Watching the video of his speech after the fact, and in his acknowledgements he said something that begs to be commented on. Linking “outstanding” with “Governor Chet Culver” is an oxymoron. I mean I understand that you have to acknowledge the Governor of the state that you are in (provided they are present), but to say “outstanding.” Has he seen this guys poll numbers? They are worse than his own.
Hopefully in 2011 he’ll be calling him the “outstanding former Governor of the State of Iowa.”
I’ll have to commend him on his shout out to UNI, he can join the screwed-up bracket club. I heard somebody said the person who picked their teams based on the color of the uniforms is the one who’ll win the bracket this year.
I digress.
President Obama talked about the letters of people he received those who shared at town hall meetings their stories, special interests groups, the armies of lobbyists, and the negative ads… he doesn’t mention the tea party protests and the fact the town hall meetings where largely negative. Not to mention the public opinion of the health care reform has been largely negative since it was introduced (and a poll out today shows 55% want it repealed), his approval rating has seen little gain after its passage, and I’m not even sure that Speaker Pelosi’s and Senate Majority Leader Reid’s combined doesn’t even reach 20% .
Not that I would expect him to. He pointed to victory and he’d better relish it now because only the most deluded partisan won’t acknowledge that President Obama and Congress will pay dearly in November.
Then in a bipartisan, let’s all come together fashion, he mocked Republicans saying that leaders have been calling this “Armageddon.” First off, one leader is not leaders. Second, most have been going after the substance of this bill. Thirdly, like or hate President Bush I do not recall him giving a partisan speech like this and mocking Democrats in his official role (not counting his reelection campaign, where you would expect partisan speeches).
I don’t think this bill means the end of the world rather a hit to our economy. I also think it means:
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Increased taxes on capital gains and dividends and a new Medicare tax on those who create jobs.
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Increase in the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office has to score what it is given and it was given budget gimmicks. Taxes start immediately, most benefits not until 2014. How about 20 years from now?
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The reconciliation bill includes a total take over of the student loan industry, what the heck is with that?
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The fact that there is little that actually addresses health care costs, tort reform is nonexistent in this bill.
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It is filled with deals made in order to secure votes.
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There is no Stupak language in the bill or even in the executive order being trumpeted (no to mention an executive order doesn’t carry the force of law).
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It has an individual mandate that likely will be found unconstitutional.
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It will cost some businesses millions.
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We’ll be paying more for OTC meds.
Among other problems and of course, unintended consequences.
He also mentioned the health insurance exchange:
Once this reform is implemented, health insurance exchanges will be created, a competitive marketplace where uninsured people and small businesses will finally be able to purchase affordable, quality insurance. That will happen in the next few years. And when this exchange is up and running, millions of people will get tax breaks to help them afford coverage – credits that add up to the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history.
Again it won’t start until 2014. No one expected it overnight, but I thought this was urgent? Why wait? It looks like a good idea until you remember who is running it. How about allowing people to purchase health insurance across state lines? Allow individuals and small companies to band together for purchasing power? Then let a the private sector run something like this. We’ve already seen such things for auto insurance and life insurance. Why not health insurance? But no instead the Government that brought you cash for clunkers will make you wait four years for something that they are likely to mismanage.
Feeling the need to go after Republicans, he said, “This is the reform that some folks in Washington are still hollering about. And now that it’s passed, they’re already promising to repeal it. They’re actually going to run on a platform of repeal in November. Well I say go for it.”
Ok, keep in mind a new CBS poll shows that 61% want the Republicans to continue to challenge the health care bill. An interesting note is that 44% of Democrats wanted Republicans to continue to challenge it and 66% of Independents. Then a poll out today shows 55% want it repealed.
Perhaps he should rethink that statement.
Originally posted at The Des Moines Register’s From The Right Blog