JOHN DICKERSON: You said in an interview with Reuters that you thought [being President] would be easier. Why?And let me note 2 things Trump said when the discussion turned to Obamacare reform:
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, it's a tough job. But I've had a lot of tough jobs. I've had things that were tougher, although I'll let you know that better at the end of eight years. Perhaps eight years. Hopefully, eight years. But I'll let you know later on. I think we've done very well with foreign policy... And I think actually, I've been very consistent. You know, it's very funny when the fake media goes out, you know, which we call the mainstream media which sometimes, I must say, is you.
JOHN DICKERSON: You mean me personally or?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, your show. I love your show. I call it Deface the Nation. But, you know, your show is sometimes not exactly correct....
1. "Most importantly, we're going to drive down premiums. We're going to drive down deductibles because right now, deductibles are so high, you never -- unless you're going to die a long, hard death, you never can get to use your health care because the deductibles are so high."
2. "[In reforming health care] we ultimately want to get it back down to the states. Look, because if you hurt your knee, honestly, I'd rather have the federal government focused on North Korea, focused on other things, than your knee, okay? Or than your back, as important as your back is. I would much rather see the federal government focused on other things, bigger things. Now, the state is going to be in a much better position to take care, because it's smaller."
And we enjoyed the interjected "Hey, John" in this part about the Democrats needing to wise up:
JOHN DICKERSON: A member of Congress suggested that a condition for getting tax reform would be releasing your tax returns. What do you think about that?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Oh, I don't know who did that. I mean, I don't care who did that. These are the people, you know, the great obstructionists.
JOHN DICKERSON: So you're not buying that deal.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Look where they are. Look where the Democrats have ended up. Hey, John, they had everything going. Now they don't have the presidency, they don't have the House, they don't have the Senate, and Schumer's going around making a fool out of himself.
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In less polite terms, President Trump would probably call the show "Defecate on the Nation"
right now, deductibles are so high, you never -- unless you're going to die a long, hard death, you never can get to use your health care because the deductibles are so high."
That's basically not a wrong statement. I think maybe, though you could $6,000 without that. This also applies to people who don't get subsidies
In otehr news Trump said a plan would have to include pre-existing conditions. The problem with that, is that the math for the high risk pools probably doesn't work out. The math won't work out unless someody spends alot of more moey.
Trump thinks medical costs will go down much more than people beleive. I think he doesn't understand the way the health care market works now. It would on;y work if prices matter to the consumer, and not even then because it's impossible even for insurance companies to get rational and predictable billing.
I meant to say:
You could get to $6,000 in one year without being on your way to dying a long, hard death.
"Or than your back, as important as your back is. I would much rather see the federal government focused on other things, bigger thing." Good for him. But "your back" and your payment for your bad back and your lunch at school and your access to an electric car and your contraception and your access to a bathroom of your choice and your Obama phone and your -- well, the whole point of progressivism is that government's got your back, the whole point of conservatism is to show backbone and back each other up.
I love it, "Deface The Nation."
Sounds like Dick[erson] got more than he bargained for.
When will they learn, you can't out Trump Trump.
Meet the Depressed used to be better. Now, Defacing, Depressing and Mourning pretty much blend into one dreary blur; the business of manufacturing consent has passed on into the hands of drone-like drudges, the sob sisters serving their queen.
Trump is finished. Do you guys saw the Climate March? The Resistance is already registered for 2018 and waiting for 2020. There is a guy, Ted Lieu or something, he is going to seriously challenge Trump in 2018, so he loses the House for GOP. I think anyone who thinks Trump is going to make it to the full 1st/last term, then you are on drugs.
Get ready for Kamala H., Cory B., E. Warren, or M. Warner as POTUS.
More fun with The Headcase in the House. I'm watching more AP dispatches where he was asked to clarify his relationship w/Wikileaks. He said he didn't support them OR "unsupport" them. Among other things, such as blaming others for his campaign's 100 day promises.
This is what unaccountability looks like, Authoritarians.
FIguring out Trump's position on anything is easy. You just have to ask yourself, what day of the week it is, how the astrological charts are aligned, how his hair is aligned, whether he thinks the media was nice or mean to him lately. You know, really predictable stuff. This is the strong, stable, orderly leadership that Republicans had always promised us. Good job!
Trump talking back to his betters to their faces on national television; I love it!
They talk a lot about how fragmented and disunited the Republicans are. True enough, but what about the Democrats? They look even worse to me, and no belivable candidate for any responsible position in sight.
I want a pack of economic imbeciles like Nancy Pelosi in charge of my knee.
If the choice is between "authoritarians" and "totalitarians," choose the "authoritarians."
America's Politico - Just like you prognosticated - Hillary won!
"I call it Deface the Nation". Bravo Trump.
America's Politico has been so right for so long he is tired of all the winning.
I particularly like his line-up of projected winners--Kamala Harris(Willie Brown's girlfriend), Cory Booker (Jeff Sessions? Do I love him or do I hate him?), Elizabeth Warren (Fauxcahontas), and Mark Warner (Who he?).
I have thought for a long time that Mr. A. Politico is a joke poster with a great line on straight-faced irony. Keep up the good work, Mr. A. Politico!
If the choice is between "authoritarians" and "totalitarians," choose the "authoritarians."
Name a totalitarian thing that any party other than Republicans forced on you, Special Snowflake.
The Republicans outsource their totalitarianism to religious wackos, small towns, uneducated fools, billionaire corporate raiders. Those are the things and people that Republicans want to have the most clout to restrict your decisions and boss you around.
They'd do it themselves, but they're too lazy to do anything, of course.
So this is how the agony of defeat expresses itself.
Outsourcing totalitarianism. Really?
Kinda the opposite of totalitarianism, then, is what you're sayin'.
You could also call it "Fake the Nation."
Or just "The Nation" or "mother Jones"
... and Schumer's going around making a fool out of himself.
As Peggy Noonan wrote last week, Trump is fortunate in his enemies.
Trump didn't make up the phrase "Deface the Nation." And what, really was the point of insulting John Dickerson and the program in that way? Trump did it earlier in the week, as well. It isn't clever; it certainly isn't original. For that matter, it is much like Trump's pointless, tasteless and mindless insult of John McCain, saying that he (Trump) preferred "people who weren't captured." Which was a well-worn comedy line, mostly courtesy of our old friend and moral leader, Al Franken.
Blogger Sammy Finkelman said...right now, deductibles are so high, you never -- unless you're going to die a long, hard death, you never can get to use your health care because the deductibles are so high." That's basically not a wrong statement. I think maybe, though you could $6,000 without that. This also applies to people who don't get subsidies.
Sammy, I pay (just my cost) about $10,000 a year in premiums just to have the $6,400 annual deductible apply before I get another penny of covered medical expense, in a network that is narrower every year. Oh wait, it does cover a colonoscopy every 10 years and something they define as wellness visits, that are defined so as not to exist.
If you add the premium ir's really even higher till you actually benefit.
I was just sayibg that you could reach the deductible without being on the way to dying along hard death - a few weeks in the hospital or something likle that, open heat surgery.
I don't think this is anything good. If the deductible is something like $6,000 - and it does hgo higher, the premium should e very very low. $1,000 at most. Some of the politicians doing this law making don't seem to understand what is too much - they are way overestinating what is tolerable.
And I'm not getting into Medicaid sending abill for $15,000 for one year's coverage because someone got a job, and didn'tt cancel this very quickly, or maybe even it can't be cancelled.
The "Dear John" interview. Nunc dimittus.
The media are still not quite grasping reality!
Trump does have a point regarding dying hard and slow. I give my employees a 100% employer paid HMO plan (employee only, not spouse or family, the difference for those is paid by the employee) and with Obamacare the deductible is $6,000. What good is giving an employee a benefit they can't really benefit from? Mind you that is with the employee paying no-coinsurance. I did manage to find a gap insurance plan to in essence lower the deductible to $3,000 but this is getting out of control and Obamacare hasn't even been fully implemented. I know people who have refused to take a better paying job simply because the health insurance would be too expensive for them elsewhere.
"And what, really was the point of insulting John Dickerson and the program in that way?"
Turn about is fair play, they have been insulting my intelligence for decades..
"And what, really was the point of insulting John Dickerson and the program in that way?"
Well, he could have gone on Press the Meat.
"Name a totalitarian thing that any party other than Republicans forced on you, Special Snowflake."
What is the ACA for 800 Alex.
Special snowflake indeed
What is the ACA for 800 Alex.
And the consequence of that on you has been what, exactly?
Other than the availability of coverage to 20 million other Americans that you hate and resent, of course.
Curbing your ability to hate and have contempt for other Americans by limiting their medical access is not a form of totalitarianism. If you hate the poor and uninsured, you're free to say that. You don't however have the freedom to MAKE the private or public sector deprive them, however.
I know. So unfair. So mean to you.
"... and Schumer's going around making a fool out of himself."
Liked that. Schumer is one of Trump's most serious, most dangerous, opponents. Guy is smart and a pretty good tactician. Trump needs to get a good meme going there. Get a good nickname to stick. I liked "head clown", and this is similar. One of the problems may be that they are probably on a first name basis, and have been for years. We shall see.
cubanbob said...
Trump does have a point regarding dying hard and slow. I give my employees a 100% employer paid HMO plan (employee only, not spouse or family, the difference for those is paid by the employee) and with Obamacare the deductible is $6,000. What good is giving an employee a benefit they can't really benefit from? Mind you that is with the employee paying no-coinsurance. I did manage to find a gap insurance plan to in essence lower the deductible to $3,000 but this is getting out of control and Obamacare hasn't even been fully implemented. I know people who have refused to take a better paying job simply because the health insurance would be too expensive for them elsewhere.
I take comments like this with the utmost respect and seriousness. I've been an employee in that position. I am genuinely sympathetic. We need reform.
Now, I ask; has Donald J. Trump ever spoken seriously about the hard choices that need to be made and what the trade offs are?
I say again as I did yesterday; I was offended at the way that Trump -- in campaign-style -- promised that crowd in Harrisburg great care and coverage at a fraction of what they were paying now. But he didn't waste a single sentence on how he'd do it. And then he turned to two Pennsylvania congressmen on the stage with him and told them to get it done ASAP.
All grand promises come from Trump. Any credit for anything that gets accomplished, gets claimed by Trump. But the hard work is being done by congressional Republicans. With little thanks or credit from the press, or certainly any Democrats, and not much help or shared credit from Trump. And nothing but weekly critical whippings from the Limbaugh/Hannity/Levin/Savage crowd.
In about ten minutes of looking online, I see a band called Meat Depressed released their album "Deface the Nation" (featuring their hit single, "Time to Fuck") almost 20 years ago.
Fully ten years ago, Rush Limbaugh was using "Deface the Nation" to ridicule the network news. Michael Savage has used it since then.
And I don't know how many years ago it was that The Second City comedy troupe titled one of their reviews "DeFace the Nation."
Trump didn't invent it and his hamfisted use of it at this point is downright weird.
You are such a bore Chuck. And the fact that you researched the "Deface a Nation" history...seriously? Douchenugget.
Comments go much faster when there are so many I don't have to read.
"I think he doesn't understand the way the health care market works now. "
That's easy. It doesn't.
People here seem not to understand that the president does not write legislation.
Curious George said...
You are such a bore Chuck. And the fact that you researched the "Deface a Nation" history...seriously? Douchenugget.
Well I did it for myself. Trump raised it as a kind of an odd little issue, choosing to repeat it in an awkward setting, and then suggested that "Deface the Nation" is what he calls the program. As if it was a cute little number that he just invented. For a show that Trump says he loves. "Loves," sarcastically, I suppose.
It is Trump's personal strangeness that I am focussing on. These bizarre personal pathologies, that Althouse so frequently overlooks and that so many of her readers seemingly want to ignore.
"what, really was the point of insulting John Dickerson and the program in that way? Trump did it earlier in the week, as well. It isn't clever; it certainly isn't original."
The point, Chuck, is that John Dickerson got to hear it straight from the president of the United States, on tape so it lives forever, and he had to sit there and take it.
It's called speaking truth to power, Chuck, and when you're fighting the bastards, the best weapon is to tell the truth.
Granted, it's not a line I would have chosen, but it's better than nothing.
Michael K said...
...
People here seem not to understand that the president does not write legislation.
The president signs, or vetoes, legislation. The president isn't a legislator in that sense; he's a super-legislator. He's also the commander of the national bully pulpit. He has the entire Executive Branch at his disposal, to craft legislative proposals. And as the de facto leader of his political party, he has a vast policy apparatus at his disposal to work up model legislation.
But okay; if someone says that working up legislation is the job of Congress and not the President... Then how's about if Donald Trump just shuts the fuck up about promising what health care reform will look like and what it can do?
I call it Deface the Nation.
I'm not sure whether to trust someone who is as juvenile as I am, or whether to distrust someone who has never lost their childlike senses of wonder and abusive sarcasm.
"Other than the availability of coverage to 20 million other Americans that you hate and resent, of course."
Oh good, they'll have had coverage for 4 years. At the cost of destroying the individual medical insurance market and increasing health insurance costs for everyone by the billions. If Trump and the Congress leave the PPACA as it currently stands, the individual insurance market is going to completely collapse in 2018.
"And what, really was the point of insulting John Dickerson and the program in that way?"
Well it made me laugh, that was good.
Trump roasted the Fourth Estate and I don't think they liked to be treated as they treat others.
Trump sent a signal to his voters by calling it "Deface the Nation".
So called fopdoodle, Chuck, cannot understand the value of connecting to supporters in language the supporters use.
My lefty Facebook feed is decidedly glum today. No "gotcha moments" from the poorly attended journalist circle jerk last night. By the time Colbert and John Oliver get to mug and high five themselves people have already moved on. Whats the fun of lighting a sack of dog crap on Trumps porch if its pouring down rain and you can't get your lighter to work. Sad!
"I say again as I did yesterday; I was offended at the way that Trump -- in campaign-style -- promised that crowd in Harrisburg great care and coverage at a fraction of what they were paying now. But he didn't waste a single sentence on how he'd do it. A"
It's called competition and it has the wonder capacity to drive prices down. Markets are interesting things.
Rusty said...
...
It's called competition and it has the wonder capacity to drive prices down. Markets are interesting things.
Um, okay. Exactly what is planned, competition-wise, to cover everyone (as Trump says) at vastly reduced costs (as Trump says).
There are of course thoughtful conservatives who argue that while some care costs keep going up and up, some of the "open-market" procedures like lasik or bariatric surgery (often not paid for by insurance, and therefore price-conscious consumers demanded and then got better service for lower prices through competition).
But it is a challenge to apply that model throughout all of health care. Some high-tech elective procedures benefit from technological gains that other sectors of the industry will not. And consumers don't get to shop, when they need an emergency coronary-artery bypass graft.
And please don't try to fool me that competition across state lines by health care insurers will supply a gigantic cost reduction. It never would; and consumers will likely have very big problems if they buy a health insurance policy from an insurer in Nevada, while they live in Wisconsin, and find out that Nevada has very different rules and regulations from their home state, and they have to go to the Nevada Insurance Commissioner to complain about a denial of coverage.
See, I can find room for an interesting discussion on this topic. But Trump isn't supplying anything of interest. Trump is just talking like the used car salesman of our nightmares. Bland promises of greatness, without a notion of whether it is remotely true.
"I'd rather have the federal government focused on North Korea, focused on other things, than your knee"
Who says Trump isn't a "constitutional conservative"?
Trump is just a gaffe machine, in the sense of a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.
Chuck,
The whole point is to remove the ACA taxes on rich folks that redistribute dough to health care for not rich folks.
The Rs in congress voting for this give exactly zero Fs re anything (e.g. folks getting health care) but tax cuts for rich folks.
Sometimes Rs are for health care benefits, but only when paid for w/ deficits, i.e. not taxes on rich folks. E.g., the prescription drug benefit. If the Rs must self-deal to get their tax cuts for rich folks passed, they may go ahead and continue to fund the ACA benefits while removing the taxes on rich folks that pay for them.
A hundred days in, it's hard to see that this time is different than the W days of unpaid for tax cuts and spending. If this time it's just tax cutting and spending, and not also the additional expense of R wars, I guess that's an improvement over the W years.
"He's also the commander of the national bully pulpit. "
"Then how's about if Donald Trump just shuts the fuck up about promising what health care reform will look like and what it can do?"
Would you please make up that thing you call your mind ?
Sheesh !
Michael K said...
"He's also the commander of the national bully pulpit. "
"Then how's about if Donald Trump just shuts the fuck up about promising what health care reform will look like and what it can do?"
Would you please make up that thing you call your mind ?
Sheesh !
Well, it's Trump's choice! He can be part of planned legislation, and make the hard choices, and try to sell it; or he can let Congress do it (as you seem to suggest) in which case he should butt out. It is the same dichotomy you set out, and to which I responded.
But let's face it, Michael; Trump can't lead on health care reform very well, because he is so basically ignorant on the subject. So maybe it is the better choice that he stays out and lets Congress write legislation on complex topics.
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