Evidently Obama's going to have the economy and joblessness situation cleaned up by the end of February, because Kathy Sebelius says that after the half-day Obamacare Extravaganzo on February 25, Barack Obama is going to "accelerate" health care reform:
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Monday that President Obama is willing to "add various elements" to health care legislation suggested by Republican lawmakers during an upcoming bipartisan meeting on the topic. But he won't change the entire plan and he is "absolutely not" hitting the reset button on the legislative process, the former Kansas governor insisted.
In a brief interview with the Huffington Post following a speech to an audience of health care professionals, Sebelius said that the president views the bipartisan meeting as a needed pivot to move reform forward. Asked if he will expedite the legislative process following his various sit-downs with congressional Republicans, she replied:
"I certainly think so. I think he sees this as a step to actually accelerating the process forward. He wants to move forward. He wants a bill at his desk and he sees this as kind of closing the loop and let's go."
One can only wonder what further "acceleration" might entail. More half-day workshops with uncooperative Republicans? How about a new round of townhall meetings with crazed teabaggers? Another interview with Katie Couric? Hand puppets?
Good to see Obama willing to take this shit into a second year though. Not doubt the Democrats gearing up for hard re-election fights in November are thanking him for this bit of strategic brilliance as we speak.
And what about last week? Remember it as The Week of the Hard Pivot Towards Matters Financial, Economic and Budgetary? Well, that appears to be over and done with... Another passing fancy. A mood, if you like. Of which Barack seems to possess in numbers rarely seen outside of Andrew Sullivan's blog.
Oh well, it's Monday. Something new is bound to turn up by Thursday at the latest.
Foecuss/ fauxcause problem.
Posted by: wombat | February 08, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Here's the text of the Republican in-your-face response to Obama's invitation.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NjJjNjQwODhjMzI1ODEwMTA4N2Q2NTU3NmIxMGYyMTM
Enjoyable reading.
Posted by: Person of Choler | February 09, 2010 at 07:52 AM
If you want to shitcan the current bill that's fine by me. Cantor is right the American people don't like it, they overwhelmingly want a plan with a strong public option.
Oh and take the filibuster off the table and there's no need for reconciliation.
Posted by: Lefty | February 09, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Right. Take the filibuster off the table now that it inconvenient.
Resurrect the strong public option too. That will work.
lol
Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth | February 09, 2010 at 09:09 AM
So let me get this straight: Republicans should help Obama pass health care reform with a strong public option because Democrats won't pass health care reform with a strong public option.
I don't know what you're smoking, and I don't approve of it, but I want some.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | February 09, 2010 at 09:42 AM
" they overwhelmingly want a plan with a strong public option."
Which explains why both House and Senate bills were protested so strongly by...(wait for it!)...a huge number of people who thought those bills contained a strong public option.
You're denser than plutonium.
Posted by: Randy Rager | February 09, 2010 at 06:04 PM
Wow, Lefty, worst case of political dyslexia I've ever heard of!
Posted by: Uncle Fester | February 09, 2010 at 08:25 PM