President Obama to address Congress

[Donger]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26700.html



President Barack Obama will address a joint session of Congress on health care reform in prime time on Wednesday, Sept. 9, a senior official tells POLITICO.

Obama will receive House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the White House the day before for a previously scheduled sit-down.

The last time a president addressed a joint session of Congress that wasn’t a State of the Union, or the traditional first address by a new president, was Sept. 20, 2001, when President George W. Bush spoke on the war on terrorism following the 9/11 attacks.

Obama plans to give lawmakers a more specific prescription for health care legislation than he has in the past, aides said.

Congress technically returns to Washington on Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day. But many members had planned Sept. 9 as their first workday, so Obama is seizing the first moment when he will have maximum impact.

The address to Congress, the second since Obama took offiice, is a way for White House aides to achieve maximum news coverage as they kick off their plans to recovery from a disappointing August congressional break, which saw the president's poll number fall as voices of opposition to health care legislation rose.

The exact time of the speech has not been set, but prime time ensures a huge viewing audience beyond the Beltway.

Presidential aides have promised Obama will take back the reins after allowing Congress to work its will on his idea, without one specific plan for Democratic lawmakers to defend back home. We’re entering a new season,” senior adviser David Axelrod said in an interview Tuesday. “It’s time to synthesize and harmonize these strands and get this done. We’re confident that we can do that. But obviously it is a different phase. We’re going to approach it in a different way. The president is going to be very active.”

Aides said Obama does not plan to make a public option, or government plan, a make-or-break issue when he spells out his specifics. “We have been saying all along that the most important part of this debate is not the public option, but rather ensuring choice and competition,” an aide said. “There are lots of different ways to get there.”

The content of Obama's presentation is still being debated in the West Wing. Aides have discussed whether to stick to broad principles, or to send specific legislative language to Capitol Hill. Some hybrid is likely, the officials said.

The White House said given the Senate Finance Committee until Sept. 15 to try to reach a bipartisan deal, but Obama now is short-circuiting that process. Axelrod said Tuesday: "We’re not in the second inning. We’re not in the fourth inning. We’re in the eighth or ninth inning here, and so there’s not a lot of time to waste.”

"His goal is to create the best possible situation for consumers, create competition and choice," Axelrod said. "We want to bring a measure of security
to people who have health insurance today. We want to help those who don't have coverage today, because they can't afford it, get insurance they can afford. And we want to do it in a way that reduces the overall cost of the system as a whole."

Democrats expressed relief. A top Senate Democratic leadership aide said: "It will be greeted largely with relief from lawmakers who have been looking for the president to take more of a role, especially as things have reached something of an impasse."

"While there may be some differences and disappointments over the details that he ultimately lays out, the fact that he's rolling up his sleeves and entering the fray, a lot of people on the Hill feel they could use the assistance," the aide said. "The [lack of a] public option certainly makes it a harder sell. But overall, the idea of the president stepping in and taking this on is a welcome development."

Republicans questioned the impact the speech would have. Brad Dayspring, an aide to House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), said: "The last time a president addressed a joint session of Congress to sell a radical government health care plan was Bill Clinton on September 22, 1993."

Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), added: "Obviously, we want to hear what the president has to say. But the American people don't want a new speech, they want a new plan. We need to scrap the Democrats' government takeover of health care and start over on a real, bipartisan plan for reform."

[SHTSPRAYER]

Another one?

[HonestChieffan]

Attention whore?

His last time was a flop on prime time...fact is....hes lost the audience.

[wild1]

Well, it's a chance to fill the first row of the balcony with some doe-eyed victims, because emotional arguments are the only way that this sells with anybody.

[BigRedChief]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.

[HonestChieffan]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.

So he should lie?

[BucEyedPea]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.

Geezaz f'g cripes, the presidents never used to get involved in such legislation that began under socialist Wilson. He needs to step back and shed powers the president was never intended to have. The congress is supposed to be running the show not him.

[KC Dan]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.If he does this, he stands to gain much and possibly get a bill. However, if this is just another "let's go get 'em" speech, HC reform is done.

[Donger]

Nancy and Harry invited him.

[BucEyedPea]

Nancy and Harry invited him.

so

[DJ's left nut]

Geezaz f'g cripes, the presidents never used to get involved in such legislation that began under socialist Wilson. He needs to step back and shed powers the president was never intended to have. The congress is supposed to be running the show not him.

No kidding, he's not a MFing King and he has no discernable mandate.

I don't really give a good goddamn what he wants. Let Congress do it's job. Obama can just stick to his...y'know, execute the laws, not draft them.

[Donger]

I don't really see what this is going to accomplish. If he is going to actually reach out to the Republicans and suggest that Congress actually introduce reform that they want (e.g., tort reform), I suppose he might win some over.

Is he going to reach out to the Blue Dogs?

[Donger]

so

Just stating a fact.

[Guru]

Great more waste of American's time. Those few that will watch it. It's just another rah rah speech for soc... community organization. Don't forget his civilian military force as well.

Wonder if he will also remind everyone that he wants to speak to the children of America in their schools on Sept. 8th.

[BucEyedPea]

Wonder if he will also remind everyone that he wants to speak to the children of America in their schools on Sept. 8th.

Oh, that is not going over well with small govt types. The schools are run by local govts not an Emperor.

[Jenson71]

Great more waste of American's time.

This is a waste of time, as opposed to an hour and a half of primetime television?

[BucEyedPea]

This is a waste of time, as opposed to an hour and a half of primetime television?

yup They shouldn't be watching tv at all. It actually makes them less willing to apply themselves in schoolwork activities. Spectators.
And just look at the letter that went out to principals.....Obama's going to lecture the kids to be their brother's keeper and ensure the other kids get a good education like they're all mini-me community organizers.

WTF??? It's like the Sermon on the Mount for 2009.

[Chief Henry]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.

Who will decide which senior citizen gets the heart by pass surgery ?
You are fooling yourself if you think some seniors will not be choosen over other seniors. Obama even choose the words blue pill and red pill as an example.

[Jenson71]

yup They shouldn't be watching tv at all. It actually makes them less willing to apply themselves in schoolwork activities. Spectators.
And just look at the letter that went out to principals.....Obama's going to lecture the kids to be their brother's keeper and ensure the other kids get a good education like they're all mini-me community organizers.

WTF??? It's like the Sermon on the Mount for 2009.

A Sermon on the Mount? Man, that's horrible. Encouraging kids to stay in school and do well? I happen to like the inner-city drop out rate and achievement gap. What is this guy doing? I'm sure it's unconstitutional.

[mlyonsd]

I don't really see what this is going to accomplish. If he is going to actually reach out to the Republicans and suggest that Congress actually introduce reform that they want (e.g., tort reform), I suppose he might win some over.

Is he going to reach out to the Blue Dogs?

Depending on what he says it is a chance to distance himself from congress a bit. I think right now the public's perception is he's in bed with Pelose and Reid.

If he comes out and says a public option is not necessary to reform HC and congress doesn't go along with it he can point to this speech and take political cover if nothing passes.

He might be taking the chance to force congress to pass something less than what they really want.

My prediction though is no matter what he says the board libs will praise him with puppy dog eyes and the board cons will nit pick any ambiguity that can be found in his words.

[BucEyedPea]

A Sermon on the Mount? Man, that's horrible. Encouraging kids to stay in school and do well? I happen to like the inner-city drop out rate and achievement gap. What is this guy doing? I'm sure it's unconstitutional.
What does a president's powers have to do with inner city drop out rates?
Where is that duty stated in the Constitution?
This is not a good precedent.

But the main point you keep missing, is that he's acting more like a minister instead of a president.

[Guru]

This is a waste of time, as opposed to an hour and a half of primetime television?No. I used to take the time to watch stuff like this in the past. Going all the way back to Bush I. I just don't give a crap about anything O has to say anymore. He is a complete waste of our time.

[Jenson71]

What does a president's powers have to do with inner city drop out rates?
Where is that duty stated in the Constitution?
This is not a good precedent.

But the main point you keep missing, is that he's acting more like a minister instead of a president.

Maybe having a black man that's not their teacher or principle will inspire some kids to stay in school and work hard.

It's not in the Constitution. Neither is living in a White House, yet he lives there. Your non-Constitutonal argument is one of epic fallacy.

[Guru]

Maybe having a black man that's not their teacher or principle will inspire some kids to stay in school and work hard.

It's not in the Constitution. Neither is living in a White House, yet he lives there. Your non-Constitutonal argument is one of epic fallacy.I thought this wasn't about the color of his skin.

[BucEyedPea]

Maybe having a black man that's not their teacher or principle will inspire some kids to stay in school and work hard.

It's not in the Constitution. Neither is living in a White House, yet he lives there. Your non-Constitutonal argument is one of epic fallacy.

You're wrong. It's a document of specific and enumerated powers and restricts a president's active area of involvement. This is a bad precedent and what local schools are doing is none of his business even if just a pep talk from the bully pulpit. Fed govt has no business at all in education. This is another incremental expansion into it. If we accept it, more will follow.

[Jenson71]

I thought this wasn't about the color of his skin.

Thought what wasn't?

[Guru]

Thought what wasn't?You are the one that brought up the fact he is black. You tell me.

[Jenson71]

You're wrong. It's a document of specific and enumerate powers. This is a bad precedent and what local schools are doing is none of his business even if just a pep talk from the bully pulpit.

Having Barack Obama even personally visit schools himself isn't bad precedent. Remember when Bush went to schools and read a book to kids? What do you think those kids are doing now? Do you think they are in love with executive power? Do you think the kids are sitting in a high school class right now devising ways to reestablish a monarchy? What is in your mind?

[BucEyedPea]

Having Barack Obama even personally visit schools himself isn't bad precedent. Remember when Bush went to schools and read a book to kids? What do you think those kids are doing now? Do you think they are in love with executive power? Do you think the kids are sitting in a high school class right now devising ways to reestablish a monarchy? What is in your mind?

That's not part of a president's role either. The entire Dept of Ed needs to be abolished and no more Fed involvement in our schools. Although a visit is more innocuous than a lecture telling kids what they should do as far as being their brother's keeper. The thing is the teachers will talk about it afterwards and frame things the way they want.

[Jenson71]

You are the one that brought up the fact he is black. You tell me.

The fact that he's black is just self-evident to anyone with working eyes.

[Jenson71]

That's not part of a president's role either. The entire Dept of Ed needs to be abolished and no more Fed involvement in our schools. Although a visit is more innocuous than a lecture telling kids what they should do as far as being their brother's keeper. The thing is the teachers will talk about it afterwards and frame things the way they want.

The president also campaigns, for himself and others. Let's check the BucEyedPea meter:

constitutional or not?

[BucEyedPea]

It's not my meter. It's the words of the Constitution but keep spinning. As a member of a political party he can campaign for others but he's not acting as President per se there.

[Jenson71]

It's your meter.

[BucEyedPea]

It's your meter.

Nope. It's used by real conservatives, libertarians, small govt types and strict constructionists. I just got taught better by them, embraced it when saw they were right and left the Democratic party.

[Calcountry]

Another one?Somebody post the "NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN" pic please.

[Jenson71]

Nope. It's used by real conservatives, libertarians, small govt types and strict constructionists. I just got taught better by them, embraced it when saw they were right and left the Democratic party.

Do you think anyone else with a job and a degree is going to challenge Barack Obama talking to kids in school as unconstitutional?

[BucEyedPea]

Do you think anyone else with a job and a degree is going to challenge Barack Obama talking to kids in school as unconstitutional?

Yep! I'm on another conservative board and the parents on it are taking their kids out of school on that day. Well, not strictly on Con grounds but they don't want thier kids influenced by him, then followed up with teachers using what he says afterwards to train them to do as he wants. Or praise him.

[Jenson71]

Yep! I'm on another conservative board and the parents on it are taking their kids out of school on that day. Well, not strictly on Con grounds but they don't want thier kids influenced by him, then followed up with teachers using what he says afterwards to train them to do as he wants. Or praise him.

In other words..."no."

[Bwana]

Yeeeeeeeah.

[Calcountry]

This is a good thing. He needs to step up to the plate and say I want this. I don't want this. No more letting Pelosi and Reid run the show. He also needs to educate that there are no deat panels etc.Yo dude, did you see his sissy throw at the All star game? I don't think it very likely he will put a bat on the Nolan Ryan fastball that the American People threw him either.

[DJ's left nut]

Do you think anyone else with a job and a degree is going to challenge Barack Obama talking to kids in school as unconstitutional?

Anyone else = Ron Paul.

And yes, many will go ahead and follow him down that path, though I wouldn't. I don't believe he's exercising any authority in so doing, so I don't believe it to be unconstitutional when he simply attends a school for a book reading.

However, when he starts using federal airwaves and requests it be broadcast to all public schools, that is using his powers as chief executive and is well beyond the powers of the federal executive branch. It is absolutely unconstitutional.

[Guru]

The fact that he's black is just self-evident to anyone with working eyes.Then why do you feel the need to point out the color of his skin in your post? You are right, it is self-evident. We don't need people pointing it out because it is kind of obvious.

[Guru]

Having Barack Obama even personally visit schools himself isn't bad precedent. Remember when Bush went to schools and read a book to kids? What do you think those kids are doing now? Do you think they are in love with executive power? Do you think the kids are sitting in a high school class right now devising ways to reestablish a monarchy? What is in your mind?What Obama is planning on doing is recording a video message, conference, whatever you want to call it directly aimed at America's youth in school. Bush reading to children is nowhere near the same thing. Quite a few presidents have gone into schools to read to children. That is practically normal. What Obama is planning is not.

[BigRedChief]

If he does this, he stands to gain much and possibly get a bill. However, if this is just another "let's go get 'em" speech, HC reform is done.
No way he gives a rah rah speech. He has to come out and say I want "this". And put himself out there to get hammered politically if he doesn't get "this". I just hope he doesn't come out in favor of a government run health care plan. I could get behind some kind of medicare for all plan. But any government run plan that decides/dictates care will only end badly, The insurance companies are bad enough,

[Guru]

No way he gives a rah rah speech. He has to come out and say I want "this". And put himself out there to get hammered politically if he doesn't get "this". I just hope he doesn't come out in favor of a government run health care plan. I could get behind some kind of medicare for all plan. But any government run plan that decides/dictates care will only end badly, The insurance companies are bad enough,I can get behind that statement BRC.

The part I bolded is what he is long overdue for and it will be about time if he finally does that.

[banyon]

Attention whore?

His last time was a flop on prime time...fact is....hes lost the audience.

Yeah, it was a real shame when he lost your vote. :rolleyes:

[banyon]

That's not part of a president's role either. The entire Dept of Ed needs to be abolished and no more Fed involvement in our schools. Although a visit is more innocuous than a lecture telling kids what they should do as far as being their brother's keeper. The thing is the teachers will talk about it afterwards and frame things the way they want.

This is straight up retarded.

[petegz28]

Maybe having a black man that's not their teacher or principle will inspire some kids to stay in school and work hard.

It's not in the Constitution. Neither is living in a White House, yet he lives there. Your non-Constitutonal argument is one of epic fallacy.

That's pretty fucking racist

[KC Dan]

But any government run plan that decides/dictates care will only end badly, If he doesn't call for a public plan, the left will explode.

[alanm]

No. I used to take the time to watch stuff like this in the past. Going all the way back to Bush I. I just don't give a crap about anything O has to say anymore. He is a complete waste of our time.He lost me when he unveiled his grand scheme for America.
Me not want. :shake:

[SHTSPRAYER]

This is straight up retarded.

Yeah, it was a real shame when he lost your vote. :rolleyes:

Obviously an O-bot is becoming unhinged.

3 years and 4 months to go.

[BucEyedPea]

There is still a bi-partisan HC reform bill being crafted in the Senate.
It's a mistake. The call needs to be to DROP HC Reform altogether.

We all know the Ds want a govt takeover of healthcare but just want to get in the door with something first so stop calling for any REFORM for now.Not until
more Constitutionalists and pro-market guys can be elected in the next congressional election. This is being worked on right now. There are however, Rs supported
by big R money that are trying to derail some of these Constitutionalists FYI. So don't bank on any R in the Senate being on the right side. Yes, I mean Grassley for one.
He needs to be called and inundated with protests over his leaning toward a compromise bill.

So in the meantime call you reps and senators and tell them to ditch HC REFORM now!

[RINGLEADER]

I don't really see what this is going to accomplish. If he is going to actually reach out to the Republicans and suggest that Congress actually introduce reform that they want (e.g., tort reform), I suppose he might win some over.

Is he going to reach out to the Blue Dogs?


I betcha he will talk all about tort reform. He won't mean any of it, and he won't enact anything meaningful in that regard, but he'll create big headlines by saying he's open to caps on damages, cross-state insurance purchases, and maybe say that the public option as currently draft won't work.

He'll say he's listening to the American people (despite the fact that they tried to portray people who opposed Obamacare as Nazis).

He'll claim that it's time to start over with legislation that doesn't include any of the things that he has been getting beat up over.

He'll retreat rhetorically but not in substance.

Just a guess.

[BigRedChief]

There is still a bi-partisan HC reform bill being crafted in the Senate.
It's a mistake. The call needs to be to DROP HC Reform altogether.

We all know the Ds want a govt takeover of healthcare but just want to get in the door with something first so stop calling for any REFORM for now.Not until
more Constitutionalists and pro-market guys can be elected in the next congressional election. This is being worked on right now. There are however, Rs supported
by big R money that are trying to derail some of these Constitutionalists FYI. So don't bank on any R in the Senate being on the right side. Yes, I mean Grassley for one.
He needs to be called and inundated with protests over his leaning toward a compromise bill.

So in the meantime call you reps and senators and tell them to ditch HC REFORM now!
So, you are not in favor of health care reform in any way? The current system is working just fine in your opinion?

[Amnorix]

If he wants universal health care, he needs to take over the process. He hoped to avoid what the Clintons went through in 1993 by giving Congress more say, but instead the entire thing has become a classic example of too many cooks in the kitchen, and with so many different voices saying so many different things, it's far too easy for the opposition to control the terms of the debate.

If he can't take control of the debate and the process, then it's dead.

My primary focus at this point is that it remain relatively revenue neutral.

[BigRedChief]

If he wants universal health care, he needs to take over the process. He hoped to avoid what the Clintons went through in 1993 by giving Congress more say, but instead the entire thing has become a classic example of too many cooks in the kitchen, and with so many different voices saying so many different things, it's far too easy for the opposition to control the terms of the debate.

If he can't take control of the debate and the process, then it's dead.

My primary focus at this point is that it remain relatively revenue neutral.
Knowing a little political history, I understand why he let Congress do the bill. It's pretty much a universal conclusion that Clinton writing the bill and not asking input from the Congress was the main reasons for the failure to get it done. So he tried to remedy why it failed last time. Didn't work letting them do it either. It was just too damn confusing and made it an easy target to pick apart and fear monger anything in the proposal.

Deficit neutral is one of my main points also. Whatever he decides, it needs to be paid for and not add to the deficit.

[Amnorix]

You're wrong. It's a document of specific and enumerated powers and restricts a president's active area of involvement. This is a bad precedent and what local schools are doing is none of his business even if just a pep talk from the bully pulpit. Fed govt has no business at all in education. This is another incremental expansion into it. If we accept it, more will follow.

While it is a document of specific and ennumerated powers, there is a tremendous amount of gray area, which of course you refuse to recognize.

There's nothing in there about speaking at schools either way and I find it hard to see any argument that it's somehow unconstitutional.

[Amnorix]

Knowing a little political history, I understand why he let Congress do the bill. It's pretty much a universal conclusion that Clinton writing the bill and not asking input from the Congress was the main reasons for the failure to get it done. So he tried to remedy why it failed last time. Didn't work letting them do it either. It was just too damn confusing and made it an easy target to pick apart and fear monger anything in the proposal.

Right, though IIRC Clinton had his wife run a small committee of people who put together the entire proposal behind closed doors and without Congressional involvement untili it was presented as a fait accompli.

Seems to me that a far better plan would be to structure the plan in private, but involve key senior CongressCritters as well. Though hindsight is 20/20 I suppose.

This "let Congress hash it out" plan has certianly blown up completely, however. Regrettably, Congress is completely incapable of handling complicated matters anymore. That wasn't always the case, but it is now.

[Inspector]

Maybe having a black man that's not their teacher or principle will inspire some kids to stay in school and work hard.

It's not in the Constitution. Neither is living in a White House, yet he lives there. Your non-Constitutonal argument is one of epic fallacy.

Not sure, but I was thinking he wasn't a black man.

Either way it's sad that people see any color at all. I guess there is no way to put an end to racism. Bummer....

[BucEyedPea]

So, you are not in favor of health care reform in any way? The current system is working just fine in your opinion?

What part of this sentence did you not understand?
"Not until more Constitutionalists and pro-market guys can be elected in the next congressional election. "

Reform for me would be much more separation of medicine and state, since the cause was the intermingling of the two. More of the same is not a fix.

[SHTSPRAYER]

What part of all of this does the guy not get?

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT WANT THIS.:shake:

[BigRedChief]

What part of this sentence did you not understand?
"Not until more Constitutionalists and pro-market guys can be elected in the next congressional election. "

Reform for me would be much more separation of medicine and state, since the cause was the intermingling of the two. More of the same is not a fix.
We just had a pro-market guy in the office and he sucked. The bussiness's being allowed to gamble like its las vegas almost brought down the whole economy. Why would you want a return to those days?