But... but... teleprompter!

In Strongsville right now - what a day!

In the United States of 2010, doing the right and humane thing to protect the most vulnerable, actions that are not even questioned in other modern societies, take "courage".

This man is a class act. I am so glad he is our president.

I have also heard Speaker Pelosi say that the vote for healthcare reform will take courage from the members of the Democratic caucus. I agree. But the benefits of that courage are enormous. The mood of the country will change and the Republicans will be left in the dust.

I certainly hope the Republicans will run on a platform of repealing the healthcare reform bill. There could not be a clearer distinction between the parties. The Democrats trying to be the adults and do what is right for the American people. And the Republicans acting like juveniles with no seriousness of purpose.

As President Obama said a few months ago, it is time for citizenship not partisanship.

Doing the Right Thing often takes courage. It shouldn't.

what i find striking about the two clips you've posted today is the reminder of what a different person, a different speaker, Obama is in these less formal, out-of-the-beltway settings.

the Admin has to find a way to get him out in the states much more often. this is the guy who got elected. he doesn't show up often when he's in D.C.

It hasn't been easy for them and I only hope it can last, but I think the Democrats are finally finding their voice.

This man is a class act. I am so glad he is our president.

When he's speaking in support of important issues, I am too.

When he's in DC compromising our majority away, not so much.

He is preferable to the alternative, though.

Wow! Nothing cool or "no-drama" about that one. The stemwinder we've been dying for.

Big Media television will show a 10-second clip, followed by some Mitch McConnell fabrication of equal or greater length. That's what journalism in this country has come to. So we have to substitute for them. Pass it around to everyone you know.

Courage is good. Unless you are courageously advocating the proposals that Obama courageously made and then courageously abandoned, like a public option or Medicare expansion. Then courage is bad.

That guy's totally gonna beat McCain.

Don't need courage, just common sense.

Vermonter wins the thread

S.A. - Could you give it a rest for Christ's sake.

Just so we're clear: Doing the right thing means taking a vote in accordance with the dictates of the U.S. Constitution, and not using shady parliamentary tricks to somehow muscle a bill through Congress and to the president's desk -- right?

Dems need to either jump on a live grenade a become heroes or fall on their swords as utter cowards.

An inspirational passage from a great president, Theodore Roosevelt:

""The credit belongs to those people who are actually in the arena…who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions
to a worthy cause, who at best, know the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst,
fail while daring greatly…so
that their place shall never be with those
cold and timid souls who know
neither victory nor defeat."

Please list examples of where Obama has demonstrated "courage" in the process of arriving at the current Senate bill.

Maybe when he sat back and let Max Baucus and Joe Lieberman and a bunch of insurance corporation lobbyists write the bill?

Maybe when he threw the public option and Medicare expansion under the bus?

Maybe when he proudly proclaimed that his own proposal was based on 17-year-old Republican policy proposals?

I guess it does take a certain amount of courage to play bait-and-switch on the people who worked to get you elected and hope that they will just go along with it.

JB is an obedient purveyor of the latest Republican talking point. He doesn't realize the Constitution says nothing about requiring that the minority have power to keep the Senate from even taking a vote of its members; or that those "shady parliamentary tricks" have been used by Republicans twice as often as Democrats; or that Republican claims that their use of the reconciliation majority vote that cannot be filibustered has been "different" are absurd.

I'm sure he would disagree because he heard so on fair and balanced Fox News.

It's pure frivolity.

Steve, how do you watch the speeches (where, exactly)? and how do you get the prepared text?

I've had a heck of a time trying to find where I can watch his speeches on the web.

I positively want the public option to be voted up or down on a bill of its own, without the current House watered-down version that would be part of this bill. That way, we can build the popularity of a choice a majority already say they want, and if we succeed in that we may be able to make it a stronger public option. That will put progressives back in the driver's seat of the party, force Democratic politicians to take a stand and declare whether they are real Democrats or not, and force Republicans in the corner of protecting insurance company profits and CEO salaries against what's best for the American people.

With the public option standing alone in its own bill unencumbered by the baggage and complexity of the main bill, politicians of either party will be at risk for their own careers if they fail to back it enthusiastically.

We will need courage when we watch our healthcare system crumble over time due to this government takeover calling itself "reform". You people want your healthcare to be run like medicare, medicaid, social security, the post office, public schools and the dmv? They are BROKE. We will rationing care by the time my children are grown. Fools, all of you. Only it will be too late at that point. yeah, lets hurry and pass this mess because Obama-idiot's presidency rests on it - how noble.

I REALLY hope the Republicans spend the rest of the year trying to convince Americans that "majority rules" is a "shading parliamentarian trick"

Thanks for the note on "we need courage"; he is so compelling when he lets the spirit of the moment move him.

Point taken on Obama's courage. I never equated bipartisanship with "the change we can believe in". I DID equate "disagreeing without being disagreeable" with it however. Where Obama has come up short over the past 14 months is showing a willingness to disagree. He needs to be willing to put some daylight between his positions and those of the Republicans in the House and Senate.

My HOPE is that he learns the lessons of this first year. Success follows boldness, waiting loses momentum, differences create strength, doing what is right and courageous is good politics even when the polls say otherwise. AND, especially, he is at his best as a populist.

To Betsy, you can usually find speeches on cspan.org or the huffintonpost or Kos or talkingpointsmemo. Sometimes they have the prepared remarks, other times I just google for them.

I'd think that if there were some universe in which Bush was making this speech, he'd say something to the effect of: "A hee hee, yeah, hee, courage. I like that. Courage. Hee hee. Can't get fooled again."

Obama can speak, there was never any doubt of that. Some of us just want to see more of it, espousing clear progressive values in calling out liars.

Yeah, sure...just like it took "courage" for Bush to invade Iraq. This has nothing to do with courage. This is all about a foolish President having painted himself into a no-win corner and then going all-in with a terrific gamble. Doesn't matter though; pass the bill or not, the Dems are going to get waxed in November. The only losers will be the top 70% of income earners who are going to see their taxes jacked through the roof (eventually) and a lowering of the quantity/quality of their health care. And all to insure the 30M citizens who contribute the least to society.

This is great.
Makes me wanna stand up and cheer on substance.

And, it has the nifty benefit of putting Dems, when they win, on the side of the Courageous.
Not a bad political move.

Posted by: terraformer on March 15, 2010 at 5:24

I'd think that if there were some universe in which Bush was making this speech, he'd say something to the effect of: "A hee hee, yeah, hee, courage. I like that. Courage. Hee hee. Can't get fooled again."

======================================

Ahhh, there 'tis. I was wondering how long it would be before someone was compelled to trot out the "boogeyBush". Just can't get past it can you? God, your life would be empty without Bush.

So the next time a tough vote comes along, the President can recall how he called on the courage of the Congress the last time and they got it done for Americans, and now he needs them to summon their courage once again...

That's good.

Courage? I like that!

I should have used that myself. Hmmmmmm.

"God, your life would be empty without Bush."

You sound like a bad movie villain.

Doesn't matter what he's saying, he's wearing a purple tie and we all know what that means.

as someone who knows, like all true americans, that w was the bestest, smartest, codpieceist, coolest ex-alcoholic-you-wanted-to-have-a-beer-with president ever, i, too, weep when meanies like terraformer take cheap shots at this fine man.

I get the impression that many posters here don't understand President Obama's perception of the separation of powers.
From my observations of the last year, Mr. Obama is proceeding under the presumption that the President is limited to making suggestions on what to include in legislation. The President can't propose legislation, nor can he demand legislation include some particular item; the act of legislating is the domain of the House and Senate.
If the leadership of those bodies request Presidential advice, he can give it. If the leadership omits something that the President thinks should be included, he can ask why it was omitted. He can even ask for it to be re-instated. But the President can't demand it. If the resulting legislation is too far from what he feels is needed, he has the veto.
What we have here, folks, is a pre-Imperial President. Hopefully, we can keep him (and it); if only to piss off Dick Cheney, may his shit-filled soul rot in Hell! That last IS required, isn't it?

Oh and Ann @ 5:07 PM? Medicare isn't broke. Medicaid suffers from a lack of STATE funding. Social Security has enough of money/bonds for the next two decades easily and raising the earnings cap will simply ensure that. The Post Office is non-government funded, has been for twenty years or so. Public schools suffer from not enough money evenly spread around and right-wing fears that their children may actually learn something. Most DMVs are run efficiently, but too often are also underfunded by their respective STATES.
See a pattern here? I didn't think so...

We will rationing care by the time my children are grown. -- Ann, @17:07

Honey? Wake up, sweetie. It's already rationed. Has been, for years.

I was reminded of it just recently, when one of the volunteers at "my" Free Clinic described, in glowing terms, how her husband got life-saving treatment for his prostate cancer at a VA (sort-a "nationalised healthcare", ya know?) hospital. No fuss, no muss, no questions asked and speedy, too. A truly happy story.

And then there's one of our paid staff, whose husband's prostate cancer was diagnosed at about the same time. Unfortunately, the poor SOB is on a private insurance plan. The insurer refused to provide similar treatment. Because, you know, this guy is old (same age, actually), so it's not worth the effort and money. And he's fat, too, and borderline diabetic -- a preexisting (and disqualifying) condition. He's living out his last days at a hospice. That, after his wife has been working two jobs to keep up the premiums, because she thought it would protect them.

So eff you and your talk about the *future* care rationing. It's being done now and it's being done by your beloved private insurers, who are allowed to rampage through our lives, unchecked.

well, now we really have come full (fool) circle, haven't we ? ? ?
hee hee hee
*now* 'courage' is defined as defending another korporate giveaway and marching in lockstep with big daddy...
ho ho ho
and 'cowardice' is reserved for those who stick to their principles when the sellouts have abandoned theirs...
(nothing worse than a recalcitrant sumbitch who sticks to their principles, makes the sellouts look that much worse...)
ha ha ha
kucinich stands up for ALL OF US, and he is dismissed as a malcontent... geezus, he is one of the literal handful of kongresskritters who are worth a tinkers dam, and you fucking ingrates pile on when your NEW 'good' master snaps your leash...
ak ak ak
what pussies, i'm a liberal and i hate dem'rats *MORE* than rethugs, because AT LEAST the rethugs are honest about their immorality...
it is despicable behavior whether by reichwing fucktards, or appeasing libtards...
oh, and to all the hopey-changey droids: how did that 'fixing' of the patriot act work out ? ? ?
oh, and that rendition shit, we've stopped that, richtig ? ? ? ...torture too, right ? ? ?
oh, and warrantless wiretapping -oopsy daisy- no such thing anymore, is there... all nice and legal like... um, but obama done did fixed that too, richtig ? ? ?
um, but we *are* going after all the lawbreaking during king george's reign, right ? ? ?
(or is he adopting virtually ALL the same anti constitutional shit ? ? ? )
oh, and how about how he had to stand up against The People who were clamoring for trillions of bailout money for our betters at gold sacks, and he didn't want to do it, but our mass demonstrations on behalf of wall street convinced him to 'do the right thing'...
oh, wait...
tell me ONE RIGHT (as in 'correct') thing the obama admin and kongresskritters have done, have fixed, have rescinded ? ? ?
*THEN* tell me how they are going to 'fix' the healthcare boondoggle in post production...
*snort*
i sneer at ineffectual dem'rats and faux pwogs...
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof

@art guerilla: Steve addressed yesterday the history of post-passage improvements to social security (which you and Kucinich would not have supported because the original bill did not do enough), improvements to Medicare (which you and Kucinich would not have supported because the original bill did not do enough), improvements to the Civil Rights Act (which you and Kucinich would not have supported because the original bill did not do enough). You're wrong on that score. Sometimes courage is in getting the win and continuing to fight instead of piling loss upon loss from the safety of your bunker of perfect rectitude.

DID HE -and other dem'rats- OR DID HE NOT 'pledge' they would fix the patriot act ? ? ?
DID THEY ? ? ?
thanks for the hopey-changey historical factoids, but that does NOT mean they will change this healthcare bailout to our benefit...
I DON'T BELIEVE THEM ! ! !
THEY CHOSE to abandon any/all 'good things' that *MIGHT* have been in this bill if saint obama had FOUGHT FOR IT...
HE DID/THEY DID NOT...
he has fought for NOTHING BUT APPEASEMENT and bailouts to the korporate fat cats...
TRUE OR FALSE ? ? ?
...and we're supposed to 'trust them' on THIS ? ? ?
sorry, a mandate without a public option to counterbalance is BULLSHIT... (IF NOT unconstitutional... i know, i know, that's quaint)

again, did they or did they not 'fix' the patriot act, after 'pledging' for many years by many dem'rats that they would do so ? ? ?
DID THEY ? ? ?
NO, they DEFEND IT...
okay, let's sum up:
pledged to 'fix' patriot act (not to mention any number of a dozen similar laws/policies)
didn't do it, DIDN'T EVEN TRY
*NOW*, they are 'pledging' to 'fix' healthcare non-reform at *some* point...
(again, WHY is it they can't 'fix it' NOW, when they have the votes, but instead, they are going to 'fix it' later, WHEN THEY WILL HAVE LESS VOTES ? ? ? HOW the fuck is that going to work ? ? ? )
i do not trust them and THAT is the rational response to their consistent pattern of behavior...
a mandate without the competition is a fucking bailout for the insurance industry; kucinich -and 90% of us- IS FUCKING RIGHT: the health insurance industry is THE problem, not the solution...
art guerrilla
aka ann archy
eof

Art Guerrilla: you call THAT a "rational response? You type like a conspiracy theorist shut-in.

Yeah, you sure are right. And so is President Obama when he calls for C O U R A G E.

It's the only thing the House Representatives and Senate would need:

the C O U R A G E TO SAY NO TO HIM & HIS BILLS!

To quote him,
"IF NOT NOW, WHEN? IF NOT US, WHO?"

You know, these words were exactly the kind of rhetoric that the Red leaning student leaders in a state university used to rally their crowd of "street parliamentarians" before they march for their causes. Just ask the White House executive chef, Ms. Comerford.

One more thing - are there not any other legal options the people, their elected officials and the court can take to stop the president from plunging America into deeper debt and division?

He has done enough damage in his relentless chase for a Pyrrhic victory to ensure his place in the history books at the great expense of the country and the people and should be stopped.

It is time people stood up to him and say, "Enough."

You know, these words were exactly the kind of rhetoric that the Red leaning student leaders in a state university used to rally their crowd of "street parliamentarians" before they march for their causes.

You uneducated tool.

Just ask the White House executive chef, Ms. Comerford.

The university system of the Philippines is now suspect to the American right? And the White House chef influences policy? Is this some feverish new wingnut talking point that I missed?

Obama has the wrong character from the "Wizard of Oz" there. Dems - who are, as we speak, brazenly trying to figure out how to pass HCR without actually having to vote to do it - don't need courage. They need a brain, and from what I can tell, there isn't a good one amongst their leadership combined.

(((borrowing from Harry Truman here)))

If the Democrats strong-arm this thing through, they will suffer a rain of ruin the like of which has never before been seen in American politics.

A m-a-j-o-r-i-t-y of Americans DO NOT want this bill passed.

That's all you need to know.

(((borrowing from Harry S. Truman here)))

If the Dems strong-arm this thing through, they will suffer a rain of ruin the like of which has never before been seen in American politics.

A m-a-j-o-r-i-t-y of Americans DO NOT want this bill passed.

That's all you need to know.

If you believe this was not staged, you are a fool. Having people in the audience to shout out, applaud, cheer, etc. is the oldest speech writer trick in the book.

Courage is one thing; hubris is another. I am increasingly concerned we are being led by another fundamentally dishonest, fundamentally fraudulent, deeply narcissistic man, whose hubris is leading us to a disaster. So much of what Democrats are saying sounds just like what the Bushies said when they promised us our troops would be welcomed in Iraq as liberators. Don't tell me they lied -- they believed it just like we believe this plan will work. If it fails -- in any way -- we (progressives) will find ourselves in the wilderness for a long, long time.

In other words, this black guy is really uppity.