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SURPRISE, SURPRISE

Sullivan Back; Still Hates Palin

Calls her book 'manifesto for the imagined life'

Nov 19, 09 8:49 PM CST
ANN COULTER

Diversity Isn't a Strength

'Irritating cliché' should be ditched in wake of Fort Hood

Nov 19, 09 1:18 AM CST
Huckabee: Obama
Attacks 'Shameful'

Republican condemns
knee-jerk criticism

13 hours, 4 minutes ago
PILING ON

Fox Caught Fudging
Footage Again

This-just-in Palin video actually from '08 campaign

Nov 18, 09 7:39 PM CST
OBAMA'S FREE RIDE

Latest Undeserved
Honor: Black Belt

Obama is now a master of tae kwon do, with 0 years practice

Nov 19, 09 2:07 PM CST
OPINION

In Piling On Palin, Liberals Make Fools of Themselves

...and legitimize her
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Nov 19, 09 5:30 PM CST
Rush: Gallup Counting Too Many Blacks for Obama

That's why the president's approval ratings are above 50%, he says

8 hours, 21 minutes ago
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New survey is latest disappointment for President

2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Shirt's Message:
Pray for Obama's Death

Verse reads, 'Let his days be few' and 'let his children be fatherless'

Nov 18, 09 5:50 PM CST
America's
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Sarah Palin hasn't got anything on Ulysses S. Grant

Nov 19, 09 4:38 PM CST
Sarah Palin's
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Think of it as a 1-woman stimulus package for herself, publishing, media

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|NEXT STORY »

HEATLH CARE PUSH

Obama: 'Let's Finish the Job'

President rallies Democrats as House debates bill

By John Johnson| Posted Nov 7, 09 12:34 PM CST|

(Newser) – President Obama rallied the Democratic troops today and told the nation that "this is our moment to deliver" on health care reform. In a brief Rose Garden address that took place as the House debated its long-awaited bill, Obama again stressed the need for reform and urged lawmakers to "answer the call of history." Representatives are expected to vote on the final measure sometime today, and Nancy Pelosi sounds confident, notes Politico.

"Today we will make not only history, but progress for America's working families," she said. It remains unclear, however, whether Democrats have the necessary 218 votes. No Republicans are expected to vote for the bill. Earlier, Obama made a rare visit to Capitol Hill to meet with Democrats in a closed-door session. "I reminded them that opportunities like this come around maybe once a generation," he said.

President Obama kisses House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., after walking out of the Cannon Caucus Room after meeting with House Democrats. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Obama walks with David Axelrod, left, Reggie Love, center, and Phil Schiliro, legislative affairs director, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

President Obama walks out of the Cannon Caucus Room with Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., left, after meeting with House Democrats. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Obama waves as he walks out of the Cannon Caucus Room with Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., left, after meeting with House Democrats. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

View larger images >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

11.20.09

The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun

11.19.09

Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention

41 comments

VIEWING:

Fondue
Nov 7, 09 12:49 PM CST

Pass it - Merge it - Sign it Reply

IN RESPONSE:

SilenceDogood
Nov 7, 09 3:03 PM CST

I think Obama is soo butch when talks that way, it makes my legs tingle.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:16 PM CST

Politicians against health care reform say that govt. doesn't work & that we shouldn't trust govt. Why in the hell do those same politicians fight to be elected into Congress in the first place? If govt. doesn't work spare them the hatred and kick them out with primaries and the electoral process. You can vote for people who will make a public option work for you.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 7, 09 6:41 PM CST

Tingling legs is a pre-existing condition. Denied.

| 0 minutes ago

Lula
Nov 7, 09 12:49 PM CST

Get-er-done. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Spydiggity
Nov 7, 09 12:59 PM CST

how about this for an idea on health reform. Stop sending young troops to die in a war that has no goal!!! peace prize my ass. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

tomodachi
Nov 7, 09 4:04 PM CST

The war machine Industry owns too much of congress. The only reason we should have stepped into Afghanistan was to chase down Osama Bin Laden and everyone else tied to the cowardly attack on innocent Americans. THAT was what GWB said he was going to do. THAT was the only justifiable reason he had to be in Afghanistan. Then GWB opened the war spending floodgates… and also invaded Iraq. The horrendous spending that occurred from the unjustifiable invasion is a total misuse of presidential of power. This was motivated by the war-machine industry and approved by congress. The amount of debt that was given to the US taxpayer by GWB and congress from their sleeping around with oil and war makers is what you should be complaining about.

IN RESPONSE:

johntitor
Nov 7, 09 6:15 PM CST

See some of the conspiracy theories aren't that hard to believe...

| 0 minutes ago

Rocket448
Nov 7, 09 1:04 PM CST

I've spent the morning studying the House bill. I have to say I think its a good start and has merit in its own right. I have re-visited my earlier stand on the bill and I am in favor of passing it exactly as it is. Although its not all I hoped it would be, I'm relieved to say it has a lot of good in it. Please, Congress, pass this bill. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 7, 09 1:27 PM CST

It's refreshing to read about Newser users who seek out and spend time studying primary source material and are intelligent enough to re-visit stated views as a result. Hats off to you @rocket - I wish Jamerican and a few others would follow your example.

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Nov 7, 09 4:46 PM CST

That would require a level of political /legislative savvy and, well...general literacy and comprehension.

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83542667
Nov 7, 09 1:05 PM CST

Kill it before it kills us all. Reply

-6

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Nov 7, 09 2:09 PM CST

do you think it could speed up the deaths of those who've been already been denied their coverage/transplants/etc? do you? this bill will not make our already half-ass insurance worse, but it might actually help those who dont have half-ass insurance/insurance at all...so, come up with a catchphrase with some truth to it, please.

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:12 PM CST

Do you call it victory when thousands of Americans have no health insurance die needlessly? A bill passed now is a START. Bills can be altered to address Americans' needs. The numbers of the uninsured are increasing every day. They won't be voting for the politicians who are paid off by the health insurance companies.

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 8:03 PM CST

The health insurance industry will probably spend closed to a billion dollars in order to defeat health care reform. They did this by dumping policies held by sick Americans. How comfortable does Congress, the GOP & the Blue Dogs feel about that when they take that money from the insurance companies?

| 0 minutes ago

Reader62719514
Nov 7, 09 1:07 PM CST

Yes, let's add more of a tax burden for the generations of Americans to come after we're dead and gone. Yes, let's craft our democracy and freedom into something that looks exactly like the Europeans that pay and pay and pay taxes. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 7, 09 1:54 PM CST

Yeah, because once we are all dead they won't benefit from said legislation. It's only for the currently existing generations. Anyone born after passage of this bill is SOL.

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Nov 7, 09 2:10 PM CST

yea, lets. and we can call it the IRAQ WAR.

| 0 minutes ago

fnewbrough
Nov 7, 09 1:11 PM CST

This bill is a horrible testament to a government gone mad. Does anyone really believe that this beast of a bill will lower and constrain costs and improve quality of health care? It hasn't happened anywhere else in government. What we need is more choice and putting the government more in charge of health care is not a choice it is insanity. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

thejoint00
Nov 7, 09 4:00 PM CST

I agree. some people are reacting as though death and life can be controled. as though there will be more or less deaths than already occur if the government is involved in the decisions. I believe that every single person that has overcame a life threatening desease or event still had or has death to look forward to.

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:27 PM CST

The govt. already went mad after WWII. The people of America are supposed to represented by Congress. It's in The Constitution. The Constitution never said that that Congress is supposed to be run by the health insurance companies that pay off the politicians. If you want the corporations to run the country then you'll have to amend The Constitution in order to do so.

| 0 minutes ago

Reader83540559
Nov 7, 09 1:14 PM CST

Never never never as long as it will be run by the government. They have taken over enough. They pay no attention to the constitution and we have gotto stop them.All they do is spend money and this will only weaken our ability to take control of our land. Come on America ! Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Nov 7, 09 2:14 PM CST

well, what more do you want, the dipshits who tanked the country were already voted out. they took over enough and paid no attention to the constitution (patriot act, warrant-less wire taps, outing cia ops). all they did was spend money and weaken our ability to control our own land.. now flash forward to present day and we can try to fix this shit

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Nov 7, 09 5:52 PM CST

I urge you to read the bill if you haven't. There are several digests available too, which I read first to get an overview. l can't find what you seem to be dreading, is a government-run utility for people who seek health care. Among all the verbiage is a good (not great) attempt to put people in need of affordable, portable health insurance ahead of other profit interests. It does not change the structure of health care delivery at all. It does change some of the details, and we all know who lives among the details. So anyway, I reject your tantrum and urge you to do the right thing and read the bill.

| 0 minutes ago

geneparmesan
Nov 7, 09 1:29 PM CST

The voters spoke last November, this was one of Obamas largest campaign promises. He was elected under those campaign promises. That means the majority of citizens in this country want this. Just because those that lost the election are losing their minds does not mean the rest of us, the majority of voters who voted for this president, do not want this reform. No matter what is iin this bill, unless it was loaded with tax cuts(Repubs solution to everything), and tax cuts only, the Repubs were going to assume their usual position as an obstruction to progress. Step aside and let this country take a step FORWARD without your help....again. Or prepare to get run over in another actual election cycle in 2010, 2012... Reply

IN RESPONSE:

geneparmesan
Nov 7, 09 1:35 PM CST

And I realize that it is gutless Democrats that are wavering on this, but when this does eventually get done, it will be without the cooperation of the GOP(what is the polar opposite of cooperation?), as have most of our greatest advancements in this country have come.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

thejoint00
Nov 7, 09 4:09 PM CST

80% of the population has spoken again in various polls of all news networks and although it was promised, the plan the is being proposed is not what the country wants or what the country needs.

IN RESPONSE:

geneparmesan
Nov 7, 09 6:03 PM CST

80% on Fox maybe, but respectable polls say different

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 7, 09 7:10 PM CST

Rasmussen 54% - Qunnipiac 47% - Gallup 36% - Kaiser 41% - CNN 44% - Ipsos/McClatchy 49% - ABC/WashPost 48% -- The country is split. Educate yourself, or stop lying - it's one of the two.

IN RESPONSE:

thejoint00
Nov 8, 09 3:19 PM CST

@gene- maybe on fox there is a margin of error do to bias of people more likely to participate in a fox poll as opposed to CNN. maybe adding in that extra bit was bias of me also. 74% either want the govenment to stop working on health care bills altogether, create a new plan, or make major changes to the proposals. close to half may want reform, but the country is well united that we are not getting the plan we want. 80% of the country seems to be united that any plan that Obama comes up with will not be better than our current system. here's a link you tell me if it's bias or not. http://www.pollingreport.com/health.htm

| 0 minutes ago

ronimaca
Nov 7, 09 1:36 PM CST

the country is counting on this get it passed please Reply

| 0 minutes ago

JoeQ
Nov 7, 09 1:47 PM CST

I sincerely hope they did this right. If this turns into mandatory health insurance with fines and jail penalties for non-compliance, then the democrats are going to take a serious tumble in the midterm elections, and Obama could easily lose his mandate for change when it sinks in. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:58 PM CST

Govt. control? Your govt. has always been controlled by rich corporations like the health insurance companies. That's why govt. doesn't work and that's why the GOP & the Blue Dogs don't want health care reform. They're own by corporations & special interests. You should take that control back where it should be - in the hands of the American pubic.

| 0 minutes ago

DeniseVB
Nov 7, 09 2:11 PM CST

Oh for pete's sake, I've read the bill support astroturf all over the internet today. Good work guys, but you failed to mention it includes veterinarians !? Geeesh, it's a horrible bill despite making idiots think they're getting health insurance for $10 a year! (yes one caller to cspan said that's why she supported it !) Reply

| 0 minutes ago

thejoint00
Nov 7, 09 4:07 PM CST

Health care regardless of who it is managed by is no guarantee of a longer life. Death is inevitable. I am solidly against anyone making a blanket decision that would limit any one for any reason from having the longest life that they are capable of. You call it "end of life care," or whatever you want to make it sound pretty the results are still the same: government mandating of planned deaths. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Nov 7, 09 4:46 PM CST

Bull...shit.

IN RESPONSE:

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:35 PM CST

It's obvious that you don't understand what happens when Americans lose their health insurance. In Canada we fight to save lives and extend it if possible. If anything, the health insurance companies have escalated needless pain & dying in America.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 7, 09 7:17 PM CST

00, this isn't the point. Everyone knows death is inevitable. Preventable death is not.

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Nov 7, 09 6:20 PM CST

Right now the GOP is on TV & they still want to scare us. They are very mad today because the health insurance companies are pressuring them to defeat health care reform. The GOP & Blue Dogs are fighting for their campaign funds numbering in the millions of dollars. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

geneparmesan
Nov 7, 09 6:46 PM CST

The GOPs only valid arguement on this issue is the fiscal side. This gives Obama a huge opportunity to end the war in Afghanistan immediately under the banner of cutting spending. Make the left happy while at the same time cutting spending. Treat terrorism like it should be. As an Intelligence and Police issue, not huge costly wars (lives and our precious taxpayer money). Terrorist attacks are committed by groups smaller than 100 people. Armies cannot ever extinguish a determined amount of crazies this small. Iraq has proven this. We have been WASTING our money on these worthless wars, that easily cause as much harm as it does good. Seriously, how hard could the right argue against this? Obviously, they will say it makes us unsafe, but they're gonna say that no matter what he does. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cornelison
Nov 8, 09 9:58 PM CST

Aside from the insurance companies the other problem is the pharmaceuticals. In Canada the drugs are cheaper. Also some of the prescription requirements in your country are easily obtained over the counter at any pharmacy in Canada. This disparity may be because of the pharamceutical lobby's success with bribing the politicians in Congress. You can actually find out which drugs you need, call a Canadian pharmacy & find out if you can purchase it over the counter. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 41 comments »

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