Republican Response to the Presidential Address?

[Anonymous]

Who is this joker? Charles Bustany?

Clearly, the Republicans are not willing to put up a leader to speak to America. I guess they don't have a credible plan any leader is willing to personally stand behind.

Just in case there is a plan somewhere, I went to the web site he mentioned. It is practically devoid of content - just a few pages of platitudes. I was glad to see that some republicans managed to staple together a half inch of paper to wave at the President, though. That gives me hope that there is a plan out there (ha!)

[Anonymous]

I was trying to figure out how they had a response ready so quickly. Did they even listen to what the President had to say? Or did they have something prepared regardless of what was said?

[Anonymous]

It sounded like a precanned speech!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was trying to figure out how they had a response ready so quickly. Did they even listen to what the President had to say? Or did they have something prepared regardless of what was said?

I don't fault them for that. This is how presidential addresses and responses are always done. But this time they wouldn't even put up Kenneth the Page.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Dem and actually liked him. He didn't change my views but it was nice to not to have to listen to a screeching idiot spewing lies like Palin, the weird Jingle who speaks as if he is addressing a kindergarten class, or the ever brilliant old George Bush and always angry Cheney. I was beginning to think George Will was the only sane Republican left.

[Anonymous]

I was disappointed that he had nothing of real content to say. I think healt reform is URGENTLY needed and most reasonable people can agree that some big changes are needed. I also would like to see it be bipartisan but I think Republicans are mostly defending the status quo w/ just minoring tinkering and not offering any new ideas of their own.

[Anonymous]

Health reform is not urgently needed. 85% of this country has healthcare and most of the people who don't have it choose not to have it. What does need to be reformed is dropping someone from a plan because they are sick--I haven't personally seen this but if this is possible..it shouldn't be. I think preexisting conditions should also be worked on but much in the way like car insurance ex. you can't find out you have cancer and then want to sign up for insurance that makes no sense but if you are insured you should be able to switch plans without penalty due to a prexisting condition. That is reform I am interested in and reform that the Republican party has discussed. I am not interested in any form of government plan. Think of this way. The government breaks up businesses that are too big because it throws out competition. Why would it be fair competition to have the government which is larger than any business and oh by the way doesn't have to make a profit to be in the insurance game. This will hurt all taxpaying Americans who have paid for their insurance year in and out. The only people who will benefit are the losers who refuse to pull their own weight-those people should be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health reform is not urgently needed. 85% of this country has healthcare and most of the people who don't have it choose not to have it.

Up to 42% of people under 65 are either uninsured or underinsured. 2/3 of those who are uninsured are that way because they can't afford it. Many people in this country don't have the means to access adequate health care and often go without.

[Anonymous]

Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

Actually, that "joker" attempted to purchase a British "Lordship Title" from scam artists and sued a construction company for "mental anguish" over a pool resurfacing job. He was also sued for malpractice by eight patients including a woman who had a leg amputated as a result of a botched heart operation.

http://crooksandliars.com/node/31116/print

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health reform is not urgently needed. 85% of this country has healthcare and most of the people who don't have it choose not to have it. What does need to be reformed is dropping someone from a plan because they are sick--I haven't personally seen this but if this is possible..it shouldn't be. I think preexisting conditions should also be worked on but much in the way like car insurance ex. you can't find out you have cancer and then want to sign up for insurance that makes no sense but if you are insured you should be able to switch plans without penalty due to a prexisting condition. That is reform I am interested in and reform that the Republican party has discussed. I am not interested in any form of government plan. Think of this way. The government breaks up businesses that are too big because it throws out competition. Why would it be fair competition to have the government which is larger than any business and oh by the way doesn't have to make a profit to be in the insurance game. This will hurt all taxpaying Americans who have paid for their insurance year in and out. The only people who will benefit are the losers who refuse to pull their own weight-those people should be thrilled.

Totally agree with the items bolded above. Also, if there is 600B in waste and inefficiency, what are we waiting for? You don't need legislation to become more efficient, crack down on fraud, etc. I have not faith that the govt can correct waste and inefficiency, but I would sure like to see them try. If they can get that right, then lets talk about expanding coverage to the truly needy.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

Actually, that "joker" attempted to purchase a British "Lordship Title" from scam artists and sued a construction company for "mental anguish" over a pool resurfacing job. He was also sued for malpractice by eight patients including a woman who had a leg amputated as a result of a botched heart operation.

http://crooksandliars.com/node/31116/print

If you cannot attack the message, shoot the messenger?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

Actually, that "joker" attempted to purchase a British "Lordship Title" from scam artists and sued a construction company for "mental anguish" over a pool resurfacing job. He was also sued for malpractice by eight patients including a woman who had a leg amputated as a result of a botched heart operation.

http://crooksandliars.com/node/31116/print

If you cannot attack the message, shoot the messenger?

If you cannot deny the facts offer a platitude? I suppose it was okay for the previous poster to proclaim him a "respected heart surgeon" and take a jab at Obama, but wrong to offer another perspective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

Actually, that "joker" attempted to purchase a British "Lordship Title" from scam artists and sued a construction company for "mental anguish" over a pool resurfacing job. He was also sued for malpractice by eight patients including a woman who had a leg amputated as a result of a botched heart operation.

http://crooksandliars.com/node/31116/print

If you cannot attack the message, shoot the messenger?

If you cannot counter the facts, quote a well known idiom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummmmm, this "joker" is a well respected heart surgeon who became a Member of Congress, so I think he has a pretty good idea of what he is talking about from the medical profession and also on the legislation.

Being a heart surgeon is a lot harder than being a "community organizer" but what I guess what matters in this country is not that you know what you are talking about but if you can give a rousing speech full of "hope and change".

Actually, that "joker" attempted to purchase a British "Lordship Title" from scam artists and sued a construction company for "mental anguish" over a pool resurfacing job. He was also sued for malpractice by eight patients including a woman who had a leg amputated as a result of a botched heart operation.

http://crooksandliars.com/node/31116/print

If you cannot attack the message, shoot the messenger?

OP here. My point was exactly about the messenger. The Republican party refused to send in one of their leaders precisely because not one of those cowards wants to stick his or her neck out on the issue of health care. And they didn't even send out one of their 'future of the party' people like last time with Jindal. They just sent in a low ranking guy who is a doctor.

It's time for the Republicans to step up and contribute, and not a sham plan but a real one.