Last week, the Republicans took a big gamble and lost by lining up on the wrong side of history with their battle against health care reform. After the bill passed in Congress, all we heard from Republicans on the 24 hour news channels was, how can Congress pass a bill without even one Republican vote? The answer is...the same way President Clinton passed his Budget Reconciliation Act in 1993. He had to rely solely on Democrats to win passage after not one Republican voted for either his stimulus plan or his budget. Clinton's economic initiatives ultimately brought us the greatest period of prosperity for our country in modern times by creating 23 million new jobs and projecting a federal budget surplus for the first time since 1969.
Conversely, during the time when Republicans held control of the House, Senate and Presidency, they used their power to pass economic policies that led to the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. Despite this fact, Republicans continue to revise history, accuse Democrats of fiscal irresponsibility and vote in lockstep against President Obama's most important policy initiatives, in their effort to have him fail.
Just this last week, the Senate Banking Committee moved to approve financial reform legislation. Not surprisingly, the panel passed the overhaul bill on a 13-10 vote, without support from one member of the Republican Party. Given that the world economy nearly caved to its knees under Republican stewardship and millions of Americans are still suffering, one would think that at least on this issue, partisanship would not trump good policy.
Health care reform, financial regulation, the economic stimulus, energy policy....the GOP has continually stonewalled legislation to move our country forward. The only victory the GOP can claim after the successful passage of health care legislation is that they stuck together in solidarity to do nothing. The GOP's obsession with seeing the President fail and their refusal to work with the Democrats to better the lives of the American people will come back to haunt them.
The American people are starting to resent the "politics of no" and the Republicans are quickly devolving into the "party of no tolerance." Recently, leading intellectual and former Bush White House aide, David Frum, was fired from his fellowship at the conservative-leaning think tank, American Enterprise Institute, after he was critical of the Republican strategy against President Obama's health-care overhaul. Bruce Bartlett, who was also fired by a right wing think tank in 2005 for writing a book critical of George W. Bush's policies, commented that "rigid conformity is being enforced, no dissent is allowed."
Republicans need to understand that elections matter -- even when they don't win them. America voted overwhelming for Barack Obama because they wanted big change, and now they are getting it. The President deserves a chance to realize his agenda, and I hope that by the November mid-term election, Americans will see that Democrats are the only ones working to put forth policy initiatives to move our country forward.
The president doesn't need the GOP in order to fail. He's doing a fine job of that all by himself.
Republicans' obstructionist rationale is very simple: If matters get worse, most people will rather blame the party in power, than on those whose failed neo-conservative and neo-colonial policies have lead this country (and the world) over the edge. Hence, if matters get worse, and the USA slips deeper into chaos, it is only beneficial for them. Republicans will then -so they hope- ultimately be able to weasel their way back into the White House.
Their answer will always be "NO, no matter what Obama comes up with, even if he'd embrace former Republican policies. The simple fact that Obama is for it, is reason for them to be against it.
Republicans do not care how much such obstructionism hurts the USA. They do not care if millions of kids in this country have no home, and that 45 million hard-working Americans can't afford the most basic health care.
They are plotting their come-back, and their only objective is to return to the feeding-troughs in Washington - no matter what price others have to pay for it.
The original House-version was not bad at all. Instead of giving in to three or four corporate Democrats, who received millions for their "No"-votes, and to Republican filibuster-threats, Obama should have pushed the most extreme version of the HCR right from the start, and not given in to anything. Let these spoiled old geezers stand up there for weeks and talk a real filibuster. Why give in? There was no need.
That is the one point where Obama could have learned from Bush. Vote against the living God in the White House and you're done. Means: Primaries in your home state, no access to party-funds, no President campaigning for you, but for your opponent.
But Obama seems to be coming around. With bank/Wall Street and energy reform he won't shmooze these guys again.
Like corporate bail-outs? Nah, you'd never catch Obama doing a thing like that.
I wonder what happened to empathy in the America that used to be, this attitude of not on my tax dollars is something very foreign to me. We are not a socialist nation we all pay taxes across the board and we don't bitch about who is getting care.
Last week was a perfect example by the GOP of "frankly my dear I don't give a damn". To have so many uninsured people and not vote to help them is beyond comprehension.
We may be small but this year two things we have done are on the right side of history. Universal health care and a strong regulated banking system. I am so happy that Obama finally took measures to bring the US into the current century when it comes to taking care of it's people. So much better than the
"let them eat cake" attitude the GOP took.
Govt should represent and help their people not behave like 6 year old's having a tantrum.
Yes, how stupid, indeed, the Republicans were to line up on the side of the majority of Americans who never wanted the Dems HCR, and still don't, and are now not only relying on Republicans to get it repealed but placing their trust in Republicans in nine of the top ten issues:
"Following the passage of the health care bill, 53% now say they trust Republicans on the issue of health care. Thirty-seven percent (37%) place their trust in Democrats. A month earlier, the two parties were essentially even on the health care issue. These results are consistent with the finding that 54% of voters want the health care bill repealed."
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/trust_on_issues
What was the percentage Obama won the presidency with? 53%, was it?
As if anybody believe that worthless poll, but another Republcan't.
It's like progressive using Daily Kos polling to prove a point. In which I'm more incline to believe.
http://www.dailykos.com/weeklytrends
Umm, no, they don't. They accurately reflect the demographic of people who are not only registered in this country but actually vote. (Pssst... You keep saying "Republican," but I think you mean "conservative.")
>>>You need to use a more central poll like Gallup.>>>
Why? Gallup doesn't do likely voters; Rasmussen does.
Use this poll:
http://dailykos.com/weeklytrends
http://dailykos.com/weeklytrends>>>
A push poll? LOL. No, thanks. I'm not interested in a blogger's pollster's results, sporting an 11-point difference from a network news' national results, taken during the same time period -- and with every other LV, RV and national poll showing in the 40's, to boot. Progressives are free to fall for that. After all, that's why a poll of that nature exists.
I don't think it's much of a victory to have only 37% of likely voters saying that they DON'T want it repealed and a 54% majoritty (ironically, higher than the percentage that voted for Obama) not only pro-repeal but throwing their trust behind the "the party of 'no'" on nine out of ten issues, including (wait for it) health care. Sounds to me like they're grateful to the party of "no" for saying 'no.' Too bad Obama/Pelosi/Reid didn't listen when that same majority was saying "no" all year long.
I found it very sad last summer when I saw all those people lined up in California for free health clinics.
They were not immigrants they were average Americans who just could not afford the insurance or had been denied.
Do we have a perfect system no, but it is a hell of a lot kinder than the one in the US. And personally I don't care if my neighbors kids are getting health care on my tax dollars that is where you find the vast difference between the two countries.
If they took our health care away we would be marching in the streets. Try and pry that OHIP card from my cold dead hands.
Don't worry: with not enough doctors to handle Obamacare's newly insured, you'll have your chance to stand on plenty of long lines, too.
The changes to health care are FEDERAL -- implemented in all states...hence, your "past provider" would have received NO benefit by pulling out of the state.
I suggest you re-think your next falsehood before typing it.
Even those 20-30 million uninsured, will now be given an expanded form of Medicaid, which private doctors will not accept. So where will the 30 million newly vested patients be seen? In the clinics? In the ERs? By whom? President Obama has created panels that endorse a bounty hunter mentality for Medicare to audit all physicians to try to get money back into Medicare after it had already been paid out. This is a hostile new system that doctors will naturally flee. And then what? When 8 of 10 doctors no longer accept Medicare patients, (without a large fee), where will they go?
No, this awful bill, pushed through by foul backroom deals and conciliation wreaks, and the American people know it. Watch; after the November elections, a vote will come to defund the annual appropriations to Obamacare (effectively killing it ). Then there will be no one to blame but the democrats, who wouldn't listen to what the majority of America wanted.
Really? Are you an expert on healthcare and economy? Please cite your credentials.
Hence the article on CNN today that showed that Democrats were joining the Tea Party now, after this law passed.
Sometimes, just sometimes, the left must compromise, and work together to have meaningful legislation pass. Just wait for November, huff, and then we'll talk. I think with the change in the faces of congress and the senate, you'll want to come to the table then.
George Bush increased the number of free health care clinics in poor areas by 3 times.
Not insurance, but actual neighborhood health care for the poorest of the poor -- a true "public option".
This type of program goes right to the heart of the problem of preventative care and checkups for those who cannot afford health insurance without "remaking the industry".
George Bush did a lot for this society.
Now that private enterprise is recovering, jobs will become abundant and wages will rise, as will benefits for health care.
In retrospect, the whole Democrat thing might be seen as trying to put out a campfire with a helicopter designed to fight forest fires.
I suppose your response to 9/11 would have been to button up the borders? But the left deosn't want to seal any borders.
So your choice would have been attack or retreat? which one?
Keep in mind that our military was gutted after 8 years of Clinton and the peace dividend.
On April 16th, 2008, Barbra Streisand endowed $5 million to Cedars-Sinai for the creation of The Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education Program. Here you can find more information on the endowment and news about the program.
That's just one thing.
Why don't you list all the things that YOU'VE done that are so relevant. Heck, why don't you just list one.
There's a saying, "You can tell a person's nature by his/her enemies."
Barbara, if you have incoherent, frothing, personally spiteful "enemies", . . .
then you must be articulate, soft spoken, personally agreeable kind of lady,
and I love listening to your famous songs anytime they come on the radio, almost everyday !!!
Love and kisses, Barbara, . . . keep up your articulate, insightful, and concerned blogs.
I'm touched by your many songs, every time.
Somewhere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emuVLVylBiA
Memory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRNkrk6upWg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVwJNg4Wgq4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNEcQS4tXgQ&feature=related
People (live):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOap2Vldaw&feature=related
Celine Dion + Barbara Stresand -- Tell Him: (the 2 GREATEST)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emHrsJ93Sr0&feature=related
Evergreen (live):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmuF3jiufww
All I ask of you (phantom of the opera):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5v8CncCKYE
Neil Diamond + Barbara Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj10EzNKA2M
Ray Charles + Barbara Streisand - Cryin Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpgH3VyDXFU&feature=related
Barbara, to you, from me + Lang Lang + Liszt:
Liebestraum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubVVSWHkxs8
some horseplay ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSYRABNbFdQ&feature=related
.
I don't pick sides in the political realm because both are severely flawed but the lefts propensity to let celebrity pundits blather on and pretend it's newsworthy is comical.
Ooh gotta go i think Mr Baldwin just posted some pointers on raising a family...
ms. streisand's post is intelligently written and spanks your a$$.
You suggesting citizens can't have a say?
Why is that good news?
Because it must mean...the entrenched powers-that-be are doing whatever they can to keep the truth from rising to the surface...from a sense of panic.
I don't expect to see this posted, btw. I realize I'm writing this for the censors.
So...have a lovely day. And know: You can't stop what's happening. People are wising up all over the place, no matter what Ms. Streisand writes. Obama's numbers are down, Dems numbers are down as well as Repub numbers.
You can't stop it. There are other sites telling the truth.