Obama’s Kabuki summit invitation: Just say no
Please.
The White House spends a full year trashing Republicans for having no ideas on health care reform.
The White House spend a full year promising transparency while subverting it.
And now, after a year’s worth of closed backroom meetings and midnight holiday weekend legislative sessions in which Republicans had severely curtailed ability to offer amendments, President Obama wants to invite them to a televised health care summit to talk about the GOP alternatives he said didn’t exist?
President Obama said Sunday that he would convene a half-day bipartisan health care session at the White House to be televised live this month, a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as Democrats and Republicans try to break their political impasse.
Mr. Obama made the announcement in an interview on CBS during the Super Bowl pre-game show, capitalizing on a vast television audience. He set out a plan that would put Republicans on the spot to offer their own ideas on health care and show whether both sides are willing to work together.
“I want to come back and have a large meeting, Republicans and Democrats, to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward,” Mr. Obama said in the interview from the White House Library.
Mr. Obama challenged Republicans to attend the meeting with their plans for lowering the cost of health insurance and expanding coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Republican leaders said they welcomed the opportunity and called on Democrats to start the debate from scratch, which the president said he would not do.
The move by Mr. Obama comes after weeks in which the administration has appeared uncertain about how to proceed on his top domestic priority since Republicans captured the Senate seat previously held by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. House and Senate Democrats had been increasingly at odds over what the bill should say, how to move ahead tactically and, in some cases, whether to continue at all.
The idea for the bipartisan meeting, set for Feb. 25, was reached in recent weeks, aides said, as part of the White House strategy to intensify its push to engage Congressional Republicans in policy negotiations, share the burden of governing and put more scrutiny on Republican initiatives.
Unlike the question-time session with Republicans, the White House political machine will be in full control of the staging.
Republicans should feel zero obligation to participate in yet another White House health care dog-and-pony show:
Just say no.
If Obama really wants to learn about GOP health care reform plans, he can look them up online, where they have been for months.
Here is Sen. Jim Demint’s Health Care Freedom Plan.
And here is the Patients’ Choice Act of Sens. Coburn and Burr and Reps. Ryan and Nunes.
And here is House GOP leader Boehner’s health care reform page.
Obama has enough human stage props to feed his ego and advance his agenda.
Republicans should not be a party to it.
***
Here’s an idea: Republicans can tell Obama they’ll participate in his health care summit after he provides transcripts of his backroom meetings with Big Labor/SEIU.
***
Karl in the Green Room: “Having the GOP in for a debate after Democrats draft a ‘final bill,’ similar to that virtually universally rejected by Republicans is absurd, which ought to be among the main points Republicans make if — as appears to be the case — they choose to attend.”
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
 |
Obama Chief of Staff: No More Compromise on Contraceptive Mandate
February 12, 2012 04:26 PM by Doug Powers
114 Comments
Choosing Life and Beating the Odds
February 11, 2012 11:50 AM by Doug Powers
32 CommentsObama’s fraudulent abortion mandate “accommodation” Updated: Prez condemns “cynical” opposition
February 10, 2012 10:05 AM by Michelle Malkin
245 Comments‘To Stop the Multiplication of the Unfit’
February 10, 2012 09:06 AM by Michelle Malkin
199 CommentsFormer Democrat Rep. Regrets Vote for Obamacare Due to Contraceptive Coverage
February 7, 2012 03:40 PM by Doug Powers
75 Comments
How to Make a Liberal Politician Stand Up Against Intrusive Government
February 6, 2012 04:28 PM by Doug Powers
95 Comments
Your Friday IRS regulation dump: Obamacare’s job-killing medical device tax
February 3, 2012 04:21 PM by Michelle Malkin
58 Comments
The SIGA scandal: Calls for investigation mount
January 27, 2012 02:13 PM by Michelle Malkin
58 Comments
Categories: Health care
Weekly Standard
» White House Economic Adviser: 'We Need a Global Minimum Tax'Pundit & Pundette
» Bishop Jenky, Nicki Minaj, and the "98%"Sister Toldjah
» Obama’s new budget is a bad jokeJustOneMinute
» We Hear From The Department Of Good Ideas And False Choices
The Republicans had better not fall for this sham. Everybody understands the essence of his healthcare aberration . . . good lord he’s been touting it for the last year. This is nothing more than another attempt to dominate air time and trash his opposition. When he drops the public option, the single payer option, the payment mandates, eliminates government control and ensures that freedom of choice is not affected, then there may be room for discussions. In the meantime the Republicans need to steer clear of this obvious set up.
Politely decline and remind Obama the floor of Congress is the appropriate place for Republicans to present their proposals.
That should shine the light on the Obama’s, Reid’s and Pelosi’s attempts to circimvent the legislative process.
Could it be more obvious … So simple even a Republican can spot the trap?
You really mean, share the blame of trying to force unConstitutional crap down the throats of a slowly awakening populace.
“Just say no” but don’t allow the White House to claim that the Republicans refused to participate in a bipartisan meeting on the issue.
Maybe the Republicans could state that they would like their plans for health care reform to be taken seriously but reject the attempts of exploitation at a White House controlled forum.
This is just shocking
He’s not going to say anything different.
It’s going to be ‘pretty pretty pretty pretty please agree with me’.
And if you don’t, well you are a racist hate monger who is in the way and we need to find a way around you.
Why is he interested in bipartisanship now? Why did he chastise the D’s in the Senate in early negotiations for listening to SOME (one) R in the conference committees?
He only cares about the photo-op. He won’t say anything different. Maybe he’ll add an anecdote about someone’s health insurance premiums. He’ll say the fix to the deficit is health care.
He’ll say the problem with the deficit is health care. But he won’t acknowledge that the REASON it is a problem is because the government is involved and spending money on THEIR portion that is unsustainable.
The problem is Medicare and the unfunded liability of the states in Medicaid. I’ve still heard pundits get those programs mixed up (Juan Williams). Usually the ones adamantly supporting health care reform don’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare is the federal governments’ biggest problem. The solution is not to use money for Medicare to go to some new government spending program. The solution is much closer to raising the age for eligibility of Medicare . . . but they proposed the OPPOSITE DIRECTION (Medicare at 55).
Reforming the health insurance market isn’t the solution. That will make the problems worse. Put money into VA clinics from the Defense Department budget and open it for anyone who doesn’t have insurance.
Then offer a catastrophic 20,000 deductible that anyone can get through the private sector. We don’t NEED to cover preventative care (which would increase costs) with insurance. If you want preventive care, pay cash and that will lower the cost.
Until Obama realizes that the problem with the health care system is the massive involvement of the government and mis-allocation of government funds (read 60B in outright fraud and theft that the private industry doesn’t see), we won’t be able to address real reform fixes in the system.
If Obama thinks the problem is the private health insurance companies, then he’ll never solve the REAL problem.
That’s what the Sovereign States are for, you numby!
Any reform should start at the State level, period!
It’s got to be itching like crazy! Go on, scratch it, you know you want to!
Gotta trot this one out again:
When your enemy is in the process of destroying himself, do not – repeat, do not – interfere!
Republicans should enthusiastically avoid this socialists’/fascists’ trap…and not interfere.
I hope to goodness that the R’s do not go. This bho just wants to make this all about him. That is what is always is, just about this bho. Just like the way this treated the SC Judges at the sotu mess, they should NEVER go again. I, frankly do not care if the d’s and this bho thinks the r’s are the ‘party of no’, at least most r’s seem to hold their ground to half way stop this whole gosh horrible mess we have had for the last year in dc.
L
If one Repub votes for this sham, the Democraps will yell Bi-partisan agreement, as we all know. This is another example of the Empty Suits Theatre of the Absurd.
spot on as usual flyoverman!!
But, no matter how shiny…
Here’s an idea. They can all go and agree that every single R will demand one phrase every time they are called upon.
‘If you want Health Care, we have to start completely over from scratch.’
That’s it. If the O doesn’t want to start over, he’s not credible in wanting to ‘work with’ R’s. When starting negotiations, the first issue is TORT reform. If the O doesn’t want to include TORT reform, he’s not credible.
It is truly amazing to me that anyone in this country who has been paying attention thinks what Obama says has any credibility at all.
They can go only with certain preparations:
1. Have clear starting positions, that are non-negotiable.
2. Be prepared to be put on the spot, and to have lies told about them, and be ready with truth to rebut.
3. Position One must be removal of the individual Mandate for health care coverage.
4. Position Two must be removal of caps on corporate profits, (e.g. 85% minimum payout limits).
5. Don’t be afraid to be seen as obstructionist, if the non-negotiable points are not incorporated. Blame will happen, just be ready for it, and there must be someone who can prepare for this with a rebuttal that will be effective.
Otherwise, decline, because there is little to gain by going.
They will go, and then Lindsey Graham will tell us how great bi-partisanship is. I hope he doesn’t weep for the moment.
It’s a trap.
I agree with Flyoverman- Throw down the gauntlet! Tell the president to hold the discussions in the chamber, WITH LIVE COVERAGE- and tell them to start from scratch while focusing on one problem at at time. There should also be some non-negotiable points from the get-go, e.g. no public funding for abortion, no single pay systems, etc.
Let the people se it and hear it; They will see first-hand who is who.
One other thing, remind him he is an observer, not a participant. The representative body was designed to be co-equal, not puppets to the chief executive (or the legislative). They represent us (their states), not him or any party in particular.
Now this here is just plain funny.
Nothing but a huge trap so he can spread the blame on not getting it passed. AVOID it at all costs.
Agreed!
And what’s “transparent” about bringing the GOP in merely to ridicule and brow beat them before a national audience via a camera fixed solely on Obama as a means of minimalizing any input from Republicans?
The GOP needs to let this offer pass.
during which he demonstrated his desire to “listen to the people” by pooh-poohing the questions or viewpoints submitted by viewers as too simplistic, or just plain wrong.
The game plan is to look reasonable while insisting that the Dem plan IS the best plan and the Republicans are invited to make suggestions on how to make it better. That plan has already been rejected by the American voters. Why would the Republicans even think of participating in this farce?
The House and Senate leadership should come right out and reject the invitation arguing that their suggestions don’t make sense in a nationalization scheme. THAT is the entire point of voter discontent. We don’t want comprehensive nationalized health care.
If the GOP is afraid of appearing to be petulant in refusing to participate in this farce, they aren’t smart and/or bold enough to be trusted. Their fear is grounded in their lack of conviction to conservative principles. Don’t say no, say HELL NO!!!
Once in session, the republicans should ask these types of questions: Allowing insurance companies to cross state lines would:
1)Make them more competitive reducing costs and make it affordable to more people, meaning more people would be insured.
2)Allow clients to keep the insurance they are happy with so if they change jobs it prevents any gaps in coverage.
Can we start with this, and if not, why not?
Go straight down the list and discuss each idea in turn.
McCain will convince the Repubs to “reach across the aisle” in the spirit of cooperation. Ha! He’s dem-lite, along with Snowe and the rest of them claiming bipartisanship. It’s a trap and I hope they don’t fall for it.
He is looking for complicity WHEN, not if, this plan blows up in our faces.
OK, take out time for coffee breaks, teleprompter repairs, head calls, and the obligatory phot op, and what have we got left, 15, 20 minutes?
All this thing is, is moron bait. Guess who will fall for it? No doubt from Obama’s POV he can’t lose and the Republicans can’t win. He’s right.
The first question asked should be:
Mr. President, will you call for Democrat leaders in both houses to withdraw any pending health care bills in favor of the compromise we work out?
If the answer is no, then politely thank him for his time and leave.
JD #32: Absolutely! Spot on my friend.
Substitute “The One” for Zeus / “Republican” for Mortal:
****
Mortal: What is a million years like to you?
Zeus: Like one second.
Mortal: What is a million dollars like to you?
Zeus: Like one penny.
Mortal: Can I have a penny?
Zeus: Just a second…
What the hell is your problem?
JD #32, One other thing to add, hold a press conference immediately and tell the American people what transpired and remind them the President and the Democratic Congress are apparently indifferent to the will of the people. Perhaps they should speak a bit louder and more often.
Of course the R’s will attend.
If they don’t then the msm and BHO and the various D’s will bloody their noses in the public forum.
The R’s already have a public perseption of the “Party of No”.
R’s have a track record of caving in.
The D’s are a masters of the media.
Mr. President, we don’t trust you.
The whole topic is toxic. If Obama continues down his vowed path seeking socialized “reform,” he’ll seal the Dems fate in November. If Republicans fall once again for this total shaft job, after a year of outrageous subverting of the process, they can expect a well-deserved incumbent nightmare in the primaries. Both parties would be better off vacationing for the next 9 months.
Just another opportunity for Bho to lecture and scold the GOP for failing to kiss his feet and support his pathetic programs. Bho needs to realize that a President is supposed to be a leader not a dictator.
Don’t be coy, you know to what I’m referring. John Deaux got it. If you’re not in the mood to play, then I apologize for the tweak.
***
A wise man said, “When your enemy is committing suicide–DON’T STOP HIM!” Real Clear Politics has The Messiah’s favorable / unfavorable poll rating averages very near the “go broke” point now.
***
No “reaching across the aisle” to give Comrade Obama, SanFranNan, or dingy Harry Reid any political cover. Let them continue to “take point” on this C**P SANDWICH–and let them take their buckwheats in the 2010 and 2012 elections.
***
No need to “fix” a system that isn’t really broken.
***
John Bibb
***
The fact that Republicans would even consider this reminds me of a scene from Animal House:
Otter:I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Bluto: We’re just the guys to do it.
Frustrating, isn’t it. While this is not completely a no win situation, there are many reactions to take, and a lot of them will only make matters worse.
There have been Committee hearings having both Dems and Reps in attendance where ammendments from both parties were rejected and accepted, and some of those meetings have been televised.
Yes, other meetings were not held in the open. But, to allow the characterization that there has been no transparency is a mis-representation of the facts.
That being said, just saying no to a meeting could be a mistake. Suggesting that the Administration go online to look up what the Reps have offered is also fraught with peril. That will allow the Administration to say that they have read them and found them wanting.
As difficult as a meeting in the White House might be for Reps, they have to do it, Kabuki theater, or not.
For instance, it is an opportunity to present data to support tort reform. Demonstrate through charts and numbers that insurance premiums would fall with tort reform, lessening the expenses of Doctors to provide medical services.
This was Pres Obama’s challenge at the confab in Baltimore, presenting ideas that are unsupported by actual data and that don’t add up, are not serious proposals. Show him the numbers.
This is the opportunity for Reps to slay the beast of Dem Healthcare reform forever.
It is a little political hyperbole on my part, but I would like to revisit a question I asked on this blog sometime ago, and was sort of asked at a White House meeting but was dodged.
“Do you spend six million dollars to save the life of a premie, or the life of an 89 year old diabetic with heart problems? Or, both?”
Sarah Palin only had it only half right. There are no death panels in the healthcare legislation but there should be. Insurance companies have limits, why shouldn’t this plan? Be honest and just say so.
What should be the question for the Reps is, who to send? No Boehner and no Cantor, Please NO. It has to be their person who has the most substance and the greatest number of facts at their finger tips.
Why must Michelle sully Kabuki?
Wow! A whole half-day? I feel confident that we will be able to move forward.
/sarc
Whether they attend or not, the Republicans absolutely need to be calling Zero out on this naked attempt (ever dutifully supported by the media) to rig the debate to his own terms. The goal can’t just be to reduce the cost of insurance and expand coverage. You also have to make sure you don’t sacrifice the quality of the coverage. Otherwise, what have you accomplished? Great, so now this person who couldn’t afford insurance before can, but that also means he’s either going to die or suffer a permanent disability because of substandard and/or delayed care.
As the Supreme Court of Quebec aptly observed, “Access to a waiting list is not access to health care.”
This time, NO AUTOGRAPHS!!!
Sorry, but I have to disagree, Michelle. This gambit is a sequel to that “Transparency Kumbaya, Part 1″. The GOPers will again be anonymous disembodied voices being lectured and hectored by Obama for the camera.
They were idiots then and it looks like they will reprise that role for this and who knows how many other sequel(s).
The best we can hope for is that they don’t all again rush the stage in hopes of getting The One’s autograph. It’s embarrassing enough they even fell for Obama’s trap play the first time.
As Jed Clampett used to say: “Piit-teee-full”.
A man, walking down the road, saw a snake.
The snake begged him to pick him up. The man refused, saying, “You are a snake; you will bite me”.
The snake said, “I won’t bite you, I promise”. The man reached down and picked up the snake.
The snake promptly bit him. The man threw the snake down and cried, “You bit me. You promised that if I picked you up, you wouldn’t bite me!”
The snake said, “I told you I was a snake!”
That’s my concern as well. Because the deck is stacked against us, by this administration and their willing accomplices in the media – They can spin this is a way to further damage opposition to Obama as the ‘obstructionist republicans’ as they have done in the past. Of course you and I won’t believe a word of it. But that’s not the point. Because there are many people who don’t follow politics as closely.
In any case, chalk up another one to illustrate the dangers of having an opinion on a blog vs having to do a job in the real world. Because in the real world, you have to deal with these people (democrats) all the time. And you have to work with them to get anything done. As distasteful as that sounds, it’s true.
Since he won’t start from scratch, there’s no point in going.
Deal with them, yes. Work with them, no.
Working “with” someone carries with it the implication that there’s some kind of good faith to be had on their part. There is no such thing as donkey “good faith.”
I would much prefer gridlock to “getting things done” with donks. Hasn’t the federal government done enough already?
You’re both worried about the wrong thing. In fact, it couldn’t be wronger. For example, even in Mass voters made it clear they wanted the man who openly declared he was going to obstruct Obama’s plans.
I’d go even further and embrace the Democrats claim the the GOP is “the Party of no” and enumerate all the things Republicnas say “no” to – e.g. “We say no to giving terrorists the right to remain silent about their plots to kill untold thousands of Americans”. I think just the gang here could come up with enough “We Say No” (and “No More”) bulletpoints to fill a dozen pages. And, the big plus is that they would be in sync with the overwhelming majority of the voting populace.
So would I worry about Obama saying the Republicans are obstructing his agenda? That would go under the “NO” column.
Exactly. This will be an attempt by Obama to paint the GOP as the party of No. That if it wasn’t because of evil Republicans everyone would have health care, the sky would be filled with rainbows, and everyone would be singing Kumbya by the fire.
I would take it a step farther and make sure to start hyping up that the GOP will make a prime time public response to Obama’s offer. Hint that they are going to accept, so the complicite media will bite the hook, then during the live prime time announcement say that they are going to introduce their proposals (again) on the floor the next day.
A smart Republican will hammer home these two points.
1. Allow the purchase of insurance accross state lines.
2. Tort Reform
These two items on stand alone bills will save the American Taxpayer up to 100 Billion Dollars a Year and it costs the taxpayers and government ‘nothing’. It does not add to the National Debt.
Then point out that the Republicans are ready to vote yes on those bills today. Then ask why aren’t the Democrats?
You already know the answer
If some stranger knocks on my front door and says he wants to live in my basement – this clown receives a “NO” and told to leave my property.
If someone comes up to me and says they want my SS number for a poll, that person will receive a “NO” and told to get out of my face.
If a bill is bad, just plain bad, and the Empty Suit wants everyone to vote yes – he should receive nothing but a “NO” from everyone that knows it is just plain bad.
I would define ‘working with democrats’ as participating in the government, showing up and agreeing or disagreeing, as the case may be. If the democrats didn’t allow republican participation, then say exactly that while in session. In a more perfect world, people would be able to agree to disagree, and then act fairly. I also don’t much stock in democrats being fair. Or acting in good faith, for the most part.
While being an obstructionist party of no sounds good to me and you, (or filibustering everything that the democrats propose to spite them) and gridlock – especially against someone like Obama, the reality as I see it is that republicans have to participate. In some form.
Just because they ‘work with’ the democrats, doesn’t mean that they should agree with them on the major issues that they disagree on. And make that abundantly clear to the press and the US population what they are doing, and why.
Murtha died.
Obama is trying so,so hard to complete his destruction of the economy and the USA…..what happened to the jobs,jobs,jobs !!!
This guy is only transparent when it comes to his agenda……totally visible and rejected by the American people!
Go Away you commie creep!
If you think the Republicans have learned anything from the tea party movement, this should disabuse you of the notion. The Stupid Party remains unaltered.
Wow! Murtha dies after gallbladder surgery…I’m due to have it within a week!
Yikes!
Serious?
God rest his soul, and comfort his family.
Republicans and Democrats are useless ….teapartiers need to completely take over the GOP!
Those evil sell-outs, the republicans!
Read he was in ICU the other day. Complications from gall bladder surgery?
Well, RIP. Didn’t agree with any of his politics but the man volunteered for combat in Vietnam and won the Bronze Star (with Valor device), two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and retired from the Marine Corps receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Have to acknowledge and respect distinguished service.
I’m sorry for Murtha’s family – it is always difficult to lose a loved one. No matter his politics and tactics.
He was also 78 years old and had many other physical problems. Not to worry, you’ll make it. We’ll pray.
Ditto, I hope he finds the peace he couldn’t in this realm. I wonder what it is about Washington that can twist a man so far from what he once was.
This is true. But sadly, what detracts from that of course were his later attacks against our men and women in uniform who instead deserved his own acknowledgment and respect.
Not meaning to speak ill of the him, or of any others now departed from this earth; however, many start out well but do not finish well.
May God lend comfort to Murtha’s family and friends.
Jack Murtha has died.
This comment box intentionally left blank.
Gallbladder surgery is pretty routine these days, especially laproscopic. If you’re in good shape, you’ll be up and around in a day. 30 years ago, it took 3-5 days bedrest, first.
Meetings like that end up to be nothing more than political posturing in front of the cameras and chest-beating. Nothing is usually accomplished.
Just saw that John Murtha passed away
Yeah, that one really puzzled me. Those guys he trashed were Marines and turned out to be innocent. Any Marines here? I thought Semper Fi was for life. Seemed bizarre he would abandon the accused Marines for political points.
Yea, Murtha’s family are really going to be crying at his funeral since there will be no more pork funneled into their pockets. You do know that his SONS construction company won all the “competitive bids” for the majority of the construction jobs that he PORKED to PA.
Supreme example of the reason for term limits.
As to the Repubs and Health Care with the Pres: DON’T DO IT -EITHER WAY THE REPUBS WILL BE THE BAD GUYS. STICK WITH THE PEOPLE AND JUST SAY “NO”
You can bet Obama will try his best to sound thoughtful and resolute. And while doing so, he’ll be taking every shot he can at Republicans and at Bush.
And I bet McCain is just getting all happy-feet’ish at the chance of having a “bi-partisan” meeting. He may even try to tackle illegal alien amnesty while he’s there.
3 words..
don’t.do.it.
Nothing Obama does is in good faith.
1. The original observation stands: Hasn’t the federal government done enough already? Whenever there’s “bi-partisanship” involved, it’s always been in the form of bigger, more expensive and more intrusive government.
2. Aside from being preferable on things like national defense and keeping taxes lower than the alternative, the main value of the Republican Party today is simply to serve as a wall against the donks. I don’t want them so much “for” anything — which will likely as not be just a little less objectionable growth of government power than what the donks are after — as to be effective in serving as that wall.
If it’s going to be in front of cameras then rehearse like Obama will do. Have every sound bite that you can squeeze into your head memorized or indexed on cards so when any issue of the health care “debate” comes up, remind them of their stated positions and then counter with the (to date) unreported GOP position on it. Try to say when the GOP offered it and by whom and what their response, if any, was.
Don’t ever assume you (GOP) are making any sense to them but go ahead and make your case using their props. Remember who the audience is, the voters.
Well, Swede, I dunno and I don’t have the experience or qualification to answer specifically on the Marines & “Semper Fi”. But I think it has to do with a point I raised in my comment. More kind of a general observation on humanity and the human condition, than on Murtha himself in particular. It’s one that you – and I expect, most of us – obviously are all too aware of; not everyone who does something good at “Point A” will end up good at “Point Z”.
History is sadly all too rife with the Benedict Arnolds, Lee Harvey Oswalds and Timothy McVeigh types.
The tragedy lies somewhere in between the “A” and the “Z”.
They should go, give a brief speech directing the American public to a website with specific proposals, invite the public to place comments on the website, then politely take their leave.
I refuse to believe that Obama will be in front of cameras without a teleprompter. No way will he do anything unrehearsed, or spontaneously. Nope, nadda, not happening…especially in front of his enemies with cameras present…sorry, I’m not buying it. His “offer” isn’t.
As much as I hate saying it….this is a genius move from Obama and his handlers.
Almost a no-lose situation for this administration and Dems in general.
No way the Republicans can come out of this smelling good. They just aren’t that smart.
I was just starting to get the feeling the tides were turning in favor of conservatives but this move proves that power is too much of an aphrodisiac for those in Washington. If the Republicans bite on this we (the taxpaying citizens of the US) are toast
First question for the Prez from any GOPer should be: “Is Tort Reform on the table, or are you too beholden to the trial lawyer lobby?”
Keep asking until you get an answer.
Once again why aren’t these meeting made public? The 0 knows damn good and well what the Republican ideas for health care are, is he looking for a weak kneed senator from Az. or Me. to attend so he can call it bi-partisan?
Ditkaca -
I don’t know that it’s genius as much as it is desperation. Kind of a hope for a lucky shot in the dark.
If the Republicans had any brains at all they would make it known that Obama’s attempt to have the government take over American’s personal health care is dead.
Then they would declare that they what they want to talk about is the economy and jobs, not socialized medicine which Americans have soundly rejected.
They should vividly note at least two things:
1) Obama & the Democrats refused to talk to Reoublicans for over a year about the Dem plan for government-run healthcare. This by Obama’s own confession that he is only now willing to even listen to Republican ideas.
2) That “it’s the economy, stupid!”. Republicans need to take the lead on reversing and eliminating the suffering caused by Obama & the Dems neglect on jobs as the Dems instead wasted over a year on their secret schemes of a government takeover of Americans healthcare.
That is, the bottom line is we don’t need a “bipartisan summit” to help revive Obama’s failed national heatlhcare takeover. The ecomomy and jobs are the big fish to fry. Only after those issues have been addressed will the Republicans think about joining Obama-Rudolph in his “healthcare games”, not before.
But are the Republicans smart enough not to play Obama’s game? Sadly, we haven’t seen much to indicate that they are that bright.
Does it say on the palm of Obama’s left hand “more lotion”?
‘Cause this sure looks like the ultimate circle of jerks, to me.
Not just “no” but “HELL NO!”
What? Obama is insisting on preconditions before negotiating with Republicans? He must love Iran more than the GOP.
Beware Republicans! The only thing Obama needs you for is to help him put lipstick on his Obamacare pig to make it seem more attractive. But when the public discovers that the new, bipartisan Obamacare is full of pork and fat, has a voracious appetite while feeding at the public trough, and excretes tons of government waste, who will get the blame?
That’s right, those meddling Republicans ruined a perfect bill by insisting on their evil changes. Without their interference, Obamacare would have insured everyone at a lower cost while solving the deficit at the same time.
Republicans, do not leave your elephantprints on this bill!
If the GOP leadership had any sense they would forego the ‘theatre of the absurd’ that Obama is inviting them to. With that said, I am sure they will take him up on his offer… providing further evidence that the GOP is out of touch with the common man.
Just remember the Democrats’ definition of “bipartisanship.” That’s when the GOP votes in accordance with whatever the Democrats want.
Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are swirling in the bowl right now. GOP — don’t even think of throwing them a life preserver by showing up for this dog and pony show.
80% of Independents do not support ObamaCare.
The GOP should not fear the Democrats claims that they are the party of “No.” They would be well advised to be the party of “Hell no.”
But in his State of the Union address, Obama claimed that the economy was his top priority: “Jobs must be our number one focus in 2010,” Obama said.
Republicans should put him to the test on his commitment to focusing on the economy. They should invite Obama to attend a “jobs summit” as a condition for attending his health care summit at a later date. If he insists on addressing health care first, it will prove that he was lying when he claimed jobs would be his number one focus in 2010.
If Obama accepts the offer, Republicans will have a stage for advocating tax cuts and smaller government as a cure for our economic woes. They can also push Obamacare onto the back burner until a true bipartisan agreement can be reached on jobs.
The Democrats are not going to give up their plans for tax increases, partly because tax hikes are a central part of their health care bill. So a jobs summit gives Republicans the opportunity to stand on higher ground while Democrats refuse any bipartisan compromises on tax cuts to help the economy. Such a stalemate could help postpone action on Obamacare until after the November elections when the Democrats will once again be introduced to their old nemesis: reality.
The Republicans should meet with Obama, in front of cameras, and ask him to resign for putting America through agony for 13 1/2 months.
Yeah. wrecking them. Jobs are his main target, and so far he’s done a good job hitting them.
Where’s Cheney when you need him?
Give the cretin credit where none is due! He has saved or created somewhere between 1000 and 2,000,000,000 jobs, depending on the variances in data sampling, perameters of the criteria for determining job vapor, and the alignment of Venus and the moon.
Remember last year Pelosi promised they would create 500 Mil jobs – which is super awesomely awesome since the population is only 300 Mil! When this materialized the unemployment rate will be -60%! Change we can fantasize about.
I just hope that the Republican Leadership has the God given common sense to tell Obama to pound sand.
Whether they go or not they will be pariahs. So why go? Absolutely nothing will be gained by attendance.
Believe me, the majority of the public is well aware of the duplicity and underhandedness of the current Democratic party.
PC is Thought Control
LEE
Nah…he’s a noxious gas around YourAnus.
*The GOP should use my mantra, which I use for all politicians, and that is “don’t trust, then verify why”; P-BO is the poster child for that and if the Minor League Media had an ounce of cred left, they could actually make a decent profit in pursuit of that alone.
*Remember, P-BO and many of the Dems have spoken out in favor of single payer; If the GOP thinks it wise to sit down with these snakes, they need that off the table, in writing, at the outset; After that, they should still expect to get bit; When, oh when, will they learn, that the Democrat Party is the “Death to America” Party!
Stay far far away.
BHO will twist and control this even more than he did in Baltimore a few days ago.
Just SAY NO!
But they will…
So, at least present at length, each idea, each bill, each amendment WITH YOUR ORIGINAL DATE(s) from throughout last year out loud and take 10 minutes to present each & every point.
Don’t let bho say “we can discuss that point later”.
Or don’t go.
8:35 mtn
Sen Barrasso from Wyoming, just said they’ll go.