NorthDecoder.com -- North Dakota's Most Influential Political Blog

Here's Keith Olbermann's (and Howard Dean's) commentary about North Dakota Senator Kent Conrad's expressed opposition to the public option supported by 72% of Americans...

I'm still not sure I understand what benefit there is to bowing to the angry, radical Glen Beck-loving Republican shouters in the town hall meetings. We all know the Republicans' are bought and paid for by the medical-industrial complex and that their only mission in life is to stop progress. I just don't understand why Kent Conrad is surrenduring any ground, issue or position -- and especially the public option in the health insurance reform debate -- to the angry, obstructionist, anti-progress Republican shouters.

J. Locke said:

I Trust Kent Conrad more than the President
I wonder if you asked North Dakota residents whether they have more trust in Kent Conrad or the President? For me the answer is easy.

But it doesn't matter. If the President cannot convince Kent Conrad, who is NOT up for re-election, and who has never had a serious challenger since he was elected, then he cannot win this. My guess is he will re-define "victory" and declare it when Conrad's compromise becomes law. I doubt very much that the President will fall on his sword (and risk being a one term President) for this or any other issue.

JL

August 16, 2009, 04:12 PM
Votes: -2

truenob said:

Some where Judas is blushing!
Hard to understand how any man can pretend to be what Kent Conrad is obviously not! He doesn't stand for anything that i can see. He, Beck, Limbaugh and the rest of the Republicans will defeat health care reform and that is the day that I will enter the health lottery to see if we can make it to Medicare without a serious illness. I cannot continue to pay Conrads Blue Cross or any other co-op dues and besides, they pay only a small percentage if you do need them. Conrad and his boys can raise insurance and drug costs all they want as far as I am concerned but he has lost my support forever. Stopping health care now will mean that nothing meaningful will be done in my time before retirement and I can probably pay for what I need if I stop paying $900.00 a month for Blue Cross. If you recall J.Locke, Obama ran for president on the platform of public option healthcare reform and Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan and Pomeroy pretended to support him then, I hope trusting Conrad works out better for you than it did for the rest of us. I just hope Kent Conrad switches his party affiliation to Republican but I guess we can see what side he really is on now! What is so disgusting to me is have to watch his backsliding sniveling excuses on national television, Vote against the bill if you believe that is the right thing to do and let the health care industry raise whatever it wants and eventually you WILL want to do something. What good is a majority in congress when most of them don't have the integrity to stand for anything except campaign contributions and sweet deal mortgages!

August 16, 2009, 05:57 PM
Votes: +2

Farmer said:

	Farmer Gee Chet. Actually getting critical of your democrat senator? Who would'uve thunk!!!!
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August 16, 2009, 11:07 PM
Votes: +0

Truth said:

	... Chet, still no answer or link to the poll where 72% want a public option. If its the only Luke 11:9 refers to, isn't there any more recent poll? If its not this poll, I would be interested in seeing the poll where you got your numbers for your post earlier yesterday.
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August 18, 2009, 12:54 PM
Votes: +0

S. Fred Wood said:

	About time. Democrats Seem Set to Go Alone on a Health Bill Will Kent jump on board? http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08...ml?_r=1&hp
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August 18, 2009, 08:56 PM
Votes: +0

Truth said:

Where is the 72% - Another Democrat fabricated fuzzy math number?
Well since Chet misled the readers by suggesting that 72% of American support the public option (and after requests to verify his number - which he hasn't done) here is a current story and the true numbers from an NBC poll.

This week, 47 percent oppose the public plan, according to a new NBC poll, up 3 points from 44 percent last week. Only 43 percent support the public option now, down 3 points from last week.

The full story can be viewed at:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08192009/news/nationalnews/public_humiliation_185275.htm

August 19, 2009, 08:59 AM
Votes: +0

Chet said:

Whatever
So the NY Post references some unnamed poll suggesting that since the right-wing spin machine, the medical-industrial complex and the health insurance industry started spending millions of dollars per day attacking the public option with things even someone like you would have to admit are lies, that there's been a negative swing in support? And that's supposed to impress somebody?

How old is this poll referenced in the NY Post prattle? If I'm tracking your logic, Truth, any poll that wasn't done today is obsolete. I found a reference to a poll "released" on Tuesday that had numbers similar to the ones you reference, but I don't know when the poll was done, who did it, or whether it was a "push poll." All I know is that a poll was done before the right-wing spin machine, the medical industry and the insurance industry started fabricating "death panels" and other nonsense, and that poll said 72% of Americans supported a public option.

You cry "foul!" and say I "misled" someone because that poll was done 60 days ago.

Whatever, Truth.

Whatever.

August 19, 2009, 09:15 AM
Votes: +0

nimrod said:

	NBC NEWs Poll NBC reported on an NBC poll today that a majority of Americans who had actually read Obama's proposal for health care legislation favored the proposal.
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August 19, 2009, 11:09 AM
Votes: +1

Chet said:

	But... But... But... But what TIME was the poll? If it was before 10:00 a.m., that poll is outdated. The insurance industry has spent $5 squillion since 10:00 a.m. lying to people about the public option. That number has probably changed since earlier today. Quit misleading people, nimrod!!!
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August 19, 2009, 11:26 AM
Votes: +0

nimrod said:

	i'm ashamed You've pulled back the curtain and revealed me to be a liberal elitist misleading the readership of your fine blog by quoting a moldy poll result, i.e., before 10 this morning. OK, now when do I get my check from BC/BS? On the other hand, Conrad is out to lunch on this one. His co-op idea is an incomprehensible side-show.
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August 19, 2009, 02:47 PM
Votes: +0

Big Jake said:

...
Conrad is obviously confident that to openly appear to be Republican will have rewards rather that consequences. Pomeroy is much easier----pander to his contributors and a perceived right wing electorate. Democrats ought to be ashamed. Is this a definition of leadership? I'm not sure that we do deserve better. We just may have arrived at the point the Franklin and Jefferson warned us about. A country owned by a wealthy elite and self-serving politicians bow to their will. Do we have the wit to stand up?

August 22, 2009, 06:54 PM
Votes: +0

Chet said:

	77% Truth be told... http://bit.ly/13hh81
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September 04, 2009, 08:15 PM
Votes: -1

Truth said:

More Poll numbers
Chet,

Here is a current poll that was done over the weekend:
In general, do you support, oppose or neither support nor oppose the health care
reform plans being discussed in Congress?
9/3/09-9/8/09
Total Support 34; Strongly support 16; Somewhat support 18
Neither support nor oppose 15
Total Oppose 49; Somewhat oppose 13; Strongly oppose 36; Don’t know 2
Based on: N=1,001
http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com/pdf/AP-GfK_Poll_Healthcare_Politics_Topline.pdf

So 49% oppose the congress plan (which includes a public option at this time). We can go back and forth on poll numbers - us take your time to find one that supports your original statement and I can find one to dispute those numbers.

Also this is interesting as well:
What do you think the President and Congress should do when they come back to
Washington this fall? Do you think they should…
9/3/09-9/8/09
Keep working to pass a health care plan by the end of the year 39%
Scrap the current negotiations and start over from scratch 42%
Leave the health care system as it is now 18%
Don’t know 1%
Based on: N=1,001

And this:

How important is it that any health care plan have the support of both Democrats and
Republicans in Congress?
9/3/09-9/8/09
Total Important 79% - Very important 56%; Somewhat important 23%
Total Not Important 20% - Not too important 9%; Not at all important 11%
Don’t know 1%
Based on: N=1,001

AND:
If President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are unable to win support from
Republicans to pass a health care plan this year, what should they do? Should they…
9/3/09-9/8/09
Go ahead and pass a bill without Republican support 28%
Keep trying until they are able to make a deal with the Republicans 66%
Don’t know 4%
Refused 1%
Based on: N=1,001

So the Americans want a bi-partisian bill but that is kinda hard when you read stories like this: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-...ince-april - Boehner: GOP leaders haven't met Obama for health talks since April
By Molly K. Hooper - 09/09/09 11:09 AM ET
The ball is in President Obama's court to reach out to Republicans if he wants a bipartisan bill on healthcare reform, House GOP Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said Monday morning. Boehner told reporters that the president has not invited House GOP leaders to the White House for meetings on healthcare reform since the end of April.
Earlier this year, GOP leaders sent a letter to the president in May stating that they would like to work with the administration to find "common ground" on healthcare reform. But the administration responded with a tersely worded letter indicating that they had healthcare reform under control.

So before the Dems get all righteous and say the Republicans are blocking reform, they need to look into their own circle. There is blame for both parties.

September 09, 2009, 11:37 AM
Votes: -1

Chet said:

	More Polls After all those teabagging events, all the town hall meetings, all the Republican lies about "death panels" and covering illegal immigrants, the right-wingers have successfully chipped away at the support for the public option. It's now all the way down to 65%. Nice work, right-wing whack-jobs. Lie some more and you might get it down to 60%.
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September 25, 2009, 04:46 PM
Votes: +0