REPUBLICAN REDEFINED » DOMESTIC ISSUES

Judge Strikes Down Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

T. CHRISTOPHER — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:52:21 +0000

US District Judge Susan Bolton has struck down portions of the Arizona Illegal Immigration statute; suspending some of its enforcement capability and reserving judgment in part for a later date. She issued a temporary injunction for the most controversial parts of the statute leading most prognosticators to believe she will eventually strike down the statute in toto.

Via Yahoo News

A federal judge dealt a serious rebuke to Arizona’simmigration law on Wednesday when she put most of the crackdown on hold just hours before it was to take effect.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton sets up a lengthy legal battle as Arizona fights to enact the nation’s toughest-in-the-nation law. Republican Gov. Jan Brewer said the state likely appeal the ruling and seek to get the judge’s order overturned.

But for now, opponents of the law have prevailed: The provisions that angered opponents will not take effect, including sections that required officers to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws.

The judge also delayed parts of the law that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and made it illegal for undocumented workers to solicit employment in public places — a move aimed at day laborers. In addition, the judge blocked officers from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants.

“Requiring Arizona law enforcement officials and agencies to determine the immigration status of every person who is arrested burdens lawfully-present aliens because their liberty will be restricted while their status is checked,” Bolton, a Clinton appointee, said in her decision.

______________________________________________________

A little commentary from Ed Morrissey at HotAir

A temporary injunction gets put into place when a judge thinks that a court review has some likelihood of overturning a law in a full hearing. That doesn’t amount to a decision on the merits, but it does indicate that Bolton thinks the Department of Justice can make a case for blocking the law.

What will be interesting will be to see whether this impacts public opinion. The Obama administration has taken a beating in the polls on this issue, with poll after poll showing majorities of Americans supporting the Arizona law. A temporary injunction on portions of the bill may get some people rethinking the issue, but I’d be surprised if there was any substantial movement. If a judge later rules against the law after a full hearing, it might change feelings about the law specifically, but probably not about enforcement.

A little more kickback from around the web via Memeorandum...

Politics Daily, Michelle Malkin, Washington Monthly, TalkLeft, MyDD, Weekly Standard, Hotline On Call, Wall Street Journal, The Corner on National … and Gateway Pundit

The Virally Forwarded Threat Against Chris Christie

T. CHRISTOPHER — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:30:35 +0000

Source: Getty Images

For those of you unfamiliar with New Jersey politics or New Jersey as a general matter, you should probably know that when things get “testy” they often get nasty. Subtleties tend to get passed over and debate turns rather quickly to outright arguing. Call it a cultural thing or just call it Jersey. Nevertheless, folks there mean business and when that business is political, no holds are barred.

Relatively newly elected Governor Chris Christie has found this out the hard way, yet I have no doubt that he knew what was coming. He campaigned on the promise of making more enemies than friends and he is certainly living up to that promise. One of his first acts as Governor was to tackle the problem of a growing drag on the state’s budget – teachers’ salaries and pension programs that threaten to bankrupt the state.

I have followed this story, but have yet to write on it. If you want to read more, check out these sites. Both of these fine individuals have some skin in the game and have covered it from the “getgo.”

RUSS AT THAT’S RIGHT

Follow-Up To: Chris Christie Challenges the Bloodsucking Teacher’s Union

New Jersey Teachers Union to Taxpayers: Pound Sand

“Never trust a fat f***”

Locking in the Permanent Union Lobby

Take THAT New York

THE WYBLOG

Gov. Christie urges voters to reject the school budgets

Gov. Christie tightens the screws on the teachers union

Chris Christie throws down the gauntlet with the NJEA

Is Governor Christie’s fiscal responsibility contagious?

Gov. Christie proposes freezing teacher pay

NJEA fears Chris Christie, spreads misinformation

My reason for deciding to comment on the matter at this late hour is not to chime in to offer my two cents on the debate. I fully support Christie’s efforts and I think he is doing saintly work attempting to challenge generational / institutional problems in a state very much in need of such an undertaking. I write merely to share with all of you a heated little exchange between two of my favorite bloggers. If you are a regular reader around here, you probably know that I link HotAir’s Ed Morrissey on a daily basis and as you can see from above, Russ at That’s Right is a daily read/link as well.

In perusing both their sites recently, I stumbled upon a little disagreement between the two conservative bloggers regarding alleged “threats” made against the New Jersey Governor. The “threats” emerged in a memo distributed between and amongst individuals associated with teachers’ unions and other organizations opposing Christie’s efforts.

Here’s the memo at the root of the “controversy”…
The Record of Bergen County obtained the Bergen County Education Association memo…

“Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor.”

A Threat? Or a Joke? You decide?

This was Morrissey’s reaction to the Christie camp taking this “threat” seriously.

The silliness over “threats” from political rhetoric may have peaked today, and this time it looks like conservatives are in danger of becoming shrieking hysterics. The Bergen County teachers union offered a “prayer” in a memo that asked the Lord to call New Jersey Governor Chris Christie home to his reward. Some will offer this as a tu quoque, but that’s as much of a joke as the prayer itself:

Here’s the line that Russ took umbrage with…
“Puh-leeze. It’s obviously a joke. Heck, it’s even structured as one. It may not be particularly funny, and it may be entirely tasteless. But no one can read that and honestly argue that it amounts to a threat, or even a serious wish for Christie to meet an untimely death.”

Here’s Russ’s Take…

Uh, excuse me? Who the hell are you to tell anyone that this isn’t a “serious wish”. It most certainly is. Just because Ed Morrissey thinks it’s not a serious wish, doesn’t make it so dear readers.

I can assure you that this is absolutely a serious wish.

It’s not a “threat”, mind you, but the only reasonable interpretation of this sentiment is that yes, every single NJEA official in the State of New Jersey wishes Chris Christie was dead. There’s literally no two ways about it.

Ed lives in Minnesota. I don’t know how they do things there and I wouldn’t pretend to know how to interpret a similar situation if it happened in Minneapolis, but there isn’t even a shred of doubt in my mind that this “prayer” is absolutely a weak comical pronouncement of exactly how the union feels about Chris Christie. They would be much, much happier if he were no longer alive.

So do me a favor Ed, shut up. This is a battle for the very survival of New Jersey and the teachers union is fighting it with biological weapons. When they write emails to each other and their members wishing death on Governor Christie, they mean it. It’s not a “joke”. It’s not a “threat” either, but it is nonetheless deadly serious.

This dust-up caught my eye for two reasons. The first being I like a nice little blog war from time to time and I certainly appreciate it when one of us “little guys” is willing to challenge a big dog like Morrissey at HotAir. The second reason is that I felt like I had seen this “memo” somewhere before and couldn’t get my head around where or when. After thinking about the matter for a few days, I received a clue in the form of an email. It was a meaningless forwarded email sent to me from a friend who sends me anything – and I mean ANYTHING – he receives that even remotely has a political tilt. Immediately I remembered where I had seen this “threat” before.

It came to me – from my conservative friend – in the form of an email – and it looked something like this….

Nuff said. I get the passion Russ. I understand that its Jersey not Minnesota or even California, but this was a joke my friend. End of story.

Day One: The Long Road Ahead for the GOP

T. CHRISTOPHER — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:52:39 +0000

(March 21, 2010 - Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images North America)

Many Americans rose eagerly from their beds this morning to turn on their morning news programs to see if there was word on the health care reform standoff that they likely spent their Sunday tuned in to. For many of those Americans, their morning likely brought them a bitter cup of coffee – yet one they undoubtedly were prepared for – even before they took their first sip. The events of the last few weeks made the bill’s passage an unfortunate inevitability that teetered only on the questions of when and how. Now that both have been clearly laid before us – with spirits down and defeat in this standoff a foregone conclusion – many Republicans on the Hill have resorted to praying for a last minute technicality to serve as a bump in the road for the bill’s ultimate setting in stone. The dreams of the most optimistic set aside….this ship has sailed.

So now the wheels have been set to motion. ”Socialism” – or at least some perverse amalgam of socialistic elements – has been injected into our capitalist system and like it or not, it is here and it is the unfortunate reality that now stares us in the face. The threat of it is no longer the 800 lb guerrilla in the room that no one wants to talk about. It is now that 2000 pound anchor dragging us into the abyss of European styled governance.

There are many that will proudly state that this bill is “imperfect” – that it still must be emended, tinkered with, added to, and subtracted from before it can be effectively implemented. Some have found solace in that narrative; perhaps hoping that “amendment” means addition by subtraction – when they know within their heart of hearts that the only “change we can believe in” regarding this bill will be change for the worse.

This bill is simply the first step toward a full-blown single-payer system modeled in a European fashion. Even Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in his daily briefing – TODAY – said that CBO calculations estimate that this legislation will still leave at least 5% of Americans uninsured. Do you think these people - that see health care as an inalienable right – will stop at 95%? Of course they won’t – regardless of the cost. This is just the beginning folks. Today is day one – will it be day one of our efforts to repeal??? or will it be day one on the future of a European styled health care system in these United States?

—-

So where do Republicans go from here? As this bill moved closer to its ultimate passage, talk of “repeal” emerged. Members of the GOP began to talk about running on platforms with rescinding this act of Congress as the centerpiece. Obviously responding to some unfavorable poll numbers or perhaps simply… relying on common sense, that mantra was changed ever so slightly to “repeal and replace.” One cannot ignore the fact that Americans do in fact want health care reform -they just don’t and didn’t want this monstrosity. I think the change was warranted as well as wise. Thank you Rep. Paul Ryan.

I fully support the idea of running November elections with the stated objective of repealing this bill, but I fail to see how that pledge of allegiance carries us from now until November – or any point thereafter. The mainstream media is already heralding this legislation as a monumental achievement for the Obama administration, and if day one coverage is a sign of what is yet to come, months of heart warming tales of happy entitlement grabbers will drown out any calls to remember the seedy and shady procedures that led to the bill’s passage. Much of the ugliness will be forgotten when November rolls around. Closed door meetings, reconciliation, deem and pass, and a general lack of transparency will be talking points easily dismissed by the Left and a favorable media only to be lost in the annuls of time long before another substantive vote is cast.

All that said, I will say unequivocally that I will not vote for a man or woman in November who hasn’t declared his/her intention to repeal this bill, but…. (and you knew there was a but coming) …. I shutter at the thought of the Republican Party becoming a one-issue party between now and November and will also NOT VOTE for any Republican that runs on this issue alone. I think this is the most egregious and despicable piece of legislation that has been passed in my lifetime, but while this bill is offensive on about fifty different levels, it is more troubling to me that we have moved toward a place in time in the political cycle that we could even acknowledge that such an endeavor was anything more than an item on a wish list from an uber-Lefty progressive socialist.

The problem with this health care bill is that it was simply the next logical step for those in power in Washington. Federalize the mortgage industry, take command of American auto manufacturers, create jobs through federal spending, bailout, bailout, bailout, and why not bring health care under the protective shell of the federal government – and make the Department of Education the sixth largest “bank” in the United States in the process?

The problem is systemic. And for those of you who want to cheer repeal, repeal, repeal from now until November… I will be with you, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that everyone chanting along with you is fully up to the task. Many of those same lawmakers who now want to point to this single piece of legislation as the “undoing of America” were on hand for the opening act of this multi-part move to European governance. Stimulus is a Republican word thanks to the brilliance of the Bush administration and those without the courage to stick to their principles and stare a growing recession in the face and rely upon capitalist forces to right the wrong.

As we move toward November, it is absolutely imperative that anyone who wishes to see this great country returned to its rightful place remember that selecting our elected representatives is about choosing principled candidates – not about choosing those who can simply echo the Party war cry. I fully support repeal, repeal, repeal… or repeal and replace- or whatever they want to call it, but unless we are willing to address the bigger problems that led to a culture where this sort of entitlement happy legislation was appropriate and not unconscionable, I think our efforts will find meager results. The reality of the repeal agenda is that it is not a feat that will be accomplished in 2010 – or even soon thereafter. For Republicans to truly “repeal” this bill, they would have to gain control of both Houses of Congress and in a strong enough fashion to override a Presidential veto. If repeal is truly the answer and the path to righting this ship, it may have to wait until 2012. The election of 2010 may be a “referendum” on this health care debacle, but if we are truly devoted to bringing this great nation back to its capitalist origins, Republicans should prepare themselves for making 2012 a referendum on preserving American Federalism and the capitalist system which has flourished therein. Step one may be addressing this specific issue, but step two must be about addressing the systemic problems that have led us here.

Post Master General To Cut Saturday Delivery…Bring on Government Run Health Care

T. CHRISTOPHER — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:55:19 +0000

In a move that admittedly makes me sad while smiling, the Post Master General John Potter announced today that he intends to ask Congress to make the necessary changes to appropriation legislation to allow him to cut mail service down to five days eliminating Saturday delivery. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night can keep the mail from going through, but a raging recession, growing costs, private-sector competition, and government inefficiency will do the trick… Republicans on Capitol Hill have to be loving this development. Could there be a better example of the federal government’s shortcomings in the administration and implementation of services? How about five years from now cutting back doctor-patient visits to Monday through Friday as well.

Fox News:

Postmaster General John Potter said Tuesday that he intends to seek congressional approval to cut Saturday delivery as part of a wide-ranging plan to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap.

Though the idea of cutting service from six to five days has gotten a cool reception on Capitol Hill, Potter said that the plan would include enough flexibility so that customers who need Saturday service can get it and that this and other changes need to be implemented for the Postal Service to survive.

“We built a plan that we think is very reasonable. … We intend to pursue that,” he said. “It’s a move that we simply have to make.”

The financially struggling Postal Service is trying to find ways to get out of the red without resorting to taxpayer aid. Potter announced Tuesday that the service could lose a staggering $7 billion this year — losses attributed to a combination of the recession and the predominance of e-mail and other electronic forms of communication.

It is estimated that cutting Saturday delivery, a move that requires congressional permission, could save $3.5 billion a year.

Potter said the Postal Service, aside from trying to cut down service days, would also use price increases in “moderation” to close the budget gap as well as pursue other changes. He urged regulators to act quickly in helping the Postal Service implement those changes and expressed optimism that the service could eventually get above water.

Though he said privatization had been on the table during a lengthy internal review, that option appeared to be ruled out. One consultant, Thomas Dohrmann from McKinsey & Company, said privatization was “unlikely” in part because it would be hard to find a buyer.

“We need to rethink everything and every approach to move the Postal Service forward,” Potter said. “We need to reinvest, redefine and reinvigorate the value of mail to business and households.”

The Postal Service posted $3.8 billion in losses last year. Mail volume was down 13 percent, a decline officials say will continue.

Potter said mail volume went from 213 billion pieces in 2006 to a projected 166 billion pieces in fiscal 2010.

Clips From the Sunday Circuit: February 28, 2010

T. CHRISTOPHER — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:21:42 +0000

Here’s another installment in the weekly spin around the Sunday Circuit. In the wake of the “bipartisan health care reform summit” you had to know it would be the topic dejure, and you probably could have guessed at least one elected official certain to grace the Sunday Stage. You guessed… Tweedle Dee (Dumb) was back – and yes I know that I am still calling him by both the new and old name – some habits are just hard to kill. Being “misinformed” about the target of the stimulus is still me laugh, so I’m reluctantly holding on to Tweedle Dee as well. The stars of the summit – Marsha Blackburn, Paul Ryan, Lamar Alexander, and Tom Coburn were out in full force and the White House chose to prance out the health care CZAR for good measure. Meet the Press doesn’t even refer to her by name on its website. I think that should tell you something about the administration’s position on trying to get its message out. Its a done deal folks…

MEET THE PRESS

“I’m glad that it happened… It was a “good forum… I hope its the basis for us to have some serious negotiations.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here’s McCain responding to President Obama’s remarks at the Summit reminding him that the “election was over.” – No surprise here… McCain ducked the question. Greggory’s an ass just for asking it – among other things.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

John McCain on his dramatic move to the “Right” now that its election time. He begins with his position on “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Health Care CZAR – so that’s who this is??? btw… She says they will have the votes in Congress… they don’t have them yet, and that the President will have more to say about both this week. Why the hell does he send these people here to say that he will say crap?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

ROUND TABLE RAMBLINGS…

This one was a round table on steroids… not because it was worthwhile or even loaded with substance, but check out how many people they packed around this table… PS… Is anyone else tired of seeing Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on every program? I can’t wait for health care reform debates to be over just so she can go back to being a nodody…

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

FACE THE NATION

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

Hoyer – “We’re going to move ahead and make sure that all Americans have access to health care…” – will someone please tell me what moving ahead means…

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Kent Conrad – “Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It wasn’t designed for that. It was designed for deficit reduction.” – It would be used for SIDE CAR ISSUES – not the whole package.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

THIS WEEK WITH….????

Pelosi thinks she’s doing “A” fine job…. Gives herself an “A” for effort

Pelosi has much in common with the Tea Party

Pelosi on Rangel

Lamar Alexander calls health care reform a “kamikaze political mission…”

Round Table

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) follows up on his high points from this week’s health care reform summit. He also addresses the numbers sent forth by the CBO – a point of contention between Ryan and President Obama at the meeting… If you want to hear someone talk the numbers of health care reform… this interview is the one for you.

Fox News Panel discusses Rahm Emanuel’s future and Charlie Rangel’s admonishment.

Conservatives To Debate the “War on Terror”

T. CHRISTOPHER — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:03:50 +0000

I started this blog with the objective of offering an outlet to conservatives and Republicans with an opposing or unconventional point of view. My mission – if I have just one – is to ask the questions of “why” when others are asking only the “what’s” and the “who’s.” On more than one occasion, this has made me a bit of a pain in establishment Republicans and token conservatives backs… and I have loved every minute of that. That’s why we’re here and that’s what we do..

Republican Redefined has now crossed the 600 post threshold (in five months) with this post, and I couldn’t be happier to use number 601 to tell all of you about an upcoming event – series of events – that will provide you with an opportunity to see Right-wingers debating Right-wingers on issues close to all our hearts.

As Republican Redefined has grown, our readership has grown; and so too has our relationships with other blogs/sites. Part of that last aspect of coming to maturity has been directly related to a few sites – all of which will be contributing to this upcoming series. I will post the sites involved below, but I guess I should tell you what the hell I am talking about before I ramble on any further.

Tomorrow, Russ at That’s Right will begin a multi-part debate with the Classic Liberal on the issue of our nation’s “War on Global Terrorism” – or lack thereof – depending on how you see things. The debate will be moderated by Scratcher at Makes My Brain Itch and Steve at Motor City Times. I – as well as a growing list of others – will be offering commentary and a little blog punditry – here and at their respective sites.

I am excited about the prospects of the “forum” – if you will – and think many of you will enjoy it as well. The first round of question and answer will begin tomorrow at noon. I will keep you updated on how the debate is playing out and will direct you to various sites where you can contribute as well. If this first “issue /topic” is a success, we hope to bring you many more in the days and weeks to come. You may even see your old pal T Christopher on the card for the next round if I get my way – I’m lobbying for a Palin-related topic – you all know I’m alone on an island with that one – for now that is. All things in time do pass my conservative friends…. ALL THINGS….

In case you’re wondering…. CL and Russ have decidedly different points of view on this issue. It should be a great first round. Neither of them will pull any punches…

Contributing sites… I’ll update as more chime in…

Health Care Summit Streaming Live

T. CHRISTOPHER — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:51:59 +0000

(December 8, 2009 - Photo by Pool/Getty Images North America)

President Obama opened up the bipartisan health care reform summit with “brief” remarks that lasted more than 20 minutes. He told the attendees that his proposal posted Monday was a blend of the House and Senate bills. He referenced a list of previous Republican proposals (which was a strange admission from a man who has repeatedly said Republicans have suggested NOTHING) and in typical Obama fashion, he threw in the obligatory “I read letters every night telling me we need health care reform” reminder. I am yet to figure out how this president thinks he’s the first Chief Executive to receive and/or read letters from the American people, but I digress.

Live Stream Via NYTIMES Blog

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT

VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

As to the set up of the room. Delegates (if you want to call them that) are arranged around what amounts to a square with the President at the center of one side with Kathleen Sebelius and Joe Biden on his flanks.

25 MINUTES IN…

Lamar Alexander offered up the first Republican remarks saying that “this thing” is like the Detroit auto show where you invited us out there to see the new models and help sell them to the American people. But when we saw the models, they were just like last year. The Tennessee Senator quickly moved away from the witty rhetoric, which is anything but his strong suit, and told the President a story about his own relationship with a Democratic Governor in his home state. He said he understood that he had to work with that Democrat to further the interests of his state. He said he has taken a similar approach to the Obama presidency. Amidst a bit of rambling and a few anecdotal references of his own, he also reminded the President that he has broken ranks with Republicans in the past when he thought the President “was right” implying that he would on health care as well if the situation presents itself.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was next on the ledger. She began by telling the President that the jobs bill that passed the Senate was not the only display of bipartisanship that occurred this week. She boastfully stated that, there was a ”blaze of bipartisanship” in the House yesterday with the lifting of the antitrust exemption for insurance companies. She referenced Ted Kennedy and a few “inspiring stories” from her trips to small town America – as if she even knows what that is…

Slime dog millionaire Harry Reid followed Pelosi and quickly told Lamar Alexander that he was “entitled to his opinion but not his own facts.” He then went on to remind the crowd that reconciliation isn’t “some thing that’s never been done before.” He said that it has been used “mostly by Republicans” for major things like the Contract with America, Medicare reform, and tax cuts for “Rich People.”

Now that we have heard from three people. Alexander and Pelosi/Reid (splitting time), it appears that the Presidential moderator will offer a rebuttal and/or response to every single speaker. This dude loves to hear himself talk.

First Major Point of Contention… President Obama in his random remarks took a shot at Lamar Alexander’s remarks and stated that his facts were correct and Lamar’s were wrong. When Alexander tried to get a word in to respond to the criticism, Obama just kept talking and told the Senator that he has went through the numbers with the CBO and HE is the one in the right. Alexander tried four times to respond – all of which Obama just kept talking.

When Alexander finally got a word in. He said with all respect you are wrong. Insurance premiums in the private sector will go up, but rather than arguing with you in public I will submit them to you. He then said, “Why not let other members of Congress have an opportunity to talk.”

Obama’s response – I’d like to get this issue settled about whether insurance premiums will increase today – “because I am pretty sure that I am not wrong.”

There is NO way this thing stays on schedule.

65 MINUTES IN…

Tom Coburn (R-OK) -M.D. – addressed “cost containment”

Doctors are risk-averse(d) – “tests are ordered for doctors – not for patients”

“What would happen tomorrow if the cost of insurance went down by 15% tomorrow?” The Market would increase the ranks of those insured…

“We don’t incentivize prevention”

“We need undercover patients to expose fraud in Medicare”

71 MINUTES IN….

Harry Reid breaks in saying… “I’m not an expert on much but I am an expert on filibusters” – implying that Coburn had run over his time. President Obama remedied the situation by offering up two minutes in unsolicited comments.

75 MINUTES IN….

Maryland Congressman Steny Hoyer – began his remarks with two stories of “real world folks” impacted by the shortcomings of health care…

Could we have stipulated at the beginning of this thing that everyone has met someone who feels screwed in the current system????

“Wellness is our focus. Not sickness.” We want to go after fraud, waste, and abuse..

Many in my caucus thought a “public option” would open up competition.”

81 MINUTES IN….

President Obama agrees that “undercover patients” is a good idea. As to prevention… The First Lady is all over that working with fat kids…. (awesome)

He says he would be interested in hearing from Republican colleagues… a response to their cost containment provision that would allow small business owners or individuals to be able to buy into a larger group to improve their purchasing power

House Minority Leader John Boehner deferred to Congressman John Kline (R-MN) – we would prefer to handle these issues of cost containment “step by step”

We want small business to be able to band together in associations – the same way large companies do so they get all the advantages that a bigger group will.

Obama offered no response to this one…. Maybe because to do so would be admitting that he likes the idea but only if it was the federal government running the things…

87 MINUTES IN….

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) – took the “stage” – has he always done this pause/studder/break thing when he talks? I thought the cable was going out for a minute or there was something wrong with the video feed.

We suggest the “Shop Act” in our bill to allow small businesses to create “exchanges” to increase their buying power.

“We basically agree. There’s not a lot of difference here.”

92 MINUTES IN….

Dave Camp (R-MI) – Senate bill will bend the cost curve in the wrong direction by $222 billion

Responsible lawsuit reform is missing from the bill. ”This common sense reform would reduce the federal deficit by more than $50 billion (on just the government side). Price Waterhouse Coopers said this could reduce total cost (including private sector) by $239 billion if adopted.

98 MINUTES IN….

Representative Rob Andrew (D-NJ) – Associational health plans would allow insurance companies kick a pregnant woman out of a hospital days after having a C-section. We need federal regulations to prevent 50 separate standards in 50 states.

We don’t agree that an insurance company should be able to decide when a lady goes home from the hospital.

Mitch Mcconnell reminds the President that Republicans have used 24 and Democrats have used 52 minutes

102 MINUTES IN…

Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) – burst out of the gates saying that we don’t need federal mandates and regulation and was quickly cut off by Representative Andrew – AND – then President Obama.

Clearly an attempt to steal his thunder because they know he knows this stuff inside and out. - First big victory of the day for Dems Can you say coup?

106 MINUTES IN…

President Obama is still rambling and he’s tell a story about car insurance – I’m lost…

110 MINUTES IN…

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -

Loves “undercover patients” idea suggested by Coburn – get ready to hear that as the bipartisan agreement reached today.

113 MINUTES IN…

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) – we fundamentally disagree over who should be in charge – who do we trust? We have a very difficult time putting control in the hands of Washington.

He strikes back to the Alexander / Obama debate over cost containment on private premiums – cites CBO – costs will go up because of expenses of underlying legislation – “that’s why we as Republicans want to address these issues step by step to eliminate all that extra expense.”

117 MINUTES IN…

President Obama – we are talking about criticisms of the existing bill rather than places where we can agree – so I will address some of your criticisms – because they forced him to – of course…

He just cited that friggin car insurance thing again – still lost

A lot of states already use these “large pools” – reminder to the President… they are states.

He just said interstate sale of insurance plans is desirable…. BUT …. there has to be a minimum “baseline” so that Nevada (Reid’s gotta love that choice) who doesn’t have regulations in place doesn’t raise premiums and decrease care – we need a baseline – ie. federal regulation “to make sure people get a better deal.

123 MINUTES IN….

James Clyburn (D-SC) – more anecdotal crap – why why why? We get it. You know real people. Lets move on… Do these idiots really think anyone’s buying this crap?

We need a safety net for those uncovered and those who may have $2000 deductibles.

We need to expand community health care centers.

Back to real life stories – this time in reference to CSPAN call-in show…

130 MINUTES IN…

President Obama points out that Jon Kyl “shook his head” when he referenced choosing to keep your health care plan – he just wanted to point out that everyone could keep their previous insurance because it will be “grandfathered in.”

Jon Kyl - employers will drop you because its cheaper to pay the fine than it is to keep you.

Does Washington know best?

President Obama – thats a great talking point… Hold on let me tell you about a family I met in Colorado….

Here are the points we agree on… according to Obama

On banning rescissions. - dropping coverage from a paying customer

Idea of extending dependant coverage to a certain age (25 or 26)

No annual or lifetime limits

That we want to end prohibitions because of pre-existing conditions – just don’t agree on how

135 MINUTES IN….

Representative Charles Boustany – (R-LA) – the guy who gave that terrible Republican Rebuttal last year… btw – he’s a doctor

The American people have rejected the bills because they see that premiums will increase.. They want a common sense step by step approach.

We have a duty to reform health care but we have an obligation to get it right…

140 MINUTES IN…

Obama – we have to remain disciplined if we are going to stay on schedule – funny how he only brings that up after Republicans talk

Boehner – Mr President – “I’m not sure any of us were told what the time limits are”

Representative George Miller (D-CA) – preventative care should not carry a co-pay with it.

146 MINUTES IN…

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) – both of us campaigned on the promise of bringing change to Washington

You promised this debate would be conducted in front of CSPAN cameras. I’m glad more than a year later they are here.

$100 million for a hospital in Connecticut? People don’t understand that.

We promised them change in Washington.

Obama tried to interrupt McCain…. McCain was the first person willing to stand up to him. Not bad for Tweedle Dee Dumb…

“Geography should not dictate what kind of health care people receive.”

151 MINUTES IN….

Obama – we are not campaigning anymore – the election is over….

My hope would be that we focus on how we get a bill done rather than arguing back and forth. Again – only he can argue -everyone else is wrong when they do it….

Jabbing back and forth between McCain and Obama – McCain is visibly pissed.

152 MINUTES IN…

Kathleen Sebelius – Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)

President Obama reminds us she is a former governor too….

She is offering up a summary and a few of the President’s “high points” – not much here.

158 MINUTES IN….

Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) - sitting with Senate bill covering his table

President Obama says “let me guess… that’s the 2000 page bill.”

Yep…and “the 11 page proposal you posted”

“There is a reason why we all voted no.”

President Obama is chatting and talking to his staff. He is doing anything BUT listening to Cantor.

164 MINUTES IN….

Health care reform is very complicated….

He’s upset about “props” like this

Here comes another strange analogy…

“We could set up a system where food was probably cheaper than it is right now if we eliminated meat inspectors and eliminated any regulations in terms of how it is distributed and stored. .. We make some decisions to protect consumes in every aspect of our lives.”

Oh yeah, and we could lower drug costs by lifting regulations too, but the drugs would kill us….

Joe Biden – (asked for 10 seconds) we don’t have a philosophical difference if you agree with these things. Either you’re in or you’re out.

173 MINUTES IN…

Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY) - I am pretty succinct and pretty “timely”

In the 13-15 years since the Clinton debate over health care reform, we have done nothing.

We have seen hospitals abandon to the streets critically ill elderly – mentally ill persons

Now I understand that there’s a proposal to shut down Medicare and turn it into a voucher systems – NOW WHO IS THE ONE PLAYING WITH SCARE TACTICS????

178 MINUTES IN…

They are going to break so the House can take a vote that they had to schedule for now.

They will reconvene by 1:45

RECAP OF THE FIRST HALF…

To call this a fair exchange or an “open dialog” at this point would be a stretch. The President serving as moderator has made that objective an impossibility if it was in fact ever an objective in the first place. Lamar Alexander did a fine job for someone who lacks even an ounce of talent at events like this. I think the Democrats won a HUGE victory with their orchestrated attack on Representative Paul Ryan. Keeping him quiet was a clever move that needs to be remedied by Republican leadership in the afternoon.

Democrats are stating and restating that “we agree on a large part of this.” I can’t help but think that theme is intended to drive home the fact that both sides are close on this issue so that they can either – move to a bipartisan bill or drive on toward reconciliation under cover…

President Obama is a pompous ass. Its not that I am shocked by this in any way, but seeing it on display for such a long period of time began to make me laugh.

He dismissed the Republican idea that the debate centers on whether “Washington can do it best” as a talking point, and I think in doing so, he demonstrated the very philosophical differences he was trying to downplay. This is an issue that is if nothing else about the Rights of individuals and the Rights of states versus those of the federal government. This President and his regime of progressive ideologues are so far removed from reality that they cannot even begin to grasp the concept that Republicans may in fact believe in the 10th Amendment. The President seems to believe thats its been predetermined that the federal government can do as it pleases with the only question being – how much will it do – rather than should it be doing anything in the first place…. I fail to see how any amount of “debating” / discussing this nonsense will ever bridge that gap.

BIPARTISAN HEALTH CARE REFORM SUMMIT: PART TWO

President Obama opened the second half of this historically boring meeting by telling the delegates that this thing will wrap by 4:15 – I’m not buying it but we’ll see.

[PROGRAMING NOTE: Welcome and happy Health Reform Summit Day to all the folks who made their way over here from That's Right - glad to have you on board for this. A mild disclaimer in case its your first time here. I bitch and moan about crap like this, but I secretly love it - well I kinda like it - ok I like most of it except for anything related to Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, or Harry Reid - okay throw in Obama and Biden too] – here we go…

5 MINUTES IN…

Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) -

This exchange would have been helpful if we had it nine months ago – with more detail over more days….

8 MINUTES IN….

Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) – began with another friggin letter from a constituent. People move on. We know there’s a million stories just like that. That’s why you’re here today – because stuff is screwed up…

This guy in the letters says that the best option for him is for Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform. Well there you go folks… let’s go home!!

Of the ten key elements in the House (Republican) bill, we have nine of them in our (Senate) bill. The only one not there is the health savings account provision. Again. more of the we are really close rhetoric.

American people – like the dude in his letter – will drown if we don’t throw them a line….

He concluded with this little piece of brilliance….”We don’t allow segregation in America because of race…. but we allow it in America on the basis of health.” ”When I hear the word ‘pool’ I think of segregation.”

16 MINUTES IN…

Representative Dave Camp (R- MI) – Reiterates the step by step message. Reminds the delegates that after 2014 when the bill comes fully into play… it links pre-existing conditions with the Individual mandate – (that nobody wants) - he then reminds the delegates that state legislatures are already acting to combat this.

President Obama rebuts – the Boehner plan sets up a high risk pool – reminds Camp that its indisputable that a high risk pool without healthy young people means high premiums – and drops the s-word once again – SEGREGATION – I’m seeing a theme developing here.

Camp reminds the President that where the bills differ is that the Dem version gives control over rates to the Secretary of HHS – who is sitting next to the President trying not to drop the death stare on Camp…

23 MINUTES IN…

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) - health insurance companies are looking for a reason to knock people out of coverage. For those of you who say maybe states can do it better… that’s the system we have now and it allows these things.

So by all means Mr. Senator – let that lead you to the conclusion that you should take the whole thing over….

He says “I like the public option, but it seems like that is gone.”

Oh and here it is – he just offered up his own “real life” point of reference… glad he squeezed that in.

He then said he has a son that didn’t have health insurance and was old enough to have it – so he told him to get it.

Does that equate to you wanting the government to fine that son of yours if he chooses not to?

He closed by saying that insurance companies should be required BY LAW to spend between 80 and 85% of revenue on patient care. Wow – goodbye capitalism…

31 MINUTES IN…

Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) - began by addressing the portability of insurance plans across state lines.

“If you want to empower patients – give them the power to shop for coverage.”

Obama Rebuttal… “I support the idea of purchasing insurance across state lines.”

Two things to understand – 1) problem in CA was not that there were a bunch of out of state insurance companies trying to get it – the problem has to do with the fact that people who have lost their jobs – who are healthy – who can’t afford the market – are just going to go without insurance – what that leaves are people with healthcare needs or pre-existing conditions – the pool gets older and sicker – THAT IS WHY WE HAVE INCLUDED THE MANDATE – to broaden the pool.

He says that a national exchange is a way to bridge this gap – missed the second problem – don’t think he dropped it – guess he forgot.

As to the MANDATE – I was dragged kicking and screaming to the conclusion” that we need a mandate. He says its an inevitability because of “cost shifting” – he says each family is picking up $1000 to $1100 of cost because of services given to people without health insurance.

He says “we’re already putting the money in…. its just in an inefficient way.”

Marsha Blackburn – I would suggest that we’re looking at it the wrong way. Your talking about letting companies into California. I’m talking about letting individuals out.” She then chanted “Free it up. Free it up.” Let’em Out.” She’s going Tea Party in the middle of the summit.

To be honest…. I can’t stand Marsha Blackburn BUT … I think she just won me over…. FINALLY someone with some cojones around there….

42 MINUTES IN….

Vice President Joe Biden – I will try to be brief BUT there’s a lot to talk about. Hold on folks…this ride’s gonna take a while…

“Its the same philosophical debate that took place back in the 30’s over Social Security.”

In an effort to stand firm to his pledge to be brief, he decided to recap what “everyone agrees on.”

VP Biden – aka Sir Talks Alot – just admitted that Boehner’s bill would cut cost by more than $200 billion. I didn’t think Republicans proposed any bills Mr. Vice President? (These guys are all killing me. For weeks all we have heard is that Republicans weren’t suggesting anything, and now they all have these brilliant plans – that just aren’t quite as brilliant as those suggested from the Left.)

Now he’s on a rant about Medicare Advantage – apparently he’s an expert since he was around when it was put into place – so says he…

Grassley and Enzi look like they’re either falling asleep or slipping out of consciousness listening to this crap. Biden just turned to President Obama only to see that even he wasn’t paying attention (he was taking notes and probably preparing his next remarks)

51 MINUTES IN….

Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is back on – and he’s come out swinging.

Since the CBO can’t score your bill, we will track it through the similar Senate bill.

It doesn’t cut deficits, it adds entitlements.

The CBO’s job is to score what is placed in front of them. What has been placed in front of them is full of tricks and gimmicks.

What is the true cost of this bill? Ten years $2.3 trillion.

He’s hammering the Dems on the numbers. As the camera pans the room, the rest of these guys are squirming. Ryan may be a one trick pony as some love to characterize him, but he’s a damn fine one if the race is health care reform because he’s destroying these folks. If you listen to one part of this summit. This is what you need to come back to.

The “Doc Fix” - You pulled this out to hide it. It is running as a standalone provision to hide the costs.

Kudos to McConnell and Boehner for getting this guy more time.

In FIVE minutes, he has said more than has been stated throughout the entire summit.

“I will disagree with the Vice President on what we are qualified to say on the American People’s behalf.”

“We should start over in a step by step fashion on a clean sheet of paper”

President Obama – doesn’t want to get bogged down disagreeing over the numbers …. so instead he chose to ramble about Medicare advantage and closing the “donut hole” – the difference between initial coverage and catastrophic coverage.

He’s trying to get Ryan to say that Republicans think Medicare Advantage is broken as well.

John McCain – “Why in the world would we carve out 800,000 people in Florida”

President Obama – I think you make a very good point.

John McCain – just shat himself…

Tom Coburn – We should be saying We’re broke, lets not add any new benefits anywhere until we can sure up those we already have…

President Obama – Medicare Advantage is not “means tested” – its pretty random and a lot of it is going to insurance companies to help pay premiums. The prescription drug plan didn’t come under my watch. ”John was one of the few who stuck to his convictions and didn’t vote for it.” (mutterings of a few “I didn’t vote for it(s)).

65 MINUTES IN…

Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA) - ”You (Paul Ryan) called into question the CBO. You have relied upon it for years.”

Ryan – I am not questioning them, I am questioning the reality of their score.

Xavier – “The referee on the field said these bills will reduce the deficit.”

“One of the unsung secrets that we learned from doctors is that we can do a better job of coordinating care to patients.” – Really dude??? We? Who the hell is we? You mean the federal government. I don’t want them “coordinating” squat.

70 MINUTES IN….

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)- “I consider CBO God around here… because it takes 60 votes to overrule them.”

He’s says “you can’t count a dollar twice” – referring to the double counting in the CBO scoring of the Dem bill

“Both bills hit small businesses by taxing them. Small business is the machine that brings new employment. 70% of new jobs come from small businesses.”

. says we can take care of them through associational health plans.

“The bulk of this bill comes from an UNCONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE” – finally somebody said it…

“I’ve had 32 town hall meetings this year… I have a good understanding of whats going on in the grass roots.”

BY THE WAY FOLKS – THE TOPIC RIGHT NOW IS “DEFICIT REDUCTION”

“Isn’t it intellectually dishonest to promise people coverage when doctors won’t treat them?”

President Obama – if we can’t make some hard decisions about entitlements, we’re in some big trouble”

“I hope we have the courage to make some of these changes”

80 MINUTES IN…

Senator Kent Conrad (D – ND) – Chairman of the Budget Committee

“The biggest unfunded liability in the US is Medicare”

The idea that we don’t have to do anything about Medicare is outside reality.

“We are wasting massive amounts of money” – uhhhh ya think? And you want to waste more of it??? Brilliant.

He’s on a rant about prescription drug coordination shortcomings – a very real problem that may even be “chaos” as he . it, but I fail to see how the federal government getting involved eliminates that. I only see these morons making it worse.

85 MINUTES IN…

Representative John Boehner (R-OH) – I didn’t agree with a word you said in the opening about why we are here.

“The American people want us to scrap this bill. They said it loud. They said it clear..”

“Here we are discussing a new entitlement program that will bankrupt our country.”

“I think this is a dangerous experiment.”

“Having a government takeover of health care is a dangerous experiment.”

“The last thing we need to be doing is raising taxes on the American people.

“If we are going to find savings in Medicare, why don’t we use that savings to extend the life of Medicare rather than creating a new entitlement?”

“I too believe the MANDATE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL’

“For 35 years we have had a law that prohibited tax payer funding from going to paying for abortions… it was upheld in the House.” Your bill Mr. President includes this funding….

LET’S SCRAP THE BILL…

“Why can’t we agree on the insurance reforms we have agreed upon? Why can’t we begin with focusing on allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines. Why can’t we focus on correcting preventative medicine?

President Obama – We were trying to focus on deficit issue… (he doesn’t want to get bogged down in “talking points) – right now we are focused on entitlement reforms and seeing if we can make some necessary changes..

92 MINUTES IN…

Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN)- “we’re all here, we’re dressed up and we’re in good behavior, but I think folks back home are concerned with how we behave when the cameras are off.”

Its easy to talk tough on this, but its hard to deliver. ”Tom Coburn is right, Paul Ryan is right. John McCain was right.” – In case you’re wondering who the hell this guy is. He’s a “Bluedog” from Tennessee who knows his career is riding on today… He more than anyone else in the room has to be a friend to EVERYONE.

“We have to acknowledge the real problems. If you can’t measure it. You can’t manage it.”

“If you don’t think this bill reduces the deficit enough? Vote for it and vote for more changes to it”

98 MINUTES IN….

John McCain is back on the stump. He’s reminding the President of his promises and his previous statements. When will he realize that no one cares when Obama lies, backtracks, and outright ignores what he’s already said on record. Hello – you said earlier… this CSPAN meeting is a year late.

Now he’s moved to Tort Reform. He’s citing Texas and California as shining examples of how it works.

He just tried a joke that failed – he said ” We Arizonans hate Californians because they stole our water.” Chirp Chirp

“I understand the frustration a majority feels when they can’t get their agenda through.”

He just jabbed Obama on his tough stance on Judicial nominations when he was Senator Obama.

President Obama – “I think the American People aren’t all that interested in the procedures that go on in the Senate. – because you are so in tune with the American People? Just come out with it – you think The American People is an uneducated ill-informed mass.

“I think most Americans think a majority vote makes sense…” – ha – you pompous ass. Way to duck your hardass approach to reconciliation when you were a Senator on the other side of it…

105 MINUTES IN…

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) – not a fan of Tort Reform – he’s citing anecdotal evidence to prove it…

“The law in its majestic equality keeps both rich and poor from sleeping under bridges.”

“If you think its a socialist plot… drop out of Federal employee benefits program.”

Why do we continue to discriminate?

110 MINUTES IN…

PRESIDENT OBAMA – just pushed the meeting to 4:30 and wants to get to “COVERAGE”

“Can America – the wealthiest nation in the world – do what every other advanced nation does? That’s makes sure that every person here can get adequate health insurance coverage?” – THATS’ A BIG STATEMENT FOLKS – HE JUST SAID “EVERY PERSON HERE.” YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. HE DIDN’T SAY EVERY AMERICAN. Come on Illegals. Get your health care.

You can say I’m over-analyzing language, but he just scrutinized Paul Ryan for using “poll-tested” language when he referenced a “federal takeover”. He is going there, so I’m assuming he’s saying what he means…. Don’t forget. This is a fine legal mind here folks. He knows what he says and he means it. HANDS DOWN THE MOST DANGEROUS STATEMENT OF THE DAY/WEEK/MONTH/YEAR….

115 MINUTES IN…

John Barrasso (R-WY) - sometimes people with only catastrophic plans are the best consumers of health care the way its supposed to work. ”The cost should be the first question. They are the ones that shop around.”

I have great concern that the people around this table are not listening to the American people – that’s why so many are saying its time to start over.

President Obama – “would you be satisfied if every member of Congress only had catastrophic coverage?”

Barrasso – “I would. Because we’d have ’skin in the game” as you say”

President Obama – “would you feel that way if you made 40K? These are not sultans flying in to Mayo….”

“The vast majority of these 27 30 million can’t get coverage.”

“We can debate how to help them, but we can’t debate whether they need help. I get too many letters saying otherwise.”

“Members of Congress are in the top income bracket in the country. The people that use health savings accounts are higher earners.”

123 MINUTES IN…

Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) – he’s citing Ryan’s “voucher” proposal for Medicare recipients… Bring on the scare tactics… “The way to save the government money is to shift it to the seniors… Hold on to your pocketbook grandma. The Republicans are coming for it….

“Under the Republican proposal healthy people are the ones who gets breaks.”

“How many people are going to come forward to say I don’t need this or that…. and then they get sick.” - in other words… Americans are too stupid to make decisions for themselves, so we have to make these decisions for them. We have to protect them from their own ignorance and stupidity…

“Our bill closes the donut hole so that seniors dont have to pay for their prescription coverage on their own.”

“If we don’t get this bill passed, those on Medicare are going to get squeezed like crazy.”

Now he too is on board for the “secret shopper” plan from earlier. I’m so glad that is the one point everyone agrees on from today…

“I have doubts that Republicans will be willing to work with you on this..”

President Obama – “This is an area where we do have some philosophical differences. The question I have for my friends on the other side – are there areas for coverage where we can agree?” There may not be….”

131 MINUTES IN…

Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL) began with a story about Obama in the Illinois state senate where he worked with Republicans. He juxtaposed that with today which he says is “what is it going to take for you Republicans to vote for OUR bill?”

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE DAY – OTHER THAN MCCAIN SHITTING HIMSELF- He references a statement made earlier by Pelosi where she said “Healthcare reform is entitlement reform” Pelosi chimes in…. – “No no” ”Yes ” – guess she was napping.

137 MINUTES IN…

President Obama – I asked if Republicans had any other ideas to coverage and I didn’t get an answer.” – Prepare Talking Point walking out of this thing… Here it is folks…

“most people would like to be in an exchange.” - WHATTT?

“The group that is being left out is…. the group just above the very poor because they earn too much to take part in Medicare.”

Senator Chris Dodd (D- CT) – recipient of a $100 million hospital in his state for Lieberman’s vote….

Everyone has a right to a lawyer – but you don’t have a right to a doctor….

There is a false assumption that the people who show up to an emergency room need to take care of themselves better, get a job, etc. - the false assumption is that it is their fault.

It is a hidden tax that the rest of us pay for that support.

Every day we discuss this 14,000 Americans will lose their health care.

“These are not segmented issues.” This issue defies incremental approaches” – so its all or nothing guys – we have to take it all if we wan to fix any of it…

“You have to broaden coverage if you want to address any of these issues.”

144 MINUTES IN…

Representative Joe Barton (R-TX ) – We believe we should us free markets to empower people and give them choices - – BINGO BANGO – THANK YOU JOE BARTON – we will ignore that you just said you’d like the President to moderate if the bill every gets to conference committee.

Health care costs will go down if you allow insurance companies to compete across state lines.

“Your proposal pays lip service to Medical Malpractice reform but they don’t do it.”

Texas has gained 18,000 doctors since it was put in place in Texas….

You could save $150 billion a year.

Lets start over in the sense that we change the vision and work together to do the things we agree upon but don’t destroy the things that have made this system the greatest in the world.

President Obama – You’re right. Boehner’s bill doesn’t radically change the system – that’s why only 3 million of th 3o million will be covered.

150 MINUTES IN…

Senator Ron Wyden (R-OR) – “evidence shows that incremental reform not only does less – it costs more”

“We’ve been doing incremental reform since the 90’s when the Clinton plan blew up.”

“everyone should have the right to fire their insurance company.” Even after we require them to buy it….

155 MINUTES IN…

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – we haven’t been listening to them very carefully – we know how they feel about this 2700 page bill.

He also brought up reconciliation…citing a Gallop poll that showed that 52 % of Americans oppose its use with only 39% supporting it…

“Health care is a uniquely personal issue.”

“They have rendered a judgment about what we have attempted to do so far.”

The solution is to put that on a shelf and start over.

President Obama – I hear from constituents in every one of you districts.

“When you poll people for the individual elements they are for them….”

Hellooo – thats the point Mr. President. They want you to start over. They want incremental change…

160 MINUTES IN… (3 more speakers)

Representative Patty Murray (D-Washington) – began with a heartwarming story – shocker….

exchanges, community health centers, expanding coverage, blah blah blah. I’m spent… These old bastards have to be dying… I hope none of them has a “GOING PROBLEM” – is that prescription covered under their insurance plan??? – maybe that’s why I keep hearing scratching chairs…

Senator Tom Coburn – “we ought to have another talk like this” – Dear God no. Come on man….

Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY)- “I appreciate that you saved the best for last.”

“One of the big problems Americans have is why it takes 60 to get a majority.”

“We can’t get back those times. This is the last year for a lot of people in the House”

Sick people are not Democrats or Republicans – they’re Americans”

“People are concerned with what we’re going to produce – not what we debate”

“Lets leave here at least talking about what we agree on.”

“I don’t think someone sick in the emergency room is concerned with how big this bill is.”

170 MINUTES IN…

Representative John Dingell (D- Michigan) - His father proposed the first major health reform bill generations ago and he begins every session with introducing one – I’d say that makes him a believer – but I’d also say that makes him the LAST PERSON that needs to be talking about how to get something passed. His success rate in that endeavor is not exactly stellar…

“Here we have a chance to serve the people”

“I don’t know why 50 votes cant pass this legislation in the People’s House and the Senate…”

This guy is a testament to our nation’s health care system… How he is still alive is beyond me. He looks like a corpse – That’s “corpse” MR. President – not corps….

175 MINUTES IN…

Nancy Pelosi – “As one who abided by the 3 minutes, I’m going to take a few more in closing…”

“We’ve come a long way to agreeing upon a Republican idea – EXCHANGES – Wait… Republicans had ideas all along? WTF???

“I want the record to show… the law of the land is that there is no public funding of abortion and there is no public funding of abortion in these bills…” These bills do not cut benefits for seniors.”

“Yes its hard to do this. This will take courage to do..”

Apparently Pelosi decided to turn this into a fight right before the summit came to a close….

180 MINUTES IN…

President Obama – I’m gonna take about ten minutes to see where we agree and summarize where we disagree.

We agree that…

1. We need insurance market reforms

“Overwhelmingly the PEOPLE say that the insurance market should be REGULATED”

2. Allowing small businesses and individuals trapped in the current market should be allowed to take part in a larger group.

“Exchanges are not a government takeover”

Details differ on buying insurance across state lines – Republicans say lets open it up – “The philosophical concern I have for that is the ‘race for the bottom’” – another analogy – this time credit cards… credit card companies began relocating to a state that had the fewest restrictions on credit card companies. I get what he was angling for but everyone in the room was scratching their heads – and rightfully so. He brought it back around with the “Food” and “Drug” analogy too – just to make sure we didn’t forget his brilliance on that one… They were both so ridiculous I spent more time trying to figure out if he was trying to make a metaphor or an analogy – or just talking out of his ass… Brilliant…

3. Medical Malpractice ???- when we had a Republican President and Republican control of the House – it didn’t happen.

I think what he was saying here, is we can work on that if you can come on board…. – then he said he’s not sure that “we can bridge that gap.”

Here we go again… He’s going to support everything and stand on nothing. He and Pelosi sure have managed to screw this whole day in the last few minutes….

“I did not propose something complicated just for the sake of being complicated… It turns out that Baby Steps don’t get you to the place people need to go..”

Here come the Taxes…

“In order to help the 30 million… thats gonna cost some money.” ”those who get all of their income in capital gains dont pay a dime in Medicare tax.” ”If you make over $250000 and your income comes from those sources, you should have to pay into this.”

“If you’re not in the top 4% of businesses and you’re not providing insurance – you have to pony up – or we have to pick up the tab BUT – “Its not an employer mandate.”

“Most employers get huge subsidies for becoming part of the exchange.”

His list has been thrown out at this point. We’re just rolling into the agreements and disagreements at this point….

“I will end by saying this… (UMM) I suspect that if the Democrats and the administration were willing to start over and then to adopt John Boehner’s bill – we’d get a lot of Republican votes.” I don’t know how many Democrats bills we’d get.”

What Id like to propose – I’ve put things on the table that I didn’t come in here saying I was in support of.

I’d like Republicans to do some soul-searching to see if you can come to terms here.”

I don’t know if we can close that gap. If we can’t Reid and McConnell will have some debates over procedures in Congress… If you guys can’t come on board… we’re using reconciliation..,.,.

“There may not be any reason for Republicans to do anything. It may be very hard for you politically to do this.”

This is me trying to make you guys seem like you’re playing politics while we are just trying to do what is right for the American people…

“I don’t think we will have another one of these.” Thank God

“If we saw movement – significant movement – we wouldn’t need to start over.”

“Is there enough serious effort that in ….time, we could actually resolve something. Then we have to make some decisions. And that’s what elections are for…

Either come on board for our plan or we’re going to use reconciliation. Pretty shrewd of the President to put members of Congress on the line at election time when he has three years to recover….

HERE’S MY BRIEF TAKE…

Apparently all of these folks talk to too many people, different people, or just the wrong people because they all referenced “The People” so many times I began to wonder why I didn’t get a phone call…

Paul Ryan nailed it. Marsha Blackburn has big balls. She may be a red meat Palin drone, but for today at least I liked her. McConnell was far too quiet and way too timid. Pelosi is a windbag and gave away the real deal in her closing remarks. This was a sideshow. They are going ahead with reconciliation and if Republicans cave even an inch they are dumber than the Left.

The President is willing to risk his party’s majority in both Houses – frankly, because he’s not in them. He intends to go forward as well and watch for his administration to spin everything that was said today into Republicans standing in the way of this plan because they do not support a ban on prohibition due to preexisting conditions – a false claim, but one he hinted at all day today by masking the debate as one which centers on “coverage.”

Was today a success? I call it a draw for all involved. I don’t see that the lines have moved even an inch.

Plane Crashes Into Austin Office Building Reported to be Intentional

T. CHRISTOPHER — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:28:20 +0000

Jack Plunkett/AP Photo

Quite a headline I know. Immediately thoughts of 911 come to mind and questions regarding whether this was a terrorist act or not immediately emerge from everywhere. Preliminary accounts were that the pilot may have lost control of the aircraft or simply veered off course. Everything that has been reported since that time leads one to draw very different conclusions. NORAD reportedly scrambled two F-16’s to the area and federal investigators were immediately dispatched to Texas. Even though initial reports did not point to terrorism, everyone was treating it as if it was – and rightfully so.

When the initial briefing with the Austin Fire Chief was underway, a reporter asked if a fire in the area was related to the plane crash, and at the time it appeared to be a rather random question. In hindsight, it appears that reporter hit the nail on the head.

Fox News is reporting that the house fire occurred at the residence of a Andrew Joseph Stack – a local pilot and the owner of a plane similar to the one believed to have been flown into the building. A woman and a young girl were in the house at the time of the fire and reportedly made it out the residence safely.

In fairness, Stack’s being a pilot and the unknown status of his whereabouts hardly makes him a suspect, so lets be clear… that’s not what I am saying here. I am simply reciting what is being reported by an assortment of news outlets.

Hot Air has posted a report from Business Insider who says that Stack had a website which posted the following suicide note.

After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.

When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to Bill Ross, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, Ross knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.

This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around…

As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.

I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.

Update:

There have also been conflicting reports regarding the occupants of the building struck by the single engine plane. Initially, reporters were saying that it housed local FBI offices, but subsequent reports have refuted those statements. Some have also reported that it was the IRS – not the FBI who had offices in the building.

Update:

AFP and Fox News are now reporting that the plane that struck the building was stolen from the Georgetown Municipal Airport.

Update:

ABC and Fox News are reporting that the pilot was Andrew Joseph Stack – scrap that whole we don’t know it was him just because his house was on fire, he posted a suicide note, he stole a plane, and was found in the rubble of the building presumption of innocence thing…

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama has been briefed about Thursday’s plane crash in Texas.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs says the president was briefed by counterterrorim adviser John Brennan shortly before leaving the White House for a trip to Colorado and Nevada. Gibbs says the Department of Homeland Security is investigating all angles of the crash and its cause.

A low-flying small plane crashed into an office building in Austin that houses the Internal Revenue Service in Texas. Officials there say it was an intentional act by the pilot. Gibbs said it “does not appear” to be terrorism.

Update: I was told the website posted above reported to belong to Stack was taken offline and I have confirmed it has. If you click on it you get a message saying “This website has been taken offline due to the sensitive nature of the events that transpired in Texas this morning.” I guess it was his site.

Here is another link to his “manifesto” - I’d post it directly here, but after having just read it I prefer to leave that to other folks for now. Here or Here.

Clips From The Sunday Circuit: February 14, 2010

T. CHRISTOPHER — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:33:10 +0000

Here’s the weekly spin around the Sunday Circuit. Not a banner week by any stretch of the imagination but the ongoing Cheney v. Biden feud did offer a fair amount of entertainment. Many of the usual crowd, but a few new faces made the circuit as well. A wet behind the ears Congressman, Aaron Schock of Illinois, made his first appearance on Meet the Press and was forced to share the stage with David Brooks, Rachel Maddow, and Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford. Talk about a miserable group to crack the circuit with…

THIS WEEK

Round Table:

Drone War

FACE THE NATION

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Cheney v. Biden

Watch CBS News Videos Online

MEET THE PRESS

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Round Table: New York Times columnist David Brooks; MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow; chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, former Congressman Harold Ford of Tennessee; and Republican Congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

General Jim Jones – President Obama’s Top National Security Advisor

Dick Cheney Says He Supports Reconsidering “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

T. CHRISTOPHER — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:48:07 +0000

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney told This Week’s Jonathan Karl that he supports President Obama’s decision to reconsider the military’s policy of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” Many across the political spectrum will be all over this story as the issue strikes a cord that crosses ideological boundaries. I for one have repeatedly stated that this should be a military issue rather than a political one, but it appears that such a path is anything but a foregone conclusion. I think the policy was nothing short of idiotic when first implemented under the Clinton administration as it supposes that armed service men and women are among the most clueless class of Americans if they can’t figure out for themselves who is straight and who is gay. I’m not sure that either matters in a foxhole.

My position is simple. Treat the military like any other workplace in the sense that sexual advances and fraternization are expressly prohibited under standard operating practices. I know that many will argue that the military is anything but an ordinary work environment, and while I certainly respect that argument, in the context of sexual preference, I simply fail to see where being gay, lesbian, heterosexual or otherwise makes a difference. If impropriety is really the only issue here lets take this state-sanctioned discrimination to a whole other level. Lets ban all extremely attractive women or simply those with really great breasts from being able to take up arms in defense of our country. I have no doubt that they serve as a far greater distraction than the small percentage of gay men or lesbian women willing to die for this country ever will.

CHENEY: Well, I think the society has moved on. I think it’s partly a generational question. I say I’m reluctant to second-guess the military in this regard because they’re the ones who have got to make the judgment about how these policies affect the military capability of our, of our units. And that first requirement that you have to look at all the time is whether they’re still capable of achieving their mission and does the policy change i.e. putting gays in the force, affect their ability to perform their mission.When the chiefs come forward and say we think we can do it, then it strikes me that it’s time to reconsider the policy. And I think Admiral Mullen’s said that.