CNN Grand Inquisitor questioned Representative Errant Joseph Cao (R-La):
 | I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition. |
 | NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! ...Amongst our weaponry are such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the GOP, and nice red uniforms - Oh damn! |
This guy is just the opposite of Dems like liberal hero Dennis Kucinich who betrayed his party and the public trust by siding with, and praising the likes of Dirty Joe Lieberman. Kucinich is no longer on my speed dial....
ReplyDeleteKucinich voted against the healthcare bill. What's that saying about the perfect being the enemy of the good? I gather he would not have voted for it even if his vote (it won by 3 votes) had been crucial. But hey! It can still easily be sunk. Joe Lieberman can kill it or the pro choice Democrats who are p'o'd over the addition of the Sutpak amendment can. Not to mention Senate Blue Dog types.
ReplyDeleteI'm for single payer. But I think the current bill is vitally important. A start, at the least. And it includes many good provisions. Though I would prefer Kucinich's approach. But I think he's wrong in this.
I am also for single payer Quinty but I don't see that happening anytime in the next 100 years or so....
ReplyDeleteNecessity is the mother of invention and evrything else. We'll get to single payer because it's necessary for us as a Nation to be able to compete economically in the world. Walmart ame out for national health insurance. Business loves government largesse. Removing the burden of healthcare is in the interest of business. I do agree it sucks that we have to go through all this posturing and nonsense to get there. Kucinich had to posture. As much as I like him,and I agree with Joe Biden. I like Kucinich's wife also. Kucinich is still a politician and has to posture every now and then.
ReplyDeleteIf the "public option" leads to single payer will depend upon the actual structure of the final process, which still isn’t clear. What the bill finally says.
ReplyDeleteThe better the public option the sooner it will lead up to single payer, for more people will opt to join: dumping private healthcare plans which aren't nearly as good. If the public option is really good then it will surmount all opposition as millions turn toward it. That's what status quoists defending the private sector most fear. That it will actually be good. Which will be the death knell to private coverage and all its for profit abuses.
Thanks, Bill, for going up to the Hill today and encouraging the Senate’s progressives to be "realistic." Can't such "realism" wait until all attempts to get a "strong" public option included fail? Big Bill still believes in "triangulation," all right, like his wife, Hillary, appears to believe in escalating the Afghan war. What will Obama do?
MadMike, if Dennis phones take the call. Kucinich plays hardball, is a true congressional rarity in that regard, and was so furious that his single payer provision was "taken out" of the bill he decided the whole game was another bailout of giant industry. He may think Obama is the one who has betrayed the Party. Time will tell.
ReplyDeletehttp://rawstory.com/2009/10/kucinich-health-reform-legislation-a-bailout-insurance-companies/
To add to the the comments on the lady in red (red of course is a power color) above, they also have "gotcha" questions. I think this is why Palin so readily fell upon that excuse for not knowing what the Bush Doctrine was. It's part of their standard rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteOnce, following a debate on the US Senate floor (on C-SPAN) over the future of ANWR the Republican, who was for drilling, suddenly assailed the Democrat, who was for conservation, with the question: "Well have you ever been there? Have you ever actually been there?" The poor dumbfounded Democrat, who never had, was thrown totally off his mark by this unexpected assault. As if never having actually seen ANWR made his defense worthless.
Well, most of us have never been to the moon, either, but I don't think any of us would favor blowing it up in order to obtain its mineral deposits.
The Repubs are good at that. There's always a kernel of truth in this BS too. Just enough to make one pause since the reasoning is unfailiar. And since this form of assault tends to be unexpected the resulting verbal sword play often has little to do with the actual issues. But isn't that the whole object? Just to win?
In today's Providence Journal, the following letter by John St. Lawrence appeared. It's short but powerfull.
ReplyDelete*Don't thank all veterans*
Exactly what is meant by these ever-present American-flag lapel pins?Are they a kind of loyalty oath? Do they suggest that the wearer will enforce --- or at the very least not challenge --- America's contemporary record, the prevailing wisdom, or its historical narrative?
Frankly, these jingoistic displays remind me of the Third Reich.
And what is it with these gentle reminders asking us to thank a veteran? Is this akin to "tying a yellow ribbon"? And will this absolve one of any further responsibly for sending our soldiers off to war?
Have you any idea how empty and shallow those words sound to someone who has been in a war zone? After Vietnam, it took me 15 years to make sense of what had happened to me, and to forgive myself. Anyone thanking me for my service would have signaled to me just how clueless they were and would have put more distance between us than was already there.
A couple of months ago, I ran into an Iraq veteran. All he wanted was his M4 rifle. And something to help him sleep.
John St. Lawrence Johnston