Since “I will try to be brief” was the catch phrase of the day… I will try to be brief. For those of you that want to hear what I have to say about specific portions of today’s little gathering, I’d suggest you take a look at this…. I commented live as I was watching it. From a more general perspective, here are a few observations I had about the event as well as a few things I learned from watching it….
1. Apparently Republicans HAVE offered plans, proposals, and ideas to the Dems. Pelosi, Biden, and Obama admitted that much today. Somewhat peculiar considering all that we have heard from them was that Republicans had nothing to offer.
2. The President is a pompous ass. He thinks he is the smartest, most omniscient man on the face of the Earth, and he alone has the answers to the health care dilemma.
3. Nancy Pelosi was the only Democrat – save for President Obama – who failed to stay on message with the act that was this day. She just couldn’t end the day without showing her mean face – which thanks to plastic surgery is only slightly distinguishable from her “normal” face.
4. Representative John Dingall makes Robert Byrd look young and Ted Kennedy look full of life…
5. This President – in a day – brought the Presidency down in stature about 50 notches. This little sideshow was degrading to the office in every way imaginable. If I wanted a parliamentary system, I’d move to a country that liked the other futbol. For those of you who will call that humility and call this unprecedented… watch the summit. He was anything but humble. He as imperial as Queen Elizabeth and as defiant as Henry VIII.
6. Lamar Alexander and Marsha Blackburn redeemed themselves in my book. Lamar because he let me know he was alive and Marsha because she broke the stalemate in there and threw a few haymakers. She may not be the brightest bulb in the bunch but she may have the biggest marbles… That should make most Tennesseans feel better about that whole Al Gore thing.
7. Paul Ryan is the real deal on health care. He’s a bit of a geek and when you get him off this topic – he withers a bit – but the dude was on point today. Hands down the biggest player in the room. The Dems clearly came in with a plan to shut him up by talking over him in his first statements. He may have saved the day with his second go round.
8. Mitch McConnell was there so I’m told. I saw a few pictures to prove it.
9. John McCain is a bitter little dude. He is very much stuck in a perpetual Election 2008 mentality. And does he really think that “We” (as in McCain and Obama) made joint promises to the American people? Spare me the “We” made the promise to “change Washington” crap. I thought it was you and Palin on the ticket. I was actually happy when the arrogant one reminded you that you lost the election.
10. Tom Coburn knows too much about this topic not to have consulted a better hair dresser before his appearance today. Dude’s feathered bangs and frosted tips made it next to impossible to take him serious even when he was one of the most knowledgeable men in the room.
11. John Boehner may not be the most skilled politician to ever walk Capitol Hill but he can lay down the “Hammer” with the best of them. Maybe the nickname Hammer needs to be revisited. I think he may have to lose the tanning bed though before I’m willing to call him that because the excessive UV rays already have me thinking he’s the next Dancing with the Stars sensation.
12. Charlie Rengel is funny. Funny looking, funny sounding, and I’d venture to guess – funny smelling. Oh and he’s in a heap of trouble… busted for ethics violations… No wonder President Obama was reluctant to let him talk…
13. Eric Cantor is kind of a nerd. That whole bringing the entire bill there thing is a bit played out. When the camera caught him getting up and leaving the room I knew he was up to something. He’s half the age of the rest of those old bastards. No way he was taking the first restroom break.
`14. Max Baucus has a speech impediment.
15. Mitch McConnell likes to keep time. More than he likes to talk… Maybe he should apply for that speed reading judge position that just opened up at the Capitol Library…
16. A few of the Representatives I’d never heard of reminded me why I’ve never heard of them.
17. Chuck Schumer makes me throw things when he talks… Why does he sound like the shady lawyer from every episode of the crappy Law and Order.
18. If Charles Boustany was not a doctor, we would have never heard his name EVER again after last year’s rebuttal. I bet he’s hoping this thing drags out for a few more years.
19. Kathleen Sebelius is a good dresser – AND she used to be a governor…..
20. Dick Durbin thinks the current health care system engages in discrimination… Tom Harkin calls it segregation….
21. Representative Louise Slaughter is “succinct and pretty ‘timely‘” – hopefully like her career
22. Joe Biden drinks too much. He rambles a lot. Even the President fiddles while he talks.
23. Jay Rockefeller’s son doesn’t /didn’t have health insurance.
24. President Obama is the only one allowed to use “talking points.”
25. The President, ALL the senators, and ALL the congressmen in attendance know real people; they write them letters frequently; and they have all heard sad stories that prove their plan for health care is the right one and NONE of them have anyone in their respective, districts, states, or voting base that disagree with them.
26. Henry Waxman likes to scare old people.
27. Peter Roskam knew Obama way back when…
28. Chuck Grassley thinks the CBO is God “around here”
29. Everyone loves Tom Coburn’s idea about Secret shoppers – or secret patients as they call them outside of the retail / restaurant world – realllllll novel idea folks – brilliant. I don’t know how Abercrombie and Fitch beat you to that one.
And Last but not least……
30. John McCain makes me smile when he laughs…. for all the wrong reasons…
Just in case you don’t believe me (ass) here’s the video recap. Most of it is here in its entirety, but I have no doubt you will get tired/bored of it by Part Two…. If you’d rather hear a better explanation of the shitshow that was today… head on over to my boy Russ’s site and see how he handled a worthless fiasco like this one with a tennis ball and a baseball glove...
Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three
Part Four
Useless Thoughts on Useless Academic Roundtables (UPDATED: With Banjo!)…
Or square tables, as the case may be. Since today’s effort in futility featured so many pointless anecdotes disguised as and as cover for intelligent policy debate, I figure I’d ……
I’ve read it 5 times and I still can’t think of my favorite moment.
“Kathleen Sebelius is a good dresser – AND she used to be a governor…..”
Is still in the lead…although do I detects an underlying jab there?
Methinks I do Sir…methinks I do.
Great work T.
Nothing is ever as it seems in this messed up mind of mine. But yes certain things just bug the hell outa me
This is the funniest thing I have read in days. I was sent a link to this from Facebook. I cant wait to tell my friends. You are so mean and so funny. “Max Baucus has a speech impediment” – and to Russ’s point – the line about Sebelius as a governor had me laughing so loud my husband actually noticed what I was doing tonight. They may have mentioned that at least 4 or 5 times. I will have to go back to see what she is wearing. I loved this and will email it to my whole address book.
Thank you and I am happy your husband noticed you tonight.
This was funny. Ive been out all night but I am so glad I came here first when I got home. If I got half of what I know have to be jokes I would love you u more. Can you explain your jokes until I am sober in the morning?
I don’t know that I will explain them – mostly bc that’s never all that fun for either side, but also bc I have a feeling you won’t be up for a while let alone back here. But… if you have something specific you can’t figure out or want to ask definitely let me know.
Okay, you had best lay off Senator Coburn. He is one of my Senators.
Just kidding. (Did I mention that our oldest daughter is going to his clinic in Muskogee to have her baby, our first grandchild? She isn’t seeing him, but one of his fellow doctors.)
You are right, he is very knowledgeable about health and fiscal issues and he makes a lot of sense in what he says. He needs to team up with Paul Ryan and take this entire debate head on.
Ha. Well I was fully prepared to hammer one of my own in Alexander so I don’t feel that bad about a passing joke about Coburn. That said, I think Coburn having an opportunity to be able to show the nation what he knows and what he has to offer was one of the only bright spots of yesterday – and yes, Id like to see him team with Ryan to bang out an iron clad Republican proposal – if there is still time for that.
Mega-congrats on the granddaughter. That is truly awesome – the baby part and the going to his clinic part. Its probably best that she isn’t seeing him however, as it appears he may be stuck in DC for quite a while on this one. Again.. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS LD.
[...] A Few Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Summit [...]
Late Friday Whip…
The latest episode of Boobs of Belvedere kept me so busy I didn’t have time to track the president’s Health Care “Summit.” (Washington Rebel’s counter-offensives here, and here.) Thankfully, many worthy bloggers did. At the top of the heap goes Ga…
Bush and his loyal Republicans to budge on any key legislation. Funny Jokes
LMAO. You should write in this voice more often. I like you better when you’re less PC. This was great.
I was really just rambling, but I do appreciate it.
I didn’t realize the summit was comedy until I came here. Thanks for a big smile, T. That was great.
No comedy around here. Just a few “observations.” 7 hours of that nonsense and I deserved to make a few.
From what I have seen. It does seem that the GOP won the day. Obama was a condescending fool, and I think many leftists and definitely moderates saw that.
[...] rest is here: A Few Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Summit | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED tags: clinic, congressmen, granddaughter, president, president-obama, real-people, [...]
[...] A Few Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Summit [...]
[...] have spent two years seeing one document after another waved at them from a podium – most waved in defiance by this same group of individuals? Sure, this may be 20 pages rather than 2000, but its more of the same convoluted arrogance just [...]