A lot of Republicans are coming forward in support of "Obamacare" suddenly. Unfortunately, none of them are current congressmen. They include Republican overnors (like Ahhnold), or former Republican Congressmen, like Bill Frist and Bob Dole. It doesn't seem to be having much effect on current Congressmen. But there is a new "compromise" solution, which seems to be catching fire — … Read More
Wellpoint Exhibits Contempt, Greed, and Bad Timing
Seriously? Watch this story about Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Maine, a subsidiary of WellPoint. They are suing the State of Maine, because Maine is not letting them jack up their health insurance premiums 18.5%. That's a pretty ballsy lawsuit, especially with the health care debate raging. Dday at Hullabaloo gives the background: This story shows how silly it would be … Read More
Another Day, Another Michelle Bachmann Lie-Meme
So here's what The World's Worst Politican Evah ™ said on the floor of the House last night: For the video-impaired, here's a transcript: "[T]he bill orders that these clinics protect patient privacy and student records. What does that mean? It means that parents will never know what kind of counsel and treatment that their children are receiving. And as … Read More
I’m Shocked, Shocked That There’s Hyperbole In The House
I wasn't going to write about this, but there was some Democratic theatrics on the House floor yesterday. A Democratic congressman — Alan Grayson of Florida – got up in the House and made a tongue-in-cheek mockery of the Republican health care plan. The freshman Florida Democrat said the Republican health care plan calls for sick people to "die quickly." "It's … Read More
If Republicans Are Worried About Wasteful Government Programs….
… and that's why they supposedly oppose the public option, then why are they throwing money at government programs that don't work? That's right. The Senate Finance Committee yesterday rejected two amendments to its health bill which would have added the public option. But what amendment did the Republicans and Blue Dog Dems vote for? Providing more money to abstience education programs: … Read More
Who’s Afraid of the Public Option?
The Senate Finance Committee is debating whether a public option amendment should be added to their bill. As expected, Republicans and Blue Dog Dems are opposed. But, listening to their debate here in the background all day, their arguments against the public option are all the same: government-imposed rationing, long wait times, bureaucrats making treatment decisions, etc. In other words, … Read More
Remember Those Anti-Health Care Reform Town Hall Protests Last Summer?
They didn't speak for the majority then, and they speak for a small minority now. [Source]
Protect The Insurance Companies PSA
Will Farrell and others are looking out for the insurance companies: Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell
What Happens When Fox Pundits Get Out-crazied and Start Getting Real?
Check out this tidbit from Bill O'Reilly's show last night: O’REILLY: The public option now is done. We discussed this, it’s not going to happen. But you say that this little marketplace that they’re going to set up, whereby the federal government would subsidize insurance for some Americans, that is, in your opinion, a public option? OWCHARENKO: Well, it has massive new … Read More
Let Me Ask The Obvious
The Senate Finance committee hunkered down to come up with a healthcare reform bill. And they had a choice: either come up with a bipartisan healthcare reform bill that Republicans wouldn't vote for, or a partisan healthcare reform bill that Republicans wouldn't vote for. Why did they choose the former? (It's clear that nobody likes the Baucus bill).
Okay, THIS Is Exhibit A On Why I Get Frustrated With Teabaggers
I don't mind Obama opposition in general, and concerns about exploding the deficits are more than reasonable concerns. Heck, make a coherent argument against anything I support, and I'll listen and consider it. My problem with many — if not most — of the Tea Party protesters is that — well, how shall I say it — they're idiots. They … Read More
45% of Doctors Will Consider Quitting If Healthcare Is Overhauled?
That's what the Investor's Business Daily wants you to believe from their poll. That really struck me, especially since a more comprehensive non-partisan poll by the New England Journal of Medicine came out showing that "62.9 percent of physicians nationwide support proposals to expand health care coverage that include both public and private insurance options" I tried to look deeper into this, … Read More
The Party of Children
First it was "Liar, liar" (embodied in Joe Wilson); now it's "he started it" ("he" = Obama). My favorite: After the vote was taken, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) declared on the House floor that Obama had insulted Congress, by saying that his opponents were lying about his health care proposals. "He comes in here talking about a lie … He … Read More
RIP: “Norma Rae”
Crystal Lee Sutton, formerly Crystal Lee Jordan, was fired from her job folding towels at the J.P. Stevens textile plant in her hometown of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. for trying to organize a union in the early 1970s. Her last action at the plant — writing the word "UNION" on a piece of cardboard and standing on her work table, leading … Read More
Government Run Health Care? We’re Closer Than You Think
Slate.com: The latest report from the Census Bureau on income, poverty, and health insurance is full of interesting data. (For example, median household family income in 2008, at $50,303, was below where it was in 1998. Heckuva job, Bushie, Greenie, and the whole economic team!) Perhaps the most surprising census data are the significant evidence that, even absent a reform … Read More