maybe he's not going on Fox because nobody would watch him."

Or because he will be addressing an audience that he knows will oppose anything he says regardless of what it is.
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Agreed. They've stopped listening to him. You have to admit, though, there's not a lot of listening go on at either end of this debate.

Maybe if he promised not to scold them and call them "liars". ;-)
Obama - man with a message 11:10pm on 18 Sep 2009 35. RomeStu:

Re the US talk shows...

I imagine will stick to the domestic issues mainly, and save the geopolitics for the UN and G20 meeting speeches.

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Forget domestic issues. He's going on these shows to reassure everyone that he's still the same cool guy they elected. Down to earth. Comfortable in his own skin. Articulate. Funny. Intelligent.

Message: Don't worry, guys. I'm still your man. You can still feel good about me.

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