See, here's the thing: Pelosi promised us the most transparent congress in HISTORY. Meaning, transparency such as Pelosi promised us hasn't been done before, else it could not be the most in history.

Ergo, such transparency would be something new, such as CSPAN covering the bill negotiations.

Frankly, I think that Pelosi and Obama have been caught flat-out lying about such transparencies, and it will likely cost Obama the presidency in 2012.

The ironic thing about healthcare reform is this: should a liberal bill pass (especially an unpopular one) through an opaque congress which had promised transparency, that's bye-bye Obama. However, should it be defeated, good for the country except that Obama likely gets 4 more years.

Want a precedent? Check out Clinton.

It's like a man afraid to let his wife go to work without him, because she might cheat on him ... They own the House and the Senate so where is the problem?

Obama is the leader of the Democratic party and is using his karma (don't hit me) he is using his karma right or for wrong to persaude his party to swing their votes to his idelogy.

It's too late for me to look it up, but the last vote on health care was finally persuaded by a lone hold out in the mid west that had concerns about aboration. His vote was purchased with the promise his state, out of all of the other states would not hae to pay any increase in medi-care.

Votes can be purchased ...

At some point in time the truth will be the truth and not just polictics.

No. You don't FEEL anything. You THINK it!!!
And you are 100% right!

Never was CptHaplo....never was.....it was all a very cleverly played out farce that was staged an entire year before the nominations were made.

Ping pong, get out anyone who might oppose the bill yadda yadda....the fact remains....there is no transparency. In short, Obama is full of it. Diplomate? Certainly not. Champion of hope and change. No sir. Becoming status quo in Washingtion? Absolutely. Laws are definitely not like sausages. These affect your everday life and your wallet. Do not walk with the sheep!

Is it President Obama who is blocking this or is this a decision by the leaders in Congress?

President Obama may promise and truly intend to have open sessions, but if the leadership of congress decides not to, there won't.

Let's be sure we are blaming the right people.

"Senior Democratic sources say Democrats are prepared to short-circuit the traditional legislative process of a formal conference committee comprising House and Senate members to exclude their Republican counterparts during final congressional health care deliberations.

Obama gave his blessing Tuesday for that move, according to two congressional Democratic leadership sources."

Bet you want a source - and I bet you think its Fox News right? Well - its CNN....

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/...are/index.html

" President Barack Obama met Wednesday with House Democratic leaders who face the likelihood of having a final health care bill look much more like the Senate's version than their measure.

The meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of the three House committees that approved health care legislation was part of efforts by Obama and top Democrats to merge the separate House and Senate bills into a final version capable of winning approval in both chambers."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...marqueeflipper

That article also talks about making the entire process private.
It may not be his idea - but he sure could stand up on his podium and say "This is for the good of the American people, and it should happen in full view of them."

But notice - he isn't. Instead - he is applying pressure to make sure a bill is on his desk ASAP regardless of how - so he can sign it before the State of the Union Address.

Come on man, he campaigned open government. Is he running the place or is the place running him? This hiding behind closed doors is exactly what they complained about during the Bush administration. This is why Obummer campaigned for transparency.

I agree with you all that this is hypocrisy from Obama on this one. Pelosi's response when reminded of the fact that Obama said in his campaign that this would be an open debate?

"He promised lots of things in the campaign."

Someone get her out of there, please? :doh:

I think Obama could vastly increase his chances of reelection if he stood up to Pelosi on this issue. The last thing he wants is to be tied too tightly to the Congressional Democrats.

Lol, since when does anyone actually believe in campaign promises?


:har:

I'll bet George "Read my lips, no new taxes" Bush Sr believes in them.

Heh, if the Dems want any chance of retaining any majority long term they will. She is well on her path toward becoming a political pariah. It won't be long before you start seeing special interest ads showing Pelosi promising things such as the most ethical and transparant congress in history, followed by examples of what REALLY happened. Then brace for campaign ads attempting to benefit from either voting AGAINST Pelosi or claiming the frequency of an opponent voting WITH her.

Furthermore, should Obama begin feeling the heat from the electorate, don't be surprised should he call her out.

Democrats are facing a very difficult opponent right now: reality.

The naive electorate clearly believes in them - else those in office would never be elected.

How often do US voters go to the polls to elect a responsible candidate, as opposed to choosing the lesser of two evils which are presented to them?