Healthcare Summit Kabuki

I'm just following some Twitter tracking of this thing. Here's a link to RNC Research Live Response To Health Care Summit via LorieByrd.

Geraghty comments on Pelosi's idiotic claim that the bill will create 4 million jobs (no mention of jobs saved, likely for a very good reason). Also several comments about Pelosi's inane argument that the American people don't have time for us to restart on health care, even though we have years for the thing to actually be implemented.

Nice that others are actually watching this crap so we don't have to.

Full Speed Ahead! [Slublog] - Politico outlines what the Democrats are planning to do after the summit:

After a brief period of consultation following the White House health-reform summit, Congressional Democrats plan to begin making the case next week for a massive, Democrats-only health-care, party strategists told POLITICO.

A Democratic official said the six-hour summit was expected to “give a face to gridlock, in the form of House and Senate Republicans.”

Democrats plan to begin rhetorical, and perhaps legislative, steps toward the Democrats-only, or reconciliation, process early next week, the strategists said.

Obama just pledged this morning that this will not be political theater. Could this be the fastest Obama Expiration Date™ ever?

DrewM: One of the first conflicts was between Obama and Lamar Alexander. Lamar said the bills would raise premiums, Obama said kind of because people would "choose" to buy better and more expensive policies.

Alexander is right and Obama is wrong. Premiums would go up because people would be forced to buy, not given the choice to buy, more expensive plans.

This is a key point...does this plan raise or lower cost for people who have insurance now. Obama is wrong and/or lying.

This thing is a joke and not a funny one.

UPDATE from Gabe [DiT]: He's identified Obama's ground rules for discussion.

1. Democrats get more time because "I'm the President."

2. Republicans may not criticise my bill. They can only talk about things on which we agree.

3. Republicans may not use the word "Washington" because it tips the scales.

posted by Dave In Texas at 10:59 AM

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