Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer Knocks Obama On Health Care, Energy

Unfortunately, the issue of Health care reform is a process. Senator Obama knows that a Mandate is a non-starter in the House and Senate. He has to start off more practically. It's all find for the Gov of Montana and Mrs Edwards and Hillary to speak glibly about a mandate, but to me it punishes the people who are already suffering. Why punish people who don't have health insurance further. It presumes that if you don't have health insurance, you are somehow irresponsible. Maybe its because you can't get any or you can't get any that you can afford.

That is what people with no health insurance tell ME.

So its the people's fault ! At least so says Hillary, and Mrs Edwards and the Gov of Montana!

Several women in Montana reported that they received emailed invitations to a Missoula fundraiser for Hillary Clinton that were sent from Governor Schweitzer's office. His brother Walt was one of the people who was hosting the fundraiser. HMMMM....

And word has it that a couple of Montana Super-delegates were told they were not to endorse Obama until after the June 3rd primary. HMMMM....

Could there be a connection here? Ya think?

Universal health care cannot be so complex that it is impossible to cover everyone. I agree that it should be mandated, but that the Congress needs to recapture funds from the health care industry as a mandate, not penalize the people that can't afford it, rather the subsidy should come from the industry and the government, cost share. The goverment may want to create incentives to the industry for best practices. In MT, Gov. Schweitzer is a great Gov. but still not in the same stratosphere as Obama. Not exciting enough to be Prez.

Factual note: Obama supported the energy bill because it was the first bill sent through the Senate that ACTUALLY had a substantial amount of research and development money for renewable resources in it.

Oh and FYI - until we HAVE the renewable resources developed and in place, we still need to rely on the current forms of energy. So we still need to fund those for a while yet. Or would you rather go back to kerosene lamps and moonlight?

The Republicans control the purse strings at the moment. The pragmatic thing to do is to get whatever funding you can to help create the technology that will create the opportunity and the impetus to be able to Go Green later.

This is not controversial and it's not hard to understand. Let's get with the program people.

Still more different opinions on Obama, just today:

http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/elections-0/1207839848150850.xml&storylist=orlocal

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) " Two former Oregon governors say they will support Barack Obama for president.
Barbara Roberts and John Kitzhaber gave their endorsements to the Illinois senator on Thursday, just before the Democratic Party of Oregon holds its platform convention this weekend...
Roberts praised Obama for his opposition to the war in Iraq and his support for sustainable environmental policies. Kitzhaber said Obama is the best candidate to bring some real change to American politics.

Here is a different opinion from a superdelegate today:

CHICAGO, IL"Utah Democratic Party Chair and Democratic superdelegate Wayne Holland today endorsed Barack Obama, citing his ability to energize the Democratic Party and plan to strengthen the economy.

Heres the deal children instead of bashing Obama or Hillary actually try being civil to one another. Neither one of their plans is possible.

I must say...I've been reading over the posts on this thread, and it's obvious that all of the adults that frequent HuffPo are here. This is the way it should be. Everyone arguing their point, without name calling, insults, or put-downs for the opposing supporters. Wow. Sadly, I guess class will be out soon and the youngsters will be home and hitting the boards. Well...we'll enjoy it while it lasts.

one step closer to a hillary endorsement!

I almost fell off my chair. A post critical to Jesus-boy. Am I at HuffPo? What planet am I on? Something about the issues? Not blaming Hillary? Where am I?

I like this Schweitzer. I'd vote for him. Either he has big kahunas or the Kool-Aid hasn't gotten that far out west.

Big whoop what Montana's Governor thinks...He's in charge of a state who's popluation is less than that of the county I live in that's 1/500 of Montana's size.

I have NO PROBLEM with people deciding to not buy health insurance if they want to take their chances. BUT, they must sign their rights away at that point as far as I'm concerned. If they get sick they pay for their own healthcare and if they can't afford it, no one is obligated to take care of them with govt money. the hospital would be free to turn them away and let them die.

Or, at that point they could sign up for health insurance. They would be forced to pay all their back premiums plus a penaly. And, their future premiums would be adjusted higher as a penalty for not buying insurance earlier.