David Corn

Pink would vote against it so "they'll probably have trouble getting this thing throught?"

PROJECTING - is as projecting does.

DC,

Obama uses OFA to do his bidding.

You will not hear a call from Obama himself to do any calling of congress persons or senators.

I can't believe you are still trying that line? As if he will take TV time at a presser to "rally his base?" - the press would eat him alive for that. Way worse than the Gates comment.

Jeremiah 5:21:
" Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not. "

I think you're whistling past the graveyard, David, and are in deep denial (just as the foolish Republicans were for about the last four years).

President Obama knows he's in trouble. His personal popularity AND healthcare poll numbers are dropping like a stone. People instinctively know that you can't (a)add 47 million people to healthcare while (b)maintaining costs without (c)rationing care.

Will it cost him the House and Senate (a la Clinton) before he rights his ship? Only the Shadow knows.

The Healthcare Timeout is Fine.

To hear the defeatism and paranoia on some liberal blogs this afternoon, the "timeout" that Harry Reid and the Senate called on health care today -- they won't vote on the measure before the August recess -- is just about the stupidest thing since Chris Webber, pictured at left, called a phantom timeout in the 1993 finals, costing his team a technical foul and the Michigan Wolverines the national championship.

It isn't. It is, first of all, inevitable, and second of all, about as likely to do the Democrats some good as some harm, although that may depend on certain exogenous factors that are relatively outside of their control.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/07/healthcare-timeout-is-fine.html

Despite Dip In Job Approval, 67 Percent View Obama As "A Strong, Decisive Leader": Gallup Poll

President Obama's job approval ratings may have dipped recently in the wake of tough legislative battles, but a significant majority of the public continues to believe in his leadership qualities.

A new Gallup poll finds that two thirds of the public consider Obama "a strong, decisive leader" and say he "understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives."

Fifty-nine percent thought he "can manage the government effectively" while 55 percent said Obama shares their values.

The differences were split along party lines, with Obama gaining the approval of nine in ten Democrats on each of these qualities, and winning over less than half of all Republicans on any. His support among Independents was just below that of the general public.

The most significant drops in his ratings between April and July 2009 were among Republicans. Changes among Democrats were all within the margin of error, while numbers among independents fell between 4 and 7 percent on each of the four questions.

Despite his decline in poll numbers since April, his average approval rating in the recent three months was still notably higher than that of his two predecessors, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, during the same period in their presidencies.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/despite-dip-in-job-approv_n_244538.html

*****

Dropping like a stone?

lolololo

"The most significant drops in his ratings between April and July 2009 were among Republicans."

*****

Read and comprehend.

We don't need GOP support - not even in the polls.

Moreover, the American people have an innate "BS" detector. First, they are suspect of any plan from which Congress exempts itself.

Second, I think they are asking themselves, "Do I really want to surrender life or death decisions for me and my family to the same people who brought me the Post Office and the DMV?"

RW talking points?

I thought you were better than that Tom.

Major Civil Rights Group Demands CNN Remove Lou Dobbs From The Air

The Lou Dobbs "Birthers" saga may be coming to a close. This morning, the President of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a major civil rights group, wrote a letter calling on CNN President Jon Klein to remove CNN host Lou Dobbs from the air. The request stems from a segment on Dobbs' radio show this past Tuesday where Dobbs did his part to keep alive the conspiracy theory that President Obama is not an American citizen (AKA the "birther" theory). On air, he speculated: "I'm starting to think we have a document issue. You suppose he's un... no, I won't even use the word undocumented, it wouldn't be right."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/major-civil-rights-group_n_244532.html

*****

Lou will let it go or lose his job.

GOP, in Attack Mode, Tries to Avoid Obstructionist Label

WASHINGTON -- Republicans, seeking to regain political ground in the health-care debate, have launched a series of attacks on Democrats' overhaul plan. But some GOP strategists worry an aggressive approach could backfire, if voters decide the party is obstructing efforts to address an issue they care about.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124839458922777659.html#mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy

*****

Even the GOP know about the BS factor. They fear being exposed for their BS.

lol

Howard Fineman On GOP Health Care Strategy: 'Stand On The Sidelines With Their Arms Folded' (VIDEO)

Appearing on Countdown last night, Howard Fineman gave MSNBC viewers the alternative proposal for health care reform being proposed by the GOP:

FINEMAN: I talked to people on [Capitol] Hill all day today, talked to Republicans as well as Democrats. Republicans claim they have a plan -- they don't. They claim they're going to have a plan -- they won't. Uhh...their whole strategy is to stand on the sidelines with their arms folded, while the Democrats try to work this thing out. That's their whole strategy.
Asked how not delivering a health care proposal benefits Republicans, Fineman stated, "Well I don't think it does. A lot of Republicans, privately, when they are in their...sort of, non-tribal moments will admit that."

I don't know. As strategies go, though, it's not bad. And it's a pretty well-funded one as well! Via the Sunlight Foundation, here's a chart of the Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee -- the "key arbiter on the many sticking points of the proposed legislation" -- and what they're getting for all that arm folding:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/howard-fineman-on-gop-hea_n_244389.html

******

Roh-oh - if we spend the vacation time exposing the $$$$ train - the people might get a better idea what the obstructionists are getting for being sticks in the mud.

Could be trouble in river city?

UPDATED: Will Lou Dobbs Be 'Birthed' Again on Fox News?

[...]

TVNewser is reporting that CNN/USA President Joe Klein basically told Dobbs to put up or shut up in this e-mail to the staff of Dobb's show, just as it was airing yesterday:

I asked the political researchers to dig into the question "why couldn't Obama produce the ORIGINAL birth certificate?"

This is what they forwarded. It seems to definitively answer the question. Since the show's mission is for Lou to be the explainer and enlightener, he should be sure to cite this during your segment tonite. And then it seems this story is dead - because anyone who still is not convinced doesn't really have a legitimate beef.

Thx

Klein added a statement from Hawaii officials explaining that their birth certificates are now only available in electronic format, a fact Dobbs proceeded to dismiss in his segment that night.

http://blog.buzzflash.com/analysis/867

******

This is the birther movements Waterloo! If they lose Lou it will break them!

LOL

Actually Lou does belong on Faux Spews - he is a racist and a h8r. A perfect GOP talking head.

capt,

It would seem that you, too, are whistling past the graveyard. Here's a poll from the firm that called the 2008 election dead-on.

"The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 30% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8."

And the same poll shows his overall performance rating to have dipped below 50% for the first time.

The Democrats still think he's great; the Republicans still think he's horrible. Where he is hemmoraging support is from Independents. And that's the group he most needs to get his agenda passed.

I'm sure a lot of the Republicans complained of left-wing talking points when they were in power. Their hubris cost them everything. The Democrats seem to have learned nothing from history.

Again, the American people understand that you can't (a)increase services and (b)maintain/decrease costs without (c)rationing care.

Here are two telephone numbers to call: (800)829-1040 and (800)772-1213. The first is the IRS; the second is Social Security. Call them with even a slightly complex question, and then see if you want the same folks to be making life and death decisions for you and your family.

Why Health Care Will Pass

Talk about unexpected news: Reforming the health-care system is really hard, and Republicans want President Obama to fail.

Oh, yes, and when the public gets a look at the sausage-making process in Washington, it doesn't like what it sees. And in a bad economy, it's tough for a president to maintain approval ratings in the 60s indefinitely.

Can you imagine?

A sense of crisis pervades the nation's capital. Congress is behind schedule in pushing along reform of the health system, and the president's poll numbers have dipped slightly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/22/AR2009072202545.html

*****

The nay-sayer might have been more believeable if they hadn't already committed to making Obama fail BFORE the healthcare debate started?

Sure Tom.

Bank on those Rass numbers and talking points.

You might as well be any other troll - you used to have some insight - now you are just blinded by Obama derangement syndrome.

*whistling times two!*

Most in U.S. Want Healthcare Reform, but Vary on Urgency

The good news for the Obama administration: 7 in 10 Americans would advise their representative in Congress to pass a new healthcare reform law -- one of President Obama's major domestic priorities. The not-so-good news for Obama is that less than half (41%) favor passing such a law this year, with 30% favoring a new law but saying it is not necessary to move that quickly. About a quarter of Americans, the majority of whom are Republicans, would advise their representative in Congress not to pass a new healthcare reform law at all.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121883/Most-U.S.-Want-Healthcare-Reform-Vary-Urgency.aspx

BTW -

Not so much "whistling past the graveyard" as dancing on the graves and battered corpse of the GOP and their long term mendacity and obvious inability to connect with what real American are thinking and what we want.

The GOP knuckleheads seem to forget we won and there are consequences to losing elections.

FWIW.

lol

Obama Gets High Marks on Leadership, Empathy

Even after slight decline, two in three say he exhibits these characteristics

PRINCETON, NJ -- Solid majorities of Americans believe U.S. President Barack Obama is a strong and decisive leader and say he understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives. The president gets slightly lower marks on two other personal characteristics -- being able to effectively manage the government and sharing Americans' values.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121880/Obama-Gets-High-Marks-Leadership-Empathy.aspx

*****

Still all pollstrology - about as substantial as your horoscope but if you want to live by silly poll numbers - here are some more.

capt,

You can make ad hominem attacks all you want, but Rasmussen has consistenly been the most reliable pollster. Or do you have some other EMPIRICAL information on it? If you do, please provide it.

And besides, you still haven't addressed the issues themselves. Please explain how you (a)provide services to an additional 47 million people while (b)maintaining costs without (c)rationing care.

And would you agree with me that all governmental employees, including members of Congress and the White House, should be subject to any new law?

And I bet you haven't called the IRS and Social Security yet, have you?

A little more addressing the issues and a little less name-calling, if you please.

How Pollsters Affect Poll Results

Who does the poll affects the results. Some. These are called "house effects" because they are systematic effects due to survey "house" or polling organization. It is perhaps easy to think of these effects as "bias" but that is misleading. The differences are due to a variety of factors that represent reasonable differences in practice from one organization to another.

For example, how you phrase a question can affect the results, and an organization usually asks the question the same way in all their surveys. This creates a house effect. Another source is how the organization treats "don't know" or "undecided" responses. Some push hard for a position even if the respondent is reluctant to give one. Other pollsters take "undecided" at face value and don't push. The latter get higher rates of undecided, but more important they get lower levels of support for both candidates as a result of not pushing for how respondents lean. And organizations differ in whether they typically interview adults, registered voters or likely voters. The differences across those three groups produce differences in results. Which is right? It depends on what you are trying to estimate-- opinion of the population, of people who can easily vote if the choose to do so or of the probable electorate. Not to mention the vagaries of identifying who is really likely to vote. Finally, survey mode may matter. Is the survey conducted by random digit dialing (RDD) with live interviewers, by RDD with recorded interviews ("interactive voice response" or IVR), or by internet using panels of volunteers who are statistically adjusted in some way to make inferences about the population.

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/how_pollsters_affect_poll_resu.php

*****

Click on the first graph - who is at the bottom?

But of course we've been over this many many times.

Okay Tom, you're on your own.

The kitchen sink brigade

When the Dow was down below 7,000, Republicans couldn’t stop citing it as ‘proof’ that President Obama’s economic plans had failed.

Now that the Dow is in 9,000 territory — up well over 10% since inauguration day — right-wing pundits like J.P. Frere are trying to pretend conservatives never attacked Obama on the stock market.

Well, as Faiz Shakir of Think Progress and David Shuster and Tamron Hall of MSNBC reminded Frere, that’s exactly they did — and as this clip shows, the videotape doesn’t lie.

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001972/

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/24/757290/-The-kitchen-sink-brigade

Colbert Helps Hannity By Scaring Crap Out Of Americans About Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

In a segment called "Health Care Hell-Scare - Die-agnosis: Mur-DR" Stephen Colbert picked up where Sean Hannity left off: Scaring the crap out of you about Obama's health care plan. Last night, Hannity hosted a show about the president's plan that called it a "universal nightmare," "universal health care scare," and "absolutely deadly." Sometimes we think Colbert's job is getting too easy.

Colbert began by explaining that he doesn't want to terrify you, but "inform you with terror or terroform you." He did this by bringing "real victims of European style medicine" out to answer viewer questions. The first was a Canadian man in a "coma," the second was a French mime who couldn't speak up when he disagreed with Stephen, and the third was an old clip of Salvador Dali.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/24/colbert-helps-hannity-by_n_244308.html

Pelosi States the Obvious: Healthcare Reform Could Leave GOP Powerless for Decades

"Pelosi, in painting the debate in starkly political terms, was careful to say clearly that it was the Republican Party that did so first. But underlying her remarks is a belief held by many in both parties that if Democrats can pass health care legislation that expands coverage and brings down cost they can lock up the majority for years to come, much as the party did after implementing the New Deal reforms."

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/tonnyb/2009/07/pelosi-states-the-obvious-heal.php

capt,

You're quoting from a lot of other opinions from other sites, but there is no addressing of the underlying issue itself:

How are you going to (a)provide healthcare to an additional 47 million people and (b)maintain costs without (c)rationing services?

And how do you overcome the inherent mistrust/distrust the American people have for the federal government as a provider of goods and services? (See Katrina, Post Office, etc.) . For instance, both the House and Senate versions state that if you have not obtained insurance by the time the plan is implemented, you are prohibited from ever acquiring private insurance. And if you lose your private insurance, you are not eligible to ever acquire new private insurance.

And will you mandate Congress and the White House be subject to the public option?

Do you not see this is potentially a replay of 1994 all over again, except last time we didn't have a failed $787 billion stimulus plan and 9.5% unemployment?

There is something called overplaying one's hand. The Republicans thought they could act with impugnity; unfortunately, it appears the Democrats have learned nothing from the folly of their counterparts.

Health Care reform is NOT wilting David. Are you buying into the media's hyped?

Tom has destroyed Capt in a factual, reasonable response even with Capt using ad hominem attacks~~

I'm impressed!!!!!

AOL poll: 82% want Obama to release his birth certificate

Saturday, July 25, 2009

WASHINGTON – The latest AOL online poll shows 82 percent of respondents saying Barack Obama should release his birth certificate. This finding in spite of a veritable media barrage in recent days of unsubstantiated claims ranging from all Hawaiian birth certificates were destroyed to it already has been released. A story that went unnoticed by most of the major media has now become one of the most covered stories in the nation. But the coverage has been almost exclusively of the kind that downplays the seriousness of the controversy – often ridiculing concerns about the birth certificate as conspiracy fodder...

Uh Oh, Alans favorite polling site is turning right wing!!!

lol

TomCantu wrote: "Do I really want to surrender life or death decisions for me and my family to the same people who brought me the Post Office and the DMV?"

Is there anyone currently alive who brought about either the Post Officeor DMV? Did Congress create the DMV?

So far as I can recall the post office was organized by Franklin and its current incarnation is not run by Congress or the administration. The DMV is state owned in operated in this country. In either case no connection is extant with medical care in this or any other country. If you seek incompetence in governmenatl affairs, you need look no further than the GOP and its barin trust.

Perhaps you can cite some references that explain how you came to conclude the current Administration runs either of those agencies. (I do not count any smoke arising from your fundament to be a credible source.)

Oh no, CBO acts stupidly AGAIN!!!

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25415.html

Spin away.

OK kalpal, I'll take the bait.

"The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service sets policy, procedure, and postal rates for services rendered, and has a similar role to a corporate board of directors. Of the eleven members of the Board, nine are appointed by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate (see 39 U.S.C. § 202).

The USPS is often mistaken for a government-owned corporation (e.g., Amtrak), but as noted above is legally defined as an "independent establishment of the executive branch of the Government of the United States," (39 U.S.C. § 201) as it is wholly owned by the government and controlled by the Presidential appointees and the Postmaster General."

So TomCantu is correct - both the President and Senate have their hands in control and funding of the USPS.

Now kalpal, be nice, and apologize to TomCantu (or at least "re-calibrate" your words, like BHO does!).

Dear kalpal,

Apology accepted.

Thanks,Tom

Right-Wing Pundits Lying Their Asses Off About Health Reform

Interestingly, after all these years I'm still capable of being shocked by truly willful, egregious lies in our public discourse. Spin -- even really bad, dishonest spin -- is one thing, but what you'll see in the video to your right is something else altogether (video courtesy of Media Matters).

For the record, the House health bill would create publicly-run insurance exchanges through which private insurers could sell their policies. But eligibility in those exchanges -- or "gateways" -- would be limited. The CBO projects that by 2019, 30 million Americans -- about one in ten -- would participate in the exchanges.

Within those gateways, people would have the option of buying into a publicly-administered insurance plan. About 10 million would be enrolled by 2019, according to the CBO.

Private insurance would remain unchanged for the overwhelming majority of Americans. You may agree or disagree with the merits of the proposal, but that's what it contains.

Adding: Obviously, this is also a pretty blatant example of so-called news outlets parroting GOP talking points dished out by Frank Luntz.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/141544/updated%3A_right-wing_pundits_lying_their_asses_off_about_health_reform/

*****

Maybe the dog whistle politics will work?

(DMV's are state gov but I'm sure you knew that)

How the Ultra-Rich Are Trying to Kill Health Reform

The wealthiest 1-percent have deployed an army to destroy an initiative that would tax the super rich to help pay for health care.

Here's a truism: The wealthiest 1 percent have never had it so good.

According to government figures, 1-percenters' share of America's total income is the highest it's been since 1929, and their tax rates are the lowest they've faced in two decades. Through bonuses, many 1-percenters will profit from the $23 trillion in bailout largesse the Treasury Department now says could be headed to financial firms. And, most of them benefit from IRS decisions to reduce millionaire audits and collect zero taxes from the majority of major corporations.

But what really makes the ultra-wealthy so fortunate, what truly separates this moment from a run-of-the-mill Gilded Age, is the unprecedented protection the 1-percenters have bought for themselves on the most pressing issues.

To review: With 22,000 Americans dying each year because they lack health insurance, Congress is considering universal health care legislation financed by a surcharge on income above $280,000 -- that is, a levy almost exclusively on 1-percenters. This surtax would graze just 5 percent of small businesses and would recoup only part of the $700 billion the 1-percenters received from the Bush tax cuts. In fact, it is so miniscule, those making $1 million annually would pay just $9,000 more in taxes every year -- or nine-tenths of 1 percent of their 12-month haul.

Nonetheless, the 1-percenters have deployed an army to destroy the initiative before it makes progress.

http://www.alternet.org/politics/141520/how_the_ultra-rich_are_trying_to_kill_health_reform/

******

Well the ultra rich have their willing dupes.

RE: "Right-Wing Pundits Lying Their Asses Off About Health Reform"

At least all of those "Wingnuts" lies will be revealed when we all get our 5 day online preview of the bill, as BHO has promised!

For all of the "willing dupes" -

http://www.taxfoundation.org/news/show/250.html

All of the charts and facts may be hard to understand, especially through Liberal "empathy" goggles, but the cogent numbers are these:

Top 1% of earners pay 39.89% of total taxes, at an average rate of 22.79% of earnings.

Bottom 50% of earners pay 2.99% of total taxes, at an average rate of 3.01% earnings.

So, no surprise in the administration's actions. After all, Barry admitted he intended to "spread the wealth" around.

And from that bastion of "Right-Wing Pundits", US News -

"the Congressional Budget Office estimates providers will lose $361.9 billion in revenue over the next decade if the House bill is passed. That will mean lower quality of care, shortages in doctors and hospitals, and/or increased shifting of costs on to those with private health care. Should further cost-shifting occur, it will then in turn erode private health care coverage even more dramatically."

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/peter-roff/2009/07/20/obamas-healthcare-plans-support-shrinks-as-its-price-grows.html

So, is the Obama administration "Lying Their Asses Off About Health Reform", or are they handling the whole issue "stupidly"?

Either way, this is Change I CAN'T believe in.

Krugman breaks it down: Why free markets can't cure health care

Paul Krugman's latest blog entry explains in clear, simple and unequivocal terms why a reliance on the free market system is NOT the answer to our country's health care problems, despite what the right-wing conservatives try to proclaim. It's a great "health care for dummies" piece to print out and hand to any of your family or friends who try to tell you that health care needs to be run like a business.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/26/757917/-Krugman-breaks-it-down:-Why-free-markets-cant-cure-health-care

Revealed: the secret evidence of global warming Bush tried to hide

Photos from US spy satellites declassified by the Obama White House provide the first graphic images of how the polar ice sheets are retreating in the summer. The effects on the world's weather, environments and wildlife could be devastating

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/26/climate-change-obama-administration

Shuster on birther theory: "Why is it so difficult for Liz Cheney and other prominent Republicans to say this is garbage?"

From the July 23rd edition of MSNBC's Countdown:

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907230052

*****

Because it's all they have - conspirsy theories are like red meat to the GOP lemming.

RE: "Krugman breaks it down: Why free markets can't cure health care" -

All libs should take the words of a former (paid) Enron advisor with a grain of salt!!!

RE: "Revealed: the secret evidence of global warming Bush tried to hide" -

"3,000 Low Temp Records Set This July!"

http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?blog=weathermatrix&partner=&pgUrl=/mtweb/content/weathermatrix/archives/2009/07/1000_low_temp_records_set_this_july.asp

RE: "Shuster on birther theory: "Why is it so difficult for Liz Cheney and other prominent Republicans to say this is garbage?"" -

Can NO ONE born in Hawaii in 1961 produce their birth certificate (not "Proof of Live Birth" as Barry's folks have held up)? If so, then EVERYONE should drop this!

'nuff said.

The Cost of Doing Nothing About the Health Care Crisis

View table showing a comprehensive 10-year review of health care premiums

Health care costs are expected to grow 71 percent over the next decade, which will in turn drive premium increases for health insurance. Unless we take serious steps now to reform our health care system—in particular to reduce the rate of growth in health care costs—health insurance coverage will slip out of reach for even more individuals than the 52 million Americans who today are uninsured.

This analysis shows that without health reform, average family premiums will grow to more than $22,000 by 2019, up from $13,100 today. In some states with higher-than-average premiums, family premiums will exceed $25,000 in 10 years. Of course, a family’s total health care costs will be even higher once co-payments and other out-of-pocket expenses are calculated into the total.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/07/premiums_run_amok.html

*****

The GOP plan of "do nothing" isn't even an option.

10% - the number of people who still think Obama is a Muslim

8% - the number of people concerned about the COLB

lol

After CNN pres. Klein calls Dobbs' birther coverage "legitimate," Kurtz slams it as "ludicrous"

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200907260002

White House hits watchdog on Medicare plan

Orszag says Congressional Budget Office exaggerates costs in saying little would be saved by oversight panel.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/25/news/economy/cbo_medicare/?postversion=2009072522

"In a significant change, the Obama administration will now allow lobbyists to meet and have telephonic discussions with government officials regarding economic recovery projects."

Ouch!! Another BarryO campaign "promise" bites the dust!!

Maybe he should have "re-calibrated" his words on this one, like he's done on pulling out of Iraq within 6 months, closing Gitmo immediately, scaling down US presence in Afghanistan, no new taxes on the Middle Class, etc.

Oh, what a tangled web ...

Secrets of CIA 'ghost flights' to be revealed

Guantánamo detainee's lawyers hail UK air firm's U-turn that allows rendition case to go to court

Confidential documents showing the flight plans of a CIA "ghost plane" allegedly used to transfer a British resident to secret interrogation sites around the world are to be made public. The move comes after a Sussex-based company accused of involvement in extraordinary rendition dropped its opposition to a case against it being heard in court.

Lawyers bringing the case against Jeppesen UK on behalf of the former Guantánamo Bay detainee, Binyam Mohamed, claimed last night the climbdown had wide-ranging legal implications that could help expose which countries and governments knew the CIA was using their air bases to spirit terrorist suspects around the world.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/26/cia-rendition-guantanamo

******

Bunnypants will have to answer for war crimes and crimes against humanity one way or the other.

RE: "Secrets of CIA 'ghost flights' to be revealed"

From the "wingnut" ACLU (2005)

Beginning in the early 1990s and continuing to this day, the Central Intelligence Agency, together with other U.S. government agencies, has utilized an intelligence-gathering program involving the transfer of foreign nationals suspected of involvement in terrorism to detention and interrogation in countries where -- in the CIA's view -- federal and international legal safeguards do not apply. Suspects are detained and interrogated either by U.S. personnel at U.S.-run detention facilities outside U.S. sovereign territory or, alternatively, are handed over to the custody of foreign agents for interrogation. In both instances, interrogation methods are employed that do not comport with federal and internationally recognized standards. This program is commonly known as 'extraordinary rendition'.

The current policy traces its roots to the administration of former President Bill Clinton."

-- Uh oh, looks like BJ Clinton would ALSO "have to answer for war crimes and crimes against humanity one way or the other", so it ain't happenin'

lol

"Architect of CIA Rendition Program: If Torture Prosecutions Go Ahead, Indict Clinton Too" -

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/139356/architect_of_cia_rendition_program:_if_torture_prosecutions_go_ahead,_indict_clinton_too/

Uh oh. What did Hillary know, and when did she know it???

lol

Rep. Conyers On U.S. Attorney Investigation: 'We Have To Keep The Process Working'

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said today that he's still pushing to question Bush administration officials about the U.S. attorney firings.

"All the breadcrumbs, as we call them, go right to the White House," Conyers said in a speech to the National Press Club this afternoon.

"We have to keep the process working," he said.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/rep_conyers_on_us_attorney_investigation_we_have_t.php

F-22 jet can shoot homosexual agenda down in flames

That must be the best Human Events email subject heading ever

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=24581

Here’s the full email.

http://www.balloon-juice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/gmail-f-22-jet-can-shoot-homosexual-agenda-down-in-flames.pdf

On another blog, someone said - in capital letters - that no one has died for lack of health insurance. While that is not true, and many commenters gave proof to the contrary, even people with insurance die from their greedy tactics. That it why we need a public option.

"The industry is often accused of wriggling out of claims. Firms comb medical records for any technicality that will allow them to refuse to pay. In one recently publicised example, a retired nurse from Texas discovered she had breast cancer. Yet her policy was cancelled because her insurers found she had previously had treatment for acne, which the dermatologist had mistakenly noted as pre-cancerous. They decreed she had misinformed them about her medical history and her double mastectomy was cancelled just three days before the operation.

Last month three healthcare executives were grilled about such "rescinding" tactics by a congressional subcommittee. When asked if they would abandon them except in cases of deliberately proven fraud, each executive replied simply: "No."

To Potter that attitude has a sad logic. The healthcare industry generates enormous profits and its top executives have a lavish corporate lifestyle that he once shared. Treating patients for their expensive conditions is bad for business as it reduces the bottom line. Kicking out patients who pursue claims makes perfect economic sense. "It is a system that is rigged against the policyholder," Potter said. The congressional probe found that just three firms had rescinded more than 20,000 policyholders between 2003 and 2007, saving hundreds of millions. "That's a lot of money that will now go towards their profits," Potter said."

Whistleblower tells of America's hidden nightmare for its sick poor

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/26/us-healthcare-obama-barack-change

captain,

Again, you have a lot of opinion pastes from far left-wing commentators and websites, but you still haven't answered the question:
How are you going to (a)add 47 million people to the insurance rolls, (b)maintain or decrease costs and (c)NOT ration healthcare? Not according to the CBO, as of yesterday.

I find it hysterical that the White House is now complaining about the scoring of the bills by the CBO, the head of which is a lifelong Democrat!! Don't they realize that people know the term, "don't shoot the messenger"?

And have you made those calls to the IRS and Social Security to see the type of folks who are going to be making the life-and-death decisions for you and your family in healthcare?

And have you written your congressperson and Senators to tell them NOT to exempt themselves from the bill?

Let's have an honest, civil discussion about these matters, rather than just parroting what others have said. Emerson said something to the effect of, "Don't quote - tell me what you think."

(Oops! I think I just quoted.)

"...you have a lot of opinion pastes from far left-wing commentators..."

I haven't seen any opinions posted by the Capt. What I see are sources... articles with the facts. What you post are right-wing talking points. "ration" being the most dishonest.

If you want an opinion, I'll offer mine. What will happen with 47 million more folks covered is more likely a savings over what is paid now when they show up in the ER. They will be treated BEFORE getting that sick. Wellness programs and preventative medicine is far more cost effective than waiting till they are really sick... not to mention more humane. A healthy population saves in other ways as well. Production and morale is better, and just plain not having to worry makes for a more healthy citizen.

Now, if you'll chill with the "abc" luntz crap, I'll continue reading what you have to post.

C-B-Oh No!

Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag yesterday afternoon, writing at the OMB blog, took issue with Elmendorf's analysis, calling IMAC a "game changer."

"The bottom line is that it is very rare for CBO to conclude that a specific legislative proposal would generate significant long-term savings so it is noteworthy that, with some modifications, CBO reached such a conclusion with regard to the IMAC concept," wrote Orszag, the former CBO director. "A final note is worth underscoring. As a former CBO director, I can attest that CBO is sometimes accused of a bias toward exaggerating costs and underestimating savings. Unfortunately, parts of today’s analysis from CBO could feed that perception."

As an example, Orszag writes that "CBO somehow concluded that the council could 'eventually achieve annual savings equal to several percent of Medicare spending...[which] would amount to tens of billions of dollars per year after 2019.' Such savings are welcome (and rare!), but it is also the case that (for good reason) CBO has restricted itself to qualitative, not quantitative, analyses of long-term effects from legislative proposals. In providing a quantitative estimate of long-term effects without any analytical basis for doing so, CBO seems to have overstepped."

http://tinyurl.com/lb2l2c

another forked-tongue family values republican caught cheating on his wife...

Pro-Life State Sen. Paul Stanley, Mr. Abstinence cheats on wife with 22 year old intern and gets blackmailed

He told us that he didn’t believe young people should have sex before marriage anyway, that his faith and church are important to him, and he wants to promote abstinence, blah, blah, blah. Now I realize that when he said those things, he had already been sexing it up with an intern and her boyfriend was trying to blackmail him with dirty pictures. In retrospect, I think maybe Sen. Stanley meant that he just doesn’t want young people to have sex with each other, thereby
saving the cute young things for himself. Hypocrite, anyone?

http://tinyurl.com/ku9h9g

Funny, people are claiming that the public option will mean that someone over the phone will be making life and death decisions for me.

Isn't that our health insurance companies are doing right now? We have to get pre-approval for procedures. We hear story after story - and I have my own to share - about the insurance company sticking their nose in to deny coverage for procedures. Some have had fatal results as described above.

The system we have now is rigged to work against the people paying the premiums. That includes businesses. The insurance companies are making record profits and people are dying.

To my American friends: I sincerely hope you’re not taken in by the GOP propaganda featuring Canadian Shona Holmes trashing our system of universal healthcare. The problem is both that Ms. Holmes and her Republican masters misrepresented her condition and that the tactic itself is reprehensible. The GOP can’t produce any logical argument against a system that is entrenched in every Western society except yours, so they resort to fear-mongering and lies, claiming that one Canadian’s skewed view trumps the experiences and beliefs of the rest of us.

There are almost 34 million Canadians and it’s true, not every one of them supports universal healthcare. It’s not a perfect system and we too debate its reform and worry about its cost. But it is also integral to our identity as Canadians. Ask what makes us a people and the majority will cite government-administered, publicly funded healthcare. Along with the French fact, it is also what differentiates us from you – though we wish, for your sake, that it didn’t.

Like our Conservative Party, your Republicans really do take the people for fools. The GOP expects you to believe that one woman denigrating Canadian healthcare speaks for all of us. Even if her story were factually accurate – and apparently it is not – opponents of healthcare reform have claimed that her experience is typical. It’s a surreal if sadly unsurprising experience to watch Republicans in Congress stand up and outright lie about my country, but that’s what’s happening. So if you have the sense that Canadians routinely rush to the U.S. for MRIs and that those who don’t are dropping dead on a daily basis, well, think again.

As former Liberal health minister Ujjal Dosanjh has pointed out on CNN, the Canadian system is not run by nameless, faceless bureaucrats who decide whether or not you are worthy enough to receive treatment. Actually, that sounds rather closer to a description of how your HMOs operate. In Canada, where healthcare is not private enterprise, medical decisions are made by doctors. Of course, when you or a loved one is sick, it’s a scary time, and everyone would prefer to be treated right away. And I know from personal experience that if your life is in danger, that’s exactly what happens.

Half a lifetime ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her doctor did not put her on a waiting list. She did not go south to receive more timely, better treatment in the U.S. Instead, she was diagnosed late one Monday afternoon then had a mastectomy the very next day. That’s the way it works in Canada: her condition was deemed so serious that she received immediate care – and of course her operation, stay in hospital, and subsequent treatment were paid for by the state. No one asked if my mother had insurance or ran a credit check to ensure she could afford to stay alive.

http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2009/07/337-million-canadians-are-not-shona.html

What You Might Not Know About the Recovery

[...]

The single largest part of the Recovery Act — more than one-third of it — is tax cuts: 95 percent of working Americans have seen their taxes go down as a result of the act. The second-largest part — just under a third — is direct relief to state governments and individuals. The money is allowing state governments to avoid laying off teachers (14,000 in New York City alone), firefighters and police officers and preventing states’ budget gaps from growing wider.

And those hardest hit by the recession are getting extended unemployment insurance, health coverage and other help to get through these tough times. The bottom line is that two-thirds of the Recovery Act doesn’t finance “programs,” but goes directly to tax cuts, state governments and families in need, without red tape or delays.

As for the final third, the act is financing the largest investment in roads since the creation of the Interstate highway system; construction projects at military bases, ports, bridges and tunnels; long overdue Superfund cleanups; the creation of clean energy jobs of the future; improvements in badly outdated rural water systems; upgrades to overtaxed mass transit and rail systems; and much more. These investments create jobs today — and support economic growth for years to come. Far from being a negative, the wide array of these investments is needed given the incredible diversity of the American economy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/opinion/26biden.html

The current administration has not to my knowlledge tampered with the post office and can't be blamed for any problems it may have. It most certainly did not create it or bring it about. The matter of the DMV rest silently somewheer off on the side since once again the it can't be blamed on the current administration.

In the early 80s I had a freind who had back surgery which failed to correct a spinal defect. He was advised by the surgeon to apply for Social Security since it was unlikely he would ever be able to hold down a job. His application was denied because the Reagan administrtation ordered the SSA to deny everything and see who would fight back. A physician who had never seen my friend determined that he was completely healthy and should return to work. I advised a lawsuit. The judge inquired of the physician about examination of the patient. He was so disgusted that he ended the trial as soon as he found out the patient had never been seen by any physician working for the SSA. My friend won on the merits. At that point I began to look at why the SSA was behaving in that fashion and was told that it was a verbal order to deny everyone everything and force them into court.

This was done by people who later complained that lawyers were becoming too involved in the process.

Such is the history of Amercian Conservatism in this country and its view of the citizenry. They may love America but they srely disdain Americans, the less wealthy the greater the disdain.

GOP headache: The birther issue

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25444.html

******

Birthers make more sense than the USPS/DMV talking point.

Blue Dogging with the GOP: Making America Sicker and an Economic Basket Case

[...]

The GOP has so successfully created a corporate mainstream media and population myth that government can only fail while "free enterprise" always succeeds that even people who benefit from government programs buy into the great Reagan/Norquist lie.

If a government option were to be offered, it would expose as corrupt the GOP/Blue Dog big money-backed political myth of a "free market" -- and this revelation could ensure a Democratic majority for years to come, because it's the private market that will be shown to be scamming us for hundreds of billions on healthcare.

That's what is at stake: the perception of national government as a friend or foe to the health of our country.

To turn our backs on a government health insurance option -- or preferably Medicare for everyone -- is just one more step in making America sicker and an economic basket case.

http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/9076

******

As long as the only alternative offered up by the GOP and blue dogs (read:blue cross) is to do nothing - reform will pass and there will be plenty of egg for the GOP and blue dogs faces.

Kyl Calls DeMint And Inhofe's Health Care Remarks "Unfortunate"

[...]

an increasingly obvious fissure within the Republican Party over just how aggressive it should be in going after Obama's push for health care reform. While the default position for the GOP is to make sure that a Democratically constructed bill doesn't pass, there is a growing concern over being painted as obstructionist of reform. There are, after all, a slew of potential voters who either lack insurance or are unhappy with their current coverage. The GOP doesn't want to be seen as the party that prevented these individuals from bettering their medical situation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/26/kyl-calls-demint-and-inho_n_244991.html

******

Hard for the lemmings to stay in lockstep without a party leader.

Kalpal

Your story reminds me of what the case workers said about my brother. He had been sent to the local hospital psych ward after a particularly bad psychotic episode. Even though he thought he was a famous kung-fu movie star from Korea with millions of dollars, that babies came out of his teeth and that he had a camera in his head - among other things - not only did they tell us that Paul could not be transitioned back to the state hospital, he was going to be transitioned to an even less restrictive, less monitored apartment. There was even a "do not transition" note in his file, yet they were going to choose to ignore it until my sister got involved. She was able to keep him in the "assisted" living apartment - where they provided no assistance, but at least case workers were living on site. Imagine if he had no family - like so many others in his situation - he would have been transitioned to that apartment and probably would have died even earlier than he did.

Even though she was able to keep him where he was, he declined even further - due to the lack of "assistance" - and did go back to the state hospital for a couple of years - during that time he participated - "volunteered" to be in a drug study. They were very nice to him however, and he did very well there. We asked again if they could just keep him there, but no - they released him again and started the whole cycle all over again.

This continued until we were able to get him into a nursing home - because his emphysema was so bad - at the age of 47! He died a year later from lung cancer.

This is all due to the Medicaid IMD exclusion. In the 60's, the federal government decided that the only population that medicaid would not cover were those bad people in Institutes for Mental Disease. So, the states, realizing they were still going to have to pay for these people's care decided to dump them into the communities - but they didn't set up a community mental health system - but why would they care - it helped their state budgets and got them on the federal dole.

I know there were abuses in the state hospitals and people were put there that shouldn't have been. But you fix these problems - you don't close the hospitals. Paul was in the right place - for him. He would still be alive today if he had never been released - or if the "assisted" living facilities provided real assistance. It's all a sham.

Something has to change.

The health-care guns of August

[...]

But at its most fundamental level, this debate isn't about health-care reform at all. It is, rather, a test of the right's remnant strength -- its perhaps last-gasping ability to convince the American middle class to immediately return to their old ways, and pressure their representatives to vote against their own best interests.

http://blog.buzzflash.com/carpenter/451

*****

The GOP and their willing dupes will face their "Waterloo" and will fall to the reality of change over status quo.

Who is a Stronger Leader: Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid?

http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/9073

******

Strikes me a funny - can one really compare weak tea to watered down coffee?

Please call your congressperson and ask them to support - and cosponsor - HR 619 - To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to remove the exclusion from medical assistance under the Medicaid Program of items and services for patients in an institution for mental diseases.

Sponsor: Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (introduced 1/21/2009)

Latest Major Action: 1/21/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

So, whoever is lucky enough to have these two representing them - please tell them thank you. For everyone else - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE help me get more cosponsors - only one at this time - Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 1/21/2009

Thanks, Ilene Flannery Wells (Flan)

Hey Alan - figure it out yet?

How a healthcare overhaul could affect you

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-healthcare-qa27-2009jul27,0,5825963.story

******

A great piece - especially for those confused about the post office and the DMV - neither is mentioned but I think you could get some meaningful info.

Obstructionist, always. But now Republicans are barmy

Beyond shutting off all of Obama's initiatives, the party harbours deniers of everything from climate change to his citizenship

[...]

It's true that most Democrats opposed George Bush's last high court nominee, Samuel J Alito. If supreme court votes were the only measure, this would just be normal politics. But there are multiple signs of Republican psychosis. Obama has been compared to Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Charles Manson, a monkey (of course) and, in an image promoted last week, a witchdoctor – by a neurosurgeon no less, who has been a big opponent of healthcare reform.

Most conspicuously, there's the growing "birther" movement, people who believe that Obama is not a US citizen, doesn't meet the constitutional requirements for the presidency and must therefore be impeached. He was born in Hawaii in 1961. That makes him a citizen. His campaign last year released a copy of his birth certificate. But of course, for these folks, it's a forgery. There's even a video afoot "demonstrating" how the document was faked.

You might think people in positions of responsibility would try to reel these folks in a little. Instead, in the House of Representatives, a few Republicans have introduced a bill to require future presidential candidates to prove their citizenship, starting in 2012, when Obama will be seeking re-election.

Healthcare is socialism. Saving the auto industry is liberal fascism. Trying to halt global warming is both. Negotiating with Iran – I didn't even get to foreign policy – is proof that Obama wants to obliterate the US. And to top it all off, the Great Obliterator isn't even a citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/26/republicans-barack-obama-citizenship

Health Care Hypocrisy

[...]

In 1950, when President Truman sent a universal health insurance bill to Congress, the American Medical Association (AMA) launched what was then a massive counterattack. The AMA claimed that government health insurance would lead to rationing of health care, higher prices, diminished choices and more bureaucracy. The AMA beat both Truman and the unions that were backing the legislation, using the phrase "socialized medicine" to scare the people.

Fifty-nine years later, "corporatized medicine" has produced all these consequences, along with stripping away the medical profession's independence. Today, the irony is that the corporate supremacists are accusing reformers in Washington of what they themselves have produced throughout the country. Rationing, higher prices, less choice, and mounds of paperwork and corporate red tape. Plus, fifty million people without any health insurance at all.

On Thursday, July 30, 2009, there will be a mass rally for a single payer system in Washington, DC. It is time to put what most Americans want on the table. (See www.Healthcare-Now.org for more information.)

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/07/25-0

******

59 years - and the same old tired and worn out objections?

Have we learned nothing in that time?

Call Congress:

Take the Pledge for the Public Option
Progressive members of Congress need to draw a line in the sand and demand a public health insurance option -- something 76% of Americans want.

We need you to call progressive members of Congress and ask that they Take the Pledge to vote against any health care bill that doesn't have a public plan which is:

available nationwide on day one

and accountable to Congress and the voters

You can find their phone numbers below. After you call, let us know what they say in the box to the left.

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/publicoption

The End of the End of the End of the Recession

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/27/758256/-The-End-of-the-End-of-the-End-of-the-Recession

Another very good bondad piece.

DEM HEALTH CARE BILL USES TERM 'RETARDED'.../A>

'RETARDED' HOUSE BILL

July 26, 2009

The proposed health-insurance bill from the House of Representatives refers to mentally disabled people as "retarded" -- a term advocates, relatives and physicians find outdated and offensive.

The bill refers to: "A hospital or a nursing facility or intermediate-care facility for the mentally retarded . . ."

The phrase could cause more problems with groups for the developmentally disabled, who were angered when President Obama referred to his poor bowling skills on "The Tonight Show" as "like the Special Olympics." Obama later apologized.

~~~~~~~

Hey Flan, looks like your congress criitters don't like people with mental health issues~~~~

Hey Freddie - don't go there

Mitch Stewart, BarackObama.com

Health insurance reform may be coming too soon for Washington lobbyists pushing for delay, but it is not coming soon enough for the American people. Without reform, more Americans will lose their coverage and more businesses will close their doors.

So it's up to us to call for real reform in 2009. Today, thousands of people across the country will call their senators and insist that Congress pass meaningful health insurance reform in 2009. Will you be one of them?

Please call your senators and make sure they pass health insurance reform in 2009.

According to our records, you live in New Mexico. Please call:

Sen. Jeff Bingaman at 202-224-5521.
Sen. Tom Udall at 202-224-6621.

Members of Congress keep track of calls to their offices to gauge public support. Your two-to-three-minute call will have a powerful impact. It's quick and easy. Just call their office, and tell the staff person who answers:

Hi, I'm ___ and I live in ___. I'm calling to let you know that I want Congress to pass real health insurance reform in 2009.

Every day reform is delayed, 14,000 more Americans lose their insurance, and more small businesses are forced to choose between covering their employees and staying open. We can't afford delay.

I support reform that cuts costs, expands access to every American, and guarantees every American a choice of insurance plans -- including a strong public insurance option. And it must happen in 2009.

Will Sen. ___ commit to passing real health insurance reform in 2009?

Not a day goes by without negotiations in key committees that will shape health insurance reform legislation. The lobbyists fighting tooth and nail for the status quo don't rest -- and neither can we.

Please make a call today. Then click here to tell us what answer you received:

http://my.barackobama.com/CallforReform

This movement has made calls, knocked on doors, joined together at events with friends and neighbors, and declared loud and clear that the American people are counting on Congress to fix our broken health care status quo. Today, we're raising our voices again.

Thanks for your support,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- Did we get your senators wrong? Click here to look yours up: http://my.barackobama.com/CallforReform.

For those of you who didn't see a link...

'RETARDED' HOUSE BILL

http://www.nypost.com/seven/07262009/news/nationalnews/retarded_house_bill_181448.htm

FYI - Mental Retardation may not be the correct phrase used in society these days, but many bills are changes to existing bills that contain the old verbiage - such as the bill to repeal the IMD Exclusion I posted about. No one uses Institute for Mental Disease anymore. That is what is going on here. This is really reaching.

Yeah, consider the source - NY Post - Freddie pasted the entire article so you dont' really need to go there. Unless you want to read the venom spewing comments.

Also, for future reference, Mental Illnesses fall under the general Mental Health umbrella whereas Mental Retardation, now known as Mental Disability falls under the general Mental Health umbrella. They treated differently.

Disorders under the Mental Disability umbrella were consdered physical illnesses so were grouped under the general Health Care umbrella. Disorders under the Mental Illness umbrella were not considered physical illnesses so were grouped under the Mental Health Umbrella.

If that is confusing to you, I understand, but that is what the Mental Health providers and consumers have been dealing with for decades - centuries.

Hey Freddie - don't go there

I didn't, the Democrats did!

Advocacy Urgently Needed in Support of Health Care Reform!

June 26, 2009

Separate House and Senate Committees are now moving forward on comprehensive health reform legislation. With Congress scheduled to begin its week-long July 4th recess this afternoon, it is now a critical time for advocates to contact their House member and Senators to urge support for reform that will expand coverage, control costs and meet the needs of children and adults living serious mental illness.

Act Now!

http://capwiz.com/nami/issues/alert/?alertid=13633211

Too many umbrellas...

Thought I'd beat someone to it

;>)

Zogby Poll: President Obama's Job Approval Falls to 48%

Survey finds 51% believe U.S. on wrong track, while 41% say the nation is headed in right direction

UTICA, New York—A new Zogby Interactive survey shows a slight decline in President Barack Obama’s job approval, with 48% of likely voters now approving of the job he is doing as president, down from 51% who said the same in an interactive/telephone hybrid poll conducted in mid-June. Forty-nine percent now say they disapprove of the job the president has done so far in office and 4% are not sure.

Debate on Health Care Is More About Politics Than Policy

[...]

If President Obama were successful on health care, he would have accomplished something that was beyond the reach of Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Johnson, Carter, and Clinton. He would have ushered in the most significant domestic legislation since Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935.

Social Security helped Democrats become the dominate political party for more than a generation, are not the same stakes at play if the president signs health care legislation that meets his criteria of cost, coverage, and choice?

As a result, the GOP is forced to advocate for a status quo that has its own spiraling cost that leaves out 47 million individuals, by using the primordial tactics of fear.

Seldom, in American history, has the use of fear to sway public opinion in the short-term proven to serve the public interest in the long-term. Unfortunately for the Republican Party, as the old Texas saying goes: "You dance with who brung ya!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-williams/debate-on-health-care-is_b_245059.html

The Audacity of Hype

President Government's approval has gone below 50% - Zogby has him at 48% today. Rasmussen, too. Only 29% of Americans (the O-bot Cult) strongly approve of President Government's performance. 53% now say that Mr. Post-Partisan is a partisan Democrat.

Spin it, trolls. It's somehow Bush's fault, no doubt. Either that, or rather that the hype of Obama - perhaps the greatest in modern history - is not living up to the reality of Obama.

Honeymoon's officially over for Lightworking, Post-Racial, Post-Partisan, Non-Ideological Great Uniter of the Earth and Universe.

Dean spars with Bartiromo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn29O1KgZxo

25 Million Have Insurance, But Not Enough

On Top of 47 Million Americans with No Health Coverage, Underinsured Present a Strong Case for Reform

Play CBS Video
Video

Uninsured America

Millions of Americans are uninsured and another 25 million are underinsured. They may think they're covered, but don't realize their policy limitations. Michelle Miller reports.

Photo

Linda and John Stewardson of Alexandria, Va. Linda Stewardson survived a brain tumor, but the couple's insurance capped out at $150,000 of coverage and their health care costs have left them owing more than $100,000 in medical bills. More than 25 million Americans like the Stewardsons are considred underinsured, in addition to the 47 million without health insurance. (CBS)

Only On The Web

Your Health In Focus

CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook hosts a weekly show, CBS Doc Dot Com, all about health issues.

Interactive

HealthWatch

Explore health issues including AIDS, cancer and antibiotics.
Stories
Blue Dog Dem: Pelosi Lacks the Votes
Would the Health Plan Help Small Business?
(CBS) President Obama will be promoting health care reform this week in Virginia and North Carolina, and plans to keep the pressure on Congress during next month's recess. One argument for health care reform is that 47 million Americans are uninsured.

But not everyone knows that another 25 million are underinsured as CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reports.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/26/eveningnews/main5189708.shtml?tag=stack

25 Million Have Insurance, But Not Enough

On Top of 47 Million Americans with No Health Coverage, Underinsured Present a Strong Case for Reform

(CBS) President Obama will be promoting health care reform this week in Virginia and North Carolina, and plans to keep the pressure on Congress during next month's recess. One argument for health care reform is that 47 million Americans are uninsured.

But not everyone knows that another 25 million are underinsured as CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reports.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/26/eveningnews/main5189708.shtml?tag=stack

(sorry about the mess)

Palin: "Bigger" Than Obama, or Quitter?

GOP Operatives in Heated Exchange, on "The Early Show Saturday Edition"

[...]

Frum happened to get the last word: "I think this exchange shows what a wonderful uniter Sarah Palin is. If this is the effect she has on Republicans, this is not what you need. This is -- the Republican Party right now faces a couple of burdens. We know from the Bush years that we were seen - and I'm speaking as a Republican, as not competent, not effective. So we'd better find somebody who is seen as competent and effective. And a governor who quit because she said, 'I can't et my agenda through the state legislature,' it's harder to get things through Congress. She's not going to be much of a president."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/25/earlyshow/main5188386.shtml

For someone to use a cause near and dear to someone else in a way that does nothing to further discussion on the issue and only for zingers is truly unfortunate.

If you really cared about the issues surrounding mental disability and mental illness, Freddie, I don't think you would have addressed me in that way, do you? You said before that you cared about how my brother's illness affected me yet you use the issue to further your own talking points with an attitude that shows no respect for the actual issue.

The fact that you don't know the facts is just part of it It's that you seem to enjoy usinsing something that means something very personal to someone else as a way to annoy that person. Kind of sadistic.

I feel sorry for you Freddie, I really do.

Flan, I have a relative that has mental health issues also and am deeply offended and outraged by the Democrat idiots that used the "retarded term". You should be also instead of attacking me~~~

I don't have all the facts, but flan acted stupidly.

Freddie - READ THIS VERY SLOWLY AND MAYBE THEN YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.

The retarded term is not to represent people with mental health issues - didn't you get a word I was saying - you don't even read my posts do you?

From the CDC - "Mental Disability - Intellectual disability is sometimes referred to as a cognitive disability or mental retardation.

[Its] characterized both by a significantly below-average score on a test of mental ability or intelligence and by limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life, such as communication, self-care, and getting along in social situations and school activities. "

The portion of the Health Care reform bill the article you posted is not dealing with "mental health" issues. Mental Health deals with schizphrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. People with mental health issues are NEVER refered to as mentally retarded in any state, local, or federal government form or publication.

Yes, Mental Retardation is an old term. Yes, I agree with you that it shoudl be changed, but don't make it a "Dem" vs. "Rep" thing - it's pervasive in all state and local and federal governemtn forms and publications - I looked it up.

And I still say you are sadistic for using a cause that is very emotional for me to give you a zinger. It really doesn't help to move the discussion forward. You knew it would upset me and that is the only reason you posted it. That is the definition of sadism.

And I still feel sorry for you, I really do.

Not you denmac.

Sadism - the gaining of pleasure from causing physical or mental pain to people.

Sadist - Freddie

Freddie – Don’t try to fool me, you don’t care about the issues…

Your original post was as follows:

DEM HEALTH CARE BILL USES TERM 'RETARDED'.../A>

'RETARDED' HOUSE BILL

July 26, 2009

The proposed health-insurance bill from the House of Representatives refers to mentally disabled people as "retarded" -- a term advocates, relatives and physicians find outdated and offensive.

The bill refers to: "A hospital or a nursing facility or intermediate-care facility for the mentally retarded . . ."

The phrase could cause more problems with groups for the developmentally disabled, who were angered when President Obama referred to his poor bowling skills on "The Tonight Show" as "like the Special Olympics." Obama later apologized.

~~~~~~~

Hey Flan, looks like your congress criitters don't like people with mental health issues~~~~

=======================================

Now, let us take a good look at your remark again. Do you really think this makes me want to have a discussion with you? You obviously didn’t have that intent when you wrote it….

“Hey Flan" - ok, that sounds friendly enough.

“Looks like your congress criitters” – Whoa, criitters? That implies they are not human - that is now already aggravating the issue. Why not use “the Dems”?

“don’t like” – You don’t understand the fact, that the existing law has that EXACT phrase “A hospital or a nursing facility or intermediate-care facility for the mentally retarded . .” in it in many, many places, and so do state and local laws, government forms and publications. It’s an old, old phrase. It’s there because it defines the acronym “ICFMR”. But it’s a non-issue as far as “my critters” are concerned. It’s not about “like” and “don’t like”. It just is, just like the acronym “IMD” and the phrase Institute for Mental Disease.

“people with mental health issues”. Ok, refer to my other post about that because I am not going to explain it again. I will just restate that you don’t understand what you are talking about.

That you seem to enjoy trying to make me squirm is due to the overall jovial tone of your comment.

If you knew anything about the issues, if you wanted to have a discussion with me, you would not have written what you did. Instead, you just repost something that is spreading on the internet – and you targeted me because you know that mental health is a personal issue with me. You wanted to make me angry, which I am not, by the way. However, I am still sorry for you.

Do you really think you want me to believe that you want to have an honest discussion on the issue of mental health; that you would hope to persuade me to change my position on the use of the term retarded by posting in that manner to me? No, because that is not why you are posting here.

Again, you used an issue to purposely target someone for your own gain – for that zinger – knowing it might cause that person mental harm and getting enjoyment from it.

Therefore, I stand by my observation that you are a sadist.

"that you would hope to persuade me to change my position on the use of the term retarded by posting in that manner to me?" Actually, I shouldn't have used "change my position" - since I agree with the overall need to change terminology. I guess I should have said persuade me to get "my criiters" to change the terminology.

Democratic Party and Politico: Get a Clue

Eric Boehlert writes about Glenn Thrush's piece in Politico, in which he concludes "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one of the most despised political figures in the country":

BTW, according to Politico's own polling, 58 percent of Americans don't trust Pelosi. And wouldn't you know it, according to Politico's own polling, 57 percent of Americans don't trust Sarah Palin. Can't wait for Thrush's exposé about how Palin is among "the most despised" political figures in America. Wake me when it arrives.

UPDATED: Well, well, well. According to Politico's polling, the Republican Party is not trusted by 57 percent of voters, which, of course, makes it one of the most "despised" political institutions in America, right?

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/07/27/democratic-party-and-politico-get-a-clue/

Ah, yes Capt It's just like the GOP quoting FOX News...not funded by but certainly programmed for the GOP.

Elected Birthers on the Hill

Thanks to FireDogLake and Campaign Silo for giving me the opportunity to do this work!

Check out this video: several Republican Congressman tell me they don't believe Barack Obama is an American. Several dodge the question. Others offer weak-tea justifications for kinda-sorta believing Obama is a natural born citizen, Constitutionally fit to hold the office of President of the United States of America. Only one, Trent Franks of Arizona, gives a correct and clear answer, but even he can't help himself from suggesting that Obama is facilitating Jihad and turning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1o1p_ly7Yw

Folks, this is what it has come to. The most powerful people in the world -- nationally elected legislators responsible for setting policy for the most powerful country on earth -- are lining up with cuckoo-bat-shit-crazy elements of the lunatic fringe.

And they have to. It's their base.

So... with the Republican Party completely untracked from the rails of sanity...

Have we finally found our answer as to why George Bush got elected twice?

Why we went to war against a nation that hadn't wronged us?

Is it any wonder we can't get sane environmental policies passed?

Is it any wonder we can't get the fundamental rudiments of civil society like health care for all, childhood nutrition and effective anti-poverty measures through Congress?

All of a sudden, bailing out billionaire bankers while dithering on health care reform starts to make sense, doesn't it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-stark/elected-birthers-on-the-h_b_245507.html