Category: Obama
Republican Hypocrisy
So, I mostly attribute Republican lies and deceit with willful ignorance or an “ends justifies the means” approach to politics. And their end to to obtain power.
But the Republican response to the Detroit underwear bomber blows my theory. In this instance, they are just evil. Their relentless attacks on Obama are now completely divorced from any credibility and are shameless, hypocritical efforts to destroy our President without any regard to what it does to our country. When Democrats criticized Bush, they were said to be unpatriotic. Republicans, like Dick Cheney, now show no qualms about aggressively politicizing every move Obama makes. It is truly sickening.
Think Progress has a good account of Cheney’s latest outrage. As does Eugene Robinson in today’s Washington Post.
Sadly, the American public doesn’t punish this kind of behavior. It think the only think that we save our country in the next few years is for the voters to smack the Republicans for the third time in a row. Right now, they feel politically vindicated because they have succeeded tainting the healthcare reform legislation by making the process of its enactment as ugly as possible. Eventually, the bill will pass and we will move on to the slow process of implementation. It is unclear what it’s short term political impact will be. They key in November will be the economy. If the economy improves and Obama’s policies are vindicated, they are dead meat. And we might see a new Republican party that believes it has some responsibility to govern. If unemployment remains high and they make political gains, the trench warfare will continue to the detriment of the country. Our steady decline will continue.
God help us.
Healthcare Reform
Lots of commentary on healthcare reform today. Suffice it to say that opinion is mixed on Obama’s accomplishment in this area. Looking back, I predict this legislation will be considered a stunning achievement. Yes, it is much less that most liberals want. It’s less than Obama wants. But it is what it is. And what it is is the most significant piece of social welfare legislation since Medicare.
Obama suffers from the size of his original ambition. As we begin to focus on what’s in this bill, you realize that, two years ago, anyone who would have predicted legislation of this kind be enacted into law would have been considered delusional. The Patient Bill of Rights, 30 million more people covered by health insurance, free preventive care, thousands of new community health center, etc., etc. While the left criticizes Obama as to timid, as his change incremental, he’s changing America.
For a more articulate account of Obama’s brilliant first year, check out Jacob Weisberg’s piece in Slate Magazine. It declares Obama’s first year on par with FDR and LBJ. I think he’s right.
Quote of the Day
Still, I have to say that Obama’s response on the Internet did take the obsequiousness a step too far. No wanting to say that he opposes the Chinese government’s censorship of web sites because that would, in effect, accuse them of same, he said:
“I’m a big supporter of non-censorship.”
C’mon Barack. Though I strongly support engagement with China, even I think that was weak.
Don’t Have to be Crazy to be Wrong
Mr. Collier waited until the end of the 3 hour meeting to pose a comment to the Congressman urging him to oppose the legislation because it would lead to “rationing” and would, essentially, destroy our way of life. The story depicts Mr. Collier as a sincere and honest man with genuine concerns about the reform proposals before Congress. Presumably, this was an effort to balance against the loonies and to show there are real people with real concerns. It, thereby, increases the credibility of the opponents.
However, the story goes on to say that it was Mr. Collier’s personal experience with the healthcare system that moved him to attend the town meeting. His wife contracted breast cancer and was treated apparently successfully. But here’s her story:
When Ms. Collier’s breast cancer was diagnosed three years ago, Mr. Collier’s employer-provided insurance paid for her office visits, a biopsy and three surgeries. But the insurer covered only a small fraction of her radiation treatments, which it considered experimental, leaving the Colliers with a $63,000 bill. To their great relief, the charge was later written off by Emory Healthcare, whose doctors had recommended the regimen.
So, the insurance company rationed her care. It denied coverage for life saving treatment. Yet this is the system that Mr. Collier is seeking to preserve. Why? How could he be so misguided?
Here’s how:
The Colliers are committed conservatives who have voted Republican in presidential elections since 1980. They receive much of their information from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh’s radio program and Matt Drudge’s Web site.
That’s the battle Obama faces. Ignorance, pure and simple, fomented by interests who’s real agenda is to “break” this president.
Makes me sad.
I had a dream last night
In any event, I dreamed that there was a presidential election and George Bush beat Barack Obama. Thinking of the Obama administration, I wailed “It was too short!” In the dream, I wept bitterly and even woke myself up.
What a relief to realize it was only a dream.
Inauguration
I went down to my office today to pre-position my minivan for our getaway from the Presidential Swearing In ceremony. After dropping off the car, I walked over to the White House, which is only three blocks away. There were lots of people milling around and I could get surprisingly close to the reviewing stand for the parade. I checked my watch. It was 12:30 pm. Less than one day left in the catastrophic Bush Administration.
I have to say that this is the most consequential positive historical event in my lifetime. Words fail me. I find myself suddenly welling up at the strangest times. I ran into a colleague in front of the White House who was there with friends. She exulted, like everyone does, at how amazing it all is. When I began to talk, I choked up and had to cut the conversation short so as not to embarrass myself.
The picture is of the Corcoran Gallery where there is an exhibit entitled