If Obama can order assassinations in the War on Terror™, why won't he do anything for single payer?

[JVS]

Or other progressive policy for that matter?

Day after day I see people defend the lack of progress on a progressive agenda with claims that "He can't wave a magic wand!" or "Congress is to blame!" Yet whenever it comes to pursuing the wars that Bush illegally began, it seems that no assertion of authority not granted by the constitution is too great. Clearly if these issues were a priority for him, he would find a way to make them work.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Anyone who still thinks he's TRYING to do his job on our behalf

is in SERIOUS denial.

[JVS]

2. Oh, one more point. The American medical system commits many 9/11s each year...

if you want to compare the numbers between for profit medicine and terrorism.

[midnight]

3. Yes they do....

[ixion]

4. for the same reason he doesn't end the so-called 'wars' on terror or drugs

because of profits.

[Dr Fate]

5. Because he is opposed to it. As he should be. Centrism is WORKING.

nt

[Vanje]

6. Centrism is not working ....

....for me.

Obama's centrism is working GREAT for Boehner.

[Dr Fate]

7. I guess you did not see all the links and lists that prove that it is.

You are supposed to click on those, you know.

[Vanje]

22. I guess you forgot to post those links.....

[Dr Fate]

24. They are blue and all over DU. Click on them and come back and tell me everything is not going well.

nt

[Ignis]

31. Psst, your leg is being pulled.

Sadly, it's becoming harder and harder to differentiate between Dr. Fate's character and "real," "Centrist" views.

[madamesilverspurs]

8. And WHERE are the doors for my motorcycle?!

[frylock]

9. because he doesn't have the drones errrrrrrr..... votes

[JVS]

11. Maybe he could send Seal Team 6 to do some lobbying.

[Autumn]

10. Because he's not a dictator. To insist everyone be

able to have access to affordable health care would be a misuse of a magic wand. Killing on the other hand is showing you are tough on whatever, and pukes like that.

[Romulox]

13. He acted like a dictator when he wanted to invade Libya...

:shrug:

[Autumn]

18. Well I sure as hell can't argue with that

But come on how important is single payer to those who have access to health care? Cough, like Obama, Cough. Sorry had something stuck in my throat.

[treestar]

33. This is why President's prefer foreign policy

All Presidents find domestic issues frustrating. They find they have far few fetters in foreign policy and often end up emphasizing it.

Congress can't run a war, so the President does have more of a magic wand when it comes to foreign policy.

[emilyg]

12. Not important to him.

[Romulox]

14. Precisely. nt

[Romulox]

15. Watch what he does, not what he says. Obama is against Single Payer, likely on ideological reasons.

It's all part of being a conservative. :shrug:

[Bucky]

16. Please sit down. Those two issues aren't exactly parallel.

[JVS]

23. Explain your assertion. How is exceeding the bounds of the constitution in one policy area...

different from exceeding the bounds of the constitution in another? Am I missing some kind of "These are the parts we really mean" clause of the constitution?

[LoZoccolo]

17. Because single-payer could still be reversed. n/t

[RZM]

19. People, not to mention congress, are quite divided on health care

They are much less divided about raining death from above on terrorists.

[JVS]

21. The public overwhelmingly desires single payer. It is not divided about that.

If congress needs Obama to use extra-constitutional methods to whip it into line, why does he refrain from doing what is necessary to get the job done?

[RZM]

26. That's a matter of semantics I think

What constitutes 'overwhelming' and 'divided?' From the polls I've seen (many date back to the height of the debate in 2009) it looks like roughly 60 percent of people approve (some polls show more, some less). That's a solid majority, but 40 percent is still a lot of folks - I think it's fair to say that people are 'divided.' Besides, I mentioned Congress for a reason. They exercise power in the name of the people and I don't think that you could argue that they aren't divided on it.

[Akoto]

20. If you want him to do things the way Bush did them ...

... then I really want nothing to do with such a brand of leadership.

Also, it's easier to kill than to get Congress to agree. You'd have to be without sensory input to have not seen that, but then, this post was never anything more than flamebait to begin with.

[court jester]

28. "Also, it's easier to kill than to get Congress to agree."

I re read it, and it stayed the same

"Also, it's easier to kill than to get Congress to agree."

I re read it again.

It's still the same.

"Also, it's easier to kill than to get Congress to agree."

Something fucking horrible is drifting through the air. I'm outta here.

Good God

[Akoto]

29. Sorry, it's the truth. The world ain't pretty.

You want to accuse me of being an anti-democracy, pro-execution nut, read my post history and come back with it. Until then, cut the veiled insults.

[JNinWB]

25. Where would the money to implement single payer come from?

More Magic Wanding?

[JVS]

30. Siphon it off of the bank bailout funding.

Or use the magic wand. It's all good.

[ThomWV]

27. If he holds the power of Life and Death as both Judge and Executioner then how can he not have enoug

How can he not have the power to get us a single payer system paid for in full by taxes levied progressively across the entire population? He can be Judge, Jury, and Executioner when he choses to be acting entirely within the authority he has given himself and if there is any greater power than that I am blind to see it.

[JVS]

34. Exactly. If he has already decided that he has this kind of authority, why let congress stand in...

his way?

[treestar]

32. Apples and Oranges

One man can be killed with one drone and targeted.

Single payer would be a policy and a program to be carried out over time and with millions of people.

[PufPuf23]

35. Single payer and separating health insurance and care from

employment would be a huge economic stimulus and make us more competitive in world markets.

The mechanism is there, expand medicare to cover all. Those want more coverage can still buy private health insurance or pay for Cadillac treatment.

The USA is backward and extremely inefficient in health care.

OTOH I do not believe POTUS Obama ever was ever for a public option. He hired Zeke Emmanuel as a health care advisor is stark evidence.

The neoliberals and neoconservatives pandering to the corporate medical and financial sectors are to blame.

[bananas]

36. He's the Decider-in-Chief and he's decided in favor of death panels. nt