jazzman's Comments (3777)

“It's about controlling reproduction by subjugating women so that the seed men fill them with will come to fruition ensuring progeny for the male of the species. You can dress it up in all the religious hullabaloo you want to but when you get down to it, it's as primitive as the cave man and his club.”

“I agree Bill. Now tell us how we get Nelson on board and still protect womens' rights by not letting the government get between her and her doctor and we'll be close to getting this passed.”

“A theology professor once said to our class that the world needs voices that will say 'yes' in the world of 'no' and 'no' in the world of 'yes.'

As a shoddy faux health care reform bill moves its way to passage in a world of political calculus where everyone fromt he President down to Reid are whittling away the effectiveness of the bill to get their 'yes,' there stands Dean with his voice saying, 'no.' Historically, It's the voice of John the Baptist. It's the voice of Samuel Beckett. It's the voice of Jeremiah. It's of Amos. It's the voice of Isaiah. It's the voice of Martin Luther and Martin Luther King. It's even the voice of Jiminy Cricket. It's called the voice of conscience.

Our President, as decent of a fellow as he is, has lost his way. He has not become strong and, determined to win with key principles still intact. He has allowed the corrupt, petty, and narcisstic Joe Lieberman to upend what is best for the people. He has even thanked Joe while sending surrogates to attack Howard Dean. However, we need Dr. Dean because we now need to hear the conscience that speaks the word 'no' in the world of 'yes.'”

“So its way out of line, below the belt, and inappropriate to use the President's mother as a case study on how the present Senate bill would impact someone in Dunham's position but it was alright for the President to use the same case study for garnering support for the health care reform he was promoting.

I guess I don't get it. If you use a case study or story to support your position than why is it below the belt for an analyst to examine that case and see how it holds up under the proposed solution?”

“Gloomy picture for America: Do-nothing, tax cutting, war mongering, callous, coporatized to the max, Republicans back in power along with their bigotry, hatred, and meaness.”

“Jobless claims are another topic. It is counterproductive to juxtapose this with the health care debate but since you've done it let's realize that one reason that pay is down and jobs are cut is because it is becoming too expensive for companies to provide health care and stay profitable, competitive, and viable. so if you want jobs, work for health care reform.

Then let's get a jobs bill together and get our banks lending again. Additionally, let's create a green economy so that we have something new to build. That always creates more jobs.”

“I'm with Krugman. We must and should pass this bill even with all of its flaws. There are many good things in the bill, things that are needed to make our health care system better. There are deep flaws in this bill, things that will come back to haunt the President and the Democrats but it is a step forward.

What we are all suffering from right now is the realization that our Congress is so compromised and narcissitic that it cannot rise to overcome its own egos or corporatization. In the past a LIeberman or a Nelson could be persuaded to work for the public good inspite of pressure from special interests or their own personal vendettas against 'libruls' and Yale professors they don't like but not today. Lieberman is a member of the self-indulgent 'me' generation as is Nelson. However, that's the reality of our situation. So we must ask, what can we do given what our Congress is now.

Then in the future we need to change our values and elect officials who realize that they are in office to serve the people and that a nation does not live bread alone but from the spirit of care and service its people offer one another as well.”

“So raping women and getting away with it is OK by you.”

“It was worth the wait to get Senator Franken on board on the basis of this one amendment alone. In one amendment this Senator has done more to protect women and curb the abusive practices of contractors than all of the rest of government has done in the past 8 years. Bravo Senator Franken. You are no longer a comedian but have emerged as one of our most ethical, intelligent, and thoughtful Senators. Minnesota should be proud today!!”

“This is a dark week in the life of the Democratic Party. Obama has decided that Joe Lieberman and Olympia Snowe are more important than the rest of the Democratic caucus. Rahm has muscled main stream democrats and coddled the blue dogs and conservative Dems on the right. However, the Howard Beal voice is now finding traction as the straw that broke the camels back, Lieberman's demands, have taken over the health care bill. So now Dems are stepping forward "We are mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore." They are also placing the responsiblity where it belongs, on the administration of Barack Obama.”

“He seceded from the race.”

“She governed Alaska and all of its 500,000 citizens who live off of government dole until she quit.”

“I have sporadically been suspicious of Obama's positions on health care. I could never quite buy that his public statements in support of a public option amounted to any real support for it. I sensed a certain amount of disingeniousness in words like 'prefer' and 'important but not essential.' In the addition-subtraction column of who was being forced to give up what, it turns out that it was always the progressives that were being brow beaten by Rahm Emanuel while the blue dogs and conservatives were coddled.

I think the evidence is in front of us that Obama believes that he can do some good things, although miniscule, through allowing the system to remain as it is. Thus there will be no 'new' introduced in any of his initiatives. He won't regulate Wall Street. He'll just persuade Wall Street to be friendlier and nicer. He won't unlock the stranglehold private insurance companies have on our health care system, he'll just get them to be more humane in their practices. Perhaps it will all work, however I suspect that human nature being what it is, things are not going to get better and if they do they'll revert back to the way they were. Then we'll await a real reformer in the FDR mode to get this nation moving again or follow the other path that occurs in many countries during economic downtimes; elect a demagogue and dictator.”

“It's one thing to say 'yes'. It's another thing to prove it. Gibbs needs to site examples. Even at that, without a public option or a medicare option and with mandates that would put a strain on families of modest incomes to purchase private insurance that gouge consumers, denies care, and keeps raising their rates, even with subsidies, this health care reform is a dog.

I can accept that health care reform cannot be perfect in one bill and will have to be improved over time but the total gutting of this bill to please one Senator is unacceptable. I'm afraid Dean is correct. Tomorrow, I call my Senator and for the first time I will be telling her not to support the bill in its compromised form. It's a complete switch from what I have advocated in the past but I can not accept what has happened to this legislation in the past few weeks.”

“Obama is desperate. He doesn't know what abuse it if he thinks this bill corrects it. He doesn't know what affordable is if he thinks most people can afford it. He doesn't know what pain it will cause if people are forced into the clutches of the most abusive industry in America.

Washington is strangely out of tune with what is going on in America and President Obama has climbed up to the top of the heap in this regard.”

“Today Obama stated that not everyone is going to get every single item they want in the bill. Hey Obama try, "Nothing that they wanted in the bill." That's what we progressives have gotten.

Single Payer - No
Public Option - No
Pared Down Public Option - No
Repeal of antitrust exemption - No
15% cap on profits - No
Medicare extended to 55 and older - No

This bill is now a loser. It will mandate people to buy insurance from private insurers who are focused on profits not care, there are no cost controls, and no competition. This bill has everything the private health insurance wants and fixes nothing that has angered and ailed the public for so long.

I'm sorry but for me the bill is Lose - Win. For the health insurance industry and Wall Street it's a Win - Lose. I say it's time to kill the bill.”

“It doesn't have a chance.”

“Joe, Integrity is doing what you say you are going to do. Three months ago you proposed a Medicare buy in option as a substitute for the public option. When the Senate compromised and gave you what you said you wanted, you flip flopped and said you wouldn't support it. That is called a lack of integrity.

Weiner has integrity. You don't.

I blame you and will never respect or trust you again and if you decide to run again in Connecticut, I'm going to work for your opponent.”

“Bankers don't do nice. If there are no consequences for them behaving the way they do, they will not change. This is an administration that exacts no discipline, no consequences, and no accountability.

In the end the Wall Street bankstas will take home their big bonuses. Meanwhile, Lieberman will retain his committee chairmanships as health care crashes.

It's called leadership without teeth. In the end it doesn't work.”

“With a heavy heart, I agree with the 'kill the bill' sentiment. We have the worst of all worlds. We are forcing people to buy insurance, we have no cost controls, no real competition, and we are subjecting people to the for profit health care system that has been abusive in its strategy of bringing ever increasing profits to shareholders by hassling people and denying care whenever possible. This reform is no longer worth doing. It's not what America wants or needs.”

“True Liberty... maybe. Truth Liberty...not a chance.”

“I'm JOE LIEBERMAN. Look at me!! Notice me!! Give me attention!! Talk to me!! Pay attention to me!! It's all about ME. ME ME ME ME ME. See me! Smell me! Call me! Plead with me! ME ME ME ME ME.
I'm JOE LIEBERMAN.

NOTICE ME PLEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZEEEEEE!!”

“Expect Lieberman to filibuster”

“I applaud this legislation. The spike in volume is a real irritation and it causes me to just turn off the TV so it's counterproductive in my home.”

“"Please Mr. Banker. Please lend. Please, please, please, please. We were there for you when you need us so won't you help us out? Please, please please."

"You'll have to excuse me Mr. President. I've got my plane waiting for me at the airport. My wife and I are on the way to Monte Carlo to spend some of that bonus money you gave us. Came in handy this Christmas. Thanks, and tell Mr. Summers thanks too."

"Oh, about those loans? I'll talk to my board about it when I get back. Merry Christmas, President. Give my best to Michelle and the kids too."”