President Obama Talks to Katie Couric

Obama Talks Health Care Reform, Blue Dog Democrats, Illegal Immigrants

(CBS)  CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric interviewed President Obama at the White House on July 21, 2009.

Katie Couric: Mr. President, I know you met with House Democrats earlier this afternoon who were opposed to the House bill on health care, because of concerns about the deficit, taxing the wealthy, controlling long term spending. In fact, 40 House Democrats opposed the bill as it's currently written. Did you make any progress?

President Obama: We did. And they acknowledged that we made progress. You know, my working principle has been, number one, let's make sure that this package provides more choices to the American people, gives them more security, if they've got a preexisting condition, or they lose their job, or they're changing jobs.

It's got to be deficit neutral. It can't add to our deficits. And it's got to bring long term costs down. And I think, rightly, a number of these so called Blue Dog Democrats - more conservative Democrats - were concerned that not enough had been done on reducing costs.

It's the same concern that I shared. And we talked today with Henry Waxman, the chairman of the committee that was relevant. And I think that we're moving in the direction where, at the end of the day, by the time we have a bill on the floor, we will be able to say, unequivocally, that this is going to bend to the cost curve so that health care inflation is reduced. That's going to be good for American families. That's going to reduce their costs and make the system work better for everybody.

Katie Couric: But it's not going to add to the deficit?

President Obama: It will not add to the deficit. I will not sign a bill that adds to the deficit. Period.

Katie Couric: What about the nonpartisan Congressional office figures. As you know, you've heard that, that the House plan, as it stands, would add $230 billion to the deficit over 10 years.

President Obama: I mean, part of what you know, I haven't been in Washington as long as some of these folks, but you find out that you go forward in fits and starts. And I think that what is fair to say is that the Congressional Budget Office did not see enough of the cost savings to offset the increases for expanding coverage for all people.

And that's what we talked about today. That we've got to make sure that the cost savings are there, because there's so much waste in the system, Katie, that we know can be reallocated to reduce cost for families, make sure they've got health insurance, if they can't currently afford it.

The problem is grabbing onto those costs. Making sure that if we're subsidizing insurance companies that are already profitable, to the tune of $177 billion, let's take that money out. Let's make sure that that's going to families that could use some help to get health care.

Katie Couric: But aren't a lot of these cost savings, Mr. President, theoretical? I know you've said that the CEO and some leading economists say this plan has a good chance of working. But there are no guarantees these projected savings will really happen.

President Obama: Well here's what we know. Here is a guarantee: If we do nothing then health care inflation is going to keep on going up at eight percent, nine percent, 10 percent a year. It means that family premiums are going double over the next ten years at least.

It'll go up three times faster than wages go up. People's out of pocket costs are going to be higher. So we know that standing still means that more and more people are going to lose their health care or it's going to be less and less affordable. That's if we do nothing.

If we take these actions, we are confident that we can actually see some serious reductions in health care inflation. And, in fact, there have been times, for example, in the 1990s, where you actually saw health care inflation drop down to zero. But then it started jumping back up again. And so what we have to do is have to have a sustained effort. And all the ideas that have been put forward by health economists and the congressional budget office are ideas that, I think, we're going to try to make sure are incorporated into this bill.

Katie Couric: One of the sticking points in the House bill is a tax on people who make $280,000, or over that amount. Nancy Pelosi is reportedly saying, "Hey, let's raise taxes on people who make $500,000 a year, and on joint filers for those who make a million dollars. So it could be a millionaire's tax." It might be more politically palatable. What do you think of that?

President Obama: Well, here's what I think. Nobody wants to pay more taxes. I don't want to pay more taxes. You don't want to pay more taxes. On the other hand, I think we all recognize that, in a country like ours, we shouldn't have 46 million people without health insurance, and we shouldn't have a whole lot of other people who have health insurance, but the deductibles are so high, or the premiums are so high, that they can barely afford it. And so if we've rung out all the waste and inefficiency in the system, if we've reallocated, as I've proposed, that money that is being wasted that is already in the system, taxpayers are already paying for this. For example, on these subsidies to insurance companies.

We've taken that money and we've reallocated it so it's being spent well. And there's a little bit left that we've got to cover. Then I would rather have somebody like myself pay for it, who can afford to pay a little bit more, than I would to see middle class families burdened with higher and higher health care cost. So you know, I think that the proposal that Nancy Pelosi put forward is one way of doing it. The Senate Finance Committee is exploring a whole range of other options.

And I'm confident, that at the end of the day, that we will have found a way to pay for this that meets my earlier pledge that we're not going to see taxes increase for anybody making less than $250,000 a year. And we're going to do it in a deficit neutral way so that this thing is actually paid for.

Katie Couric: So you are not opposed to a tax hike for some of the wealthiest Americans. Either for those who make over $280,00 a year, or those who make over $500,000 a year.

President Obama: I am not opposed to people, like myself, who are at the, you know, top of the income bracket, paying a little bit more, if …

Katie Couric: You can't come up with another way to pay for it.

President Obama: If, as a consequence, middle class families are seeing their cost reduced, and if we've taken all of the waste out of the system that we can, and put that into the kitty. Because I don't think what's fair for people is to feel like we're not doing anything about the waste and we're going to tax folks. I think that's the kind of thing that the American people would be opposed to, and I would be, too.

Katie Couric: You said that if Congress doesn't have a deadline things don't get done in this town. But Democrats, like, Kent Conrad, are also saying, quote, "Sometimes, when you move too quickly, you make mistakes." So is this really something you want to dig in your heels on? I mean, is there any flexibility on this August deadline?

President Obama: Well, I want to keep the pressure on. Because we're making steady progress. People are working hard. I just met with these House Democrats. And they were in there for three hours. I could only join them for an hour. I understand that the Senate Finance Committee is meeting three times today.

That kind of work is going to produce good results. And it means that people are really digging in and getting to know how can we make sure that we're preserving people's choice of plan and option? If they already have health insurance, how can we reduce cost?

How can we make sure that preexisting conditions don't bar people from getting health insurance? If we figure out all those things over the next several weeks, then I think the American people are going to be happy with the end product. Here's what I won't do. I won't, as I said before, I won't sign a bill that I think does not reduce costs - does not keep deficit neutral. And does not benefit middle class families in America. So I want to put the pressure on. But, ultimately, the test is: Is this a bill that I think is going to be better for the American people or not? And, if it's not, then, you know, we'll keep at it.

Katie Couric: So, if it's not, you'll have some flexibility on this deadline.

President Obama: If I'm not happy with the end product, I will not sign a bill.

Katie Couric: Because, surely, you don't want to ram something through. After LBJ took a year and a half to get Medicare passed. As I know Senator Olympia Snow reminded you recently.

President Obama: She did. And I think that's fair. Look, part of what's going on, though, is remember we've been talking about this for four years. We've been studying this at infinitum. Starting in November, after my election, a lot of members of Congress, including the chairman of the Finance Committee, Max Baucus, started-- meeting and working through ideas.

So we've actually been working on this for a good solid nine months now. And I think that if we keep working, that I'm confident that we can get this done. ButI want the American people to understand I have no interest in creating a bad bill. That doesn't serve me. And it certainly doesn't serve the American people. Well, if we've got a bill that doesn't work.

Katie Couric: You are really putting yourself out there, front and center, on this issue. Which may be risky. Are you concerned at all that if health care reform fails it will be a huge and devastating setback to your presidency? And may put some of the rest of your agenda in peril?

President Obama: I think that the easiest way to keep your poll numbers up, and to garner good press, is to do not that much here in this town, and not to cause a lot of controversy. And there's some people who would probably advise that that's the approach you should take.

You know, take it slow. Don't make too many sudden moves. But that's not why the American people sent me here. They sent me here to solve problems. And my attitude is that I would rather work as hard as I can on the things that matter most to the American people, bringing down their health care costs, getting control of our energy agenda, improving our education system, regulating our financial system so that we don't have another crisis again.

Those things need to be done. Sometimes, in Washington, inaction is sort of the preferred way of doing business. I want to make sure that during the time that I'm here, that we're as productive as possible. And so far, at least I think if you look back, over the last six months, we have done an extraordinary amount of good even though my staff reminds me that they're not getting enough sleep.

Katie Couric: There's a lot of talk about momentum right now. And, of course, in the first month of the presidency, that's when the political wind is with you. Are you worried, if you can't get something passed soon, health care reform will be DOA?

President Obama: There have been so many times, during my political career, certainly, during the presidential race and even over the the last six months, where people have said, "Boy, this is make or break for Obama." That was true when I was in Iowa.

And people were sure that we weren't going to win. That was true, you know, during periods in the general election. When the stock market went down everybody was saying, "This is a disaster." And what I found is that as long as we are making good decisions, thinking always what's going to be best for the American people, that eventually, as long as we're persistent, and we're listening to the American people, that things get done.

So I think that we have a lot of work to do before we finally sign a health care bill. I think that the American people, understandably, are wary of changes such a big part of our lives as health care. And they want to make sure they understand it.

I've got to make sure I'm doing a good job explaining it. I think congress has to work with our administration to meet the demands of deficit neutrality and serious cost savings. But you know, we really don't have a choice. If we don't do this then Medicare and Medicaid costs are going to keep on spiraling.

The deficit will become out of control. We'll have a situation in which family premiums are going to keep on going up. And, you know, the worst thing that I could do is to not take the steps that are necessary, and then look back, four years or five years from now, and realize that more families don't have health insurance, and costs have been going up, and the deficit has gone up even higher.

[grenzu]

i don't want to pay health care for illegals DONE!

[Joe_NY_15]

Can Obama make a speech tonight, or is he going to make a Read on the teleprompter ?

[speakinup22]

by alphaa10000 July 22, 2009 8:36 AM EDT
CALLING KENWOOD

kenwood171 said, "daffy64: Please tell us what information (fact) you are aware of that confirms "THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT A GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE OPTION"."
---

The "us" (to whom you refer) is already aware-- it is you who are missing the information.

1. CBS/NYTimes, June 20, 2009
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/19/opinion/polls/main5098517.shtml - way down on the list of accurate pollsters for the election.

2. Quinnipiac, July 1, 2009
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1344
some obscure college poll.

3. Campaign for America's Future
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009062515/new-poll-shows-tremendous-support-public-health-care-option

* this poll was funded by a conservative research organization, heavily corporate-funded (WRONG - if you go here - you'll see it is a Democratic "Progressive site")

4. FiveThirtyEight
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/public-support-for-public-option.html

5. Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580516633344953.html


If you read your last source alphaa10000, you will plainly see it disagrees with your whole argument.

two of the other sources are Democratic controlled web sites. And CBS NBC polls placed near the bottom of the accuracy for the election coverage. At the top was Rasmussen, which has this issue at 41% popularity. AND THEN, 70 som e percent said they wouldn't use it, and of the remaining, most wanted to pay less than $500 a year.


$500 a year for medical care !
let me repeat that...

$500 a year for medical care !


Hell, that won't pay for five visits to the doctor, let alone if you had surgery.


So, ONCE AGAIN you libs want to wreck our coverage, inflate the currency, so you can get something for nothing.

[TheMasses2009]

Maobama the Muslum.
TOTUS addicted community organizing idiot.

[erasmus111]

by Joe_NY_15 July 22, 2009 1:51 PM EDT

Anyone watching or listening to tonight's newconference, just listen to how badly Barry whistles his S's at the end of every word....very annoying for someone who is such a 'great orator'...bordering on a speech impediment.....


Like I said, I think you have to be one of the most ignorant people I have seen on here.

I bet you are one of those bullys that gets great joy out of ridiculing others. And I also bet that you are the one with the biggest flaws.

[Joe_NY_15]

Wait, Erasmus, I thought Obama was the greatest orator to ever become President ? excuse me for noticing him whistling his S's like a freakin' boiling teapot, sorry I noticed his annoying whistle....I don't make fun of any person's limitations or flaws, unless they claim to be the greatest (as is the case with King Obama), then I need to point it out....maybe others are equally irritated by his speech problem.

How does noticing his annoying whistle, somehow make me "ignorant"....quite the opposite, it is my knowledge that teaches me not to treat people like demi-gods, or worship Liberalism as your(dems) religion.

[Joe_NY_15]

Anyone watching or listening to tonight's newconference, just listen to how badly Barry whistles his S's at the end of every word....very annoying for someone who is such a 'great orator'...bordering on a speech impediment.....now back to the substance of the "prime time" speech, is to fool the American people AGAIN...for the 100th time....into supporting his desire to get everyone on welfareCare, whether they want it or not, virtually destroying all private insurance and denying anyone from getting ANY private insurance after the bill is signed....(see page 16 of the bill)......STOP THIS MADNESS NOW !!!

Whistle your S's while you read !!!! (the teleprompter)

[speakinup22]

alphaa10000 - maybe you repeated this good post further up, it seems hard to follow any threads with CBS's new format. I think it is worth repeating, but I have some rebuttal.


kenwood171 said, "daffy64: Please tell us what information (fact) you are aware of that confirms "THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT A GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE OPTION"."
---

1. CBS/NYTimes, June 20, 2009
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/19/opinion/polls/main5098517.shtml

aplha - please note that this article was 72% according to a CBS poll. CBS's poll results are not usually the most accurate. In the election results they were way down the list (I think 16th) when compared to say Rasmussen. Source: http://www.fordham.edu/images/academics/graduate_schools/gsas/elections_and_campaign_/poll%20accuracy%20in%20the%202008%20presidential%20election.pdf

2. Quinnipiac, July 1, 2009
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1344


Alpha - in this article, while 69% did like the idea of a government health care plan, most would not use it; AND, most were happy with their current plan. From what I'm hearing, those plans would be devastated. BTW, who is Quinnipiac University anyway - how do I know where their polling sample was taken ?

From the article:

"Although 69 percent of voters nationwide say Americans should have the option of government- run health insurance, only 28 percent would choose to be covered by it, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Voters say 49 - 45 percent they would pay more to reform health care, but a total of 72 percent DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE THAN $500 A YEAR (something for nothing!)

"Of the 88 percent of American voters who have some form of health insurance, 49 percent are "very satisfied" with their plan and 36 percent are "somewhat satisfied."


3. Campaign for America's Future
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009062515/new-poll-shows-tremendous-support-public-health-care-option

This is a "Progressive" (read Democratic) blog site, which eliminates all possibility of unbias results. So you flat out LIED to us in the below statement.

* this poll was funded by a conservative research organization, heavily corporate-funded

4. FiveThirtyEight
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/public-support-for-public-option.html

On this site Rasmussen is shown as saying only 40% of the population supports the Health care issue. Rasmussen tied for first place in the election poll accuracy. the other 5 were spread between 60 and 80 (2 from kaiser, Lake Research, Consumer's Union & EBRI) weren't big enough polling companies to be in the research in the source I gave.

BTW - according to your source Consumer's Union, "They take a somewhat unabashedly liberal view on health care reform and the poll was released in conjunction with Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer. The Consumers Union' generally spends several hundred thousand dollars on lobbying activities each year."

According to your source: "Lake Research Partners is a Democratic polling firm. Their poll was conducted on behalf of Health Care for America Now! (HCAN), an advocacy group that wants comprehensive health care reform and strongly favors the public option.

Slightly bias towards your opinion isn't it ?

5. Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580516633344953.html

Alph - while this article is good, the author quotes nbc/wallstreet and CBS polls to make his point of the percentage that want healthcare. Both rated low in the source I gave.

It does have an unbias point, which the President has not answered, and will not allow us to hear about athough he said he'd be transparent on all issues, especially this one, the COST of this Health care.

From your source, "So why the stall? Mainly because Congress can't decide how to pay for it. The hardest blow came last week when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the trial-balloon bill emerging from the Senate Health Committee would cost a whopping $1 trillion over 10 years and would cover only a fraction of Americans currently without health care."

I find your sources marginally support your argument, and prove "reform" will cause inflation in spite of not many using it.

The below was supportive of your point of view, but you excluded the cost issue, which came in the paragraph immediately preceding the one below. (of course the WSJ didn't call Republicans "bozos" That was your editorization after you plagerzied the article.

"Interestingly, GOP bozos went completely silent while Bush doubled the national debt to $10.7 trillion, and then became fiscal budget hawks on something so critical as national healthcare....


Note to conservatives - ALWAYS check the liberal's sources, usually they are looking for facts to support their opinions, instead of formulating their opinions after reading the facts.

[6591Hou]

Graphical attempt at explaining:

Let's accept the fact that Bush & co. left a huge mess for Obama & co. to deal with..............<------okay, that's over there now as a given, $$$$ lot's of money dedicated to addressing that....

Now on top of the $$$$ dedicated to dealing with that given, Obama wants to dedicate $$$$$ to deal with ------->the healthcare system as it exists today.

Therein lies the rub for a lot of voters, all of the $$$$ going out....
<-------$$$$ and $$$$$-----> it's not a question of any political affiliation, it's a question of scared people who haven't seen the benefit yet of <-----$$$$ and are reluctant to dedicate ---->$$$$$ when they're not certain that the economy will grow enough to support the expenditure, or if it will be held back from growing because of that expense.

[Joe_NY_15]

Obama reads the teleprompter and then tells Katie what the screen says....would be a more accurate headline.

[cydygitt1]

More of that republiCON fixation on teleprompters, much like the conspiracy theorists not satisfied with President Obama's birth certificate that was placed online for everyone to see, and the state of Hawaii that confimed it as well.

These moronic republiCONS continue to crash and burn with less and less credibility with all the attacks through anger and racism!

[Joe_NY_15]

Sorry for noticing your great orator is nothing but an S-whistling Teleprompter reader....that's it.....he reads what he's told to say.

So Obama isn't talking with Katie, he's reading with Katie....TOTUS !
(Teleprompter of the United States, the real prez)

[diddle123]

You know you people out here scare the hell out of me. You all think Bush GW was a honest person and worse than that you think Palin is intelligent. People that think this I feel America has let you down on your education. You need to go back to school.

[alien_view]

While we are at it why don't we pay for the health care for the rest of the world too. The liberals can find some way to get them to vote in the next election, since valid voters does not count any more according to our courts. Let see there are 100 voters in my city. 50 votes went to R, 50 votes went to D.....now ACORN has come up with 1000 hand written votes for D that were not counted. What is wrong with this picture if there are only 100 voters. You have to love the way our government is being bought and paid for with your tax dollars and you are doing nothing about it. Liberal D's buy votes anyway you can get them and we will get the courts to back you and we will pay you back for your efforts. I am waiting for an inrush of people from other countries coming here for our free everything for illegals and their families.

[onesword]

Working for a health insurance company I've witnessed how this industry changed since my employment in 1999. From a Ma and Pa operation to a billion dollar corporation. Wonder how that happen? Coming from a company who cared about the health and well being of the elderly to a profit driven corportation. I've witnessed this company go through so many changes for the name of profit.

[cydygitt1]

That happened very simply through GREED and having the foxes guard the henhouse as the republiCONS have always fought for less regulation.

[erasmus111]

by Joe_NY_15 July 22, 2009 10:40 AM EDT
You have that opinion, because you are living in a dream world of insurance companies out to get you......OUR HEALTCARE IS FINE....we don't need to destroy america to insure those who don't have insurance.


It's you that is living in a dream world, and it's actually unbelievable how ignorant you are.

Instead of spewing crap about something you know nothing about, maybe you should go to the story "RNC Chair Attacks Obama On Health Care" and read the posts on the last page. You might learn something. If you are capable, that is.

[Joe_NY_15]

I've read it, what's your point aboot ? ey ?

[cydygitt1]

Yep, little joey is certainly living in a dream world devoid of any rational thought processes, still spewing the same old tired rhetoric that "our health care is fine," when it is obviously unsustainable!

[Joe_NY_15]

citydiddy or whatever, what is un-sustainable is the massive spending and debt that your party is putting on the backs of the American taxpayers....why don't you care ?

[hamiltongrad]

What about Free Legal Services for all people, making less than one zillion dollars a year ?

Why are only Lawyers paid by the hour ? Why not bundle services and pay by that goal, like a civil suit, or a divorce. I would bet all these actions would be cleared up in a few hours, not several months or years ! And We all know that MEDICAL Costs are really driven by lawsuits. The real savings for all of us would be 50 % DECREASE in MEDICAL COSTS and the COST to run ANY Business.

Look, The constitution guarntees that we have rights ... until we have gov't backed free legal services we can not assume that any of these rights are there.

[cydygitt1]

See, this is why you republiCONS are so marginalized today.

The malpractice INSURANCE has been raised through the roof in order to counteract the losses that these INSURANCE bozos have lost through their investments just like in 2001, since this is their main source of income. The doctors are paying through the nose for their losses.

Tort reform will NOT REDUCE health care costs in the least, but this is the idiotic republiCONS only talking point while having NO SOLUTIONS!

[Joe_NY_15]

Anyone watching or listening to tonight's newconference, just listen to how badly Barry whistles his S's at the end of every word....very annoying for someone who is such a 'great orator'...bordering on a speech impediment.....now back to the substance of the "prime time" speech, is to fool the American people AGAIN...for the 100th time....into supporting his desire to get everyone on welfareCare, whether they want it or not, virtually destroying all private insurance and denying anyone from getting ANY private insurance after the bill is signed....(see page 16 of the bill)......STOP THIS MADNESS NOW !!!

[erasmus111]

"Anyone watching or listening to tonight's newconference, just listen to how badly Barry whistles his S's at the end of every word....very annoying for someone who is such a 'great orator'...bordering on a speech impediment..."


You know, you are actually quite a pathetic and disgusting person.

I can only take it that you are one of the greedy, corrupt, rich, or the biggest idiot in America. Which either way, I guess you are still an idiot. You like being sucked dry of your money? You like being taken for a ride by your insurance companies and drug companies? Because that is exactly what is happening. I just find it amazing how brain washed some of you are. We pay way less for our health care, drugs, we all have the BEST care, and we never have to worry about losing everything we own. You like being a sucker?

[Joe_NY_15]

You have that opinion, because you are living in a dream world of insurance companies out to get you......OUR HEALTCARE IS FINE....we don't need to destroy america to insure those who don't have insurance.

And, please mind your own business and stop trying to inject your pathetic country's systems on our own.....otherwise we would be called the united states of cannucks.....no thanks

[cydygitt1]

Joe_NY_15 ridiculously states:
"You have that opinion, because you are living in a dream world of insurance companies out to get you......OUR HEALTCARE IS FINE...."
-----------------------------

Delusional!

Our health care system is a cesspool of waste and abuse by for-profit insurance companies making decisions that should be made by physicians and patients.

Even the Heritage Foundation and Cato Institute at least acknowledge that the current debacle is unsustainable and unaffordable, so when are you Kool-aid guzzlin' foxnewsus propagandus republiCONS finally going to start 'thinking' for yourselves and understand we need health care reform immediately?

[Joe_NY_15]

WE DON'T need healthcare reform immediately

[imprisoncheney]

Yes, Katy . . . stick to the Foxsnooze talking points, by all means -- we wouldn't want to "upset" Bill O'Really? or Sean Insannity (who's busy with his gay lover's divorce trial, and all) - would we?????

Why, they might actually say BAD things(!) about you and CBS News . . . like, you're socialists! or communists!! or liberals!!!! -- just b/c you dare to disagree with them!!!! -- on anything!!!!!

Ohhhh! It's not to be tolerated!!!!!!!

Please. Stop pretending these fascist pimps are a legitimate part of the political discourse in this country -- they serve only one purpose: the promotion of Fascist Christianity -- and only one master: the current Fuerher preaching from the pulpit on C Street.

Is it a secret? or something?

Their idols are Hitler and Stalin (among other psychotic creeps) . . . go figure.

But you stick to their script, Katy . . . wouldn't want to ever be confused with Walter Cronkite, would you?

[maramara2]

I love this president because he knows what to say. He is determined to work against big interest for the common man. If people like Jim Demint hate him, let them eat my askkkk

[cydygitt1]

Yep....when the rabid republiCONS continue to rail against everything that President Obama says and does, you know damned well that he's on the correct path to helping the middle class over the interests of BIG BIZ paying off the CONServitards!

[panhandlpete]

A point to ponder....swine flu looms on the WHO horizon. Drug companies are working overtime to have the vaccine ready by September, Australia is now engaged in the first human test trials....congress passes the new health insurance plan soon....Will its first act be to vaccinate all and build that personal medical database on each of us? Roll up your sleeves and be the first to take that (?) shot? You may have NO choice!

I do not like the new health INSURANCE plan as its focus is not on the health of citizens, but rather it is a "legacy" tool crafted for the benefit of politicians. The drug companies are being granted a 12 year monopoly/protection on their biotech drugs developed. (Does this help to lower the cost to shut out generic brands? Will there be any constraints on 'how much' profit the drug companies can make?)

Who wrote all the provisions in this health care bill, since no one member of Congress will admit to having read it? After it gets passed in segments, then a NEW final bill will get written, and we will be stuck with it.......surprise, surprise......but life will go on.

[patronejohn]

It's funny...people will stand in line for a big beef burrito but won't stand in line for an MRI....what a country.

[proud_churchgoer]

Whats with Couric? She looks like a man now.

[cydygitt1]

Nah....that's the rabid annie coulter that looks like a man!

[Benton09]

Republicans just hate that an intelligent, cool, calm, collected, savy Obama is in the White House. They like the good 'ol boy, stupid, redneck, bribeable variety like we've had the past 8. The best they can come up with is 'Paw Paw McCain', Sarah the Sl*t, Mormon Mitt, etc.
They might as well go with Rush Limpnuts in 2012, he seems to be the best they have. Start the campaign Rush, 'An Oxycontin Bottle in every medicine cabinet, if Jumping Jelly Belly and his Brainwashed Minions get selected in 2012.

[Joe_NY_15]

Of course, when the cool calm collected Obama is a totally unqualified community organizer, occupying the office of President, with a wish to destroy America as we know it....of course you aren't going to get a warm cozy welcome, while destroying America before our eyes.