http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17980179/
Unsurprisingly, like most Democrats and a few moderate Republicans, Obama is pushing for universal healthcare. Of course... that means nothing. Policies differ from candidate to candidate from Romney-style manditory insurance to the Clinton-Schwartzenegger idea to Euro-style socilaized medicine (which Obama is leaning toward, according to the article)...
He makes a valid point in that a concensus should be built up amongst the public before a specific policy is drawn up... but is that evidence of clever strategy and populist integrity... or of vaguery and excuses for having no ideas? We just don't know yet.
Personally I don't think too much about a healthcare system. It seems that every system, the status quo, laissez faire, socialized, and hybrid... They all have problems. I can't even determine how they rate... For all the complaint about socialized healthcare, I'm not overly impressed with the status quo and the capitalist insurance method... I think the argument really has to do with ideology... not even just regular capitalist vs. socialist/populist ideology, but a simple "Do you think healthcare is a public or private good?" To me, the answer is both, much like education. We need to experiment... but must do so in such a cautious manner as to avoid catastrophe.
Obviously we need to switch the American thought on healthcare from emphasizing symptoms to emphasizing prevention... but that's easier said than done. One things for sure: we are currently in a train that's about to wreck.
If Obama can do as he seems to claim: socialize the healthcare system AND do it without requiring higher taxes, even making it more efficient and affordable... I'm all for it- even though I have reservations about socialized healthcare. If it can be done affordably, it beats a half-socialized system that is getting more and more out of control and eating more and more of the budget...
But does he have the secret? Does he believe that once the issue is framed, we will collectively find a solution... or is he just spouting promises that cannot be kept?

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

If Obama can create a national healthcare system that doesn't increase what I pay AND doesn't drastically reduce the quality of my service I'd favor that strongly. Of course I might be a bit busy chasing the monkeys flying out of my backside, but I would support the idea nonetheless.

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All you need to know about the energy crisis:
ANWR Exploration Republicans: 91% Supported. Democrats: 86% Opposed.
Coal-to-liquid R's: 90% YES. D's: 78% NO.
Oil Shale Exploration R's: 90% YES. D's: 86% NO.
Outer Continental Shelf Exploration R's: 81% YES. D's: 83% NO.
Increased Refinery Capacity R's: 97% YES. D's: 96% NO

SUMMARY: 91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of America’s own oil and gas. 86% of House Democrats have historically voted against.

The universal healthcare position is actually the least telling part of this article... He hasn't decided on a plan... He claims to simply be building a consensus... then afterward we are to presume people will start bringing up ideas that will compete against each other... It's that methodology that is most telling... I'm just not sure of what.
Is he saying "I'm a guy who pushes for change and is open to ideas" or "I haven't got a clue."

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

I tend to think the latter. He hasn't got a clue. It's amazing how short of opinions he has for a guy who's a senator running for president. He's pretty (*)(*)(*)(*) clueless most of the time.

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I'll never Forget. To pull You Closer is to Pull You Down. Ignorence can be an envy. Applaud us as the old American Power goes quietly into the night.

Let me elucidate Obamaism:

"I'm for universal health care. Yeah, and, and world peace! An' I'm for an end to poverty! An end to disease! Yeah all that! But don't ask me how - ya see, I'm black, and it would be racist to grill me! Yeah!"

(Obamaism = onanism)

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ever the one to introduce race into the discussion where it has no bearing ... somebody give him his sheet back

if you can't dream it, you won't do it. that's why naysayers never accomplish anything.
reflect back to JFK committing the nation to landing an American on the moon by the end of the 60's ... we were sucking hind tit to the soviets and at the time could only rarely achieve a successful solid-propellent booster launch. but the president emboldened the public to believe we could do it and to commit the resources to it ... with charisma and leadership we got it done.

a universal healthcare plan would be a breeze to accomplish by comparison. it just takes someone with courage, conviction and vision to unite our nation to accomplish it.

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“Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth.”

[Frontiersman editorial, 2/7/97]

still waiting for you to share with us the name of your favorite African-American atheletes ... figured i would toss that out while you cry about the sheet comment above implying you are a racist

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“Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth.”

[Frontiersman editorial, 2/7/97]

I don't think it really matters if Obama wants universal healthcare or not. The democrats would have to gain 9 senate seats (10 to make it Lieberman proof) to get the plan past the Republican filibuster. I certainly won't base my important Iowa caucus vote on this issue.

I don't follow sports. I like to occasionally watch football games, but I don't follow the careers of athletes. Ask me my favorite black actor. Opera singer. Jazz singer. Commentator. Politician.

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PERSONAL INSULT REMOVED The moon landing was largely an assemblage of existing technologies and the use of 19th century orbital mechanics. No "vision" was required, just a decision to do it. Whereas the moon landing succeeded by the application of perfectly rational science and engineering, most schemes for universal healthcare are the brainstorms of some idiot politician.

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