I Hope You're Happy

Appendix fails to assassinate Glenn Beck

The nation asks doctors to put it back for another try.

The Golden State isn’t worth it

After analysis, the studies find that the standard of living in the high tax, high social program, big government state of California, life isn’t as good as in the  no taxes, small government state of Texas, and the residents are leaving to lower taxed states in droves.

Having seen this coming, this is why I’m an advocate of small government. Too bad there isn’t a small government-lowtax social liberal party out there for me to get behind.The Democrats every once in a while show some interest in it, especially after Clinton proclaimed the era of big government is over. The rest of the party just hasn’t come around to that concept yet.

Todd Akin gambles on the Pledge of Allegiance, Loses

If you want to use it as a political weapon, you should take care to say all the words. I’m just saying.

Cheney’s FBI interview featured 72 times where he couldn’t recall

I know Reagan got away with it, but really, he had Alzheimer’s. Cheney is just avoiding the question.

And Lo, the two party system did create a void, and out of this void came…third parties

America is seeing the problem with the two parties, and we all know that being an independent is a bad route to go (Joe Lieberman). Most of Europe has several parties (BUT THEY’RE ALL SOCIALISTS), so it’s about time we got in on the action, and allowed some more voices into the debate. It can’t get any worse (right?)

Doug Hoffman, the Conservative of NY-23 claims Glenn Beck is his hero

No wonder that race got so fucked up that the Republican candidate dropped out and endorsed the Democrat. With an election as strange as that, I’m shocked there wasn’t a former porn star or reality TV b-lister also on the ballot.

As a result of Barack Obama’s policies, lobbyists are quitting in droves

If only there were a pied piper to run the rest of them out.

Iran Accepts nuclear deal

Funny that Bush was never able to do this….

Texas and Ohio voters reject red light cameras

I think that if we can’t get this on the ballot everywhere, we should reject them like the mysterious guy in Chicago: with a cherry picker and the cover of darkness.

Carly Fiorina to run for California Senate seat

Let’s see, she nearly ruined HP and Compaq, got chased out but kept her $29 million golden parachute, and then was economic advisor to John McCain.  This is one chick that has failed upwards. The difficulty on this is she has money, connections and media savvy. The easy way to beat her is to point out how few of California’s citizens have a golden parachute in their contracts. Should be easy to paint her as one of those Wall Street types that caused this whole economic disaster, and who can’t relate to the masses like her Democratic opponent.

Michele Bachmann losing aides like Washington is losing Lobbyists

Michelle Marston has left her for being too crazy.

Michael Steele on the mid-term elections: We’re Transcendant

Presumably, the chairman meant that his party is ascendant, meaning on the rise, and not transcendent, meaning beyond the limits of comprehension.

The quote says it best.

So AT&T sued Verizon, and Verizon said, “Um well, ok.”

Seems AT&T was getting killed by the Verizon ads comparing networks, and sued, claiming false advertising. The expectation was Verizom would drop the ads and they’d settle out of court. Verizon, on the other hand, replied very simply by saying, “Prove it.” See, the burden of proof is on AT&T and if Verizon has its facts together, well, AT&T has little legal recourse.

This lamp is consumer retribution

An LED lamp that connects to the phone jack in your wall, stealing power from the phone company.

Dick Grayson

The Caustic personality of Dick Grayson

I have to admit, I like him because of one of his faults. He’s overbearing, and overbearing as a real personality fault, but this also makes him a no bullshit kind of guy, and that’s really what we need in politics.

He’s so brash, nobody wants to run opposing him

That’s one way to win an election.

The Fox News Beat

Jane Hall left Fox because of how skewed they are

She says she left because they stopped debating the issues, and because “Beck is scary”.

White House to Democrats: Stop providing balance to Fox News

I think the idea is to let Fox News continue to become more extreme and more marginalized.

Of course, by the laws of Social Newtonianism, that sort of means they must also become more extreme and marginalized. I wonder if they’ve found some sort of Social Gravitation constant I haven’t worked out quite yet.

Bill Moyer Health Care and Human Rights

If we lose the health care debate, we lose it to cowards who use lies and fear to support big insurance companies while millions suffer. And we do it because we defended the details of policies to people who wouldn’t listen while we ignored human compassion and morals (that’s me, not Bill).

Meet the Opposition

It’s either political eugenics by the Democrats or a bullshit conspiracy theory from the Republicans

The RNC sent out a survey that implied they believe voting records could be used to discriminate on health care. While this conspiracy theory can only be the product of of an abundantly twisted imagination, I’m a big believer in our wildest fantasies telling us what we are capable of. Democrats have a wild fantasy of providing healthcare for millions of Americans, and Republicans have a wild fantasy of Nazi tactics, death panels, and discrimination based on political affiliation. You be the judge.

Michael Steele on the spot on NPR

Otherwise known as doing the dance around his own doublespeak. Steve Innskeep just won’t let up. Very amusing.

I enjoy how Michael Steele talks about creative interpretation from the left of things he says, while his side comes up with “Death Panels” out of end of life counseling. Funny thing is, the Democrats interpretation seems like far less of a stretch. Really this is worth listening to.

The rest of the town hall meeting with Barney Frank. This is freaking awesome

As good as stand-up.

How We’re Blowing it

The illegal immigrant conundrum

Obama says definitively “no health coverage for illegals”. I believe this is right. However, I believe in treating emergencies of anybody that walks in to an ER. Seems only humane. But the bill as it stands eliminated a call for proof of citizenship, and this opens up the system for abuse. The Republicans are calling this “subsidized health care for illegals.”

Of course, proof of citizenship would likely mean a call for some sort of national ID system, and that would be a socialist plot to enslave us all, and an infringement to our libertarian selves.

I wonder where in the debate foreign nationals here legally stand. In Japan and many other countries they are merely treated, but those are single payer systems that aren’t looking for commercial upkeep, and provide way better care than ours for less money, so what am I talking about?

We’ll start up with a Facebook status update from my friend Dermot, who does all sort of fun things for the NHS in the UK:

Dermot Is designing a backup psu to power a ventilator from the main power on a colleague’s wheelchair. Needs help to breathe all the time (has the same condition as Hawking)*, but his new wheelchair is amazing; unfolds and holds him upright in its embrace…think the exoskeleton that Ripley operates in Aliens. * Yes, contrary to what that wanker wrote in the IBD recently, the NHS does look after patients like Hawking.

Roger Ebert wrote the best thing I’ve heard on health care so far

Having read through some 600 comments about universal health care, I now realize I took the wrong approach in my previous blog entry. I discussed the Obama health plan in political, literal, logical terms. Most of my readers replied in the same vein. The comments, as always, have been helpful, informative and for the most part civil. My mistake was writing from the pragmatic side. I should have followed my heart and gone with a more emotional approach. I believe universal health care is, quite simply, right.

It is a moral imperative. I cannot enjoy health coverage and turn to my neighbor and tell him he doesn’t deserve it. A nation is a mutual undertaking. In a democracy, we set out together to do what we believe is good for the commonwealth. That means voluntarily subjecting ourselves to the rule of law, taxation, military service, the guaranteeing of rights to minorities, and so on. That is a cheap price to pay.

From the Facts and Figures Dept.

Premiums up 20 percent over last year for 10 person company

Sure, those gigantic health insurance companies are really looking out for each and every one of us, and want nothing but peace and happiness, health and every last penny we have. That non-profit public option is sure the most evil thing ever. Can’t have that. More importantly, this article really looks at the idea that the free market is competing to save us money. Turns out, there’s little competing, and plenty of profiteering.

Look folks, Obama is not a Nazi

How hard is Bipartisanship?

This hard.

Lou Dobbs tours single-payer systems and finds….they’re good

Yeah, Lou “Birtherboy” Dobbs is admitting they may not be as bad as the Republicans make them out to be.

Meet the Opposition

Sen. Tom Coburn’s hypocrisy at a town hall

Here’s the set-up. A weeping wife asks for help for her husband, who has had major brain trauma, was dumped by his insurance company, must leave the nursing home he’s at, and she can’t care for him on her own. His response: Come to my GOVERNMENT office an we’ll see what we can do, but don’t look for GOVERNMENT to be the answer. >insert crowd cheers<. For fuck’s sake, a man is incapacitated by a traumatic brain injury, the family is completely destroyed by health care problems that would be solved by the Democratic plan, and people are cheering that the system is completely broken for this woman, and they won’t help her. Some fucking human compassion here.

John McCain and the Death Panel Shuffle

Watch John McCain dance around the biggest mistake of his political career, by standing behind (very far behind) Sarah Palin and her death panels, only he doesn’t call them death panels. You got that?

John Boehner is pissed PHRMA caved to the White House

You want proof that the Republicans aren’t looking out for America? John Boehner is giving advice to PHRMA, namely that giving appeasements to the White House won’t help them win the war. THEM? What about us? What are you doing for us Boehner? Sure, you’ll defend big business to the bitter end, but when it comes to doing good for Americans?

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s recent town hall

Let’s see, Obama’s a Nazi, a threat on his life, yeah, looks about typical.

McCain booed for defending Obama

John, you courted this audience in the election, you’ve got to deal with them. Hint: shaming them back to reality might be a good idea.

Michael Steele: The VA is encouraging vets to commit suicide

This according to a memo that talks about end of life counseling like what Democrats wanted in the main health care bill. Michael, you’re the HNIC of the RNC. You won’t get any respect until you start telling the truth about this. You can rejoin the nation anytime you like.

Why are senior citizens the ones crying “Socialist” about health care debates

Funny considering Medicare is the most socialist health care program in America. Even funnier considering they are using twice as much as they’ve paid in. I’m guessing McCarthyism is part of it. And stupidity is the other part.

Republicans spreading fear of issues that don’t exist with Medicare

The Republicans won’t allow for rationing of care for seniors, which is just great because the Democrats won’t either. Finally, some common ground if we could just stop lying.

National Healthcare is a breeding ground for terrorism. Really.

How can they actually believe this shit?

These videos from the Daily Show are very interesting. There’s this cognitive dissonance in Betsy McCaughy who spouts Republican dogma despite her actual real world experience. It also seems that she isn’t interested in debating a point, but is only interested in scoring points. Look at her body language. Very strange.

Poll: Republicans believe Government should stay out of their Medicare

I think that about sums it up.

We’ll start off with a quote from my friend Nigel, in New Zealand, a moment of clarity from across the dateline.

am i going crazy or has it come to pass that a whole bunch of white folks are accusing a black man of being a nazi for daring to attempt to provide healthcare for a nation? i don’t remember hitler ever trying to do that as such….

From the true facts and figures dept.

Health care expenses found to grow 4x faster than wages

This study went for 10 years in Maine. How is this good for America or sustainable?

Truth about British Healthcare Rationing

From a prominent surgeon: Um, we don’t ration healthcare, we focus on what works, not what pays, we allow people to choose their own doctors. Things are just peachy, of course, 47 million people without healthcare is a pretty extreme version of rationing.

Speaking of British Health care, would Stephen Hawking really be dead if he lived in England?

Despite claims to the contrary, he does, and his health care is working just fine for him, thank you very much for playing.

And we love the NHS

O Canada! Your healthcare is so good

Let’s see, they spend 6% less of their GDP, have 0% uninsured, 0 medical bankruptcies,

Amenable death rate, and how the US is low and sinking among developed nations

We keep sinking and sinking in the ratings compared to other countries.

Meet the opposition

The Angry, Dumb, Pathetic face of the Health Care Opposition

It is very obvious to me that some people just want something to hate, and the Republicans have figured out this is a market for them, never mind the factual basis for the hate. Here’s a picture gallery of example humans. Every time somebody screams at a Democrat to “take your gubmint hands off my medicare”, or “Obama is making a Nazi system,” I look at these faces and just laugh.

Has Rep. Mike Ross (D- Ark.) been drinking Republican Politic Juice?

Says “I don’t want to kill old people.” Now this is good news if he was thinking about maybe changing careers and becoming a serial killer who preys on old people, but bad new if he’s a Democratic Congressman, as it proves his gullibility. I’d like to think he’s sticking with his Democrat Associates and is saying “I will not vote for a plan that kills old people, and that is why I’m voting for this plan.” The article is just not clear enough to me on that one. A little context after this quote would have helped.

This guy drank a lot of it

Says Democrats sent thugs to his house. The Fox News reporter actually called bullshit. Oh yeah, he does quote the “kill old people” meme.

So did this guy

Presented so you can see how eloquent bullshit can sound.

How to dress the part of a teabagger

Tip: they all need to be on What Not to Wear

The Pope, I can understand, but Rosa Parks?

A Teabagger tears up a picture of Rosa Parks a pro-health care supporter brought into a rally. Yeah, buddy, that really helped your case.

Why did you come to the town hall meeting with a gun?

Huffpo, I know, but Chris Matthews. Some of what this guy says is just fine, a very small percent, but some of it. Problem is the disconnect that says bringing a gun to a Presidential event doesn’t increase your odds of being jumped by a bunch of guys with guns and legal right.

Maybe this is why the guy with the gun has the wrong idea

Guy’s protest poster, well, you just have to read the article.

Arlen Spector should have seen his difficulties coming

Still glad you left the Republicans behind, though. They didn’t suit your voice of reason.

Pelosi on “unamerican” protests at town halls

This is why I don’t like Pelosi, well, part of why, she doesn’t know when she’s being baited.

Michelle Malkin on being Unamerican

There’s two sides to this story. First, I’ll give Michelle Malkin props for calling out people for trying to quiet the debate. I’m a firm believer on open debate, and I’ll take on that challenge any time. On the other hand, Michelle loses out on far more points by not instructing her readers to be calm, respectful and rational, ah hell, let’s call it like it is. She’s inciting them to ranting loudly to disrupt the debate.

Palin on death panels – the beginning of the B.S.

While the death panels have wound up being just about killing grandma, let’s not forget her little Trig was once a target in her imagination, too.

And again

Newt Gingrich backs up Palin’s Death panel claims

Says the death panels exist, so does the Loch Ness Monster. Here’s a very interesting quote:

“You are asking us to trust the government,” Gingrich declared on ABC’s “This Week.” “You are asking us to decide to believe the government should be trusted.”

Hm, maybe somebody that doesn’t trust the government shouldn’t be firmly imbedded in it. Might just be a conflict of interest there.

And so does Michael Steele

Still doesn’t mean they exist. The Republicans are trying the make Democrats look evil, but it’s their own imagination that is coming up with this stuff.

Turns out the only one to propose a death panel was a Republican

Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson and the HELP amendment.

President Obama is the real target of protesters not health care

At this point, this should be obvious.

How We’re blowing it

What did the White House know about the Pharma Deal?

This is one of the shittiest elements of the Healthcare Debate, pharmaceuticals, what seems like the most central element of our health care system are just off the table?

The How Bad it’s Gotten Dept.

New Zealand faith healing clinic

Yes, prayer is all you need, and it’s free to do at home. (Shh, I think it’s working)

Or you can trade for health care

Bartering is more and more common for health care.

Wouldn’t Jesus want universal health care?

I have two op-eds coming down the pike, but for now, I have this.

Michael Steele doesn’t even know who supplies his health coverage…

which makes him an excellent candidate to criticize health care reform, right?

Tennesee’s lessons from universal health care

I’m hoping Democrats are looking at this.

Blah blah blah rationing healthcare blah blah whargarble

If you played Republican healthcare lies bingo, you’d have it won in the first paragraph of this article. The funny thing about the anti-health care reform side of things is that they can’t propose a better idea, nor can they defend our current system. Hmmm something for me to chew on.

AP fact Checks Obama on Healthcare

Some of this seems a little out of perspective, and perhaps even a little overzealous. I want to briefly look at one thing:

OBAMA: “We already have rough agreement” on some aspects of what a health care overhaul should involve, and one is: “It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you’re happy with it.”

THE FACTS: In House legislation, a commission appointed by the government would determine what is and isn’t covered by insurance plans offered in a new purchasing pool, including a plan sponsored by the government. The bill also holds out the possibility that, over time, those standards could be imposed on all private insurance plans, not just the ones in the pool.

Indeed, Obama went on to lay out other principles of reform that plainly show the government making key decisions in health care. He said insurance companies would be barred from dropping coverage when someone gets too sick, limits would be set on out-of-pocket expenses, and preventive care such as checkups and mammograms would be covered.

It’s true that people would not be forced to give up a private plan and go with a public one. The question is whether all of those private plans would still be in place if the government entered the marketplace in a bigger way.

He addressed some of the nuances under questioning. “Can I guarantee that there are going to be no changes in the health care delivery system?” he said. “No. The whole point of this is to try to encourage changes that work for the American people and make them healthier.”

He acknowledged then that the “government already is making some of these decisions.”

The plan the House sent on is large and not entirely what Obama had laid out, it is a large, and probably very flawed bill, and it is only one of five floating around. When we fact-check Obama on this, I have to wonder if they are all talking about the same bill, and how much Obama knows of the specifics of this particular one.

The government determining what is and isn’t covered as stated here will only add to the opposition’s bullshit arguments of a bureaucrat lurking between you and healthcare. Every plan has people looking at this issue, this is not unique in the realm of health care. it sucks enough right now, but having the government do this is not a horrible thing. In point of fact, Japan’s top-ranked health care system has just this, a panel that determines what is covered, and how much is a fair price for that service. Not only is their health care among the best in the world (which, by the way we are currently not), but it is also the most affordable.

I do credit the AP with making the issue more muddy than it has to be (way to go guys).

What’s the rush, Barack?

Ok. This article is way over the top in an oppositional way, but the basics of it are what I’m beginning to agree with. We elected a calm, cool president who wanted to do things right, with transparency and proper time for review. Problem is, the last couple major pieces of legislation have been pushed through so fast we didn’t get the proper review period, and we didn’t get good bills because of it. The climate bill was a debacle, a mess waiting for a justified death. This hea;th care thing needs a little of the time pressure taken off it. I’d rather have the right bill in six months than the wrong bill tomorrow. The time for health care reform is now, and instead of rushing to beat the lobbysists efforts to sway us, I’d rather see an honest and effect PR campaign to counter the bullshit so that we get it right. We need to slow down on this one.

Goldman Sachs repays TARP funds with 23% annual interest

Yeah, that bailout is going to cost us taxpayers billions. We’re commie pinkos who are nationalizing our banks, uh wait, we uh, we made money on the deal? You’re all still commies.

While Morgan Stanley is putting aside 72% of revenues for salaries, bonuses and benefits

Yeah, rational market. How is this good business?

Looks like a happy conceal-carry nation isn’t going to happen any time soon

Senate rejects a bill sponsored by John Thune of South Dakota that would force states to recognize the gun laws of other states. Funny how Republicans are for states rights except for when they want to carry guns anywhere. I think gun control is a local issue. Cities with crime issues like L.A., Chicago, New York, and Phlly should be able to make their own decisions on who and what. Their problems and beliefs are very different from rural Texas. Just seems, I don’t know, commonsensical.I also think that responsible gun ownership starts with knowing the legislation on the books of the jurisdictions you travel through.

You’re no longer going to hell for reading Harry Potter

Conservative churches are recognizing similarities between Harry and Jesus. You’re still going to hell if you have a crush on Dumbledore, though.

First they re-wrote science, now they’re going after history

Do these Christians know that bearing false witness is one of the big sins?

Very good article on predicting the Democratic Resurgence

No snark here. Just good political foundations.

I told you Sarah Palin’s twitter stream was only there for comic relief

Marijuana dispensaries are now being taxed in the Bay area and this is a good thing

Tax brings legitimacy. Legitimacy brings legalization. I won’t even come near weed, and I think legalization would be good for our country. Let’s focus on the real drug war. Let’s also allow an industry to grow in this nation, hemp farming for industrial use, marijuana for smoking and tax revenues. Could just set everything right.

The Ayatollah wants Ahmadinejad to choose a new vice president, and he won’t

This could create tension between the President and one of his few backers.

That whole ethics complain thing that Palin said wasn’t why she was resigning and that she was suing bloggers for reporting on, but it still wasn’t true

Well, a decision just came in against her.

And now your birther rant of the day

Way to present a rational, coherent and cogent rant. I’m sorry lady, if you’re reading this, those are big words. Let me dumb it down for you: you’re fucking crazy.

Chris Matthews gets a birther congressman to admit Obama is a citizen

Funny how John Campbell (R-CA) can’t answer a simple question, nor can he accept simple evidence. Hmmmm sounds like a great elected official.