Lemeritus's Comments (4596)

“I think MajorKong put his dibs in yesterday first thing.

He's going to be soooo crushed.”

“First of all, revolutions are rarely peaceful -- so be careful what you wish for.

Secondly, I'm a liberal and I don't like this bill one bit. But your reference to the Republicans reminded me of a story Dolly Parton once told about a hairdo she had as a teenager... "Must'a been Satan made you wear your hair like that," her mother wailed. "Now, Mama," said Parton, "let's give credit where credit is due: I thought of this myself." The same can be said of the Republicans -- they didn't make the Democrats pass this bill, but they didn't do anything constructive to ameliorate it either. Nor, in fact (if you are crowing about NOT voting) have you.”

“Sir, I appreciate your optimism. However, if the health bill passes as envisioned by the Senate (which is imminent), it will be decades before we can break free from the corporate yoke. That said, I would, in this instance, be very happy to be wrong.”

“One of the few times I've seen reference to Mussolini used in the correct context.”

“Down, boy!”

“Miles, you and Dr. Westen have put forth the most heart-breaking pieces since the Patriot Act. But I think we can boil everything down to these few words:

"We are screwed."”

“GRRRR MOMENT:

First, this may be "do or die" -- how sad is that? But it is a political victory with very short legs that does not resonant with the people.

Second, what would I have us do? WRITE A DECENT BILL! Like something that 70% of Americans wanted. And if the bill fails (if we must play politics), let the Republicans take the fall instead of the Democrats who surely will be judged utterly incapable of legislating effectively.

Sorry, luvobama; GRRRR MOMENT off.”

“That would be Cheney & 1/2... so technically there are three 1/2 people Leigh49 would like never to hear from again.”

“"oedipal Right" -- I like that; well said.”

“Yeah... I'm hearing you, flossophy. We should have given those big payoffs to Snowe and possibly even (*gulp*) Lindsey Graham. And we should have yanked the rug out from under Landrieu, Nelson and most of all Lieberman. Unfortunately, that would be playing checkers in a time of "chess" -- good title for a book, no? Checkers in a Time of Chess (like Love in the Time of Cholera). Of course, I understand that you would never advocate anything that would benefit the left, but when you have a point, you have a point.

Happy Holidays!”

“Thank you for straightening that out.”

“*gulp*

Though I guess it is historic when the federal government mandates that everyone buy a product provided by private corporations without cost oversight or real consumer protection. As you've said: It's a start... toward what should be of some concern to us all.”

“Everyone's a critic, especially when the truth is involved. FogBelter should get you a trophy for historical illiteracy.”

“Oh, you're too harsh, FogBelter! You know the Conservatives are never, ever, ever responsible for anythig -- they just break everything in the china shop and leave someone else with the broom and the check.”

“Yeah, like giving someone who names himself after the tyrant who sacked the cradle of democracy any credibility. Like that?”

“You are right AND wrong, sbvpav... this isn't about progressives and liberals, it's about what center America and independents PERCEIVE to be progressives and liberals.

Westen, from yesterday (his piece is still up and worth a read): "the average American is coming to believe that what they're seeing right now is 'liberalism,' and they don't like what they see."”

“That's pretty much what Drew Westen said yesterday: "...the average American is coming to believe that what they're seeing right now is 'liberalism,' and they don't like what they see."

I think most Americans understand that real reform might cost them something; what they won't accept is that a corporate give-away masquerading as reform will cost them more.”

“That was tongue-in-check, wasn't it, luvobama? Based on your moniker, I would cut you some slack -- as I would a person with a cold who uses up my Kleenex -- if you were defending Obama, but surely you can't mean to defend Rahm?! Perhaps I misinterpreted your comment.”

“I know... shocking.”

“Well, according to jcwtts1 on the comment boards yesterday, we're going to clean-up big time in the Senate: "We are going to win FL, MO, OH, NH. We are going to hold everywhere, and we are going to pick up NC, KY, and either LA or AZ or IA. That means we're going to be a 67 senate seats in 2011 so buck up and start giving money."

Even if that were true, how many more blue dogs and conservadems can we afford to elect before we simply become the Republican Party Very Slightly Left?”

“News like disappointing Xmas presents.

Insurance companies "can't engage in the... abuses that lead them to drop coverage right when you get sick or prevent you from getting health insurance because you've got a preexisting condition." Ignore the beaucoup rabbit holes down which coverage can vanish and the cold you had at 12 that puts you into an different and VERY EXPENSIVE risk group.

"Contrary to what you're hearing from a lot of opponents it's not adding to the debt." Why is this even a selling point -- we just spent $628 billlion for war toys; why should we have to beg for decent reform that would could less than $170 billion a year?

"...if you don't have health insurance, you are going to have now the option of getting it at a reasonable cost." Does that mean that if you've slipped under 400% of poverty level you can sleep soundly at night? Or does that mean that the insurance companies will grab that government subsidy and still hike their rates (AS THEY ARE SHAMELESSLY DOING NOW)?

The insurance companies just got a fleet of tasteful black Lincolns. And the banker who was afraid he might have to miss his mid-life crisis is just taking the bow from his Ferrarri. We all got socks which we may have to return or pay for five times over -- but isn't it the gift that counts? I'll have to ask the insurance companies.”

“Oh.... I remember this game! We were all playing it in 2008 whenever the polls didn't go our way.

Apologies, jcwtts1, but the polls are showing a hemorrhaging of independents and progressives. You are absolutely correct about how polls are skewed, but the sad truth is this: the Republican base is "fired up, ready to go" thanks to the fact that the GOP is learning how to manipulate their psychotic base, they may win some libertarian leaning independents because of the farkakte mandate, but disillusioned young voters, progressives and middle-class independents will stay home... which is to say, locally, they will bother to take a poll but not bother to show up at the polling booth.”

“With all due respect, Beatriz09, can you credibly refute any of the points in Dr. Westin's article? It's my belief that liberals are cheap dates -- ONE THING done well could have been this year's Yule Log. The issues Westin cites have been tremendous disappointments.”

“"You have very low expectations - but that doesn't mean the rest of us should have low expectations, too."

Wow, timmo, SPOT ON!”

“;-)”