I've always had a lot of respect for Senator Bob Dole. He is an
honest-to-God WWII hero, with two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with
the combat "V" - for his valor in attempting to assist a downed radio
man. In his service as a Congressman and Senator, he was widely
regarded as a man able to bridge the moderate and conservative wings of
the Republican Party. Since his retirement (and loss in the 1996
Presidential election), Dole has worked tirelessly on issues important
to him, such as restoring bipartisanship to government and combating
hunger.
In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Sen. Dole argues that President Obama needs to hit the "reset" button on the health care issue. Thus far, the President has let Congress hash it out amongst themselves. Accusations and recriminations have flown both between Democrats and Republicans and amongst themselves. Dole rightly points out that the American people, as a result, are both confused and angry.
I also have to agree with him that a party-line vote will not be credible with the American public. I've been saying for a while now that we need a uniquely American solution that targets the skyrocketing costs and barriers to entry in the market, not a partisan solution. I think incumbent Democrats and Republicans alike stand to lose if health care reform falls apart yet again.
President Obama is the commander-in-chief. The American people are looking to him to lead. He needs to deliver with a policy proposal that he is willing to put his own name on. He needs to clearly and decisively tell the American public what he thinks needs to be done and let his proposal be judged on its merits.
In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Sen. Dole argues that President Obama needs to hit the "reset" button on the health care issue. Thus far, the President has let Congress hash it out amongst themselves. Accusations and recriminations have flown both between Democrats and Republicans and amongst themselves. Dole rightly points out that the American people, as a result, are both confused and angry.
I also have to agree with him that a party-line vote will not be credible with the American public. I've been saying for a while now that we need a uniquely American solution that targets the skyrocketing costs and barriers to entry in the market, not a partisan solution. I think incumbent Democrats and Republicans alike stand to lose if health care reform falls apart yet again.
President Obama is the commander-in-chief. The American people are looking to him to lead. He needs to deliver with a policy proposal that he is willing to put his own name on. He needs to clearly and decisively tell the American public what he thinks needs to be done and let his proposal be judged on its merits.
It would be helpful if Bob Dole would lead, too. Assuming that he still considers himself a leader - and he must or why would his commentary be running?
He could start by telling some of his Republican colleagues to stop the lying. No more nonsense about "death panels" or "rationing" or "socialized medicine". But of course, if the GOP stopped the lying, they'd have nothing to say.
How many more millions have to die for the insurance companies' bottom line?
Funny thing is most reading that think "wow, what hyperbole"... The sad thing is it isn't.
Shaved, the way the democrats are going about this is stupid. They have even moved from fighting the republicans to fighting fellow democrats of the Blue Dog variety. With that fight, they fell comfortable. As I've said before the Democrats excel at fighting their own but they really have no knowledge of how to fight the other side of the aisle. The end result is that we will end up with some half baked version of health care, then the Congressional debate over what is needed will go away for another 20-25 years. Of course,during that time both sides will crow how they fixed the problem and the uninsured will just wonder what the hell happened to the promises.
Classic change management exercise, and classic management style that destines it for failure.
"We need to change around here; you go first."
WE need a leader and someone to step up and do/say the right thing; YOU do it.
It's very easy for others to point and say "you do it" but the hardest thing to do is for EVERYONE to MAN UP and do the right thing for the most people. Who among any of our elite career politicians is willing to do that?
If you want him to lead, ENDORSE him. That would make him a statesman.
Nah, let's just sit here and throw rocks.
Wombat, if only the Senate worked like a real debate competition, winner take all. We can dream.
The first step in trapping your opponent is setting the general framework...right now they don't even have to bother taking a stand on whether or not health care and insurance needs fixing. They can safely just throw rocks over the fence and not be accountable for anything.
Take THAT advantage away first, then you can narrow them further and further until all they have left is generalized statements about democrats and how stupid they are.
Bob Dole is one of the few legislators I put in the same category with Ted Kennedy. "Statesman".
Wombat, that won't work. Just about everyone will vote against the resolution, and just about everyone will say they _are_ working to fix it, but few will agree on precisely what needs to be done in response.
Desperado, that's just the problem. We're almost certainly not going to see a bill pass that includes a public plan, and even so, we're probably not going to see a single Republican senator sign on (with the possible exceptions of the good senators from Maine). It's going to get done by reconciliation, and it won't even be a halfway decent bill.
i say introduce a resolution into the house and senate stating somethign along the lines of "The current state of health care, health care delivery, and the health insurance industry is perfectly fine and i believe the status quo can be maintained into the forseeable future with no changes whatsoever"
See who votes for it....make the bastards put their name on a firm statement for all to see. If they DON'T vote for it, then one must ask the question WHY they aren't helping to fix it.
The problem with going through reconciliation is that the Democrats don’t have 51 votes. The last count I read on 538 was 45, maybe 46. That leaves 13 so-called undecideds, but that list includes names like Landrieu, Lieberman, Baucus, Conrad, and Bayh, who I wouldn’t call undecided. They’re more likely to vote against the public option than for it.
Blanche Lincoln is also on the list but she has a history of being for sale to the highest bidder, which means the insurance lobby. Take out those 6 and the Democrats need at least 5 of the remaining 7.
Of course if they had a real Leader in the Senate instead of Jellyfish Reid, somebody like Feingold, it might be a little easier.
I have to agree with Scott. I wish Obama would tell the nation that he wanted and has TRIED for bipartisanship, but it is clear it will not work, so he deems it necessary to think of the American people FIRST and get this passed.
I'm not sure bipartisianship is even possible anymore. I think we are beyond partisianship and have moved into something worse. I say forget the Republicans and move on.
As per usual I will agree in part and disagree in part. I do agree that hearing one voice on health care is what this country needs. I also agree Obama should be more pro-active in telling people what's in it. I do not agree with Senator Dole about seeking bipartisan support. Normally I would and in his day I think it would have been possible. However, the Republicans have shown over and over again that they aren't interested in negotiating on good faith. Every inch you give them is an inch you don't have to give. They aren't voting for it anyway. Put through what needs to be done and leave them alone.
While the President has addressed some of the issues on Health Care reform, he has pretty much stayed above the fray. Its time, as Helen Thomas said, to show some balls and get into the trenches. Don't leave this up to the Congressmen to explain the issue as most of them are so conflicted they can't seem to come up with a coherent argument for either side and the polls show the people don't trust them anyway. So, come on President Obama, lets see a "fireside chat" on the issue of Health Care. However, don't attack the naysayers, stay on the issues. I'm sure the White House is aware of the lies being spewed, attack the most egregious of the lies and try to clear the air. Its time for you to speak up and let the American People know exactly what its all about.