Live Blogging the President's Health Care Address

7:16--Here we go! Don't want to throw anything at the TV. Yet. I am not optimistic about this speech.

7:18--Think he struck about the right tone on the economic recovery by pointing out success in pulling the economy "back from the brink" but acknowledging work ahead and committing to do that work.

7:19--"Not the first President to take up this call, but I am determined to be the last." Like the fight. Let's see the substance.

7:20--Framing the state of affairs as a failure is good.

7:21--Hadn't heard the "30m who can't get health insurance" number before. Can't because they can't afford it, or, because of pre-existing conditions?

7:24--Going at the cost issue now. Not sure how he is going to wriggle around needing the public option to bring in competition and drive down costs.

7:28--"The time for games has passed". The Obama v Congress things would have been so much better earlier this summer, but, it may still work.

7:29--The Beef, Part I: You got insurance? Great. You can keep it. But, we make it better:
a) no more exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
b) illegal for insurance companies to drop policies on sick.
c) illegal for insurance companies to set coverage caps.
d) set limits on out-of-pocket expenditures
e) require insurance companies to cover preventive care, e.g., colonoscopy

7:32--The Beef, Part II: No insurance? Ok. We got an insurance exchange for you where you can shop, leveraging the law of large numbers to keep prices down. Insurance companies have an incentive to participate because there is money to be made.

7:35--The Beef, Part III: What about those who don't want health insurance? They are costing us money. People will be required to carry basic health insurance and businesses will be required to provide as well. ~95% of small businesses exempt. "Improving our health care requires everyone to do their part".

7:38--What was that? Somebody shouted out something that made Pelossi and Biden blanch. Will be interested to find out who it was and what they said--it was in response to Obama's calling the claim that reform would include coverage for illegal aliens.

7:41--Sounds like the same asshole said something when Obama said he didn't want to put health insurance companies out of business.

7:41--Defense of the Public Option, starting now. Come on, Obama. Make the case.

7:43--Saving from lower admin costs, no profits.

7:44--He refers to the public option as part of "my plan". Surprising. But also opens to door to a law that doesn't have it.

7:45--"If Americans can't find affordable insurance, we will provide you with a choice." That seems to be his line in the sand. I wonder where we can wiggle from there?

7:46--How are we paying for it? Will not sign on to a bill with a plan that will add to the deficit.

7:47--Most of this can be paid for by reducing waste. Contentious point, let's see how he makes it.

7:49--What are these Medicare subsidies to doctors that are going away?

7:52--Fee for insurance companies' most expensive policies. Makes a lot of sense. These plans add no measurable results in terms of health outcomes.

7:53--Very clever bone tossed to the Republicans on malpractice insurance. Will be interesting to see how this is fleshed out.

7:54--Bending the arc.

7:55--Here's the [political] plan: If you're serious, my door is open. If you just want to kill the plan rather than make it better, pound sand. If you talk shit, we will call you on it.