Now that the president has had this Town Meeting, I think he needs a prime time oval office speech

[WI_DEM]

on health care. Not a press conference, where he can't always control the media's message (such as the attention to Gates rather than health care after the last press conference). An oval office speech (which I don't think he has used yet), where he speaks about the need for real health reform including a government option and debunks the charges the wackos are making on the other side. I think it would be very effective.

[bluestateguy]

1. Agreed. I said this yesterday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8578374&mesg_id=8578374

On edit: The only hitch is that Republicans would likely get airtime to air a response.

[CurtEastPoint]

8. Ditto. and I agreed with you. I still feel that he needs to use the OO for this speech.

[Xzanther]

2. Bingo.

I agree with you in the fact that he needs to use this office to get the truth out there and get the media's attention.

[hedgehog]

3. How about a televised sit-down with the Oppostition leaders?.

I know some will say that gives them too much importance and suggest and equality with the President. That's pretty much the same argument given for not sitting down with the leaders of North Korea and Iran. I'd like to see them spout the same things to the President face-to-face that they are spouting to their followers. It won't sway the true believers, but it will allow the undecided people a chance to an honest comparison.

[Ocotillo]

4. 'UPS and FedEx are doing just fine.

It's the Post Office that's always having problems'?

All over fukcs news and the RW blog already!

[ejpoeta]

10. i knew that would happen as soon as I heard it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. I would like to see a promise signed in blood.

[Blue_Tires]

6. not yet...

let the momentum of today ride for awhile...do the oval office address on around labor day...

[WI_DEM]

7. Oh, I agree...maybe even closer to when congress comes back.

[tritsofme]

9. I doubt the networks would give him a prime time spot so soon after his news conference.

Especially for what is essentially a political speech.

My guess, they would kick it to cable, and that's why it won't happen now.

[WI_DEM]

11. No they would because it's a top national issue, but they would offer the GOP equal time

to give a response.

[tritsofme]

13. The networks are already upset with Obama's primetime requests

His last news conference was almost kicked to cable.

The opposition generally only gets a televised response to the SOTU, not general presidential addresses. Asking the networks for additional time for Republicans to respond would likely be even less well received.

I'm not trying to defend these guys, just pointing out the obstacles the WH would face if they wanted to do an address like this now.

[LeftinOH]

12. He would have to spend at least half of it pre-emptively addressing the bullshit

that would inevitably be said afterwards -during the Republican rebuttal.

[flyarm]

14. another one? people are getting sick of them out here in America land! eom

yeah well maybe he can explain this???????

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/0... /

Did White House PhRMA Deal Include Ads For Mike Ross?
By: Jane Hamsher Monday August 10, 2009 1:42 pm

snip:

PhRMA scored a big victory on the Education & Commerce Committee with the passage of the Eshoo/Barton amendment, supported by PhRMA, which extended the period of monopolies for generic biologic medicines:

In the period leading up to this moment, the biotech and pharma industry has spent millions, much of it hiring well known Democrats, such as Howard Dean, to push the anti-consumer amendment.

It was a big boon to PhRMA, and a serious blow to cost control efforts for phramaceutical drugs. Both Mike Ross and Baron Hill voted for the amendment, which passed (PDF).

The details of the deal between the White House and PhRMA have have not been released. As Robert Reich says, those responsible for the deal -- including Max Baucus and the White House -- need to be forthcoming about what it entails.

[Usrename]

15. I think he needs to veto any POS bill that is presented by Congress.

If it's written by the insurance industry, then he should veto it, period. If it's what the people want, single-payer, then he should sign it, period.

It isn't any more complicated than that. We can figure out how to clean house, if we have to, if we can only get a fair vote on single-payer, which it is beginning to look like will happen.