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Subscribe to RSSNew pro-Palin documentary attacks GOP establishment and sees parallels between Reagan in 1976 and Palin now… The movie will have a limited regional release on July 15… 24,000 Palin emails get dumped today… Making sense of Team Newt’s mass exodus… How it’s different from McCain’s in ’07… How it potentially benefits Rick Perry, if he runs… And after the news, Romney announces he won’t compete in Ames straw poll… But Romney sang a different tune about it in ’07… Dems, including Bill Clinton, are furious at Weiner… Rubio’s maiden speech on Tuesday… And Santorum to appear on “Meet the Press” this Sunday.
*** Palin vs. the GOP establishment: Much of the upcoming documentary on Sarah Palin, “The Undefeated,” which First Read screened yesterday, is unsurprising. It portrays her reforms in Alaska as heroic, it paints her as a victim of Hollywood liberals and the media (though not as many shots at the media as we expected), and it elevates her as the leader of the Tea Party movement. In short, Palin supporters will love it; Democrats won’t. But the most striking part of the film is its attack on the Republican establishment. “To hell to the establishment,” says conservative activist Andrew Breitbart near the end of the movie. Then come pictures of Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Eric Cantor. Breitbart’s beef with the GOP establishment: It didn’t defend Palin from the attacks she received after the ’08 campaign. “I see eunuchs,” he added in the "CODA" of the nearly two-hour movie. (Yes, he said eunuchs, we'll refrain from the obvious Weiner reference, but we digress…)
*** Tonight I’m going to party like it’s 1976: In fact, the film compares the GOP establishment’s attitude toward Palin to how it received Ronald Reagan’s primary challenge against Gerald Ford in 1976. Conservative filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon, who made “The Undefeated,” said in an interview with reporters after the screening that he believes the Republican Party and conservative movement need another 1976. And: “It’s very important for [Palin’s] voice to be in it.” Indeed, Bannon said that the Palin documentary is “the story of a woman who always goes up against the establishment” -- whether it the Alaska establishment, the Democratic establishment, the media establishment, or the GOP establishment. Of course, the potential implication here is that Tea Party supporters still want a fight -- in 2012 -- against the GOP establishment. Bannon is most animated about starting this fight inside the party. Asked whether he wants Palin to run outside the party in some third-party capacity, he quickly ruled that out. Instead, he reinforced his belief -- says he's channeling talk radio host Mark Levin, who appears in the movie as well -- about this need for the conservative movement to have another 1976 moment.
*** Coming to theaters near you in July-August: According to Bannon, the Palin documentary will have a limited regional release by AMC on July 15. And his hope is that strong ticket sales during the limited release will lead to a larger pick-up across the country throughout July and August. It's in the hands of movie-goers to see what kind of interest the movie sparks before AMC decides on a wider release. Back to the plot of the movie… Perhaps the biggest contradiction in the movie: It hails her bipartisan accomplishments in Alaska (on ethics reform, the budget, and key oil and gas measures), but then transitions to her no-holds-barred rhetoric against Democrats and President Obama. As the Atlantic Monthly's Josh Green recently wrote, "Since 2008, Sarah Palin has influenced her party, and the tenor of its politics, perhaps more than any other Republican, but in a way that is almost the antithesis of what she did in Alaska." The movie plays down significantly that she worked more with Democrats in Alaska than many inside the Republican Party.
*** One giant Friday news dump: Speaking of Palin, NBC’s Michael Isikoff reported on “TODAY” this morning that the state of Alaska today will release more than 24,000 Palin emails from her two years as governor, many of them business she conducted from her personal email accounts. The Anchorage Daily News has more: “The emails were first requested during the 2008 White House race by citizens and news organizations as they vetted a vice presidential nominee whose political experience included less than one term as governor of Alaska and a term as mayor of the small town of Wasilla. The nearly three-year delay has been attributed largely to the sheer volume of the release and the flood of requests.”
*** Newt: All by myself: Yes, we know that John McCain still won the GOP nomination after his own campaign exodus in 2007. But there’s one big difference between McCain’s departures and Newt Gingrich’s yesterday: McCain actually FIRED folks in his high command after finding his campaign running low on money, while Newt’s top staffers QUIT. And they quit because it became clear to them that Gingrich wasn’t willing do the things needed to actually win the GOP nomination. One reported complaint was his recent vacation to the Greek isles. Another, per the New York Times, was the promotion of his documentaries. “During a conference call on Wednesday, top strategists confronted Mr. Gingrich over what they believed was a lack of focus. They demanded that he spend 90 percent of his time in three early-voting states and curtail distractions like screenings of his documentaries.” If top campaign aides are questioning the fire in the belly, what does that tell donors and voters?
*** Gingrich’s discipline and judgment: As we wrote earlier, this Gingrich quote from his “Meet the Press” interview last month sums up the state of Gingrich’s campaign: “I think it's fair to say that I'm going to have -- one of the tests on this campaign trail is going to be whether I have the discipline and the judgment to be president. I think that's a perfectly fair question.”
*** The eyes of the Beltway are upon you: So who benefits from this Gingrich news? As we said yesterday, it’s potentially Rick Perry. Two aides who left the campaign -- campaign manager Rob Johnson and strategist Dave Carney -- have previously worked for Perry. And for many of the same reasons we said to take Michele Bachmann seriously, the same holds true for Perry if he runs. The “Summer of Speculation” will turn to Austin, TX for the next few weeks…
*** Romney says no to the Ames straw poll: Also after the so-called “Newtiny,” Mitt Romney’s campaign announced that the candidate would not be participating in the Ames (IA) straw poll in August, as well as other straw polls in Florida and Michigan. “We respect the straw poll process,” campaign manager Matt Rhoades said in a statement. “In the last presidential campaign we were both strengthened as an organization and learned some important lessons by participating in them. This time we will focus our energies and resources on winning primaries and caucuses.” Of course, critics will point to this as yet another change from Romney 2.0 to Romney 3.0, because Romney’s ’08 campaign cared A LOT about the Ames straw poll.
*** What Romney said about the straw poll in ’07: For instance, he said this on FOX in August ’07, per NBC’s Sarah Blackwill: “[I]f you can't compete in Iowa in August, how are you going to compete in January when the caucuses are held, and how are you going to compete in November of '08?” In 2007, moreover, Romney posted a video on his Web site, titled, “Why the Ames Straw Poll is important.” After he won it, his campaign team sent one of those glowing post-straw poll emails, headlined: “What they’re really saying about Governor Mitt Romney winning Iowa Republican Straw Poll.” And in his speech after his straw-poll victory, he said, “Well, it’s too bad the other guys weren’t competing here; if they thought they’d have been successful, they’d have been here. Their decision not to compete here was not a position based on a position of strength… I’m pleased as punch that I won.” While this will give Romney flip-flop headaches, it seems smart strategically because it keeps Pawlenty -- or anyone else -- from getting a big organizational win from the straw poll. In fact, the decision to skip the straw poll ramps up pressure on Pawlenty to win it.
*** Dems furious at Weiner: While embattled Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner seems intent about staying in his job -- and he’s been bolstered by a poll showing that a majority of his constituents say he shouldn’t resign -- we can report that Democratic leaders, including former President Bill Clinton, are frustrated and some even furious at him. The reason: He isn’t doing his party any favors by staying in his job. The VERY few folks advising him to stay are the only folks he is listening to. Monday will be intense for him ,because the House is back and the Democratic caucus may speak as a group. By the way, even Mark Foley is saying he should resign.
*** Rubio’s “maiden” speech: After five months in the Senate, GOP Sen. Marco Rubio is set to deliver his first official speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday, NBC’s Libby Leist reports. The Florida senator will be the last of the freshman class to make his/her debut on the floor. He plans to announce the speech today to his supporters via Web video, and he will tell them: "Since our nation's founding, the Senate floor is where our leaders have stood, debated and ultimately made consequential decisions to address the great challenges of their time. Next week, I will have my first chance."
*** Meet’s Sunday lineup: On “Meet the Press” this Sunday, NBC’s David Gregory will interview GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, as well as host a debate between RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. On the program’s weekly “Press Pass,” Gregory interviewed the New York Times’ David Sanger on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Countdown to Iowa GOP straw poll: 64 days
Countdown to NV-2 special election: 95 days
Countdown to Election Day 2011: 151 days
Countdown to the Iowa caucuses: 241 days
* Note: When the IA caucuses take place depends on whether other states move up
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The time is quickly approaching where the citizens of this great Nation will have to make the decision as to do we rebuild America or do we continue down old failed agendas of a previous Administration that got us in this mess for the most part. Yes, with the recent “Citizens United” decision there will be more money (most of it undocumented and unlimited) in play and the politicians will be tempted to go for the money and not for the country. This is true on both sides but the bottom line is that we have something more important than just he big bucks that corporations, millionaire and billionaires have. And that is our vote.
The problem is that it is going to take a lot of votes to cancel out the unprecedented amount of money, bogus ads and outright lies that we are going to have to endure this election cycle. You cannot rely on the media (in all forms) any longer to tell you the truth. You, the people, are going to have to go out and search it out for yourselves. This is the new political spectrum which politicians are going to exploit to the max. That you can count on, period.
What we need NOW to rebuild this country is JOBS, a stable Economy and a strong Educational System. These alone will go a long way in solving some, not all, of the deficit/debt problems. This will put us back on the path of prosperity for all and making us the World Power we used to be instead of the butt of jokes in Europe and around the world.
JOBS and the Economy: These go hand in hand. If the government creates an environment that is favorable to creating jobs it by design will also increase the economy as well. Our President had done some of this with his Stimulus Program (which I feel was not big enough nor was it targeted enough) that did save/create jobs. Virtually every economist of note (both democrat and republican) has agreed this to be a fact and have also said that this country would have been worse off today with out it. Do not take my word for it, go look it up yourself, it did work and did turn this country around. The problem as these same economists have claimed is that it needed more emphasis on the JOB side and it needed to be more targeted as well. Part of the reason that it was not more was the constant bickering of Politicians that diluted this Bill. Our President finally got a Small Business Tax Cut Bill pushed through that also helped, but again the bickering of the politicians diluted that effort as well. President Obama offered a $50 Billion Dollar “Infrastructure Bill” that would have created many good paying construction and secondary jobs. It was opposed by the GOP and went no where. He has asked for bills for green jobs and technology jobs to only have the fall on deft ears. He is running around the globe lately talking to Counters trying to develop new trade arrangements that will increase jobs in this country.
Since President Obama took office he stopped the bleeding of over 600,000 jobs per month and turns it around into positive numbers where currently he has added about 2 Million new jobs. Not near enough to turn the economy around but a far better position than he inherited.
The bottom line is we need more JOBS which will also stimulate the economy and increase revenues both at the Federal Level and the State level. JOBS like those created in an infrastructure maintenance bill, green jobs, high tech jobs, high speed rail, manufacturing in general etc. Europe is stepping up their high speed rail, internet, etc while we are driving around on crumbling roads, decaying bridges and sewer systems and an outdate data model.
If we are to prioritize our efforts we need to look at stop spending money on things that do not give us the most bang for our buck. This includes the huge record tax cuts to the richest 2%. These cuts do not create jobs nor do they stimulate the economy in any great way. The last 10 years is undeniable proof of this. They have to go.
Education: We as a Nation are continuing to decline on Math, Science and literacy. Other countries like China and Japan are stepping up their educational programs while we are gutting educational funding and attacking teachers.
Stop the wars and take that $2 Billion dollars per week and invest it in upgrading our educational system. Right now we are going the wrong way on education. At a time that we need to improve it some are trying to gut it with DRACONIAN cuts to Education across the board. Limiting higher education to only those of means will drive this country into the ground, you can bet on it. It was the innovation and the dreams of inventors, educators, scientists, business people etc that made America the leader in the world. To cut off that resource by cutting education is a big mistake and probably the most damaging to this country.
As we move toward 2012 start asking the politicians the following?
What are you plan to create good paying jobs in this country?
What is your plan to create a growing and sustainable Economy?
What is your plan to once again make this Country the Educational capital of the “World”?
What is your plan to insure that all people have access to quality and affordable Health Care in this Country (none of the above will mean anything if we have a sick, dying Society)?
And how are we going to pay it which brings us back to the deficit/debt problem. A discussion for another day.
Question:
Why do the baggers & birthers always want to go backwards?
Answer:
Because they have ZERO ideas on how to move this country FORWARD!
Looks like the babisina is living up to her well deserved reputation as just another Dem partisan hack:
LMAO!!!!
From Politico:
Rocky start for DNC chairwoman
By: Molly Ball
June 10, 2011 04:41 AM EDT
Democrats knew they were getting an outspoken partisan when Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz took over the reins of the Democratic National Committee a month ago.
But they might not have known just how outspoken.
In the four weeks since she succeeded Tim Kaine, Wasserman Schultz has been called out by four nonpartisan fact-checkers for mischaracterizing the GOP’s Medicare plan.
She’s accused Republicans of wanting to reinstate segregation and of waging a “war on women.” She has asserted, somewhat nonsensically, that the GOP wants to make illegal immigration — by definition against the law — “a crime.” She’s also been mocked for driving a foreign car after pounding Republicans for not supporting the American auto industry.
A rank-and-file member of Congress typically wouldn’t get noticed for inflammatory language and rhetorical slip-ups. But Wasserman Schultz has a higher profile now — and was hired precisely because of her skills as a communicator.
Iowa? Where's Iowa?
Last night it was learned that Mitt Romney is going to pass on the Iowa straw poll and put his efforts and money on states that he thinks he can win. Though a bit unconventional, it's probably a smart move. A large portion of Republican Iowans are evangelical Christians who are not comfortable with Romney's Mormon background. Plus, how would he ever explain being beaten in a straw poll by crazy Michele Bachmann?
So, as a businessman he plans to cut his losses and not even try. And that will be his excuse for a third place finish. I expect to see Bachmann to do very well in Iowa. She was born there, knows Iowa values, and can talk their language. (Apologies to Jody and John B from Iowa)
It's becoming apparent that Romney's path to the White House is full of pot-holes with an ambush or two along the way. Romney is learning what Democrats know for certain: being reasonable is not something conservatives want to hear! Not only has Romney broken ranks with conservatives on Romneycare, but now he is saying that global warming is real and some portion of global warming can be attributed to people. Now I'm here to tell you that the Koch brothers do not want to hear that coming from a GOP/TP candidate.
That ambush I mentioned earlier, I'm betting the Tea Party will be waiting for Romney in New Hampshire in the first GOP/TP debate.
Oh YES we DID!
She's rattling some cages alright, or she wouldn't have a bulls-eye on her back!
Give em hell Debbie! ;o)
The checks in the mail...
First Thoughts: *** Dems furious at Weiner: While embattled Democratic Congressman Anthony Weiner seems intent about staying in his job -- and he’s been bolstered by a poll showing that a majority of his constituents say he shouldn’t resign -- we can report that Democratic leaders, including former President Bill Clinton, are frustrated and some even furious at him. The reason: He isn’t doing his party any favors by staying in his job. The VERY few folks advising him to stay are the only folks he is listening to. Monday will be intense for him ,because the House is back and the Democratic caucus may speak as a group.
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“What this country needs are more unemployed politicians”
Hasn’t history shown us that traits such as these in a man don't change?
How old is Rep. Weiner - 46 years old? This wasn't a 19 yr. old college kid. Nor was this something Rep. Weiner did when he was 19 years old. This isn't an old story with him. It's quite recent. His recent marriage didn’t stop his behavior. He’s only been married for one year. One year.
And quite frankly, I’m tired of the media giving him a pass. He’s not going to change. He is who he is. If this had been Newt or Romney or any Republican politician, he would be toasted by the liberal media and we all know it. Just because Rep. Weiner is already in Congress doesn’t mean he should be given a pass.
What he did is extremely damaging as a legislator. If his district wants to support him, then fine. But I don’t believe the media should. Isn’t their job to go after this crap?
Rep. Weiner is not my personal friend. I owe him nothing. It’s being reported that while he’s great at going on tv yelling about health care and such, in fact he did nothing as far as getting it passed. Nothing. The hard work was left to other Democrats in the House. All he did was show up on tv.
If we don’t put a stop to this now, it is going to keep going on because they’re given passes. There is so much going on in this nation and the world. When do these scandals stop so we can ALL concentrate on more important things?
It’s my understanding President Obama gave a wonderful speech the other day. I haven’t seen it anywhere. I know I can go and find it, but that’s not the point.
Mark my words. Rep. Weiner stays in Congress and we’re going to be seeing this again. Men like Rep. Weiner don’t change.
I am not a conservative. I am not religious. I am not interested in politicians’ marriages, good or bad. I am interested in some GD maturity, some GD respectable behavior from these legislators. Is that asking too much?
Congress is not a frat house.
Only First Read would somehow decide that Sarah Palin is THE big story today.
Really?
lol
The time is quickly approaching where the citizens of this great Nation will have to make the decision as to do we rebuild America or do we continue down old failed agendas of a previous Administration that got us in this mess for the most part.
____________________________________________________________
I thought lefty liberals believed that issue was settled in the 2008 Presidential election. Apparently, you don't think Barry has delivered on his Hope and Change promises and deserves a "do over"??
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice.......
Actually I was very ambivalent about Wasserman-Schultz. I wanted Howard Dean instead, who has a proven track record of thumping blowhard Republicans.
if it had been Howard Dean, you wouldn't be laughing right now.
Not "do over" -- just "do more."
Joe in Albany
Looks like the babisina is living up to her well deserved reputation as just another Dem partisan hack:
LMAO!!!!
Rocky start for DNC chairwoman
She’s accused Republicans of wanting to reinstate segregation and of waging a “war on women.” She has asserted, somewhat nonsensically, that the GOP wants to make illegal immigration — by definition against the law — “a crime.” She’s also been mocked for driving a foreign car after pounding Republicans for not supporting the American auto industry.
What's that slim you're posting Joe? Have you seen the laws passed in Arizona and Alabama?
Stealing America; Medicare, Workers Rights Americas is up the Highest Bidder
That's right. If you thought the T-baggers rage was outrageous, thank the dirty Koch Brothers.
The Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the libertarian-leaning nonprofit chaired by David Koch, will launch rallies and media campaigns in a series of states — beginning with Nebraska — asserting that the administration’s regulation of the energy industries is key to pain at the pump.
Most analysts blame the global economic recovery, as well as turmoil in the Middle East, for much of the increase, but the oil industry and Republican critics have long argued that opening new areas to drilling and speeding the permitting process would lower prices
In fact, Interior has approved 55 shallow-water permits since new safety and environmental standards were implemented last year. Seven permits are pending, and seven have been sent back to the operator for more information.
The campaign’s announcement follows a week of bad economic news, and it hits the White House at what is a historically vulnerable point for incumbent presidents.
The group doesn’t disclose its donors, though much of the Koch fortune was made in the refining business.
http://patdollard.com/2011/06/koch-brothers-launch-campaign-pinning-blame-for-outrageous-gas-prices-on-obama/
You sure can count on Republicans and their Koch flunkies to destroy America's economy and democracy just to get back in the White House to continue their lust for betrayal, manipulation, and greed.
As if we haven’t heard enough from the Dirty Koch Brothers, just listen to Eric Cantor speaking in Chicago.
Cantor even spoke to the mullion dollar mouths Rep. Peter Roskam and Don Wade bright at conservative hate talk radio in Chicago's WLS.
Cantor Promises Oil Speculators That GOP Will Block Financial Regulations
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcXJR7eZ_jQ&NR=1
Goldman Sachs Admits Record Speculation To Blame For Skyrocketing Gas Prices
Saying that “net speculative positions are four times as high as in June 2008,” investment banker Goldman Sachs “issued a warning that the price of oil has grown out of control due to excessive speculation.” The world’s largest commodity trader, Goldman Sachs told its clients that it believed speculators like itself had artificially driven the price of oil at least $20 higher than supply and demand dictate. They even admitted that their work to drive up prices has harmed the American economic recovery, pointing to “nascent signs of oil demand destruction in the US.”
http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/04/13/174989/sachs-speculators-gas-prices/
Have you had enough?
Stop blaming the bad economy on our President. He is doing a better job than the stone walls on the GOP/T-Bagger side who are hoping and implementing ways for America to FAIL.
Pat:
You may be asking too much when it comes to mature, respectable behavior. The only adult I see in Washington is President Obama.
Give em hell Debbie! ;o)
The checks in the mail...
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"A fool and her money are soon parted"
All the professional scam-artist are out in full force to dumb down the stupid low information voter with the exception of Donald Trump.
He was on Greta to share his enlightenment and why he may run again. It's hard to tell who is a bigger joke he or Sarah and Michelle Batwoman.
But, Donald Trump is right. It’s the Republicans’ fault. I agree with what he said it is all their fault
“I hope the Republicans pick a great candidate but there's a really good chance that they won't… When I see the stupid moves being made by theRepublicans… If they continue to be foolish, and if they continue to be a stronger word than foolish, it would be stupid, I will make a decision in 11 months"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8a7L0lS58&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8a7L0lS58&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8a7L0lS58&feature=player_embedded
Not "do over" -- just "do more."
___________________________________________
Actually Dr. Dean should prescribe "First, do no harm".
One of the most striking aspects of the idea of the new Palin film is, on reflection, how serious a piece of PROPAGANDA it is. Elements of the film reek of the mastrful manipulation wrought by Josef Goebbels (and NO, I am not calling Palin a Nazi; I am instead referring to the techniques of mass opinion formation and thought control employed by a master of the process).
Dissect the film's points, as described above. Essentially, it appeals to a long-standing popular resentment and fear about not only the political establishment, but also virtually every information source except Palin herself. It denies reality but offers a substitute for truth - what Palin wants us to believe about her, her record, and her positions.
The uncut record of Sarah Palin's brief time in office does not comport with her self-serving statements. But that's why the propaganda is being distributed in the first place.
"Perception is reality," in this case, the strategy of Palin's propaganda.
If this ploy records any measure of success, then look for the next film. Palin might locate another Leni Riefenstahl, the brilliant producer-director of the propagando film about the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and of course of the most powerful propaganda film the Nazis ever created, the heroic portrayal of Hitler attending the massive Nuremburg party rally, Triumph of the Will.
To repeat, this is not a name-calling post. It is an almost-admiring analysis of how this campaign is adapting some of the most effective and powerfuol propaganda techniques of the past masters. And, frankly, that Americans might allow themselves to be manipulated in this way is quite frightening.
Another fine post, US Navy.
We cannot go forward by stepping backward to the failed policies of the previous administration. Spending cuts will not create jobs it will cost jobs. The massive debt Bush left has made recovery more difficult. Spending cuts alone will not solve the deficit and debt problem. If we cut spending, we cut jobs and if we cut jobs, we even further reduce revenues which then requires more spending cuts and causes more job losses--it is a downward spiral with no end except total collapse.
What frustrates me most is the complete unwillingness of the GOP to participate in governing for two and one-half years. Their response to the 2008 economic collapse was to do nothing except say no, block, deny and obstruct; and continue following their rigid ideology that has been proven to be a failure not once but twice. There is middle ground but refusing to find it is the GOP's failure to America.
Well, Joe, maybe it takes a Democratic babisina to defeat to a field of right-wing schmucks.
PS. Babisina is a much prettier word than "bitch." Everything sounds better in Yiddish!
BTW Do you remember the promise "If you like your current Health Insurance you can keep it"?
I am starting to believe that this monstrosity was passed with the intention that it would fail so that the path to Government Single Payer would be cleared. The Democrats didn't like the fact that the majority were happy with their coverage and so set in motion the incentives to destroy current system completely.
True. And neo-con Republicans hell-bent on destroying Social Security and Medicare could benefit from following the same advice. And not just Dr. Coburn.
Although he's got a few troubles of his own these days, now doesn't he?
Huh? You suddenly think President Obama is that smart? Who knew?
And let me remind you that you're talking about companies who are making record profits deciding that they don't want to share any of those profits with their workers by participating in reformed health care coverage.
Exactly what does this say about THEM?
"As we move toward 2012 start asking the politicians the following?
What are you plan to create good paying jobs in this country?"
Yes, Navy- but once they reply, we need to press them furhter, and ask 'How, exactly' sill the plan work?". No more letting them off with just a 'Well, if you elect ME, I'l fix it".
It says what it always says. They are business entities who exist to create wealth through profit for their shareholders. Now, because the business environment is changing their business policies are adapting to the new environment. So lets think in practical terms what this will mean. Businesses are being given an incentive to cut costs that their competitors will take. Employees will have to find insurance elsewhere probably at a higher cost to them and to the taxpayer. So basically this great plan will lead to a transfer of wealth from individuals to businesses. Now that is a "Big @!$%#en Deal!".
I am worried that my "grammar checker" will overheat and crash when attempting to decipher Palin's babbling gibberish.
And no I don't think he's that smart. If I had to use one word to describe him it would be feckless.
IMO We should be really careful who is elected in 2012 as the last two Presidents have had serious "Daddy" issues.
I am starting to believe that this monstrosity was passed with the intention that it would fail so that the path to Government Single Payer would be cleared.
____________________________________________
I doubt the Dumbocrats were bright enough to have planned it in advance, but, the end result is probably as you have predicted. After Barry's ClunkerCare plan bankrupts the healthcare system, the only alternative will be a govt "takeover" that all the lefty liberals currently deny.
What a typically conservative, short-sighted statement. And exactly off whose backs do they create this wealth? Or do you think that CEO's do everything on their own? Nowadays CEO's don't know anything about anything other than finance, and frankly, they don't care.
But silly me. I always thought businesses really existed to create products that we all needed. When exactly did that change into businesses being nothing more than profit generators that don't care about their workers? Oh, I know. That was the 1980's, wasn't it, when we decided that profits were more important than people.
And who do you suppose will be there to "create the wealth" by buying the products and services that companies offer if they are all squeezed so tightly they can barely afford bread and water, much less health care? Sheesh.
To be truthful, however, I'm not really a fan of HCR, either. Single payer was what we needed from the beginning, but I would have been satisfied with a public option. You're fooling yourself if you don't think that all the current system does is take money out of the pockets of employers and put it in the pockets of insurance companies. HCR isn't really designed to fix that problem because it was the brainchild of health insurance companies.
But don't worry about it. This is exactly why the severability clause was deliberately left out, which will eventually kill the whole thing. Read the Florida decision, if you don't believe me. It's all laid out there. That's what health insurance companies want. They want HCR to blow up, Alan. Do you really think they want to blow up HCR because they favor single payer?
Hah.
There. Your silly conspiracy theory is all blown up now. Satisfied?
True. And neo-con Republicans hell-bent on destroying Social Security and Medicare could benefit from following the same advice.
___________________________________________________
So, you are with the Dem "Don't worry, be happy, everything will be OK as long as you are stupid enough to keep voting for us" approach to SS and Medicare??
It is amazing. The first two paragraphs in Navy's rant today like he on a soapbox that the rest of the world is listening to him are exactly what Glenn Beck has been encouraging is listeners to do -- go do your own research. You and Glenn have something in common. Now isn't that special LOL!!!!
And on the subject of the more things change the more they stay the same:
www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/110610/gaddafi-legitimate-target-nato-official
www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm
Nothing like extrapolating a UN resolution from "protecting civilians" to regime change. Can't think how the President could justify this except by invoking his predecessor.
And if you think this is a NATO action and the US is fairly passive this is from Defense Secretary Gates.
Tell me truthfully, Joe, exactly HOW do you expect HCR to "bankrupt" the private health insurance system, where profits now run at approximately 20 to 40 percent? Would that be because there are no controls in the new program to control even further cost increases by private health insurers?
There are no such controls in the current system, either, and it doesn't serve us all that well. Competition just doesn't seem to be doing its job, does it Joe?
Maybe it's really time we tried something else.
Exactly. How did you know? ;-)
Such a righteous view, expressed in the trademark style of the self-absorbed left. So what about the recent Dem ad that showed granny being pushed over a cliff? A rather powerful piece of propaganda there too, eh? And one that effectively manipulated lots of low information voters as well.
Good grief, what will those smarmy Dems try next? How about a heroic portrayal of the prospective nominee's accomplishments that has become standard fare at the presidential nominating conventions. In Obama's case, THAT would be an exercise in denying reality in favor of a substitute truth. But not to worry, most folks wouldn't be swayed by that propaganda no matter how slickly produced. Because of one teensy little inconvenient fact that is on the minds of all Americans:
It's the economy, stupid.
US Navy, I spent a few minutes googling Vermont's new single payer healthcare sysytem, and I was stunned to read, in addition to getting everyone covered, and saving money, Vermont's new law will create jobs!
Palin as Republican candidate for President? Who wants that the most?
Democrats.
I'd ask Palin supporters to think about that for a moment, but frankly, they aren't up to the task.
I'll say this to you, Bill, as I said it to the last right-wing shill who floated this one -- the only appropriate response to this is "death panels."
Your side set the standard for smarmy manipulation, Bill. You reap what you sow. Now deal with it. Either that, or get some ethics for a change, and show us all how it's done.
I won't be holding my breath.
@Anna -- Not that I don't think you have them in your back pocket, but please post the non-partisan links showing which insurance companies are making net profits of 20 to 40 percent? In fact 20 percent net profit doesn't seem extreme to me. Does it to you? If insurance companies don't make good profits, how can they pay claims? Surely, if it was to be on the back of premiums, then premiums would undoubtedly be three or more times higher than they are today IMHO. Insurance companies don't have the ability to reinvest premiums to make money since interest rates are near zero. They employ hundreds/thousands of middle class Americans and those who are public have thousands of middle class Americans and seniors hoping they are profitable so their pension, retirement, IRA and individual investments are successful to have a nice retirement.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss....Pete Townsend
BTW You might want to Google NHS NICE.
www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2011/05/05/nhs-meltdown-nice-rations-lifesaving-leukemia-drug/
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article7061769.ece
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1340979/NHS-drugs-rationing-body-NICE-stripped-powers-act-nations-lifestyle-nanny.html
So what about the recent Dem ad that showed granny being pushed over a cliff?
The image you refer to, Bill, is a metaphor for that piece of right-wing social engineering that would dismantle Medicare and replace it with a system that would send the elderly out to the private insurance market with a voucher that would not cover the cost of their health insurance.
A metaphor is not propaganda. Propaganda would be a twisting of the truth, for instance, saying the Ryan bill "saves" Medicare, when it does the opposite.
The time to put a stop to Palin is looooooooooooooooooooooong overdue! Her latest use of others' money to take a cross country VACATION (per her child) is turning everyone off against the GOP! DROP HER! before she drains your party dry. She has distorted our country's history, makes it up as she goes along and then swears what she said was true! She has absolutely nothing to offer about helping our country solve its problems. All she has is criticism of what others have said. Who died and left her Chief critic? People are judged by the company they keep. Republicans and Tea Party, you don't keep company with very SMART people!
HOW do you expect HCR to "bankrupt" the private health insurance system, where profits now run at approximately 20 to 40 percent?
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"20-40 percent profits"??
Got facts??
I haven't looked at it recently, but, when I did some research a few years ago for-profit HI company net income margins were in the low-mid single digit percentages. About the same as many other less Dem-demonized for-profit industries. I highly doubt things have gotten rosier in the last year or two.
ClunkerCare will bankrupt the existing HI system with excessive regulation and rigid price controls. Sebelius has sweeping powers to mandate coverage for any and all maladies/procedures/drugs/etc. and the power to deny premiums that will cover the costs of those mandates. When the HI companies find that they must pay out more than they are permitted to take in, they will either voluntarily drop out of the market or be forced out through bankruptcy.
@ Ben: My apologies. I didn't really mean to say profits. I meant administrative costs, and I guess I got the number wrong, as it is more like 17 percent on average, as compared with Medicare, which is only 5 percent. Profit, of course, is what is made AFTER paying all claims and salaries, etc. and runs more like 5 percent. So that sounds like more than a 20 percent actual margin of revenue over costs, at least to me. So you see, the profit margin isn't really the killer. It's the administrative costs on top of the profit.
http://masscare.org/health-care-costs/overhead-costs-of-health-care/
http://conservativepatriothq.com/2011/03/06/obscene-health-insurance-company-profits-for-2010/
Single payer would reduce all the administrative costs dramatically -- maybe to more like the 5 percent that Medicare experiences. Tell me the theory under which a middleman take all your money. The difference is that private insurers have to process claims to determine which qualify for payment, something that would not be required in a single-payer system, and they spend it on non-health-care costs like advertising, marketing, and as my source puts it exhorbitant salaries for executives like that guy at UHC that makes billions of dollars for shooting fish in a barrel.
But are you really saying that we should keep health insurance companies merely because they provide jobs? Jobs that have no actual intrinsic value to the health care system? That's just like arguing for inertia -- it's easier NOT to fix the problem. I'm sure if we thought about it we could take that same money and find them something more productive for those same people to do than push paper around and deny claims.
Never, sir. It's part of my charm. (See my post above.) By the way, where are your facts?
It appears that by taking profit out of the equation, you could eliminate about 15 percent of total costs right now by going to single payer. (I'm not a fan of HCR, so that discussion means nothing to me.)
I don't see any 15 percent cost reductions coming in the current system anytime soon, do you?
No, but maybe they can be employed by Medicare to root out the waste and fraud in that system. Maybe that's what these employees already do, so that although private insurance has a higher overhead compared to Medicare it does not have an ESTIMATED 60B per year in fraud.
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/60minutes/main5414390.shtml
BTW Nice use of sources. You use web site of an organization that is advocating single-payer (mass-care), who use a Physicians Organization also advocating for single-payer as their source. (Physicians for a National Health Plan). Kind of a circular argument.
@Anna -- No problem. I am not going to go on a rant calling you a liar like some on here when people make mistakes. They happen.
The government will use tax payer dollars to advertise and do marketing for government-run health care -- don't you think? You don't think that a whole new (at least one if not more) government agency with overhead and administrative costs will be created. Most health insurance companies handle many other types of insurance, so if they choose to eliminate health care insurance as part of their portfolio, they will release employs, cut overhead and still make profits and pay their execs the same salaries.
Do you actually think that the government can run health care insurance without experience better than private industry; that government is not full of people just pushing paper; that the government will not deny claims? The gov't will probably have to hire those same released employees from insurance companies LOL!!! Then they will be paid on our dime salaries and benefits.
I know there has to be a better way, but not sure that gov't can do it better.
Palin? Undefeated? Leader?
This woman someday will commit suicide by jumping off her ego!
Nice try, but so predictable. When you don't have the facts yourself, attack your opponent's sources.
So where is your contrary set of facts?
By the way, the other cite, which you conveniently don't mention, is to a right-wing, anti-liberal site. I did that deliberately, just for you, so you couldn't accuse me of bias. And still you found a way to do it.
Again, so predictable.
They already do. And don't tell me again about the fraud. Do you really believe there is no fraud in the private insurance system, starting with paying billions of dollars to executives? When you've got that, you don't NEED fraud by the little people.
LoLoL
What a typical brain-dead liberal response. The workers (in most cases) do not own the companies. They are the workers hired to do specific tasks for an agreed upon compensation. There may be a profit sharing perk involved, but that too is a negotiated part of the compensation. If the worker doesn't like the deal they are given, they are free to take their skills elsewhere. They are also free to start their own business if they so desire. Come up with a business plan, negotiate a loan with the banks to start the business, mortgage their house, borrow from their family, work 100 hour weeks for nearly no pay to get the businesses started, hire workers, pay for the workers benefits, manage the workers, hope to keep the good ones, need to fire the lesser ones if times get tough, spend tons of time and money to comply with any and all regulations, all the while they hope the business will succeed because they have risked it all.
That's how the real world works. And the liberals, when these people are fortunate to have their business succeed, just hate these people. The liberals say "They are the problem". Liberals are nuts.
US Navy:
I'm normally in complete agreement with most of your posts, but I disagree strongly enough with your opening post in this thread to make a comment. We are in complete agreement that you can't just keep cutting the funds to the education system and not suffer the consequences. Having said that, you just tried to compare us to China. That right there is part of the problem with our current education system.
Our nation was founded by a bunch of rebels, misfits, and outcasts. It was seen as the land of opportunity, new chances, and creative thought. We invented things that the world considered impossible because our minds weren't trained to follow the established "truths" that the rest of the world believed in. This level of broad thought was our strength. Even many years ago, we were never the top runners in the various testing scores. Asia has always had the edge over use in the structured knowledge area of learning since it meshed well with their cultural mentalities. Yet the USA excelled at independent thought, mult-tasking, and creative solutions to unexpected problems. These are the inherent weak points of the Asian educational mentality.
Yet from all of the various articles I've read and people that I've talked to, it's our trying to compete direction with the Asian education system that's destroying us. The atrocity know as No Child Left Behind has gutted our educational system far more than any simple budget cuts. Teachers have been forced to spend most of their time training kids to succeed on standardized tests, which completely influences the funding that a school system receives and whether or not a teacher loses their job. However the end result is that students are no longer truly learning. Short term memorization for filling out bubble tests is far different from having in-depth discussions about concepts and ideas. We are trying to play to the weaknesses of our own educational system by imitating Asia, even though it goes against the grain of our own cultural identity. At the same time, our current educational climate (caused by No Child Left Behind) is strangling independent creative thought and it tries to break the spirit of our dreamers.
Politicians can throw around all of the fancy terms that they want. Yet until someone acting comes out and says that No Child Left Behind has to go, then it's clear that none of them understand the problem. We need to do more things to promote innovation in our best and brightest. I'll be very interested in hearing about the results of the 2 year program that the Paypal owner has created to support 20 young prodigies while they change the world through their unique ideas and dreams. My hope is that this program will end up being a game changing success and it might even make our country realize that we've been spending the best decade acting like educational morons.
Gee guys, Anna Molly's just playing with you and you fell for it. One of the things that was used to justify the "Socialist Obamacare" lie was the law's restriction on Medical Loss Ratio, which is merely the inverse of gross profit margin. Affordable Care limits insurance carriers to a gross profit margin of less than 20%, or Medical Loss Ratio of above 80.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/06/health/la-he-healthcare-premiums-20110606
There you have it, confirmation that insurance companies achieve profits unimaginable to most businesses.
AM:
Single payer would reduce all the administrative costs dramatically -- maybe to more like the 5 percent that Medicare experiences.
Haha...don't hold ur breath on that one.
Post #1.41: It appears that by taking profit out of the equation, you could eliminate about 15 percent of total costs right now by going to single payer.
Post #1.40: Profit, of course, is what is made AFTER paying all claims and salaries, etc. and runs more like 5 percent.
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Got consistency??
Yeah, reducing health insurance company admin and profits would give healthcare costs a one-time shot in the arm. However, the real problem is the rate of increase in the prices and utilization of medical services. The only way that will be reduced is to pay less for everything and use less units of everything. The word you are looking for is "rationing". That's how Canada and Europe spend less than half of what the US does on healthcare. If you're OK with that, send a letter to Barry recommending he support that by making it one of his 2012 reelection promises.
WiserWithAge ~~
In his Weekly Address (May 21, 2011), "President Obama praised the progress that schools like Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis have made, and he called on Congress to fix No Child Left Behind this year. To strengthen education in this country, we need to encourage reforms not driven by Washington, but by principals and parents so schools can determine what is best for their kids. And that is why it is so important that Congress replace No Child Left Behind this year, so that schools have that flexibility. Reform just cannot wait."
And if you search "No Child Left Behind" on the Whitehouse website, you'll find a lot to address your comment. Reform is a priority with this President. 'Race to the Top' is working very well ....best to go and look for yourself.
Ben (numbers):
Ben - and Anna Molly, too - there IS a better way, and government IS doing it. Now, we have yet to see how the Vermont popsickle really tastes, but the flavor predictions look good.
However, in Germany, the single-payer system is administered through private insurers, supplies outstanding care, and costs a GREAT deal less than U.S. health care does. After studying most of the major national health care programs, I have come to the conclusion that the German model is ripe for adaptation in the U.S.
To do so will also result in a significant and beneficial restructuring of the BUSINESS of providing health care in the U.S., with massive cost savings that affect every form of health programs, including Medicare and medicaid, as well as any over-market private health insurance plans.
One of the forgotten elements of this entire discussion is HOW health services are priced and reimbursed. Reagan era "reforms" drastically restructured the health industry - and made it massively overladen with useless additional costs, bloated profits, and inferior services compared with the U.S. health care delivery structure up to 1980-82.
This all came about through two devices - a hidden health care delivery regulation system that locked in near-monopoly privileges for some providers and blocked entry for competitors (NOT the alleged "free market" philosophy that Reagan NEVER implemented), and the use of "diagnostic-related groups" (or DRGs) as the basis of reimbursement for medicare and medicaid. That reimbursement system even now utterly drives the actual BUSINESS of medicine.
Simply replacing the reimbursement system using DRGs with another tied more directly to the whole aspect of a treatment or course of care will save trillions. Today EVERY action taken for ANY patient contact - including records transcription, accounting and billing - is its own profit center. EACH step has a profit margin included. Why else do you think one bandage applied at a medical facility costs $150, when if you bought a box at the store the whole thing is about $3.50 (depending on local sales taxes)?
So, combine these reforms with a German-style single-payer system that provides a role for efficient services delivered by the private sector, and I suggest both of you have found answers.
There you have it, confirmation that insurance companies achieve profits unimaginable to most businesses.
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Apparently, you have no clue as to the difference between "gross profit" and "net profit". Most lefty liberals don't. As AM stated, net profits in the HI industry are about 5%, which is what I found a couple of years ago when I did some research on them. If you consider 5% "unimaginably" high, then why would you consider a 35% income tax rate "too low"??
TWO POSTSCRIPTS TO MY POST:
Joe in A - As usual you use sweeping generalizations to make PROPAGANDA (see earlier discussions) ... "Rationing" is not characteristic of all state health care programs. It does NOT exist in France, which has about the best of all programs but is not a suitable model for the U.S., and certainly not in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Norway or Finland. "Rationing" has been somewhat employed in both Canada and Great Britain - because the Conservative governments there delierately tried to starve their health services with inadequate funding (during times of prosperity).
In fact, those problems in Canada and Great Britain BOTH demonstrate the bankruptcy of right-wing ideologues who assault perfectly good public programs out of devotion to their irresponsible and failed political theologies. So either argue from the realities or get out of town.
Anna Molly - meant to give you a shout out for heandling so effectively the stupid spin attempted about "propaganda." You did so with elegance and precision.
Excellent. I knew there was an answer out there somewhere. Thank you, John, for doing the tough work no one else around here was willing to do. President Obama just had Andrea Merkel at the White House, for pity sake. Why can't he get with this program, too?
Wiser with age - you have written an excellent post. Although I do not completely disagree with USNAVY's asertions about education and learning, I can see your point in this matter. It used to be that we- the United States - was the standard bearer when it came to education, but now I see that we have abdicated that standard for something else. Your disdain towards the 'No Child Left Behind' program is shared by me, as this was an unwise and foolish program promoted and passed by an unwise and foolish President.
The question is this - how do we UNDO the damage? We are NOT seeing any movement towards really challenging the children of this country when it comes to education. I know that not everyone will go to University, but everyone needs to have a good command of the basics to be able to function in our society. Why is it OK for the standard(s) of education to be so low? Do we not see that by NOT preparing our young people, we are dooming THEM to a life of servitude and we are dooming the rest of US to a life of PAYNG FOR that servitude?
As usual, America never looks at the big picture or the long term, and this is where I agree with USNAVY. The Asian countries DO look long term, and they are preparing their students for the long term.
You have provided god points for more thought, wiser with age. Thanks for posting.
Keep it up Debbie, apparently your words and truth have hit a nerve.
John thank you for solving healthcare
I am still waiting to see Nancy Pelosi take REAL action about draining the swamp. Now is the time to draw a line in the sand and punt the disgraced N.Y. Rep. Anthony Weiner into oblivion. She can make the point that the clean-up starts close to home. If this guy worked for a major corporation he'd be down the road in a cloud of dust.
"Rationing" is not characteristic of all state health care programs. It does NOT exist in France, which has about the best of all programs but is not a suitable model for the U.S., and certainly not in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Norway or Finland.
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure it is. I know Americans that have lived in Germany and Sweden for long periods of time and have discussed this issue with them. Acute care needs are handled adequately. Anything else is subject to long waiting times to get access to services, which is the most basic form of rationing. Got a bum knee that needs corrective surgery, but, you can limp along in minor pain for a year or so? Get in line for the very few elective surgical slots available at the govt sponsored facility. The Germans and the Swedes don't complain because it's all they have ever known. Try having ClunkerCare bureacrats telling the American people to "get in line".
"The time is quickly approaching where the citizens of this great Nation will have to make the decision as to do we rebuild America or do we continue down old failed agendas of a previous Administration that got us in this mess for the most part. "
Typical response from the right when they fail to understand the comments they are responding to. I believe the original post suggests that it isn't enough to have a simple majority because the bottom feeders in the GOP will use the filibuster to prevent the majority from passing legislation in order to protect their corporate benefactors. Therefore, we need to make sure that we have enough of a majority to override the filibuster and ensure that the interests of voters are being considered rather than corporations.
and apparently you are just plain clueless.
Ed -
I am far from the only person who has made the same, or guite similar points.
But there seems to be a real barrier between such discussions and the people who are addressing the policy and practical implementation elements of health care and cost reduction.
Anyone who agrees with these ideas, or has practical, rather than merel;y ideological, suggestions to offer, should be making every effort now to communicate with Representatives, Senators, and the White House. here's what to do: Prepare a tight and readable (in this case, I mean in terms of appearance) treatment of the ideas, suggestion, and backup for your concepts.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with the Representative's or Senator's LOCAL chief of staff, field director, or staff member assigned to this subject. DELIVER your thoughts in person and take time for a friendly discussion of views and pending legislative hearings or votes. DON'T DEBATE the matter.
In the case of the White House, even if you utterly despise Obama, if you really want your views on the subject communicated, you can make a local connection, too. JUST BE POLITE AND DISPASSIONATE. Going to see a member of the Obama campaign, which is what is easily done now, will not be effective if you only wish to spit in someone's face. it is equally not effective if you fly into a spitting rage against the Republicans or others. Just no credibility for you, then.
I have three such appointments tomorrow - yep, sometimes even politicians' offices are open on Saturday - to do exactly what that advice means.
Joe in A -
How convenient you have those friends who can tell you how awful health care everywhere else is.
I have actually experienced health care in Germany, Spain and France - within their systems. NOTHING like the stuff you handed out. In France, there are American expatriates who refuse to come back to the U.S. in part because the health care is so outstanding - along with a number of other features of that society that encourage good parenting and a quality of life few in our middle class enjoy.
As for your sneering comments about Sweden - you are really an uniformed person. But we knew that anyhow.
Over the first half of this year, my older daughter also experienced health care delivery in Germany - with far superior attention than she gets from her private physicians in San Francisco (where there is a high standard of care compared to much of the U.S.). BTW, as an opera singer, she is probably more meticulous and concerned about her health than the rest of us are - if she had had any reason whatsoever to complain about, you can be sure Daddy would have gotten an earful.
So go ahead and keep on lying. We'll continue to tell everyone about them. Sure helps your rather poor credibility, doesn't it?
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired,
You are so on the money my friend! You are something of a hero for me... seriously. Run for office, we need people like you at the wheel of government! Big fan!
As for your sneering comments about Sweden - you are really an uniformed person.
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Sorry to disappoint you, but, I do not wear a uniform. Usually Levi's or shorts, and a golf shirt this time of year. I'm happy you had good experiences with European healthcare. Maybe you should move back there. I will trust the people that I know and what they say before I trust a lefty liberal with an agenda on a lefty blog.
BTW, what possible connection could there be between being an opera singer and healthcare?? If anything, the phrase "It's not over until the fat lady sings" would indicate a negative correlation given that obesity has many healthcare problems associated with it..
HEY!...Feisty & DNVR!!!!.....The stock market is tanking.....Obama's approval rating is tanking.....but according to your DEMOCRATIC PROPAGANDA MACHINE & CUT AND PASTE BOARD" here.....All is well.....not too worry.....Obama is in control of the situation......just repeat after me....."LET'S BLAME BUSH"!........"LET'S BLAME BUSH"!........"LET'S BLAME BUSH"!......now drink up another 32 oz tumbler of that Obama Kool-Aid and assume the position.........OOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!......now there, don't you all feel better now?............oh....almost forgot......here is some "Hope and Change", "Change we can believe in", "Yes we can" and my personal favorite......."The Summer of Recovery" (2010)........I ain't worried about the Republican field of candidates.....I am almost sure that Elmer Fudd could beat Obama today! No wonder Romney beat out Obama in the polls earlier this week and it's 17 months until Election Day for crying out loud!!!!! Now get ready for double dip recession too!!!!
Keep trying to deflect, Joe.
People who've experienced "socialist" health care in other countries(myself included), have informed(experienced) takes on how it really operates.
Do you really think your rhetoric and opinion on the subject can compare to the experiences of those who've lived it?
My son was born in Costa Rica. I paid a private ObGyn and private hospital cash for his delivery/hospital stay. The doctor was trained in the US, and the hospital was cleaner and quieter than most I've seen in the US.
I paid the ObGyn. $1200 for he and his staff(which included the first pediatric visit with his collegue). I paid $900 for my wife's 36 hour stay in a private hospital room, with an extra futon bed for myself and a large 37" LCD TV on the wall. The hospital included a pro photography shoot of my son the next day, and free admission to new parent support groups that met once a month for 6 months.
The birth of my son cost me $2100 here in CR, with top quality care. I would have paid at least $9000(working out a cash deal without insurance) in the US, for the same care. If insurance was billed, I don't doubt it would have cost closer to $15,000 in the US.
Bottom line is: The US charges way more money, for the same medical services.
My son is covered by the national health care coverage in Costa Rica(all citizens are able to use it) and it's free.
I pay an extra $25 a month to cover any extras that he or my wife might need.
My son needed a heart valve surgery when he was 2 weeks old. He went in to surgery 5 days after he was diagnosed. The Children's Hospital here is top notch and rated #1 in Latin America. Most of the doctors studied medicine in the US(or other top notch med schools around the world).
The surgery would have cost me at least $25,000(maybe up to $50,000) back in the US. Here in CR, I didn't pay anything other than the $25 a month I already pay. My son's surgery went better than expected and he is now healthy.
I know from past experiences with hospital stays/surgeries(and watching both parents and my best friend pass away after going thru cancer treatments/medical procedures) in the US, that the US isn't always the "best" when it comes to medical care.
Especially when you compare the prices of of what our medical services cost, vs. quality of care received.
Bottom line is: The US charges way more money, for the same medical services.
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I don't disagree with that statement.
My son is covered by the national health care coverage in Costa Rica(all citizens are able to use it) and it's free.
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It's not free. It's being paid for by somebody.
He went in to surgery 5 days after he was diagnosed.
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I said in my post that acute care is handled adequately by state run healthcare systems.
It would be nice if US doctors and hospitals would charge Costa Rica rates, but, it ain't gonna happen. I noticed you didn't mention any experiences with elective medical procedures. Have you never had any or do those experiences not fit your agenda and you elected to omit them??
The funniest thing in the article is that Bill Clinton wants Weiner to resign over sexual impropriety!
Anna, to start, your 20-40% number is completely off base. Even prior to Obamacare, most states required that insurance carriers document that 80%-85% of premiums collected went to pay claims. That leaves 15-20% for infrastructure, technology, payroll, advertising, etc.
Average profit for a health insurer is less than 3%.
The blame on cost of coverage is misdirected by both the Obama administration and it's minions that don't have a clue about health insurance or costs.
Single payer does NOT solve the high cost of healthcare. In fact, no laws or payor based controls will solve the problem.
The problem is the cost of care. Medical Malpractice Reform, Pharmaceutical reform, testing reform, and most importantly, medical billing reform is what is needed. Standardized costs that must be disclosed up front, one bill for a service instead of separate billing from multiple sources.
Get rid of networks and network discounts. It makes zero sense that if I have BlueCross the hospital will bill $100 and accept $20 but if I have Kaiser they'll accept $18....and if I have no insurance the bill is $100.
I've been in the industry for 13 years. The amount of confusion in the billing and the wholesale fraud and abuse by both the insurance industry and the medical billing industry is astounding.
Obamacare does not address any of this.
Joe: I don't get elective procedures done. If it's not necessary(making me sick or killing me), I don't mess with it.
There are plenty of foreigners coming to CR every day for elective procedures, just read the news. From what I understand, most elective procedures(mostly plastic surgery) cost around half the price as they do in the US.
Dental work is a bargain as well.
As far as "elective procedures" being covered by a public health care option, are most covered under standard private health care insurance in the US. I doubt it.
Many health insurers make it difficult to get necessary procedures approval(especially if they are new or expensive) in the US. I don't doubt it's a b*tch to get approval(payment) for elective ones.
Costa Ricans(most make less than $12,000 a year) are taxed less(percentage wise), than Americans are. I don't doubt that a portion of that goes towards the national health care plan, I've never heard any of them complaining about paying for it though(I talk to my wife's large Costa Rican family about it all the time).
Alan NJ,
Obama stated that "Any INDIVIDUAL or FAMILY who wanted to keep their particular health policy could do so!" That is STILL TRUE! Just because a company(s) may drop their coverage of their employees, which you are correct in assuming, that doesn't mean that the employee will have to drop the coverage. So, you are misleading in your statement that Obama has not lived up to his promise! Also, I expect employers are looking for an EXCUSE to drop medical benefits for their employees. Why?" More profit for themselves and their stockholders in the case of a public company. In fact, many companies discontinued or greatly reduced health benefit plans for their employees well BEFORE Obama's Health Plan was even passed. Can you say the words GREED, as in corporations, small businesses, and especially insurance companies.
Thoughts to FT –
1) I’m with Mixed Bag – Palin is the leading story, really? Of course the so-called documentary film will be propaganda, and of course it will go directly to DVD. Hailing bipartisan achievements as governor, then favoring a one-party theocratic fascist state is more like Dubya than Reagan (though Reagan started it) -- Or perhaps the question should be: What Republican doesn’t?
2) Someone should do a documentary film on Gingrich, especially how he has made his money with scams—like handing out fake awards in exchange for $5,000 donations. The man is a Loser on so many levels. As for Romney, I loved Stephen Colbert’s comparisons to the other famous corporate raider Gordon Gekko.
3) Breitbart is the one who needs to be investigated, and sued into oblivion.
To those calling for Weiner’s resignation, I understand your concern for the coming election. And I’m not saying this behavior, or lying about it is a good thing. However, please look at the principle of the thing. If Dems lay down to every demand the GOP/TP makes, they will be nothing but a welcome mat.
Also keep things in perspective. I’m tired of the double-standards, especially “family values” Republicans who actually had sex AND did illegal things. For example, Republicans said Gov. Sanford showed remorse and repentance, and if his wife forgives him and stays with him, that’s what matters. WTF?
I can’t remember what they said about Vitter, Ensign, and others, but John Edwards has suffered enough, and if Vitter can be given a second chance, so should Anthony Weiner. Progressives should stand up and stand together. Until David Vitter resigns, Anthony Weiner should stay.
4) Maybe Trump will run as an Independent? He missed the deadline, right? (No do over, just comb over?) He’s right, the Republican field is pitiful. If they ran Gingrich’s and Palin’s staff – the people who really do the work for these two lazy-arse opportunists, the GOP/TP might have a real candidate.
Well who ever becomes the Republican nominee, Feisty is right. Their slogan should be “Taking Our Country Back – To the Dark Ages”
Alan NJ – Nice try glossing over the fact that medical insurance has become more and more expensive, so many employers have already dropped these benefits. Oh but we can NEVER question profit-driven business, no, we must hate government and elected officials who actually answer to voters. The twisted lack of logic from the right-wing never ceases to amaze me.
Wasserman Shultz versus Michael Steele – Wasserman Shultz wins!
For pete's sake.....someone find me a liberal that knows anything about health insurance!!!
Of course you lose your coverage if your employer drops it. Even after Obamacare. Oh, and if an employer discontinues offering health insurance, you don't even get to COBRA since there isn't a plan in existance to COBRA. In most states you can elect a conversion policy, which is through CHIP and has nowhere near the same benefits.
The main GREEDY culprits are the insureds that think they are entitled to have everything covered and the hospitals that overbill by 200%. Just because you have a job doesn't mean your employer should pay for your health does it? That's been the case and it's been a nice benefit, but now Mr. President decided to stick his big ears into it and now that benefit is going away. Hope that was the change you were looking for when you voted this unqualified clown into office
And employers have been changing plans and carriers for decades...without employee consent. What you're describing has nothing to do with Affordable Care...in fact what you're complaining about is a "feature" of the current system.
that is correct, John B. maybe if people would resist the knee jerk reaction that everything is Obama does is wrong they could see the benefits of the ACA and that it might actually help them
echo82, you are asking too much from Joe-755363, Joe in Albany and other regular right wing trolls on this board. They are getting paid to not think, just write what they are told to write. Notice how Joe in Albany (who I suspect still has not sent his $100 donation to the Obama campaign he committed to on a bet he lost) always seems to just happen to know someone in any, and every country that is brought up in a conversation. And he just happens to have had 'long discussions' about the very subject being written about? Very convenient, that. No?
IMHO, Joe in Albany is a paid troll. He is probably about 18 or 19 years old and has no friends outside of his job as a paid troll. He probably lives with his parents, makes just over minimum wage and doesn't realize he is helping the very people who would lower the already paltry wage they pay him if the people he is writing in support of were to take over the government.
IMHO, Joe-755363 is not only a paid troll but is a nasty, angry at the world 25 year old virgin. When proven wrong, because his masters can not provide him with any facts to prove what he writes, he can only revert to nasty name calling.
Neither one of them are worth your time. I ignore them, even when they respond to a post that I make.
Joe-755363,
Sorry you are VERY MISINFORMED! If an employer drops insurance coverage for all, or any individual employee, that employee(s) has the RIGHT, under law, to COBRA their coverage to an individual policy or family policy, albeit at a greater cost! Bet YOU a MILLION! Before you attack ANYONE, it is best to know the FACTS, No?
"And that's the way it is...." this week and a bit of the last.
Last week, the Vermont Governor signed single-payer health care into law. VT requested a waiver; it will take a year or so to set up the system but VT has told private insurance to take a hike--they are tired of having their health traded on the stock market for profit.
The Florida Herald Tribune headline was "Dog pee can't stop Santorum." Santorum kicked off his Florida campaign with a story about a dog peeing on a person and that person soldiering on despite it. Now instead of being famous for his previous man on animal comment, Santorum will be forever known as the man dog pee can't stop.
Sarah Palin rode a Harley at the Rolling Thunder rally--she just loves the "smell of the emissions." That could explain her inability to form a cohesive sentence without running circles around it. You know, things like the Statue of Liberty reminded her of "other countries warning us never to make the mistakes they made" and something about illegal immigrants.
At the annual Berkshire Hathaway meeting, Warren Buffett said this about bailouts: "It's one thing to bail out an institution that has social value, but another thing to bail out its shareholders and managers. I think that any institution that requires bailing out by society should see its CEO and its spouse (shareholders) left dead broke." Amen to that and it is exactly why most Americans recognized the need to bailout Wall Street but hated that the CEOs and shareholders did not pay the price for failure and for the risk they took. Interesting also because that's exactly what President Obama was criticized by the GOP for doing--he did what Buffett said when he authorized the GM/Chrysler loans--the CEOs were fired and shareholders took a hit.
Republican House Rep Lou Barletta voted to cut the EPA budget by one third and to ban the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases (required by the SCOTUS). But his vote didn't stop his outrage that EPA officials in his home state could not conduct soil and water testing. Barletta's one of those freshmen House TP folks; he doesn't understand that if budgets are cut, those departments run out of money and layoff staff. GOPTPers seem to think Government is both magic and free--there only when wanted or needed and no one need pay for it.
Last Saturday in Dallas, a far right group held its annual "protest the pill" day wearing their "The Pill Kills" t-shirts. Planned Parenthood in Dallas took advantage of these protesters. They asked donors to pledge money for every pill protester who came to the rally (115)--raised $7,000; posted a sign thanking the anti-pill group for providing 500 women with a packet of pills.
Palin gave the famous ride of Paul Revere a total rewrite--seems Revere rode down the street, "ringing those bells and warning the British that they wouldn't be taking away our arms". It was another of those "gotcha" lame-stream media general questions asking about her visit.
Not wanting their heroine Palin to appear history deficient, her fans took to Wikipedia to rewrite the Paul Revere story to include ringing bells and warning the British they'd never get our arms.
House democrat Anthony Weiner has been the headline for two weeks by getting caught in a sex-ting scandal. There's nothing criminal to date about what he did beyond being criminally stupid and crude. The worse thing was his lying about what happened and using his media friends to do it because he was "embarrassed"--as he should be. But lying about adultery, real or virtual, is not new--it is, unfortunately, instinctive self-preservation. Weiner should have known the media is relentless and that Andrew Breitbart is a determined and unscrupulous whether he has the real goods on someone or just made the them up.
While Weiner deserves no sympathy and brought this digusting mess on himself and his family, the circus carnival barker was Breitbart demanding and getting an apology. When has Breitbart ever apologized for ruining people's lives when he edits and manipulats the truth about innocent people?
The GOP is demanding Weiner resign and that any campaign money given to fellow democrats by Weiner should be returned because it is "tainted". Hypocrisy, thy name is GOPTP. When it came to Mark Sanford, Cantor felt "we should be praying for his family" and it was up to voters. Same for Ensign--it's up to voters to decide. How much shared money did republicans return because money from Ensign, Vitter and friends was "tainted"?
Reince Priebus told Martin Bashir that he doesn't know if Ensign is a creep but definitely Weiner is a creep and must resign. Priebus has had trouble answering reporter questions about why a democrat should resign but not a republican--but he keeps trying to square that round hypocrisy peg.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagoyovich said the trial has been very hard on his family (no doubt it has) and no one calls him any more--no doubt about that either.
Recent numbers show that the richest 1% of Americans received 65% of the tax cuts 2001 through 2007. Let's see, that leaves 35% for the 99% of the rest of us. No matter how one slices those numbers, there is little doubt that the Bush tax cuts favored those who needed no favors.
Tim Pawlenty declared that "America suffers from too much taxation." His plan is to reduce the taxes for the rich to 25% and everyone else to 10%. Plus he wants to eliminate everything in Government that can be found on "Google". You just can't make this stuff up.
Newt Gingrich one-upped the other GOP candidates. In addition to the required Grover Nordquist pledge, Newt signed Michael George's "Strong America Now" pledge to balance the budget in five years without raising taxes and attend two days of budget training prior to inauguration. No mention as to the cost of the "budget training" which undoubtedly funds George's con job on voters.
After failing to convince Americans that President Obama stole his idea to save the auto industry, Mitt Romney returned to his previous view in a Michigan campaign speech. He has flip flopped back to his 2008 comments that Detroit should just go bankrupt. Outside, UAW workers marched and chanted "hey hey, ho ho, Mitt Romney must go". My money says no way Romney wins Michigan despite it being his home state and the state where his father was a popular governor.
Tennessee passed a law allowing corporations to make unlimited campaign donations but unions cannot. Florida has a similar law in the works. Corporations can buy legislators but organized citizens cannot attempt to do the same. Wake up America, democracy is rapidly becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the powerful corporate interests--and the GOPTP is driving the bus.
It had to happen sooner or later--Michelle Bachmann's campaign manager, Rollins, said Palin has not been serious over the last two years, etc. Palin's team counter attacked and said Rollins generally puts his foot in his mouth. Rollins apologized as he planned--having successfully planted the thought. Cat fight in the near future??
Newt Gingrich returned from his Greek Island cruise this week--he was gone three days before the media and voters noticed. Not so his staff, one day after he returned, 16 of Newt's staff resigned saying he wasn't committed, wasn't spending enough time campaigning and his wife Calista ruled. Many are headed to Texas in hopes of a Rick Perry job.
Jody:
Excellent, absolutely excellent. I can tell you are your ol' self again. Not that you are old.
Jody:
It does not get any better than this. Outstanding week end report. Kudos another job well done.
Great recap, Jody---my favorite line this week (among many) is that Newt was gone on vacation (a fancy Greek Isles cruise, no less) for 3 days before anyone noticed!
I think you are right about Weiner and have summed it up the best.
Warren Buffett is absolutely right. We are relying on the wrong economic advisors in this country. Buffett would know exactly what to do. Why aren't we asking him?
I watch the news every night and I read a couple of papers every morning, and I never saw this reported:
Last week, the Vermont Governor signed single-payer health care into law. VT requested a waiver; it will take a year or so to set up the system but VT has told private insurance to take a hike
however, I have seen Anthony Weiner's wedding photo about a dozen times, (love her dress), and I know his wife may be pregnant.
Does any one else think our current state of journalism is lacking in substance a tad?
Jody you do realize that if Obama had followed the law. The bond holders and creditors of GM would have been better off. Instead your messiah picked his freinds at the UAW as the winner and the bond holders as the losers. It is no wonder why the economy is stagnating. Due to that ridiculous Frank/Dodd bill that Obama signed it is unclear what the capital requirements are going to be for banks, who is going to make the rules and who his administration is going to pick as the winner and loser. Those moronic democratic state atty's are trying to force banks to right down mortgage debt. Again illegally picking winners and losers. It is no wonder businesses arent hiring with these idiots in office. WE NEED CHANGE IN 2012, VOTE FOR COMMON SENSE! The country needs you!
Warren Buffett also makes the point about taxes that it makes no sense for him to pay a 15% rate on interest and dividends while his secretary pays 25% on her salary. I would go even further---to me it sends the wrong message about the value of working for one's living versus living off of capital. One should not be costlier than the other.
This is such a loser argument that you'd think you might abandon it after the first 10 or 20 times that it doesn't fly.
Obama came down on the side of saving the jobs of more than a million auto workers, not to mention the jobs in secondary economies that might have been lost, while allowing the bond holders -- the ones who sign up to take the risk -- to take the short-term hit, knowing that in the long term, profitable US auto companies will benefit EVERYONE.
What do you suppose the bond holders would have done to help out those million unemployed auto workers and their desperate families? Or is that something that just doesn't register with you?
I own shares in Berkshire Hathaway as attend the annual meetings. Warren Buffett also says it's not fair that shareholders ie business owners get thier businesses taxed and then get thier dividends taxed. It's called double taxation. Oh yea, he also says that ridiculous healthcare bill that Obama signed won't do any thing to lower healthcare costs. You liberals need to figure out the diffrence between "Health Insurance" and "Health Care" VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Anna, "Those Evil Bondholders" are what funded GM for YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS! Before your Messaih showed up. Now "Those Bondholders" are reluctant to risk capital in other businesses fearing the contracts they signed in good faith will be nullified. Ridiculous policys like this are what is causing the economy to stagnate further.....
This is the difference between President Obama and the anti-American auto industry GOPers. As President Obama often said the economic collapse was not an ordinary time and it required Government to step in when it would not have otherwise. There are times when saving the country from even greater economic loss and saving millions of jobs is far more important than an ideologically rigid view about Government. Government has a role in this country and republicans lie everytime they claim otherwise because Republican Presidents have also used the power of Government during recessions to save industries and jobs. Without Government what kind of place would this be? Even President Bush VP Cheney said we could not allow GM/Chrysler to go bankrupt during the 2008 Great Recession--as Cheney put it, did we want to see Hoovervilles again.
UAW you dont really expect any of these far left lemmings to give your opinions a far shake do you? Im in the mode on this blog of 'Screen printing" all the juicy vile, misspelled and grammatically incorrect posts for the next election, I'm also saving a few for the upcoming lol "recalls" but I dont hold much hope for humor since one person has not really been recalled in a while and from what I've read the odds are slim that they will do anything but get them on the ballot. On another note a very humorous read is the new Ann Coulter book! lmao..... certainly explains a lot about the mobs at the airport on my return from Viet Nam!
No one should cheer stockholders taking a hit. Stockholders happen to be millions of middle class and senior Americans counting on the companies that are included in their pension investment, IRAs and individual investments. They are counting on these assisting with a good retirement. Rejoicing that does not make sense.
As to the economic advisers, well most have jumped a sinking ship. Let's hope that some one with real world experience rather than just academia is/are chosen as replacements for the next two years.
Also remember that the Bush tax cuts were extended by this administration so now it owns them.
Jody,
You forgot to mention those pro-union zombies in WI that disrupted a Special Olympics event... no wonder people are hostile to unions. They make themselves look bad and there is no excuse for that type of behavior - and you want me to support them?
Never.
Jody,
GM could have been saved just as easily by giving that addtional 20% of the company to the rightful bondholders instead of Obama's freinds at the UAW as well......
Jody, Iowa
You mean Republican presidents USED to do that. If one of their rigid ideologues were to be elected president they would cut corporate taxes and fire public sector employees in response and let the mystical magical market place do the rest -- like weeding out the weak with mass starvation.
Jody -
Always love your posts and always right on. Keep them coming.
Steeler Fan-380417
Great recap, Jody---my favorite line this week (among many) is that Newt was gone on vacation (a fancy Greek Isles cruise, no less) for 3 days before anyone noticed!
Yes Jody gave a sensible great recap as usual. My favorite line last week was frothy mouth Rick Santorum saying... 'health' is nothing but a loophole for women who would abort a pregnancy to fit into a prom dress."
Duh??? Could he be dumber???
I think you are right about Weiner and have summed it up the best.
I agree with you two. Hypocrisy is the Republicans, FOX NOISE and right ring hate radio de jour.
http://bartblog.bartcop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cartoon-gop-hypocrisy-weiner.gif
I don't condone what Weiner did. Yes, it was despicable. I'll bet they are many other in Congress guilty of something sexual. But, Breibart won't go after them. The right wing knows Weiner is a firewall between their austere hateful plans; that is why they went after him. If democrats don't have the spine to stand up for Weiner, what will they do when the floodgates of Koch Money starts for 2012? Vitter is still there and he admitted paying a prostitute which is a crime and Ensign admitted his indiscretions too.
http://www.billpressshow.com/2011/06/10/all-hands-off-weiner/
Also did you see this?
ISSA CAUGHT UP IN WEINERGATE
http://issaexposed.couragecampaign.org/index.php
Issa Aide Linked To Weiner Twitter Tormentors
Duo sought guidance from GOP congressman's flack
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/internet/issa-aide-linked-weinergate-096417
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/smoking-gun-attack-weiner-was-coordin
Wherever there is Darrel Issa involvement you can bet it is sabotage.
Scum bag Breitbart Shares Weiner's Explicit Photo with Opie & Anthony and Vincent D'Onofrio He promised not to relese.
Breitbart Laughs As He Shows Weiner Photo to Shock Jocks
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/38708_Video-_Breitbart_Laughs_As_He_Shows_Weiner_Photo_to_Shock_Jocks
Remember he swore to withhold in order to “spare Rep. Weiner’s family”)
Breitbart has been whining that Opie and Anthony “assured” him that “there were no cameras” in the studio
Well, what was that in the video? It sure did look like a camera. Breibart is a lying, Koch Sucker douche bag.
That lying, grimy, scum bag bas-turd should be hog tied to a pick up and dragged through the streets until he yells I'm sorry for what I did to Weiner’s family, ACORN, and Shirley Sherrod.
Hypocrisy reigneth at First Read, as always. What about those collective bargaining agreements (i.e., "contracts") that were signed in good faith by the autoworkers. I'm sure you were plenty willing to have the government intervene and nullify THOSE contracts, weren't you? Tell the truth.
Governing is about making choices, UAW, and investment is all about taking risk. What you argue for amounts to no more than nullification of all risk. You want all the profit and none of the pain.
So sorry. That just ain't how it works in a democracy.
PLUTOCRACY, maybe. But not here. At least not yet.
lmao...... you must be fun at a sty party!
It amazes me how much publicity Palin gets. She's a media darling but has a 67% unfavorable rating with the American electorate. Her 15 minutes were up a long time ago yet the media continues to follow the circus wherever it goes. She needs to buck the GOP establishment cause they even think her grossly unqualified and unelectable.
Just a thought on the economy.
Yesterday, the President proposed a temporary 2% reduction in the payroll tax on the premise that is going to create jobs. It may grab some votes as someone suggested but is not a long term solution.
Everyone is talking about rebuilding infrastructure.
The trouble with infrastructure jobs is that everyone makes it sound like you pick up a shovel and a pick and go at it. That you're an expert in construction. You need to be trained to operate machinery, need to be physically fit, etc. Surely not an instant fix.
Other suggestions. Corporate tax credits should be issued for US corporations that hire skilled workers. Not just bringing back overseas jobs but creating real white collar jobs for professionals.
We need to retrain our workers, particularly our older workers, so they can acquire the 21st century skills that may find them a job. The have years of experience being wasted.
We have the lowest excise taxes in the world, around 2%. China and India are well over 20% and I believe China is at 40%. Raise excise taxes and generate billions.
Not this 2% payroll tax stuff. Reminds me of the gas tax holiday McCain proposed.
We need a definitive road map to begin this journey not a bunch of bandages that do nothing.
Anna Molly you couldn't be more right and it dramatically highlights the difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats chose to protect jobs, the payroll associated with those jobs, the future of an industry that has been important to American industry for generations, and thereby the US economy. Republicans are upset because wealthy creditors weren't made whole. Sorry, but when you loan money the interest you receive is recognition of the RISK you're taking.
Tell me, is exposing yourself repeatedly for the low-class, misogynist pig YOU apparently are really the best you can do?
@Groucho -- excellent remarks and analysis. Besides, I thought that reducing taxes was not a job creator?
Hey what is going on with Egypt? This wasnt in "The Hope and Change-Wealth Re-Distribution" hand book? I thought if we just get rid of the greedy dictator and capitalists everyone would get free food, healthcare, education, etc. etc. etc. etc.
A point is made above which I don't think gets examined closely enough, that being the story that stock and bond holders must be coddled due to the involvement of average Americans in the markets. While it's true that most 401k plans are based on stocks the distribution of stock ownership is important.
The top 1% owns 42.7% of financial instruments. The next 19% own 50.3% of financial sector wealth. That means the bottom 80% of Americans share just 7% of this form of wealth. http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
Don't let Conservatives kid you. Like everything else they favor their concern for the financial markets is concern for the wealthy elites.
Ben-636050..
The plan to reduce payroll taxes benefits the employer and not the employee. The theory is f the employer can save 2% on payroll he will hire people. If the employer saves 2% on taxes he's going to keep it and we all know that. That's the trickle down nonsense we all know doesn't work but Obama is employing for reasons know only to him.
John B, Des Moines, IA
Like everything else they favor their concern for the financial markets is concern for the wealthy elites.
Does that hold true for GM. Knowing they were going into bankruptcy, wouldn't they be concerned that corporate contributors invested in GM would lose everything and they would, theredfore, be in favor of a bailout? They weren't.
UAW Pleeeeeeeease
It is no wonder why the economy is stagnating.
Wrong, the real patriotic millionaires will tell you why the economy is stagnant.
The Agenda Project: Patriotic Millionaires' Message to Congress "Tax Me"
Ten year ago, Republicans made a mistake. They gave tax cuts to millionaires. They decided our country needed less money and millionaires needed more.
Now our country doesn't have the money we need to build an economy that will work for all of us.
We need better roads to transport our products; faster internet for our technology companies; and more research at universities to spark our innovation.
Taking money from our future and giving it to millionaires is un-American.
Put America ahead of politics: END TAX CUTS FOR INCOMES OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqIgb48iq6w
United We Stand, Divided We Fall
If Obama's plan for re-election is the same failed policies of the last 2 years. This country is in a world of trouble. As popular as it is for you liberals to demonize anyone or thing of wealth the fact remains. We can't pay for your "entitlements" with out them. Let's stop running them off to other countries and show them the respect they deserve........ VOTE FOR COMMON SENSE AND CHANGE IN 2012!
Will you people please quit whining about Bond holders and investors and talking about how they are so evil. If you have a 401K or any kind of pension that you will be receiving then you are one of those evil bond holders or investors. Do you people not realize that state and local governments, as well as private companies invest in bonds to fund pensions?
So when President Obama bailed out GM and screwed bond holders like myself, he really screwed you too. It is going to take quite some time for me to make up what I lost when President Obama gave my GM bonds to the union. I for one will never ever invest in bonds in another company, you never know who the next president will be that decides just to make up the rules for bankruptcy as he goes along. Bonds used to be considered one of the safer investments, but NOT anymore.
Do try to keep up, Janet. No one said bond holders are evil. It's a matter of balance. The numbers above prove that having JOBS is far more important than making sure stockholders suffer no losses in the lives of average Americans. That's because the vast majority of all financial instruments are held by the wealthy while EVERYONE needs a job. Making sure other people have jobs is apparently of no interest to the GOPTP--their primary interest is making sure the wealthy elites who own the vast majority of all stocks suffer no losses.
John B, Des Moines, IA
heir primary interest is making sure the wealthy elites who own the vast majority of all stocks suffer no losses...
You've said that twice. Does that hold true for GM? Knowing the company was going into bankruptcy, wouldn't the GOP be concerned that corporate contributors invested in GM would lose everything and they would, therefore, be in favor of a bailout? They weren't.
Yea Janet, Keep up. <---ridiculous statement. Don't you get it? Giving the UAW 20% of GM instead of you was way more important than "your precious GM bonds". Your money is not as important as thier votes. None of these liberals realize GM would have come thru bankruptcy w/o Obama. But they would have come out of bankruptcy with out being shackeled to the UAW as well. Obama will do for the USA what the UAW did for Detroit. Turn it into an economic wasteland. Fewer business owners will invest capital in the USA atleast as long as Obama is president. VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Jody, Iowa
Why is hypocrisy, like crow, always someone else's breakfast? The Democrats, through Nancy Pelosi, can rise above all this partisan crap by expelling Representative Weiner RIGHT NOW. No one is interested in who got away with what last week - that's kindergarten stuff. Most of us are more interested in the right now and tomorrow. Weiner has disgraced the House. Isn't that enough? We do not need to listen to some Clinton-type argument about how many pubic hairs were shown / not shown. Disgraceful behaviour ia disgraceful behaviour - PERIOD. Drain the Swamp - starting NOW.
It's somewhat unbelieveable , but its happening , Palin understand the red meat mechanism and the republican zombie like followership , how else can you explain , a woman bereft of most basic knowledge running the republican campaign , making millions in the process, buying luxury homes across the country and yet keeping her zombie followers excited in the process. wow. Palin knows how to work it , i tell ya. am sure in her privacy , she laughs out loud at how much influence she weilds with so little knowhow and a sexy librarian glass wearing look. i feel sorry for these folks and i blame Mccain for all this b.s. am from a supposed 3rd world country and i tell u , we are not that dumb over there,
orb, if you wish us to clean our house yours shouldn't be a mess that goes unnoticed.
Don't you think it would be a little unfair for Nancy to expel Weiner, when the Republicans gave Diaper Vitter a standing ovation?
We should keep the larger mess, that stinks, while lifting the carpet and sweeping out the dust.
Groucho, what many Conservatives have been complaining about is that the UAW wasn't broken in the bankruptcy. Notice it's a common thread in the complaints above.
You know if that crazy teabitch Palin was a dog, she would be euthanized for being mad!
Its good to see Santorum back in the political landscape, his endorsements for the return to the one room public school house in Public education, and his anti abortion stance even in the case of rape and incest demonstrates he his a solid candidate for 12, that is 1812. To learn more about Rick Santorum Google: Santorum. Really funny if you have not done it.
Funny to hear GOP strategist Mike Murphy lecturing the GOP on how demographics is leaving their party behind. That is not true. Demographics are not leaving the GOP behind, evolution is!!!
Ann Coulter Says:
"There was the shooting at Kent State," Coulter said. "And gosh I know liberals don't like it and you look at Nexis and 'it was embarrassing for the whole country.' I'm not embarrassed; that's what you do with the mob. They were monstrous at Kent State. They were being led by Bill Ayers' best friend and lover."
http://www.businessinsider.com/ann-coulter-sean-hannity-kent-state-shootings-justified-thats-what-you-do-with-a-mob-2011-6
Rush Limbaugh Says:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201103100018
Glenn Beck Says:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102160014
For 13 seconds on May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, killing four and wounding nine others.
A rally was scheduled for May 4 and drew approximately 2,000 students, many of whom were curious onlookers and shuffling between classes. National Guard officers ordered the protesters to leave and shot tear gas into the crowd when the command was not followed. Over 100 fully armed guardsmen then moved against the students. The troops advanced toward the students, over a hill, and then down to a practice football field. When they reached a fence at the far end of the field, some of the soldiers knelt and aimed their weapons at the demonstrators. While the troops massed together, students retreated into a parking lot between several buildings. Others lobbed rocks and tear gas canisters back at the guardsmen.
After ten minutes, the troops moved back up the hill. When they reached the crest, a group of 28 guardsmen wheeled around and fired in the direction of the parking lot. They fired 61 rounds of ammunition. Of the 13 people killed or injured, only two were actively participating in the demonstration. One student was killed while walking to class and another, ironically, was an ROTC student. Many of the injured students were more than 100 yards from the guardsmen.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
___________________________________________________________
Why is it that when half a dozen Tea Party members some packing heat show up to speak and disrupt a town hall meeting this is somehow right and just?
When thousands show up at Madison, Wisconsin and other state capitals across the country to peacefully assemble and redress their grievances with their government they are suddenly an angry mob deserving to be killed and beaten.
In 1970 I was out of the country. Matter of fact I was participating in the very war that these students were protesting. It made me sad to think that this great country that I had sworn to protect and defend couldn’t do better than this. The very idea that an American could fire a weapon indiscriminately against another American that was unarmed and defenseless horrified me. Still Does.
I wonder how our returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will feel when they learn that the same action is being contemplated and justified in Madison by a certain segment. Contemplating and justification is not far removed from action.
Apparently some things never change.
IR:
So good to see you back on FT. You haven't lost your touch for saying exactly what needs to be said.
Indeed, IR. This is wonderful. Thank you for the vivid description of that very sad day in our sorry history.
But don't expect the righties to get it.
There are "none so blind as those who will not see." ~ Matthew Henry
IR--you're forgetting that when the Tea Party people and other conservatives do something, it has to be right---it is only the rest of us who are always wrong. Must make it easier for them, never having to think about things.
Good to see you posting---have missed your wisdom.
Thanks all. Good to be back
Anna what is this that I hear that Republicans are going to run faux candidates in the recall elections in order to create confusion?
Speaking of Rush, Funny call on Tuesday as per below
"RUSH: Peter in Branson, Missouri, let's go ahead and start on the phones here. Peter, hi, welcome to the EIB Network. Great to have you here.
CALLER: Hi, Rush. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it. I just want to warn you: I'm a liberal Democrat, I'm a poli-sci professor, but (chuckles) I wanted to comment on Sarah Palin show. We are, honestly -- I'm just being honest with you, Rush. We fear Palin as a Republican candidate because she can beat President Obama. I'm just gonna flat-out tell you. She is providing something that the other candidates aren't providing, and Romney and other people who are trying to destroy Palin, us liberals, we're loving it because they're taking out their star quarterback, you know, before the game's even started. So we're kinda quiet about the whole thing, and it's like you said: It's the Republicans that are taking on Palin right now, and we're just sitting back on the sidelines and we just can't believe that this is going on.
Excellent post, IR. Can't add anything to it. Good to see you back.
It looks as if Rush Limbaugh got his chain pulled by an alleged "liberal" caller. That's funny.
Jody, you can look it up. He is a poly Sci professor with a phd and a liberal! Sorry!
Jody:
Either that, or Limbaugh was yanking his gullible listeners' chain with a fake phone call. Most liberals would love to see Palin get the GOP nomination instead of some mealy-mouth like Romney who actually has a chance of beating Obama and then doing to the country what he did back in his days as a corporate raider -- kill more jobs in order to increase corporate profits. It's clear to everyone with half a brain that Palin is ignorant, vindictive, and incompetent. She's lose in a landslide of historic proportions.
Sounds to me like a fake call supplied by Premier On Call or a similar service.
http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/58759/radio-daze/
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/do-you-believe-rush-limbaugh-uses-fake-callers-to-his-radio-show/question-1565309/
lmao........uhuh Just like the Weiner situation was a set up by the right! You guys have all the answers you really do need to set up and run your own universe.
They're going to try it, IR. Just another way that these true defenders of democracy serve their constituents. Not to mention how it demonstrates what they think of their constituents.
Rather ours than yours. In a heartbeat.
John B, Des Moines, IA
On second thought, maybe the caller really WAS a liberal, assuming he was using the "Bre'r Rabbit" strategy: "Oh PLEASE don't throw me in that briar patch!!!!"
Do most Republicans even know what a eunuch is?
There's so much that COULD be done with that question, but I'll just leave it to everyone's individual imagination.
At least, they didn't spell it "younook"!!
Will the e-mails be translated into English? I don't speak "Word Salad".
In all seriousness...
It's bad enough that "The Party of Lincoln" became "The Party of Nixon".
Please, please, PLEASE, Republicans, do not let yourselves become "The Party of Palin"!
Good morning, everyone, and here’s a little discouraging news from the heartland –
You have to wonder just who WILL benefit from the latest bit of late-night skullduggery by the Wisconsin Legislature ….
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/education/blog/article_fbbb9e44-92f5-11e0-8398-001cc4c03286.html
And here’s what Wisconsin’s ELECTED superintendent of public education, Tony Evers, had to say about it ….
Sigh.
Wisconsin used to pride itself on being an open democracy state. Evidently, today’s neo-con Republicans don’t honor that tradition. Even discounting the frontal assault on democracy that this clandestine move represents – the kind of move that is becoming all too common from our new governor and his lackeys – you have to wonder who WILL benefit.
And ultimately you do have to wonder, if all this stuff is so good for us, then why don’t they just do it in the open.
Or maybe you don’t.
Recalls cannot come too soon.
Good Morning Anna Molly:
Putting the word out there so the country can see what the conservatives are doing to the state o Wisconsin is about all we can do right now. You are right again, "Recalls cannot come too soon."
Anna Molly:
Thanks for the update. We are all watching WI and July should be really interesting. The GOP/TP is overreaching and this is going to come home to roost sooner or later. July, I think, will tell us where this mess is going. I hope it goes right into the toilet where it belongs and those responsible get their just punishment - a stint on the un-employment line and see how they like to be called "Hobos", unclean, lazy, filthy etc.
What goes around comes around and the tide is turning I think. Just hope we are not too late.
Please post how many recalls have been successful in removing elected officials in the United States! I will wait!
Had not heard about this yet, Anna Molly. One thing is certain, the Tea-publicans are determined to cram as much anti-democratic ideology as they can before they lose their power which cannot come soon enough. The democrats will have a lot of work just to undo the damage done in 6 months.
The recall is used much more often at the local level of government than at the state level. At least 29 states permit the recall of local officials.
Source: ncsl.org
Though I never like to suppose; I suppose that the attention that this issue received will give these recalls as good a chance as they could have as being successful. Looking at the approval ratings of the Gov, and these recall plagued pols, the best chance I've seen....
2011........Miami Mayor Carlos Alvarez was recalled.
Just as national coverage about Vermont's single-payer health care has been trampled by sexting stories, the vouchers to pay for religious schools needs to be ALL OVER the news.
This is more than just GOP/TP overreach. This is a part of a long, ongoing, subversive effort by the American Christian Taliban. If it was a Libertarian position, they would favor privatizing education. But getting tax-payer funds to pay for religious schooling, that's fundamentalists at work against Separation of Church and State.
Abortion riders attached to budget bills is just the tip of the iceberg. The news media and others need to get this school voucher issue in the national debate before the recall elections.
That's right, TP. The Tea Party REPRESENTS itself to be a heavily Libertarian organization with its rhetoric about "shrinking government" and "living within our means", but the actions portray a completely different agenda. This isn't a simple effort to make sure government operates in a responsible fashion, it's a dramatic and radical effort to remake the United States into something it's never been.
Tax the American Taliban,
Churches are involved in politics on both sides of the aisles, it is time this outdated institution pay its fair share of taxes.
Obama better get his @$$ on a plane to Europe and start apologizing for that speech on NATO that Gates gave or he's going to lose the love over there too!
ah yes, rick perry, the texas governor who while campaigning, toyed with the idea of secession from the union (although we fought a war to decide that question) is now considering a run to head this union. makes perfect sense. texas where teachers have been fired and a budget deficit worse than california were it not for the socialist obama administration's stimulus money. hey, he's got nice hair and he reminds people of the shrub - couldn't get better qualifications except maybe for palin, bachmann, cain or santorum.
Not to mention on how he will demand that all history books be revised to remove those things the GOP/TP do not like, even though they are true.
Just think, as President, Perry's first action could be to declare Texas free and independent.
Just a quick question here; can we see Barrack Obama's emails from his time as a State Senator in Illinois?
In particular, can we see the emails between him and TONY REZKO in reference to the purchase of Obama's Kentwood home?
If not...then WHY does Sarah Palin have to expose hers?
Has there been a Freedom of Information Act request to get those e-mails?
Why did you have to expose your ignorance?
Reagan was brighter than Palin and that ain't sayin' much!!
Low bar, huh Auntie? Sad....
Sarah vs GOP establishment...really...who comes up with this stuff?
Flying around in a jet, owns multiple properties, lives off a PAC....this all sounds pretty darned "establishment" to me. She's JOINED THE RANKS of the corruptable crooks...so much for disdain...she only feels it when she can't be part of the crowd...how inconvenient for her!
FR---I certainly hope you all got hazardous duty pay for having to sit through the Sarah Palin "documentary."
While I usually think people should check things out themselves, this time I will take a pass and go with your summary.
Thanks to Chuck, Mark, Domenico and Ali for another great week of political discussion. Maybe next week we could focus less on scandals and more on substance.
You know, it might not be such a bad movie if you treat it like movies such as "This Is Spinal Tap", "A Mighty Wind" and "Best In Show".
Nicely said, Steeler Fan. Our hosts do deserve hazardous duty pay--two hours of making Palin into Joan of Arc would be about a 1 hr 45 minutes too much. I'm reminded of a friend who said she read Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue" out of curiosity which she picked up at Goodwill for 50 cents and which she returned to Goodwill so they could make another 50 cents off another curious soul.
Why is Palin's movie titled "The Undefeated" when she lost in 2008 and also lost her campaign to be the Lt. Gov in Alaska in ~2002 (before running successfully for governor in 2006)?
To me, this is another example of Palin doubling down on trying to change history.
I wonder why the book, Blind Allegiance, has not had more coverage in the press. It explains the mystery of Sarah Palin. I recommend it.
Colorado. Good question on the book, I have been wondering the same thing myself. As to the movie, it is just a right wing propaganda film, no doubt the Koch brothers will be bussing in lots of teabaggers to see it.
It was that or "The Incredibles," also a title already taken, but Sarah went with "The Undefeated" because it was a John Wayne western, not about cartoon characters--a closer match minus super powers. This is a propaganda piece, pilgrim, of couse she'd go with the Duke. Just kiddin' -- It's an insult to either, and she should be sued. Stand in line.
Discussing Governor Rick Perry's possible run for president with Kay Bailey Hutchison on the Daily Rundown this morning, Chuck asked her about Perry's "joke" last year about Texas seceding from the union. This is the first time I have heard it revered to as a "joke" Nice of Chuck to clean up Perry's messes.
Chuck was being kind----he must think--no one can be so stupid as to think a state can secede, so it must have been a joke.
.
Consult some "recovery facts" and see which state is leading in job creation during the Obama Depression.
Republic. Thanks to all the money Obama's Federal America is pouring into Texas.
An often repeated "joke", too. I heard the next commentator say that Perry has foot in mouth problems and is not disciplined enough to run a strong campaign. Being a cowboy from Texas doesn't necessarily make one a winner and to be honest, I am not sure voters are ready for another Texan any more than they are ready for another Bush (as in Jeb).
Republic--the Depression began in December, 2007, before our President was even the demcratic nominee. Nice try, though, to rewrite history just as most republicans do this days--"A" for effort, "F" for factual deficit.
Republic, most of those jobs must suck! According to http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/incpovhlth/2009/statemhi2_09.xls, Texas ranks 38th in median household income. Gee, I guess one reason for secession would be to AVOID embarrassing little comparisons like this!
News flash – For JAS1, Spanky and Brian B (responding to their posts, left early yesterday)
Hold up Rick Perry as a presidential contender? I don't think so. His inept handling of the state budget excludes him from trying to tackle the real serious problems with the country. Perry is using a sledgehammer to diminish social services and education in Texas. What he can't cut he will use smoke and mirror to balance the budget. Obama and democrats must cut spending reasonable (everything on table) and raise taxes on all. All of us.
Those job new job holders will not be happy with the state of the public schools and social services.
_________________
From the Austin Chronicle 6/10/11
The great GOP wave breaks on the realities of the actual cost of government
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
· Worst Session Ever
A look at the mess they've made
Budget: Smoke and Mirrors
Not only did the Legislature pass a budget that cuts total spending by $15.2 billion and general revenue spending by $1.6 billion, but it also had to use smoke and mirrors to cover its tracks. Here are some of the more egregious accounting tricks.
• $4.8 billion in acknowledged unfunded health care expenses, leading Austin Rep. Elliott Naishtat to accuse the Republicans of "using Medicaid like a credit card"
• $125 million increase in school funding that still leaves the state $4 billion short of covering current costs. That equates to leaving a whole new district the size of Dallas Independent School District unfunded.
• Another $2.3 billion in "deferred payments" to schools. Basically, the state will hold back its August 2013 payment until September. That means the state will still have to pay it in the next biennium, but that will be the 83rd Legislature's problem.
• $830 million in federal EduJobs money awarded to Texas in May but held back to the 2011-12 school year to soften the impact of the state cuts
• A $700 million cut in medical spending that depends on a federal health care waiver. No waiver, no savings.
All this happened while the state was estimated to have $6.5 billion left in the Rainy Day Fund, much of which will now have to cover that Medicaid shortfall and the deferred school payments in two years' time.
Women's Health Care: From Bad to Horrid
Texas women take a backseat to anti-abortion politics and the war on Planned Parenthood.
Highlights
• None
Lowlights
• $62 million in federal money cut from basic health care and family planning
• More than 200,000 women (and some men) lose all health care.
• Reauthorized Women's Health Program while banning Planned Parenthood
• Consequence: Another 100,000 women lose access to health care.
• Family-planning cuts likely lead to 22% rise in abortions (Guttmacher Institute).
• More money for "Alternatives to Abortion" counseling without health care
Worst of the Worst
• Required ultrasound probes of all women seeking abortions
Voting Rights: White Is Right
Republicans fiercely defended their dominance despite shifting demographic winds. – Lee Nichols
Highlights
• In Texas House redistricting, Republicans finally gave up on all but one Travis County district.
Lowlights
• Voters must present photo ID to vote; supposedly to deter voter fraud, but Dems say it will keep poor folks out of the polls.
• The GOP shredded Travis County in the Senate, splitting it four ways, including a district stretching from Montopolis to Laredo.
• Both the House and Senate maps may be illegal: While the Anglo percentage of Texas' population went down, the number of Anglo-majority districts went up.
• Congressional redistricting never got moving in the regular session, but maps came out the first day of the special session, slicing and dicing Travis County up five ways.
______
Just as I'm sure you don't give credit to Obama for any of the jobs created in the US; I don't give credit to Perry for the jobs in Texas.
Yeehaw, sounds like Perry has done to Texas what Romney did to Massachusetts and what Pawlenty did to Minnesota.
I think the RNC can build a hell of an attack ad against the Democrats in general, showing pictures of Weiner.
These should be heavily aired in the bible belt states. Money well spent. Thank you Weiner.
Edward. And democrats will remind Americans about Ryan's budget to destroy medicare.
Considering the number of "family values" GOPs caught with their pants down in the past four years, that would be the pot calling the kettle black and is a risky move.
More interesting to me is that fictional writer (notice I didn't say journalist) Andrew Breitbart thinks Palin is a success story in Alaska but conveniently glosses over the fact that she quit mid-term. She hasn't "won" at anything anymore than Charlie Sheen has. I am appalled when I hear her say things like she want to meet with world leaders. Does she not realize that she has no political status at all?
Betty, Your issue is that in that area of the country(I know the liberals hate this) people dont believe what the left says, so those kinds of ads WILL be successful!
Well, one person she WON'T be meeting is Margaret Thatcher - who thinks Palin is nuts! lol
I know your going to poo poo this because of who said it, but apparently Mr Limbaugh had Ms Thatcher as a guest at his country club and drove her in a cart all around the golf course while discussing people on both sides including Ms Palin of whom she was quoted as finding quite interesting. I love that you liberals are so afraid of her! She elicits great response in every derogatory manner of anyone I know! I hope she keeps it up! Its amusing to us Independents!
Jolly. Who is afraid of Palin? as a democrat I am greatful fo her, she is the gift that keeps on giving.
Margaret Thatcher's had several strokes and her daughter describes ongoing memory loss. I'm guessing any response to questions to Mrs Thatcher about Palin were responded to thus; "WHO?????"
What would lead anyone to think people in the heartland believe what the GOPTP says?
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110609/NEWS09/106090334/-1/caucusright/Branstad-approval-rating-slips-poll
Buyers remorse is hitting the Republican Party hard.
Feisty,
The reason Margaret Thatcher will not be meeting Palin is the handy-work of Paul Revere; he has already warned Ms. Thacher that" "Palin is coming, Palin is Coming". Ya know Feisty, it's not the first time Paul Revere has warned the British about the "danger" of Americans! Source: Jay Leno Show, June 9, 2011.
Irionicoldsoul quotes Rush repeatedly never varies from his talking points, and calls himself independent?
The rest of the world thinks very poorly of Sarah Palin. If she went overseas, the cost for crowd control and protection would cause further economic strain everywhere. Anyone who thinks Palin would represent our country well is living in a bubble.
A few days ago I made fun of Sarah Palin turning Paul Revere's ride into some sort of teabag protest and suggested that maybe Sarah thought Americans rebelled against the British because King George was going to impose health care reform on the colonies. But I learned to my surprise that Rick Santorum came very close to claiming that was the reason for World War II. He blathered something about US troops storming the beaches of Normandy on D Day in order to protect their freedom to choose their own health care plan. Evidently, Santorum thinks that if the Germans had won the war, Hitler would have made everybody buy health insurance or face a tax penalty. OH, THE HORROR!!!!! What did Hitler call his health care reform plan? Adolf Care?
Really, it's hard to satirize these people because they do such a good job of self-satire.
Best response to that idiotic statement by Santorum was from historian Douglas Brinkley---he said he has read the letters those brave GIs wrote the night before DDay, knowing they could die the next day---not one of them mentioned health care!
Houston - If you will run into your bathroom there is a moron in the mirror that wants to talk with you.
Republic of Texas #1
Sorry. I can't see you in my mirror. Why don't you do something positive for America and secede from the Union along with our idiot governor? Then there'd be two less jerks in this country.
Houston, well said. I heard something about the Santorum comment but didn't catch enough to put in my post with any certainty of accuracy. The host comment (Chris Matthews?) I heard was it was shameful and disrespectful of Santorum to use the bravery of our military on D-Day for political purposes. But then who said Santorum knows what respect is anyway!
Steeler Fan. I did hear Douglas Brinkley's remark and thought it was perfect.
The only conservative candidate that has served in the military is Ron Paul, with Newt getting a draft deferment from serving in Vietnam. Most know nothing about respect either. Ron Paul is the only one I respect--I don't agree with him--but I respect his honesty and other personal qualities.
Even Jim Jones had followers, it didn't work out so well for them and I'm betting it won't for the current crop of delusional sycophants.
Palin is milking this for all it is worth.....and laughing all the way at the money flowing into her coffers.
I'll add that Palin has no intention of running for President when she can live off the money from her PAC, have someone write a few books for her, up her speaking fees. She's doing just as Newt Gingrich has done the last 15 years except Newt is smart enough to write his own books.
dragon, the more money they give palin to live on the less they can give to other candidates. i hope she milks it as long as possible.
Palin is milking this for all it is worth.....and laughing all the way at the money flowing into her coffers.
x Let's x Go x Mavs! x
Congrats to your Mavs on last night. I don't think I've ever seen a team shoot as well as the Mavs did last night, particularly from 3. I'm hoping my Heat can pull it off at home two times in a row. But, if they are going to lose to someone, I certainly don't mind it being the Mavs as I like several of their players. (Not a Mark Cuban fan though).
Frank Grimes - Finals have been epic IMO. It will be hard for the Mavs. I think Dallas has to win Sunday to get it done. Have been concentrating solely on the Mavs the past 2 months, a great ride. One more win. I can't wish your Heat luck, sorry, they are too talented. Don't know if you watch the post game interviews but almost had sympathy for Lebron, quickly slipped away though. Reporters with dumb questions after Miami lost, "Lebron are you disappointed?" Wade is so good and James is going to throw down one of these games. Hope the Dallas team can pull one more out. They have a great bunch of guys; guys I can pull for.
The refs have not been a big factor thus far. But no one can win on the road in a game 7 against a NBA "appointed" dynasty team. Boston couldn't do it last year against the Lakers. Mavs won't be able to do it against the Heat in a game 7.
I was rooting for the Heat, too, Grimey, but am a little disappointed in LeBron.
If the Mavs win, will be happy for native Pittsburgher Mark Cuban. I'm sure he is a Steelers fan.
I want to see her run so I can see how bad she will lose.
I don't think that Sarah movie is going to do so well. She offers a lot of entertainment value, but you can get that without shelling out the cash for AMC tickets. And actually, the free and unscripted Palin is where the real entertainment value is. This documentary of the 'most patriotic woman ever' and the obvious successor to Reagan is just going to be an Orwellian wartime propaganda reel.
What, exactly, the hell is wrong with the GOP these days? NON elected people RUN the place. Limbaugh, Trump, Palin, ad nauseum. None of these people were elected to reperesent the party, yet they do all the noise-making. Could Palin be right? Is it the LAME-stream media? Maybe it's the LAME-brained people that hang on every word these nobodies spew, I don't know. Anyone in the GOP got any guts anymore? Sure doesn't look like it.
IR- welcome back, pardner. You can't imagine some of the nonsense that has creeped into these posts lately. A lot is the same-old, same-old, but much more is pretty goofy.
Thanks Drive- By....... You know what they say" If you can't dazzle them with Brilliance, Baffle them with B.S."
Well said DBO and IR!
Why do you cover fake candidates like Sara Pailn who are political jokes instead of following the real candidates? How has Congressman Ron Paul not get covered by your so called news people when he is one of the top contenders according to the Gallup polls?
Its simple, they are on Sarah because they are afraid of her! I find it greatly amusing as Im sure she does! But its a good distraction and reminds me greatly of my best friend in combat...the friendly cover (smoke) grenade!
No one's afraid of Sarah; what they really fear is the blind allegience of the misinformed sheep who follow her, and the disasterous results it could lead to. It's the same mindset that propelled Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin to power. And comparing Sarah to Reagan is not fair...to Reagan and his legacy. At least Reagan had the decency to finish out his terms as governor, and he had the backing of most of the GOP and was a uniter. In contrast, Sarah has failed to serve in the capacity the people of Alaska had entrusted to her, she has only the support of the extreme far-right wing of the GOP, and she's very divisive.
the truth is it's hard to look away from a trainwreck which is the pefect description of palin.
Sarah Palin is just like a smoke grenade Jolly she can't hurt anybody, she only obscures reality, and stinks up the place. Well I guess you could be harmed if you breathe in to much of her smoke, that could deprive the brain of oxygen, and cause brain damage. Great analogy Jolly never thought of it that way. When you just need the political equivalent of a smoke grenade, toss in Sarah Palin.
OBama - an EXTENSION OF BUSH (almost exactly) - Borrow, Entitle, Bailout the wealthy, Print Money, Grow Government, get the US involved in Presidential (illegal) Police Engagements, and now INFLATION and RAISE TAXES ON THOSE THAT HAVE ANYTHING LEFT!
IF, you think a CHANGE FROM THE OBAMA/BUSH course is bad for this country, you are WHACKED!
Gooo ANYONE that represents, FISCAL RESPONSIBILTY, and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, STOP the giveaways!
WHO IN THE HELL CARES....i didn't think you did a documentary till after someone's pulic life is over...i don't know how she can get a door...her head is so big and she thinks she above everyone else...
It's because they plan to use the movie as a campaign ad.