What would you tell President Obama if you got to have a beer summit with him?

[GaYellowDawg]

Here's what I think I'd say (or wish I could bring out without stumbling all over myself):

Mr. President, I wish you'd ditch the idea of bipartisanship. First, the majority of Republicans in office have a demonstrated unwillingness to compromise and have demonstrated fundamental dishonesty in their political fight against you. They are neither a loyal nor reasonable opposition. Second, they had their shot at running the country, and ran it into the ground. Why would you seek views and answers from a party and a political philosophy that have so clearly demonstrated an inability to run the country? It's the political equivalent of asking the captain of the Exxon Valdez to pilot your charter boat with a liquor cabinet in the wheelhouse.

The country didn't overwhelmingly elect Democrats in the last two elections in order for you and Congressional Democrats to go running to the Republicans for approval. We elected you to do the opposite. There should be no trouble with Republicans with a supermajority. Trouble with Blue Dogs? Why not call them into the Oval Office and tell them that if they don't tow the line that you will endorse a more cooperative candidate to replace them in the next primary?

In short, Mr. President, I'd like to see a lot more bully, and a lot less pulpit.

On edit: I really, really, really hope that this is what you're doing, in which case I'd be happy to STFU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6341387&mesg_id=6341387

[exboyfil]

1. Use our buying power with prescription drug companies

We refuse to pay one dollar more than the Canadians for our drugs.

Set up more financial incentives to create more G.P. doctors

Do not give up on the concept of single payer, but make assurances that we will use the same level of care in monitoring the use of that system by non-citizens as the Canadians use for their system.

[kanrok]

2. Quit drinking beer and get to work

n/t

[ejpoeta]

3. I think i'd tell him that bipartisanship only works when both parties involved

want the same thing. And the republicans aren't interested in fixing healthcare.... they are only interested in making the dems look bad and stopping anything from getting done. Twist arms if he has to. It's great that he wants to be a nice guy, but there's a time to be nice, and there's a time to draw the line... This isn't about you, mr. president, really. this is about all those people out there who are having to worry about not losing their insurance instead of worrying about getting better. people who have done everything they were supposed to do are losing everything because they dared to get sick.

we spend twice as much as everyone else and everyone else is covering everyone. how is that!! the public option was the compromise. I say scrap the whole thing. Kill two birds with one stone... you can shore up medicare and get everyone access to affordable healthcare at the same time... instead of starting from scratch, just expand medicare to everyone... everyone can buy in and work on fixing the system we already have in place. You can get rid of that no negotiation with pharma and actually negotiate for decent prices for medications. We can also maybe increase reimbursements to doctors, because it's the right thing to do.

And don't make it take effect in 5 or 10 years... make it take effect right away.... not EVERYONE will be jumping in if they already have insurance now. you will get the uninsured first. and then others will want to join slowly.... by doing this, people will be paying into the medicare system... and you will have healthy people in it who don't need as much medical attention... not just the elderly who tend to need more care. And don't listen to the insurance companies.... they could compete if they had to... they just don't have to. and if you let the republicans and some of the dems have their way, the insurance companies are going to get even more.... and who's going to get blamed.... you will. you and the dems in congress will be blamed and will lose.

If you pass it.... it will end up being as popular as medicare is now. all those arguments against the reforms you want were made about medicare, and yet now if anyone messed with it or tried to take it away their political future would be over. I have heard you are willing to stake your presidency on fixing healthcare.... then act like it. and show the dems in congress that you are willing to stake THEIR political lives on it too.

[janedum]

4. Get some BACKBONE!

Arrest town hall HECKLERS for disorderly conduct.
Pass a Truth in Media Bill.
For every LIE a right-wing host tell on MSM, the radio or TV is fined $500,000.

[fasttense]

5. Good paying, living wage, JOBS, jobs, jobs and more jobs.

It is the only thing that will keep this economy from falling further into the 2nd Republicon Great Depression. It's the only thing that will create demand and improve spending by consumers.

Oh, by the way, increase the minimum wage (to include all, waiters and waitresses too).

[cbdo2007]

6. Missterrrr Prressident, thhhankks ffer tha beeeeeer!