Once they get it, people like universal health insurance
Buried in the results of last week’s poll of Massachusetts votersby the Washington Post was a number that explains a lot of the politics behind the health-insurance reform controversy.
The pollster asked the following question:
As you may know, Massachusetts has a law that is aimed at assuring that virtually all Massachusetts residents have health insurance. Given what you know about it, in general, do you support or oppose the Massachusetts Universal Health Insurance Law?
A startling 68 percent of voters in an electorate that seated a Republican said they support the state’s universal health care system, while only 27 percent oppose it. Even among Scott Brown voters, 51 percent supported the law and 44 percent opposed it.
Once implemented, in other words, universal health insurance became overwhelmingly popular (the Mass. law was passed in 2006). That’s the Republicans’ worst nightmare; that’s one big reason they are fighting this so hard.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
242 comments Add your comment
Matilda
January 28th, 2010
12:15 pm
Except haters, of course. I mean, they’ll TAKE the medical care and subsidized Viagra, but they won’t like it!
Curious Observer
January 28th, 2010
12:21 pm
Georgia’s state agencies spent $457.4 million in federal stimulus dollars over the last three months, funding 20,007 jobs, says a state report.
AJC, 1/28/2010
We don’t need no stinking stimulus (that don’t provide no jobs anyway) and we don’t need no universal health insurance neither. Course, if they put it out there, we’d be a fool not to use it.
joan
January 28th, 2010
12:24 pm
Yes, but then Jay, you are talking about statewide healthcare–healthcare at the state, rather than the federal level. I think people believe they have a bigger say in what goes on in their state than they do with what goes on in the federal government. Of course too, you have to look at the percentage of entitlement classes in any given state to figure whether that state would be likely to support or not. The more leeches there are in the system, the less likely the taxpayer is going to support any healthcare bill. Unfortunately, we have a growing class of dependents in this country, and the healthcare bill proposed is simply unsustainable. They will collect taxes for 3 years to support it before offering it, and it will be out of money within a very short time after benefits begin to be paid. Big government equals big corruption. The feds ought to clean up the corruption in Medicare/Aid right now, and save billions of dollars. But they don’t.
El Jefe
January 28th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jay,
You have to understand, Health care at the state level is a responsible move, at the federal level it is not constitutional.
BTW, how is it doing budget wise? How many are still uninsured?
Mick
January 28th, 2010
12:30 pm
Yes, medicare for all wouldn’t that be great?
Paul
January 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
Jay
And that level of support was in spite of increasing costs and other ‘difficulties’ often cited by those outside Massachusetts as to why it’s not a good thing.
And let’s not forget – that was a Romney plan, backed by Sen Brown. Should make for interesting theater if Romney’s a candidate.
joan
There’s a difference between a universal plan as we see in MA and the plan that died in Congress to provide a means of insurance for the currently uninsured. Comparing the cost structures of the two is simply inaccurate.
Jimmy62
January 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
1. The constitution does not say state governments can’t do this, but it does say that the federal government cannot do this
2. The system you are lauding is bankrupting that state
3. Of course people like it, who doesn’t like free money? Let’s just take every dollar kept by the top 1% and distribute it to everyone else. That would be politically very popular, but is it fair and just? is it the right thing to do? Does it violate the principles our country was founded on, as universal national health insurance would?
BTW, once you remove consideration of risk from pricing, it’s no longer insurance, it’s stealing from the rich to give to the poor (or from the healthy to the sick). Either way, it’s not even close to the definition of insurance, so please stop using words that are lies.
Southern Comfort
January 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
I have a question for all the retired or active duty military that blog here. Are you willing to give up your “government run” healthcare?
NJ
January 28th, 2010
12:31 pm
P.S, 80 percent of the interest on the debt is for past defense spending. That comes to about 380 billion. Put together the tax cuts, spending for two wars started by the previous administration and interest on the defense debt and you get 90 percent of the 2010 deficit
I Report :-) You Whine :-( mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
January 28th, 2010
12:32 pm
Taxachussetts has it, they voted overwhelmingly against it, what is the moonbat talking about?
Paul
January 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
jimmy62
[[but it (the Constitution) does say that the federal government cannot do this]]
Citation?
Jess
January 28th, 2010
12:36 pm
Big difference. Mass. passed a bill to assure everyone had health insurance. Obama and congress are selling comprehensive health care reform. Had they simply said we want a bill which will assure everyone who needs it has coverage, it would have been a lot smoother ride. Mass. worked within the system. Obama wants to control the system.
This is why Scott Brown supported the Mass. plan, but rejects the Federal plan.
Mr. Miyagi
January 28th, 2010
12:37 pm
It’s good enough for the goose, but not the gander. Peeps love social programs they benefit from, when it benefits thy neighbor….not so much! It’s the true Christian mantra….
getalife
January 28th, 2010
12:38 pm
Andy,
They have State run health care they like and don’t want to replace it with the corporate welfare Senate bill.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
12:41 pm
Universal health insurance now!
Of course they like universal health insurance. There’s nothing not to like about it.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
Hi Jenifer
Glad you’re back. Could you please clarify the ‘fascist’ comment?
Jimmy62
January 28th, 2010
12:43 pm
Paul: The power to regulate health insurance is not specifically laid out in the Constitution, thus it would fall under the Interstate Commerce Clause… Except if you live in Georgia, you cannot purchase a policy in Kentucky, thus health insurance is NOT interstate commerce, and Congress cannot, under the Constitution, do this.
Peadawg
January 28th, 2010
12:44 pm
Ike I’ve said…with how many loop holes there are in Medicaid…the US government DOES NOT need to run another health insurance program.
getalife
January 28th, 2010
12:44 pm
They just voted to raise the debt ceiling to 12.4 trillion.
It passed. 60-39.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
12:48 pm
Conservatives Love Universal Health Care Once It Happens, And Scott Brown Is No Exception
Once this passes, the hysteria will recede. Subsidized health insurance exchanges will soon be the new status quo. The usual suspects will line up to defend the status quo. republicants will eventually win elections by promising to protect health care spending from cuts, while insisting that whatever new reform proposal the Democrats have is crazified socialism.
And the circle of life will continue.
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/01/conservatives-love-universal-health-care-once-it-happens-and-scott-brown-is-no-exception.php
Ponder
January 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
“…that’s one big reason they are fighting this so hard.”…
Great job Jay — you’ve nailed the reason!! We’ll just ignore the backroom LA, NE and union deals, etc…
Ragnar Danneskjöld
January 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
At least, they like it so long as they can go to the US to get their critical needs addressed. Thank goodness we have leftist overlords to tell us what we need.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Jimmy62
Thanks for the information.
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
12:49 pm
Problem is some folks refuse to get it.
The “I got mine” club.
Universal Single Payor and please hurry.
I have a grandchild on the way….it’s real personal now.
They lost their healthcare coverage which scares them, but
are grateful for the Presidents help with COBRA.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
12:51 pm
Jenifer
[[Conservatives Love Universal Health Care Once It Happens, And Scott Brown Is No Exception]]
As noted earlier, the MA plan we spearheaded by Mitt Romney. Brown fought for its passage.
So… what you’re advocating is a Republican plan, eh?
Yosarian
January 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
hey Amvet;
I came across this article and thought of you…it seems to echo the theme of many of your posts.
(I found this while researching Clinton’s bailout of American Banks who had invested heavily in risky Mexican Bonds back in the 90s and lost their a$$es- you know the rest of that story).
http://mises.org/rothbard/WSBanks.pdf
Jay
January 28th, 2010
12:56 pm
Yeah, Ponder, because until that stuff surfaced the GOP was really being supportive, right?
How many GOP reps voted for the House bill, which had none of those provisions?
The answer is one, with 176 voting against.
jconservative
January 28th, 2010
12:58 pm
You can thank Mitt Romney for the Mass. law. And you can thank Romney for the fact that it covers those at 300% of the poverty level. The House & Senate bills only covered at 125%. And Brown not only voted for it but fought for its passage.
What the Mass voters sent to DC was a Liberal in Conservative clothing.
Watch your sheep!
HG3
January 28th, 2010
12:59 pm
A general observation on how to be canned from this Blog…
The Express Lane to The Bookman Choir Invisible:
1) Post something moderately uninformed, unsupported, etc.;
2) Get called out;
3) Submit another post trying to justify 1), above;
4) Be roundly ridiculed;
5) Backed into a corner, either:
a. Launch on the blog something beyond 1), above, that is truly indefensible, often linked to Timothy McVeigh or other right-wing psychotics; or
b. Retreat into juvenile or inappropriate name calling; then
6) Walk the Long Green Mile.
Mick
January 28th, 2010
12:59 pm
**They just voted to raise the debt ceiling to 12.4 trillion.**
A trillion here, a trillion there, who’s counting anymore? By the way, what comes after a trillion?
RB from Gwinnett
January 28th, 2010
1:00 pm
I’d think it was a great idea too if I didn’t have to pay for it.
Why is it so hard for you fake compasionate liberals to understand none of this can be sustained? More and more people will join the welfare class because it’s easier than working and fewer and fewer will be left to pay for it all.
The truth of the matter is nearly every one of you liberals only cares about these poor “less fortunate” souls as long as it’s somebody else doing the helping and somebody else paying for it. When you’re ready to let some poor family live with you or pay for their healthcare, then you’re showing compassion for them. Whining on a blog and voting to spend other peoples money doesn’t qualify.
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
1:01 pm
it’s mutating…..
Jay
January 28th, 2010
1:01 pm
It’s always interesting to see how outraged some on the right appear to be at learning that politicians cut deals in exchange for votes, as happened with the health-insurance bill. They claim ignorance of the fact that such deals haven’t been cut for centuries.
For example, if you want to talk in terms of bribery and intimidation, the GOP’s handling of the prescription drug bill sets the standard by which all else should be measured:
Here’s the account from the conservative Club for Growth, just to refresh your memory:
“Members were promised pork barrel projects. They were threatened with primary challengers. The President, who had just returned from Britain, called lawmakers at 5:00 in the morning to round up a few more votes.
Todd Aiken of Missouri got a call from a state legislator earlier in the day, no doubt at the urging of the White House, threatening to run a primary challenge against him if he voted no. ….
But nothing compares to the disgusting behavior of the Republican leadership toward Michigan’s Nick Smith. Smith is retiring from the House and his son is running in a crowded field to succeed him. The leadership first offered unbelievable enticements to change his vote to a yes. First, they said that the leadership would take the unusual step of endorsing his son Brad in the tight primary race. Smith said no deal. Then they promised to raise $100,000 for Brad Smith if he voted yes. He still said no. Then several Republican leaders threatened that if he didn’t change his vote they would raise money for his son’s opponents. At this point, Nick’s wife called her son to tell him of the situation. Brad Smith phoned his dad and heroically told him to vote his conscience and to not worry about the House race. Smith stuck with his no vote. Several infuriated Republicans in the House were still fuming after the vote and taunted Nick Smith with threats that “we will make sure your son never wins this seat.” Ugly stuff.
By 5:00 a.m. many members were starting to suffer from sleep deprivation (was this done intentionally to break down their will to resist?). The drug bill was still stuck at a vote of 216-218. The vote count on the board had not moved in nearly an hour. Incredibly, the bill was going down to defeat. According to the Washington Post, on several occasions House Majority Leader Tom Delay was ready to throw in the towel and end the vote. Each time he was urged by the White House to hold off a little longer.
Then the White House and the Whip team tried one more desperation tactic. They went to two western state members, Trent Franks and Butch Otter, and told them that if they didn’t change their votes, the President would immediately instruct the House leadership to pass the Democratic version of the bill. These two were told that they were the only ones standing between passage of an even worse Medicare drug bill. I’m convinced the White House was bluffing and this was simply another scheme to peel off votes. We’ll never know, because Franks and Otter changed to yes votes after getting calls from the President and the bill passed 220-215 as two other lawmakers voted to be on the prevailing side.”
Now THAT’S some strong-arm tactics.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:02 pm
jconservative
[[What the Mass voters sent to DC was a Liberal in Conservative clothing.]]
Maybe what MA voters sent to DC was a kind of Republican not welcomed by the current activists for years, who represents the best hope for the Party to expand its reach beyond purity principles? You know, more socially liberal, more live and let live, yet still adhering to the fiscal principles?
Shawny
January 28th, 2010
1:06 pm
One of these bills is not like the other.
duh.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
Jay
I’ve often quipped one thing I didn’t care about Spkr Pelosi is how she out-DeLayed DeLay.
I may have to rethink that.
@@
January 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
I’ll pull from Governor McDonnell’s comments on this one:
Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.
Voters in a state can have an impact that stands separate from the rest of the nation. We’re not subject to catch the same disease that exists…..in say, California. We’re more inclined, locally, to get our ducks in a row rather than having the federal government take free shots at ducks from a blind in Washington.
Jay
January 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
So Shawny, if Obama had proposed universal health care a la Massachusetts, you and other Republicans would have supported it?
Is that what you’re saying?
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
1:08 pm
“Except if you live in Georgia, you cannot purchase a policy in Kentucky,”
Yeah? Then why is MY insurance BC/BS of ALABAMA?
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
1:09 pm
RB
Stuff and nonsense.
It is not only sustainable but in the end it will be more cost effective.
I remember my Granny being scared of giving up her wringer washer…..she got over it.
thomas
January 28th, 2010
1:11 pm
Some strong arm,
Some just give s*it away.
I am all for each state offering health care to its residents. But it should be a power of the state, not of the nation. Especially since the health and wellness of each state vary.
But since our politicians in washington are sooo in tune with what everyday Americans want, fear and need you’re right they should be the ones to control the health care.
md
January 28th, 2010
1:12 pm
The current bill has no conditions attached for the subsidies it will create.
Our current “entitlement” programs are on a course of unsustanability.
The “baby boomers” will expand all programs exponentially.
Question for those in favor:
If there are no conditions other than income threshold, how long and at what cost would it be before those just north of the threshold figure out it is better to not make as much in order to actually make more.
Dangerous game we are playing. At what point do we allow the system to fail for everyone while trying to protect the few. I doubt those in favor now would be happy when all programs are discontinued when the country can longer pay the bills.
USA or USSR – don’t be foolish enough to think it can’t happen here. Income IS a finite resource, and the bills are pretty darn high.
MaJo
January 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
Jay, like most people on the extreme left or right, will rationalize their own bad behavior by pointing out the same bad behavior by the people at the other end of the spectrum. “If the other person is doing it, it’s okay for me too.” I’m sure you taught your children differently.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
1:14 pm
Inhofe Calls Obama A Great Liar, Says ‘Most’ Of State Of The Union Speech ‘Wasn’t True.’
When Inhofe isn’t playing the “lying for Jesus” game…he’s playing the “lying for Bush” game. To use his own line against him: “I thought this guy can say things that are untrue with greater conviction than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/28/inhofe-obama-lie/
RB from Gwinnett
January 28th, 2010
1:16 pm
Jay, you act like bringing light to R failures is some revelation. Here’s a clue for you since you haven’t been paying attention….
Conservativee have been irate about the way thinks like the prescription drug deal was done and thats why the R’s got clobbered in 2006 and Obama even had a chance at winning. Pay attention!
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
1:18 pm
CBS sure did open the door:
“CBS is reportedly considering running an ad from gay dating site Mancrunch, FOX News reports:
“The 30-second spot shows two men excitedly watching the game, before their hands brush as they both reach into a bowl of chips. Suddenly, the two begin making out, much to the shock of a guy sitting close by. According to a rep for the dating site, which operates under the slogan ‘Where Many Many Many Men Come Out to Play,’ the ad was submitted on Monday, January 18th. When the site followed up on the status of the ad on Friday, January 22nd, they were told by CBS that ‘the spot hadn’t been officially approved yet’ by network standards, and that ‘all the Super Bowl spots were sold out.’ …
“ManCrunch requested the spot get reviewed anyway just in case another advertiser drops out and a spot becomes available, as often happens, and CBS agreed,” added the site’s rep. ManCrunch officials said they believe CBS has no intention of airing a commercial for their gay dating service, ‘but do not want to officially ‘reject’ the spot out of fear there may be a backlash from gay advocacy groups.’ However, a representative from the network told Pop Tarts that advertising spots were still open, and was unsure where that comment originated. ‘The ad is still under review, the process takes a little while,’ a rep from CBS said. ‘We still have a lot of ads we have yet to review.’
Its important to note that the ad from Mancrunch is not an “advocacy” ad by any means, and accepting it would not indicate that they have made good on their word that ads from groups like the UCC would now be accepted.
Now, if CBS rejected it based on the fact that it contains a gay kiss, that would be an entirely different story, given the fact that a few years years ago they accepted a homophobic ad for Snickers which mocked a gay kiss.”
I wonder how Tebow/Dobson would react to this ad?
danjonglee
January 28th, 2010
1:18 pm
Universal coverage is vital for Democrat majorities for years to come….How hard is that to understand..?
@@
January 28th, 2010
1:20 pm
DANG, jay!!! Your condescending attitude to your guests, here, is most unbecoming.
I need to scrub my toilets, but just know…..I’ll be thinking of you.
Jefferson
January 28th, 2010
1:23 pm
All my English friends like their system.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
“Problem is some folks refuse to get it.
The “I got mine” club.
Universal Single Payor and please hurry.
I have a grandchild on the way….it’s real personal now.
They lost their healthcare coverage which scares them, but
are grateful for the Presidents help with COBRA.”
GG,
I’m tickled for you about your grandchild.
Will COBRA take care of the costs?
Bosch
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
RIP J.D. Salinger
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:26 pm
Shawny
C’mon, that 1:07’s the crux of the issue!
Hi Jenifer
So, from the continued nonresponse, I take it you do not think the Fascist label applies to conservative, hardright Republicans?
Which is good, as the historical Fascist model has much more alignment with…. farfarfarleft Liberals!
Really! Interesting concept, eh? So next time you read on one of the farfarLeft sites about ‘Republican Nazis” and “jackbooted storm trooper neocons” you can correct them and say ‘no, actually that’s not historically accurate,’ yes?
Hi Mrs. Granny Godzilla
Which reminds me… what style of washer did you finally end up with?
Mick
January 28th, 2010
1:27 pm
Found it – here’s a shout out to al gore for helping to get this internet thing going.
Million
Billion
Trillion
Quadrillion (1000 Trillions)
Quintillion (1000 Quadrillions)
Amazing how 12.4 trillion now seems like a drop in the bucket! Have a good day all smart people..
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:27 pm
Jefferson
[[All my English friends like their system.]]
‘cept most single-payer advocates here wouldn’t care to copy how the Brits pay for it, I think –
Afternoon, Bosch!
Wow. You are correct, RIP. I wonder if his writings are still required reading in English lit classes?
thomas
January 28th, 2010
1:28 pm
Many english citizens have to purchase additional HC. And then travel out of country to have some modern surgeries and procedures.
Wonder Why?
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:29 pm
“Except haters, of course. I mean, they’ll TAKE the medical care and subsidized Viagra, but they won’t like it!”
First, Dont hate the players, hate the game.
Second, subsidized viagra…LOL.
Third…LMAO!
Del
January 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
Don’t know what kind of spin and or denial that’s going on here. Brown ran openly opposing the Obama, Pelosi, Reid government health care plan. Described himself as the 41’st vote against it in the Senate if elected. All the reports I’ve seen seemed to describe the Mass. plan as being unpopular among the Bay State folks. It would seem that those reports must have been accurate based on the outcome.
El Jefe
January 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
Southern Comfort,
Shall we examine how Tri-Care is funded?
Actually, Tri-care is a civilian managed health care system contracted by the DOD.
In 2004, TRICARE Management Activity re-aligned the previous twelve regions into three large regions, known as TRICARE North, TRICARE South, and TRICARE West. Services in these regions are provided by:
North – Health Net Federal Services
South – Humana Military Healthcare Services
West – TriWest Healthcare Alliance
All medical claims are processed by the following claims processing sub-contractors:
North and South – Palmetto Government Benefits Administration, or PGBA (a subsidiary of Blue Cross-Blue Shield of South Carolina)
West and overseas claims – Wisconsin Physicians Service
Yes, that was a cut and paste -
If the Congress approached health care like the military did, using prototyping and trials, that would be different.
It would behoove states to examine Tri-care and see if a similar program could be established within the states boundaries.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
thomas
Because the Brits recognize the realities of basic coverage for all while still allowing free market principles to operate for those who want to partake?
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
1:31 pm
“I wonder how Tebow/Dobson would react to this ad?”
I wonder if they would pull their ad.
This is all just too funny, you could not make this sh*t up!
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
1:32 pm
Hi, day crew, got time off (well, work at home) for good behavior!
jewcowboy–oh, no! Yenta’s gone into advertizing and catering to our market niche…will wonders never cease?
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:32 pm
I prefer the HCare system I currently have…the devil I know.
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
It’s known as the “lemming syndrome” ……………
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Del
[[Brown ran openly opposing the Obama, Pelosi, Reid government health care plan. ]]
The reason, I believe, was because MA already had a single-payer-type system and the plan put forth in Congress would add millions of dollars of liability onto the people of MA with no increase in benefit.
So it wasn’t a fight against the concept of health care reform, as he stated time and again, it was a fight against one particular plan.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
Obama/Fed Govt is forcing everyone to purchase a product. Dont like the sound of that. I like my current coverage…I will stay with the Obama I know vs the Obama I dont.
stands for decibels
January 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
Many english citizens have to purchase additional HC. And then travel out of country to have some modern surgeries and procedures.
Thomas, feel free to define “many.” And explain what sort of average annual per capita costs you’re talking about.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
1:38 pm
Health care, eh? Just got back from a routine doctor’s office visit which would have cost almost $600 if I didn’t have insurance, $35 co-pay…I want EVERYBODY to have what I’ve got…we’d be a much healthier, more productive society…
The comment that it would be better operated at the state level since the needs of various states vary–that would be fine and good if you could trust them to provide adequate and affordable health care. That’s not a moral judgment, but a fiscal one…
md
January 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
“The reason, I believe, was because MA already had a single-payer-type system and the plan put forth in Congress would add millions of dollars of liability onto the people of MA with no increase in benefit.
So it wasn’t a fight against the concept of health care reform, as he stated time and again, it was a fight against one particular plan.”
You mean liberals complaining about paying for others?????
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
josef nix,
“will wonders never cease?”
Now if Marriage Equality USA gets an ad on there, I will really be surprised.
Elder Spokesman
January 28th, 2010
1:41 pm
Jay,
It could just be me, but for the past couple of days your responses to your GOP bloggers seem to convey anger. Can’t we have differing opinions w/o being letting anger show through? What is causing anger in you? Is it the fact that your leftist agenda is teetering on the brink of collapse?
You don’t seem willing to compromise. Could your responses be typical of why it is so difficult to find appreciation for someone else’s opinions? How are your negotiating skills? Do you not see merit in tort reform and allowing private insurance companies to offer their products across state lines? I don’t mind seeing a small portion of the uninsured’s insurance costs being funded by those Americans who can afford it. Can reasonable people negotiate?
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
Hi josef nix
Been waiting for a segue (at the appropriate time) into the President’s DADT bombshell -
getalife
January 28th, 2010
1:42 pm
Obama is in full campaign mode.
That is his strength.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:43 pm
“Holden Caulfield grimaced as his long time friend, J D Salinger, hurdled over the edge”
Police Line Do Not Cross
January 28th, 2010
1:43 pm
Del:
Did you ever get out to the “Rockpile” ?
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
1:44 pm
Jenifer
We think so. No matter what Zillette #1 and “lil vito” will be well cared for. We’re driving up to Chicago tonight for a few days tosee my pop. First thing he’ll say to her? …when are you gonna have a baby? and she can say September…..
Paul
I’ll be damned if I remember the brand. Mid priced, front load, no on board computer, rather noisey – but so far it’s working like a champion.
I’d ask other members of the family to tell you about it, but I’m not sure they know where it is.
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:46 pm
Two general questions :
1) Why did Obama not recognize the two police officers in the gallery last night?
2) Does anyone know of an incident during the Vietnam War when the North Vietnamese came to the United States and committed a terrorist act ?
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
1:46 pm
Paul
I lied….top load…..no more front loaders for me.
Southern Comfort
January 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
El Jefe
The reason I ask that question here is, everyone I’ve asked who currently has that coverage wouldn’t give it up for the world. As you said, it might be beneficial for states or whomever to study how their system works. I haven’t found too many who have not been happy with the care.
Del
January 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
Paul,
On your 1:33pm, I agree with what you’re saying. Most regardless of political persuasion agree that we need health care reform. It’s how to go about it. The majority and I don’t think that there could be any realistic objective disagreement that the majority of Americans just don’t want the flavor of reform that has come out of congress. The message has gone out loud and clear. They really need to go back to the drawing board and come up with a bi-partisan solution.
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
1:48 pm
“Does anyone know of an incident during the Vietnam War when the North Vietnamese came to the United States and committed a terrorist act”
Ridgerunner…do YOU know of any incident where Iraqis came to the United States and committed a terrorist act?
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
1:48 pm
Why We Need A Public Health-Care Plan
Without the government as competition, the private sector has little incentive to improve.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580516633344953.html
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
To Doggone/GA:
I asked you first.
To All:
Headline: “Feinstein says Obama should move terror trials from NYC” Ooops ! Trouble in paradise again.
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
1:52 pm
“I asked you first”
Translation: No, I don’t know of any such incident.
Thanks for playing.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:53 pm
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:51 pm
Yapp…and after Obama gave Pelois a public smackdown there will be more to come.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
Why We do not Need A Public Health-Care Plan?
Because the majority of the US citizens say NO!
Yosarian
January 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
Elder Spokesman-1;41;
Yes, reasonable people can negotiate…
except for extremist progressive/liberals.
(it seems Jay is still mad that MA. voters broke the democrat taboo of turning to Fox news for an alternative to the state approved info sources).
Paul
January 28th, 2010
1:54 pm
Mrs. Granny Godzie
I was more interested in the type. Some new top loaders are good for using less water just like the front loaders . No computer? I use just a couple of settings even though ours has about a gazillion. Noisy? Hope there’s a door you can close!
Del 1:47
Yup, yup, and darn right!
SoCom
And I’ll bet if most of those military retiree Tricare beneficiaries had to pay the premiums themselves, not the taxpayers, they’d have heart attacks! Talk about Cadillac plans!
Not a criticism, mind you. Just a statement of reality. I’m fine with letting them have it.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
“1) Why did Obama not recognize the two police officers in the gallery last night?”
I’m pretty sure he did:
“Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: ”
Unless they weren’t Americans..but then they were guests…unless the were not distinguished.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
PAUL, BOSCH…
“Catcher” is still required reading in many schools…poor children..as my own high school Engrish teacher said, though. “just skip over the cuss words. You should be able to finish it in about an hour…”
chuck
January 28th, 2010
1:55 pm
Paul, citation? The Enumerated Powers Clause
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
1:56 pm
PAUL–
Just got in and haven’t had time to read the speech…didn’t tune in…what was said?
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
Doggone/GA:
Thank you for “not” playing. In the future, please ignore all of my posts. If you will, I will ignore yours.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
1:58 pm
josef nix,
Do you use the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary in your school?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dictionary27-2010jan27,0,5566022.story
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
jewcowboy :
I must admit, that is just about the best “dodge” response I have seen posted on here for awhile.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
Chocolate the clowns’ health care deform was put to a much more important poll than anything the washington post could commission..its called an election..only opinions of people who actually vote, matter…and obamacare went down to defeat.
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
“Thank you for “not” playing. In the future, please ignore all of my posts. If you will, I will ignore yours”
Awwww…did I spoil your fun?
chuck
January 28th, 2010
1:59 pm
from the other topic:
January 28th, 2010
12:43 pm
Jay, you never did answer my question about INDIVIDUAL campaign contributions. Dou you support limits on campaign contributions by individuals? If so, how can you justify that in light of your admitting that the 1st amendment applies to PEOPLE?
RW-(the original)
January 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
The Democrats took over Congress in 2007 claiming they would be the most transparent ever and the the Democrats took the White House in 2009 claiming the Obama administration would be the most transparent ever. I guess it’s easy to get away with that when you know full well that as soon as evidence to the contrary is put forth the Jay B’s of the world will go straight to the “so and so did it too” card.
/Drive by
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
2:00 pm
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
1:56 pm
Same thing he always says…
Southern Comfort
January 28th, 2010
2:01 pm
Paul
That goes towards my point. We already pay for “socialized”, to borrow the term from others, health care. I don’t see a mad rush to condemn or get rid of that system either. I don’t have a problem paying for coverage for those who put their lives on the line day in and day out. I’m always scratching my head at the “government doesn’t run anything right” crowd. They may or may not know about that system, but I’m sure there are many, even conservatives, who are familiar with it.
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
2:01 pm
To Doggone/GA:
Yep. I like debating not drivel. Do we have a deal?
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
Good afternoon Corporal, Are you having a bad day?
stands for decibels
January 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
In the future, please ignore all of my posts. If you will, I will ignore yours.
Why, that sounds like an Enemies List! You starting another one?
Del
January 28th, 2010
2:02 pm
Police,
Did some radio relay for teams operating there….came back stateside just before the Hill wars really got going in the spring of 67.
Doggone,
I think Ramsey Youseff of the first twin tower bombing was a former Iraq intel agent.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
2:03 pm
What were the cops doing there? Expecting a riot? Perhaps they were the fashion police?
Paul
January 28th, 2010
2:03 pm
chuck
So your position is, what, if it’s not there, it’s not a valid exercise of power?
josef nix
We’ve quite a squabble in these parts about textbooks. Lotsa parents don’t like the cussing stuff. I think they must really, really be out of touch with what many of their kids are saying or doing.
I remember a tv show – about schools in Boston, I think, guy who was the principle is a main character in Human Target – he’d found a young lady ’servicing’ another student in a stairwell. She was running for class pres and the guy promised to throw her his support in response for her… services. So the daughter’s sitting at a table, professional yuppie-looking parents standing behind her facing the principal who just said her daughter gave the guy a (whole words) BJ. The dad was apoplectic and the mom was yelling “How dare you! My daughter doesn’t even know what that means!!”
The daughter was choking, trying not to laugh.
Time for a late lunch -
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
2:03 pm
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
1:57 pm
Good afternoon Corporal, Are you having a bad day?
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
2:03 pm
“Do we have a deal?”
No
Peela
January 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
At one point when I had hit rock bottom, I had to put my child on Medicaid. At no time in my life would I EVER wish that people would have to use government healthcare because it is the most pathetic system that I’ve seen. Thank God that I’m in a better place now and have health insurance through my employer because government run healthcare is NOT good. At no point during the time that my son was on this crap did he have one specific dr. Now, don’t get me wrong: in the practice we attend now there are several dr.’s that he will see if he is ill, but for all of his check-ups, physicals, major problems, he see’s one dr. While he was on goverment healthcare, he never saw the same dr. twice, sometimes he didn’t even go to the same practice because literally EVERY MONTH the dr. that he was assigned to would stop taking government patients because it was dragging the practice into a financial hole- EVERY MONTH he had a new dr.! We only had to spend 4 months on the government health plan, but it was 4 months too long. Until you’ve been on it, you have no idea how bad it really is.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
2:04 pm
Boston Public. I think that was the show.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
@@
January 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
NO WAY…this is gonna get goooooddd!
@@
January 28th, 2010
2:06 pm
Whoa! Mary Landreau took a wide swing at Obama. In so many words, as politicians are oft to use, she said he wasn’t a leader. Basically resents his dumping the “fix it or else” bill in their laps while absolving himself of any blame.
Kewl!
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
2:07 pm
“I think Ramsey Youseff of the first twin tower bombing was a former Iraq intel agent”
and for that we waited, what? 10+ years to attack Iraq?
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
2:09 pm
Doggone/GA: One way deal then.
Del: Beautiful place. The only reason I mentioned it, I had a tiger follow me one morning way before dawn as we headed northwest …………. spooky ………
Sick&Tired
January 28th, 2010
2:10 pm
Peela, would you have rather paid the medical bills out of your pocket? If so, why sign-up for a government program; then complain about the service.
I’ve seen people who have insurance on the job (such as myself) who end up completely in debt, due to medical expenses.
In my opinion, you should be thankful you didn’t have to pay those bills.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
National Tea Party Convention Falls Apart: Bachmann And Blackburn Announce They Are Pulling Out.
I always love it when Karma kicks a$$. When do you think Sister Sarah will pull out? Maybe she can’t. That $100,000 speaker fee would be too much for her to pass up. As we all know, Sarah isn’t doing this for her priciples, but for money.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/28/bachmann-tea-convention/
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
“One way deal then.”
Yeah? Now we get to see how well you can keep deals with yourself.
Del
January 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
“and for that we waited, what? 10+ years to attack Iraq?”
Yeah… I agree, don’t know what took us so damn long.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
Ridgerunner,
“I must admit, that is just about the best “dodge” response I have seen posted on here for awhile.”
I’m curious as to why you think the President is required to acknowledge every single person by name in the gallery last night.
Or you just looking to nitpick about something?
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
2:13 pm
“I agree, don’t know what took us so damn long.”
I guess it’ll take 10 years to attack Saudi Arabia for the 911 attacks, too.
pat
January 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bull honkey…I have been treated by socialized medicine in Europe…It’s just enough, but barely. They give enough to get by that’s it…It’s far from ideal, if you need addtional help, it’s gonna take a while.
If you have a cold or flu, it’s fine serious stuff it sucks.
Southern Comfort
January 28th, 2010
2:14 pm
Bio information on Ramzi Yousef. I don’t think he was Iraqi at all.
http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/terrorists/ramzi-yousef/
“In late 1992, Yousef entered the country with a fake Iraqi passport and asked for asylum.”
and…
“There’s a school of thought that Yousef might have been working for Iraq instead of (or in combination with) al Qaeda, particularly since the first WTC bombing took place on the anniversary of the liberation of Kuwait by allied forces in the first Gulf War. However, most theories closely tying Yousef to the government Iraq tend to involve an amount of misdirection and arcane identity switching that’s extreme even by the labyrinthine standards of international terrorism. The connection has never been proven.”
Info on that page seems pretty factual. It may not be complete, as I am not a Yousef scholar.
Ridgerunner
January 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
It is my understanding that every President since at least Reagan has invited someone who performed some heroic act to sit in the gallery with/near the First Lady.
The President, usually near the start of his speech, would then acknowledge their presence, act of heroism, etc. as an inspiration to the American people.
It’s a simple question. Did Mr. Teleprompter forget?
If I am wrong, I will stand corrected.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
President Bush, like him or not, was genuine and always pointed out firemen, policemen, military heros in the gallary as his guests..I suspect obama does not travel in those circles…and a shout out to his homies in ACORN wouldn’t have gone over well politically..
Mmmmm Mmmmmmm Mmmmmmmmmmmm Chocolate the clown obama
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
2:18 pm
pat
then it’s a good thing universal single payer isn’t socialized medicine.
Is national health insurance ‘socialized medicine’?
No. Socialized medicine is a system in which doctors and hospitals work for and draw salaries from the government. Doctors in the Veterans Administration and the Armed Services are paid this way. The health systems in Great Britain and Spain are other examples. But in most European countries, Canada, Australia and Japan they have socialized health insurance, not socialized medicine. The government pays for care that is delivered in the private (mostly not-for-profit) sector. This is similar to how Medicare works in this country. Doctors are in private practice and are paid on a fee-for-service basis from government funds. The government does not own or manage medical practices or hospitals.
The term socialized medicine is often used to conjure up images of government bureaucratic interference in medical care. That does not describe what happens in countries with national health insurance where doctors and patients often have more clinical freedom than in the U.S., where bureaucrats attempt to direct care.
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq#socialized
So glad I could help you out……
Peela
January 28th, 2010
2:21 pm
Sick and Tired,
The only reason he was on it was because I knew it was going to be short term. If it WERE long term, I would have paid the medical bills out of my pocket until I could put him on my employers’ healthcare plan. Instead, his dad went back to work and put him on HIS healthcare plan. But, you are missing the point. If we were to get government healthcare, you may not have to pay the bills out of pocket, per se, but you WILL have to deal with shoddy healthcare. So, it’s up to you: stay on your plan that gives you good healthcare, at a price, OR go on the government dole and receive the crap they call healthcare that you don’t pay for, where you get marginal care because you had to keep going to a different dr. that wasn’t familiar with your health history. You truly DO get what you pay for and at this point in my life, I will NEVER have any of my immediate family members on government healthcare because I have wisened up and would rather pay out of pocket for medical expenses if I had no insurance and receive quality healthcare than die because the government is running it and we can’t get the proper treatment we need. From experience, this is what I would do, but you can’t justify this experience yourself because you’ve never had to be on the government healthcare plan. You may get to try it here soon, though.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
2:22 pm
outhouse, paul…
pulled it up and read that part…Ima Gonna…okay, whatever….
jewcowboy–
I use it with my fifth graders…just like from way back, the “good words” are all highlighted by the inquisitive little scholars…! We have a lesson on “bad words” and what makes them “bad…”
PAUL–
What to teach is always a big issue with the lit teachers especially. My high school English teacher, a magnificent old windmill tilter, taught the Song of Solomon, the Book of Esther, the Rubayyat, Anthony and Cleopatra and Peyton Place–the objective being, “see how low we’ve sunk in good smut in the 20th Century!”
getalife
January 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
I was looking forward to the tea convention.
Damn shame.
Del
January 28th, 2010
2:24 pm
“I guess it will take 10 years to attack Saudi Arabia for the 911 attacks, too”
I sure hope not because we could certainly use the oil not mention the revenue to bring down our national debt.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:24 pm
When I was deciding on whether i wanted the BMW 650i or the Lexus ISF, the accelerator pedal wasn’t big on the list compared to cool looks..
But since lexus is being recalled like all toyota models before the throttle sticks and they suddenly slam you into a brick wall or bridge abutment’, It seems I chose wisely..
Which proves my theory, I love german Engineering!
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
2:25 pm
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:17 pm
Ya…and bringing Ayers or Wright (GD America) wouldnt have gone over very well either. Obama hates Amercians.
Outhouse GoKart
January 28th, 2010
2:26 pm
“BMW 650i”
SWEET!
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
2:26 pm
Peela
Shoddy healthcare because you saw more than one doctor in a group?
Hell, I’ve got BC/BS and usually only see the nurse practicioner.
Was the child made safe and healthy?
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:26 pm
josef nix,
“just like from way back, the “good words” are all highlighted by the inquisitive little scholars”
nice to know some things never change
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
2:26 pm
“I sure hope not because we could certainly use the oil not mention the revenue to bring down our national debt”
Well, we can always elect Jeb Bush for President. Maybe he’ll follow in his brother’s “war” footsteps.
godless heathen
January 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
$457.4 million for 20,000 jobs
$22,800 per job.
Now those are some great numbers. And who will sustain these jobs when the Federal subsidy dries up?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 28th, 2010
2:29 pm
Well, seems to me we need to be alot nicer to other people on this blog.
So I say us Conservatives all get together and buy the libruls here that are in favor of this health care bill a new Toyota. Then we can get together to sellabrate somewhere along I-285 as we watch them drive them. You’ll need to look quick, though. When that pedal sticks a Toyota really gets on the move fast. It’ll be out of sight in a second.
Have a good p.m. everybody.
Whacks Eloquent
January 28th, 2010
2:30 pm
One of the tea party regional organizers recently said trying to do a convention would be like trying to “herd cats”. The people who associate with the tea party movement abhor any waste of money, even if it is supposedly for their benefit. I wish all political groups had the conviction to stand up for their beliefs as such.
The tea party movement is not dying, you liberals only wish it would! Why is that? Would you just prefer the old corrupt GOP types, rather than ones who actually care about trying to make this country better? I’d rather deal with a MoveOn supporter than a old-school Dem goon, at least they believe in what they are talking about…
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
President Obama’s Renewed Pledge To End Bush’s Tax Cuts For Wealthy
“Trickle down” is not good economic policy and anybody that hasn’t figured that out by now, hasn’t been paying attention.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/28/831403/-President-Obamas-renewed-pledge-to-end-Bushs-tax-cuts-for-wealthy
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
outhouse gokart…
That car has now supplanted my boyfriend as the love of my life!!
I love them both but if I could only keep 1…….
Certified pre-owned is the way to go, too..I got it almost $23K under msrp for having 11,000 miles thats like $2 depreciation per mile, pretty good deal..
Del
January 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
Doggone,
On electing Jeb Bush, actually I’m kind of hoping that Obama might want to get some on his own before he gets voted out of office.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:32 pm
ROLLERGIRL,
“always pointed out firemen, policemen, military heros in the gallary as his guests..”
One moment the right is decrying political correctness as a disease on society, and then they turn around and berate someone for not being politically correct enough for their tastes.
Good ole hypocrisy.
Bosch
January 28th, 2010
2:33 pm
“The tea party movement is not dying, you liberals only wish it would!”
Oh, no we don’t! Those guys crack me up!
Swami Dave
January 28th, 2010
2:34 pm
Why not repost this under some other headings?
Overwhelming Majority Of Respondents Like Benefits For Which Others PayPolls Show Most Prefer Being Wolf To Being SheepFood Tastes Better When You Can Force Someone Else To Pay For ItThieves Happier Than Victims When InterviewedMost Would Prefer Others Work If They Could Still Get Paid
The reality is that liberalism is nothing but justification of theft based on political power. One person robbing a “rich” person is theft and illegal. A group of people (gang) robbing the “rich” person is theft and illegal. A political class electing thieves to rob the “rich” person and redistribute her wealth as transfer payments is “legislating”.
Sorry Jay. All liberals and their beneficiaries are thieves. Liberals do with legislation what muggers do with guns!
-SD
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:37 pm
ROLLERGIRL,
“Which proves my theory, I love german Engineering!”
Better be careful…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-379589/Drivers-terrifying-130mph-drive.html
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/hardware/0,39042972,39130270,00.htm
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
“The tea party movement is not dying, you liberals only wish it would!”
Oh my goodness gracious, NO! I don’t want the tea partiers to go away. They are such cheap entertainment, I hope they hang around forever.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
Jewcowboy, since when is it political correctness to point out heros? The simple fact is, the left has differing hero standards…maybe obama couldnt find a transgendered Bi-racial community organizer in a che’ tshirt , on short notice
joe matarotz
January 28th, 2010
2:38 pm
Jay B,
If you’re trying to make a case, it would be helpful to include the link. Being a thoughtful kind of guy, I did the work for you. Here it is:
https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/
I believe in seeing for myself. It is an interesting website but you can’t compare apples to apples because of price differences by state. Worth a look at anyway.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:44 pm
ROLLERGIRL,
“Jewcowboy, since when is it political correctness to point out heros”
Always
politically correct
Function: adjective
Date: 1936
: conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated
hypocrisy
Function: noun
Date: 13th century
1 : a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion
2 : an act or instance of hypocrisy
AmVet
January 28th, 2010
2:46 pm
SoCo, re your 12:31, only when they take it from my cold, dead hands! BWA!!
Yosarian, that looks damn interesting. I may need the abridged version though!
Single Payer. Now. Everybody in, nobody out. (Yes, even the conned…)
mike
January 28th, 2010
2:56 pm
Stating that the GOP should be fearful that Massachusetts voters support universal health care is like saying the Dems should be fearful that Georgia voters support concealed carry permits.
Let me know when a purple state supports universal health care.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
2:57 pm
JCB..thats why i said “President Bush, like him or not, was genuine ..”
I think those are the guys he really felt close with..and obama really feels close with acorn type scum…but he can;t show affection for his buddies in public..he does it behind closed doors, which is a politically correct thing, in my view..
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
“Many tea party activists across the country are boycotting the convention over its $550-per person ticket price and the $100,000 speaking fee being paid to Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee.
The convention is being run by a Tennessee lawyer, Judson Phillips, who has said he hopes to turn a profit on the convention.”
While I don’t think the emotion expressed at the tea parties is phony (misguided, perhaps) I think that last line just about sums up the real motive behind the organizers for all of the “tea parties.”
Whacks Eloquent
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
Anyone else find the term “single payer” ironic in that the payer would be the federal government, using revenue collected from the taxpayers?
Unless Warren Buffett or George Soros is the lone source…
AmVet
January 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
I’m still laughing over the far right wing’s very strange obsession with teleprompters.
What the hell is that?
I guess they truly believe that the leader of the free (well, sort of) world should commit to memory vast tracts of speeches, endless pages of other text and addresses? And to them this would be just a Jim Dandy use of his time?
I suppose he could just go old school and use typed documents. Right, corporal?
Or is that also “cheating” in the parallel reality of the Republiconned?
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
They just had the head of the Nigerian central bank on cnbc, and he didn’t tell cramer that for $10,000 he could share a vast fortune of $118 million which he can’t get to without paying the back rent on a safe deposit box..’ what a Gyp…
mike
January 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
AmVet –
“I’m still laughing over the far right wing’s very strange obsession with teleprompters.”
It’s just the corollary of the far left wing’s very strange obsession with Bush’s verbal gaffes.
Petty people complain about petty things.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
Rollergirl 6:54
The Lexus recall was for floor mats, I believe, not accelerator pedals.
Glad you like the Beemer. Hope you feel the same way when the resale value and 3-4 year reliability issues kick in –
And how on earth does one decide between two completely different vehicles like a 6-series and an ISF?!!??
Ah, I see it’s a certified car. Good move. May want to consider not retaining after the warranty period, depending on your maintenance history.
Jenifer 2:31
But tax cuts for the not so wealthy are economically sound?
Bosch – Jenifer
May want to be careful, there. Awful lot of moderate to liberal folks in MA were a bit ticked at those tea party descriptions when what they were concerned about was what they saw as excessive gov’t spending. They voted Republican.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
“I suppose he could just go old school and use typed documents. Right, corporal?”
Actually, I wish he would. Looks more scholarly and this administration is all about image…
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
“Anyone else find the term “single payer” ironic in that the payer would be the federal government, using revenue collected from the taxpayers?”
No. If the Federal government was the sole payer, instead of numerous insurance companies, private payers, etc. it WOULD be “single” payer. What’s “ironic” about that?
Whacks Eloquent
January 28th, 2010
3:01 pm
jewcowboy,
What is the emotion at the tea parties misguided? They have a distrust of elected officials. Who the hell has given them reason to believe any differently? The organizers may be greedy, but the people who consider themselves as revolutionaries are banding together to find alternate and support alternate candidates, and therein lies their power.
pat
January 28th, 2010
3:02 pm
Granny let me help you out….You know why Dr.s and hospitals like the proposals? Because it does nothing to lower costs…They can sky rocket unabaited. No lies from moveon.org or thinkprogress.org are going to change this fact.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:04 pm
PAUL–
The moderates are getting ticked off by a lot of things, but I daresay they’re the most ticked off by the left-right polarization trying to box them in…it’s gotten w-a-a-y out of hand. Political and social discourse has been reduced to a menu fixe of catch phrases, one from column A and one from column B…they are not even very colorful…
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
3:05 pm
“The Lexus recall was for floor mats, I believe, not accelerator pedals”
That’s what they said at the time, now they aren’t so sure. Rumor is, it’s some kind of computer problem…but I had that one about 3rd hand and haven’t actually heard it anywhere else.
FinnMcCool
January 28th, 2010
3:06 pm
Howard Zinn of “A People’s History” fame died too.
Mick
January 28th, 2010
3:06 pm
**They voted Republican.**
I think they more or less voted for the person rather than the party. Brown was a better candidate and would have retained the seat even if he was a dem. Coakley was a dud.
Kamchak
January 28th, 2010
3:07 pm
Or he go really old school and write speeches on the back of envelopes.
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
3:10 pm
“Or he go really old school and write speeches on the back of envelopes”
Speech, not speeches
Mick
January 28th, 2010
3:11 pm
** “President Bush, like him or not, was genuine ..”**
One thing I have to give him credit for is staying out of the picture unlike the coward fearmonger cheney.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:12 pm
josef nix
Agreed. And I think they really get ticked at the attitude of “you don’t agree with me so you must be a racist, selfish extremist!”
DoggoneGA
Thanks. I’ve been following it pretty closely and so far it’s been all Toyota with the linkage. Just heard a report on NPR that Ford is suspending full-size production as the accelerator linkage/pedals they use are the same supplier as Toyota -
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:14 pm
Finn–
I use the Young People’s History of the United States a lot for supplemental materials…
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
3:14 pm
“Just heard a report on NPR that Ford is suspending full-size production as the accelerator linkage/pedals they use are the same supplier as Toyota -”
I guess I’m ok, then…my van is 15 years old, and my car is 5 years old…both Fords.
Carter is a Fool
January 28th, 2010
3:15 pm
Once they get it, they like it. Well if you are getting screwed it is better to resign yourself to it than complain about what you have no control over.
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
3:16 pm
pat
let me help you out right back….
you’re wrong
but I think you are talking about the current senate bill and not Universal Single Payer
glad to be of service
AmVet
January 28th, 2010
3:17 pm
Doggone, and in this case, “numerous” payers means, literally tens of thousands of health care organizations, HMOs, billing agencies, etc.
Talk about your “bureaucracy”!
Bloated, inept, enormously fraud ridden and wasteful. To the tune of about $400 billion.
But hey! It’s how we roll! We love our modern criminals. (As long as they are white collar, of course.)
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
3:18 pm
oh and pat
anytime you want to show some data on think progress or moveon lies -i’d love to see it.
more studious folks have failed at that task….
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:20 pm
DoggoneGA
I should have added ’suspending production in China.”
Those are good records. I had a Ford that ran and ran and ran. Was in pristine shape. Now the Fusion’s named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. And Ford’s making money, has reinstituted profit sharing for hourly workers and didn’t take any govt $$$ during the crisis.
Off hand, I’d say the guy from Boeing running the company is worth what they’re paying him. Seems to be doing a darn sight better with his responsibilities than the leaders in Congress.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:20 pm
PAUL–
Got tickled the other night when one of the liberal left addressed me as Josef Goebbels and called me a nazi…! Wonder what the liberal left anti-Semites hereabouts would make of that?
AmVet
January 28th, 2010
3:23 pm
Paul and josef, I too am awaiting DADT time here.
I have a few comments on the subject. (Can you imagine that?)
But I also kind of dread the venom that will also ultimately appear…
Doggone/GA
January 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
“Those are good records”
I’ve been pretty lucky with most of my cars. Had 2 VW vans that got almost 200,000 miles each. Had an Isuzu diesal that got 204,000 and then I gave it away. My van has 235,000 miles on it, but I only use it for dog events. My previous car was an Escort wagon, had absolutely no engine trouble on it right up to the day it died at 9 years old and over 200,000 miles – but it died hard. So now I have a used Focus wagon – like it so far, but only had it about a year.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
AmVet…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z3ad7V30ZU
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:27 pm
AmVet…
If you’re awaiting DADT time here, you best not hold your breath…I may be wrong, but I doubt it…methinks we’ll get party-line…you can bet your bottom dollar, though, it’ll be a McCain comment and not a Skelton one if it ever does…
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
3:30 pm
Yes, for goodness sake, please bring on the data on the lies that Think Progress, Daily Kos, Huffington Post and MoveOn have told.
Come on! Bring it on! We’d love to see it!
You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!
Come on now! Get with it!
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
Whacks Eloquent,
“What is the emotion at the tea parties misguided?”
There seems to be no cohesiveness to any message when looking at these demonstrations. It reminds me of those who come out to protest against the WTO…just a lot of anger…with no direction. Filled with an ample supply of nut cases.
It seems like they are incensed and have no idea what they are irate about so they latch onto the topic du jour. Of course I tend to think all demonstrations are an act of futility at best.; meant more to vent frustration rather than work for a solution. Essentially, demonstrations seem to me to be the lazy way out. Just a personal opinion.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:34 pm
josef nix
I saw that. Floored me. I admired your restraint.
I noted to Jenifer – it’s pretty amazing how the Left uses such terms to describe what they see as those on the right, when the Nazis and other such parties have roots in, and much more in common with, the farlLeft political agenda!
But we must never examine history or challenge our own prejudices, eh?
Balance Our Budget
January 28th, 2010
3:34 pm
Obama accepted some of the blame for not explaining healthcare reform well enough.What they do not seem to be able to accept is that maybe we do understand it and just don’t like what they are trying to sell us.How many more speeches will it take before we get it. NEVER
Even liberal Mass. don’t get it.
Yosarian
January 28th, 2010
3:35 pm
jewcowboy 3;31;
sounds like a good description of the current democrat(can’t agree among themselves or anybody else) congress.
pat
January 28th, 2010
3:35 pm
The good news is that Health care deform is dead in it’s current form. And there’s no way there’s going to be a public option in it’s next iteration. So the point is moot, why bother talking about it as if it’s still on the radar.
It’s a liberal pipe dream…A wet one too.
Whacks Eloquent
January 28th, 2010
3:35 pm
jewcowboy,
They may not be the most cohesive bunch, but they have one benefit the WTO protesters don’t – they can actually vote those whom they deem “offenders” out of office. The WTO and G8 people just start burning stuff until they are whisked away or tear gassed, because there is nothing else they can do! So maybe they don’t have a unified message, other than kick out the incumbents. Doesn’t that work anyway? Isn’t that basically what MoveOn.org focused on in the end a few years ago? That’s my point, the tea partiers are the conservative counterpart to the moveon.org movement, and I think in their own ways each is positive. The idiots who blindly vote for their party year after year without looking at or examining records, but just basing it on personality, they are the ones who have allowed us to stay in this quagmire…
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
3:36 pm
Please, please, pretty, pretty please!
Yes, for goodness sake, please bring on the data on the lies that Think Progress, Daily Kos, Huffington Post and MoveOn have told.
Come on! Bring it on! We’d love to see it!
You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!
Come on now! Get with it!
Sam
January 28th, 2010
3:36 pm
jay, the point is not whether it works or not, or whether people like it or not. the point is it has to be defeated so the status quo and those that benefit from it can regain their power and money. second point is to defeat everything the other side wants so that they can be re-elected next time around…
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
pat
rather inelegantly put don’t you think?
and reports of its demise are most certainly premature..
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
Granny Godzie – Jenifer
Ever gone to one of those ‘big’ website’s home offices and found… a home office?
Just for you: Media Matters for America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwhPi5FoIEo
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
Jenifer 3:36
You may want to ask getalife that question when he shows up. DailyKos banned him for supporting Hillary. Wrong kind of a liberal, I suppose -
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
3:42 pm
Don’t be shy! Bring that data on!
Yes, for goodness sake, please bring on the data on the lies that Think Progress, Daily Kos, Huffington Post and MoveOn have told.
Come on! Bring it on! We’d love to see it!
You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!
Come on now! Get with it!
Reality
January 28th, 2010
3:43 pm
Gee – Do you mean to infer that republicans ever try to mis-state the intentions of Obama or any democrat plan? LOL! Have you SEEN the news on FOX?
Universal Health Care is a vast improvement over our current over priced and second-rate health system in the US. Repbulicans state that the US has “the best” health system in the world while we really rank in the teens. Republcians try to scare by saying that it is “government run” when it really is not.
Repbulican = liars = hypocrites
Yosarian
January 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Paul;
LMAO !
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Paul
saw that earlier….pretty funny stuff.
i can imagine how frustrating it must be for Fox to be watched so carefully…that’s funny stuff too
Bosch
January 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
The biggest problem I see with people’s perception of health care reform, is they rely too much on what special interests group say “might” happen, or “could” happen. Hell, anything “could” happen – like a meteor “could” fall out of the sky and land on your head.
I’ve said this before – single payer, universal health care will happen in the future, maybe not now, but it will happen. And most people will not notice a thing. It’s like dreading, dreading, dreading a shot – then you get it and your like “well that wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
A single payer system would help so many people – the people complaining about it as too hung up on the “what ifs” to see it really is a better system. Their arguments are so easy to counter it’s almost sad.
pat
January 28th, 2010
3:46 pm
Here’s a lie from thinkprogress…
http://politicsandcriticalthinking.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-think-progress-to-think-lies.html
That took like .0000002 seconds to find.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
Yossarian – GG
America – where we laugh at the politics that would get us imprisoned or killed in other countries or cultures.
Bosch
I still can’t figure this single payer stuff out, though… who’s the single person who’s gonna pay for all this? And why does it have to be a single person? Why not a married person? Is ‘married person system’ really so difficult to say? You’re gonna have an awful lot of singles getting married right before this goes through…. just sayin’ -
TaxPayer
January 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
Even Republicans like universal healthcare. Now that is scary.
Scout
January 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
Saw a bumper sticker today:
“I already have a Saviour,
What I really need is a president”
Jake
January 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
It’s actually near universal health insurance not universal health care, which we already have. Massachusetts reports overcrowded emergency rooms and overworked primary care physicians and has requested $1.5B for three yars funding from the Federal government. But, everyone likes it……..
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
Here’s a lie from thinkprogress…
http://politicsandcriticalthinking.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-think-progress-to-think-lies.html
That took like .0000002 seconds to find.
Politics and Critical Thinking HA! HA! HA!
Thanks for trying though.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
3:51 pm
PAUL–
Well, my resolution was “be calm in the face of all common disgraces and know what they’re doing it for..”
Seriously, though, our “knowledge” of history has been reduced to a game of trivial pursuit. I posted something the other night in relation to the leftist origins of National Socialism and the Roehm Putsch…Unmentionable burst out laughing when I told him and said, “…and just how many of them do you think have ever heard of the Roehm Putsch, much less would understand how close their own ideologies come to the Surmabteilung?”
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
“Here’s a lie from thinkprogress…
http://politicsandcriticalthinking.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-think-progress-to-think-lies.html
That took like .0000002 seconds to find.”
Politics and Critical Thinking – OMG!
Oh I may not get over this one.
You cannot be serious.
No,you probably are.
Too, too funny!
Bosch
January 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
Paul,
Hehehehe. Good one.
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
Bosch
FIRST!!
thbppttt
Scout
January 28th, 2010
3:55 pm
Headline: “Afghan Men Struggle With Sexual Identity, Study Finds”
Hummmm …………………. Don’t Ask Don’t Jihad?
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/28/afghan-men-struggle-sexual-identity-study-finds/
Paul
January 28th, 2010
3:56 pm
josef
Unmentionable has it right. Ignorance is comforting!
Bosch
off to the cinema. Later -
TaxPayer
January 28th, 2010
4:05 pm
Wow. Scott Brown says he will not be just another no vote. What have the Republicans gone and done. This guy is already a turncoat and he has not even been seated yet.
chuck
January 28th, 2010
4:05 pm
Sorry Paul, been in a meeting. Yes, that is exactly what the enumerated powers clause means. Specifically the 10th Amendment states:
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Pretty Plain as far as I can see. Not ambiguous at all.
pat
January 28th, 2010
4:06 pm
http://patterico.com/2008/06/29/extra-stop-the-presses-think-progress-lies-about-mccain/
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/will-ferrell-pygmy-horses-and-health-insurance/
two more thinkprogress lies….
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
4:08 pm
scout–
Interesting read. It’s fairly common here in the “enlightened” USofA, too. It’s what Mort Crowley called in Boys in the Band, “the G-d was I drunk last night syndrome.” One of his characters says that it strikes regardless of race, creed or color “though I have found it more prominent among Mormons.”
Joey
January 28th, 2010
4:09 pm
Late to the show, but a response to a post asking if Active Duty and Retired Military would be willing to give up their medical care:
Medical care for Active Duty and Retired Military is provided by their employer. Similar but probably not as good as the health care provided to Congress and the Senate.
@@
January 28th, 2010
4:11 pm
josef:
You shared knowledge doesn’t always go to waste. Just about every time you post something with which I’m unfamiliar, I research. Roehm was a homosexual under Hitler’s command. Hitler had him executed. Up until his execution, he and Adolph were close. Don’t know what the “Putsch” thing is though….just know it means punch or blow in German.
Granny Godzilla
January 28th, 2010
4:15 pm
pat
“a lot”….wow
of course the fact that Citizens for Tax Justice says it worked out to be 300 billion more a year than President Obamas means nothing to you.
http://www.ctj.org/pdf/housegopplan20090327.pdf
or that he did the same stumble mumble when interviewed on C Span in March.
my favorite part of Ryans plan? cut taxes for the average CEO by $1.5 million per year and do nothing at all for a minimum wage worker OR Over a fourth of taxpayers, mostly low-income families, would pay more in taxes under the House GOP plan than they would under the President’s plan.
can’t pick…which is your fav?
I say no lie, just semantic hissy fit.
Disgusted
January 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
Congress shall have power to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.
I don’t see any ambiguity here. Congress has the power to regulate insurance, since it is commerce. Congress, however, delegated by statute that power over insurance to the states. What Congress has delegated by statute it can take back by statute.
And before anybody gets excited about “buying across state lines,” better think of the consequences. The states right now are the ones setting forth the requirements for insurance companies to sell within their boundaries. If that is changed, then the regulation of insurance falls within the federal sphere, as it does now for insurance policies that contain equity elements.
Do conservatives really want that?
pat
January 28th, 2010
4:22 pm
Here ya go granny…Both idiotic bills drive up costs…
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/1109/CMS_House_bill_increases_health_care_costs_.html
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/dec/12/rising-costs-predicted-in-health-care-bill/
pat
January 28th, 2010
4:29 pm
CTJ? Really, can somebody post non-liberal sites to prove their point? I can surely pull info from RushLimbaugh.com. But I don’t I use news organizations, not political activist sites.
josef nix
January 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
@@
That is the meaning of Putsch…it’s used by a lot of left-liberal historians and commentators to refer to a right wing coup…the French equivalent…
As for Roehm and Hitler–he was the only member of the inner circle that Hitler ever used the familiar pronoun “du” with and while I’m not trying to draw too close a parallel here, it is interesting to watch as the current administration moves right, it’s throwing a lot of its “du” buddies off the bus…we see a very similar thing at work with the ouster of Trotsky by Stalin…the left, and I am a leftist, does not seem to grasp that once it has served its purpose in rallying the masses to bring “the party” into power, they are a liability and must be dealt with…
The not-so-closeted elements are particularly valuable when it comes to the purge phase. You can get rid of a lot of internal challengers by claiming you’re cleaning house of “those people.”
TaxPayer
January 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
I see the Republicans are also standing united against “pay-go”. In other words, just more of the same from the GOP. Charge it and let future generations figure it out. After all, folks like McCain and other GOPer’s will be dead and gone just like their leader, Reagan, before it all hits the fan. We need a way to resurrect their old dead bones once they’re all gone and put them to work busting rocks to pay off their debts. Or just make puppets out of them and let Dunham have his way with them. Let’s see, he could have a segment for Reagan the economic terrorist and… .
TaxPayer
January 28th, 2010
4:42 pm
So, McDonnell’s rebuttal last night was 53% funded by the financial giants on Wall Street. That certainly helps to explain why the Republicans do not want to mess with folks like that CEO at Goldman that does God’s work. Their wall street lords on high might smite them down if they get out of line and withhold funding. Then, the poor little Republicans would be totally helpless.
Hillbilly Deluxe
January 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
Josef
I was going to comment the other night on what you posted that Teddy Roosevelt said about the Indians but I got to reading about LaFayette Baker and got side tracked. It’s interesting that TR had the view he had, which is about 180 degrees from what I get out of the journals of Lewis and Clark. According to what they wrote, the honesty and trustworthiness of the tribes was in direct correlation to how much exposure they had to white men. The tribes that had had little or no contact with whites were the most trustworthy and least likely to steal and the tribes that had had the most contact with whites were the least trustworthy and most likely to steal. That’s my interpretation of reading them anyway. And of course TR’s attitude didn’t take into account all the things that had happened in the meantime. If I’ve been abused for a century or two, I’m not going be real charitable towards those who did it to me either. If TR encountered Indians that acted the way he said, maybe it’s because they learned it from us. Anyhow, it’s a couple days late but that’s my $.02.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
Whacks Eloquent,
“So maybe they don’t have a unified message, other than kick out the incumbents.”
“The idiots who blindly vote for their party year after year without looking at or examining records, but just basing it on personality, they are the ones who have allowed us to stay in this quagmire…”
I would say those who simply wants to throw out every incumbent is in the same category of fool that blindly votes for their party.
ROLLERGIRL
January 28th, 2010
4:51 pm
Feinstein says Obama should move terror trials from New York City….
Ok boys and girls, this is where those with a political survival skill..DiFi…read the tea leaves or recent election results and make a change..
Those who are TONE DEAF and got where they are simply because of rhetoric, political correctness(”he’s black and not ghetto..it makes my leg tingle!!!…chris matthews”), and Bush fatigue, trudge on stubbornly…Chocolate the clown.
md
January 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
“Feinstein says Obama should move terror trials from New York City….”
According to the mayor, security would cost 200 million a year. How much security can we buy at gitmo for 200 mill ????
@@
January 28th, 2010
4:57 pm
Wuh Oh!
Community bankers to Obama on TARP: Thanks, but no thanks
So what….is he gonna cram it down their throats?
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
5:04 pm
“Feinstein says Obama should move terror trials from New York City….”
Hmmm..it seems the only New Yorkers who are against the terror trails being held there are old white Republicans….big surprise there.
http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/misc/nycpolls/c091116/Terror%20Trial%20in%20NYC_Good%20or%20Bad%20Idea.htm
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
5:10 pm
@@,
“So what….is he gonna cram it down their throats?”
Interesting article. Very much a double edged sword…the companies that need the loans to survive or expand are the ones that are not attractive to lenders, and are therefore not eligible. Perhaps instead of moving unpopular TARP funds to community banks who can’t lend due to regulators, focus the funding on the SBA.
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
5:15 pm
“http://patterico.com/2008/06/29/extra-stop-the-presses-think-progress-lies-about-mccain/
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/will-ferrell-pygmy-horses-and-health-insurance/
two more thinkprogress lies….”
Good grief! This is unreal! Have you any idea of what “data” is? I think not.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
Jenifer,
From the 1st aricle:
“Later in the interview, McCain says:
I’ve been on the campaign trail for so long I don’t remember when I last filled up my own gas tank, but I certainly did for many, many, many years and I understand the difficulties and challenges that it poses for the people of California and my home state of Arizona.
Think Progess cites this as evidence of “McCain’s cluelessness about gas prices.”
But McCain isn’t saying he doesn’t know the price of gas. He is saying that he doesn’t remember the last time he pumped his own gas, and how much it cost then.”
So does that mean that McCain was not talking about the “difficulties and challenges that it poses for the people of California and my home state of Arizona” he is really talking about the difficulty and challenge of pumping one’s own gas back when it was a certain price that he can’t remember?
Jenifer
January 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
5:26 pm
You cracked me up with that one!
@@
January 28th, 2010
5:34 pm
jewcowboy:
I’ll let Obama respond to your suggestion. At a townhall meeting in Florida today:
A business owner says it’s too hard to get loans these days. “We are tired of dealing with banks,” he says and asks why the government can’t provide more loans directly to business owners.
Obama says the Small Business Administration loan program has increased, though “it’s still not enough.” Notes that SBA loans are run through local banks and that administering them through the SBA would require a “huge bureaucracy.” Obama tells the man he is pressuring banks to provide more loans, and he wants to help them do that with borrowers who may pose credit risks.
This was a funny one:
An Orange County commissioner asks when we’re going to learn the specifics of the high-speed rail program.
Obama lauds high-speed rail in general, saying it creates jobs and will assist the economy when built by making it easier to move goods and people. Adds it will help reduce car congestion (and pollution).
He defers to Biden, who compares developing the rail plan to the building the Interstate highway system in the 1950s.
He defers to Joe? Is there any substance at all to Obama? Does he ever offer specifics?
Not to my way of thinking, he doesn’t. All hat, no cattle.
@@
January 28th, 2010
5:37 pm
Oops! switched my italics out.
Oh well…
md
January 28th, 2010
5:46 pm
“focus the funding on the SBA.”
Ever dealt with SBA? these companies will go belly up before they ever see a dime.
jewcowboy
January 28th, 2010
5:58 pm
“He defers to Joe? Is there any substance at all to Obama? Does he ever offer specifics?”
I’m sorry…but you are ridiculing Obama for not knowing the construction schedule for a local transportation program?
@@
January 28th, 2010
6:02 pm
jewcowboy:
Obama lauds high-speed rail in general, saying it creates jobs and will assist the economy when built by making it easier to move goods and people. Adds it will help reduce car congestion (and pollution).
Do ^^^ those sound all too familiar to you?
I doubt if Joe did much better and I LIKE Joe. I’ve developed a strong dislike for Obama.
Dave R.
January 28th, 2010
6:54 pm
Before you get all warm and fuzzy about the Massachusetts health care plan, yeah, people are satisfied with it, but the first signs of “rationing” are now coming to the forefront as costs are beginning to escalate. In fact, estimates are that health care in Mass. will cost about $3,000 per year per person MORE than the national level in the next 5 years.
So, all in all, not so great.
Robert
January 28th, 2010
8:01 pm
Obama, Reid, Pelosi parody song
Washington Hillbillies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR75PodzQgo
Peela
January 29th, 2010
8:01 am
Granny Godzilla,
Since you apparently CAN’T read, I said that different dr.’s in the same group is what we have now. What we had when my son was in government healthcare was a different dr. in a different practice every month. There was no going to the same practice to see the same group of dr.’s. Different dr.’s/different groups = shoddy healthcare because you’re always transfering records from practice to practice meanting that there is no consistent healthcare being given. MAYBE, just maybe you’ll read the entire post next time, but I doubt it.