My Livetweet of the President's Address on Healthcare Reform to the Joint Session of Congress

All in all--I think this was as close as a grand slam as the President could have pulled off, politically. He articulated the need for action with clarity, put the onus for the current massive deficit, the lies and delay, and the corrosive nature of the "healthcare debate" on the Republicans, and established that he ain't playin' anymore.

That said, he remained disappointingly determined to be "bipartisan"; to give him the benefit of the doubt, let's just say he was trying to thread the needle of expectations. The net result was a weak and somewhat confusing positioning on the public option -- he made the case for why it was critical and then essentially said that he'd ditch it if something else came along that didn't suck too much. But then again, it's all about optics and scoring points these days, and the GOP seemed determined to screw themselves -- from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC, headland of the Appalachia-to-Argentina Trail) shouting "You LIE!" in a revoltingly uncouth outburst that earned scorn, even from more lucid members of the Right, part of a slew of ridiculous antics by Republicans, to the official GOP response, delivered by obscure Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany, M.D.

Dr. Boustany touted his physician creds throughout his brief, flat, stumbling speech, but failed to mention that he'd been sued for malpractice three times -- likely why his tirade against "tort reform" was the only time he seemed to wake up during the address. Chunky, blinking, frighteningly pale Boustany was hardly a poster-child for health himself, and his words did little to negate the image of Obama -- fit, confident, articulate -- in people's minds, much less offering substance of its own; he ended with a plea for people to go to the GOP website to find out more. Hardly a call to action, compared to the president's stirring "I believe" choral and "shape...not fear the future" summation.

This was, as some tweeted, a game changer. Count it.

LIVETWEET

Beginning livetweet of the Presidential address to Congress...now!
about 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

Watching on NBC. "Gonna get detailed," says Chuck Todd. "Going to debunk some things." We've been *waiting* for you to get debunkered, O.
about 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

Michelle looking particularly Jackie O. tonight...
about 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

"Other names that are important: Grassley and Enzi"--because they're staying at the table? They're only there to stack the deck!
about 3 hours ago from TweetDeck

Hrm...standing ovation for "pulled the economy back from the brink"--both R and L sides of the aisle. No thanks to the guys on the right
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

"Determined to be the last" prez to take up healthcare. Again standing O all around. Of course, GOP and Dems interp that in opposite ways...
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Acne is a preexisting condition? Damn. #healthcare
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

I like how O is papering this. Healthcare reform removes global competitive disadv for our companies. And *eliminates* burden on taxpayers.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

there's agreement in 80% of what needs to be done. i guess that's why the GOP wants 80 votes in Senate for any reform to pass? #healthcare
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

"Blizzard of charges and countercharges! Time for bickering is over. Time for games has past." Like it. Angry Daddy!
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

here are the deets: 1. if you are among 100MMs who have insur, nothing will req you to change it
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

LET ME REPEAT THIS. (Let me clear my throat!) NOTHING WILL CHANGE
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

2. Eliminate denial for preexisting conditions. Well, duh. (ACNE???)
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

3. No more arbitrary caps in a year or a lifetime.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

4. Limit on out of pocket charges. NO ONE SHOULD GO BROKE BECAUSE THEY GET SICK IN AMERICA.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

5. Insurance companies required to cover prev care and routine checkups. A colonscopy in every pot!
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

And now...what about the uninsured? Lose or change job, get coverage. Create a new exchange. Shop at competitive prices.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Uh...is this co-ops?
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

"Time to give every American the same opportunity that we give ourselves"--fair enough.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

For those who can't afford--tax credits. All insur cos have to abide by consumer protections. Four years from now.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

In meantime, offer low cost coverage now (invokes McCain). Who's offering it?
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

And now, the stick? Irresponsible behavior costs rest of us money. Emergency room visits. "I fell on a zucchini"
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

--->ain't kidding about that. My sister is an emergency room doc and they have a box of Things Removed from Recta
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

So, mandate. Small biz is exempt. Wal-Mart isn't. "Significant details" to be ironed out gets a big laugh.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Misinformation...DEATH PANELZZZZZ SOSHULIZED MEDSUN!!!AAAAAARRG
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Such a charge would be laughable if not so cynical and irresponsible. It is a lie plain and simple. (Or is that "Palin and Simple"?)
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Illegal immigrants insured? THIS TOO IS FALSE! Reforms don't apply to illegals. Eh.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

NO FEDERAL DOLLARS USED TO FUND ABORTIONS. Double eh.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

So, plan has public option after all. IT'S AN OPTION. OPTION. MEANS CHOICE. Look it up.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

I just want to hold them accountable. (Love the tone on that statement. "Look guys, let's get real." PUBLIC OPTION AVAILABLE.!
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

He says it straight up. Less than 5% will sign up. Private companies can't compete! If public option is subsidized. But no subsidy
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Just eliminate the overhead. Hmm. Just like college! Or maybe my kids' school nurse. Free tongue depressors for everyone.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

And colonscopies.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Means to the end. Open to other ideas. Like...fairies? People should remember that public option, esp as O states it, already a compromise.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Co-ops worth exploring? UGH.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Copies of their long-form birth certificates? RE: What are those pamphlets they're waving? @KANGisMAN
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to KANGisMAN

Won't sign a plan that adds one dime to deficit. Now or in the future. Period. Provision: PayGo if savings don't materialize.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Turn that sucker around! Iraq War, Tax Breaks for wealthy, that's where the deficit's from, you betcha
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Speak directly to seniors for a moment. Demagoguery and distortion on Medicare. (What about hypocrisy? GOP defense of program they despise)
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Independent commission charged with identifying more waste. DEATH PANELS? BECAUSE SENIORS ARE WASTE????
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Don't pay attention to...tall tales--YES! He hits the GOP on Medicare, HE will protect medicare from VOUCHER VULTURES! You go!
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Where the hell was this speech six months ago?
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Defensive medicine adds to costs. END MEDICAL JIU JITSU.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Less than Iraq and Afghanistan, and Bush tax cuts. Perspective, that's nice. (Also less than the stimulus and bailouts.)
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Slow healthcare cost growth by 1/10 of 1% will reduce deficit by $4 trillion over long term.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

"My door is always open...but I will not waste time with those who would kill rather than improve."
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

He's the baseball-bat carrying principal of our nation. And we need one, because we're a bunch of unruly punks.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Whoops. Oblig Ted Kennedy ref. This will set off the concern troll attacks on "politicizing Kennedy's death."
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

RT @jaketapper: somewhere some cable TV bookers are going insane trying to figure out who yelled "lie" via @markos
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

McCain gets another hat-tip. Who has the drinking game going? All former POWs and Mavericks drink!
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

@suyinso Pelosi's jacket is flaring on my screen, stretching the limit of my flat-screen's color model
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to suyinso

As I noted earlier--Michelle is so TOTALLY channeling Jackie O tonight.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Danger of too much government is matched by the peril of too little. Now that's a quotable.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

To @aboynamedart: Jinx! You owe me a Coke
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

RT @pwire Politico confirms earlier report that GOP congressman who yelled "lie" was Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)... http://bit.ly/Phs4m
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

South Carolina's a real winner of a state recently, ain't it?
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

I STILL BELIEVE... here comes the choral. Nice.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

This was a winner of a speech. I don't see the GOP response as getting any traction--although I think Joe Wilson (R-SC) already gave it
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

LOL. Well, that's the first language of many teevee watchers, sadly RT @mat_johnson: Chuck Todd, translating the speech into stupid.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

"They did not want a star of the party," sez Brian Williams. Well, they got what they were looking for.
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

OH MY GOD, HE IS DRAINED OF ALL COLOR. GOP: "We wanted an albino congressman. To offset our cappucino president."
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

This guy is breathing heavily between every word. Like, he needs a cardiovascular stress test. And he's a doctor?
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Boustany? So, this guy is the sacrificial lamb they threw in front of the 'Bama bus. Sad. I almost wish they'd rolled out Sarah.
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

So, the GOP plan: Tort reform. Buy insurance across state lines. And a URL. That's it? GOP: "WANT HEALTHCARE REFORM? READ OUR TWEETS!"
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Hrm, Boustany didn't invoke God, or bless America at the end of his response! HE IZ A SOCIAL MUSLIN TERRORISM. Nice flag pin tho. :P
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

That's why he's for tort reform... RT @owillis: olbermann: boustany sued 3 times for malpractice. lol, via @markos
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

And now, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT. Which is fortunate, because tens of millions of us still don't have healthcare. BACK TO WORK CONGRESS
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

On CNN, one of their standard panelz of idiotz. Gergen: "He endorsed the Baucus plan." NO HE DIDN'T. What the f*ck are you talking about?
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Significant details--that's still the rub, isn't it? Started out hard for the Public Option, then waffled down to co-ops and Health Fairies
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

As some are pointing out: The biggest contrast here was Obama—grownup, confident, strong; GOP response—childish, flatly delivered, weak
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

The optics all went the President's way tonight. That counts for a lot, sadly. Boustany = myopic Pillsbury Doughboy with a stammer
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

McCain: "Speech more partisan than I expected..." Yeah, well, say something to the freaks on your side of the bench first, man...
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

I wonder if Obama was "humble" enough tonight for Saxby Chambliss? http://bit.ly/15hjuC
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Wow. RT @aboynamedart: If you think Repubs hated the Prez's speech, check out the Progressive reaction: http://tinyurl.com/ltj567
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

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