elp37's Comments (35)

“Not only have the Democrats in the house, not held up the bill, they've thrown everything in the Republicans wanted.

The scariest so far - because no one has been talking about it - that about half of those the house bill extends coverage to (20,000,000) will be forced into Medicaid. That's right Medicaid - Not Medicare. And Medicaid has forced enrollment. Read the bill. The language says Mandatory Enrollment for all eligible.

Thus if you don't make more than 150% of the poverty rate - more than $25,000 per person - theoretically you can be auto-assigned a medicaid managed care plan and doctor : ) yippee

You know Medicaid is run by the private insurance industry - they are paid per person by the state for each enrollee. This was a gift to AHIP - and you won't hear one Republican complain.

Medicare - for - all (who choose it) is the only possible way to go. THe public option is an extension of Medicare. It is a single payer system. And it does have a chance at getting through both houses - still.

I agree with someone below about the Matthews/Steele interview - sarcasm? maybe - giving-in? probably not. Chris, is a gullible guy. He is often easily swayed - and then somehow over night seems to right himself.

Still, I did write him yesterday to say he'd not been prepared for Steele.”

“He announced on his website whitehouse.gov that he SOLD out - the day they changed the name from Health CARE Reform to Health Insurance Reform.”

“Hear Hear - I blasted the White House the day they changed the title on their website - From Health Care Reform to Health Insurance Reform.

But Medicare doesn't micromanage care. They don't create a panel of approved providers. They pay for ancillary treatments and have a whole division for alternative medical modalities. Of course what gets approved is still in-part being decided by bureaucrats - and you might want to consider - alternative risk groups.

Or come to Scotland, where every pence you spend is taxed (VAT), but then all care (Anthroposophic, Naturopathic, Tibetan...­) is paid for, covered. And the myth that you can't get it.. :D that's to keep the hordes from crossing the bridge to get it. I waited for 2 years to get surgery approved in NY - 2 weeks in Edinburgh (for the same). And 3 yrs hence Blue Cross and HHS are still billing me for the botched job - while they're trying to repair it for nothing here.”

“Look at history - SS, Medicare, CHIP - all started for the few and had to be changed to include more. What do you think the Insurance companies and their gofers (the Republican and Moderate Dems in Congress) what do you think they are terrified of? Why would they be fighting their hearts out for a few uninsured. If we get a public option - even a weak one (But Not Medicaid!!!) the rates will improve and the eligibility will open up.”

“The health insurance industry has no shame - they are in the business for one purpose: to be the middleman, to shave off a bit of every dime spent on medicine. And with the babyboom hitting 65 they are hellbent on getting the profits to be made on Medicare.

Medicare has been doing the exact same job - Administering Health Care Payments - since 1964. They don't have to advertise, Lobby, pay executive packages, bonuses, own golden towers in the sky. All Medicare has to do is employ a lot of people to stuff envelops to pay the bills.

If you can't figure out where the savings are going to come from, where the waste fraud and abuse already comes from, why Medicare (NOT Medicaid) for all uninsured is the obvious solution..­.. there is no hope. And don't forget - the recipient still pays premiums. Only they get something in return.

I worked for the NYC and one of the slimiest health insurance companies out there - during the Clinton/Vladik operation. They gave private health insurance companies the gift of Mandatory enrollment of Medicaid recipients. And in return the country got fleeced.

I'd rather go to prison than be forced to pay for private health insurance from companies that have been screwing us for decades and are the major reason why the system broke. How anyone could still be negotiating with them is beyond me. They have no shame.

In Short: No Public (Medicare-like) Option - No Mandatory Enrollment.”

“Agreed - He's in a tricky position. So let him play bad cop - and Reid take the credit. Just get it done. Someone asked what we'd get with a public option? That's easy (so long as they don't switch plan and try to force the uninsured into Medicaid):

A. You get access to doctors accepting Medicare. Across the country. No riders, no preexisting conditions, no caps, no "Sorry Even though we said we going to cover that, we've decided no to."

B. Health Insurance plans TODAY - Right Now - do not have providers to absorb the uninsured. Because they don't reimburse. Go to any worthy medical institution and ask which HI plans they accept. The good ones do NOT accept HI plans that don't reimburse.

C. Clinton privatized Medicaid in the 90ies - gave it to the States to contract it out to PRIVATE HI plans. It was supposed to encourage competition and lower costs. But the plans saw it as an opportunity to get billion dollar government contracts - without having to do a thing. They set up panels of providers that didn't exist, they enrolled everyone getting Medicaid - some without their knowledge. And the result was a threefold increase in cost - and a 10 fold increase in profit.”

“Signs need to read:

NO PUBLIC OPTION
NO MANDATORY BUY-IN

We should not be forced to buy health insurance from the same companies which have taken our money for years and denied us coverage, unless there is a public option. Freedom of Choice.”

“Now that I've stopped weeping, I can say thank you Michael - though I admit (after reading every other pundit's opinion) I wasn't expecting to hear my thoughts echoed by anyone anymore. Yours is the reasoning that struck me at once - after I confirmed it wasn't a joke. And it's a gift to hear my views validated - to be reminded, I'm not alone.”

“Please LoveLifeLaughter What photo are you referring to and what interview? I am trying to help Neda Soltani, have someone at the Daily Beast working on the story and need information. The photo of Neda Soltani (NOT Neda Agha-Soltan) was mistakenly used and she is currently in danger in Tehran. Please write me and let me know where you have seen the interview and what you are referring to in your comment.

See http://neda-soltan.blogspot.com”

“Matthew Alexander's information on interrogation is vital to the debate and should have greater circulation, i.e. I'd like to see him question Liz Cheney on Morning Joe.

I was somehow led to believe this article was going to give me an insight into Dick Cheney's motivation, what's behind the present Cheney media blitz. I thought that: through an interpretation of what Cheney is not saying - his omissions or out-right lies - we would be better able to understand him. And thus understand why we went to war in Iraq ----so we have a glimmer of hope that we (the US) don't fall for the same hype (war-cry) next time.

Some of us saw all of this: the lies, the rush to war without cause, from the beginning - albeit without evidence. What we've never been able to fathom is "How the rest didn't". Was it naivety, foolishness, callowness, fear? - what? We all grew up with the Boy Who Cried Wolf - yet just over a year ago we were on the verge of condoning a war with Iran.

I think we still must get to the bottom of this - despite the perils. Though I agree with Obama - that releasing the torture pictures would probably only advance the causes of al Qaida. I don't know how they wouldn't help us. Perhaps - if I understand Alexander correctly - we should prosecute Cheney. Now that's a slam dunk! He's already confessed, so we wouldn't have to prosecute lesserlings”

“yo hold up there Monica, my pockets are empty”

“the story was old on june 6th - the day after it was sealed - but no one seems to get that
there's no choice here - there's no maybe
but it sure gives everyone a feeling of "participation"”

“Oh Please!!! this was a done deal June 5 2008 - between 9 and 10 pm - period. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Heaven help me I wish I were.”

“All I really mean is - why bother talking about something that's been in the bag for months?”

“What I can't figure out is why hasn't anyone asked if this wasn't all decided already on June 5th around 9pm. When Hillary and Obama met at Diane Feinstein's it was around the time of Hillary's concession and before Obama named his running mate. Certainly he asked her what it would take for her to lay down arms, call a truce and back him. Certainly, whatever she asked him for was granted. She wasn't miffed when he didn't announce her as VP choice - she seemed quite aware that he couldn't be seen as having chosen her because he had to - rather than because he wanted to. Does anyone honestly think Hillary left that meeting without some concrete assurance she would be rewarded? Take a look at the photos following that meeting. Take a look at the photos of Hillary the day the leak about Secretary of State came out. Ring any bells? Why did she seem to respond - in so many ways - as if she had already known? Isn't it likely that Obama had to play as if this was a new idea and that she was not the only choice? Didn't Bill respond surprisingly quickly to allow to be vetted? How can anyone say they hadn't already sealed this deal 5.5 months ago?”

“What is all the hype - what's all the fuss about?

Isn't it public knowledge that Hillary got the Secretary of State deal on June 5th 2008 at Diane Feinstein's - the secret meeting? We know she got something - we know she came out of that meeting smiling like a Cheshire cat. We know she wouldn't have thrown her support behind Obama if she didn't get what she wanted - and we know that she didn't give a hoot when Obama selected Biden as VP.

If Hillary had not been satisfied at that June evening meeting, she would have been the ultimate spoiler; would have gone to work for McCain. Just ask Diane Feinstein if it isn't true. She knows.

So Obama has clay feet - but can you blame him? What would you have done on that fateful day, had Clinton said to you, "Barack, give me Secretary of State or you'll never see the inside of 1600."? Hmmn?”

“Everything I've read and thought is expressed here. Except 1: after wrestling with "why, why, why" for days I come to only one possible thought - and it's a frightening one. Is it possible this was arranged in July? Is it possible that Obama sold his soul at that famous secret - not so - meeting at the home of Sen. Dianne Feinstein on June 5th at 9PM? Remember she came out smiling - everyone speculating she'd been offered VP? And she wasn't unhappy when she didn't get VP? And she seemed to already know about the offer of Secretary of State before she went to Chicago - that knowing smile (smirk) of hers as she got off the plane, as she met staffers? Hmmmn? Maybe the vetting of Mister will dunk the deal - but otherwise - how can Obama go back on his word - if that was the word he used to get Hillary to relinquish her quest for the nomination? And what now? If he were to back out of it, would she make a public stink? Could she say, "But he promised me and he lied!"? Poor Barack - I'm very sorry for this.”

“I meant to end the previous comment with -

Your case (if there is to be one) should be tried - not on earth - but in "SECOND LIFE".

- but my mike got cut off.”

“Charles -
I didn't pay a lot of attention to this during the campaign - sorry.
And another apology - I couldn't read the whole post - just too long.

BUT I offer you this.
First: Sorry you lost your job and all - but you missed a great opportunity. Or maybe it's not too late....

Namely: "Joe the Plumber" doesn't really exist.

There was only a fictitious character created to help John and Sarah hold on, during the last few weeks of their campaign.

The character - "Joe the Plumber" - was a bogus - disingenuous - alienating - fear mongering lime-light seeking, Joe Six-Pack dumb American kind-a-guy, who was supposed to be the "Average Joe" - a guy who might vote for Sarah Palin.

The character was played by a 2 bit actor called Sam Wulzbacher. And the media and dumb "Americans" ate it up.

Why don't you defend yourself honestly?

Why the hell don't you tell it like it is?

Why can't you simply say you wanted this character to die - to end - to stop being used to further reduce the intelligence of all?

Charles, please tell your attackers: that John McCain should have been truthful and should have told the flocks that "Joe" is imaginary. Joe Wulzbacher got paid well - and he got what he wanted - in their pseudo American dream -- his 1,000,015 minutes of fame and lots of contracts tuboot.

How can a fictitious character sue you? The court case”

“I have been wrestling over this issue since the first time I heard Ayes mentioned, did my own research and was quite interested in why he was so well respected.

But what has discouraged me is whether following this line of inquiry at this time would do Obama a lick of good. There's such complexity and inbeddedness of the players.

Look - you have McCain, whose shingle says "I'm a Vietnam POW" and Ayres, who gave up everything to fight an illegal war. And you have a young upstart intellectual, who criticizes the present day war...

And the next thing you know Palin is accusing Biden of hanging out the "white flag of surrender".

Then the economy tanks, McCain's ship is sinking - his only tactic is no longer meaningful. Still, McCain is of a generation, who have a terrible time admitting error or changing course.

Wasn't there a way to somehow interweave past; Vietnam hero, war protester terrorist - with a fear for our future - communist terrorist president?

I wasted time wondering if McCain was trying to redeem Vietnam. It doesn't matter. But it's how he has gotten to where he is. So I think he fears letting it go.

I do believe if Ayres hadn't conveniently shown up McCain would have had to invent him.

We grandstand about educating people around the world, in order to promote democracy, while following a policy of dumbing-down our own citizens to control election outcomes. You can't have it both ways.”

“Same thing I said over yonder:

If poor Joe, hadn't had that little devilish desire to get on TV; if he hadn't made up that bongo story and posed a false question to Obama there wouldn't have been a mythical tale for McCain to latch on to.

But Joe lied. He told a whopper. And McCain got wind of it. And he ate it up. And poor John McCain lept before he looked - AGAIN.

John went out of his way to center his final chance - his one last shot - in the 11th hour - on a cardboard, hypothetical, gotcha question - which went terribly wrong.

Seems McCain vetted Joe and his "question" as thoroughly as he vetted his running mate. The risks of being a maverick ~ I guess.

I have no pity for Joe - whether he is aspiring to the American dream or not. If you make up stuff to get on TV - don't whine and be offended if it goes wrong.

McCain has to take responsibility for his actions. It's trigger-happiness. It's those gnarly decisions - like choosing Palin, or choosing the uber-base, or choosing to run a smear campaign, or choosing to put all his nuts in Joe's toilet. I guess that's what turned Powell off.”

“If poor Joe - Sam - whoever, hadn't had that little devilish desire to get on TV, by making up some bongo story and posing a false question to Obama - I mean he had to invent himself to make his point, that Obama would be bad for America - well if he hadn't told those little white lies, Obama wouldn't have had anything to say to the fellow, except vote for me, you'll be much better off with my tax plan.

Oh, but Joe lied, and McCain got wind of it. And he ate up the story too - and poor John McCain went out of his way to center his final chance - his one last shot - to take back the reigns of victory from Barack in the 11th hour - completely unaware that ole Joe was a cardboard hypothetical - a gotcha question gone terribly wrong.

McCain vetted Joe and Joe's argument as thoroughly as he vetting his running mate. Poor guy keeps putting his foot in it. The risks of being a maverick ~ I guess.

On the positive side ~ If McCain loses he can blame Joe.”

“Could someone tally how many talk show hosts at fox are fallen "public servants", criminals or or otherwise folks who've been disgraced?

Isn't Miller joining the ranks of Rove and North? Who else I'm curious.”

“She keeps asking, "if you will? if you will?" Why on earth doesn't anyone tell her - no thanks, I will not, Nancy. Nuntaha"

I'm so very tired of this feeling that I'm Anti-American, not pro-American if I vote for Obama. I've been so very disheartened for sooo long - figuring that most of "America" wouldn't even allow Barack to get this far.

I'm still quaking in my boots. Still need to be convinced.

If he wins and makes it to the inauguration then and only then will my faith in America be restored. I long to be pro-American. But I'm ashamed of a country that spouts racism and bigotry and can't admit that this man is unique and by all accounts (thinking men and women of both parties) a once in a life time presidential candidate.”

“Is the implication that anyone who supports Barack Obama Un-American? Would that mean that most Americans are Un-American? Is it not Un-American to deny people the right to choose? Is it not unpatriotic to slander and lie about a freely elected official. Aren't we to interpret that most Americans are not American or should not have a voice? Why do we keep taking this trash?”