President Barack Obama receives a briefing on the Washington Navy Yard shooting from Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, in the Oval Office, Sept. 16, 2013 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Morning everyone, just getting to work on R&S now, see ya in a bit.
Perhaps Jon Stewart is having 2nd thoughts about the GOP that he seems to have been supporting for the past year – I can only hope this is the case. A fair weather friend to the President – rather sad.
And now for the more substantive comment I logged on to post:
Well known propaganda leader’s ( The New York Times) front page “news’ on Fed Chair this morning…”Awkwardly, it appears that the president may have to circle back to Ms. Yellen after Mr. Summers withdrew from consideration on Sunday………..Ms. Yellen became the frontrunner by elimination” officials close to the WH said”
What a load of crap. Their only purpose it seems to me is to disparage the President. No matter the topic the goal seems to be to discredit POTUS. That’s the frame. And this is supposed to be the “Liberal” newspaper. Hah!
They have an obsessive desire to present the President as some sort of puppet who’s moves are always manipulated by outside forces. It plays into their phony narrative that he is weak and incapable of making decisions. It’s maddening!
They also have an obsessive desire to make people think they know something. “officials close to the WH” are probably members of the WHPC – who are never slow in making up an opinion for the President.
99ts, my “exact” same words- they also have and obsessive desire to make people think they know something! OK, I just thought I’d share. If this was a childhood game I’d have to slap you on the arm and touch the counter. I’ve forgotten how the game is played now. But…yeah they just want to seem important, cause it’s all about them.
“Close to the WH” does not necessarily equate to “Close to the President”.
Plus, those close to the President would not feed information to these newstainers who tend to distort everything to try to put the President in a negative light.
Sw, “close to the WH” can mean anyone who lives in the DC area and heard a rumor from a rumor from a rumor, begun by a Republican. The NYT tells you it’s promoting an unsubstantiated rumor (unsourced) and presents it as true. Tells you all you need to know about the NYT.
Why not? We’ve been buying them…by giving them the land, subsidizing the construction and then awarding them every tax break under the sun. When Congress passed sequestration, they gave billions to sports concerns while they cut jobs, Head Start and unemployment. Don’t get me started. 🙂
But Washington is a place where most people care far, far more about process than results. The reasons for this should be obvious.
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So what happens is, these narratives (Syria is a disaster) get etched into the stone during the process part of the story, before the result even happens. As it turns out, Syria isn’t a disaster, from the strict Washington perspective (it’s certainly a disaster from other perspectives). But most pundits base their conclusions on process, and of course this is augmented in the foreign-policy realm, especially when saber-rattling is involved, because the president has to display the proper dose of testosterone, which is why everyone was bowing down before Bush and Cheney back in 2002. A subtler foreign policy is harder to conduct in public, especially in our time.
These rationalizations of why the MSM treats PBO the way it does, do not impress me. They all ignore the elephant in the room, i.e., that the MSM is the communications arm of the GOP and uses predetermined narratives to depict EVERYTHING that PBO does in a negative light. Where the MSM works to rally the country behind Republican presidents (even those appointed by the Supreme Court), it works to undermine the legitimacy of Democratic presidents. Add to that the latent racism that courses through our body politic and you have, in a nutshell, the reason why the MSM treats PBO as poorly as it does. All this other stuff is just noise and excuses, IMHO.
Yes, Dudette, there is a media blackout.
Yesterday the Colorado gas company, whatever its name is, released a statement which sounded like BP in the early days of the spill. Lies and more lies.
This epic rainfall and the leaks that came next are fracking effects one way or another. Right now citizen journalists are recording the oil and gas in places they ought not to be. Eventually we will get some version of the truth from the media.
Just saw on the Today Show Dr. Orlowski, the head of the trauma center at the D.C. hospital who made those poignant remarks yesterday about gun violence, the horrific reality of the increasing number of gunshot victims they have to treat. She said she never intended to make those statements, they just came tumbling out from her heart, this overwhelming feeling that SOMETHING needs to be done about this reoccurring gun nightmare. She said she must have awakened a strong underbelly in this country who feel the same, that she has received an avalanche of supportive responses, in all forms. So many Americans, the majority, in agreement. She said her biggest fear is that after a couple of days everyone will just shrug their shoulders, saying nothing can be done, and move on once again—–and it will keep happening—-again and again. No action taken to try to remedy the situation. Insanity.
Insanity is right, dotster. We need representatives in the House and Senate who put the lives of their constituents over lining their own pockets with NRA money.
So Dotster, there’s a big underbelly, an overwhelming surge of people who want an end to gun violence and we are hampered by the money given to members of Congress by the gun lobby. In no other country would this absurdity make any sense whatsoever. Together we raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the presidential race and more millions for the Senate and House races and we are “beaten” down by the paltry sums given by the lobbyists. Look at the chart Dudette provided above. Even the most enriched Senators get an amount that’s easily matched by all of us if we work together. I want those people in Congress to get booted out more than I want the sun to shine, but I’d buy them if I could. I wish every outraged person could contribute just a few dollars to Gabby’s organization or to Mothers Against Gun Violence and we could beat those lobbyists at their own game. Our senators and congressman come cheap. Just $7500 a piece and your have their souls. The gun lobby can purchase the whole Congress at bargain basement prices.
Isn’t it the most shameful shame—–our Congress critters’ willingness to be owned by the NRA——and ignore the interests of the American people? It’s a crime.
Fast-food chain Chipotle has made a few missteps this year, from faking a Twitter hack in July , to facing criticism over reports that it might be changing its standards on the beef it uses.
But if its most recent marketing efforts are any indication, Chipotle is holding firm with its commitment to serving only responsibly raised food. The company released a short film this week featuring a Tim Burtonesque scarecrow who has a moral crisis about his part in factory farming. The video includes a cover of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory sung by animal rights activist and musician Fiona Apple. The video promotes a mobile app game which rewards players with a free burrito.
So,, Morning Joe and Chuck Todd think his speech was bad optics because of the shootings ? If he stopped and just spoke about gun violence deaths he would be doing only that 24/7. There have been over 8,000 gun deaths since Sandy Hook.
If he had spoken about gun violence – it would have been “too soon” and taking advantage of a very sad situation. Media pundits will always side with the GOP against the President – always. They were probably at that meeting in 2009 explaining how they would help in making PBO a 1 term President.
The media can only focus on one “issue” at a time…nothing else is going on in the world except what they are talking about. It’s like days in the South when there is some substantial amount of snow or ice, the only thing you hear about ALL day is the weather.
Hopefully this doesn’t sound insensitive, and definitely not unsympathetic, but with every disaster, with every tragedy there are people somewhere that have concerns that they think are just as devastating. That is not to say that there should be no reporting, but honestly, throughout the 24 hour coverage, how much new information is really disseminated? If anything, you end up with a lot of mis-information.
Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and there are numerous issues that must be dealt with. The President does not have the luxury of focusing on one thing at a time. And fortunately, we have a President who is able to mult-task and who is able to tune out the media trying to prioritize where his focus should be.
And the bullshit flows every day. And Barack Obama is still president, still got re-elected at margins not seen since Eisenhower and still runs circles around these people. Carter did not get re-elected and Bush got barely elected once, having been appointed by SCOTUS the first time. These are moronic utterances designed to enhance the writer’s ego–nothing else.
Exactly ! The media is in the tank for the GOP and it’s been that way since the late 80’s early 90’s. They attack the Clinton’s, then they are soft on Bush, and then they viciously attack the Obama’s. The man doesn’t need to be lectured to by insignificant, no talented hacks in the press.
The Beltway press are morons. The President doesn’t need to lectured by some racist idiots in the beltway. The man wouldn’t be here or achieved what he has achieved if he wasn’t disciplined.
In a better world public opinion would matter.
In our world, not so much.
91% of us wanted background checks.
69% approve of PBO, PBO’s foreign policy, resolution of Syria without missles, and on and on.
Yet the same media and GOP were using public opinion when it suited them – when they were busy with their anti-Obama narrative, they claimed that 85% of the public did not agree with PBO that the US should strike Syria…
Hahahah…this is the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. These so-called “Liberal coalitions” and “women’s groups” can get Barack Obama to not nominate his preferred candidate to the FED, yet they can’t even stop the GOP from blocking gun control, or declaring war on women’s rights and birth control?
WASHINGTON, DC (RNN) – Police continued to investigate Monday’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard as questions remained about the motive of gunman Aaron Alexis, who may have been a rescuer during the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City.
Alexis, 34, had been treated by the U.S. government for mental illness and hearing voices, according to the Associated Press. Sources told the AP the former Navy reservist had suffered serious issues, including paranoia and sleep disorder.
The Veterans Administration had been treating him since August, but he had not been declared mentally unfit, the sources said. That would have caused his security clearance to be revoked.
No way this guy should have been able to get his hands on those weapons…..round and round we go.
I read in Chgo Trib that a guy was arrested trying to enter the PGA golf tourney in Il. with a gun yesterday. I thought—-a gun nut was prevented from entering a golf tourney but this shooter, with known mental health issues and a history of “misconduct” and gun issues, was somehow allowed to enter a military installation with a gun.
Does anyone have an understanding about how the ACA may or may not impact the need for medicare supplemental insurance? My mother currently has the Plan F, and not having to worry about a co-pay or deductible is a plus. However, the monthly premiums is a strain to her already limited income.
ACA has nothing to do with medicare supplemental insurance. You can confirm that at your meeting, but I’ve heard this from multiple sources.
What is prevalent, however, are the RWNJ lies that ACA will limit services, that seniors will not get procedures because they are old. This b.s. exploded from my husband’s older brother in a phone conversation yesterday. The lies are out there and the public is not informed. And it’s not just the media’s fault. ACA is still not understood and if you are not computer literate, information is hard to come by.
Something like 45M spent on campaigns to spread the lies and 5M spent to sell the bill. If Republican obstructionists made it impossible to market this bill, then rich liberals should have stepped up. Hollywood should have stepped up. Medicare Part D, RomneyCare all got huge marketing pushes. OFA is doing its best.
Sounds right to me, 57. Me and many of the people I know have medicare and although some may not realize it benefits have improved quite a bit in the last few years.
However resistance to a good new thing if it is an Obamacare good new thing dies very very hard.
It doesn’t help that there has been a concerted effort to lie to seniors. It’s my pet peeve, Vicki. I deal with seniors and spend a great deal of my time putting out fires. It’s disheartening that many decent, Democratic seniors are so fast to believe the lies and so unwilling to accept the truth. The truth is – seniors were the FIRST to benefit from ACA. The closing of the donut hole is ONLY because of ACA, the screenings, etc.
Yeah, that’s what I gathered from the information I found on the web site. Basically, I’m trying to tell whether the changes to the medicare coverage impacts what may be needed with regard to the supplemental insurance. Just trying to get a better understanding so that we can determine whether she should could be comfortable with a lower premium/higher deductible plan rather than continue to pay the higher premium associated with Plan F.
this is causing a lot of confusion. The c-span calls to the Kaiser foundation person yesterday were mainly from seniors. She is one of the sources I completely trust, and Jacki Schectner who had to answer this question on Stephanie Miller yesterday.
THE EXCHANGES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICARE. The exchanges are for people who cannot get insurance, are not covered by employers, or for whom it is unaffordable. It’s meant to fill the gap.
A lot of confusion exists with companies like Trader Joe’s. They are NOT cutting benefits or hours. They did offer some coverage to part time workers. But the point is, many people will do better on the exchanges than with employer insurance, which was the decision that Trader Joe’s made concerning part time employees and spouses (I think – not sure on that). Employers weigh the cost of widgets, the gas to move their products, and many other considerations before they decide on insurance plans for their employees.
But bottom line: the exchanges have nothing to do with the Medicare supplementals.
I just re-read your post – she may be able to go down to a lower premium policy with the newer benefits that are included in regular Medicare. Depends on her health, I guess.
That’s the rub…she has had a stroke and has a heart condition, and some of the other medical issues that come with age (84). So I guess when she went with the Plan F, it was primarily to avoid the worry about being covered for all doctor visits/hospital stays and not having to pay any deductibles or co-pays.
I guess that also means that the medicare supplement does not come under the 80% rule. [sigh]
Thanks again 57 for sharing the information you have.
You know – I’m not sure about the 80% rule. It may be applicable. Going to see what I can find out. the 80% rule did not just apply to the Exchanges but to all insurance. Let me see what I can dig up.
Here’s what I’ve found so far: No, medigap policies are not included for Medical Loss Ratio improvements under ACA. Under Medicare law, it’s 65% private and 75% for group policies. Kerry introduced a bill in 2011 to bring it in line with ACA. I cannot see where that law was passed but I’m still looking. It was after the jackals took over the House so I’m not hopeful.
” It was after the jackals took over the House so I’m not hopeful. ” I’m not hopeful about that either…at least for now. Maybe after the Democrats take back the House. 😉
I think at this point, it’s a matter of clarifying the information for seniors (and those of us who give assistance to seniors), at least as it pertains to the supplemental insurance. It seems like the supplement has gotten little attention. [I wonder how many seniors actually purchase the supplemental insurance.] Maybe that’s something that will be (re)visited once ACA has been fully implemented.
A lot of seniors purchase the supplementals, but not all. When you sign up for Medicare they make it really clear about what’s covered and what’s not and how vital it is to have a supplemental or Medicare Advantage.
Hubby is on Medicare Advantage but for the first time we saw some changes in his benefits that were not to our advantage. We knew this would happen as the subsidies were decreased (this is part of the dreaded ‘cuts to Medicare’. But seriously, why should the taxpayer turn profits over to the insurance companies? That being said, Medicare Advantage was really a Godsend when Hubby first went on Medicare as we were seriously broke in those days).
What the Advantage plans are still doing, however, in an out-of-pocket cap and that’s significant. I don’t think the supplementals do that, but I really don’t know for sure. Since I will be exploring the exchanges for myself this year, we’ll keep him in the Advantage plan for at least another year. That’s way more analysis of insurance than I want to tackle!
SWbluega i’m 73, and have a plan F with United health care and have studying this also. have had cancer etc and tons of probs off an on I went with no deductions (F). I’m gg to call right now and see what deduction wld be to go to d or e I’ll let you know
Thanks Inga. I guess paying the higher premium is the cost for having peace of mind that medical costs will be covered without the risk of financial ruin. However, another premium increase this year was one of the reasons I started asking questions about the supplemental plans.
SWbluega, called United health care -rite now I pay 175.25m-p/m for plan F..I cld go to a plan N at 113.50 p/m with $20. co pays for Dr visits..$50 co pay for emergency room and would have to pay the $147 medicare deductible. I also went with first health Part D. abt 29 p/m and they cover 100% of drugs. which for me works as my two MUST HAVE pills run over 700 every three months. We “old ppl” get some bennies as mentioned above. but, it boils down to stress or lack there of vs dollars out of pocket. Most important is to speak to whomever provides the supplemental insurance in person.
Inga, thanks for letting me know what you found out. I think my mother has gotten used to the lack of stress. But she definitely needs to start weighing that against the dollars out of pocket.
I had not even paid attention to the plan N, but it is one I will talk with her about.
Thanks for sharing the information you found. It is a big help.
“Alexei Pushkov, head of the foreign affairs committee of Russia’s parliament, seized on the shooting Monday at the Washington Navy Yard to reiterate long-standing Russian criticisms of the United States. “Nobody’s even surprised anymore,” he wrote, sarcastically describing the still-ongoing shooting as “A clear confirmation of ‘American exceptionalism.'”
Morning O’s!!! It’s another great getting up day on TOD Boulevard, right?!?! A tad chilly this morning on my stoop, but things should be warming up. It’s a perfect time to start battening down the hatches for the fall, but I’m too lazy to even think about it. I may manage to get the new tulip crop in, but no promises for anything beyond that. Actually, these cool mornings make me want to climb back under the covers.
As uneasy as events have been lately, both internationally and domestically, it’s so good to know that PBO is in charge. Can you imagine McLetMeAtEm during these times? We’d be at war in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Benghazi, Belize, Sweden, and bombs would have been dropped on the naval yard yesterday just in case…..
Since taking control of the House of Representatives in 2011, a coterie of Republicans has challenged this informal approach. Their belief is that the absence of cooperation should lead not to stalemate but to the president bending to their will. That assumption implies a delegitimization of the presidency that Obama has come to understand, belatedly, that he can’t accept.
The Republican Establishment is trying to coax the crisis-mongers out of their fervor. Today The Wall Street Journal editorial page assails Republicans who insist on shutting down the government unless President Obama agrees to destroy his own health-care reform, a fantastical demand. “Kamikaze missions rarely turn out well, least of all for the pilots,” the Journal warns.
Charles is having one of his best rants this morning
“…guns kill people, health-insurance helps keep them alive, large banks are all thieves, economic oligarchy is incompatible with political democracy, Fk The Deficit. People Got No Jobs. People Got No Money..”
12.55 am – retirement allows for no set sleeping times 🙂 – I did answer your post when you posted the pic previously – may have been some hours after you posted it
Obama on GOP’s Economic Hostage Taking: Don’t Even Think About It
By Spandan
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But in case there’s any confusion, I will not negotiate over whether or not America keeps its word and meets its obligations. I will not negotiate over the full faith and credit of the United States. This country has worked too hard for too long to dig out of a crisis just to see their elected representatives here in Washington purposely cause another crisis.
That, my friends, is presidential speak for “the United States does not negotiate with domestic terrorists.” The president is happy to work with the other side if they have serious ideas to advance the economy, to reduce the debt in a way that doesn’t choke off the middle class, or to improve health reform to make it better.
The Obama Diary 
Good morning!
Morning Vicki, morning everyone!
Moooooorning Ladies! 🙂
Good Morning TODers
In case anyone here missed Jon Stewart’s dissection of warmongers Graham, McCain & entire neocon cabal, here’s the video.
The same Jon Stewart also slammed PBO on the Syria issue…Sorry but I’m impressed by his attacks on the GOP now it’s convenient to do so.
*not* impressed..
Perhaps Jon Stewart is having 2nd thoughts about the GOP that he seems to have been supporting for the past year – I can only hope this is the case. A fair weather friend to the President – rather sad.
Good Morning Chips, Vicki, Zizi and the rest of the TOD Family!!!
Good morning, Dudette, and TODers. There’s a chill in the air.
It’s September. My favorite month! 🙂
I love fall, too!
Not here in Arizona yet. Hopefully soon!
Good morning, buddy!
In my world it is the 1st month of Spring – and my favorite month as well. Also my grandbabe’s birthday which makes it even better.
Love the first month of spring very much, too. Happy Birthday to your grandbabe!
🙂 thank you
Sweet! Happy birthday, grandbabe!
🙂 and thank you too JoB
Morning! Need coffee first before I even THINK to make a comment:)
And now for the more substantive comment I logged on to post:
Well known propaganda leader’s ( The New York Times) front page “news’ on Fed Chair this morning…”Awkwardly, it appears that the president may have to circle back to Ms. Yellen after Mr. Summers withdrew from consideration on Sunday………..Ms. Yellen became the frontrunner by elimination” officials close to the WH said”
What a load of crap. Their only purpose it seems to me is to disparage the President. No matter the topic the goal seems to be to discredit POTUS. That’s the frame. And this is supposed to be the “Liberal” newspaper. Hah!
They have an obsessive desire to present the President as some sort of puppet who’s moves are always manipulated by outside forces. It plays into their phony narrative that he is weak and incapable of making decisions. It’s maddening!
They also have an obsessive desire to make people think they know something. “officials close to the WH” are probably members of the WHPC – who are never slow in making up an opinion for the President.
99ts, my “exact” same words- they also have and obsessive desire to make people think they know something! OK, I just thought I’d share. If this was a childhood game I’d have to slap you on the arm and touch the counter. I’ve forgotten how the game is played now. But…yeah they just want to seem important, cause it’s all about them.
The games we used to play 🙂 – at least they were harmless – unlike the media games.
“Close to the WH” does not necessarily equate to “Close to the President”.
Plus, those close to the President would not feed information to these newstainers who tend to distort everything to try to put the President in a negative light.
Sw, “close to the WH” can mean anyone who lives in the DC area and heard a rumor from a rumor from a rumor, begun by a Republican. The NYT tells you it’s promoting an unsubstantiated rumor (unsourced) and presents it as true. Tells you all you need to know about the NYT.
NYT Propaganda, not news
Chuck Todd thinks he is an official close to the White House.
Why not? We’ve been buying them…by giving them the land, subsidizing the construction and then awarding them every tax break under the sun. When Congress passed sequestration, they gave billions to sports concerns while they cut jobs, Head Start and unemployment. Don’t get me started. 🙂
Good Morning Early Birds!
Morning Neighbor! 🙂
How ya doin’ ? 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful day!
Doing okay, friend! Hope yours is wonderful too! 🙂
On Syria, the Public, Process, and Results
By Michael Tomasky
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But Washington is a place where most people care far, far more about process than results. The reasons for this should be obvious.
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So what happens is, these narratives (Syria is a disaster) get etched into the stone during the process part of the story, before the result even happens. As it turns out, Syria isn’t a disaster, from the strict Washington perspective (it’s certainly a disaster from other perspectives). But most pundits base their conclusions on process, and of course this is augmented in the foreign-policy realm, especially when saber-rattling is involved, because the president has to display the proper dose of testosterone, which is why everyone was bowing down before Bush and Cheney back in 2002. A subtler foreign policy is harder to conduct in public, especially in our time.
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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/17/on-syria-the-public-process-and-results.html
These rationalizations of why the MSM treats PBO the way it does, do not impress me. They all ignore the elephant in the room, i.e., that the MSM is the communications arm of the GOP and uses predetermined narratives to depict EVERYTHING that PBO does in a negative light. Where the MSM works to rally the country behind Republican presidents (even those appointed by the Supreme Court), it works to undermine the legitimacy of Democratic presidents. Add to that the latent racism that courses through our body politic and you have, in a nutshell, the reason why the MSM treats PBO as poorly as it does. All this other stuff is just noise and excuses, IMHO.
Agree with all that! And it’s a damn shame.
Yes, Dudette, there is a media blackout.
Yesterday the Colorado gas company, whatever its name is, released a statement which sounded like BP in the early days of the spill. Lies and more lies.
This epic rainfall and the leaks that came next are fracking effects one way or another. Right now citizen journalists are recording the oil and gas in places they ought not to be. Eventually we will get some version of the truth from the media.
Not if the oil companies can shut them up – getting the truth from the media is near impossible
*We are all living downstream*
Wow, that could be a rallying cry for so many issues that confront our country! Love it.
Damn….two America’s indeed.
Just saw on the Today Show Dr. Orlowski, the head of the trauma center at the D.C. hospital who made those poignant remarks yesterday about gun violence, the horrific reality of the increasing number of gunshot victims they have to treat. She said she never intended to make those statements, they just came tumbling out from her heart, this overwhelming feeling that SOMETHING needs to be done about this reoccurring gun nightmare. She said she must have awakened a strong underbelly in this country who feel the same, that she has received an avalanche of supportive responses, in all forms. So many Americans, the majority, in agreement. She said her biggest fear is that after a couple of days everyone will just shrug their shoulders, saying nothing can be done, and move on once again—–and it will keep happening—-again and again. No action taken to try to remedy the situation. Insanity.
Insanity is right, dotster. We need representatives in the House and Senate who put the lives of their constituents over lining their own pockets with NRA money.
Dudette, those idiots are so far gone, something tells me if they begin to speak with some semblance of sanity and compassion we better run and hide.
So Dotster, there’s a big underbelly, an overwhelming surge of people who want an end to gun violence and we are hampered by the money given to members of Congress by the gun lobby. In no other country would this absurdity make any sense whatsoever. Together we raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the presidential race and more millions for the Senate and House races and we are “beaten” down by the paltry sums given by the lobbyists. Look at the chart Dudette provided above. Even the most enriched Senators get an amount that’s easily matched by all of us if we work together. I want those people in Congress to get booted out more than I want the sun to shine, but I’d buy them if I could. I wish every outraged person could contribute just a few dollars to Gabby’s organization or to Mothers Against Gun Violence and we could beat those lobbyists at their own game. Our senators and congressman come cheap. Just $7500 a piece and your have their souls. The gun lobby can purchase the whole Congress at bargain basement prices.
Isn’t it the most shameful shame—–our Congress critters’ willingness to be owned by the NRA——and ignore the interests of the American people? It’s a crime.
Hook it up to Chuck Todd and our energy woes will be a thing of the past.
😀
This is pretty neat!
Fast-food chain Chipotle has made a few missteps this year, from faking a Twitter hack in July , to facing criticism over reports that it might be changing its standards on the beef it uses.
But if its most recent marketing efforts are any indication, Chipotle is holding firm with its commitment to serving only responsibly raised food. The company released a short film this week featuring a Tim Burtonesque scarecrow who has a moral crisis about his part in factory farming. The video includes a cover of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory sung by animal rights activist and musician Fiona Apple. The video promotes a mobile app game which rewards players with a free burrito.
Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228389#ixzz2f9fz7Hdq
I had lunch at Chipotle’s recently and I Loved it. So this is excellent news, thanks.
Countdown to October 1. 14 days until Obamacare Sign-up begins.
Anybody know how to construct a widget or countdown clock?
So,, Morning Joe and Chuck Todd think his speech was bad optics because of the shootings ? If he stopped and just spoke about gun violence deaths he would be doing only that 24/7. There have been over 8,000 gun deaths since Sandy Hook.
If he had spoken about gun violence – it would have been “too soon” and taking advantage of a very sad situation. Media pundits will always side with the GOP against the President – always. They were probably at that meeting in 2009 explaining how they would help in making PBO a 1 term President.
The media can only focus on one “issue” at a time…nothing else is going on in the world except what they are talking about. It’s like days in the South when there is some substantial amount of snow or ice, the only thing you hear about ALL day is the weather.
Hopefully this doesn’t sound insensitive, and definitely not unsympathetic, but with every disaster, with every tragedy there are people somewhere that have concerns that they think are just as devastating. That is not to say that there should be no reporting, but honestly, throughout the 24 hour coverage, how much new information is really disseminated? If anything, you end up with a lot of mis-information.
Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and there are numerous issues that must be dealt with. The President does not have the luxury of focusing on one thing at a time. And fortunately, we have a President who is able to mult-task and who is able to tune out the media trying to prioritize where his focus should be.
And the bullshit flows every day. And Barack Obama is still president, still got re-elected at margins not seen since Eisenhower and still runs circles around these people. Carter did not get re-elected and Bush got barely elected once, having been appointed by SCOTUS the first time. These are moronic utterances designed to enhance the writer’s ego–nothing else.
Exactly ! The media is in the tank for the GOP and it’s been that way since the late 80’s early 90’s. They attack the Clinton’s, then they are soft on Bush, and then they viciously attack the Obama’s. The man doesn’t need to be lectured to by insignificant, no talented hacks in the press.
The Beltway press are morons. The President doesn’t need to lectured by some racist idiots in the beltway. The man wouldn’t be here or achieved what he has achieved if he wasn’t disciplined.
It’s a little chilly here today. I felt overwhelmed as I looked out at the children boarding the school bus…every single one of them had on a hoodie.
In a better world public opinion would matter.
In our world, not so much.
91% of us wanted background checks.
69% approve of PBO, PBO’s foreign policy, resolution of Syria without missles, and on and on.
Yet the same media and GOP were using public opinion when it suited them – when they were busy with their anti-Obama narrative, they claimed that 85% of the public did not agree with PBO that the US should strike Syria…
More of My Science Guy! #NerdLove 🙂
Beautiful!
Hahahah…this is the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. These so-called “Liberal coalitions” and “women’s groups” can get Barack Obama to not nominate his preferred candidate to the FED, yet they can’t even stop the GOP from blocking gun control, or declaring war on women’s rights and birth control?
http://www.kpho.com/story/23447659/navy-yard-shooting-suspect-treated-for-hearing-voices
WASHINGTON, DC (RNN) – Police continued to investigate Monday’s mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard as questions remained about the motive of gunman Aaron Alexis, who may have been a rescuer during the Sept. 11 attacks in New York City.
Alexis, 34, had been treated by the U.S. government for mental illness and hearing voices, according to the Associated Press. Sources told the AP the former Navy reservist had suffered serious issues, including paranoia and sleep disorder.
The Veterans Administration had been treating him since August, but he had not been declared mentally unfit, the sources said. That would have caused his security clearance to be revoked.
No way this guy should have been able to get his hands on those weapons…..round and round we go.
I read in Chgo Trib that a guy was arrested trying to enter the PGA golf tourney in Il. with a gun yesterday. I thought—-a gun nut was prevented from entering a golf tourney but this shooter, with known mental health issues and a history of “misconduct” and gun issues, was somehow allowed to enter a military installation with a gun.
Does anyone have an understanding about how the ACA may or may not impact the need for medicare supplemental insurance? My mother currently has the Plan F, and not having to worry about a co-pay or deductible is a plus. However, the monthly premiums is a strain to her already limited income.
I’m going to a healthcare meeting tomorrow evening….I’ll write this down and ask this question for you, swbluega:)
Thanks desertflower. Any information you can get will be appreciated. 🙂
I’ll let the TOD family know what I find out from this meeting….and specifically ask your question for you:)
I will be looking forward to your report, desertflower. TOD is facts central. No spin or propaganda here, just thefacts,
ACA has nothing to do with medicare supplemental insurance. You can confirm that at your meeting, but I’ve heard this from multiple sources.
What is prevalent, however, are the RWNJ lies that ACA will limit services, that seniors will not get procedures because they are old. This b.s. exploded from my husband’s older brother in a phone conversation yesterday. The lies are out there and the public is not informed. And it’s not just the media’s fault. ACA is still not understood and if you are not computer literate, information is hard to come by.
Something like 45M spent on campaigns to spread the lies and 5M spent to sell the bill. If Republican obstructionists made it impossible to market this bill, then rich liberals should have stepped up. Hollywood should have stepped up. Medicare Part D, RomneyCare all got huge marketing pushes. OFA is doing its best.
ACA has NOTHING to do with medicare supplemental insurance. I’ve heard this from multiple reliable sources over the last week.
What your mother will get: closing of the donut hole, basic screenings and initial visits that were not included before.
Sounds right to me, 57. Me and many of the people I know have medicare and although some may not realize it benefits have improved quite a bit in the last few years.
However resistance to a good new thing if it is an Obamacare good new thing dies very very hard.
It doesn’t help that there has been a concerted effort to lie to seniors. It’s my pet peeve, Vicki. I deal with seniors and spend a great deal of my time putting out fires. It’s disheartening that many decent, Democratic seniors are so fast to believe the lies and so unwilling to accept the truth. The truth is – seniors were the FIRST to benefit from ACA. The closing of the donut hole is ONLY because of ACA, the screenings, etc.
Yeah, that’s what I gathered from the information I found on the web site. Basically, I’m trying to tell whether the changes to the medicare coverage impacts what may be needed with regard to the supplemental insurance. Just trying to get a better understanding so that we can determine whether she should could be comfortable with a lower premium/higher deductible plan rather than continue to pay the higher premium associated with Plan F.
Thanks for your input 57.
this is causing a lot of confusion. The c-span calls to the Kaiser foundation person yesterday were mainly from seniors. She is one of the sources I completely trust, and Jacki Schectner who had to answer this question on Stephanie Miller yesterday.
THE EXCHANGES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICARE. The exchanges are for people who cannot get insurance, are not covered by employers, or for whom it is unaffordable. It’s meant to fill the gap.
A lot of confusion exists with companies like Trader Joe’s. They are NOT cutting benefits or hours. They did offer some coverage to part time workers. But the point is, many people will do better on the exchanges than with employer insurance, which was the decision that Trader Joe’s made concerning part time employees and spouses (I think – not sure on that). Employers weigh the cost of widgets, the gas to move their products, and many other considerations before they decide on insurance plans for their employees.
But bottom line: the exchanges have nothing to do with the Medicare supplementals.
I just re-read your post – she may be able to go down to a lower premium policy with the newer benefits that are included in regular Medicare. Depends on her health, I guess.
That’s the rub…she has had a stroke and has a heart condition, and some of the other medical issues that come with age (84). So I guess when she went with the Plan F, it was primarily to avoid the worry about being covered for all doctor visits/hospital stays and not having to pay any deductibles or co-pays.
I guess that also means that the medicare supplement does not come under the 80% rule. [sigh]
Thanks again 57 for sharing the information you have.
You know – I’m not sure about the 80% rule. It may be applicable. Going to see what I can find out. the 80% rule did not just apply to the Exchanges but to all insurance. Let me see what I can dig up.
Here’s what I’ve found so far: No, medigap policies are not included for Medical Loss Ratio improvements under ACA. Under Medicare law, it’s 65% private and 75% for group policies. Kerry introduced a bill in 2011 to bring it in line with ACA. I cannot see where that law was passed but I’m still looking. It was after the jackals took over the House so I’m not hopeful.
” It was after the jackals took over the House so I’m not hopeful. ” I’m not hopeful about that either…at least for now. Maybe after the Democrats take back the House. 😉
I think at this point, it’s a matter of clarifying the information for seniors (and those of us who give assistance to seniors), at least as it pertains to the supplemental insurance. It seems like the supplement has gotten little attention. [I wonder how many seniors actually purchase the supplemental insurance.] Maybe that’s something that will be (re)visited once ACA has been fully implemented.
A lot of seniors purchase the supplementals, but not all. When you sign up for Medicare they make it really clear about what’s covered and what’s not and how vital it is to have a supplemental or Medicare Advantage.
Hubby is on Medicare Advantage but for the first time we saw some changes in his benefits that were not to our advantage. We knew this would happen as the subsidies were decreased (this is part of the dreaded ‘cuts to Medicare’. But seriously, why should the taxpayer turn profits over to the insurance companies? That being said, Medicare Advantage was really a Godsend when Hubby first went on Medicare as we were seriously broke in those days).
What the Advantage plans are still doing, however, in an out-of-pocket cap and that’s significant. I don’t think the supplementals do that, but I really don’t know for sure. Since I will be exploring the exchanges for myself this year, we’ll keep him in the Advantage plan for at least another year. That’s way more analysis of insurance than I want to tackle!
SWbluega i’m 73, and have a plan F with United health care and have studying this also. have had cancer etc and tons of probs off an on I went with no deductions (F). I’m gg to call right now and see what deduction wld be to go to d or e I’ll let you know
Thanks Inga. I guess paying the higher premium is the cost for having peace of mind that medical costs will be covered without the risk of financial ruin. However, another premium increase this year was one of the reasons I started asking questions about the supplemental plans.
SWbluega, called United health care -rite now I pay 175.25m-p/m for plan F..I cld go to a plan N at 113.50 p/m with $20. co pays for Dr visits..$50 co pay for emergency room and would have to pay the $147 medicare deductible. I also went with first health Part D. abt 29 p/m and they cover 100% of drugs. which for me works as my two MUST HAVE pills run over 700 every three months. We “old ppl” get some bennies as mentioned above. but, it boils down to stress or lack there of vs dollars out of pocket. Most important is to speak to whomever provides the supplemental insurance in person.
Inga, thanks for letting me know what you found out. I think my mother has gotten used to the lack of stress. But she definitely needs to start weighing that against the dollars out of pocket.
I had not even paid attention to the plan N, but it is one I will talk with her about.
Thanks for sharing the information you found. It is a big help.
Happy Constitution Day!
Happy Citizenship Day!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/17/the-constitution-day-quiz-test-yourself/
http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.2f0cb9a8ddc86a6d856fed10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=1092a2d1fa2f4310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1667cf2351488210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD
For a city the size of DC, that’s fantastic news. City gun control is working.
http://thedailybanter.com/2013/09/another-gun-massacre-and-another-powerful-reason-for-stronger-gun-control-laws/
Is that idiot Steve Stockman up for reelection?? He needs to go…like yesterday!
It’s a MUST READ…for so many reasons.
The media creates more confusion than clarity in their so called ” reporting “
And that’s by design.
EXACTLY!
Confusion, depression, frustration….why vote? That is the media plan to maintain the status quo.
“Alexei Pushkov, head of the foreign affairs committee of Russia’s parliament, seized on the shooting Monday at the Washington Navy Yard to reiterate long-standing Russian criticisms of the United States. “Nobody’s even surprised anymore,” he wrote, sarcastically describing the still-ongoing shooting as “A clear confirmation of ‘American exceptionalism.'”
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How sad…..
Morning O’s!!! It’s another great getting up day on TOD Boulevard, right?!?! A tad chilly this morning on my stoop, but things should be warming up. It’s a perfect time to start battening down the hatches for the fall, but I’m too lazy to even think about it. I may manage to get the new tulip crop in, but no promises for anything beyond that. Actually, these cool mornings make me want to climb back under the covers.
As uneasy as events have been lately, both internationally and domestically, it’s so good to know that PBO is in charge. Can you imagine McLetMeAtEm during these times? We’d be at war in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Benghazi, Belize, Sweden, and bombs would have been dropped on the naval yard yesterday just in case…..
Live Now: Defense Sec. Hagel Honors Victims of Navy Yard Shooting
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Defense-Sec-Hagel-Honors-Victims-of-Navy-Yard-Shooting/10737441505-1/
Obama, Republicans, and the Crisis of Legitimacy
By Jonathan Chait
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Since taking control of the House of Representatives in 2011, a coterie of Republicans has challenged this informal approach. Their belief is that the absence of cooperation should lead not to stalemate but to the president bending to their will. That assumption implies a delegitimization of the presidency that Obama has come to understand, belatedly, that he can’t accept.
The Republican Establishment is trying to coax the crisis-mongers out of their fervor. Today The Wall Street Journal editorial page assails Republicans who insist on shutting down the government unless President Obama agrees to destroy his own health-care reform, a fantastical demand. “Kamikaze missions rarely turn out well, least of all for the pilots,” the Journal warns.
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http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/09/obama-republicans-and-the-crisis-of-legitimacy.html
Charles is having one of his best rants this morning
“…guns kill people, health-insurance helps keep them alive, large banks are all thieves, economic oligarchy is incompatible with political democracy, Fk The Deficit. People Got No Jobs. People Got No Money..”
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/Hearing_The_Voices
Isn’t it the wee hours in Australia now?
Posted this a couple of days ago for you, love this picture.
12.55 am – retirement allows for no set sleeping times 🙂 – I did answer your post when you posted the pic previously – may have been some hours after you posted it
GM all
Obama on GOP’s Economic Hostage Taking: Don’t Even Think About It
By Spandan
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But in case there’s any confusion, I will not negotiate over whether or not America keeps its word and meets its obligations. I will not negotiate over the full faith and credit of the United States. This country has worked too hard for too long to dig out of a crisis just to see their elected representatives here in Washington purposely cause another crisis.
That, my friends, is presidential speak for “the United States does not negotiate with domestic terrorists.” The president is happy to work with the other side if they have serious ideas to advance the economy, to reduce the debt in a way that doesn’t choke off the middle class, or to improve health reform to make it better.
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http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/09/obama-to-republicans-i-will-not.html
Rise and Shine!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/09/17/rise-and-shine-615/