by Tally
What is the Conservative God? Money. What is the Conservative goal? Pure capitalism. How do they achieve that? Kill the public sector so the private sector can do the same thing, but make a PROFIT using fewer people to do more work for less money. (Killing jobs for profit. You know, like Mitt Romney.)
Once upon a time, Health Insurance in the United States was a regulated industry. Then President Reagan deregulated it, and until President Obama signed the ACA into law on March 23rd, 2010, it was legal for a Health Insurance company to take your money for 20+ years, then drop you once you needed serious coverage, and never give you a refund.
Ever since the beginning of The Great Health Care Reform Fight, the GOP has been screaming that this is a “GIFT” to the Health Insurance industry, and everyone on the Right have done everything they can think of to either overturn it, or “take back” the government so they can repeal it.
I want you to go read that paragraph again. Doesn’t it seem odd? To me it’s like the laws of gravity ceasing to exist on Earth because the Health Insurance industry (and by extension, BIG PHARMA) is one of the largest donors to the GOP.
If the ACA is the giant “gift” the GOP wants you to believe it is, why are the Health Cartels™ spending billions of dollars for lobbyists and donations to the GOP to repeal it? If it’s a “gift”, where are the campaigns from Anthem and Aetna trying to make it permanent? Where are the commercials from United Healthcare saying how much they love the ACA? Why aren’t the GOP candidates singing its praises since it’s theoretically pouring more money into their Sugar Daddy’s pockets, and ultimately their own?
Read full post here
The Obama Diary 
I’m still not a fan of David Frum but you can sometimes find agreement with people you dislike…rarely, but sometimes. Frum’s reasoning kinda reflects some of my own in regards to the possibility that SCOTUS strikes down ACA still being a win/win situation for the White House
Yglesias Award Nominee
ooh,
headline: A WORD FROM LAMH35…
“First!!!”
lol
Congratulations on your victory! Your prize is no doubt on its way. 😆
Who’s on First? lamh35, that’s who! Yay!
Frum nailed it.
The GOP are so fucked up big time they do not have any plan for the the aca, in fact they never
had a plan at all this got to a Big win for the WH.
Congrats for being #1! More importantly, thanks for highlighting the views of a person who seems to be a sane Republican, no matter how much we may disagree with him.
First??
damn!
Sorry, like Gov. Etch-A-Sketch, you were beaten. 😉
Chips, you need a bell that goes off ON THE SITE when there’s a new post so that those of us who are in the middle can hear and scamper over. You can’t believe how many posts i haven’t completed in the last little while! Of course, part of that is because I keep going up and down to ‘check’, just in case you try to slip one by me, AND you have been quite successful slipping by! Sometimes I think it’s a game you enjoy torturing me with. 😉 Just you wait til I buy my summer ipad!
I’d like to add my own words of wisdom.
Going back into 2008, Barack Obama was the “underdog.” He had to first fight the Clinton machine, and he did it in a calm and respectful manner. Meanwhile, Hillary took bad advice from Rovian Democrats, and Obama outsmarted and outplayed her to win the Democratic nomination. Then fast forward to 2008, Barack Obama has to campaign against John McCain, and the poll comes out after Palin gave her speech at the RNC, and polls came out showing McCain ahead. CUE EMOPROG PANIC!!!! But Barack Obama did NOT panic, he continued to run his campaign the same way he did in the primaries, and he WON!!! He defeated a senile old man and his pitbull with lipstick.
Cue 2009, He’s inaugurated into office, and he has to fight to pass the American Recovery Act to stabilize the economy. He succeeds, amongst Republican obstruction and with TWO empty Senate seats. The next major fight is the healthcare fight, and we had big pharma AND the stupid emoleft BOTH fighting against it. Come 2010, most of the media had written the healthcare fight and said that the American Care Act would NOT happen, and yet it happened. Then 2011 rolls in and the President hunts down and executes Osama bin Laden and a bunch of Al Qaeda leaders, but all the emoleft can do is snivel about “Why didn’t he capture Osama bin Laden alive?” and whine about the use of drones.
My point in bringing up all of this is to demonstrate that Barack Obama is NO idiot. Both the emoleft and the hard right have created their own caricatures of President Obama. The emoleft caricature is that Obama is a right wing Republican who has “caved” to the Republicans and DESTROYED liberalism. The hard right caricature is that Obama is a left wing Marxist Socialist dictator who has apologized to the Muslim world too much and was not even born in America. The emoleft and hard right both need to be ignored, the fact that President Obama has outsmarted and outplayed them is driving them crazy, and yet President Obama continues to push along because he is a fighter.
I’d encourage everyone to ignore the media noise/pundits with regards to this healthcare fight. Their main job is to piss people off with absolute bullshit. The hearings on the American Care Act have just begun, yet we have Toobin and a few others in the media saying that the American Care Act will be defeated. That would be just like saying that the New England Patriots were going to win the SuperBowl because they had the lead by the end of the first half. If it helps, think of these hearings as a football game, and it’s the first quarter. Don’t listen to these quacks that seem to know it all.
PRESS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Practical sensible response to a long drawn out process.
“Both the emoleft and the hard right have created their own caricatures of President Obama. The emoleft caricature is that Obama is a right wing Republican who has “caved” to the Republicans and DESTROYED liberalism. The hard right caricature is that Obama is a left wing Marxist Socialist dictator who has apologized to the Muslim world too much and was not even born in America.”
Thanks for the excellent insights, Nintendowii10! Obviously, both “the hard right” and “the emoleft” can’t be right in their diametrically contradictory depiction of President Obama. It is just that both factions are “True Believers.” As Eric Hoffer said: “True Believers are absolutely certain about things they do not know.”
Any way, my commitment is to work ten times harder, than I did in 2008, to ensure the re-election of President Obama and majority Democrats in both houses of Congress. I have no control over what the radical, right wing dominated, Supreme Court might do with respect to the ACA. But, as some one who is benefiting immensely from the reduced drug expenses for seniors and free preventive care, I will give it all I can to elect a President, and members of Congress, who were looking out for my interests when they enacted this law. People should always remember that despicable U.S. Supreme Court decisions, that seemed to turn the clock backwards, were eventually overturned once people elected descent people to Congress and the Presidency, who in turn nominated responsible judges and Supreme Court Justices. Yes, there is a possibility that the five right wing justices of the Supreme Court, the so called referees according to CJ Roberts, may hand us a set back by calling an unfair foul/strike in favor of their Right wing Republican team. But we must never allow sleazy referees to discourage or derail our agenda.
There are lessons to be learned from history about the limits of Supreme Court decisions. In 1857 The Supreme Court sided with the pro expansion of slavery faction only to see anti-expansion of slavery faction score impressive victories in most Northern States. In 1933-35, the Supreme Court sided with the anti-New deal faction only to see FDR re-elected in a landslide in 1936. If we stay strong, vigilant and committed, any negative ruling from the Supreme Court about the ACA should energize us to work as hard as we can to defeat these right wing No nothing people who are determined to turn the clock backwards.
Josh Earnest just did a terrific job of filling in for Jay Carney today. Firm, succinct, direct. BRAVO.
I totally agree meta. I really like Josh Earnest. He did an excellent job covering for Jay “Clark Kent” Carney today. Btw, I love it when he shuts down a jackals question with the words “I got nothin for you on that one”.
He doesn’t put up with any nonsense!!
He really doesn’t. I adore him. He tells it to you straight no BS.
And this is where Tally drops the mic. Brilliant.
and slaps the podium. perfect!
clap clap clap clap clap… 🙂 ….standing ovation
HAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Hey, maybe that IS what I need to do… start putting these on video….
hmmmmm.
Tally that was brilliant as usual – I think it’s important to look at what is happening here and you have stated clearly especially this:
“why are the Health Cartels™ spending billions of dollars for lobbyists and donations to the GOP to repeal it?”
mmmm hmmmm. I wish the supreme court had a twitter account……
maybe we start #SCOTUS and get it to trend?
Frigging awesome Tally!
Tally, this was, as usual, a brilliant essay from your keyboard! With your permission, I would like to print it out and share it with people who are more likely to read something on paper than on the blog.
Thank you love. Do as you will with my blessing! And that goes for anything I write here. Tweet. Email. Print. Write in the sky. Make it into a flash mob. 🙂
i’ll look and see if you are out there!
Great idea, Tallysticks, those would be so dynamic!
GREAT idea Tally. Brilliant comment that everyone needs to hear. If you put it on youtube, we can twitter it, and send it everywhere for it to go viral!!!!
Tally does it again!! Thank you, T. And BTW, no kidding on the Fettucine Alfredo and Snickers.
😆
he’s already a burden on our system.
*Applauds Tally’s brilliance*
Just a reminder to everyone, if you ever want to have anything – well, obviously PBO-related! – posted here, just let me know. I’m always thrilled to pass on your thoughts 😉
Thanks Chips. I just might take you up on that offer in the near future. 🙂
I blathered on, not realizing there was a new thread. Call me egomaniacal, but I need to share my rant so I’m reposting.
I didn’t even read replies to my comments yesterday. When I get scared I get yelled at, and although I did my damnedest to keep the iceberg of my fear from view, I was plenty scared. I literally cried myself to sleep over the SC yesterday, and the many assaults against this great President and the specter of an America I never fathomed I would see in my lifetime.
I’m still scared. I still want the health care law to be upheld. I’m hoping that the Roberts Court understands that if it does, with one significant case, march us back to, as Dahlia Lithwick said, 1804, that nothing they do or say throughout Roberts’ tenure will be taken seriously by history. To undo the 20th century may be even more than they can stomach (although they are fully capable of doing so and they may very well choose that path).
But in its worst case scenario, is this a gift to liberals? Is this a gift to the nation? Is it not more effective to have the actions of Republicans prove PBO’s stark choice about the vision of America and what has made us great? Were we a great nation because we worked the Chinese to death building the railroads? Are the robber barons our heroes? Is slavery our greatest legacy to a modern world? Or is it our pulling together for the greater good — a concept that is enshrined in the Constitution as the over-arching purpose of our government? What makes us great?
Who wants to rob us of that greatness? Certainly not Barack Obama. Certainly not the Democrats. Republicans, who fought this bill in court, and the ultimate decision of the Roberts Court — will make that choice clear.
America realigned after the Civil Rights Act. Could this be our moment of realignment back to the goodness and fairness and common sense rules of the New Deal? This isn’t just PBO giving a speech — this is a direct consequence of Republican actions.
Now, I still wish there was a groundswell of support for ACA — I still believe the administration blew it on this but they are fighting mightily to do the best job they can do now. It’s a bit of catch-up but if anyone can change a narrative, it’s PBO.
This is truly a moment when the soul of this country makes its choices. I’m terrified, at 62, with no health care. I’m terrified for my goddaughter and the choices she will face concerning her reproductive freedom. I am terrified for the EPA, Medicaid, regulation of the banksters, the warmongers. This feels to me like a pivotal moment unlike anything I’ve seen since the Civil Rights Act realigned the country.
We have no better messenger than Barack Obama. I wish his path were easier, because we would all be better off if it was. But thank God he is our President.
Okay, off my soapbox now.
This is the kind of talk we DON’T need, especially where you mentioned that you believe that the administration blew it on this. If they “blew it,” there would be NO REFORM at ALL!
Ive been over to RawStory and they’re practically saying President Obama fucked up and he should have gone for Medicare for all and single payer. Again, that is the sort of talk we do NOT need. We need people to be hopeful and optimistic.
As for being afraid, that is EXACTLY what not only the Republicans want, but big pharma want. They WANT US to be afraid, so that the support for the American Care Act drops. Hope not fear.
PRESS ON!!!
What the EmoProgs don’t seem to want to explain is, how EXACTLY, do you shut down one of the largest industries (for Profit Health Insurance) overnight? How do you do that? Simply declare that profit in healthcare is illegal (like it is in every other country), when the global economy – largely based on what happens here – is still close to the edge of a precipice? (not on the edge anymore, but still too close to do anything that rash.)
They can’t, because it cannot be done overnight.
That is where PBO and his HCR team’s brilliance comes in – you do it over time, with the ACA.
got vision?
I DO I DO! PICK ME! PICK ME!!! I haz vision!!!!
So… is Vermont still the only state to come up with it’s own plan and get a waiver. Mitt and crew wants to leave it to the states, but uhm…nada Yeah I think it would be way to huge to go single payer overnight and while I know the government would expand in jobs, that’s a huge contraction of jobs in the private sector. Clearly too much for 45% or so of us to contemplate. Go Vermont! Show us the way over time.
The problem Vermont will have is they don’t have enough population for a large enough risk pool to make it more affordable in the long run than the ACA. I’m glad they’re at least TRYING though!! Good on them. It needs to be a state like California, that is large enough to actually make it work for everyone and bring down costs at the same time because of the sheer population numbers.
Nintendo, I’m going to stick my neck out and say it is easier to say ‘don’t be scared’ than it is to control that fear if you are someone who is inclined to be nervous on certain issues. We all come from different places, and I for one am trying not to be overly critical when someone admits their concerns. We do need, I think, to have somewhere we can let our hair down from time to time and still feel ‘protected’ as long as we are not trying to demoralize everyone else.
I’m so glad that that’s all you got out of what I wrote.
They blew the messaging. Sorry. It’s true. I’m so glad that all of my love and support, if not completely perfect, makes me unworthy to an opinion.
There’s nothing wrong with being scared…there’s nothing wrong in expressing what we wished we had except it is unproductive UNLESS you can also show some FAITH, HOPE,and EXPRESS CONFIDENCE IN THIS PRESIDENT ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, because he turns things around and has a plan. We have some of the best minds here like our Tally, LL, and others who keep me sane. I don’t go to sites that are Doom and Gloom and are always willing to turn on the President when the going gets rough. President Barack Obama is a unique president that we have never seen before. My faith, hope and confidence is all on him.
Hey 57.
I posted on last thread my anxiety too! I spent months in hospitals I have seen people lose everything and I understand how you feel. I am not judging you I am offering my hand–Let’s hold hands and step out together. We can take the suggestions of others and fight like hell too.
The messaging of the Heatlh Care law needs to improve ASAP from Democrats on the Hill and the Obama Administration. By the way, as a voter and canvasser I do get the word out about the facts of the law via emailing friends and family and canvassing.
How? The info is out there, and it’s simple: http://healthcare.gov
If this little blonde girl can process it. Anyone can. You just have to filter out the GOP bullshit that is clouding your thought process.
Don’t blame PBO/WH for lack of communication when the MSM won’t allow you airtime, or access to the mic. Their airwaves are now owned by THOSE WHO HAVE THE $$$, not We The People.
http://whitehouse.gov is a WEALTH of knowledge on pretty much anything you want to know.
As is http://justice.gov
Yes Tally to Whitehouse.gov… that is where I send everyone for info about what is being done in this country.. all the folks who aren’t daily internet users, but are getting bad or no info from the news. And of course here 😉
Was that a “dumb blonde” joke? Shame, shame. 🙂
Your post is very goof and effective. I have worked in the health care insurance industry for more years than I wnat to admit, and overall, your assessment is correct. The insurance industry toerates the bill as long as the mandate is in effect. If that goes, but the rest of the law (specially the 85% of premiums for actual care and the no-preexisting conditions)is maintained, they are screwed, so they are hoping for things to remain the same (reluctantly) or for everything to be tossed out.
And you are right that going for Medicare for all right from the beginning was a losing proposition. No major change legislatively in this country has been done immediately. Look at Social Security and what it didn’t include originally. Look at the Civil Rights Act and what had to be added oevr the years. Look at Medicare and see how it has changed. Going the Medicare for all route would have killed any chances for anything to get done. Even the rather innouous public option died a painful death, not because PBO wanted it to, but because the insurance companies made sure it couldn’t pass.
I do believe we will end up with a single payer system. Many large companies (GM for one) have come out in favor of it. People don’t realize how it will affect them positively. Yes, it will need to be funded by taxes, but companies can increase salaries, they won’t have to pay as much for workers’ compensation insurance, auto insurance and home owners insurance will drop, etc.
But it will be incremental.
My day gig is as an office manager in an insurance agency. I see every day how much money the Health Cartels are spending to overturn ALL of the ACA. Like I said in my rant – the ACA will be the END of For Profit Healthcare in the US. That is why they all want it repealed – The Health Cartels because they know they will be out of business, (because the ACA’s non-profits will sell better plans for less money, so very few people will stay with the plans they have now), and the GOP because their Giant Donor is about to go away permanently.
Correct, which is why I said tolerates it as long as the mandaqte is in effect. For them it has to be a total turnover, and they are pushing for that. Quick story going back to the 90’s. I was working as a case manager for one of the biggies and they had a newsletter they would send around. In one of them they ahd a profile on “Our man in Washington”. This was their main lobbyist in DC. (Now they probably have at least 30 of them.) In the article they were proud of the fact that he was making sure that the laws that were passed were to the benefit of the insurance company. I read that and turned to a coworker who was of a similar political persuasion as myself, and said, with disgust in my voice, “Well, it wopuld be nice if he was their to see that laws were passsed that benefited the whole country.” She replied, “Well, our employer believes that what is good for them is automatically ood for the cuntry.”
And I do believe there is some of that delusional thinking still going on in corporate (read big company) America, thatwhat is good for them is automatically good for the country.
I had a Blue Shield sales rep say to me, “We don’t want to insurance SICK PEOPLE!!” It was all I could do to not reach through the phone and rip out his tongue through his throat and spine, l la Kahl Drogo in Game of Thrones:
oh for frak sake. “INSURE SICK PEOPLE”
serves me right for trying to do four things at once.
Damn gurl, you scare me.
😉
Do you mean those “other” insurances will drop in premiums because so many more folks will have bought health insurance? Don’t forget about the non-profits too in 2014.
I mean that most people will jump to the non-profits and bail on the Big Boys because the prices are going to be so much cheaper!
Oh, I was actually responding to someone else above (Japa) talking about other kinds of insurance- home, auto etc. going down in price. Something to look forward to. This baby must be left alone to see what developes over time.
AH. apologies. 😀
Sorry, I didn’t see your question earlier. I was referring specifically to a single payer system. If people are covered by regular insurance there is a slight chance you would see premiums drop, mainly because the cost of health care should go down to some degree.
However, under single payer,that part of your premium on your auto and home policies that go to cover medical costs would disappearbecause everything would be covered by single payer. And that portion of the workers’ compensation premiums that go to cover medical costs would also disappear. Actually, I should say mostly disappear, because even single payer is unlikely to cover all th costs. After all, even Medicare has copays and deductibles as do the plans in most othr countries.
oh this good tally. I’m going off to tweet these right now before I leave work!
AGREED. The Obama administration has been talking about this until they are blue in the face in a myriad of ways in various media and through several spokespeople. But the MSM is working against them 24/7. THANK goodness for whitehouse.gov.
I sympathize with you. However, I must say, with love, that you seem to be intentionally scaring yourself to death over something that likely will not happen — or if it does happen, that we won’t be able to deal with it.
We are going to have to come to a point where we don’t intentionally frighten ourselves so much that we cry ourselves to sleep, and then spread that worry and fear until we have frightened others.
I am not sure what purpose it serves to be work oneself into a state of terror when one is not directly involved in the solution, and then spread that state of mind to others. Fear,anger and confusion is what the GOP specializes in, and I resist it with calm and positivity. That is not pollyanna thinking or putting my head in the sand. It is a resolve to not let people control my mindset.
There is no power or ability when one is in a mindstate of panic — especially when it is self-imposed panic. It is simply a projection of an unreality. It is simply a response to listening to fearmongerers and bullies and letting them control one’s mind state.
We have been down this road before with many issues that have come up during the Obama Administration. Despite the many victories and accomplishments, somehow people continue to focus on the negative and the fear-based. We have to go higher.
Peace and love.
‘Despite the many victories….(some) continue to focus on the …fear-based’
PJ, I’m leaning towards the belief that GOP has done such a terrific job fostering fear over the decades, that some can’t quite internalize that a) their reign of terror is ending with the sunlight that PBO’s leadership is shining, and that b) WE can help it to end even faster by taking control of our feelings. For some EACH issue has to be won before victory is accepted, and I admit that sometimes we just can’t control where our minds will go. Like you, I realized ages ago that my faith in PBO is so unquestionable that the GOP and their minions can offer free diamonds and I’ll still turn my back and accept the President’s words/actions as being in MY best interests. In my experience, PBO has been A MAN OF HIS WORD, and that is more than can be said for any of the Republicans. Whatever happens with ACA, PBO WILL DEAL WITH IT! That works for me, so my heart is not in my mouth!
Amen, VC! 😉
Thanks for the soapbox response 57 and female. I appreciate that there is a lot of fear right now. Fear that we will loose something that while not perfect is a darn good bill, excellent in fact. In the words of VP Biden is a BFD. I am feeling strangly confident that the mandate will be upheld and Obamacare will continue to be the law of the land. It wil be interesting to see where we are with this all by 2016. People will be asking themselves and their friends what the hell was I thinking? I love seeing the photos of the pro ACA groups marching in DC. I wonder what the news coverage has been of that?
I’ve stayed away from the boob toob much on this. I know the “game” of media is to get and keep you riled up and I just don’t have time for their nonsense. Even LOD who really took it to Mr Oliver, the friend of George Zimmerman last night. I just remember his unseemly glee a few weeks back when talking about the contraception poutrage. Try to limit your exposure to media, consider the source and remember no one “knows” as much as they pretend. Really I feel if I don’t hear the days court for myself to take other opinions with a grain of salt.
The prez and his admin would not have gone down this road without being darn sure they’re on soldid ground. Without the mandate you loose a huge cost control leverage and with everything else upheld- BC, preventative care, donut hole, extended coverage for young adults, pre -existing condition coverage now in effect for kids, and everyone in 2014 etc, the 85:15 ratio, the fact that insurance companies have to explain themselves deeply if premiums go up more than 10% …Wow! yeah we don’t want to loose that, republican folks do not either, and really gift to insurance company I’m not quite buying that. A necessary cost containment, yes insurance companies have to be looking at that as a bright side.
It was a heck of fight to come this far, I know ‘single payer” would not be a walk in the park. Talk about hard! I look forward to the non-profits and the expansion of medicare in 2014. Vermont is going single payer and if they show us the way…
Anyway don’t feel bad 57 and female, you are more vocal but I’m sure many feel the same way. It’s especially hard when you have such of a big and immmediate stake in things. As for the Obama administration not “selling” the ACA you may be right. I however give them a BIG break on that. Look at our cruddie media, that is alot of noise to break through. Some people just wanted to be afraid. Look at some of the crazy teabaggers who were out there and NEW that they were on government run health care-medicare. You can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink! Plus it’s not like there were not about a dozen things needing attention, all urgent. History will judge (kindl) for our president and his team. I hope the American people will make out good too. I remind myself that we did after all have the sense to pick him and VP Biden for goodness sake 🙂
IG
57, here is what I posted to your comment when you posted it on the previous thread.
57, no yelling here. To answer your question, unequivocally yes we are at that moment. IMHO, we’ve been moving to this pivotal moment ever since PBO was elected. I acknowledge your terror. I’m terrified as well. But my question to you is, now that the terror and fear has been articulated, now what? Is the terror/fear going to be a paralyzing force or a galvanizing force for you? I don’t know what people do once they leave this site and go back to their real life. I can surmise from their posts, but I don’t really know. All I know is that at least for me, this terror that you’ve articulated has galvanized me to action; to FIGHT, not take flight. I am glad and eternally grateful that TOD serves a virtual oasis where we can all collectively learn, empower, commiserate, debate and share our fears with each other. Yet there’s so much more that needs to be done above and beyond posting comments on a site with like-minded folks.
Whether or not the Administration dropped the ball on past ACA messaging is irrelevant at this point. What WE do going forward to spread that groundswell is where the focus must be. Yes PBO is our messenger for the times. But WE make his path easier by joining him with 1000% percent of our energy–whether the genesis of that energy is terror or hope—and FIGHT to ensure that the soul of this country makes the right choice. Forgive my crudeness, but let’s get off our collective asses, pull yourselves up out of whatever funk you are in, and let’s get to work.
Off my soapbox now. 🙂 Inhale, exhale, breathe.
I did the same 57. So if you’ll permit me here is what I wrote on the other thread as well
I can understand the worries especially after 8 years of Bush-Cheney but being terrified is not going to do anything but keep you in despair. Change as The President says is hard. It always has been. Believe me as an African-American I really do understand where you’re coming from but you and I don’t have a choice. We have to press on. If they block us one way then we have to find another. And we will find another way because we are made of sterner stuff.
I know this part of corny but it’s heartfelt:
In general, I won’t talk about my fears anymore and will only post what is substantive.
Read this from the People’s View, it will calm you down:
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/03/reality-check-on-individual-mandates.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Thepeoplesviewnet+%28ThePeoplesView.net%29
and make you feel better 🙂
Execellent post Tally,
You hit the nail on the head. I am listening to Randi Rhodes and she is spot on as you are with what is going on today with Scalia and his gang. The re-regulation and taking profit out of healthcare is what will turn things around in this country’s as far as the cost of heathcare. From what I have been reading it is not PBO’s legislation that’s only on the ropes, so is the healthcare industry. If the Supremes rule against the mandate, the healthcare industry are screwed immediately. Their stocks are going to plummet. If the supremes strike down the whole law, people are going to be pissed. 75% of the people think the SCOTUS are politically partial to the GOP and the wealthy.
My uncle was an insurance executive. He made extremely good money, enough to live very well, leave a secure life to his widow, even help out his sister-in-law (my mom) and her family who had very little. It was more than a comfortable, middle class life. He was upper middle class.
Insurance regulations were common sense. The point of insurance was to pay claims. Insurance companies were given certain advantages so they could keep more than adequate sums to pay those claims. They bought real estate and other safe investments. They were precluded from gambling with your premiums in order to get richer. And from this system, my uncle made a good, honest, upper middle class living.
In the 50’s and 60’s when I was growing up, you didn’t fight to get a claim paid. My dad who died in 1969 and made in that year more money than he had ever made selling men’s suits ($5,400) had insurance for himself and his family. You went to a hospital, you went with peace of mind. Your insurance would cover it.
Fast forward to Ronald Reagan. There is no one person more responsible for the destruction of America than Ronald Reagan, The insurance industry became quasi bankers and were no better than gamblers with your premiums, stovepiping profits to the top and denying health care to everyone who had paid honestly into the system.
You used to work, pay into a pension and get that pension when you retired. My sister-in-law worked for Lucent Technologies for 30 years and got 401(k)’s instead of a pension. Flying high, until everything crashed. Right before her retirement. The Wall St. crooks got bonuses and she was left facing brain cancer and a decimated pension.
We’re losing the soul of America.
Nailed it.
Just giving some real life examples to your righteous rant.
here’s a good article. Reagan’s Solicitor General. A Republican who can think:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/reagans-solicitor-general-health-care-is-interstate-commerce-is-this-a-regulation-of-it-yes-end-of-story/2011/08/25/gIQAmaQigS_blog.html
Great article.
It’s also the same as income tax. If they shoot down the mandate on Health Care, then income tax is just as unconstitutional. Period.
I don’t think the ability of the Congress to tax is being questioned – it’s the ability to regulate ‘inactivity’.
‘Inactivity’ is a choice. It’s an ‘action’. I can’t tell you how many cogent arguments I’ve read over the last week on this very issue. 99.9% of Americans are born in a hospital, get baby shots, etc. You are a consumer of health care from the womb, for God’s sake. The notion that you will not participate in it and are willing to pass on the costs to someone else in the name of ‘freedom’, is patently ridiculous. There is a universal, critical need for this country to fix the system. You are not ‘free’ to place your burden on someone else. If you’re young, buy a catastrophic policy so you can keep a few more bucks to buy a handbag and have dinner with your friends. But don’t expect everyone else to pay for your broken arm from your Saturday morning soccer game. You ‘inactivity’ has consequences.
If you make a choice to not take action, you are effectively not taking responsibility for the consequences. You are ‘acting’. I read that in 1787, merchant seamen were required to carry insurance or they weren’t allowed to sail for the U.S. There is nothing unusual about paying now to prevent disaster later and being mandated by the government to do so. You’re required to insure your house before you get a mortgage. You can ‘choose’ to not buy a house, but someone is paying insurance on the building in which you live. These are the costs of living in a civilized society. Even before you’re born, you’re using health care. There is nothing more universal than that.
How do you make a case of ‘inactivity’ when you don’t leave the hospital less than 24 hours old and your health care has already cost thousands? It’s absurd.
The ‘broccoli’ defense? there are restrictions on what you can buy with food stamps. The arguments would be ridiculous, if the court wasn’t completely political.
Best. Post. Ever.
I agree. I think one of the justices made this point. In fact, I think we should constantly call it the “Individual Responsibility” mandate.
There’s an amendment. That makes it ‘constitutional’.
Hi everyone, trying to keep up. I think I am three threads behind. So much to read but so little time.
is it the law that on trial or just the mandate. how eager would the more conservative SCOTUS justices be to dismantle a law that they know will help millions, but if struck down will not be re-enacted in any way, shape, or form with the current Congress.
Argument recap: A lift for the mandate?
Well done as always, Tally!!!
Couple of thoughts … because it appears the Kochs and their minions have lost sight of the fact that they would actually accelerate the demise of the US health insurance industry if they convince their buddies on SCOTUS to kill the mandate portion of ACA, let alone the entire ACA law …
Because they will enable …
I truly think that they are all so blinded by their racist hatred of President Obama that their number one motivator – greed – has been overridden.
Otherwise they would realize that the last thing they want to provide President Obama & the Democrats in June is an opportunity to run on “Medicare for ALL.”
Let’s see just what that picture would be – the GOP partisans on SCOTUS destroyed the mandate (or all of ACA), thereby reneged on a law and insurance mechanism that they supported (and that was based on what Romney did in MA).
The GOP in the House have also proven beyond any doubt during the past two years of Ryan proposals that they intend to destroy Medicare, itself.
So, the GOP wants to destroy the social fabric of America, deny all but the wealthy health care, and were so darn full of hatred for what President Obama truly represents – the very embodiment of the Promise of America for every person – that they’d risk killing the US health insurance industry just to try to tarnish his chances of re-election.
Because, folk, the only upside they can actually achieve by killing the mandate would be if they could spin it as President Obama’s failure.
That is a colossal amount of STUPID and a warning to everyone that the moment the emotion of hate is your prime driver you are going to experience a fatal crash.
#PRESSON
I have to say, I don’t see how killing the ACA would kill the Health Cartels. If anything, it would allow them to go back to being professional embezzlers, stealing our money, and denying care as Standard Operating Procedure.
Only if President Obama is not re-elected would that happen.
The vast anger that killing ACA (even just the mandate portion) coupled with the fact that more and more people are realizing the GOP will kill Medicare and SS if they retake the WH will enable President Obama and the Democrats to campaign vigorously for ‘single payer’ with the logical, proven effective and highly efficient system of Medicare being the solution.
The only way the US health insurance industry has any chance of prevailing is if President Obama is defeated and they retain control of the 113th Congress.
That’s what’s at stake.
Koch and the clan will have bet the house if SCOTUS rules against the mandate, alone, let alone all of ACA.
They’re going to lose and lose big.
#PRESSON
Furthermore, as trite as it may be, greed kills. Greed, blinded by hate, is guaranteed extinction.
We are witnessing one of the most amazing collisions of ‘world view’ in the history of our species.
One side is consumed with fear, control, greed and hate.
The other is clear-eyed committed to love, hope, expansion of opportunity for each person and unbounded optimism that we, as a species, are committed to enabling those that come after us to face new challenges, intelligently and compassionately, not rehash stuff the past.
No joke. No hyperbole. 6 Nov 2012 will be one of the most important dates in the evolution of our species. That’s what’s at stake.
Not only does President Obama know it, but when you listen and watch how leaders around the world interact and respond to him you witness their understanding of what is at stake.
#PRESSON
Yes, I believe this to be true. We are witnessing an evolution of our species. let us remain calm, cool, alert, committed.
this is very awesome. is what I say. Thank you Tally for your rant. it was good for me.
I agree, also, Bob. Spot on.
To put a twist on a popular phrase: It’s time for an Evolution.
Agree 1000000000000%
There’s a notion out there that this will magically lead to Medicare for All and that this will happen quickly. These are the same yahoos who thought PBO should just stomp his widdle foot and the Republicans would bend to his will. these are not reasonable, realistic people. It’s ridiculous. And methinks these people have good jobs and the notion that they will have benefits forever.
I was always suspicious of the notion about the ‘giveaway’ to insurance companies. They would rather have the status quo, as you so eloquently said, Tally. Given the choice to continue with business as usual, that’s what they want over any stinkin’ mandate.
I think Ezra Klein was probably correct — the changes will happen slowly and may take decades. Increase the pool for Medicaid, decrease the age for Medicare incrementally. And Mr. Twenty-something said, “Well some people will be hurt in the process.” Ya think?
That only happens with a Democratic Congress, President and a filibuster-proof Senate. When you have an entire Republican party that has no interest in the health of the American people, the prospects of instant Medicare for All seem rather dim.
Exactly. These people who magically think it will lead to Medicare for all, I would ask them to explain, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? Do they think the SCOTUS creates laws???
Medicare for all/Public Option/Universal Care/Single Payer were all off the table via the BlueDogs before any talks began. How on Earth do they think it will happen now with the NO FUCKING WAY HOUSE, and a non-filibuster-proof Senate?? Do they have Harry Potter’s wand??? WTF?
LOL they don’t know what else to say. It would be better if they didn’t obstruct the American Jobs Act.
REPUBLICAN JOB CREATION (Read it and weep)
========================================
3-12-2012: Last Friday, March 9th, members of the House attended a hearing in Saranac Lake, NY, to discuss a farm bill. No jobs were created.
On Monday, March 12th, the House has scheduled a single hearing on (Are you ready?) “Explosion of Federal Regulations Threatening Jobs and Economic Survival in the West”… in Elko Nevada. DAMN those regulations! No jobs were created.
3-14-2012: The House is in another recess until Tuesday, the 20th of March. (In case you don’t know, the GOP wrote this schedule. It was designed to ensure that as little legislation would get done as possible.) No jobs were created.
3-19-2012: The House is theoretically in session. They’re back in Washington but nothing much is scheduled this week except for hearings. They might as well be painting their bedroom’s black and listening to Led Zeppelin albums. No jobs were created.
3-21-2012: On Monday, the 19th, the House was called to order at 4PM. They then spent the next four hours arguing a bill that would allow Israeli nationals to receive nonimmigrant visas. No jobs were created.
On Tuesday, the House convened at Noon. The GOP spent the balance of the day trying to steal a Virginia park to fence to their industrialist buddies. No jobs were created.
=========================================
http://republicanjobcreation.com/
Lord have mercy!! I won’t even tell you what position came to mind when he said that about Romney.
Spot on Tally.. as usual 🙂 happily passing your wise words forward~
wholly crap…are any of you listening to Randi Rhodes? She said Chief Justice Roberts was comparing this to the government mandating people to buy cell phones and burial insurance because everyone dies….well for one thing, not everyone wants to be buried some people opt for cremation. In fact, that is what happens to the poor who die and there is no next to kin, the state cremates you…thats it, there are no continued costs after you die unlike if you get sick and need continued treatment. You have continued costs that we all bear the cost through our medical insurance premiums because that’s how the for-profits recoup their cost of treating uninsured people, passing on those costs. Once you die, the funeral homes don’t bury people who can’t afford it for free and pass on the cost to those that can.
Yeah, that was a stupid argument, especially since many people just donate their bodies to science/education. (my plan)
Remember everyone: please donate what you can, the next critical deadline is Saturday night.
https://donate.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/2012/KayKay
I got your response on twitter 😎 Whew!!!
.
Kristine Lilly on espn just now said, that Title 9 was a real opportunity and she is a Soccer Mom now, and she wants her kids to have the same opportunity she had.
Sounds like a Democrat!
When in June does the court decide??
Before their Vacation.
Chips or anyone, do you know if that poster on the Pinterest thread is for sale? I checked the site but I don’t see a price or a way to purchase it. Thanks.
Here is a fairly good explanation of what happened in the Supreme court today-
http://mobile.boston.com/art/35/lifestyle/health/articles/2012/03/28/some_justices_seem_open_to_saving_parts_of_law/
President Obama leads Romney by double digits
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/28/cnn-poll-obama-leads-romney-and-santorum-in-november-showdowns/
Debra, my friend just sent this to me. I wonder if this will get much play by the MSM.
President Barack Obama holds a double-digit lead over former Gov. Mitt Romney in a head-to-head general election matchup, a new CNN/ORC national poll shows.
In a hypothetical race, 54% of Americans polled said they would vote for Obama while 43% said they preferred Romney.
In the same poll, Obama’s approval rating inched above the 50% mark for the first time since May, with 51% of respondents saying they approve of the job he’s doing and 45% disapproving.
Meanwhile, 48% of respondents said they have favorable view of the Democratic Party. The Republican Party’s favorable rating dropped to 35%, with nearly six in 10 Americans saying they have an unfavorable view of the GOP.
Yes ti was on Martin Bashir show today and by the Bashir is just excellent.
ok – here is my bet:
The mandate will be upheld on a 6 – 3 vote. Kennedy and Roberts will leave the Dark Side for the Light.
Just a hunch. No idea why I feel that way.
We’ve got over two full months between now and when they ruling comes down.
I agree with you. The court will look highly political if they vote against the law 5 to 4. Also, if the healthcare law is struck down and people who have health insurance lose it because of a pre existing condition or their children can’t be on their insurance until 26 or medicare can’t be expanded it will create a major problem. The repubs have no plan and plenty of people will finally wake up and realize what is in the health care bill. The president will win either way.
I have that same prediction.
I agree with you, although, unlike Debra, I don’t think they care about how political they look. I think that they know they can’t overturn the full law. Placing mandates on coverage has been established as constitutional in the past. I do think that, as LL said in an earlier thread, that they will be looking at making a ruling that allows the mandates, but creates a limiting principle which avoids the slippery slope to broccoli or cell phones mandates. And Robrts has already created that limiting principle in that everybody is part of the healthcare market whether they have insurance or not and thus impact what everybody else pays for their insurance. So I think Roberts and Kennedy will go that route and our friendly 4 will just find nothing wrong with the mandate based on the commerce clause.
agreed.
I say 7-2 with Scalia doing an about face as his insurance buddies put on pressure for him to rule the mandate constitutional. 😀
His insurance buddies want it repealed. If it’s not, the ACA will drive them out of business within a decade.
Tally, I am with you on this one: I just said that to myself today. It will be a 6-3 vote with Roberts and Kennedy moving where they know will be the right move.HZ
Health Care And The SCOTUS Day 3, Part I: The Justices Flirt With Chaos
============================
It is probably not the case that the Supreme Court is poised to strike down the entire Affordable Care Act if it finds just one provision of it unconstitutional. Among other things, after conservative superlawyer Paul Clement spent nearly twenty minutes trying to convince a skeptical panel of judges that the whole law must fall, his conservative ally Justice Alito asked Clement a question no advocate ever wants to hear: “What would your fallback position be if we don’t accept the proposition that if the mandate is declared unconstitutional”? Apparently, even the Supreme Court’s right flank was considering other options besides Clement’s overreaching theory.
.
.
Simply put, today should have taught the justices a lesson. There is a reason why the Constitution leaves difficult questions of economic policy to elected officials and not to unelected judges. These choices are difficult, they are not easily unwound and they should be made by someone who actually has a mandate from the people to make them.
============================
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03/28/453926/health-care-and-the-scotus-day-3-part-i-the-justices-flirt-with-chaos/
PBO leading Etch-A-Sketch by 11 points in new CNN poll-
sweet!
Listening to Randi Rhodes playing the SCOTUS questions and comments. Scalia maybe too old to understand the complex issues that come before the court. Maybe because his brain is over taxed from being used by him and Clarance Thomas all these years.
I’m listening too – she’s on FIRE today!
Alito’s comment about ‘younger people will buy insurance eventually….” as if NO ONE under 35 has EVER injured themselves snowboarding, gotten into a car accident, or come down with cancer.
(Idiot) Justice, please.
LIVESTRONG would like a word.
Is POTUS taking the day off? I am sure he need some rest. And he is being updated on the Supreme Court.
Tally, honey. 16th Amendment to the Constitution allows for the income tax.
But here’s the funny part: it was enacted during the Civil War because there was a GREAT NEED to raise revenue to fight the war.
Health care isn’t a compelling enough NEED?
I couldn’t be more exhausted by Republican nonsense and efforts to catapult us back to the 11th century – If State Mandated Health Care Is Deemed Unconstitutional — Then How Can State Mandated Trans-Vaginal Ultrasounds BE Constitutional…? – http://winnietoons.com/?p=1439
The saddest part is they can’t even see that their own contradictions make no fucking sense!
PBO is also over 50% approval in new CNN poll. First time since OBL killing-
Isn’t Mittens at 52% DISAPPROVAL? I think that’s what I read.
it’s only day 3 (last day) and I’ve been avoiding most talk of ACA- especially from the hair on fire crowd- and I still feel Obamacare fatigue. I’m so over the bullshit everyone is spewing. At this point, it makes no sense to speculate. It’s outta our hands and it’s outta PBO’s hands now. It’s now up to the 9 men and women on the SC. No more coulda, woulda, shoulda’s (i.e.: PBO coulda, shoulda blah, blah, blah). We’ll deal with the results in June. I’m not giving up, I’m not surrendering with a white flag, I’m just tired of the peanut gallery punditry and the asses on tv who say everything but know nothing.
ps- this isn’t a criticism of anyone on the blog, I’m just stating my opinion about where I am right now.
Thank you, I concur! Bersides when I SEE how hard this president has been working since day 1…and his team, including FLOTUS AND SLOTUS the last thing I want to do or hear is a lot of woulda, shoulda, coulda. I just will not go there. And on top of everything we have the laziest, and or most partisan media. You have to go to foreign news sources-english versions to find out the impact of important events regarding our president and government. Shameful!
All I know from experience with PBO, he always plans ahead and is flexible in the moment with his eye on the goal of strenthening America and it’s interests arouund the world. Building an America to last!
It’s a good thing you didn’t watch the DPB today!! The jackals kept asking for the White House Plan B over and over and over and over again. Josh Earnest stood in for Jay and I thought he was going to heave a sigh that could blow them out of the room but he kept it together.
Is anyone asking Mittens and Ricky what THEIR plan is? The closest to a hard question for Romney on this was asked by Jay Leno, for God’s sake, and he blew it.
How is it possible this dimwit, with all of his advantages, is this colossally stupid?
lisa, maybe I know how I would have handle this whole matter. I know I would have worried, so I choose to back away and leave it alone. I don’t know which way it will go in June, I will just hope and pray for the right thing to be done. If the Supreme Court decides to play politics, I am going to trust my President to have a back up plan. As I said before you know he knows who’s on the court and how they tend to vote, and play politics, So he knew that it didn’t matter how right he were they still could vote against the ACA. Whatever happen in June, we still need to remain strong and get prepare for a rough campaign. We must re-elect President Obama.
More of CNN poll. PBO leading Etch-A-Sketch with women 60-37%
Woah!!!!! Holy Shit Batman! This is huge. This is as huge as PBO leading Romney 76%-14% with Latino voters. The GOP doesn’t realize the damage its done to itself with their war against women and Romney towed the party line, lock stock and barrel.
@Tally
Great writing. Very clear and helpful. Thanks!
New 11 point PBO lead
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/cnn-poll-romney-down-11-to-obama
Tally, Exactly. Thank you. On point and pithy as usual. 🙂 Have circulated to my limited circle. All your Word From Tally posts are now in a sub folder in my “Obama Derangement Syndrome Survival” folder. I also asked you on an earlier thread how the creation of your epic t-shirt (from your last Word From Tally post) was coming along? 🙂
Oh yeah. I keep getting caught up in other things…… I promise I’m on it. Just WORK and RL keep getting in the damn way!
Ok – WOMEN ARE NOT PROPERTY – now open for business.
100% of all profits go to Obama/Biden 2012.
http://www.cafepress.com/obamagotthis
I only have one design right now. I’m working on another one that is much larger font, that takes up most of the front – but right now the design looks über 80’s….. so I’m still tweaking. Not sure if I’ll ever like it enough to post.
feedback welcomed.
You have it in a hoodie style?!!?? REALLY??? How incredibly insensitive!!! You know as a POC I can’t be OUT on the public streets in a HOODIE. My life will be in IMMEDIATE danger from all those endearment callin’, gun-totin’ stalkers, I mean neigborhood watch volunteers. / snark 😆 😆 Seriously though, thank you for setting this up!!. I like all the styles, including the hoodie style, but I would like a much larger font. 🙂
Yeah me too. That’s what I’m working on. It’s probably going to have to take up a much larger space down the front than two lines though, so some of the simplicity is lost. 😥
so i’m guessing that since I don’t see a lot of news about Willard on Leno’s show, he wasn’t particularly spectacular.
He was mocked on Morning shows for being incredibly stiff and cracking lame jokes that the audience couldn’t connect with.
hahahahhahahahhahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahhaha!!!! 😆 This is exactly what I wanted to hear! 🙂 Thanks, UT!
I suspect that there is another reason for the GOP to want to strike down the ACA that has nothing to do whatever with their Insurance industry benefactors. It is something mentioned by Tally: if people can find affordable coverage then they don’t have to stay in jobs they hate just to keep coverage. Giving people greater flexibility on their choices of jobs and career is the last thing Corporations want.
This is one of my favorite parts of the law. People should work at jobs they enjoy, not just because they need the benefits. It will also help the small businesses who have been disadvantaged because they can’t offer the same benefits as larger companies. There are so many good things that will come out of this law.
RANDI RHODES IS ALARMED AT CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES LAME QUESTIONS
Randi Rhodes has been talking about the very odd questions coming from the conservative justices. They are asking silly questions about broccoli, cellphones and burial plots as it relates to the ACA individual mandate requirements. This is beyond alarming. Randi makes a good point, the gasbags are quick to criticize the administrations attorney but they really should be criticizing the stupid questions from the justices. Justice Scalia still seems to think the Senator Ben Nelson “Cornhusker” kickback is part of the ACA. Steve Benen has a post on the this same topic that is to put it mildly, shocking.
There is no ‘Cornhusker kickback’
By Steve Benen
============================
Scalia is bringing to the discussion all the sophistication of a House freshman appearing at a Tea Party rally.
And while this was a glaring example of policy ignorance, the larger issue is that the Scalia and other justices have routinely struggled this week with the basics of health care economics and the details of the law itself. Henry Aaron highlighted a question from Alito yesterday that was “painfully detached from an understanding” of the underlying issue, or even “how insurance works.” Paul Krugman added today, “Astonishingly, many of the justices appear not to understand that health care isn’t like the market for cars or broccoli.”
It’s problematic enough that Americans lack confidence that Supreme Court justices will be objective and fair; it’s worse that we can’t count on justices to do their homework, either.
===============================
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/28/10907412-there-is-no-cornhusker-kickback
Ok, time to bring some Twitter goodness over.
Hey LL, it’s just clicked that you are now on Twitter! What’s your handle?
Oh, no no, I’m not on Twitter. LOL. There are a few Twitterati that I follow and bring here.
Now don’t laugh, but how do you follow them if you’re not on Twitter?
Easy peasy. Just go to their Twitter sites. For example, twitter.com/jeffersonobama. You can read all their tweets that way.
Aaaah! I learn something (almost) every day.
I went and tried your method –
And this.
Oh no, the “liberals” hate him. He’s dooooooooooooooooomed.
Lest we get too full of ourselves, we should remember this very important fact.
LEGAL SCHOLARS CONSIDER THE FAVORABLE OUTCOME SUCH A NO-BRAINER
About that ‘limiting principle’
By Steve Benen
=========================
The “limiting principle” phrase may be largely unfamiliar, but it’s not complicated: Congress is limited in its regulatory powers. Conservative justices seemed to argue yesterday that these powers do not extend to requiring American consumers to purchase insurance they may not want, and as part of the activity/inactivity dynamic, be considered part of a market they’re not participating in.
Fried’s point is that these justices are missing the point — and they are.
The Commerce Clause empowers the federal government to regulate interstate commerce; the American health care system is interstate commerce; and the Affordable Care Act regulates the health care system. Ergo, the ACA fits comfortably within the confines of the Commerce Clause. Q.E.D.
.
.
Of course, when the uninsured get this care, and can’t pay for it, the costs are passed on to the rest of us — it makes the entire system more expensive, with hospitals and medical professionals providing care without compensation from the patient. As a consequence, those who would choose not to get coverage have a significant impact on the larger health care system, which is precisely why the notion of a mandate enjoyed broad, bipartisan support up until late 2009. There was never any doubt as to its constitutionality.
It’s also one of the reasons so many legal scholars find the case itself so bizarre, and consider the favorable outcome such a no-brainer.
========================
http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/28/10908041-about-that-limiting-principle
WAH, I got used to the new WordPress situation and now my little response notice up in the right hand corner is broken. Anybody else have that happen? WP is really too WEIRD.
Mine is still normal.
Mine wasn’t appearing immediately after I logged in at the bottom of a TOD post. What I do now is to refresh right after logging in and that shows the New Post counter..
OK thanks, guys.
Here’s a rational reality check about what is going on with the ACA debate right now. From Deaniac’s brilliant mind: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/03/reality-check-on-individual-mandates.html
Beat me to it. It’s an excellent piece. Deep breaths, people, deep breaths.
Did anybody see the new video with, “President Obama Is Sexy And He Knows It”?? Oh my I need some water to cool me down!
Yesss! That video is hilarious.
this is so funny and so wrong!!!! 😆
That’s hilarious!
That’s freaking hilarious. 😆
I love it. hah!
Yas!
Thanks for the headsup, Cheryllou~ Here’s the linky..
http://929jackfm.com/president-obama-is-sexy-and-he-knows-it-video/
Willard tells hilarious joke about the time his dad laid off a bunch of factory workers in Michigan. He’s so funny!
When anyone looks up what it means to be “out of touch” this guys picture should be plastered as big as can be.
He is simply too wealthy to know any better. What a doofus!
willard’s got so much money his wife doesn’t even know she’s wealthy.
And remember that time Willard when you and your cronies foreclosed on that senior citizen home? Boy the laughs just keep coming.
😮
https://twitter.com/#!/bardgal/status/185125548517888000
DAMMIT – I need sleep.
Sounds real funny to me.
No way. Did he really say this? Words fail me. Well, the Obama campaign can save money on producing attack adds. This idiot has damaged himself more than anyone else could.
This should be a cautionary note to the dangers of excessive drug use.
Read the hilarity here: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/dave-mustaine-birther.php?ref=fpb
It’s funny. Republicans never have cool, thoughtful celebrities on their side. “Cool” and “thoughtful” sort of leaves out anyone who supports the GOP.
who? No seriously. who is Dave Mustaine and what is Megadeth?
😆 😆 😆
Megadeth is a heavy metal band, very popular in the 80s. Dave Mustaine is its lead singer / songwriter. He went from being a left wing Democrat to a rabid GOPer. He’s been interjecting himself in the 2012 process for no discernible reason. TPM loves to feature stories on his pronouncements as cheap laughs for its readers.
LOL! Real Cheap guffaws! The same went for the nugent stupid.
‘He’s been interjecting himself in the 2012 process for no discernible reason.’
Never heard of him before, LL, but I disagree with your ‘no discernible reason’ point. IMO even the DIMMEST light in the public square knows that to be noticed my MEDIA you need only invoke the Obama name – particularly if you’re negative.
he sounds totally ludicrous. I guess what they say is true: there’s not much light of day between the looney left and right wing nutbags, no wonder the transition appears to have been so seamless for Mr. Loser HasBeen.
I don’t know who this guy is but he sounds rather stupid. I’m living in the 50th State right now that was entered into the Union in August 1959..so, yes, PBO was born in August 1961, IN the United States of America. And the stupids just can’t comprehend something so friggin EXOTIC!
ALOHA BABY!
just. wow.
One of the many reasons I don’t do drugs. And shoes are cheaper. 😀
And you have something to show for the shoes!
Exactly!!!
Crystal med you think. President Obama invisible till he became President. Why don’t these people just say what their problem is with President Obama, the problem is Obama is BLACK.
How could Willard be spectacular??? You’re right, not a lot of talk about his appearance. He is a DUD!
They will—HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—save the nation.
That is so satisfying to read that article. Hehehehe.
Now THAT is funny.
In case you haven’t been following:
Story here: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/fbi-jet-blue-pilot-ranted-about-jesus-9
Sounds like another person who needs Lithium desperately.
Oh, I’m sure he’ll be medicated for a while. “Mandated”, even.
i remember during the 2008 campaign I would get so upset sometimes I couldn’t go to sleep, or I would go to sleep and wake with a start about 2 a.m. worrying about Senator Obama and his campaign. I so well remember thinking after that awful picture on the front of the New Yorker with the President and Michelle dressed as ‘terrorists” that I thought “This is it” “It’s over” My insides crawled. I was so wrong. I began contributing money, and going to the OFA site in the evening finding out about people working hard and making progress. I also learned to follow PBO and look at the long game.
All that to say, I am not giving much credence to all the blabbering. These people don’t know any results. I also know that PBO and his team will be ready for whatever the verdict is. So, to be constructive today, I donated to collegekay, the President, Nancy Pelosi and DWS and her committee. I felt better after that, knowing I’m putting money to constructive people.
Blessings on all of you throughout this time. We’ve come through worse, and will not just survive, but will thrive!
aloha chips and toddies
i’m off to sit with mom a bit, then go for a walk down a quiet ravine to the ocean. several times i have seen a lolling hawaiian monk seal there–they’re seriously endangered, but this big guy just likes to lay on the shoreline and look pretty. he does his day’s work, then basks. good advice for us all, i think. it certainly looks like our president does that–work hard, look good, smile and relax.
thanks for keeping up the fascinating conversation, so i can dip in when time permits, and still feel i’m on the path for re-electing pbo! hope to be back more before long.
Mahalo susanne!
Aloha susanne~ I’m on Kaua’i and we had a Monk Seal #13 up on our park grass(that was cordoned off) for a Sunday afternoon on March 18th. I went home to get my book and sand chair..and stayed for about 2 hours reading & looking up at her..and occasionally talking to visitors who thought I was a volunteer. What a peaceful day that was!
Mahalos for your Monk Seal analogy~
Joe Klein???
Reagan’s solicitor general: ‘Health care is interstate commerce. Is this a regulation of it? Yes. End of story.’
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/reagans-solicitor-general-health-care-is-interstate-commerce-is-this-a-regulation-of-it-yes-end-of-story/2011/08/25/gIQAmaQigS_blog.html
This x ∞.
Yep. Congress’ ability to regulate Interstate Commerce — this is the legal foundation of the individual mandate.
EXACTLY!
@Carolyn,
Oh my, I was the exact same way. And when the Jeremiah Wright mess started, I was pitiful. A strange thing though, I “felt”, intuitively, that BO should get himself on the national stage and speak to this issue. Did he ever!
I really think that what “they meant for evil” turned out for his and our good from that point on.
So like you, I will donate what I can, and continue to send my prayers up for this most excellent man.
I am so blessed. Not once did I ever worry that he would win the nomination and then the election.
And how did I ever get through 2008 without TOD!?!
What’s wrong with this so called “man” . . . I think he protests too much!
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/28/santorum-tells-young-man-not-to-use-pink-bowling-ball-on-camera/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
I think he was molested when he was an alter boy.
Is that a fact or are you being sarcastic?
I just have a feeling about it…because he is so obsessed with all things sexual….
Linda, that wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
… snark…
Tally does it again. Your usual greatness.
-Thanks for sharing!
Anybody watch Al Sharpton tonight? He had a bombshell interview with the mother of the 13 yr old witness who said the Sanford police didn’t even contact the witness until March 2. The lead investigator told the mom that he didn’t believe it was self -defense and that stereotyping was going on.
Yes I too saw Rev. Al talking to the Mother of that 13 year old. And here’s another thing, if the lead investigator didn’t believe Zimmerman, he must didn’t see the broken nose and bruises on Zimmerman that they claim he had. Someone was looking out for Zimmerman, we’ve heard Zimmerman’s father was a judge.
PBO will stake out his ground urging Congress to vote against tax breaks for oil companies in remarks tomorrow at 10:45am in the Rose Garden.
Yes, I saw it. I thought there were a couple of times that Rev. Al, for a few seconds, appeared speechless.
OT, but I just talked to my daughter who teaches at a high school in Indy. I love her school—-they do so much to make community awareness a big part of their education there—-I am my brothers’ keeper, my sisters’ keeper type activities. She was in charge of their “Idol” talent show last night—–said the talent put the real American Idol to shame—-but the money raised with ticket sales—-over $1500 went to their homeless students fund. And last Fri. they raised $3000 at a pep assembly—-they played in the state basketball championship Sat. night—-and donated the money to the high school in southern Indiana which was destroyed by a tornado earlier this month. The kids are learning important life lessons, the responsibility we all have to one another.
Awesome, dotster3! 🙂
Lest we forget this front in our Second Civil War:
Good!
THIS WILL CURDLE YOUR BLOOD AND CURL YOUR HAIR
Sometimes you just have to laugh. That is the title of a viral e-mail being circulated among right wingers and birthers.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/28/1078638/-THIS-WILL-CURDLE-YOUR-BLOOD-AND-CURL-YOUR-HAIR
If I didn’t know better I’d swear he was talking about Paul Ryan
@Jovie
I noticed Byron has sort of toned down his anti-Obama headlines and negatives stories. maybe you emailing him has influenced things?
I can’t believe the SCOTUS might actually do away with the ACA. That’s horrible. 😦
So don’t believe it. The likelihood of that scenario is very poor.
Frank Rich on the National Circus: Why the Supreme Court Can Only Help Obama
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/frank-rich-on-the-national-circus-why-the-supreme-court-can-only-help-obama.html
Fascinating, Ladyhawke..mahalos~ I passed it on..
Video of george zimmermna show not injuries http://abcnews.go.com/WN/trayvon-martin-case-exclusive-surveillance-video-george-zimmerman/story?id=16022897#.T3OjwjEgcWO
This was posted a while ago but I’m not seeing it anywhere else:
sorry typed to fast no inuries on george zimmerman surveillance video
Zimmerman and the Sanford PD are such bloody liars. ABC News has just released video of Zimmerman being taken into custody the night he murdered Trayvon Martin and Zimmerman said Trayvon attacked him, his nose was broken, he was bleeding, he had injuries on his wrist and had to get them bandaged up by the medics on the scene. The ABC News video shows Zimmerman to be a cold blooded liar. He has no injuries on his person. No broken nose, no injured wrists, no bandages, no blood, no wounds and bandages on the back of his head. Joe Oliver, the Sanford PD and Zimmerman are all disgusting tool bags. A child walking home with a bag of skittles and iced tea ended up dead and everyone needs to be investigated.
There were NO injuries or signs of wounds on the boy’s hands either, according to the funeral director.
I arrived home just in time to see Ed showing footage of Zimmerman in police custody with a CLEAN shaven head, no bruise, no bandage, no broken nose.
Joe Oliver needs to sentenced to 25 years in prison for deliberate obstruction of justice. The Sanford PD – life in prison for coverup of a hate crime. Zimmerman – life without the possibility of parole.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/03/28/sworn-american-enemy/
Thank you Tally and others for following the SCOTUS debates and analysis. I’ll be honest, I’ve been purposely tuning out the media on this subject throughout the week. My only concern is the possible media/political collusion in trying to sway the final decision. We already know certain members SCOTUS can be bought and do not have a problem with being political. I seriously doubt the entire law will be thrown out though. And the mandate is too closely tied to the basis of coverage to be eliminated without affecting the rest of the law.
I can’t see them throwing out the mandate for the simple reason it would open up the rest of us to the biggest Class Action suit of all time, in suing everyone of the FREELOADERS who refused to get coverage by placing the burden on the rest of us to pay for their sorry asses.
There is no rhyme or reason that health care should be a for profit endeavor. You are spot on in that the natural evolution (whoops shouldn’t use that word … 6000 yr old earth etc,:)) of the health care in this country will be to nationalized care as it should be. Whether the ACA is repealed or not, there will be single payer because the cost of for profit insurance is unsustainable. I love this site and this is my first comment!:)
Great comment BB! And WELCOME!!! 😀 😀 😀
thank you Tally. I will spread the word
Tally, thanks for being a mouthpiece for so many of us PBO Supporters! You definitely hit the ball out of the park–again!