Jack & Jill Politics

The NBA is dead and Kobe Bryant is not the second coming of Michael Jordan no matter how many times Mark Jackson tries to claim he is.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/14/742487/...

(ACTION) AP: White House Walking Back Public Option
by Willa Rogers (Daily Kos)

Extremely disappointing wire story on the public dialog about a public option:

Co-op compromise gives White House a health option

By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer

Sunday, June 14, 2009

(06-14) 12:10 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Cabinet officials and Obama allies on Sunday sought to rein in lawmakers, who were expected this week to introduce specific plans that run counter to Obama's political promises. Many urged lawmakers to consider a cooperative program that would expand coverage to the 50 million uninsured Americans with taxpayer support without direct governmental control.

Some of those ways, though, run counter to the White House's earlier positions and Obama's own political base. While supporters from Obama's left have advocated a government-run option — championed by an ailing Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and his surrogate, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. — presidential aides and congressional leaders in both parties have sought a speedy compromise.

Obama's political team at the White House has seen such a compromise as an option, although publicly the administration remains in support of a government competitor to private insurance. But during appearances on Sunday news programs, the support seemed to waver.

Sebelius said "having these ideas on the table is exactly where we need to be right now." And Vice President Joe Biden indicated the White House was ready to accept that "a public plan is on a continuum."

Full story here.

It's not surprising for those of us who've been tracking healthcare reform to see that the public option--any public option--has been framed as a proposal coming from the "left," particularly since single-payer was shut out from the start from the legislative debate about healthcare reform.

It is, however, deeply disappointing to see that the White House is so willing to bargain away the one facet that would provide Americans with a meaningful choice in the form of a robust public option that would serve our needs rather that serving the needs of shareholders in for-profit insurance companies.

A mandate to purchase private health insurance--even (rather, especially) when our tax dollars will be used to further entrench and enable private insurers to deny care to those who need it--is worse than no legislation at all. Passing such a plan would not only institutionalize the problems we face obtaining approval for healthcare under private insurance, but would jeopardize the Dem majority come the midterm elections, once voters recognize that "reform" was a sham and a taxpayer giveaway to private insurance.

This week the Senate Dems are due to debut their final plans for a public option--or weaksauce alternatives, such as Conrad's co-ops, which means it's our last chance to try to sway them toward offering a robust public option as part of any healthcare-reform legislation, and to shift the public debate toward ensuring that a public option serves as real competition to the health-insurance industry parasites.

I'm reprinting the following action alert from Slinkerwink's last diary:

PLEASE CALL the White House and let President Obama know that you don't want him to consider the "7-year trigger" for the public option. Let him know that you're ANGRY that he's doing this. Tell him it won't be REAL health care reform without an immediately available, strong, robust Medicare-like public option.

CALL the White House at: 202-456-1111 and E-MAIL them as well!

PLEASE CALL these Senators on the Senate Finance Committee today to demand a strong, robust affordable Medicare-like public option. Here's a list of talking points below:

Tell Senator [Name] that you DO NOT want the 7-year trigger for the public option and take it off the table, and that you want him to support an affordable strong, robust Medicare-like public option. We NEED a strong, robust Medicare-like public option NOW OPEN TO ALL AMERICANS AND AFFORDABLE, not more of the SAME broken system that's given us unaffordable premiums, little private insurance coverage, and rising co-pays. Also, DON'T TAX OUR EMPLOYER HEALTH BENEFITS. Instead, follow the proposal by President Obama to tax the wealthy above $250,000, eliminate the overpayments in Medicare Advantage, and put tax capital gains to help fund health care reform.

Please CALL Senator Max Baucus at (202) 224-2651

Please CALL Senator Charles Schumer at 202-224-6542

Please CALL Senator Edward Kennedy at (202) 224-4543

Please CALL Senator John Rockefeller at (202) 224-6472

Please CALL Senator Ron Wyden at (202) 224-5244

Please CALL Senator Kent Conrad at (202) 224-2043

Please CALL Senator Jeff Bingaman at (202) 224-5521

Please CALL Senator John Kerry at (202) 224-2742

Please CALL Senator Blanche Lincoln at 202-224-4843

Please CALL Senator Debbie Stabenow at (202) 224-4822

Please CALL Senator Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441

Please CALL Senator Bill Nelson at 202-224-5274

Please CALL Senator Robert Menendez at 202-224-4744

Please CALL Senator Thomas Carper at (202) 224-2441

This coming week may be one of the most important for healthcare-reform activists this year, and your phonecalls may never have more impact than they do now. Please take the time to let the White House, your senators and your representative know that including a public option is non-negotiable when it comes to your supporting Democratic legislation for healthcare reform.

Looks like the AP is trying to mindscrew us again.

I saw Biden on MTP and there was no "walking back" on the public option that the AP article and the DK Diarist claim. I didn't see the Sebelius interview on This Week, but one of the commentators on that DK diary did and said this:

I've just read a transcript of the interview with Sebeilius on This Week, and there is no indication that I can see that the administration is "walking back the public option."

SEBELIUS: What the president’s said all along is, we want a level playing field. But having some competition and having some choice for consumers is a good thing. I don’t think it’s any surprise that insurance companies would rather have a system where everybody must buy coverage and there are no competitors.

So, you know...

(CROSSTALK) SEBELIUS: ... new customers.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Doesn’t the public plan only make sense if it actually does pay lower rates than the private plans so that it’s lower in cost?

SEBELIUS: I don’t think you have to pay lower rates. I think what you have to do is, maybe, cut some of those overhead costs and have innovative strategies.

What consumers will have is choice. And in lots of places in the country, absent a public option, absent some kind of competitive option, people would have no choice.

There’s one dominant company and that really doesn’t drive innovation; it doesn’t drive much in terms of quality care. And that’s really the goal at the end of the day.

We know that higher cost doesn’t translate into higher quality. And what we want to do is have highest-quality, lower-cost care for all Americans.

SEBELIUS: Well, I think -- I think the discussions, right now, are serious ideas around the table from all sides. He has laid out pretty clearly and, I think, reinforced his support for a public option, to a letter to Finance Committee members. He talked about it in a radio address. He’s, you know, continuing to do that.

I don’t think it’s a surprise that the president supports a public option. He thinks choice is good, thinks competition is good.

And, frankly, George it exists all over the country. State employee health plans in 30 states have private options side by side with public options. It works well. It provides some choice. It exists in children’s health insurance programs.

So the notion that somehow this public plan can’t work and it will drive the private insurance market out of business is just not very accurate.

However, I do agree that we need to flood them with calls and emails.

KOBE BRYANT=MVP

MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!

Republican Far Right Rhetoric Inspiring Domestic Terrorism?
A few months ago a state supremacist sympathizer killed three cops in by Pittsburgh, PA. Richard Poplawski was obsessed with the fact that with the idea that President Obama would enact legislation that would take away his arsenal of guns. A week ago a Dr. George Tiller was gunned down in his church by an anti-abortion, ex-militia assassin. This week, James von Brunn, an ex-con, white supremacist murdered Special Policeman Stephen T. Johns at the National Holocaust Museum. Von Brunn believed that Obama was not born in the United States. The trauma of 9/11 has led us to forget that one of the largest acts of terrorism in U.S. history was committed a man who read the racist tome, The Turner Diaries. Timothy McVeigh also laid low before his despicable act at a white supremacist compound named Elohim City.

The longest campaign of terrorism was the KKK’s for close to a hundred years. Although the rape, torture and murder of black Americans was their primary goal. Leo Frank, a Jewish immigrant was murdered after his biased conviction of a young Irish American girl. Like blacks, his Judaism was said to drive his so-called deviant sexuality. For decades the NAACP tried to get congress to pass an anti-lynching laws and was turned away year after year. A bill was never passed. On June 13, 2005, the Senate formally apologized for its failure to enact an anti-lynching bill. Twenty southern senators mostly republican (only one democratic non-signatory) declined to originally cosponsor the resolution. If republicans can still refuse to vote for an anti lynching bill can right wing extremism be far behind?

Last week, Republican die-hards paid to hear Newt Gingrich stated that Barack Obama’s five month presidency has made America “weak.” The MC of the event John Voight, (yes, Angelina Jolie’s dad) stated that Obama was a “false prophet.” This week Rev of Reverend Wiley Drake exclaimed on Fox Radio that he is actively praying for the death of Obama. Since Glen Beck’s arrived to the FOX he has been propagating an apocalyptic brand of semi-evangelism. He screams that Obama’s policy will bring about the end of America by 2012. The tea parties on tax day was riddled with placards that advocated violence against Obama. Need we forget the crowds at McCain rallys who yelled “kill him”

Domestic terrorism from homegrown radical Islamic extremism have been foiled in the last few weeks, but we cannot say the same for right wing extremism. The idea that these are all lone wolves is ridiculous. The may not have a membership card from The Order or the Christian Identity movement, but they follow their ideals just the same. Gone are the days of the night riders who strung mutilated black bodies from trees, but the idea of more of these despicable attacks continuing is a consideration that should be taken more seriously. It is time that the federal government take these individuals as seriously as those who threaten our country from without.
http://eshowoman.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/repub...

Amen!

http://natturnersrevenge.blogspot.com/2009/06/h...

(grumble)

Congratulations, Lakers.

(that's all you'll get from me).

LOL! Word.

Rikyrah......A True East Coast Fan!...LMAO

I concur!

Thanks rikyrah.

How sweet it is!

My dad hates Kobe. Calls him "The Rapist." (fair point). Calls is wife the "video ho golddigger." (mean, but...). Says he's a "giggly conceited little pussy." (ok). And not the best player in the NBA (that statement I have a problem with).

B-Serious, the Lakers brought it! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Los Angeles Lakers are the 2009 NBA Champions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sogKUx_q7ig

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoLE8FmooIM

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Magic!!

(hope springs eternal)

Why did Cookie let Magic out the house in that hologram of a suit? What the hell? Is it just MY television? Its like staring directly into the sun. Does it glow in the dark?

How the Obamas Made Washington Hot!
By Karen J. Quan

Originally posted Sunday June 14, 2009 11:45 AM EDT

There's a new couple in the White House and seemingly overnight our nation's capital – a town known for filibusters, not fun – is suddenly a magnet for Hollywood starlets, reality TV shows and high-profile idealists wanting to get in on a little high-minded action. Here's a look at some of those beguiled by the Beltway:

Dating in the D.C.
After splitting from The Office nice guy John Krasinski, Parks & Recreation star Rashida Jones, 33, has been hanging with President Obama's 28-year-old speechwriter Jon Favreau. "It's not serious," a source reveals, but they are an item. Meanwhile, taking a break from her doctor duties at the Oceanside Wellness Center, Private Practice star Kate Walsh, 41, has been spotted cuddling with another young administration hotshot, Sean Smith. How's this for a title? Smith, 38, is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,2028502...

Has anyone else heard that ABC's Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson will interview President Obama Wednesday night about healththcare? It will be televised from the White House.

I saw the advertisement on ABC at the beginning of tonight's game.

Derek fischer hitting the three to create the OT was due to the fact Stan VAn Gundy is a bad coach. by bad coach I mean managing the game when it is being played. Setting up the play that Lee missed is not game managment. Having Jameer Nelson out there was a big mistake. he kept the Magic playing 4 on 5
defense.

AMA Meeting Highlights - Sunday, June 14, 2009
Medicine's D-Day

During a speech that drew a standing ovation at Saturday's Opening Session, AMA President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD, compared the monumental moment at hand for America's physicians—the nationwide debate about health system reform—to one of the greatest in the country's history, D-Day.

"We now have the best, and maybe last, chance in a generation to build [a] bridge," Dr. Nielsen said. "This is our profession's D-day."

While the battle for affordable health insurance and quality health care for all Americans is one not yet won, Dr. Nielsen said it's both battles and bridge-building in which physicians have been heavily engaged.

She reminded physicians of their recent victories, including stopping a steep cut in Medicare physician payments last year, exposing health insurers' payment schemes for out-of-network services and recent congressional passage of legislation that gives the Food and Drug Administration oversight of tobacco. And she noted battles still being fought, citing the need for a permanent repeal of Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula, congressional passage of legislation that would allow physicians to balance bill for Medicare and meaningful nationwide medical liability reform.

As physicians continue to fight specific battles and form certain bridges, she called on doctors to do their part in building one vital bridge in particular. "We have a chasm in health care in this country," Dr. Nielsen said. "We have to help build a bridge across it if there is any hope of creating a better future for our patients and our profession."


http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-p...

The competitors on "She's Got The Look" make me SICK!!!!!!!!

(I'm so hating right now)

Let's make it plain..

Life ain't fair..LOL

Is this the show with the mature women models? LOL!

Yes! They are gorgeous! Nothing's sagging! This is so ridiculous! Where the hell is this fountain of youth!

HA HA HA!!! http://www.pbase.com/jennino/image/32951448

OK....adding this place on my list of places I must visit. I need to be baptized in this over and over.

LOL! Wait until you turn 50; it's Nifty!

If you have HDNET on your cable Santana is jamming .That is all.

Basketball is STILL going....

LOL...it will end tonight or Tuesday........and then you've got a good 6 weeks until FOOTBALL"S back!!

I KNEW you was cool people!!

Saw that McNabb signed his new extension! Will Philly ever get that man some bonafide receivers or what?

You gotta know that Philly sports teams have a history of snatchin' defeat from the jaws of victory. (How the Phils won the WS, I will never know, but I'm glad they did!) AND the Eagles are notoriously cheap!

Of course, I'm biased, but McNabb is the most underrated QB in the league.

McNabb is severely underrated. I was so glad when he spoke up about the double standard on black QBs...and then silly azzes Vince Young and Jason Campbell had the utter audacity to say they didn't agree...well look at both of them NOW...bet they see it today! VY holding a clipboard and Jason watched his team pursue not one but TWO guys for his spot!

LOL! Yes, hopefully the Lakers will put the Magic to bed tonight!

US DEBT IS AT $1M PER FAMILY - ...estimates that the bloated public and private debt in the US works out to $250,000 for every man, woman and child in the country ... At the $75 trillion deficit level a family of four owes $1 million...

Two weeks ago, the debt load per family was: U.S. Debt $668,621 Per Household

Hey Karmi since you are counting,, how much have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cost the American people and how much will it cost future generations of Americans? How many American soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan to date? How many American soldiers have been wounded/maimed for life in Iraq and Afghanistan to date? How many innocent Iraqi and Afghanistani men, women and children have died so far? How many innocent Iraqi and Afghanistani men, women and children have been wounded/maimed for life so far?

Multiply the debt that Bush ran up by FIVE and that is the debt that Obama has run up in just five months...

No wonder you're confused with the numbers, Karmi. Your'e still using this:

http://www.ladybird-toys.co.uk/files/Giant%20ab...

LMAO!!!!

Wrong!:

Mr. Obama’s main contribution to the deficit is his extension of several Bush policies, like the Iraq war and tax cuts for households making less than $250,000. Such policies — together with the Wall Street bailout, which was signed by Mr. Bush and supported by Mr. Obama — account for 20 percent of the swing.

About 7 percent comes from the stimulus bill that Mr. Obama signed in February. And only 3 percent comes from Mr. Obama’s agenda on health care, education, energy and other areas.

If the analysis is extended further into the future, well beyond 2012, the Obama agenda accounts for only a slightly higher share of the projected deficits.

How can that be? Some of his proposals, like a plan to put a price on carbon emissions, don’t cost the government any money. Others would be partly offset by proposed tax increases on the affluent and spending cuts. Congressional and White House aides agree that no large new programs, like an expansion of health insurance, are likely to pass unless they are paid for.

Emphasis added.

Thank you for posting that link, I was about to do the same thing until I realized that you had beat me to the punch. Though it is painfully obvious that facts have no part in Karmi's silly post.

FACTS added...

And, that's only the beginning - i.e. first five months - of the debt that Obama plans on running up. He has no clue what a disaster he is creating.

Is that you, Michelle Malkin? BWA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle Malkin is a whore for the right wing. I make no apologies for calling her one either - this is all she is:
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/jac...

Malkin to her right wing daddies: "me love u loong time! evwey ting u want! evwey ting!"

My question for Michelle is was the Sailor Moon outfit she used in that corny-ass video she made bashing democrats rented or part of her "private collection"? What kinda of freeky-deeky stuff her and Jesse are into? lol.

ROTFLMBAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perfect; this fits her to a tee!

Michelle Malkin and "facts" are an oxymoron, kid. the only thing she could do to interest me is dress up like Sailor Moon again and do a cheer.

If "socialism" is in America now, you have the Bush administration to thank.

You use Michelle Malkin to substantiate your claim. You are more stupid than I realize.

You've clearly been underestimating Karmi.

Karmi boddleboopboop.