NoDrama's Comments (38)

“Humana has been contacting enrollees in one or more of its plans and alleging that current health care reform legislation affecting Medicare could hurt "millions of seniors and disabled individuals [who] could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare advantage health plans so valuable." The message makes several other claims about the legislation and how it will be detrimental to enrollees.­..

It's the equivalent of not just shouting fire in a dark, crowded theater, (which even an individual cannot do) but of flashing a warning to that effect on the screen for the express purpose of causing panic. Any kindergartner can tell you that such an action is unambiguously wrong. But there's more to it, frankly: misinformation is being used to distort the debate. That is a disservice to us all - well, all of us except those who profit from the current system, of course.”

“This is another chapter in the story of reform, of visible proponents who refuse to sit down and shut up. The entrenched interests claim it will cost too much to change; they want everybody to forget the cost of doing nothing is far, far greater.

The President had mobilized a vast network to spread his message during the campaign, and the voters mandated change. While the process and tactics have changed, the people who were adamant about changing DC haven’t fallen silent.

Obama told us one voice can change a room. When that room is within the U.S. Capitol, the changes that follow can be very sweeping indeed. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2009/09/22/when-max-baucus-speaks-people-listen/”

“If congress controlled plumbing, we'd still have outhouses, but universal health care was written into the Iraqi constitution - with OUR help!

What's wrong with this picture? Why are we even debating?”

“The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll last month revealed that misinformation is rampant, and that misunderstanding is inhibiting the sort of informed debate which a thriving democracy needs. It's unfortunate enough expressed in those terms, but when you factor in that there are those deliberately obfuscating it becomes clear that their behaviors are nothing less than a travesty for democracy.
http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/misinformation-distorts-debate”

“What I want is to get insurance profiteers out of the payment system. I'm fine with anybody who thinks that's the best way sticking with their current plan, but let me choose a system where the motive isn't about CEO bonuses and budgets to pay for lobbyists coming out of MY HEALH CARE INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

It's time to peel back the rhetoric, to get past the sound-bites and the spin-mongering "pundits" -- to stop pretending this is about death panels or a way to cover illegal immigrants, and find a way to preserve our American way of life by insuring that every citizen can afford decent medical care as needed. http://actualizers.blogspot.com/2009/08/have-town-halls-jumped-shark.html”

“Brilliant comparison.

The problem is there's really no incentive in the current model for the insurance companies to control health care costs - the more prices rise the more the insurance company can justify raising insurance premiums, while we all know they game the system to kick out the high risk people.

If I'm in a car accident, that insurance pays for what happened, even if I am so banged up I can no longer drive and stop paying premiums. As long as the policy was in effect on the day it happened, everything else that results from that accident is covered.

Health insurance, though, is obviously not that useful, or structured to protect us. It's a way to distribute the payments for the healthy. The insurance companies are effectively profiteering; they're skimming lots of money off the top while creating paperwork that has led to Duke Medical having more billing clerks than they do nurses.

So, free-market has its place, but either it's not working properly in the case of health insurance companies, or it's not the right solution. Costs have soared faster than inflation for over three decades, while nearly 1 in 6 Americans is uninsured - and that number grows by over 10,000 every day. What's the leading cause of personal bankruptcy filings? Medical costs are.

Time for a change.”

“I think this situation put folks in a position where they felt compelled to justify a decision, a sort of "how do we save face" situation bound to draw a lot of attention to their institution.

There's a time for ad-libbing, but authoritative policy statements should not be pulled out of...um... well, they should be the product of reasoned debate and discussion. Academic institutions are often as deliberative as the Congress, and I'd expect the faculty at ASU to be intent on avoiding a repeat of this.”

“Great reporting again, Dawn. Having spent 15 years working in higher ed I have no trouble believing the poor communication - in fact, the most incredible pair of facts are

1) that under the circumstances the honorary degrees folks there didn't immediately convene a meeting to discuss this and find an expedited approach, and

2) that the PR on day one was so defensive - somebody needs to learn to say "This caught me a bit by surprise, let me check and get an answer on this for you" instead of ad-libbing a response that's going to haunt their career.

I'm impressed that you stuck with it to uncover what's actually happening.”

“ASU has serious egg on its collective face.

Thanks for your ongoing reporting, Dawn. This story continues to amaze.”

“Nobody is surprised that certain Republican state Governors have been posturing for the pundits to distance themselves from the economic stimulus which is becoming firmly associated with Obama and the Democratic party.

President Bush and his administration knew that even though many of the Republican Senators and Representatives elected in November were distancing themselves from various Bush policy fiascos, yet they understood that if it was left for Obama and his new team to start the fix the GOP reputation would be stained for years - possibly decades.

Today the GOP has signalled they have no interest in spending on Education, Heatlh Care, or the energy independence which were themes during the election. The overdue budget counterproposal numbers revealed today by Paul Ryan (R-WI) show they just want taxes cut on wealthy Americans while they make money off Defense spending - evidently the sacred cow of the Republican campaign finance machine.

How soon they forget. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/how-soon-they-forget/”

“Well they have to back off touting Tim Pawlenty, evidently, despite the fact that before we all learned about Sarah Palin he looked like McCain's running mate. He got elected on "no new taxes" promptly cut spending, hid some revenue increases as "fees" and "tuition increases" and still doubled MN's deficit... he admitted to Judy Woodruff that MN (like any other government) needs cash to operate.
http://realitytax.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/economic-recovery-facts-for-dc-to-factor-in/”

“Great to see somebody reporting on both sides, Dawn, thanks for the article! We've got a long way to go, but one thing is certain: Obama's gotten people engaged in the conversation, and energized even if they HOPE he fails.”

“Always telling it like it is, Dawn. McCain's rhetoric shows signs of strain, too. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/mccains-curious-anti-government-rhetoric/ It's far too soon to call the election, but the TV spot this evening was powerful, and I hope that most voters will realize that this is a man who wants to matter, who wants to rekindle the American dream, who will work tirelessly for the greater good of the entire country.

Thanks for all your posts. You and Linda Hansen keep me coming back.

OK, I admit, I read Bill Maher, too.”

“Recalling McCain's promise to run an honorable and respectful campaign, one can only wonder if he was deliberately misleading or lacked the strength of character to enforce his will upon his party and campaign staff.”

“In 2000 McCain seemed like a reasonable guy; I was chagrined when he made way for Bush during the primaries. He's been aimed at this moment, at this race, ever since, avoiding votes he might be tagged with, playing along with the Bush administration to woo support from that "wing" of the GOP.

They can neither fathom nor accept the nuanced views on choice that Obama has espoused.

I've been watching Obama only four years. As a fiscally conservative middle-aged white guy from Minnesota I'm solidly supporting his campaign and NOT objective.

I marvel at McCain's theory of letting the insurance industry follow the course of Wall Street while his expressed solution to 11 million individual mortgages in jeopardy is to create a new federal department to buy them, renegotiate, etc. despite claiming that government oversight is inherently problematic.

Most of what he says, and does, is based on momentary political expedience, and largely a smoke-screen to keep attention and coverage off bigger issues. Attacks about earmarks and overhead projectors, http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/10/17/how-big-an-issue-is-earmark-use/ claims Claiming he's an anti-Bush maverick, or jumping on the bi-annual ACORN hunt http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/10/john-mccain-was-for-acorn-before-he-was.html are ploys.

Contrasting McCain's actions with Obama's: McCain wants to win; Obama's goal is to matter. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/obama-is-the-better-choice-for-senior-citizens/”

“How ironic that it was McCain speaking about Immigration reform as the keynote speaker at an ACORN rally in 2006, but now that it seems politically expedient he's jumped on the bi-annual GOP ACORN-hunt. http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/10/john-mccain-was-for-acorn-before-he-was.html”

“Spot on as usual, Linda.

I thought McCain might be bringing it back from the brink Friday in Lakeville, but now it's obviously a case of mixed messages, which is about as old school as it gets. His last chance to burnish his legacy is Wednesday night, and as of now I'm not optimistic.”

“Tonight in Lakeville, MN, McCain finally seemed to realize he couldn't let it continue. It was about time for him to depart from his advisors, they are the ones who got him into the predicament he's in, seriously trailing in the polls despite picking Palin and using phrases such as "That one!" To stay on the same plan would have been the end of his influence in DC, conduct unbecoming of a U.S. Senator (let alone a former Navy officer,) and the antithesis of leadership.

Sure, some vocal folks on the far right are going to howl, just as some extremists on the left will continue their over-the-top nonsense, but if McCain didn't want to go down in history as a man advised into utter foolishness he had to act to reset his rhetoric and reclaim his campaign. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/final-month-can-mccain-regain-control-of-his-campaign-or-will-attacks-reign/”

“Exactly so. She didn't win in the traditional sense, the short answer format helped her keep Biden from exploring the "lowering taxes hasn't created jobs under Bush" point, but she clearly didn't flop, either.
http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/palin-dodges-a-bullet/”

“There are two kinds of people in the world, those who create positive energy and changes, and those who are more interested in tearing others down. I prefer to be one of the former, and it's clear to me that of the two candidates Obama is of the same mindset.

Will he get everything he wants to accomplish done? Probably not, but he'll move us in a better direction. We face a plethora of choices, but we have gone badly astray trusting the administration currently in power to act in our best interests since September 11, 2001. Senator McCain, with all due respect, has judged those plans mostly harmonious with his world-view. Senator Obama has respectfully suggested another course time and time again.

I'm a fiscal conservative, I have voted for members of both parties over the years, and I am all in for Obama this time. He demonstrates vision AND integrity, which his opponent..­. well, let's say he's not as impressive.”

“The Republicans ran more effective campaigns in 2000 and 2004. They are adept at campaigning, and despite awareness of the tactics, adopting Rove's guidelines remains an effective, albeit eristic, tool for them.

But Palin's performance was based on a speech she didn't write. The GOP had one prepared, as you've probably heard/read elsewhere, but determined it was too macho and determined they had to start over from scratch on short notice when Palin was named.

So while the defense is well-orchestrated - and one would expect nothing less - the fact is it leaves most if not all of the real questions not merely unanswered, but unaddressed. None of the words were Palin's choice: the content reflects nothing but GOP talking points, and while Ms. Palin delivered them creditably she adopted the role of a talking head, revealing to neither the media nor the voters anything beyond her ability to handle somebody else's prepared rhetoric.”

“With no national experience and virtually no evidence of foreign policy expertise, I find it incredible that McCain would pander to female voters and select somebody who is not even close to ready to step in if something should befall the President. If Obama's legislative experience and international background coupled with time in the U.S. Senate were considered inadequate by McCain and/or his advisors, how are we to accept a self-proclaimed hockey mom as a potential Commander in Chief?

Judgment? Choosing Palin is naked, pandering hypocrisy. We tried a pretty face with George Bush, voters expect and deserve more this time.

The claims she's fought big oil ring hollow since she's in favor of drilling in one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of her home state.

McCain may have had it goin' on in 2000, but we're not ready for this sort of gamble when the international situation is as complex as it is. It's a shame he's so desperate to convince people he's not a sexist that he had to pick a pretty woman to drive home the point.”

“That didn't work during Viet Nam, the quality of the military was demonstrably low - and improved by all measures and accounts when the draft ended (the year AFTER my birth -cadre was in the lottery.) But McCain can't be touting "One spouse, One house!" as his values, so I suppose it's go hawkish to keep control of the narrative for one or two news-cycles as the DNC in Denver looms.”

“I don't think there's anything to be gained. NBC and the NY Times are covering the story fairly objectively, as is the blogoverse. Anybody who's paying attention knows McCain cheated, and they won't be MORE likely to chastise him just because of partisan attacks. The shrill denials from GOP stalwarts aren't having any real influence, after all.

Instead, we are left to wonder why a man running such a professional campaign felt compelled to resort to underhanded tactics. Was it McCain or his staff that doubted he could present himself well in an interview with Warren? Either way, that lack of confidence is likely to be more telling to undecided voters than anything the Democrats can pin on him.
http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/08/18/was-saddleback-rigged-or-did-mccain-initiative-circumvent-the-cone-of-silence/”

“It's all too clear: commercial media rely on advertising revenues, which in turn rely on ratings. For them, calling McCain out is a conflict of interest: it hurts their bottom line. This is not rocket science, just follow the money. http://obamesque.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/conflict-of-interest-follow-the-money/”