What did you guys think of Obama's speech, the Republicans, etc.?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

[firedupdem]

1. I thought it was a great speech. Of course single payer would have

been my choice in a perfect world...but getting the ball rolling on reform is a good start. I was glad the public option wasn't tossed out like the MSM wanted everyone to believe. I wish it could all be in place tomorrow, but at least it's a start.

Republicans? = pure evil. Yelling out "you lie" like that shows you just how much they hate this president. Can you imagine anyone doing that during the bush years? Never. The office of the President doesn't need to be respected anymore. It's sickening.

[Kind of Blue]

8. What you said, Firedupdem.

I also think we separate Obama as a Black president from what we want and know that he can achieve now. I believe he has to tread very lightly with distrust, misconceptions, distortions and perhaps a little bit of fear that may be in many White people's heart about people of color in general, or falsehoods that may too easily stick because he is a man of color.

I think this is critical because the experience of people of color in this country has been rooted in outright lies. He cannot move too quickly because conversation degenerates and fear takes over, yet he can't move too slowly as to seem ineffectual. I think he's moving along just right - change as many things as he can and at the same time make sure the whole country is part of the discourse on major changes like health care reform that he overwhelming has the backing of the populace.

The bottom line is that no matter how disrespectful the loud minority is they simply cannot bully or scare him. He is a political realist, it surprises me at times that people really, really, really expected the massive undertaking of the public option right this minute and yet are pissed off and exclaiming it's dead when he said no such thing.

I think you're correct when you say "getting the ball rolling," Firedupdem. Maybe I've gotten too old because I don't remember great change ever coming overnight. It's always long and hard but no turning back on it once the ball is on the roll.

[Raineyb]

2. There's a major flaw in his line of thinking in my not so humble opinion

He says he wants to fix what's wrong with our system and build on what's right. The problem is and will continue to be the system itself. It's broken through and through. What's the point of not being able to be dumped from your insurance plan if they feel free to jack up your rates to 3000 bucks a month. They didn't kick you off you chose not to pay the new premium. And giving the Republicans any bones after all the shit they've pulled means he's still trying to bend over backwards to appease assholes who have no intention on letting any decent reform pass at all. And I really don't see there being so many insurance companies out there for one to choose from that this competition that is so worshiped by those who think the market is so great believe will bring down prices. That dilutes the purchasing power in the first place and there are some things that markets are not capable of providing. That's why we don't have private police departments or fire departments. It's why we have a national army. (Although with Blackwater about that may not be true for much longer.)

There's a reason why Walmart is able negotiate lower prices for their chain and it's not competition so looking for competition and market forces to solve our problems with health care makes absolutely no sense to me at all.

BTW, Starting in January China is offering single payer health care to all of its citizens. Why the hell can't we manage this? For whom would such a drastic change be disruptive? To those who had no insurance but will be able to walk into a doctor's office and get seen and not come out of pocket? Or for the insurance companies who are literally profiting by killing off its customers.

[Uzybone]

4. like it or not nearly half the country is still conservative

they are a dying breed, but they are here now. Writing them all off is not smart politically.

China is not a good example for any sort of health care we should be aspiring to. Their system is horrible.

[Raineyb]

5. Their current system is horrible. That they're moving to a single payers system ala

Europe is huge. And our health care system is nothing to brag about that we can afford to look down our noses at China. The point is if China can rework their system we who claim to be better than them should be able to as well.

As to the conservatives, they are not going to vote for any reform. Obama has been bending over backwards since he got into office to appease them. Things that Republicans like get put into bills and we get exactly 0 votes for it. I think we've certainly earned the right to write them off. Appeasing people who are not going to vote your way at all ever because their sole purpose as stated is to take you down is idiocy.

[Fire1]

6. I think the main road block to single payer is the repukes in

Congress and rather than have NOTHING, he's proposing his current plan which can be more readily implemented. We all know the pukes are not needed BUT for some reason, he is DETERMINED to have a bi-partisan bill! Even Kucinich (sp) admitted that single payer would require a major overhaul that would take YEARS AND you're eliminating a viable industry. I'm a socialist so it wouldn't matter to me. But, can you hear the screams and knashing of teeth with full government control!! THAT would be suicide for ANY president to suggest such a thing in a CAPITALIST COUNTRY!! They also know that the single payer issue will return to the table in the future but I don't think it will EVER get serious consideration. If this system is as horrid and unsustainable as EVERYBODY in congress and elsewhere KNOWS IT IS, something has to be done NOW! I DON'T think President Obama is opening up the flood gates of subsidies to the insurance industry BECAUSE of the CAPS that he WANTS in place and ACCOUNTABILITY AND REGULATIONS. This bill CAN work, IF these things are in place and monitored with some meaure of integrity.

I think he dropped the ball with the banks and I don't think he's going to go that route, again.

[Uzybone]

3. I think he did great, especially given what we have to work with

too many progressives are either in denial or just plan dumb about the level of opposition we have out there. For many reasons, race being a huge one, a good percentage of Americans will never support anything Obama does. They will not only stand in opposition, they will actively work to sabotage his programs.

Not to mention the biased media and the regular ol' conservative dems and GOP who are suckling at the teat of big corporations, change will not be easy.

I think there will be a strong public option in 4 years. it will not be everything we want, but its way more than we would have ever gotten with any other politician.

[Fire1]

7. I thought it was great as he addressed the issues in detail

which he's done many times in an attempt to dispell the myths that PERSIST. Nevertheless, it is painfully obvious that liberals and conservatives will continue to be disgruntled about SOMETHING. I'm also painfully aware that democrats are just as guilty as anyone in manufacturing these myths.

The display of the conservative party and their base over the last several weeks has been the final straw and has led me to a major decision. The facial expression of First Lady Michelle Obama last evening pretty much describes my feelings. I mean, I was far from 'in love' with this country before President Obama was elected but NOW, I won't even bother to vote again.

[Kind of Blue]

9. Come on now, Fire1! Please, don't give up now!

When I started feeling what's the use during the campaign and wanted to give up going door-to-door and making calls, I remember what our ancestors (black and white) must have gone through. Can you imagine them giving up? You and I wouldn't be sitting here at our computers, in our own space, free to roam about without a curfew, laugh out loud, and keep our children. Think of those who've given their lives for us.

I remember a line from a Maya Angelou poem "I am the dream of my ancestors." So take a break, especially from DU and Snap out of it, PLEASE :) The dream lives on only if we continue to fight for it.

I send you my love and good intentions :hug:

[Fire1]

11. Thank you so much for your love and kind words. We can

never get enough of either. I will continue to support our President but after he's finished with his term or terms, I'm done. It's sad that I waited until damned near retirement to stop voting but I can never forget the way he has been treated. It just magnifies the way this country feels about us. To show disrespect and contempt for a man of his caliber and intellect is hard to forgive. I know I HAVE to forgive and I will eventually but not now, not yet.

Love you too!!
:loveya: :hug:

[Number23]

15. "To show disrespect and contempt for a man of his caliber and intellect is hard to forgive"

You ain't said nothing but the truth.

[Number23]

14. "So take a break, especially from DU and Snap out of it"

Good advice. Some of us are waaaaayy ahead of you. :)

There is so much crazy in this place it is absolutely ridiculous. I was getting PMs from folks "go check out this thread," and "you gotta see this thread." And with every thread I saw, my interest in this place dropped a hundred knots. The incessant, unending stupidity, complaining, and whining has just become too much. Nothing is ever right. Or good enough.

I just saw an OP where it was acknowledged that Obama's stimulus generated 1.1 MILLION jobs. Do you know that someone actually complained, "well why was it only 1.1 million?? Why not six million??" How are you supposed to deal with people like this??? Shit like this is exactly the reason that I am an independent and a moderate.

Then toss in the fact that there are just alot of dumbass motherf*ckers in this place and it's just too much. Between the Obama hatred, the racism, the immaturity, the stupidity, the cluelessness and the crazy mofos who vastly overestimate their significance in the lives of others and put people on ignore because you have the nerve to disagree with them even over the stupidest, most meaningless, insignificant things in the whole DAMNED world and it's no wonder I've posted 4 times in the last three days. Y'all, this place is just not worth it.

[firedupdem]

10. Don't do that Fire1..

Can you imagine how bad it would get if we just gave up? Hang in there and take a break from reading all this stuff. I've taken a break a few times and even ignored the news and it made me feel better. I'm sick of it all myself...but we're going to vote and keep voting! :)

[Fire1]

13. I love you, too!!

:grouphug:

[Raineyb]

16. As long as I'm in this country I will vote. But I am seriously looking into

ways of getting out. My problem currently is I don't speak another language well enough to leave. I'm considering taking up French but it'll have to be something I work on in between studying for my other classes and I'm not sure the most effective (and hopefully not bank breaking) way to do it.

[Fire1]

17. I want to live in the Netherlands. They ALL speak english and

very well, I might add.

[Raineyb]

18. My father is in Amsterdam

So I'm thinking Brussels.

[Fire1]

19. Yep. Amsterdam or Brussels for me. n/t

[AspenRose]

20. When the hate gets to be too much I try to remember election night

and how happy people were all over the world....and Inauguration Day....how many people showed up and celebrated.

It helps a little bit. But I understand what you're saying. If I were single I'd be in Canada by now.

[FrenchieCat]

12. I thought the speech accomplished what it needed to.....

keep everyone at the table that needs to be there so that we can pass this thing?
Is it perfect? No....is anything? No.

The idea that somehow because we elect a Black President, he should be able to
move mountains is a myth. it ain't true.

Folks who want to be reasonable will see this.
Folks who want what they want without realizing that one has to get there
will be unsatisfied....but they were going to be no matter what.
They fail to realize that Kucinich was not elected this time around.
They are in denial, or acting like they were fooled. They weren't.
So they stay in reactionary mode of being just as disatisfied as they were with Bush;
but they know in their hearts that Obama is as far from Bush as we could elect.

So yeah....I liked the speech, and found it to be one of the finest ever heard in those chambers.