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Comments Posted By Gretel1or2

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The Public Option Flatlines

I think president Obama should have Joe Lieberman deployed to Afghanistan, or better yet, have the military drop some drones on Joe’s mansion in Connecticut. This is one instance where I would not mind the use of military force!

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 15, 2009 @ 8:56 am

I don’t think the senate is pursuaded directly by the media but I do believe that the media manipulates the public which in turn pressures the senators accordingly. The media did not support the public option – that much is clear. As KQuark indicated they do have a lot to lose if a public option gets passed and they’re trying their hardest to make sure that doesn’t happen.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 15, 2009 @ 6:29 am

Right, so he’ll go on CNN grinning and smug, because no one there will challenge his lies. First it was Grassley, then it was Snowe, and now it’s Lieberman. This soap opera needs divas apparently. But will he go on MSNBC? Will he talk to to Ed Schultz, Kieth Olbermann or Rachel Maddow?

escribacat I posted a response to one of your questions below, but I can’t seem to find it. It might show up soon.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 10:04 pm

Yes, I was saying that I believe that Joe Lieberman is now being used as the HCR bogeyman, and the resultant controversy is a revenue generating source for the media, not just on HP, but on several other outlets. Early on, before the senate bill was even brought to the floor for a vote, the MSM had Joe Lieberman as the person who would join the GOP in a fillibuster. I posted at the time that I believed that Joe was some sort of decoy, and as I predicted, he failed to join the GOP; his name did not even surface in the media during and after the vote, but the telling thing was that the MSM did not act surprised about this.

My concern has been that certain media outlets have not had Lieberman on their show. Rachel said she invited him, but he did not accept. I don’t know whether he has been invited by Ed Schultz or Keith Olbermann. I have not seen him on Chris Matthews or Morning Joe either. So far, Joe has only appeared on known right-wing media outlets where not only will his lies go unchallenged, but the person interviewing him will not be held accountable since everyone already thinks they are against the public option and will side with him anyway. Besides Rachel, I have difficulty believing that all these shows could not have Joe on when some of them have had people like Liz Cheney. Is it that the media does not want to ask Joe the hard questions that would immediately expose him and put all this grandstanding to rest? The media seems to be enjoying this constant song and dance, with Ed Schultz stirring up outrage day in day out, HP trotting out rumors supposedly coming from the WH, and this nonstop back and forth about every detail.

More likely, I believe that there are a bunch of senate dems who are being protected..some of them who are not publicly stating their opposition to the public option, but it is known within the senate. Obama knew this and had advised for a trigger to get the bill through to conference where the bill could be reconciled for a stronger public option. HP and other outlets jumped up and ran some inflammatory headlines about Obama not supporting Reid on a robust PO, inciting the public who really did not understand the process.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 9:59 pm

I’m still reading reports that the medicare buy-in has not been axed, but is in danger of being axed. This seems to contradict Wyden’s remarks on Maddow. Also, does anyone have any idea when the CBO cost report will be released?

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 9:27 pm

I still want to see what the CBO report says, and I find it frustrating that no one in the media is asking Joe the hard questions that would expose him. They all talk about him/senate/Obama and make comments, but no one is talking to him besides the right-wing media that are complicit with his lies.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 9:09 pm

Joe must have some really private personal information about SOMEONE in the senate or WH for him to have that much power over a stupid bill.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 9:06 pm

I really hope you’re right about this.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 8:56 pm

This is why Obama was advising Reid to go with the trigger, which seemed much less threatening and would have gotten the votes…then they could reconcile the triggered public option in the senate, with the public option in the house to get something like an opt-out public option…I will try to get the link where I read about Obama’s line of reasoning on this issue.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 8:47 pm

Choicelady, I also find it curious that the medicare buy-in was done away with BEFORE the CBO had a chance to score it. What if the CBO finds that it is actually cheaper than no public option? That would expose Lieberman and the blue dogs. Or could it be a trick to get Nelson, Lincoln, Collins and Snowe on board…and then do a bait and switch during conference? I think someone could produce an opera based on this health care reform debate.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

Well from what I’ve read, this outcome is EXACTLY what Obama himself had predicted early on. Unfortunately, sites like HP ran some inflammatory headlines, forcing the PO supporters to pressure Reid in including a triggerless public option early on – knowing that it might get shot down. Obama knew that the senate would NOT vote for a public option, therefore, he was advising Reid to go for a trigger to get the bill moving and prevent the blue dogs and Lieberman from jumping on it early on. I feel like the MSM destroyed this process with their silly “sky is falling headlines,” preying on those who do not understand the process. Now HP is gleefully proclaiming that “Lieberman wins” in an effort to get progressives even more riled up than they already are.

Anyway, I don’t believe that all is lost. The senate bill has to be reconciled with the house bill which has a public option. Finally, Obama himself might not sign a bill without some form of a public option

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 14, 2009 @ 8:20 pm

DAMNED IF HE DOES…. DAMNED IF HE DOESN’T

I think this “Obama=Bush” meme is a strategy designed to encourage disaffection among Obama supporters, which will make it easier for some Republicans to get back into office in 2010 and 2012.

Of course Obama is going to seem like Bush in some ways…just as he sometimes seems like Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Nixon, LBJ, JFK, FDR and Lincoln, all of whom served as commander-in-chief of the US. There is always going to be some overlap. And because Obama and Bush have served in time periods that are proximal to each other, they will seem even more alike at times, since they have both grappled with similar issues. However, to summarily dismiss Obama’s core approach as being no different from Bush’s, is lazy and intellectually dishonest in my opinion.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 3, 2009 @ 6:32 am

Did you watch Rachel Maddow’s interview with Susan Rice last night? I found it quite informative, with Rachel asking tough but appropriate questions, and Susan giving some very detailed explanations clarifying the reasoning behind the strategy announced by the president. I thought it was a very open and well conducted interview – obviously not everyone will agree with Obama’s plan, but I think he is making an honest effort to get things done in a way that minimizes catastrophic outcomes, given the limited options that he has.

I noticed that HP has all kinds of articles – particularly those opinionated (not based on fact) superficial pieces that liken Obama to Bush, yet this very informative and relevant interview is conspicuously absent. Even Ed Schultz who had been critical of Obama lately, has scaled back his criticism and declared his support for the president in this latest event, and HP instead highlighted a “fight” between Ed and Barbara Boxer over the health care bill.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On December 3, 2009 @ 6:24 am

Hi, I’m Rob-S, and I’m a Moderatorholic

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome! I’ve been lurking here for some time, and this seems refreshing. Absence of unnecessary snarkiness, trolling, anti-Obama propaganda, and the presence of more mature & thoughtful discussion of relevant issues. I look forward to posting/writing/discussion/laughs, etc.!

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On November 23, 2009 @ 6:49 pm

AH now has a new article up about the economy being “Obama’s Katrina.” I’m not sure what’s the point of that article, except to garner some more anti-Obama sentiment. I’m getting more and disgusted with that site, which is why I’m looking for alternates.

» Posted By Gretel1or2 On November 23, 2009 @ 5:31 pm