Obama promises health overhaul with or without GOP

[mvd]

Source: AP

WAKARUSA, Ind. – President Barack Obama said Wednesday he's determined to get an overhaul of the health care system before the end of the year and, if necessary, without bipartisan support.

His comments reflected a growing sense among Democrats that they may have to carry the legislation to expand coverage and try to control medical costs with votes from lawmakers of their own party — or at best a handful of Republicans.

Visiting economically stressed Indiana to announce $2.4 billion in taxpayer grants for electric cars and tens of thousands of jobs, Obama pledged successful conclusion of the health care overhaul that he argues would stabilize the nation's fiscal health.

"I promise you, we will pass reform by the end of this year because the American people need it," the president said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_health_care_overhaul

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And I agree completely. The Repukes will oppose any plan that changes the status quo.

[Expedite Trucker]

1. Health Care Reform Is definitely needed

with or without their help.

[femmocrat]

3. Welcome to DU, Expedite Trucker!

:hi: Nice to meet you.

[mvd]

4. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Amos Moses]

11. welcome to DU, driver

:hi:

[Kind of Blue]

26. I extend my welcome to DU as well, Expedite Trucker.

I agree with you but want to add that I think Obama had to make it clear to the nation how deep GOP animosity of the people goes. There's no denying now that he has no choice. Give 'em enough rope to hang themselves. I love it!

[ZombieHorde]

31. Welcome to DU.

[femmocrat]

2. 'sabout time.... We don't need them.

GOBAMA!

[Walk away]

5. Reform without a public option is useless.

I don't understand why he won't say it. Come on President Obama, stand up for us and tell congress that you won't sign the bill without the public option.

[FatDave]

18. He has said that.

Not since last week though.

[Autumn]

6. Good. We don't need

bipartisan support on this. Muzzle the blue dogs , kennel them and get it done.:kick:

[grytpype]

7. Could they have set this up any better?

They cooperated with the Repugs until the mobs and death threats started.

[Kind of Blue]

25. Well said. To me, except for the financial meltdown

it is Let it loose. Let it rage - seep into the consciousness of just about everyone with no one sitting on the fence. And then the decision that leaves him with no choice but his original intention that the people elected him for. I firmly believe this is his pattern, engagement from all sectors of society, especially us.

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Too bad

that overhaul is going to be largely cosmetic. Millions will remain uninsured. But the fucking insurance companies will prosper.

[npk]

9. The GOP (as a whole) is not going to get on board

It just ain't gonna happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not next week, not ever. The GOP has always done one thing well, I should point out much better than we have ever done, and that's stick to their guns, no matter if they are firing blanks or not. The GOP Senators, have largely made their beds, and they are determined to lay in them now. They have no other option. They have beat the drum that reform is dangerous right now with the state the economy is in. They have spent millions of dollars with ads trying to tear apart this legislation. They are totally committed as Jeff Foxworthy would say. These people don't fear stupid. They put corporations and corruption first and don't care what people like Keith Olbermann have to say. These people don't even care what their constituents have to say. Because these GOP congressmen know that their base will always move upon scare tactics and using race baiting to get them back in lockstep. We are seeing that now. These mobs at these health care forums are just one example that the GOP is not about to give in.

I believe that President Obama is right to get this done without GOP support. The democratic party must prove that we are as totally committed to ensuring that health care reform is done by the end of the year, as the Republicans are committed to stopping it. It is truly now or never.

[Juche]

10. The GOP will oppose any plan that works

If the federal government successfully ensures everyone has healthcare, nobody goes bankrupt and nobody had to worry about losing coverage that would be a boon for the dems and the concepts of a strong central government, industry regulations and a welfare state. The GOP has absoluetly no political incentive for healthcare reform to work. I am sure that Obama and the dems know this, so I have no idea why they keep talking about bipartisanship.

[keitai]

12. I think Obama...

has woken up and smelt the coffee. He was smart in extending the olive branch but you can only extend it so many times.
I see great promise in this reform for politics in Western countries in general. The way the U.S. goes is the way the world goes (i.e. in the thirties a lot of countries adopted Keynesian economics due to the New Deal in the U.S.A and they went economic rationalist when Reagan was elected in 80). I think the message sent to the Republicans at the end of four years (if this gets through) will be provide loyal opposition yet compromise or become irrelevant. I guess that is how political trajectories are changed. How much you change your sphere of influence is measured by how much you change your opposition.
Though my hopes aren't high for the current batch of Republicans!

[Divine Discontent]

21. so true - this current batch - whew... talk about a bunch of Garbage Pail Kids! They're creepy! nt

[beltanefauve]

22. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[usregimechange]

13. Kick!

[twitomy]

14. If the Dems pull this off and it is a success...

Repubs will be pummeled over and again like they were for opposing Social Security.
So I hope they come up with a plan that works. But I am not very hopeful.

[Indydem]

27. Urban legend. Pukes did not oppose SS. N/t

[twitomy]

28. Ill take your word for it.. but

there is no doubt they havent been a friend of SS over the years...

[David Zephyr]

15. Obama can go further and state he will veto any bill that does not have a government option.

No co-op.

[Frank Booth]

16. Is Obama really, finally growing a pair?

At least when it comes to health care?

I hope so.

[dflprincess]

20. When he says we'll do health care reform without the insurance companies

then I'll believe he's growing a pair.

If he's decided he doesn't need to be bipartisan then it's time to go with Medicare for All.

[salguine]

17. I wish I could believe that whatever we get might be something other than

a shitty patchwork of half-measures that doesn't fix anything and is designed, above all else, to leave HMOs and Big Pharma running the show, but I can't say my hopes are high.

[FatDave]

19. All that matters is we get a good bill with a strong public option passed.

Doesn't matter how. Once it's in place, it will be as popular as Medicare and Social Security, and the republicans will be left out in the cold, fucked by their opposition to everything good. And they know it.

[bjobotts]

23. No matter what dems put in bill repukes will vote against it.Stop trying to appease these pukes

[truthisfreedom]

24. It's good that his plan is based on cutting costs for the average American.

It's bad that he inherited the worst of all worlds, an economy that is still built like a house of cards, which will blow over completely in, probably, December.

[BadgerKid]

29. The GOP risks re-election.

They can obstruct at their own peril.

(Oh please please please please please.)

[ZombieHorde]

30. Good. K&R

[earcandle]

32. I wen to Diane Feinstein's office today and her spokeperson said "no single payer option" will be

on the table.  The public option she is for has something to
do with non-profit coops. 
I am not happy with this.  35 other countries have single
payer, why can't we? Even Singapore!

[JerseygirlCT]

33. You can't work with people who don't want to work

Long past time to "just do it".