Obama, Genius or Wimp?

[jpmassar]

There are at least two ways of looking at the Senate Health Care deal

Comments

[prock]

You forgot to put "whore" in your poll.

[adb_jaeger]

He's a politician. It's understood.

[prock]

As true as that is, it's certainly more true of Obama.

[jpmassar]

And socialist, traitor, liar, non-American-citizen and half-breed.

[prock]

Are you suggesting that he isn't whoring himself out?

[jpmassar]

Define.

[prock]

Word.

[schmengie]

I think the deal he cut with Pharma qualifies as whoring out

[jpmassar]

I'm having a genuinely hard time understanding what you guys mean by this term. Not because of squeamishness, or even trying being put in a position of trying to defend Obama's actions (which I'm not).

I just don't really associate any definition I've ever had in my head of 'whoring out' with what you guys seem to be implying.

If you were saying 'selling out' I would get it better. The Urban dictionary entry for whoring and the standard definitions don't seem to be what you are getting at. (Obviously you don't mean it literally, as in selling sexual services).

That's why I asked Andrew to define the term. I wasn't trying to be obnoxious.

[schmengie]

I cant speak for prock...i mean who can?

But for me being a whore is defined here
3. To compromise one's principles for personal gain.

Its clear he is FOR allowing re-importation of medicines. Yet he took 150 mill to oppose it and he opposed Dorgans amendment

Thats what I mean

[barking_iguana]

And you really think that was for personal gain, rather than a political calculation of what was possible and how to advance his principles, both now and later?

I have issues with some of the strategic decisions the administration had made, but I see no sign that they are not ultimately motivated by their conception of the common good.

[prock]

If that's the case, it looks more like he's setting himself up for a "two steps backward, one step back" three step.

[barking_iguana]

I think the only way you can think the bill is lousy overall is if you compare it to what might (and might well not) have been possible. Compared to the status quo, it's a big win. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/12/19/816837/-The-Public-Option-Distraction-%28Or,-Why-This-Bill-Should-Pass%29

[jpmassar]

Nate Silver's comparison rankings

[barking_iguana]

Saw it. My only quibble is I'd put an NHS even with Wyden-Bennet and I'd put private-providers-single-payer even higher.

[prock]

I think the only way you can think the bill is lousy overall is if you compare it to what might (and might well not) have been possible.

No. I just compare it to what we have now. The bill is worse than what we have now.