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The President's Address to a joint session of Congress 9/9/09

post #1 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 
Starting this off because I have been bursting at the seams with excitement, dread (and other emotions I'd need a dictionary and a shrink to name) and cookies all week.

I have work till 8 so will miss the first 10 minutes while I am in transit to my place of residence, but am excited none the less.


Foods I have prepared:

Cookies (Nantucket Chocolate Chunk from Pepperidge Farms)
Honest Tea (the President's favorite kind of bottled tea) Moraccan Mint (not His favorite flavor but whatever)

I am sincerely hoping He will make those old white men cower with the power of his ability to connect to the American people. I am hoping they leave the chamber shaken and unable to sleep, knowing the POTUS has laid a giant smack down on their racist, bought out hides.


I think He has caught on to the fact they are trying to destroy Him, and the only way to get to a "post partisan world" is to grind the Republican and Democratic parties into electoral dust, and make us an Obama nation. He has the game, it's just a matter of whether or not He'll bring it.
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post #2 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:30pm
Im loving the capitalization of the words "He" and "Him."
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post #3 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Closer View Post
Im loving the capitalization of the words "He" and "Him."
Thanks for noticing!
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post #4 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:35pm
Quote:
EXCERPTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS TONIGHT:

I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last. It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform. And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way. A bill for comprehensive health reform was first introduced by John Dingell Sr. in 1943. Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point. Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy. These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans. Some can't get insurance on the job. Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer. Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.


***

During that time, we have seen Washington at its best and its worst.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform. Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week. That has never happened before. Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past. And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

But what we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government. Instead of honest debate, we have seen scare tactics. Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise. Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge. And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned.

Well the time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care.

The plan I'm announcing tonight would meet three basic goals:

It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don't. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. It's a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge – not just government and insurance companies, but employers and individuals. And it's a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.

***

Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan:

First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have. Let me repeat this: nothing in our plan requires you to change what you have.

What this plan will do is to make the insurance you have work better for you. Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most. They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime. We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick. And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse. That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives.

That's what Americans who have health insurance can expect from this plan – more security and stability.

Now, if you're one of the tens of millions of Americans who don't currently have health insurance, the second part of this plan will finally offer you quality, affordable choices. If you lose your job or change your job, you will be able to get coverage. If you strike out on your own and start a small business, you will be able to get coverage. We will do this by creating a new insurance exchange – a marketplace where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices. Insurance companies will have an incentive to participate in this exchange because it lets them compete for millions of new customers. As one big group, these customers will have greater leverage to bargain with the insurance companies for better prices and quality coverage. This is how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance. It's how everyone in this Congress gets affordable insurance. And it's time to give every American the same opportunity that we've given ourselves.

***

This is the plan I'm proposing. It's a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans. And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.

But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now.

Everyone in this room knows what will happen if we do nothing. Our deficit will grow. More families will go bankrupt. More businesses will close. More Americans will lose their coverage when they are sick and need it most. And more will die as a result. We know these things to be true.

That is why we cannot fail. Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

##
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...omment-2968345

He's just continuing the same old rhetoric that he's been spewing for months. Not to mention pushing the same old halftruths. "You will not be forced to change your health plan" BUT if your employer decides to change you're fucked... and what employer wouldn't switch to pad their profits.

No details on cost, no details on who would be excluded and no details on how these 'medical savings' would materialize with this plan. But hey, if those Republicans that haven't been invited to the White House since April want to swing on by and drop off any ideas they're more then welcome!
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post #5 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:38pm
Thread Starter 
He is going to say more than that! That is not an hour long speech, Obama could cover that in 15 minutes.

If He is going to call out people etc, He will leave that for when He is actually in the chamber, not step on His own toes and put it out there first in a press release
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post #6 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...omment-2968345

He's just continuing the same old rhetoric that he's been spewing for months. Not to mention pushing the same old halftruths. "You will not be forced to change your health plan" BUT if your employer decides to change you're fucked... and what employer wouldn't switch to pad their profits.
Large corporations are not going to switch if their current plans are perceived to be better than the public option. It would be suicide, as soon as they switch and have a worse plan (by not offering anything), that's an invitation for all your employees to switch companies.

You know your employer could offer professionals a minimum wage salary, want to take a guess why they don't?
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post #7 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
He is going to say more than that! That is not an hour long speech, Obama could cover that in 15 minutes.

If He is going to call out people etc, He will leave that for when He is actually in the chamber, not step on His own toes and put it out there first in a press release
I read it was supposed to be about 38 minutes, not an hour. Perhaps I was reading something else and no, that isn't 15 minutes. Don't forget he has to stop for applause, look to his left to read that teleprompter then quickly move his head right to read from that one and stop every once in a while to add dramatic pause before continuing the bobblehead movement.

I wonder if the Presidental bobblehead comes with telepromters.
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post #8 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
Large corporations are not going to switch if their current plans are perceived to be better than the public option. It would be suicide, as soon as they switch and have a worse plan (by not offering anything), that's an invitation for all your employees to switch companies.

You know your employer could offer professionals a minimum wage salary, want to take a guess why they don't?
Switch to what company? By and large most corporations change insurance plans once every 3-5 years. Sure large multi-nationals don't change as they pretty much have their own plans but that leaves a pluthera of other companies. So you know, if you work for IBM don't sweat it.

Yes, everyone has multi-million dollar contracts with their employers because of they're highly trained expertise and are invaluable and irreplacable.. unless they can find someone in India who can do it cheaper or an illegal immigrant.... or just move the company to a cheaper state that offers competent employee's at lower wages... or out of the country all together ... you never hear stories about ANY of that....
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post #9 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
Foods I have prepared:

Cookies (Nantucket Chocolate Chunk from Pepperidge Farms)
Honest Tea (the President's favorite kind of bottled tea) Moraccan Mint (not His favorite flavor but whatever)
I will probably have:
Food: Homemade Turkey Chili
Drink: Water
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post #10 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
I read it was supposed to be about 38 minutes, not an hour. Perhaps I was reading something else and no, that isn't 15 minutes. Don't forget he has to stop for applause, look to his left to read that teleprompter then quickly move his head right to read from that one and stop every once in a while to add dramatic pause before continuing the bobblehead movement.

I wonder if the Presidental bobblehead comes with telepromters.
You are right about the applause, I'll say that. Stupid Pelosi really messed up His rhythm last time with her endless applause.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO APPLAUD EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE-FRAGMENT YOU AGREE WITH, MADAME SPEAKER!

I hope this time they will give Him room to breath and work up His rhythm.

As for it being 38 minutes, could you link to a source? When you preempt the networks, you can get the full hour. I do not see why He wouldn't want to speak for longer.

Then again I went to the inauguration and despite me being less than 1000 feet away from Him He only spoke for 20 minutes And then for less than 2 minutes at the ball I attended!
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post #11 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
I will probably have:
Food: Homemade Turkey Chili
Drink: Water
I was going to go with fruit juice soda (my prefered drink of choice lately) but decided to go with Honest Tea as a sort of show of support for the President. You are right though, water would be a good option. You do not want to be distracted by an overly sweet drink
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post #12 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:54pm
Snaike, meet Princess Kate.

Princess Kate, meet Snaike.

You two should get along really, really well.
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post #13 of 489
9/9/09 at 7:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Judson View Post
Snaike, meet Princess Kate.

Princess Kate, meet Snaike.

You two should get along really, really well.
It's so weird... I really hate everything he says about healthcare and the President... but he has a Christian Bale avatar! My brain is getting mixed signals
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post #14 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
Don't forget he has to stop for applause, look to his left to read that teleprompter then quickly move his head right to read from that one and stop every once in a while to add dramatic pause before continuing the bobblehead movement.
I agree. It's nice to have a President who knows how to read for a change.
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post #15 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Asperger
"retarded attention whoring"
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post #16 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TzuDohNihm View Post
Why is that image making me laugh so much?
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post #17 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:06pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Judson View Post
Why is that image making me laugh so much?
Are you implying I am batman? I don't get it
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post #18 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:08pm
No. I'm not implying that. Carry on. You were saying something about cookies and ice tea?
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post #19 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Judson View Post
No. I'm not implying that. Carry on. You were saying something about cookies and ice tea?
Sorry thought that image was of Bruce Wayane from Batman Beyond. As for the cookies and tea, I like to have snacks whenever the President gives a major address. The only time's he has spoken and I havn't had snacks was in Boston in 04, and DC, 1/20/2009.
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post #20 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:16pm
I'm quoting the post above mine. What was he implying?
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post #21 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:17pm
Thread Starter 
oooh.....
I thought whoever first put up the bruce wayne image was implying something to do with batman. Nevermind.
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post #22 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:19pm
I knew it was a long shot, but its a shame theres not even an attempt to push a single payer system.

And Snaieke is correct regarding (the excerpts of) the speech. Its nothing we havent heard before. IMO it would be a tad more useful to specifically address each of the top "concerns" that have been floated by the opposition (cost, effeciency, death panels, etc). Unless theres a lot more to that speech, it seems to be nothing more than the "If you have insurance you wont lose it, and if you want it then itll be a bit easier to get it" message weve heard for the past 6 months.
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post #23 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Closer View Post
I knew it was a long shot, but its a shame theres not even an attempt to push a single payer system.

And Snaieke is correct regarding (the excerpts of) the speech. Its nothing we havent heard before. IMO it would be a tad more useful to specifically address each of the top "concerns" that have been floated by the opposition (cost, effeciency, death panels, etc). Unless theres a lot more to that speech, it seems to be nothing more than the "If you have insurance you wont lose it, and if you want it then itll be a bit easier to get it" message weve heard for the past 6 months.
I know.... At least in massachusetts we have single payer.

Also, No. I think the The President should get up there and call people out. Not politely 'explain' why there are no death panels. The people promoting death panels do not care if they exist or not.

He needs to get up there and say "hey american people, you're being lied to by the people in the room with me here!"
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post #24 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
I know.... At least in massachusetts we have single payer.
Uh...no you dont.
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post #25 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Closer View Post
Uh...no you dont.
I went to the doctor for my tummy pains (feel like I have an ulcer or something, ugh) last week and didn't pay for it. What do you call that then?
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post #26 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:26pm
Princess Kate,

Your original post, was, with out a doubt, one of the most disturbing and sad things that I have ever read. Never mind the fact that I am a liberal and that I hope the President kicks ten different kinds of ass tonight, but deifying the man is a little strong, don't you think? Also, your calls for an Obama Nation are ripped from the pages of 1984 and every totalitarian nightmare the world has ever experienced. I'm not saying it's not okay to support the man, and fuck, if you want to drink his favorite tea while you watch, that's cool, but god damn tone down the fucking rhetoric. It's statements like that that make me understand why Conservatives think that Obama is viewed as some sort of demigod.
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post #27 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:29pm
I might actually get some Pepperidge Farm cookies too, now that I think about it.
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post #28 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mezz View Post
Princess Kate,

Your original post, was, with out a doubt, one of the most disturbing and sad things that I have ever read. Never mind the fact that I am a liberal and that I hope the President kicks ten different kinds of ass tonight, but deifying the man is a little strong, don't you think? Also, your calls for an Obama Nation are ripped from the pages of 1984 and every totalitarian nightmare the world has ever experienced. I'm not saying it's not okay to support the man, and fuck, if you want to drink his favorite tea while you watch, that's cool, but god damn tone down the fucking rhetoric. It's statements like that that make me understand why Conservatives think that Obama is viewed as some sort of demigod.
Um.... I'll have to respond to this later. But let me just say, I've met the man. He is as close to a liberal god as I think I'm ever likely to find. With that said, I'm agnostic, so your fears are baseless.

Obviously my capitalization of His name was meant playfully, I do not literally feel some sort of religious awe or terror that compells me to type that way.
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post #29 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:29pm
must... resist.. urge... to... reply...
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post #30 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake View Post
I might actually get some Pepperidge Farm cookies too, now that I think about it.
They have the best cookies at that price level on the market. Do yourself a favor and pick some up.
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post #31 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 
Ok.... my Dad just called, and cookies are en route from the grocery store! I'll check back in to see what people's impressions are of the speech after it's over. Right now I need to go do work and get ready to watch it.
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post #32 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:32pm
This thread (besides scaring the crap out of me) actually makes me believe that Obama could make a national call to go back to the sea, and a LOT of people would drown as a result.
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post #33 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
They have the best cookies at that price level on the market. Do yourself a favor and pick some up.
You know who has some amazing cookies? Walmart. Sam's choice slow baked all natural Butter-Toffee Chocolate cookies. They're so delicious and since they're from Communist buying Walmart, most liberals should love them as there is a little socialism baked in every bite.

Truth.
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post #34 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
must... resist.. urge... to... reply...
No Snaieke, its not worth it! ITS NOT WORTH IT!
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post #35 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
You know who has some amazing cookies? Walmart. Sam's choice slow baked all natural Butter-Toffee Chocolate cookies. They're so delicious and since they're from Communist buying Walmart, most liberals should love them as there is a little socialism baked in every bite.

Truth.
One of the ingredients is chinese newspapers!
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post #36 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:35pm
Just have a cookie and smile!
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post #37 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:38pm
If that really is all he's saying tonight, color me disappointed.
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post #38 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rando View Post
If that really is all he's saying tonight, color me disappointed.
Ok have a few more minutes it turns out before I have to log off.

I doubt that is all he is saying. Did you see the elipsis? I think those areas are where the coming smackdowns are contained.


EDIT: a quick explanation for why i am so into obama. I predicted he would be president.... the morning of his speech in boston in 2004. thats right, BEFORE the speech that put him on the national stage. i met and spoke with him for about 3-4 minutes, and was so impressed i made that prediction.

Now I feel the need to be his number one cheerleader. thats all. fair enough?
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post #39 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
Ok have a few more minutes it turns out before I have to log off.

I doubt that is all he is saying. Did you see the elipsis? I think those areas are where the coming smackdowns are contained.
This isn't WWF, and he isn't Vince McMahon. I want clear leadership AND a single-payer system (as much as a pipe-dream that is), not him ripping on Congress, which won't get shit done anyway.
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post #40 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
Ok have a few more minutes it turns out before I have to log off.

I doubt that is all he is saying. Did you see the elipsis? I think those areas are where the coming smackdowns are contained.


EDIT: a quick explanation for why i am so into obama. I predicted he would be president.... the morning of his speech in boston in 2004. thats right, BEFORE the speech that put him on the national stage. i met and spoke with him for about 3-4 minutes, and was so impressed i made that prediction.

Now I feel the need to be his number one cheerleader. thats all. fair enough?
That's cool and all, as long as you know that you are bordering on worship like levels of fandom. Like I said, it's cool to be into the man, especially since I know more of your background regarding him, but maybe you might want to tone it down just a notch.
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post #41 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snaieke View Post
Yes, everyone has multi-million dollar contracts with their employers because of they're highly trained expertise and are invaluable and irreplacable..
Well I hope you do offer some value to your company, but I wasn't talking about people with multi-million dollar contracts. I don't know if you work in corporate America, but you get paid a certain number and that includes a whole set of benefits. So when we talk about how much it costs to add somebody to a team we can use that number to budget accordingly, and a large part of that number is not just salary but all kinds of benefits. Matching 401K, health insurance, life insurance, etc. If you have a decent job and are a good worker, we through around stock options, awards, etc. your way.

If these things sound foreigner to you, then you are probably getting crappy health insurance, since your employer has determined you are not worth that much. For those of you in that category, I think the govt. plan will likely be significantly superior and cheaper than what you get today.

Quote:
unless they can find someone in India who can do it cheaper
That is the case with the current situation, in fact the public option makes the equation more favorable towards US employees in the case of those companies who deem they can't afford to pay for the healthcare.

Quote:
or an illegal immigrant ...
If your job is threatened by illegal immigrants, you will likely benefit from the public option in the first place.

Quote:
or just move the company to a cheaper state that offers competent employee's at lower wages... or out of the country all together ... you never hear stories about ANY of that....
All of those things are factors today, you do know that right? But in this case, this is a federal program, so why would it make anybody consider going to another state when this is an option everywhere?

Does not compute.
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post #42 of 489
9/9/09 at 8:56pm
You know, I got really upset there for a second. I thought Obama was going to interrupt yet another night of television but fortunatly, Fox is still going to air So You Think You Can Dance!!!!
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post #43 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rando View Post
If that really is all he's saying tonight, color me disappointed.
Well, seeing as how those were excerpts, I imagine there’ll be a bit more to chew on.
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post #44 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Princess Kate View Post
I went to the doctor for my tummy pains (feel like I have an ulcer or something, ugh) last week and didn't pay for it. What do you call that then?
Jesus....
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post #45 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:07pm
Food I will eat: a solid brick of paprika
Drinks I will drink: Malk
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post #46 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:11pm
So, besides the fact that they’re dropping the public option, are there any other wholesale changes to the plan?
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post #47 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:15pm
Secret socialist envelopes handed to Biden and Pelosi.
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post #48 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:16pm
Damn, all this glad handing is even getting to Jim Lehrer.
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post #49 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:27pm
Obama does seem to me like the kinda guy that could say, "Please hold your applause until the end of our program."

I wish to God he would.
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post #50 of 489
9/9/09 at 9:30pm
Wow, not a single Republican clapped for a high deductible system, TzuDohNihm must be crying in his cheerios.

[Edit: Hey, you’re here.]
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