Getting Ready for Smashmouth Thursday?

By: Charles Cooper
Topics: In The News

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Somebody, find a referee with a loud whistle. Thursday's meeting between President Obama and the Republicans is now guaranteed to turn into a prime-time, smashmouth confrontation over the limits of federalism, not to mention the two major parties' sharply different philosophies of government.

The White House today unveiled its long-awaited proposal for reforming health care to the uniform disapproval of conservatives. Among other things, the bill includes tougher provisions against fraud as well as calls for government review of insurance increases (the industry can thank Anthem Blue Cross's recent tone-deafness for that insertion.) The price would be some $950 billion in spending - about $75 billion more than previous estimates. I'm still picking through the details but here's an initial rundown of the plan from the left and from the right.

Why now? Maybe the better question is why not now? In Washington, where perceptions have a way of becoming reality, this president could use a victory - any victory - and soon. On Sunday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson bluntly advised Obama to "rapidly decide what we're doing on health care and then move to jobs and the economy." He added: "We need a national economic strategy." The president apparently agrees. The White House backed the $15 billion jobs bill which also won the support of five Senate Republicans when it came up for a Monday vote. A minor achievement, perhaps, but a sign that this president can push his agenda forward in the face of political opposition.

To be sure, Obama is determined to plow ahead on health care, even in the absence of an official seal of approval from the Congressional Budget Office, which says it doesn't yet have enough detail to offer an estimate. CBO approval didn't help the White House gain bi-partisan support for earlier versions of health-care reform. Barring a breakthrough, the White House now seems ready to use budget reconciliation if the Republicans dig in their heels.

And dig they will. House Majority Leader John Boehner dutifully ripped the proposal as doubling down on a "failed approach Americans have already rejected." Meanwhile, the usual voices who dominate the right wing of the blogosphere predictably blasted Obama for opening the door to all kinds of "isms" - none good. After feeling their oats the last couple of months, the Republicans find themselves facing a president who may be regaining his touch. Thursday is destined to be some kind of spectacle.

Charles Cooper is an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet. E-mail Charlie.
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by tsigili March 10, 2010 2:02 PM EST: Back to square one, please. This is a dead bill.; Reply to this comment


by ky7474 February 23, 2010 10:18 PM EST: Just another dog and pony show. Mandating healthcare with no options or competition. Get a backbone or get out of the way. People are hurting and these rich, out of touch politicians are playing games.; Reply to this comment

by Want_Gov_Smaller February 23, 2010 10:12 PM EST

During the campaign everyone acknowledged that while America has the very best health care, sometimes it is too expensive. During an economic crisis, we can only afford a 15 billion dollar jobs bill, but we can afford a 1,000 billion dollar new heath care bill that cuts medicare.... WHY?!

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by peregrine3 February 24, 2010 6:00 PM EST: very simply put it will save us money. the cbo which even the republicans begrudgingly admit is independent, says it will save over a trillion in the next twenty years. Now thats traveling in the right direction and lightening the burden on employers, that...you got it, that hire people if they can afford it. Health cost are costing us jobs. Health cost to individuals is taking disposable income, if they have any, out of their pockets. disposable income buys THINGS and things manufactured put people to work. Its not really rocket science, just the insurance companies would like you to believe it is an keep you moving towards the buffalo jump.


by peregrine3 February 23, 2010 4:00 PM EST: VOTE ON IT ALREADY. THIS IS ALL POSTURING. VOTE FOR IT, VOTE AGAINST IT BUT GET TO IT....I THINK IN THE END THIS IS ALL ABOUT SEEING WHAT THEY CAN GET ALONG THE WAY. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE SPOUTING PHILOSOPHY TO MY CONSTITUANTS IN NOVEMBER WHEN THEY SEE HOW I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH NEEDS. GO ON VOTE AGAINST; I DARE YOU.; Reply to this comment


by rexrox2 February 23, 2010 1:41 PM EST: SMASH-MOUTH THURSDAY, what a JOKE. Nothing's different, nothing's new. Government take over, 1 trillion in new spending in the middle of an ENDLESS DOWNTURN, NEW SERVICES WOULD BEGIN IN 2014, it wouldn't even take place if Scott Brown wasn't elected. This is desperation, hoping that the MEDIA WILL CONTINUE TO SHILL FOR THE OBAMA ADMIN. The canadian minister from Nova Scotia said it best, "When I became a government official I didn't give up my right to access the best health care. This is my heart, my health........". He headed south to the good old US OF A.; Reply to this comment


by AOCGUY February 23, 2010 12:02 PM EST: This is fascinating. The President has laid a trap out in the open, the Republicans know it and yet are powerless to avoid it. I do hope the Republicans show up with a coherent game plan, that way the debate should be great entertainment no matter what side you are on. My money is on Obama on this one however. And sunnyinttown, the President has not strated over, he simply did Congress' job of reconciling the two bills. Wil the President take into consideration any GOP inputs? Maybe but I doubt it. A few eeks ago I thought Health Insurance reform was dead but Obama has breathed new life into it and now I do see it passing within a few weeks at most. Of course if the House and Senate Dems continue to act like enuchs then who knows. Nancy and Harry need to follow Obama's lead and grow a pair.; Reply to this comment

by wfw3536 February 23, 2010 11:24 AM EST

I just hope the Republicans only accept the many things that could be done with health care reform that do no cost anything------------cut out lawsuits,allow people to buy health care policies across state lines, no higher rates for people with pre existing conditions. All could be done at no cost. Instead Obama wants to spend another 1 trillion(don't buy the idea that the government will save money as this is just a lie) or so when we will have deficits of over a trillion this year and many years to come. Why can't this administration focus on cutting the debt, helping the 16 to 17% of folks who are un or underemployed and all the businesses that are going out of business. Obama just doesn't understand how bad things are in this country and he insists on spending another trillion dollars.

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by AOCGUY February 23, 2010 12:09 PM EST: wfw3536 - It ain't going to happen. I doubt that the President has any real interest in hearing what the Republicans have to say and even less interest in incorporating their ideas in the reconciled bill that will not doubt end up on his desk within weeks. The Republicans bet the house on the democratic leadership's lack of proverbial gonads but didn't take into account the fact the the President has a pair big enough for all.

by HGOODGUY February 23, 2010 9:26 AM EST

An open message to the Democratic party from a democrat.

You used to be the party of progress
Tou used to be the party of fighting for social issues of the day
You used to be the party of guts
You used to follow the legacy of FDR and Harry Truman
You used to be the party of change.
You used to be the party of hope for the poor and disinfranshised

You are so tied up in your own knots that you cannot move!!

This is not the time to be intellectual or looking for unity from the other side.

IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!

If you have not learned that by now you never will!

You have the majority in Congress. Stop trying to be Mr Nice guy and do what needs to be done on Unimployment, Healthcare and all the other issues that the Republicans have sworn to defeat

RECLAIM YOUR SPINE AND RAM THESE THINGS THROUGH WHILE YOU HAVE THE VOTES!!!

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by midlclass February 23, 2010 11:05 AM EST: brian1920. what makes you think the republicans will stop the spending? under the previous administration the president did not veto one spending bill until the democrate won a majority in the house. deficit spendin and tax cuts were also one of ronald regans big idea's also it didn't stop until bush senior and clinton pushed taxes and pay as you go. two issues the current republican minority disagree with.

by RobAla February 23, 2010 8:35 AM EST

Trash any remnant of the crappy bills, which were fashioned behind closed doors and filled with corrupt political favors. This "compromise bill" hasn't even been scored by the CBO, and it should be tossed in the toilet. I want Washington to focus on the stinking economy and creating an environment where business can begin hiring again. Drop the health care stuff for now, and start all over in an open and bipartisan manner at a later date. Enough!

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by sunnyinttown February 23, 2010 10:55 AM EST: The President has started over. And it is bipartisan and open. What are the Republicans afraid of??? Showing the American people they really do not have any ideas as to how to fix the health care problems in this country? The Republicans begged to have the discussions televised - and now that it is going to be they scream "its a trap". They have had plenty of notice to prepare for this summit. It is time they get their act together.


by stormerF2 February 23, 2010 8:08 AM EST: Raising taxes,what happend to not raising taxes on the middle class. Now another tax on investment capitol of 30% that will really encourage the big business and corporation the reinvest money will it not? The lack of reinvestment money will cut jobs and reduce GDP growth. I guess that is the first step in government take over of private business,and you thought Obama was not a Socialist?; Reply to this comment