At halftime, not sure this Summit was a good idea. You can't work with this breed of Republicans.

[DeepModem Mom]

They are smooth talkers, armed with talking points and buzzwords. And, most importantly, they appeal to peoples' selfish interests. Does this almost always win out in the end? Is self-interest just deeply, overwhelmingly ingrained in most people, above all?

With the GOP today, it's been all about money, and keeping one's own in one's pocket. With the Dems, it's been about compassion, and helping people (which could one day, as we know, be any one of us).

Health care is one issue that is basic and personal and literally life-and-death for all of us. It's been disturbing to me, watching today.

[Peacetrain]

1. Oh I think it is serving a much bigger purpose.. It is exposing the Republicans

I am not watching it, but getting reports on the phone from various family members.. When we take it to the mat with reconciliation.. and the whining starts about them not being included.. viola.. all on national media.. all day long.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. You make a good point, Peacetrain -- thanks! nt

[Peacetrain]

4. That is the report basically from my mother!! at work and cannot watch it

:hi:

[Cha]

2. I'm not watching..From your description

..it's just what I expected. It had to be done though. There's a lot of people out there who are sick and it goes across party lines ..so I would think the gops are playing to the insurance companies.

Like you say ..it can be life and death and it's very personal..it's not like the Environment that still may be abstract to some people at this point.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Yep, to insurance companies -- and to the GOP base, using all the usual buzzwords.

Maybe was, as you say, something that had to be done. And maybe some folks watching are on to the GOP's game, and becoming tired of it.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Into the second half, I've seen a bit of the kind of discussion I think the Pres had in mind.

Boehner, however, just delivered a real stinkbomb -- which the Pres pretty much, in a nice way, labeled as such -- and moved on.

[madamesilverspurs]

7. The level of rudeness

TOWARD THE PRESIDENT is stunning. Crude condescension, smirking and blatant dishonesty, petulance and interrupting --- beneath contempt, the lot of them.

---

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Indeed!!! nt

[Cha]

9. And, for all to see who's watching..

of course the corporatemediawhores are delighted but we'll see how this plays with people who want Health Care Reform and are capable of cognitive thinking.

[quiet.american]

10. I was worried after the morning session, but feel that Dems delivered in the afternoon.

Standouts for me:

Dingell's point about reconciliation not being anything extraordinary, and let's get 'er done
Durbin on tort reform, and tort reform abuse from the side of the medical profession
Pelosi's wrapup that called out Boehner and Camp
Rangel's observation that a few red state senators do not speak for all Americans
Biden's remarks - can't remember them exactly, but it was his "I call bullshit on my Republican friends" tone that was so great
And Obama's overall graciousness, and strong, honest wrapup

In the end, I think the event was EXCELLENT for Democrats.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Yes it was.

Mediawhores will turn it into something else though.
They are relying that folks watch their channel with
all of the Democrats being coopted by commercials and
comentaries from Pukes and Newsreaders in studio.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. I agree! I posted the original post in the a.m., and then later in post 6...

when I thought things had begun to turn. Afternoon was much better for the Dems. The lunch break must have been like a football game at the half, with some strategizing going on, and maybe even a pep talk.

[Cha]

13. Good to know.. I just got home

from work.