Sunday Roundup

The Democrats' handling of the health care battle continues to confound. This week brought us Rahm Emanuel floating the forget-the-public-option balloon. It landed with a thud -- and President Obama had to walk back his chief of staff's statement all the way from Russia (Sarah Palin could see the walk-back from her porch). We also saw Harry Reid telling health care roadblock Max Baucus to stop chasing GOP votes on health care -- and Baucus, whose office has been a breeding ground for health care industry lobbyists, ignoring him. The Congressional Budget Office recently scored the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee's health care plan, which includes a pubic option, and found that it would cover 97 percent of Americans and cost $600 billion over ten years. Add in the expansion of Medicaid needed to cover the poor and near poor, and the tab hits between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion -- a small percentage of the $33 trillion it's predicted we'll be spending on health care over that time. So why aren't all 60 members of the Democratic caucus clamoring to support it? Elsewhere, 11-year-old Paris Michael Jackson delivered the quote of the week when she stepped to the memorial mic and declared: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much."

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Comments

[JakesTake]

I've been a strong supporter of health care reform for decades. Well, it just hit home. I've been laid off after working continuously for decades. With a disabled son and my 60th birthday about to hit, I'm scared - really scared. Let's get this thing done. We need courage from Congress and the administration.

[jrjones529]

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you... another unfortunate example of why we need reform NOW!

[Trittydi]

My brother lost his job, has no health care and he s dying.

I have a heart condition and cannot afford to use the health care we DO have. We're hanging on with our fingernails - we could lose our house.

And the Blue Dog Bozos don't give a damn.
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[castlerider]

Arianna, what you are doing in making the information about the behavior of our own traitorous elected representatives who've been bought and paid for by lobbyists available for Americans to plainly see is nothing short of historically significant.

The day that financial influence paid by any corporation or organization whatsoever becomes completely illegal will be a great day for freedom of this country, if we can ever be so lucky, but most of us know that the dream that is America may have missed the boat on such a momentous occurrence in the history of mankind. It's a serious loss that every intelectual lover of freedom in our country pines for and wonders if it could ever really be so.

Still, your reporting against these corrupt and greedy thieves of democratic freedom keeps this sincere hope and wonderful dream alive. Thanks so much.

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[Pero]

This just in - spectacular !!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/11/752306/-Former-CIGNA-executive-says-Michael-Moore-was-right-all-along
Former CIGNA executive says Michael Moore was right all along
...while we all know that the insurance companies literally go over dead bodies in their profiteering ways, in an interview with Bill Moyers that aired tonight on PBS, Wendell Potter, former Head of Corporate Communications at CIGNA, admits that Michael Moore nailed it on the head in his movie, Sicko. It's a 30 minute interview that comes close to a confessional of the health insurance industry's enslavement to Wall Street...

[dawnec1957]

I live in Missouri and it was broadcast last night! It was EYE OPENING to say the least!

health insurance that is a FOR PROFIT industry has one "bottom line" and that is THEIR PROFIT at the injury, sickness and/or death of the American Public.

SINGLE PAYER NOW!!

[mouselion]

Thanks for the link...

"I'm telling you, the Godfather has nothing on this plot." - The words of Wendell Potter, a former health insurance exec.

[lastams]

Here's a link to Wendell Potter being interviewed on Bill Moyer's Journal this week.
Potter describes a personal crisis when he viewed hundreds of Americans lined up for medical treatment in tents in a "health expo" in Virginia.
Potter left his high paying job at Cigna to become a voice for reform.
Anyone touting the line that we have the best healthcare in the world, needs to watch the program.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html

[Trittydi]

Wow --- Thanks for the link.

OK PEOPLE - SEND THAT LINK TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!
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