I watched it alone and clapped several times especially when he called out the LIES of the media, interest groups and chastised republican for participating in those LIES. He was firm and yes he needs to stay firm.

Joan did you love the Catholic guilt at the end with the Kennedy comments. It was a perfect wrap up to the strong positions earlier.

Obama offered republicans an open door to work together. Nice move, but they won't. It it obvious the republicans have no intention of even making an effort of working with the Obama administration or Democrats in Congress. Since the mid 90s the republican party has become the party of Obstruction and divisiveness. They have no interest in this country moving forward. Republican rather see a lose for Obams's policies than progress for our nation. Even John McCain, accepting his recognition with a smirk has no intention of voting for reform.

Obama tested the waters with republican. He and the Democrats now know they need to go it alone. Obama now needs to remain firm, and spend his time twisting the arms of the Blue DOGs making sure that they support the public option.

We don't need the republicans. Democrats have a majority because the American voters wanted change and progress, not divisiveness. So Democrats need to join forces and go it alone.

Obama was great. Fir, determined, backed the pubi option, stuck it to the republican LIES apporriately and ended wiht a little Catholic guilt.

Obama did not win on votes from Democrats alone, not even left wing Democrats. Many republicans and independents, who vote with which ever way the wind blows, also voted for Obama. Unless the republicans start showing they care about this country and start acting civil and come up with a moderate candidate next time, they don't have a chance.

Anything close to Sara Palin will send the moderate republicans and independents to the Democrats once again. If the keeps complaining and far left is stupid enough to not vote for Obama, then they will get what they deserve.

I find it very curious there is never any big public discussion, or even too much discussion Congress when it comes to pouring billions into these unnecessary wars. Health care reform and a pubic option will do more to protect our national defense than those wars.

The U.S. is falling behind the rest of the world. We produce to many under educated students, we don't provide our citizens with health care or pensions. Countires in Europe can bring younger people into the market because older people can afford to retire.

For decades, the right in the U.S. has been predicting the down fall of Europeon Democracies because of their socialist health care, and pensions. Yet it is the U.S which is in a downward spiral. We can save it, Let's start with Universal health care for all.

I favor a public option. All reforms are going to take time to kick in, I would accept a trigger, but not less. It' going to take time to decide how to implement a pubic option, so a trigger might work.

Truth is Democrats don't need republicans to pass this. Obama needs to just work on the centrist Democrats in the Senate who are obstructing it. Reid is not help at all. It's REid's job to bring the Senate together.

Camille never stays on topic, and her writing rambles from one subject to anther without any transition or connection from one subject to another. It's just rambling. It is amazing to me she is a professor and get published at all.

It's obvious is she hoping for Obama to fail. Go give him a chance he's not even been in office one year, and he inherited 2 war, a disaster of an economy, an on top of that is the racist, right wing hatred from FOX.

After that the pre-born's right to life trump her rights like it or not.

-- MasterOTO

Bull. You have a total disregard for women, and their rights.

Women's' lives and health are always more important. Besides the rights of the woman and the FETUS were equally protected under Roe until the late term health ban, which allows for a callous disregard for a woman's health.

Human life begins at birth!

This is not a make or break speech. It is also not a make or break deal if health care reform does not get passed before the end of the year. Pundits have declared Obama in trouble because the MSM and blogs preferred to cover the right wing THUGs at town hall meetings instead the majority supporting reform. Liberals are declaring they won't vote for Obama without a public opotion, the far right loves it all. The health care debate only started just before the August recess. Only the House has produced a bill. The Senate bills are still in committee so the real debate in Congress is just beginning.

Frankly I don't think Obama should be giving this speech , instead he should just be twisting the arms of the centrist Democrats and get this passed with a public option. The public option and all reform will take a while to kick in anyway.

Voters need to show cnetrist Democrats and the republicans they need to play or pay.

The right needs help. Are all those chemicals in the in the food they eat affecting their brains? They should try a farmers market. It's the way the United States farmers used to raise their food. I suppose next they will be against people having their own gardens.

real guns are. Wee should ban the sale of guns in this country unless they are for hunting. Of course I may change my mind if the right wing gets any crazier.