Obama and Republicans: Who Will Blink First?

(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The view of yesterday's health care summit is one of deep division, according to CBS News chief White House correspondent Bill Plante. One thing Democrats and Republicans could agree during the 7 ?-hour meeting on is that the health care system in the United States needs repair.

But that's about as far as it got.

"If this 7 1/2 hours showed anything yesterday, it showed us just how deep the divide is on a good part of this," CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said on "The Early Show." "So I don't think there is going to be bipartisanship." In fact, he added, Democrats will probably move forward on their own.

But Schieffer predicts that if Democrats try to pass legislation in a reconciliation bill (which would obviate any chance of a Republican filibuster), it would come at an enormous cost by prompting the GOP to become the Party of No Way. "Republicans will just go crazy about this," he said, "and I think they that will vow to tie up the Senate on every other single issue that comes before it this year.

"The Democrats by the same token will be saying, 'Okay, go ahead and try to do that and see what the voters think of that and, as the president said, then we'll sort it all out in November.'

"So I don't see much coming out of this right now — I think the divide is still there."

"This is basically the president taking all the chips, putting them in the middle of the table, saying 'I'm all in on this deal, we're going to pass this health care the way it is. I will risk my presidency, I will risk the fall elections on this one issue come hell or high water.' Am I reading that right?" asked "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith.

"I think you're right," said Schieffer, "and he is basically daring the Republicans to do the same thing. He's saying, 'OK, use whatever tactics you can to try to tie this thing up, let's see what the voters think about it.'

"But here's the other part in all this, Harry: I'm not sure at this moment that there are enough votes in the House of Representatives to pass what the president wants to do, because there are still very big disagreements between Democrats within the House and between Democrats in the House and the Senate.

"So I just see trouble ahead."

Watch CBS News Videos Online

More Coverage of the Health Care Summit:

Marc Ambinder: The Summit was a Tie -- And That's Good News for GOP
Both Sides Dig in Heels at Health Care Summit
Will the Summit Impact Health Reform?
At Health Care Summit, More Pomp than Pith
Live Blog: Hotsheet Tracked the Whole Summit Point by Counterpoint
Fact Check: The Health Care Summit
Reaction and Analysis on Washington Unplugged
Photos: The Health Care Summit
All Hotsheet Coverage

[elite2010]

"Obama will unveil his healthplan next week" Another attempt at the contemptible "educated class," left wing of the democratic party to ram the "nanny state" down our independent throats. Obama is a disgrace to truly educated and hard working people in this great country. Hi is a marxist, delusional and only understands his own distorted perceptions of Americans. Having lived all his life in places like Hyde Park (chicago), this is not surprising. What is surprising is that he has made this into a personal vendetta against the (majority) American people (look at the polls and Scott Brown victory and the failed attempt at government medicine in Massachusetts). He is willing to incinerate all his idiot democratic followers along with his personal ambitions for a socialist future. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are already history - do I hear the rest of the democrats in the Senate and House of Reps? Go for it Hussein!!!!!

[rykatspop]

I shouldn't be amazed about the deception that goes on in politics, but this one is a doozy!

I just finished watching a video interview of Dr. Margaret Flowers (pediatrician) with Bill Moyers on his show, Bill Moyers Journal. She is for a single payer system. She says most doctors are for single payer. Maybe she's right. Here's what happened when she went to the White House to offer her plan that Obama said HE would here from anyone.

1. White House refused to see her and colleague. She's a doctor!!!

2. White House refused to take her detailed proposal. She's a doctor!

3. She showed up at Obama speeches, but was told to leave.

4. She was arrested for refusing to move across the street.

5. She went through a psych eval and interview about wanting to harm prez.

6. She finally appeared befoe senate committee to present proposal.

7. My guess is: they liked her looks, political views, she's cute, etc.

8. She learned that she would not be heard about her proposal or plan.

9. She showed up at hearings, seeing the senators and industry players at the committee meetings and was told her testimony wasn't needed, after they invited her to speak.

**She learned that a number of amendments had been added to kill single payer plan as a program. She said the INDUSTRY put pressure on hearings.

10. She was told to stop appearing at committee hearings--arrested again!

The upshot, she is liberal. She's a cute, married, doctor with kids. Obviously not threatening, etc. She was told by the senate committee on health care reform that THEY KNEW THE BILL WAS BAD AND THAT IT WOULD FAIL!!!!! Hearings were just a sham, pointless exercise for public.

11. HERE'S THE WORST PART: THE DEMS AND REPUBS ON COMMITTEE SAID THE BILL WAS A FAILURE BUT IT WOULD A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE THE PUBLIC WOULD LEARN ABOUT THAT AND WHY it was no good!!!!!!!!!

**THAT'S A BETRAYAL ON AMERICANS AND TAXPAYERS.
**We have no TRUE representation on Capitol Hill.

So, I owe every tea party supporter an apology. You guys are right. Our govt is conspiring against Americans. Our govt and corporations have seized power and control. Americans are nothing more than serfs!!!!

Go to the link and watch the interview. You don't have to agree with her politics, but you HAVE to agree that democracy has been hijacked by Wall Street and Capitol Hill.

Conservatives, minimalists, tea party members, I am sorry for thinking you guys are crazy. Sure, I know politics is wheeling and dealing, but shutting Americans out completely is not what our founding fathers had in mind. Democracy is dying.

here's the link: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02052010/watch3.html

[antoniof123]

Dude factcheck.org disproves most of the stupid retoric you have stated the other stuff they just haven't got too yet but hey nice try for listing to idiots.

A RULE TO LIVE BY "IF IT SOUNDS SCARY BE WARY, IT IS A LIE."

[ellenbrandtphd]

Because of their role as caretakers for their elderly parents, the healthcare debate has moved many Baby Boomers, whatever their nominal political affiliation, to the Center.

Readers might find much to chew on in "A Daughter Among Daughters Reaps Scorn," about an accountant whose life has been turned upside down by her decision to care for her aged Mom and Dad:

"When her elderly parents became ill, she gave up her job, her security, and her comfortable middle-class existence. If something isn?t done soon, she says, Baby Boomers will become the New Poor."

See: http://angriestgeneration.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/a-daughter-among-daughters-reaps-scorn-suellens-story/

(Dr. Ellen Brandt is founder of the Centrists Group at Linked In and the BoomerNetwork, IvyLeague, and Centrists Twibes at Twitter)

[0000000000007]

It also astounds me that the medical profession is the ONLY profession where if they don't fix it right the first time that they collect again and again. It is almost incentive NOT to get it right the first time. If I take my car to a mechanic and it is not fixed correctly I can take it back and he will fix it for no charge until it is right.

[Empire-George-]

by USA_is_back February 26, 2010 12:32 PM EST

Oh ok, I see your point - Dems - No, Repubs - Yes
__________

Can you read ? that's not what I said....I said anybody, D or R

[apuan777]

Both the House and Senate bill allow the government real-time access to your bank account.

[TVO1CITW]

Why can't anyone see that "supply and demand" needs to come to Health Care. If no one can pay the price, the price has to come down. Health Care, like Groceries, is needed in our society. Until there is real competition, the cost will continue to soar. The Health Care people are NOT complaining during this Health Care Bill. WHY? If it lowers their profits they would be complaining. Go figure!!!!!!

[Empire-George-]

by USA_is_back February 26, 2010 12:12 PM EST

So Joe - You have no problem with Republicans using reconclliation, just with Democrats?
____________

No, I have a problem using reconciliation for a purpose that it was NOT intended for....it was and can be used for passing important budget issues, but was NOT intended to be used for legislation issues like healthcare.....so, I'm against anyone having to break the rules to ram legislation down the throat of a people that already said NO !

[-One_American-]

I always laugh when I see the Liberals use the "but-but-but... George Bush did it!" argument.

[-One_American-]

Liberals will have to read the fine print on Obamacare, if it is enacted.

It will most likely say that if you sign up for it, all your income goes to the government, and they give you $13 a week for food.

But the bright side is, your medical costs will be covered by the government - if you don't mind waiting for 6 months to see a doctor.

Socialism is just a step away from Communism - but Liberals are too lazy and ignorant to realize it.

[craig123123]

Obviously one social program doesn't make socialism, otherwise we would have been socialist decades ago. However, socialism is obviously made up of social programs; the question is, where is the tipping point?

[max0074]

45,000 US citizen die from lack of health care every year. It is 15 time the casualties of 9/11 ! Every year !. Who need terrorists when we have the GOP?
I am sure there is some room available for them in Guantanamo Bay.

[JWinATL]

The GOP did not and could not stop this bill when the Dems had a supermajority. It is a garbage bill. Start with the bigger problems and correct them, and move along. Make insurance available across state lines; cap tort actions; eliminate the waste in Medicare (what, is this a "we can't fix it unless we get the whole health care bill through?"). None of these solutions cost the taxpayer! We are BROKE. Stop the spending now!!!! Put people back to work; trim the spending (eliminate earmarks); collect the money; pay the bills. Simple. Works for me in my family.

[cleric60]

max0074-Maybe you can tell me where did the figure 45,000 US citizens die from the lack of health care every year? I have been a medical chaplain for over 10 years and we have refused treatment to any of our patients in ER or ICU because of their lack of insurance?
Who came up with this figure????????????