Originally posted by: Phokus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ery7RZ4tZ2Y
Alan Grayson posted:
Madame Speaker, I have words for Democrats and Republicans tonight.
Let's start with the Democrats
We as a party have spent the last six months, the greatest minds in our party, dwelling on the question, the unbelievably consuming question of how to get Olympia Snowe to vote on health care reform. I want to remind us all that Olympia Snowe was not elected President last year. Olympia Snowe has no veto power in the Senate. Olympia Snowe represents a state with one half of one percent of America's population.
What America wants is health care reform. America doesn't care if it gets 51 votes in the Senate or 60 votes in the Senate or 83 votes in the Senate, in fact America doesn't even care about that, it doesn't care about that at all. What America cares about is this; there are over 1 million Americans who go broke every single year trying to pay their health care bills. America cares a lot about that. America cares about the fact that there are 44,780 Americans who die every single year on account of not having health care, that's 122 every day. America sure cares a lot about that. America cares about the fact that if you have a pre-existing condition, even if you have health insurance, it's not covered. America cares about that a lot. America cares about the fact that you can get all the health care you need as long as you don't need any. America cares about that a lot. But America does not care about procedures, processes, personalities, America doesn't care about that at all.
So we have to remember that as Democrats, we have to remember that what's at stake here is life and death, enormous amounts of money, and people are counting upon us to move ahead. America understands what's good for America. America cares about health care, America cares about jobs, America cares about education, about energy independance, America does not care about processes politicians or personalities or anything like that.
And I have a few words for my Republican friends tonight as well. I guess I do have some Republican friends.
Let me say this; last week I held up this report here and I pointed out that in America there are 44,789 Americans that die every year according to this Harvard report published in this peer reviewed journal because they have no health insurance. That's an extra 44,789 Americans who die who's lives could be saved, and their response was to ask me for an apology.
To ask me for an apology?
That's right. To ask ME for an apology!
Well, I'm telling you this; I will not apologize. I will not apologize. I will not apologize for a simple reason; America doesn't care about your feelings. I violated no rules by pulling this report to America's attention, I think a lot of people didn't know about it beforehand. But America DOES care about health care in America.
And if you're against it, then get out of the way. Just get out of the way. You can lead, you can follow or you can get out of the way. And I'm telling you now to get out of the way.
American understands that there is one party in this country that is favor of health care reform and one party that is against it, and they know why.
They understand that if Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world the Republicans would blame him for overpopulation.
They understand that if Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace they would blame him for destroying the defense industry.
In fact, they understand that if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch, they will try to ban bacon.
But that's not what America wants, America wants solutions to it's problems and that begins with health care, and that's what I'm speaking for tonight.
I yield back the balance of my time
This man is the anti-thesis of a coward like Harry Reid; Alan Grayson's balls are so big, he needs he forklift to carry them around. It's about time someone in the Democratic party stood up and tell the american people the truth about how Republicans are trying to destroy America without holding back.
Originally posted by: loki8481
Originally posted by: TruePaige
No, everyone should act as an individual on behalf of their constituents for the best results to occur.
Those of you who think it is okay for 49% of congress to just say NO to anything a Democrat proposes are part of the problem.
If you don't see that this is an issue I don't know what to tell you.
People should not be a hive mind.
what does the GOP even have to do with the health care debate? the democrats have the votes to pass whatever the hell they want to regardless of how the GOP votes.
Originally posted by: sao123
Originally posted by: Phokus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ery7RZ4tZ2Y
Alan Grayson posted:
Madame Speaker, I have words for Democrats and Republicans tonight.
Let's start with the Democrats
We as a party have spent the last six months, the greatest minds in our party, dwelling on the question, the unbelievably consuming question of how to get Olympia Snowe to vote on health care reform. I want to remind us all that Olympia Snowe was not elected President last year. Olympia Snowe has no veto power in the Senate. Olympia Snowe represents a state with one half of one percent of America's population.
What America wants is health care reform. America doesn't care if it gets 51 votes in the Senate or 60 votes in the Senate or 83 votes in the Senate, in fact America doesn't even care about that, it doesn't care about that at all. What America cares about is this; there are over 1 million Americans who go broke every single year trying to pay their health care bills. America cares a lot about that. America cares about the fact that there are 44,780 Americans who die every single year on account of not having health care, that's 122 every day. America sure cares a lot about that. America cares about the fact that if you have a pre-existing condition, even if you have health insurance, it's not covered. America cares about that a lot. America cares about the fact that you can get all the health care you need as long as you don't need any. America cares about that a lot. But America does not care about procedures, processes, personalities, America doesn't care about that at all.
So we have to remember that as Democrats, we have to remember that what's at stake here is life and death, enormous amounts of money, and people are counting upon us to move ahead. America understands what's good for America. America cares about health care, America cares about jobs, America cares about education, about energy independance, America does not care about processes politicians or personalities or anything like that.
And I have a few words for my Republican friends tonight as well. I guess I do have some Republican friends.
Let me say this; last week I held up this report here and I pointed out that in America there are 44,789 Americans that die every year according to this Harvard report published in this peer reviewed journal because they have no health insurance. That's an extra 44,789 Americans who die who's lives could be saved, and their response was to ask me for an apology.
To ask me for an apology?
That's right. To ask ME for an apology!
Well, I'm telling you this; I will not apologize. I will not apologize. I will not apologize for a simple reason; America doesn't care about your feelings. I violated no rules by pulling this report to America's attention, I think a lot of people didn't know about it beforehand. But America DOES care about health care in America.
And if you're against it, then get out of the way. Just get out of the way. You can lead, you can follow or you can get out of the way. And I'm telling you now to get out of the way.
American understands that there is one party in this country that is favor of health care reform and one party that is against it, and they know why.
They understand that if Barack Obama were somehow able to cure hunger in the world the Republicans would blame him for overpopulation.
They understand that if Barack Obama could somehow bring about world peace they would blame him for destroying the defense industry.
In fact, they understand that if Barack Obama has a BLT sandwich tomorrow for lunch, they will try to ban bacon.
But that's not what America wants, America wants solutions to it's problems and that begins with health care, and that's what I'm speaking for tonight.
I yield back the balance of my time
This man is the anti-thesis of a coward like Harry Reid; Alan Grayson's balls are so big, he needs he forklift to carry them around. It's about time someone in the Democratic party stood up and tell the american people the truth about how Republicans are trying to destroy America without holding back.
America doesnt want health care, because what america wants most is to have the government stay out of their pockets. the only thing that will destroy america is when the economic backbone of this country (the middle and lower middle) can no longer afford to live because they are being taxed to death.
Originally posted by: sao123
America doesnt want health care, because what america wants most is to have the government stay out of their pockets. the only thing that will destroy america is when the economic backbone of this country (the middle and lower middle) can no longer afford to live because they are being taxed to death.
Originally posted by: TruePaige
No, everyone should act as an individual on behalf of their constituents for the best results to occur.
Those of you who think it is okay for 49% of congress to just say NO to anything a Democrat proposes are part of the problem.
If you don't see that this is an issue I don't know what to tell you.
People should not be a hive mind.
Originally posted by: loki8481
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: FuzzyBee
If his "balls are so big, he needs he forklift to carry them around", he'd be speaking to HIS OWN PARTY - you know, the part that controls both sides of the House and the Executive. I'm thinking he just *wishes* he had balls.
Not a valid point. His point about *Republicans* is valid,.
By the way, isn't this the guy that referred to the health care situation as "a holocaust"? I'm sure there are a whole bunch of dead Jews in Germany that would like to be able to point out the differences to him.
This is a valid point - but you left out the fact that he apologized for the choice of words.
Oh, and that he's Jewish.
You should also put the quote you complain about in context, for accuracy, even though context doesn't exonerate him.
I guess my question would be, if this guy is so concerned about passing healthcare reform, why isn't he going after the obstructionists in his own party (you know, the ones who *are* actually holding up reform) instead of the neutered minority party?
Originally posted by: Craig234
Not any comments on the Salon piece, I note - seems putting up a link is usually a way to get no one to read the article.
Originally posted by: Atreus21
Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Psst.. We did.. His name was GWB.
Fear No Evil,
GWB is a moron who was heavily responsible for the transformation of the United States into a third world country.
What did GWB do that you think is so wonderful? Did he end illegal immigration? No, he supported illegal alien amnesty. Did he reduce the amount of legal immigration? No. Did he abolish the H-1B and L-1 visa programs that displace Americans from college-education-requiring, knowledge-based jobs? No, he probably supported an expansion of those programs. Did he do anything to address foreign outsourcing? No.
He passed the partial-birth abortion ban. I'll take that and say well done.
Originally posted by: sao123America doesnt want health care, because what america wants most is to have the government stay out of their pockets. the only thing that will destroy america is when the economic backbone of this country (the middle and lower middle) can no longer afford to live because they are being taxed to death.
Originally posted by: alchemize
Lie #1:
"for-profit insurance company middlemen that are responsible for huge difference in GDP spent on health care between the U.S. and other first world nations."
Lie #2:
"insurance company death panels routinely rescind paying customers' insurance at the drop of a cancer diagnosis."
From this thread:
Lie #3:
"Republicans support death panels at private insurance companies"
Lie #5:
"(republicans support) the destruction of the U.S. economy and its transformation into a third world country"
Lie #6:
"Republicans want Americans to live in poverty and to serve their wealthy masters while also occasionally dying from a lack of health care. "
Shit, rush limbaugh would be impressed with your rhetoric. If you want to discuss the rest of your rant, start a new thread.
Originally posted by: loki8481
I guess my question would be, if this guy is so concerned about passing healthcare reform, why isn't he going after the obstructionists in his own party (you know, the ones who *are* actually holding up reform) instead of the neutered minority party?
Originally posted by: alchemize
LOL...well, let's see if the party in power is addressing the REAL holocaust in healthcare...
238,337 deaths for medicare patients
Looks like government medicare kills far more than any insurance "death panels". So, what are the democrats doing about medical errors? Oh, jack and shit.
Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper
Originally posted by: sao123America doesnt want health care, because what america wants most is to have the government stay out of their pockets. the only thing that will destroy america is when the economic backbone of this country (the middle and lower middle) can no longer afford to live because they are being taxed to death.
Is it that Americans want real laissez-faire capitalism (along with all of the loss of freedom and oppression it would unwittingly and unintentionally bring about) or that they want an efficient government that serves the rational selfish economic interests of Americans?
I don't think Americans mind paying taxes as long as it is in their rational selfish economic interests in some sort of a way.
Do you think Americans really want to completely separate the government from the economy so that employers can legally tell people what they do in their private lives ("you must worship this religion or you will be blackballed in this industry") and so that they can engage in racial and religious discrimination? Under true capitalism, surely there would be benevolent Hank Reardens and Dagny Taggarts who wouldn't seek to dictate employees' private lives, but there very well would also be other employers who would. What happens if the owner of the toll road you drive on doesn't like your religion and declares that only Christians and whites can use the road? (Under real capitalism, that would be 100% legal.)
Originally posted by: tweaker2
The Jist:
Dems: "We need health care reform. The people who voted us into office to oust the republicans out of control of our government understood that it was a major plank in our platform, and also understood that while the government was under control of the republicans, health care costs were soaring out of control and the republicans refused to do anything about it, as they are adamant about, to this very moment in time."
repubs: "yeah, so what?" *sticks out their tongues between tightly pursed lips and blows very very blue-faced hard*
That's the brand of bipartisanship the repubs have shown of which they insisted they be given when the Dems took over and of which in lock-step fashion they refused to give to the Dems while they were in power.
Sounds like spoiled brats to me.
Originally posted by: loki8481
Originally posted by: tweaker2
The Jist:
Dems: "We need health care reform. The people who voted us into office to oust the republicans out of control of our government understood that it was a major plank in our platform, and also understood that while the government was under control of the republicans, health care costs were soaring out of control and the republicans refused to do anything about it, as they are adamant about, to this very moment in time."
repubs: "yeah, so what?" *sticks out their tongues between tightly pursed lips and blows very very blue-faced hard*
That's the brand of bipartisanship the repubs have shown of which they insisted they be given when the Dems took over and of which in lock-step fashion they refused to give to the Dems while they were in power.
Sounds like spoiled brats to me.
yeah... not really.
no one credible is arguing that health care reform isn't needed, but there are differences of opinions in the specifics of what should be done, both between democrats and republicans and within each party themselves.
Wow, fantastic argument: Attack the man; don't address his words.Originally posted by: JKing106
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Originally posted by: JKing106
Christ, at the balls on this guy! We need more like him.
Psst.. We did.. His name was GWB.
Grayson's a corporate prostitute who would've never gotten where he is without his daddy? Learn something new every day, I guess.
Originally posted by: shira
Wow, fantastic argument: Attack the man; don't address his words.Originally posted by: JKing106
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Originally posted by: JKing106
Christ, at the balls on this guy! We need more like him.
Psst.. We did.. His name was GWB.
Grayson's a corporate prostitute who would've never gotten where he is without his daddy? Learn something new every day, I guess.
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: shira
Wow, fantastic argument: Attack the man; don't address his words.Originally posted by: JKing106
Originally posted by: Fear No Evil
Originally posted by: JKing106
Christ, at the balls on this guy! We need more like him.
Psst.. We did.. His name was GWB.
Grayson's a corporate prostitute who would've never gotten where he is without his daddy? Learn something new every day, I guess.
Uh, you didn't seem to follow the comments.
JKing said we need more like Grayson. FNE perversely responded that GWB is like Grayson (a bit like sayingCharles Manson is like Mohatma Gahndi).
JKing pointed out that Grasyon is not like GWB, by listing the attributes of Bush he did.
You then responded with a point about attacking the person not the argument that was pretty much completely off the mark to the previous posts.
I can't even tell from your post whethe by 'the man' you thought he was attacking Grayson, or you mistook listing different attributes of Bush as discussing Bush's policies.
The point was to say that FNE's claim that GWB is like Grayoson is incorrect. FNE was way off base there.