Clever line, Louis. The present political conflict indeed has the tenor of some Confederate slogans from the American Civil War. So do some of the overall objectives of the ultra-right, which thinks that the "idyllic times of old," when the country generally followed the principles of Jacksonian Democracy, can come back.

That is not going to happen, it isn't practical or realistic, and ultimately the voting public won't endorse the concept, either.

The GOP, by bending to the Tea Party agenda, is alienating itself from the large majority of Americans. And by being unwilling or unable to find a route of compromise, the GOP is committing precisely the political sin that drove more than three-fourths of voters last November to remove many incumbents. The election, contrary to right-wing smug sloganeering, was not a GOP mandate. It was a mandate to start doing productive business in Washington, to do something about the economy, and most especially, JOBS.

There is a chance to make progress now with the Continuing Resolution, but the Reeps had better be prepared to give up some concessions, too, or the voters will lay another black mark along some names to be remembered in the next election.

A time that has come, again. Are you suggesting that if we disagree with the Traveling Democratic Party we should all go and purchase of flag of Stars&Bars, or sing "The Bonnie Blue Flag" to show our disagreement?

It was a mandate to start doing productive business in Washington, to do something about the economy, and most especially, JOBS.

John A

Didn't the Dems tout themselves as being the most productive Congress ever before the Nov elections. And didn't Obama, repeatedly, tell us that his number one priority and focus was jobs. He even went so far as to claim that his Health Care legislation would create jobs. Apparently the voters did not buy any of that in Nov. And, BTW, the message from the Nov. election was not only about jobs, it was also, largely, about stopping the massive government deficit spending. You know it is hypocritical of the Dems when they stand there and blame the Bush administration for deficit spending (even though the Dems controlled Congress and the purse strings the last two years of Bush's term) and then turn around and engage in massive increases in deficit spending!!! Apparently, Obama is tone deaf to the anti-spending message that was sent in Nov. Before the election he was all about lecturing the Repubs about having to make tough choices, come the new year, to cut the deficits and control spending. He then proposes a budget that does not decrease actual spending, but instead only decreases the rate of deficit spending. Then the Repubs call his bluff, by making the hard choices and cutting spending and he threatens to veto the legislation or have Harry Reid block it in the Senate. The voters see what is happening. And, as a result, Obama's chances of getting reelected in 2012 are getting dimmer by the moment. Watch him scramble even more to save himself as that realization continues to slowly settle into his reality.

I say it's just noise. We already know they will exhaust every avenue to repeal/defund this law. It is really sad, and as John states above, further alienates the republicants from the electorate.

I guess time will tell. The clock is ticking.

What I'd like Barry to do is to opt out of the WH as soon as possible.

Juven,

He will leave in 2016.

pietro - golden opportunity?? Perhaps, but considering the requirement obama places on opting out, not likely.

House Republican leaders said Monday that they were committed to repealing the law, not amending it. Even if the change were approved, it could be difficult for states to meet the federal requirements for the waivers

Obama should have listened to rahm emmanuel on how to create health care reform as reported on the mclaughlin group 2010 year end summary. Instead obama favored the creation of two health care acts consisting of thousands of pages of legislation to be passed in a short time frame. Is it any wonder that...

The announcement is the first time Mr. Obama has called for altering a central component of his signature health care law, although he has backed removing a specific tax provision that both parties regard as onerous on business

Makes me wonder on what other aspects of his massive plan were ill thought out, because he chose to rush the legislation through. I do so like the term of "affordable healthcare" and have yet to find a definition in $$$ of what obama considers "affordable"

Job1 - it will be interesting to see what he campaigns on in 2012 and how he plans on dealing with our countries ever increasing debt and the ever increasing interest payments on that debt. All in the context of slow job growth for the next 4 - 5 years as many economist predict. Woill he come out before nov 2012 saying taxes must be increased or will he wait untill after the election.

American - you are proving my point. All of this 'noise' about HCR that is already LAW is just that - noise. Now the GOP/TP can put their money where their mouths are.

The HCR Law CAN be amended. It CAN be enhanced. The GOP/TP just choose NOT to. They choose to spend untold millions to try and undo a Law thatwas just passed.

Why NOT take the opportunity to 'do it your way' for once? Maybe theGOP/TP DOES have a better way of doing things, but we will never know because the GOP/TP are determined to not do anything.

Again.

I think that the plan was thought out, and I think that we are on the way to a single-payer system. The Insurance Companies are NOT playing 'nice' in the sandbox, and this is causing the public to go against the 'status quo'.

Pietro - untill SCOTUS rules on the constitutionality of the HCR act the politicians will continue to drag their heals untill the only option left is one of bipartisanship compromise. Operative word is "bipartisanship".

The HCR Law CAN be amended. It CAN be enhanced. The GOP/TP just choose NOT to. They choose to spend untold millions to try and undo a Law that was just passed.

Yes, just passed in about one year by a democratic controlled house and senate. Where are the news reports telling us on how obama invited opposition leaders to the WH for their input and concerns?

Where was the debate in the house and senate on the republican concerns about passage?

Including a few republican suggested amendments and proclaiming that the republicans issues were covered is not addressing their concerns. For obama, pelosi and reid the whole affair was one of hurry up and pass it, you can read it latter.

Like I said, obama should have listened to his chief of staff on how to go about with healthcare legislation.

In matters of decision making one should always question the motives of those who say "you need to act on this quickly for tommorow the opportunity will be gone". Rather makes me wonder on if those buying into the housing market before the bust had practised restraint, would our recession have been as bad?

Hopefully, the President will get the taxes raised on the top 2% before the election. The voters will like that.

Amy B., how many jobs are these extreme measures going to create? None. Senseless repeal, much like the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

We all have a voice, but unfortunately, that voice won't matter much once the damage has been done.

Socialists, we the American People don't need social engineering to change our society.

Bryan E - what does "affordable" mean in $$$. Ever stop to consider that if obama and company simply said that healthcare reform would be the same as what the legislative, judicial and the executive branch gets then all these discussions wouldn't be needed.

Seems that obama and company want to keep us seperated into two distinct groups. The "haves and have nots" or in liberal terms "the rich and the poor". Rather ironic, isn't it??

You do know that they have already done so, and it is dead in the Senate?

Yea it is a monstrosity that senior citizens on a fixed income get assistance with their medications after they reached their annual $250 cap, right? It is a monstrosity that health insurance company have to take people with pre-existing conditions, right?

Before the health care reform act was passed who do you think was paying for all the people that didn't have health insurance nor was unable to pay their health care provider bill?

In America no one is forced to own a car, meaning they are not forced to have car insurance. In America everyone is forced to work in one form or another. Yes people on welfare work hard to get their paperwork and reporting requirements turned in correctly. Without good health people can not work regular jobs meaning they become part of the disabled that all taxpayers contribute to.

Health care insurance companies routinely deny all claims that are submitted meaning that health care providers have to resubmit their claims until the health insurance companies accept and pay the claim. That raises the cost of doing business for health care providers.

It is a monstrosity that nothing has been done or even discussed regarding health care reform for over a decade. It is a monstrosity that Republicans and people like JuvenBachan want to repeal this health care reform, which contains many of Republicans ideas, before any alternative plan is worked on. If this bill is so bad why not modify the parts that are unworkable and keep the parts that do good for ALL American citizens?

kenny p - yeh, right...

Before the health care reform act was passed who do you think was paying for all the people that didn't have health insurance nor was unable to pay their health care provider bill?

the healthcare provider and by extension those being billed for services rendered. the healthcare provider can only write so much off of their taxes. BTW this will continue on even aftere all aspects of the HCR act becomes implimented.

In America everyone is forced to work in one form or another. Yes people on welfare work hard to get their paperwork and reporting requirements turned in correctly.

Really, Forced to work? Not hardly. As for those on welfare working hard to fill out paperwork, really?? I might have to check with my sister on how much paperwork my niece has to fill out. If it is so hard, i can just imagine how hard it would be to fill out a job application. or to practise birth control.

Without good health people can not work regular jobs meaning they become part of the disabled that all taxpayers contribute to.

Trying to imply that business will fire workers for poor health? Seems that it is the workers responsibility to seek medical aid, not the business owner. As for the last part on disability better recheck on how to apply cause and effect.

Health care insurance companies routinely deny all claims...

What healthcare providers have you been talking to??

If this bill is so bad why not modify the parts that are unworkable and keep the parts that do good for ALL American citizens?

Just have to wait for a decision from SCOTUS on HCR's constitutionality before talking about amendments. BTW - if the bill was properly represented to all parties why the big push to pass it without reading it? After all, any congressman understands that 2000+ pages of legislation will translate into many more thousands of pages of regulations. Looks like it was a good thing that obama and company didn't provide funding for the bill either.

Wm - if you believe what you wrote then why didn't obama and company give us the same healthcare coverage they get?