‘Repeal and replace’ already being repealed, replaced
“Top Republicans are increasingly worried that GOP candidates this fall might be burned by a fire that’s roaring through the conservative base: demand for the repeal of President Barack Obama’s new health care law.
It’s fine to criticize the health law and the way Democrats pushed it through Congress without a single GOP vote, these party leaders say. But focusing on its outright repeal carries two big risks.
Repeal is politically and legally unlikely, and grass-roots activists may feel disillusioned by a failed crusade. More important, say strategists from both parties, a fiercely repeal-the-bill stance might prove far less popular in a general election than in a conservative-dominated GOP primary, especially in states such as Illinois and California….”
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who chairs the committee responsible for electing GOP senators this fall, said in an interview, “The focus really should be on the misplaced priorities of the administration” and Congress’ Democratic leaders.
“The No. 1 concern of the public is jobs and people losing their homes,” he said. “The administration has been obsessing on this health care bill.”
As the story notes, GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk of Illinois was promising two weeks ago to “lead the effort” to repeal the measure. “On Tuesday, when asked repeatedly by reporters whether he still wants it repealed, Kirk would say only that he opposes the new taxes and Medicare cuts associated with the law.”
That kind of sudden shift almost certainly was driven by in-house polls that tested the “repeal and replace” strategy and found it wanting. (h/t Steve Benen at Washington Monthly)
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434 comments Add your comment
Jackie
March 31st, 2010
4:32 pm
@Dave R
Per your 4:27, I would be willing to wager that you can not put your statement into accounting terms that will balance.
Do what?
HDB
March 31st, 2010
4:33 pm
Who dat….look, man…some play the pity game….some play guilt trips!! Let’s just deal with what’s real….and how we can make things better!! We can always agree to disagree on policy and implementation…but agree to drink a beer afterwards because of who we are and what we represent: the greatest place on earth!!
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:33 pm
HDB
Star Parker used to be on welfare herself and pulled herself out of government dependency. She’s a great lady! She sees the evil of having to rely on government for food etc…
When I read your posts, you usually have a “victim mentality” tone to your comments. America is well suited for anyone to succeed. I don’t need any particular party to give me anything. I just want government out of my life so I can work and save money.
Jackie
March 31st, 2010
4:34 pm
@HDB
I apologize for using your name in response to a post by who dat. It “appeared” that you were trying to say things without saying things and for that I will apologize for using your name in that manner.
Soothsayer
March 31st, 2010
4:35 pm
. . . “the country we have inhabited for the last three decades seems more like a panorama of madness and delusion worthy of Hieronymous Bosch: of sturdy patriots reciting the Pledge while they resolutely strangle their own life chances; of small farmers proudly voting themselves off the land; of devoted family men carefully seeing to it that their children will never be able to afford college or proper health care; of hardened blue-collar workers in midwestern burgs cheering as they deliver up a landslide for a candidate whose policies will end their way of life, will transform their region into a “rust belt,” will strike people like them blows from which they will never recover.”
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:37 pm
Ah crap, HDB, opps, didn’t mean to post the entire article.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:37 pm
1: What is racist about conservatism?
2: David Duke was a Democrat. Plus, he hates Christians, Jews and everyone else………
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
Jackie, the CBO didn’t cook the books. They are required to score a bill using the numbers furnished to them by Congress. In this case, the Democrat majority. It is an old term we use in the IT field but it is accurate today: GIGO.
It stands for Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Anyone can make a bill look palatable if they provide cooked numbers and the office in charge of scoring the bill is beholden to those numbers.
And yes, I have read the numbers about health care costs. However, there are always different approaches to solving that problem, and an incremental approach was never tried or contemplated by Congressional Dems. If they had, they very likely could have gotten a few GOP supporters in the House and Senate, but they preferred the iron fist approach and will pay the price for that in November.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
“Conservative policies are Republican vetoes of civil rights bills, opposition to affirmative action, and Willie Horton campaign ads.”
Republicans voted more for the Civil Rights bill than did Democrats.
Ronald Reagan made MLK a national holiday.
Nuff said.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:39 pm
HDB
By the way, MLK was a registered Republican. Just sayin…….
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
4:43 pm
Let’s face it. If you can’t bring Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe on board your plan, you know you’ve gone too far.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:44 pm
Speaking of 10 lb. killing machines, one of mine just walked past with a chipmunk in tow. Wonder where she’s going with that?
Anywho…..
Dave R.,
Just curious. Would you agree or disagree with the theory that health insurance companies actually impede free market principles to play forth in health care. They do not provide any direct service of actual health care, and are a big part of the cost. Why shouldn’t the consumer be able to pay for the health care services provided directly from those who provide it instead of paying a big chunk of cash to the insurance companies to peddle paperwork and make decisions about who does and does not receive treatment?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
“Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe”
Those two Senate goddesses.
HDB
March 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:23 pm
“Why don’t you see more black people at the GOP Convention? ”
Because Jesse Jackson will come after them.
C’MON, man!! I know that we can not continue to put all our eggs in one basket….but when a political party does NOT ask for my vote, does NOT think of me as a constituent, does NOT approach me for my opinion on issues…does NOT represent my community….what options do I have??
Prior to 1964, the GOP HAD the black vote…but the Dixiecrats infiltrated the GOP, added the racist sentiment to the platform…and it’s been pervasive since then!!
“Why was Colin Powell BOOED off the stage at the 2004 GOP Convention if the party desired inroads into the black community?”
Don’t remember that one. I watched the entire convention and don’t remember him getting booed off the stage.
Powell stated that the party needed to embrace certain things to expand the outreach of the party…..Affirmative Action was one area he stated. As soon as he said that, he was SOUNDLY BOOED!! Problem is…Colin Powell and Clarence Thomas are prime examples of Affirmative Action SUCCESS stories!! Thomas was accepted to Holy Cross on Affirmative Action; Powell was selected as National Security Advisor when Reagan told the Generals to expand the selection list…placing Powell in the position!!
“Why does Clarence Thomas want to END the programs that allowed HIS success for others like him??”
Because he’s smart as hell and knows AA is outdated.
Not really….what people fail to state is that the greatest successes from AA have been WHITE WOMEN!! Black men still are at the end of the selection choice!!
“Why do white conservatives use black conservatives as a wedge to condescend and belittle the black community??”
If you listen to Larry Elder, Armstrong Williams, Ward Connerly….they are SO condescending and belittling to ANY BLACK PERSON that doesn’t think as they do!! Each of them fail to admit that through some AA programs, they were allowed access to success…..
THAT’S the case…..
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
4:46 pm
Posting a work from Deborah Tolar without acknowledging the real author is plagiarism.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:48 pm
Kamchak! Mr. Potato Head is hurt!
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
“THAT’S the case…..”
No, that’s your opinion.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
“Posting a work from Deborah Tolar without acknowledging the real author is plagiarism.”
Blame HDB then.
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
4:50 pm
Kamchak! Mr. Potato Head is hurt!
I saw that from USinUK.
And there was much rejoicing.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
“Black men still are at the end of the selection choice!!”
They are? All black men are at the end of the selection choice? I think not.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
Kamchak,
I think he’ll be okay for the Cup. Still got time.
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Bosch, if I understood your question at all, I’d answer it.
I think what you are implying is that health care insurance companies use too much of their premiums for overhead and not enough on actual health care.
I say fine. Start your own health care insurance provider and do it better than the other ones do. Find a current one that has a better ratio of costs to payouts and use them. And while you’re at it, make sure the state they deliver their plans to doesn’t automatically force up the cost of health care by mandates that require coverage in policies that will never, ever be used (such as pregnancy coverage for couples too old or unable to conceive).
Do I think they manipulate markets? Yes, they do. They also do so as willing participants with state governments who wish to be part of the manipulation process.
Paul
March 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Bosch 4:44
Don’t let the cat in or you’ll be cleaning up chipmunk barf.
Just sayin’ -
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Blame HDB then.
He pointed a gun to your head, made you copy and paste, and made you click on submit comment?
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
“He pointed a gun to your head, made you copy and paste, and made you click on submit comment?”
You ain’t none too bright is ya.
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
Bosch: “Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe”
Those two Senate goddesses.”
Down, boy . . .
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
Kamchak
tick tick tick
HDB
March 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:33 pm
HDB
Star Parker used to be on welfare herself and pulled herself out of government dependency. She’s a great lady! She sees the evil of having to rely on government for food etc…
Star Parker is evidence that the social safety net DOES work as it was intended!! I adnit that there are abuses…and I wish them to be eliminated so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
I’ve never considered myself as a victim because I did what I knew would get me the success I desired: work, education, desire!! I’ve relayed what my experiences have been…and although I’ve played by the “rules”, in many circumstances, the rules CHANGED!!
I know the history….that Republicans passed Civil Rights legislation…but remember what LBJ said after passage: “Democrats have lost the South for a generation!” That’s because of the Dixiecrat infiltration, the Nixonian “Southern Strategy”, Goldwater’s Western Conservatism….all were anathematic to black interests!!
When I hear Republicans decry AA…and looking at who they present as success stories (and they themselves achieved due to AA!!), them I ask myself: Is this hypocritical or what???
Pogo
March 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
Jay, I just read your previous thread topic. It is one of the better ones you have ever written. The problem I see is that America really has become lazy and it has become totally predisposed to consumerism and self gratification. This applies to all sociological and economical niches. There is no sense of unity nor is there any inclination in people to sacrifice anything and there is a huge deficit of even caring about your fellow human beings. The rich must be willing to do with less and the middle class and the poor must be willing to give up the governments comfort blanket and try harder to help themselves. Will these things happen? Probably not. Therefore the gentleman is probably right. We, as a nation, are indeed circling the drain much as Rome did. We continue to listen to and support politicians that promise us the world at no cost to us and they promise that the costs will fall upon someone else. Obama is no different. Bush was no different. Clinton was no different and so on and so forth. Our problems have been allowed to grow to such a proportion that we are now in a no win situation. Our indebtness and our lust for ‘easy money”, whether created by greed or by laziness, is going to destroy us. And the healthcare plan you love so much? It will only work to make the rich richer and the politicians more powerful meanwhile we Americans will continue to lose in many, many ways. The money for our governments promises must ultimately come from the private sector and the private sector cannot support what our politicians are spending. Soon there will not be enough “rich people” to pay for our politicians dreams and then what will they do? They will take their pound of flesh whether it comes from the rich or the middle class or the poor. After all, they have nothing to lose except their office which ultimately means more to them than what is best for our country. The bottom line is is that our standard of living is about to go into the tank. And it is all because of bad political leadership from both parties. I know it sounds cliche and simplistic, but I really think we should really consider throwing all of them that are in power now out. For better or worse, at least we would not have the status quoe.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
Paul,
Too late. I don’t know how she got that thing in here. And God knows where it will wind up, hopefully not on my pillow when i got to bed tonight.
Dave R.,
My point earlier is that insurance companies do absolutely nothing for the actual care of patients. So why do we actually need them? If health care was indeed to follow true free market principles the consumer would pay for what they could afford and pay the provider directly. The provider would be forced to price their services accordingly.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
4:57 pm
Dave R.,
Those are real women in the Book According to Bosch.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:58 pm
“When I hear Republicans decry AA…and looking at who they present as success stories (and they themselves achieved due to AA!!), them I ask myself: Is this hypocritical or what???”
By all means, continue to support Maxine Watters, Charlie Rangel, John Edwards, Cynthia McKinny etc….
HDB
March 31st, 2010
4:59 pm
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
“Black men still are at the end of the selection choice!!”
They are? All black men are at the end of the selection choice? I think not
Wrong again….in most employment situations, a black female is the first option, for that would solve the problem of hiring TWO minorities at once: black AND female. Second choice: white woman….Third choice: white male (as long as he’s under 40)…and fourth: black man.
In my experience, that’s the hiring hierarchy!! Particularly here in the South!! Once out of the South, the dynamic does change slightly!!
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
Gonna take me an early dinner break, so have fun, y’all.
Typing is the ONLY way I can say y’all. Coming from Massachusetts, that word is a no-no to me.
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
5:01 pm
Bosch
It’s not that I don’t care about the WC. The Blue Lions will be playing Man U. this weekend.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:01 pm
“So why do we actually need them?”
Because of the reason that any insurance was invented in the first place: because they “pool” resources and make services available to those who need them for less cost to that person than the total would be if the person had to pay the entire cost themselves. They reduce risk. That is why insurance exists.
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
5:03 pm
Bosch, what Doggone said.
One of the first things I agree with him on, but then, it has nothing to do with a principle.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:04 pm
“Wrong again….in most employment situations, a black female is the first option, for that would solve the problem of hiring TWO minorities at once: black AND female. Second choice: white woman….Third choice: white male (as long as he’s under 40)…and fourth: black man.”
Whatever happened to hiring the best candidate? Sad when people have to hire a person based on skin color just for the sake of skin color.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:04 pm
“Once out of the South, the dynamic does change slightly!!”
Then leave the hated south. Go north young man!
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
You ain’t none too bright is ya.
Bright enough not to post a work by someone else without using quotation marks or slanties.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
“Bright enough not to post a work by someone else without using quotation marks or slanties.”
Come arrest me Kamchak.
Kamchak
March 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
Tick…tick…tick….
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
Tick…tick…tick….
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Doggone and Dave R.,
In theory yes, that’s why insurance exists, but with health insurance, I think when you talk about actual costs and free market principles, it impedes that process. Health care providers would be forced to price according to what the consumer could afford, or they’d go out of business. On the consumer side, we’d be forced to reduce our own risk (not smoke, exercise more, etc.).
Yeppers
March 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
The most immediate impact of the Census is that it distorts unemployment rates. With 1.2 million hired temporarily during the fall, the Census is already skewing the unemployment numbers in the government’s favor. Specifically, the fall data shows unemployment at 9.8% (Sept), 10.1% (Oct), and 10% (Nov).
Fools playing a game for fools.
HDB
March 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
Who dat: “Whatever happened to hiring the best candidate?”
Did that ever really exist?? IN many cases, hasn’t it been: “It’s not what you know, but WHO you know!!” What about the “good ol’ boy” network??
BTW…I left the South for 10 years…but I came back for a stronger reason: to care for my parent with Alzheimers’! Family IS a strong motivation for me…and that’s a sacrifice I GLADLY accept!!
Out to lunch….back in 45 minutes!! Ciao!!
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
Doggone and Dave R.,
And another thing, I agree with the purpose of insurance being to reduce risk and pool resources, but I don’t see health insurance has lost its way in that process. They are in control of the costs for a service they don’t provide, which to me, is frakked up.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
“it impedes that process. Health care providers would be forced to price according to what the consumer could afford, or they’d go out of business.”
And you would lose that pooling that makes the costs lower. If you’re going to do away with “the middleman” what are you going to put in it’s place, to get that pooling that reduces risk?
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
“What about the “good ol’ boy” network??”
Oh I despise the good ole boy club. Believe me. The UGA/BAMA/OLEMISS/ frat boys with their khaki pants, tucked in J. Crew shirts and floppy hair. That’s all I ever see in most southern cities.
Trust me HDB, it gets on my last nerve.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
“but I don’t see health insurance has lost its way in that process.”
Ah, that’s what happens when you have a thought, delete some of it and type again without re-reading what you’ve typed. Hopefully you catch my drift.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
“They are in control of the costs for a service they don’t provide, which to me, is frakked up”
But that is true of any insurance, it’s just more apparent with health insurance. And I’m not really defending the industry…as always, my preference is for a single-payer system. You still have the middle-man, but the “pool” that middle-man is bargaining for is MUCH bigger.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Doggone,
I’m talking strict free market principles here. Of course you would lose that pool, or it could be done on a smaller scale or direct agreements with those who provide the service.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
“as always, my preference is for a single-payer system”
Mine too, and that’s the other problem when you are talking health and illness because it affects everyone. And with a single-payer, one consumer, they are the one who gets to decide the cost of services – it’s a fair playing field and not based on what people can or can not afford, which is how I see it now.
Brett
March 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
I see the need to round up all GOP Inferiors, place them in concentration camps, rewire their systems. For those for whom it doesn’t “work,” there’s always the Midnight Express to Bremerhaven.
RW-(the original)
March 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
As usual Iowahawk sums this up quite well
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
“I’m talking strict free market principles here”
But that’s not a viable option for healthcare. All that would happen is what happened before any sort of health insurance was invented: only those who could afford it would get good healthcare. That’s why “group insurance” became such a huge part of union bargaining…because it offered affordable insurance and healthcare to workers who would otherwise not be able to afford either.
Jackie
March 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
@Dave R
GIGO, in my opinion is not appropriate to use to analyze the events with the CBO. It is their job to take the numbers they are given and determine what outcomes will occur because of said numbers. Not an IT concept at all.
Did you ever come up with accounting terms that will equate to your 4:21 statements?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:38 pm
Doggone,
Oh, I know. I just thought it was interesting to think about health care in pure free market terms. With that, you get into the whole debate of does health care depend on what your job or is it a right for all?
Chris Broe
March 31st, 2010
5:40 pm
I love polls. The right keeps pointing to them. If only they had a chalkboard and could draw a pie chart or something……
This just illustrates how reactionary the Right has become. I was hoping they would campaign on repealing reform, (and get clobbered in November). It’s very important for Democrats in November that not one single Republican voted Aye. The Campaign ads will write themselves. When you can lump them all into one great big steaming pile……
But this is typical wingnut-crackers.. It’s like the Right is grasping at whatever straw they think might stick. Another problem for the GOP: the fringe militia groups are being melded into the parade of extreme right wing stars saying extreme right wing things (Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin/Ann Coulter). Rush Limbaugh’s “we have to wipe them out, get rid of them”…. Ann Coulter’s winked-death narrative of wishful massacres of everything liberal…..Glenn Beck’s chalkboard-manifestos and convoluted, torturously-detailed conspiracies; ……….and dont forget that Sarah Palin’s just so rogue….
If we get job growth, (and Good Friday’s number is big here), and if the Right persists in campaigning on knee-jerk legislative remedies, then we may get the votes we need to pass the rest of Obama’s agenda and the country will enter a new golden age of democratic reform. The campaign is ON!!
But what a great president we have! I love the way American voters are of a mindset that Republican dirty tricks can actually backfire. The only one who swallows everything wholesale anymore is Lady Gaga. and that’s something new.
Bud Wiser
March 31st, 2010
5:41 pm
The real cowards are all those who have already announced their ‘retirement’ from politics, not wanting to face the firestorm of opposition.
They sit in their comfy little offices,making phone calls to their buddies, congratulating themselves on their fine jobs, and how they have screwed the average American to the turf while they prepare for their lush and already paid for by us, retirement.
I say screw ‘em, and we’ll get this repeal underway when all the Democrats have been replaced, if it is necessary; after all, legal challenges are already growing as to the bill’s constitutionality.
It will be the ultimate slap in the face of the Liar in Chief when his handiwork is cut down.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:43 pm
“With that, you get into the whole debate of does health care depend on what your job or is it a right for all?”
Yes, you do. Which is why it can’t really be put into “market terms” – because in the case of healthcare the market has all the power, if you eliminate the bargaining power of pools.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
5:50 pm
Doggone,
“Which is why it can’t really be put into “market terms” – ”
Exactly. Dont’ get me wrong, I’m with you on how I think things SHOULD be. This thought came to me from listening to a friend of mine go on about how they work hard and have insurance and it shouldn’t be taken away from them or messed with by the government. And I thought, well, what about those who don’t work for one reason or another, or lose their insurance or work for a company that doesn’t provide insurance. Are people really that callous to think that health care is a deserved service rather than a right? Like them or hate them, or whatever, no one in this country should be sick and not get care because of costs.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:51 pm
“But this is typical wingnut-crackers..”
Yet democrats are always talking about republicans being racist…………
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
5:53 pm
“I love the way American voters are of a mindset that Republican dirty tricks can actually backfire. ”
Unemployment: 10%
Job losses mount in March “unexpectedly.”
Democrats trail in almost every poll.
Yep, democrats sure have a lot going for them……..
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
5:55 pm
“Like them or hate them, or whatever, no one in this country should be sick and not get care because of costs.”
Not only that…and some people do NOT like it when I put it in TRUE “market” terms…the healthier the general population is, the better the bargain for employers. Healthy people take fewer sick days off…and that is the REAL “bottom line.” And it’s why I think the day approaches, when access to affordable healthcare WILL be a right, because it’s economically advantageous.
@@
March 31st, 2010
5:57 pm
Right here Obama says, “If elected I will continue the moratorium on offshore drilling here, in Florida, and around the country.
Now he’s in favor?
GoingBroke
March 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
Chris Broe
March 31st, 2010
5:40 pm
“If we get job growth, (and Good Friday’s number is big here), and if the Right persists in campaigning on knee-jerk legislative remedies, then we may get the votes we need to pass the rest of Obama’s agenda and the country will enter a new golden age of democratic reform. The campaign is ON!!”
— Another 23,000 private payrolls were cut in March, according to the most recent ADP Employment Report. Though that was the smallest decline in two years, the news prompted participants to pressure stocks since the addition of 40,000 jobs had been expected.
The surprise drop in payrolls has called into question projections for the official nonfarm payrolls report, which is due Friday and is expected by many to show an increase of 185,000 jobs. Unlike the ADP figure, the government’s tally is subject to a weather-related rebound and will include 2010 census workers. —
Note.. the government’s tally — they don’t like real numbers…
GoingBroke
March 31st, 2010
6:09 pm
@@
March 31st, 2010
5:57 pm
“Right here Obama says, “If elected I will continue the moratorium on offshore drilling here, in Florida, and around the country.
Now he’s in favor?”
just about everywhere but the west coast…
tscali
March 31st, 2010
6:11 pm
let the pols handle the nuts and bolts in obamacare. the people can go the distance on resistance. it will be cheaper to pay the fine than the premium. holdouts rule.
md
March 31st, 2010
6:13 pm
HDB,
I commend you for your views on welfare from downstairs, although I never mentioned any one program. You may want to ask the resident enabler how the new hc subsidies are tied to “education, training, and job search”. I’d love to see that link.
Enabling is a short term solution to a long term problem and in actuality, makes the problem worse.
@@
March 31st, 2010
6:14 pm
just about everywhere but the west coast…
Along with the coasts above Delaware and Alaska’s Bristol Bay. No drilling in either.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
Doggone,
Yeah, my friend didn’t like that either because it forced them to answer the question of whether health care should only be for those who have insurance or can afford it. That’s why I originally posed the question to Dave R because of his beliefs about the free market – because if you truly believe in the free market, then you have to admit that health care, as it is with insurance the way it is, is one, not allowed to truly operate according to free market principles, or you have to admit that if you believe in those principles, you have to be willing to take responsibility if the day comes that you can’t afford to receive care. Personally, I don’t think health care should be thought about in those terms, but that it should be available to all, and not dependent upon whether or not you have insurance or what the costs are.
AmVet
March 31st, 2010
6:19 pm
http://biztelevision.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/offshore-drilling-or-how-a-campaign-promise-was-fulfilled/
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
6:24 pm
“Now he’s in favor?”’
It won’t happen. Once Cap and Trade passes it won’t matter.
@@
March 31st, 2010
6:26 pm
AmVet:
I read your link. I don’t think Obama CAN alienate his supporters…not the ones on this site anyways.
If I lived in Massachusetts, I’d vote for this guy.
Keith Lepor knows what it is to be middle class.
Heck! He’s more qualified to be president than Obama is.
@@
March 31st, 2010
6:28 pm
Germany is the latest to cave on Cap & Trade. First it was France. What would be the point? Certainly not environmental.
md
March 31st, 2010
6:31 pm
As for repeal or replace, correct me if I am wrong, but if the SC rules that any part of the bill is unconstitutional, the whole bill must be redrafted and repassed.
If this is the case, and the dems lose seats in Nov. could get interesting.
Will be even more interesting if it all comes down to the SC and the long memory of Barry’s unkind words in the SOTU.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
6:38 pm
“What would be the point? Certainly not environmental.”
What’s the point of any liberal agenda. Control.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Impeach Drunken Fool obozo! Just sayin...
March 31st, 2010
6:38 pm
With federal budget deficits running wild, investors are growing uneasy at the idea of lending money to an institution that seems unable to stop spending beyond its means. Last month, something extraordinary happened: Two-year bonds offered by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. commanded lower yields than those offered by the U.S. government. As Bloomberg.com put it, “The bond market is saying that it’s safer to lend to Warren Buffett than Barack Obama.”-ChicagoTribune
We should repeal and replace obozo, just sayin….
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
6:39 pm
“Will be even more interesting if it all comes down to the SC and the long memory of Barry’s unkind words in the SOTU.”
That would be pretty awesome. I’d pop me up some pop corn and watch Chris Matthews head explode as that tingle leaves his pasty white out of shape leg.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
6:40 pm
“We should repeal and replace obozo, just sayin….”
I wonder if Bush is sitting in Dallas laughing right now.
@@
March 31st, 2010
6:50 pm
Still, any new geoengineering schemes should be welcomed–they might just be our biggest hope in the quest to stop climate change.
From a Harvard bubble-brain.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Impeach Drunken Fool obozo! Just sayin...
March 31st, 2010
6:52 pm
NASA Data Worse Than Climate-Gate Data, Space Agency Admits.
NASA can put a man on the moon, but the space agency can’t tell you what the temperature was back then.
You know what I’m sayin…
theyeshaveit
March 31st, 2010
7:00 pm
Bosch, as I have said before, cat’s are more of a cerebral creature. Dogs, well, gotta love them, too, for what they are.
@@
March 31st, 2010
7:05 pm
Don’t know if Oncor’s Smart Meter is one of Obama’s green initiatives, but for $2.19 a month it can tell you what the outside meter is doing. The electricity company sends you a bill every month at THEIR bulk rate. It gives you the meter reading. If it’s too high, use less.
It’s not rocket science.
@@
March 31st, 2010
7:06 pm
Who dat?:
Looks like you wore ‘em down.
Too funny!
Dave R.
March 31st, 2010
7:12 pm
Sadly, Bosch, nothing is truly free market anymore with all the government regulations and rules that hamper/govern them. Health care and the associated insurance companies are not immune from that, and may never be.
Jackie, I don’t know any more to tell you. If you don’t think that putting your own flawed figures into the CBO for the expressed purpose of getting out a desired outcome, then there is no reasoning with you. They put garbage in, and got garbage out. Simple as that.
Who dat?
March 31st, 2010
7:14 pm
“Looks like you wore ‘em down.”
Who, the race baiters?
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
7:22 pm
“nothing is truly free market anymore with all the government regulations and rules that hamper/govern them”
And the reason for that is always the same: the government has to step in to save customers and employees from unscrupulous business owners. If all owners could be trusted to be honest and caring, there would be no need for government regulations. They aren’t, and there is…and always will be.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:31 pm
Dave R.,
“Health care and the associated insurance companies are not immune from that, and may never be.”
I agree with that, and part of that is because we’ve allowed it to be. I know you love your free markets and all, but a truly healthy society is one who can balance the two (govt. and the free market).
I understand that every government service could be supplied by private companies, but do we really want that? As a society, are we willing to pay for that? Or do we think that some things like education, roads, defense, clean food, and health care are a right or a privilege? If a right, then the govt. pay for it, if not then private companies, and we pay for their overhead which we have no control over by voting them in or out of office. And how much are we really willing to pay?
The other Bosch and I were just out on the porch talking (and drinking – I fell off the “I gave up booze for Lent wagon) and we came up with another thought:
How is treating a lobbyist to dinner any different than someone getting food stamps?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
Ooooh. Doggone, me and you just had a kind of Zen moment.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
7:34 pm
“me and you just had a kind of Zen moment”
great minds? …
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
Yeah, definitely fell off the wagon, let me rephrase:
How is a lobbyist treating a representative, senator, whatever, government employee to dinner any different than someone getting food stamps?
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
Doggone,
“great minds? …”
You spoil me.
DoggoneGA
March 31st, 2010
7:39 pm
“You spoil me”
It’s amazing to me now much faith the “free marketers” have in people. And it’s SUPPOSED to be the “progressives” that are out of touch with reality!
Hillbilly Deluxe
March 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
How is treating a lobbyist to dinner any different than someone getting food stamps?
It often costs the taxpayers a lot more money to feed the lobbyist.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:46 pm
Doggone,
Yes, it is. i would be a total free marketer if I weren’t so cynical of humanity. I always WANT people to do the right thing, and I’m constantly disappointed.
Hillbilly Deluxe,
Exactly.
Think of all the starving people we (as taxpayers) could feed on one dinner alone……
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:47 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe,
And if you go by the GOP’s expense vouchers, we could feed villages!
Paul
March 31st, 2010
7:48 pm
Bosch
Humanity’s great.
It’s the people what’s the problem.
Bosch
March 31st, 2010
7:50 pm
Paul,
Yeah, I hear you. It’s like with work, if it weren’t for these damn clients, my job would be awesome!