1?

hi Eli

hi Betsy

Excellent post Eli. I can send more faxes.

W00t!

Baby steps is right.

I’ve been wondering if the obstructionist attitude on the part of the Republicans on healthcare might impact the dynamics of the war crimes charges that DOJ is handling? These seem like unrelated issues, but if it becomes clear that the GOP is simply going to dig in its heels and oppose all of Obama’s initiatives, then that liberates him to just go ahead and say to hell with them and let the chips fall where they may. The minute Obama abandons his ridiculous bipartisanship fantasy, things begin to look worse for Rove and Cheney and Rumsfeld and Gonzales and Yoo….

One thing O won’t do is give up on bipartisanship, or postpartisanship, imo. It’s who he is.

This is where we find ourselves, and he told us this during the campaign. Our job is to make it politically lethal to maintain hopes of it.

If the public option passes over their dead bodies via reconciliation, he’ll feel that he has to make it up to them…

You’re more cynical than I am.

We’ll call it a draw.

Amazing.
A couple hundred Repukes and Fifty thousand Insurance company lobbyists are blocking what two thirds of THREE HUNDRED MILLION citizens want desperately to happen.
Of course, if you throw in the idiots of the MSM, you are getting real close to the same numbers as TWO HUNDRED MILLION citizens.

NOT.

Then again, look at the polling numbers of We The People who were against bailing out Wall Street, that was closer to NINETY PERCENT, and they fucking did that anyway.

If I am a typical Joe Half Rack and I can see that the Republicans have no alternate plan and just want to keep the donations coming from the lobbyists and to do anything they can think of to stop Obama from doing anything at all, why can’t these so called Democratic Representatives figure this shit out?

Ram it down their damn throats, realize how empowering it is and leave them in the dust.

It’s a fight to the death. The insurance corps know that if the public option is passed, they’ll eventually go out of business, their death.

If the insurance corps get their way, we’ll die.

eli, which/what public option are you referring to?

I always return to the Upton Sinclair quote, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”

I have yet to find anything that better describes our current political situation.

Guess what? We’re all gonna die. It’s what happens.

More like zygote steps. But better than nuthin’ I s’pose.

Sooner if we have to rely on private medical insurance.

For purposes of that scenario, any public option. But I *want* a robust public option that is widely available and isn’t the portal to some kind of second-class-citizen free-clinic hell.

Right now my two biggest fears are:

1) The Democratic leadership concocts some weak, godawful doomed-to-fail public option, but because it *is* technically a public option, enough progressives break ranks and vote for it.

2) The Democrats decide to go in the other direction completely and let the Republicans dictate a bill lousy enough to get enough Republican votes to counterbalance the progressives.

Number 18?

Maybe.

Wrong again. I just thought it was funny, ’cause I forgot we were counting.
*
Ecahn: Can you tell me what kind of bike you have. I might be buying one.

….some kind of second-class-citizen free-clinic hell.

Ding Ding Ding!

We have a winner.

That is exactly what I see happening with this.

The insurance corps know that if the public option is passed, they’ll eventually go out of business, their death.

i completely disagree with this statement — adverse selection is a big problem.

moreover, there’s no evidence that i know of (please correct me if i’m wrong on this) and lots of counter evidence. also, not all pos are created equal. see for example:

http://pnhp.org/blog/2009/07/2…..h-how-the-“public-option”-was-sold/

i have another link to hunt up for you with info about where public-option-in-a-multi-payer-system has been tried and the results.

p.s. howdy ecahn!

Here’s a heartening report from Bingaman’s town hall meeting that provides an excellent template going forward. Perhaps it was the show of hands on the public option that moved Senator Jeff away from bipartisanship, because you can’t have both?

The Democratic leadership concocts some weak, godawful doomed-to-fail public option, but because it *is* technically a public option, enough progressives break ranks and vote for it.

my fear too. which is why i asked “what po?”

btw, i think the po in hr 3200 is not even viable. would love counter arguments though if you have them.

I would like to hope that the Democratics realize that they *will* have to answer for their votes on Election Day, and that if they pass something terrible they will lose their jobs.

But there has been precious little evidence of it so far. Right now the progressives are the only ones whose re-election chances I would give a damn for, and that could easily change if they vote for a public option that’s more like Medicaid than Medicare.

I just have an ordinary bicycle with medium wide tires. IIRC, I paid less than $300 for it about 10 or 15 years ago. I’ll go out and look for the brand if you really want it, but it’s nothing special. A 21-speed, and as there is noplace flat near my house, I use them all. I did pay up for a somewhat more comfortable seat, but I think the seats are even better today. (Up to 830 miles so far this year.)

Obama giving up on bipartisanship used to seem remote but how could it be continued, how could he continue with that, when it has been clear, and is now even more so clear, that the Republicans aren’t just the Party of NO to everything he puts forth. No, they are the Party of Destroy Obama at all costs. That is the only thing they are about. Obama, even in his most Pansie state of bipartisanship, has to see that now. What makes it even more absurd for him to keep up the bipartisanship game is that the Republicans already played this out with the Clinton presidency. So, Obama would have to be dangerously gullible or a mental contortionist to not see it coming and to not know that he has to deal with it, full force, this time around.

Hi selise. Long time, no “see.”

I was speaking from what I think is the insurance POV. They don’t need evidence to think that way.

We’ll see. I used to think pols would see the errors of their ways. Doesn’t seem to work out that way.

Am I incorrect in thinking the Dems actually need 51 votes to pass it?

Cool. I’m going to look for something with multi-speeds as I live on a hill. Diffintely going with a cushy seat. Thanks! I’m thinking I need a basket too.
(Cue the music from the Wiz of Oz when the neighbor rides her bike.)

Ahem. You’re counting. Beans?

ah, good point. could very well be so.

i was thinking they would like a po to dump all their sicked (ie most expensive) customers on to. maybe murder by spreadsheet is easier (at least in unregulated states).

….will see if i can easily find that linky anyway though, in case anyone else is interested.

Especially since the GOP has been in obstructionist mode since 2006. I know Obama was preoccupied with self-promotion campaigning but it still seems like he should have noticed.

I don’t – it sounds pretty meh, frankly. But if the public option is going to be passed through the Senate via reconciliation, I have a pretty strong suspicion that the end result is going to look pretty different from anything currently on the table.

I do worry that the Democrats might view “not viable” as a feature, not a bug.

Sorry, your comment made me think of If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Wouldn’t rely on a count close to what we need.

Magic beans. Is that cow for sale?

I just got a soft basket on the side this year. It folds up when not in use and when open there are two plastic pieces to put in the sides to make them a little more rigid. It’s not the most convenient basket but I like the fact that it folds up. The rack they put on to attach the basket to has grooves on top, and I can buy a basket that slides into them, and can be taken on & off easily. So if I get fed up with the side basket (takes talent to arrange fresh fruit & vegies so they get home unbruised), I might go for the other one.

Ah, geez. Sad, but so true. Jack the lobbyist.

As far as I can tell, I think it’s like any other up-or-down vote, where the VP can serve as a tiebreaker. Unless you’re worried about Teddy Kennedy will be able to make it there for the vote.

Dumping sick people on the public plan would get old pretty quickly. That could help them out for a few years, but it’s not a long run business plan.

Oh, selise, is your roof all fixed?

Thanks. I’ll check that out. Do you wear a helmet? Wondering just how goofy I’m going to look. I know. It doesn’t matter.

I’m guessing not nearly as goofy as you’d look after an unprotected faceplant onto concrete.

I’m certain Ted will be there if he can. Forgot about the VP.

ON an unrelated note, I had to laugh at Cheney’s accusation that Obama is politicizing the Justice Department.

I had the same reaction, but then I remembered how Obama has already politicized the DHS, which is something Bush would *never* do…

I recommend you try the Jack Nicholson helmet.

No I don’t wear a helmet. (Ducking under computer while everyone tells me how stupid I am.) I don’t like them, especially since I listen to books when I bicycle and the headset and helmet together are uncomfortable.

And I agree that Teddy will be there if he can. The question is, can he? I believe that as long as he is conscious, they will wheel him in on a hospital bed for the vote.

I’m going with the helmet.
Years ago, we had desert tortoise in our backyard. His name was helmet. Or Helmut. I never spelled it before.
But, you are right. I should be as safe as I can. But, what about the hair?

Right and eventually Cheney will accuse the current administration of cherry-picking intelligence.

Dude! That would protect my pretty little head. More than those little cap things.

I reckon it can’t be helped. I feel your pain – I get hathead if my hair is longer than, say, a half-inch. It even gets dented if I wear headphones (I call it Walkmange).

Do you think the Rs would try to block the door?

I find it hilarious to see how conservatives are suddenly all up in arms about protecting their civil liberties from overreaching authoritarian government.

good evening all…………im having my

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1dq6uwXkbI

Helmetmange. Ha! My hair happens to be longer than 1/2 inch. But, it is a short do. If it was long, I’d do a pony tail and it wouldn’t matter. It prolly doesnt, anyway.

I don’t think they’d dare. But I could see them trying to pull some kind of parliamentary bullshit declaring him unfit to vote. No idea whether there are grounds for such a thing, but it’s not like that’s ever stopped them before.

There are so many excellent helmet styles available, it is hard to choose.

listening to DANCE OF THE 7 VEILS on NPR

I should mention that I saw a guy riding a unicycle through traffic this morning. No helmet, IIRC.

Let me put it to ya this way honey, I used to ride, I have landed smack on my head at over forty five miles an hour a couple of times.
I would not be here telling you to quit worrying about your hair without them. Split one of them almost in half.

I would hate to hear some nice nurse was combing your hair because you were in a coma, Capiche?

be very aware and careful…mokayyy?we luv ya muchly

I love Marvin, but actually, I seen motorcyclists with helmets with gladiator bristles. This could be fun, actually.

Got it. I’ll go for goofy and awake.

I’ve been listening to the Stones’ “Between the Buttons” a lot recently. The mid ’60s was a great period for them. Much more evocative and varied than most of their later efforts.

phony outrage,to go with phony wars,phony ethics,phony religion etc ad nauseum

Was he a clown? Is Mary around?

Thank you.

Nope, just a normal-looking guy. Except for being on a unicycle.

I don’t wear a helmet skiing either.

Fashion statements are fun but I suspect the safer helmets can slide when they impact a flat surface. Helmets with stuff jutting out of them are only for self-destructive types or people with rubber necks.

No, thank you. I had a 2nd interview this am, and it went very well, for a job 2 miles from my house, and I’m just thinking it would be really dumb for me not to get a bike and ride. Talk about a zero carbon foot print.

I wear roller skates when I work on the roof.

lol

i never did either,but i never fell on my head,butt yes

Perhaps your butt has more padding than your head?

with or without a helmet?

couldn’t quickly find the other link i was looking for (for ecahn) and now see my first linky is busted. trying again:

Bait and switch: How the “public option” was sold

imo, a must read for the analysis of hacker’s po proposals (can skip the single payer bit is that’s not your cup of tea)

I leave the helmet on the ground, if I ever take a dive I’ll try to aim for it.

about equal methinks………..fathead etc……..g

Heh. When I told a boss I was gonna ride my bike to work when he moved the business from Cambridge to the burbs, he freaked out. It was a new company with only a handful of employees. Told him I didn’t know how to drive (was 22 at the time) and that we couldn’t afford a second car. He ended up paying for my driver’s lessons and insurance on the second car for a year. It was 1968 and we bought a used 1960 (or 61) Mercedes 220 SEL convertible in blue green with white leather upholstery. Cost only a couple of grand. Drove like a truck. But it got me thru my need to have a fancy car. Been there, done that, don’t need to do it again.

yeah, features and bugs do seem to depend nowadays on one’s point of view.

p.s. while i was looking for another link (where pos have been tried), i saw this one you might like to take a look at too: The Senate HELP Committee “public option” will be multiple “options,” and these will be run by insurance companies

lots of good analysis of current bill – although as you point out, what comes out of reconciliation is likely to be quite different.

And even if they go with option (1), they can still put in some kind of mandate that everyone buy insurance at whatever price the providers want.
With option (2), we’re guaranteed the premiums will be high, whether there’s a requirement to buy or not.

Why does the Senate hate America?

If my new boss wanted to buy me a convertible, I’d pass on the bike. *g*

Both parties are pretty committed to trying to minimize the harm to the insurance companies. Remember, the only reason the public option, *any* public option, is even still on the table is because of the progressives.

But yes, if the endgame is a terrible non-viable public option, *and* it gets the NCLB underperforming school treatment instead of repair, then not only does that fail to help the people the PO was supposed to help, but it discredits the PO forever as “That thing we tried once that was a total disaster and everyone hated it.”

It’s not that they *hate* America. If they could come up with healthcare reform that helps the American people without hurting insurance or pharma profits, they would do it in a heartbeat. The problem is that there’s no such thing, and when push comes to shove, protecting corporate interests is their Prime Directive.

Red okay?

The new job would be at the gym, at which I work out. So, I wouldn’t even have to change clothes. I’m working on being a spoiled brat. I deserve it.

OK, time for an OT.

I am, as of the past week, the proud landlady of a great blue heron, who has decided to hang out in my back yard. He’s been back every day. They normally are waders, but we’ve had so much rain this year I think he might be having trouble with the river being too high and too swift. They do eat rodents and I’ve seen him catch one. He stands very quietly on the mowed grass near the unmowed portion, looking and listening. Then his coiled head darts down, and voila, food.

Really, the shrinkage of the public option is kind a microcosm of the healthcare reform battle as a whole: “We need to pass something that looks good enough to get us re-elected, but that won’t make the insurance industry too mad at us.”

If classic Mercedes convertibles still cost a couple of grand, I’d buy another one.

all the insurance cos have to do is delay, deny, etc and people who are really sick will jump to the po (because they know the score and paying a little more in premiums is worth it to get hospital bills paid). private insurance cos can then charge somewhat lower premiums and healthy young people will be more likely to choose their plans in order to save money.

that’s why i never bought the “competition to keep the insurance companies honest” slogan (i really think it was developed to poll well and has nothing to do with policy).

p.s. roof not done yet (delayed again!), but should be soon. thanks for asking.

Good for you. Sounds like a winner.

Okay, boss, honey. But, I haven’t lost That Much Weight.

fingers crossed!

How is it that other countries have managed to place health care for ordinary citizens ahead of moneyed interests? Are their politicians really less corrupt than ours?

I believe it would be. Sitting here waiting for her to call. She’s even blond and swears. My kind of chick. Just waiting. But, the vibes were So Right On.

I know that the insurance companies can accomplish getting rid of the sick people. It would just become obvious to everyone pretty quickly, and then something would be done about it. Unless insurance companies, like banks, own the govt. But if they do, we won’t get a public option to begin with.

Sorry your roof isn’t done yet. Hope the temporary’s been holding up in all this raid.

That is GORGEOUS! Congratulations.

Well if you have a better plan, why don’t you tell us about it ?

*ducks and runs*

They are so dumb. Where else can the lobbyists go? They’re not going to abandon the poor Congress – just more money next time.

very good taste

Thanks, Selise. Imagine getting paid to encourage and lift people up? And, free membership!

Eli !

it s the parts and upkeep,been there done that 3X

Eli! Fine piece once again, merci.

Rosanne, wonderful that the wildlife feels secure around your place.

Have you seen my red tailed hawk lunching on a pigeon?

lookey…me likey

http://icechewing.huddler.com/…..-sweet.jpg

Thanks, I learned everything I know about cars from Stuart Little.

Well… yeah. Our campaign finance system legalizes a rather remarkable level of corruption, to the point where our government is institutionally incapable of thinking about the well-being of the people, or the Constitution, or the planet, before that of the corporations.

I know it sounds like wild-eyed hyperbole, and I hate sounding like a zealot, but I don’t see any other way to look at the legislative process on healthcare, or telecom immunity, or the environment. The Right Thing To Do is very clear and obvious, but the majority practices willful blindness to it.

I tried, but I can not fix your link.

Yes, there’s that. The Mercedes was expensive to maintain. Finally got rid of it when we moved to Manhattan. Parking expensive is a killer and couldn’t leave it one the street.

Petro!

Hughes!

The Darrell Issa look !

OH, Invalid thumbnail URL :(

Speaking of health care, I had a chance to use my government-funded, efficiently run Tricare health coverage. Called as the clinic opened, my doctor is not in on Mondays, had an appointment at a local clinic two and a half hours later. Discussed what it might be, allergies or an infection or most likely both, got a prescription, and was out the door. I may pay something a bit later as I haven’t gotten to my $250 deductable, but had no problems getting in and seen. That is what I want for everyone else with a public option. The government can run a health care system efficiently and will challenge anyone to prove it is less efficient than private care.

imo…they fought2 bloody wars for aristocratic empire,before common sense set in

I imagine you enjoyed Mouse Hunt also? I could watch it over and over.

Are we to only applaud House progressives who made their decision after they got $400,000 in donations.

If you take money for votes it’s still pandering to a lobby, even if it’s a progressive cause.

Do the right thing from the start!

Have you seen my red tailed hawk lunching on a pigeon?

Oh, that was good.

i agree. but i am not proud of most of the progressives in this. from the top down decision to pre compromise, to the massive lies(*) that are being told and not challenged, the whole thing has me pretty disillusioned.

note: for example: dr. dean has been horrible (massive and repeated lies), and darcy burner sent out a fund raising letter (7/27) saying, “The current House bill includes the robust public option demanded by the Congressional Progressive Caucus…” which is a flat out lie — hr 3200 does not meet the cpc criteria.

thankyou…cute little helmet made by Sweet!…worth looking into

And since (real) campaign finance reform would require legislation to shut off the money spigot, it ain’t likely to happen.

Gah. Ack.

The red tail hawks drive me nuts. They screech all day long.

I also have seen signs of a bear in the back of my property, but I haven’t seen it yet. My beekeeper tells me to check on the hive frequently. It’s strapped to cement blocks, so a bear could tip it over, but couldn’t get inside. The bees would be upset, but at least the brood would be alive. (Bears go for the larva; pure protein. The honey’s just the icing.)

Mon ami !

No, no, you got it all wrong. You’re supposed to say “Keep the government’s hands off my Tricare!”

Seriously, though, thank you. This myth that government healthcare is inherently awful and full of rationing and death panels and bureaucrats between you and your doctor, etc., is literally insane, and far more accurately describes the *private* insurance industry.

Unless insurance companies, like banks, own the govt.

FIRE.

the “I” stands for insurance. :(

(roof patches are doing good, but don’t want to go through another winter with them).

I read Stuart Little in 1st or 2nd grade. Afraid I missed the movie.

It would also require a majority of incumbents to vote against their own job security.

Firebrands…I’m going on vacation tomorrow. Camping. So, I won’t be around. But, know how much I appreciate everyone’s sharing and caring.

sweet helmets

http://www.rockcreek.com/sweet-helmets/

Um, 60-65 of them made their decision *before* the $400,000 came pouring in, and I would be willing to bet that none of them expected anywhere near what they ended up getting.

Eli, I appreciate the welcome, Petro, mon ami aussi, hope all is well with you and your family.

Feeding Hawk

Did you have any problems with your bees, were they affected by whatever happened to them a couple years ago??

awesome! hope your heron is eating all your voles (if you have them). i HATE voles!

Have fun. Tell everyone in Martha’s Vineyard that I said “Hi.”

Everyone’s well, thanks for asking.

I see that new Camera is getting a good workout ! *g*

How can you hate something that looks like this?

then i’m gonna cross toes too!

p.s. night to all…..

Considering their egos, they probably don’t think they got enough. After all, they are for sale.

((( demi )))

Camping’s great, campfire is the best part … especially in a 5-Star suite. *g*

G’nite selise !

Cute, but holy cow, girlfriend. I was planning on buying a bike at a garage sale. Can’t afford those. I’m saving my pennies for MOB dress. Five weeks and five days. If anyone’s counting. Ha.

g’nite selise

OT,

GWB has been invited by the Montréal chamber of commerce to come and snicker in front of a room of well heeled fascists.

Looks like I’ll be picketing on october the twenty-second.

Oh. Right. Not. We’re going to McGrath State Beach in Oxnard. And, you know what that means. Oxnard = bullballs.

I thought you said the wedding was at a nude beach?

Petrovichkova!,im saying hi and bye,me puppy had another epileptic fit Mon nite,Im sleep deprived ….goodnite all…HappyVacayy Demi…nytol!

Eli,
I see the same doctor that I had with a private health insurance plan. Now, I was unwilling to go with a less expensive private plan when I was working, because one I would have to change doctors, (I’m a fan of osteopaths) and drive 50 miles to see one of the plan doctors. I could even use the VA system, but don’t go often and see no reason to change doctors and drive 50 miles to do so.

The progressives are better than most, and a lot of them probably are inclined to do the right thing as a matter of principle (or of having a very liberal constituency that they want to re-elect them), but it’s still best to keep a close eye on them…

Sand feels better between your toes… Well, the bulls might not agree.:)

Don’t be a baby. We have a tent. A big blow up air mattress. Candles. And, Salmon. 6 stars, baby. 6.

707

g’nite sadly

I did not. You did. That was a different story, silly.

O/T – Obama on brink of announcing Mideast Peace talks – from Guardian

“Although the negotiations are being held in private, they have reached such an advanced stage that both France and Russia have approached the US offering to host a peace conference.”

“The president, who plans to make his announcement flanked by Netanyahu and the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas – plus the leaders of as many Arab states as he can muster – hopes that a final peace agreement can be negotiated within two years, a timetable viewed as unrealistic by Middle East analysts.”

yah,a bit too pricey….methinks

Easy, when it is killing one of my trees. Don’t care what gets it, bird of prey, cat, coyote, or dog, I want them gone.

Yeah, good luck with that. Maybe if it were someone other than Bibi on the Israeli side…

You could use the money you save to buy a bike. I’m certain the wedding party would agree…

okay g anite

What kind of wine should one serve with vole?

On the other hand, better that he’s trying to broker something than just throwing up his hands and saying let ‘em kill each other. It’s a good thing to do, I’m just not optimistic.

Those are fabulous. I now remember you linked to them before. How far away were you? I thought about photoing my heron, but I was about 70 feet away and the telephoto just isn’t good enough at that distance to show it.

I just got the bees this year. Colony Collapse Disorder is still happening, though not so much with organic beekeepers. I’ve read two books on it and it seems to be a complicated interaction of degraded environment, chemicals, monoculture, etc. So far so good for mine. It’s been a challenging year because of all the rain, but they’re filling the pantry for winter. No honey harvesting this year.

Thank you.

THAT’S the fucking meme we need to chant, over and over and over again.

That’s all this is about.

And it impacts everything else in our lives. Everything.

We lose this, we lose it all, we win this, we push them back one step.

And the NEXT step is regulating banking/financial/Wall Street.

We lose, we die.

What’s THAT worth to Pups, and People, everywhere?

Enuff to be in the streets for mass civil disobedience?

Good on you.

Government run health care doing it’s job.

You don’t mention monthly premiums, as such, I have to assume you pay nothing.

I have to pay $10 per month on my company plan, and haven’t gone to the clinic for 10 years. I have no idea what the company pays for my insurance yearly, ($2k, $3k, $4k) but they’re getting ripped off, because I don’t use a penny of it.

You like your government plan, I like my private plan.

I’d prefer the company paid me directly and let me shop around, but I understand I’m averaging everyone else out, kind of like if I was paying extra taxes to pay for someone who doesn’t pay their government premiums.

Again, you like your government plan, I like my private plan, no problem.

Sadlyyes !

I have rodents of every shape and size. The 2 times I’ve seen the heron with catch in his beak, I haven’t been close enough to tell what it was. The first one was pretty big, maybe bunny size.

i didn’t hate voles until a few years ago when they ate the roots of a bunch of native plants i’d planted. including ALL the bulbs of this (double sanguinaria canadensis – not my pic)

Just reading from the article:

“It’s especially interesting that Bingaman’s statement comes so soon after House progressives got $400,000 in donations”

Every president tries (or goes through the motions). Very little sincerity by any of the parties involved. I suspect Muammar al-Gaddafi was correct when he said there was too little land and too many people for the Israel/Palestine problem to ever be resolved. Still, ya gotta try.

I’m a reisling fan, but don’t think that would go. Maybe a red wine or how about a blush.

Yes, *after* they signed the letter.

What a drag. I don’t plant much, except trees, since the deer eat everything.

There’s a doe in the neighborhood with a gigantic tumor on her right front leg. A couple of other people had seen her and told me about her, but I hadn’t seen her until yesterday evening. She has twins! Poor thing limps. I don’t suppose she’ll make it thru this coming winter.

Unless you think I’m praising Bingaman. I’m encouraged that he’s seen the light (and to what extent remains to be seen), but I don’t think he’s delusional enough to think there’s an ActBlue page in his immediate future.

Sorry, but I have 21-years of military service with most of that overseas. I’ve paid my premiums by protecting you and others.

I pay for a Tricare Supplement, but it isn’t expensive.

“And it impacts everything else in our lives. Everything.

We lose this, we lose it all…

We lose, we die.”

Good passion, but grandma said, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

As I am pretty new to the political scene this is probably a revelation you have all been aware of, nevertheless, it was a very sudden insight for me. Evidently our politicians are for sale, is this like an auction? Is there any way we can raise enough money to outbid the insurance companies?Would this not be the quickest and most efficient way to solve the dilemma of health care for all citizens? Please advise on how to arrange the process. Thank you all very much!

I actually prefer dealing with Bibi rather that Ehud Barak or Livni. Bibi represents all the Crazies and France & Russia see enough promise to offer to host the peace conference.

Did I mention that I’m a hopeless optimist ? *g*

I hope your hives will thrive, honey is a wonder and a treat.

The birds landed in front of me, maybe ten feet away, then the hawk moved away to a distance of sixty feet. It took me about ten minutes to get to about ten feet from the feast. After a couple of minutes there, I slowly backed away so that the bird could have a quiet meal.

How can the Democrats in Congress be made to understand that the people who elected them don’t give a flying suck about either the hurt feelings of the Republicans or the continued profitability of the insurance companies?

Oh, and about a week ago I saw a golden eagle, perched on a blue bucket upended on a neighbor’s fence post. Watched it for about half a minute from a distance of maybe 50 feet. They’re quite rare in the east, so it was quite a sight.

My place is becoming quite the wild kingdom.

Didja hear that Iggy the Hawk is circling over Harpuh’s head ?

Please hurry your reply.I’m exhausted by too much thought and need to rest pretty soon.

Good night! Off to get some of that rest the doctor mentioned today.

…as compared to how many $Millions to conservatives from the “Health” Industry?

I think they’re making a conscious calculation that campaign money in sufficient quantities will give voters amnesia. Which always seemed like a pretty risky approach to me – seems like it’d be a lot easier to just do the right thing, have a clear conscience, and then remind the voters that you did the right thing come election time. I guess that’s why I’m just a blogger.

Grandma also said: “No shit, no roses.”

Now yer tawkin my language!

They had the R&b stuff, on their first three projects, with Tell Me, and a few other self penned hits.
All of which I LOVED!!!! Garage band sound, reverb cranked. Mic on harp, Brian on harp and odd stuff.

But then, Aftermath, Flowers and Between The Buttons happened!

REALLY great stuff, where some of their more country influenced stuff started to come out.

And after that, it was off and sailing with Beggar’s Banquet and the ’sound’ of Let It Bleed.

A Handy Bookmark I Keep

Love’s me Stones Trivia! *G*

I stand corrected.

You didn’t mention it before, but paying in through service counts.

I also don’t want the elderly and infirm withering on the streets. We need government plans. Service members, like other gov employees are one group – work benefit, just like my company, and those that need help are another group. If everyone needs to pay more taxes to help them out, so be it.

Aren’t you fucking lucky?

As the old joke goes, “We’ve established what you are, now we’re only haggling over price.”

Hey, Larue!

;~P

I’m one of those person who tries to conquer his fears, unlike all the crazies who fear they’ll lose their country if the insurance companies get spanked…

Iggy scares me to no end. I see a corporatist flunky, who’ll just love his perpetual wars. On the other hand, Harper is proving on a daily basis that all the crazies are not only situated in the states…

Nice try.

No need to be rude, I was pointing out how wasteful my company was.

econ, I’ve always thought you to be a very savvy person, well educated, and possibly even wise, even tho’ I don’t always agree with everything you say. Your credibility with at least this observer has plummeted dramatically. I trust you have it tattooed on your chest that absolutely no public funds will be used for your resuscitation or care should you sustain critical injuries while choosing to disregard safety recommendations for your chosen activities. skeptic

I’m never rude… Just ask anyone here.

But you said you like your private plan, as wasteful as they are, huh?

Thanks for your concern.

He’ll check with Anne and get back to you.

Thanks.

I understand the lobbies throw WAY more money around than the people do. but it’s true that anyone that pushes money at a pol, is a lobbyist.

Basic definition.

If it’s bad for them to do it, is it bad for you? Not necessarily.

Big Boxes?

Yep, they were so much better when they were still hungry. Everything through Exile is great, after that they were less consistent but still had their moments.

I prefer to “reward” than “entice”.

I tpically associate the dropping of an F-bomb with rude behavior, but maybe I’m just a pruce, no big deal.

Yes, I like my health plan and I like my general good health. And I don’t wish anyone worse than me.

85% have private insurance, I’m for a plan to cover the other 15%, no problem.

Granma done got et by the wolf.

Next!

*G*

85% have private insurance that will drop them in a *F-Bombing* New York second if they have a potentially “costly” issue.

Comments?

I understand, “reward” is way better than “bribe” too.

On the other hand, “support” is what many lobbist say they provide.

Is it what you say or what you do that counts.

And again, I know they do it x 1M.

Yo, El KaBong!

I can’t comment personally, my bosses wife suffered from breast cancer for 5 or 6 years and I assume they covered that.

Our office assistant’s husband has had back problems for years and I assume they’re still covered.

Maybe you know more about the speed of my company insurance dropping us than I do.

They can call it what they like, and our elected representatives can do as well, but it is still a “bribe”. We’re on the same side, just with differing points of view.

Namaste

“Granma done got et by the wolf.”

You seem to know your fairytales.

You know what happens when you assume, don’t you?

The only good thing about Iggy winning the Nov. election is that the Progressive voice is gaining ground in America and that will drive him to the Left, whether he likes it or not.

Anyone but Harpuh and yes, that is a very low Bar …

Yep, and horror stories, too.

Which is what we’re living.

Now go bug someone else.

I’m outta here, also.

Nite Dr.’s of various types! *waves*

Nite Larue!

Always a pleasure pestering you!

;~P

It seems that you’ve put all YOUR eggs in one basket (from a health insurance point of view.) So my question would be: when your insurance company says they have a test from 1994 that shows the very beginning indications of what was at the time benign melonoma, but due to the wondrous technology of the modern age, is obviously NOW determined to be retroactively malignant; and the thing of it is, since it has now been determined to be a pre-existing condition, we cannot afford you any coverage in this very trying time… do you have any other eggs? Baskets?

I hope you brung a bottle to this conversation …

IOW, got a spare $200,000, for starters?

I brought a case if you pups get bored listening to 85% of this.

and sorry but the other 15% of you are on your own.

Bwahahahaha …

zzzzzzzzzzz!

I don’t give as often, nor as much, as I ought. This time I would like to link a gift to Senator Kennedy, last of the band of brothers, who gives me hope for my waning years.

thoughts?