ThinkFast: March 17, 2009
ThinkFast: March 17, 2009
A new USA Today/Gallup poll finds that American support for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan is at a new low. Forty-two percent said the U.S. made “a mistake” in sending military forces to Afghanistan — the highest since the start of the war — and up from 30% in February and 6% in January 2002. Thirty-eight percent said the war is going well — “the lowest percentage since that question was asked in Sept. 2006.”
Wall Street firms are looking for loopholes to avoid the bonus caps that come attached to TARP funds. Citigroup Inc., Morgan Stanley, and other banks are considering increasing base salaries rather than relying on bonuses. Citigroup has received $45 billion in taxpayer relief so far, while Morgan Stanley has received $10 billion.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that he “issued subpoenas for the names of American International Group employees given millions of dollars in bonuses despite their possible roles in the insurance giant’s near-collapse.” Cuomo explained that “his office will investigate whether the…payments are fraudulent under state law because they were promised when the company knew it wouldn’t have the money to cover them.”
Pope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.” The Pope described the “current crisis as the consequence of ‘a deficit of ethics in economic structures‘” and said that it can give “spiritual and moral” suggestions.
“The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries,” a move that has earned widespread criticism from veterans groups. IAVA Director Paul Rieckhoff said the proposal “is bad for the country and bad for veterans,” while Joe Violante, legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, called it “a betrayal.” Watch Rieckhoff discuss the idea with Rachel Maddow here.
Responding to a new report on Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) questionable connection to a defense research center, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas writes that it is time to stop tolerating “any corruption in our ranks.” “House Democrats have been blocking an ethics investigation into this matter,” writes Kos. “That has to stop now.”
Republicans have appointed Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to coordinate a broad campaign aimed at defeating the Employee Free Choice Act. Thune is working to fucus “the lobbying power of business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and coalitions such as the Alliance for Worker Freedom against the measure.”
A new Gallup Poll finds that a majority of Americans, 53 percent, favor the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier for unions to organize workers. “Independents lean in favor of such a law, 52% vs. 41%.” Thirty-nine percent oppose the legislation.
President Obama is expected to name his first candidate to an appeals court seat this week, David F. Hamilton, “a highly regarded federal trial court judge from Indiana.” The nomination of Hamilton, a moderate, is indicative of Obama’s aim to reduce “partisan contentiousness” in the confirmation process.
And finally: The Guinness brewing company is lobbying President Obama to declare St. Patrick’s Day an official national holiday. Addressing President Barack “O’Bama,” Guinness writes, “Congratulations. Americans have embraced your platform for change and now it’s time to make decisions.” An official involved with the “Proposition 3-17” campaign admits to Roll Call, “It’s kind of a tongue-in-cheek push to make it a national holiday. But you ask somebody to sign it, and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, where?’”
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I think we are all very tired of hearing how much in salaries and bonuses these dweebs on Wall Street think they need to pay their employees when obviously, their business practices have not been successful. In the real world, if you are not doing well you get less money, not more. They are very greedy.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:05 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms
Yet another pointless talking-head-in-denial contributing to the problems of the world. Glad to see religion in the country is in decline. We need to be people of reason, not faith.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:07 amWall Street firms are looking for loopholes to avoid the bonus caps that come attached to TARP funds. Citigroup Inc., Morgan Stanley, and other banks are considering increasing base salaries rather than relying on bonuses.
The one thing that really pisses me off about this whole thing is that the Republicant’s were screaming bloody murder about the CEO’s of the auto companies having to cap their pay and bonuses, but when it comes to the financial industry…not so much. Besides, I thought that President Obama was imposing a salary cap on CEO’s of firms that receive TARP funds.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:10 am“The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries,” a move that has earned widespread criticism from veterans groups.
Funny how people who have “socialized medicine” never want to lose it – including Republicans in Congress. Time to let the rest of the country find out why for ourselves. Medicare for all!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:11 amNew York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said yesterday that he “issued subpoenas for the names of American International Group employees given millions of dollars in bonuses despite their possible roles in the insurance giant’s near-collapse.”
If Ginsburg, or any of the other Supremes retire, this is the man Obama should appoint.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:12 amThune is working to fucus
That’s a very interesting typo. Positively Freudian, if you ask me.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:12 amRepublicans have appointed Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to coordinate a broad campaign aimed at defeating the Employee Free Choice Act.
Our county Chamber of Commerce is joining in the distortion saying the act eliminates the secret ballot, when the act specifically indicates that the check card option language is an addition to, not replacement of, current law.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:15 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.”
Exactly how would the distribution of condoms increase the problem of AIDS? I think that the Catholic Church alone has caused more pain and suffering in this world than any other religion. Considering how they give their pedophile priests a pass and then sit in judgment in others, kind of makes them a bunch of hypocrites, don’t you think?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:16 amThe Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service related injuries.
I would have expected a move like this from the Bush administration, but not from Obama. This is a betrayal.
The other year, the Bush administration’s unsympathetic view was basically, “They signed up for this” , in other words, they asked for it because they volunteered as opposed to been drafted.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:16 am‘a deficit of ethics in economic structures’
March 17th, 2009 at 9:18 amExactly what kind of gibberish is that?
“The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries,” a move that has earned widespread criticism from veterans groups.”
OK, looks like it is time to start building a viable 3rd party. First Obama has his lawyers defend the Bush position that “enemy combatants” have “no rights” and defends the telco immunity for warrantless wiretaps, then this.
I am starting to get really, really f_cking pissed off.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:19 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms.
When will they learn that blind adherence to dogma always ends badly, for them? The Catholic church leadership would be better served by coming clean on their cover-up of child molesters in their ranks, and providing some real help for the world’s problems.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:19 amThe Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service related injuries.
The fact that the Obama administration has not simply just put this policy into action suggests to me that there is some positioning going on – perhaps for the whole health care system reform. I suspect that the negative feedback was expected and that the idea will be allowed to die on the vine. I hope.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:23 amSaying that distribution of condoms can’t reduce the problem of AIDS is like saying that using seatbelts can’t reduce the problem of car wrecks. Certainly neither will end the related problems, but they will reduce the problems involved.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:23 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.”
Help Wanted: Press Secretary for the Vatican. Must be unable to tell up from down.
Ari Fleischer would be perfect…
were it not for that inconvenient Jewish thing.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:24 amResponding to a new report on Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) questionable connection to a defense research center, Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas writes that it is time to stop tolerating “any corruption in our ranks.” “House Democrats have been blocking an ethics investigation into this matter,” writes Kos. “That has to stop now.”
If they are crooked, boot them out, put them on trial and jail their crooked a$$e$. Doesn’t matter what party they are in. The crooked congress critters have to go. Start with Pelosi, Reid and the rest of the old Bush (blue) lapdogs.
Markos is right on the money here.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:28 amobama (I just can’t capitalize his name now) is working very hard to be a one term President and hand the office back to some half-witted rethug marionette. He is proving to be moving toward the neocon objectives much faster than I thought he would. We will see him attack Social Security within six months.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:28 amceltic cynic Says:
“‘a deficit of ethics in economic structures’
Exactly what kind of gibberish is that?”
I think that translates as; you are all getting ripped off by the ultra rich.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:31 amOne last comment for the day. “Advise” is what you do for someone; “advice” is what you give to someone.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:32 amPelosi said it’s time to drain the swamp.
I would submit it’s time to flush the toilet.
I don’t care if it’s Murtha or Cantor; Americans deserve honest & fair representation. Beltway insiders, along with the financial sector, have been bleeding us dry for years.
If you can’t walk the walk, we don’t need the talk…
March 17th, 2009 at 9:33 amPatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service related injuries.
The fact that the Obama administration has not simply just put this policy into action suggests to me that there is some positioning going on – perhaps for the whole health care system reform. I suspect that the negative feedback was expected and that the idea will be allowed to die on the vine. I hope.
Sorry, PLC, but this stinks. It sounds like the corporate powers that be have much more ownership in Obama than previously seen. This kind of crap is a slap in the face to all veterans that supported Obama in the hopes he would reverse the maltreatment of Veterans by Bushco.
It just stinks. This kind of nonsense should not even be on the table. It is an insult.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:37 amAnd nationalizing these institutions is bad — why?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:37 amWayne, what corporate powers would want the Obama administration to have private insurance pay for veterans care? I doubt that the insurance companies would want the added expense. I just don’t see your connection.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:41 amBriseadh na Faire Says:
And nationalizing these institutions is bad — why?
Well if they were nationalized, then they couldn’t pad the pockets of Congress with
bribescampaign contributions any more.Save the CongressCritters!!! /heavy snark
March 17th, 2009 at 9:42 amI’d like to see him impose unemployment on those turkeys…
March 17th, 2009 at 9:42 amProp 3-17? Now there’s bipartisanship you can believe in! Perhaps the only thing that Americans of all political stripes can agree on: We like beer!
March 17th, 2009 at 9:44 amWall Street firms are looking for loopholes to avoid the bonus caps that come attached to TARP funds.
“Loopholes?” The raid of the US Treasury perpetrated by BushCo on their way out the door, under the header of “TARP”, was designed so that these corporate big-wigs wouldn’t need any stinkin’ loopholes. Witness AIG — they can just hide under the excuse of “it’s in the contracts; our hands our tied” while they continue to salt away taxpayer $ stolen directly out of the Treasury to ensure their safe retirements, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves…
March 17th, 2009 at 9:45 amWould someone tell the pope that he has no place in telling others about safe sex.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:50 amHe can join the ranks of the self-righteous and sanctimonious of the far right and go eff themselves.
I’m pretty sure he isn’t the only one out there trying to fucus.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:51 amPatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
Wayne, what corporate powers would want the Obama administration to have private insurance pay for veterans care? I doubt that the insurance companies would want the added expense. I just don’t see your connection.
Just who do you think would end up paying the private insurance companies for the insurance?
We have already seen what privatizing the care of veterans has done over the last 8 years. It has been a disaster, war wounded sleeping in their own feces and piss because the “private health care” companies contracted didn’t give a damn.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amBad News.
Apparently, contradicting the earlier impression that Obama is reversing bush ‘enemy combatant’ label and treatment, the Obama administration is to essentially echo bush’s powers. (via Greenwald):
There’s lots of information in the hyperlinks in the original. Tidbits such as:
And thankfully, Greenwald tries to address the certain shrill cries of the ‘faithful’ when confronted with criticism of Obama:
Read the entire Greenwald column, please, before commenting on the ‘enemy combatants’ issue. (My initial reading was, unfortunately, correct.) The core of the policy apparently remains intact.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:53 amThe lawmakers’ opposition makes it more difficult for Democratic leaders to move the bill without a threat of a Republican filibuster. -Lapdog
All they can do is threaten. Not one of them is actually willing to filibuster. Dems must call their bluff on this & make them read a phone book at 3:00 a.m.
Down, boy…good puppy, lapdog
March 17th, 2009 at 10:02 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms.
Rather, he continued, “the only answer is through prayer and reversions back to colonialism, as they are such children, those darkies!”
March 17th, 2009 at 10:04 am“The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries,” a move that has earned widespread criticism from veterans groups. IAVA Director Paul Rieckhoff said the proposal “is bad for the country and bad for veterans,” while Joe Violante, legislative director of Disabled American Veterans, called it “a betrayal.”
Does the Obama administration not read the newspapers???
I want the Obama before the election to protect me from the Obama who’s pulling this sh¡t…
March 17th, 2009 at 10:12 amPope Benedict XVI said today that the international community “can’t resolve [the problem of AIDS in Africa] with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.”
____________________________________________________________
Ah yes — if people don’t have condoms, they won’t have sex, right? The “abstinence-only sex education” mindset.
Is the Pope just living with his head in the sand, or is he truly ignorant of the success rate of this approach?
March 17th, 2009 at 10:18 am“The Obama administration is considering making veterans use private insurance to pay for treatment of combat and service-related injuries,” a move that has earned widespread criticism from veterans groups.
___________________________________________________________
As it should earn widespread criticism from thinking people everywhere. WHAT HAS OUR PRESIDENT BEEN SMOKING?
Hopefully, Obama will come to his senses and scrap this bone-headed idea. Injuries sustained for our country should be taken care of by our country. In full. Period. This is a no-brainer.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:22 amHaving insurance companies pay for services is not the same thing as having private healthcare companies provide the service. The arguments against President Obama’s floated idea are related to the provision of service, while his idea is related to payment of services.
That said and my question earlier posed, I want to be clear that I think the country as a whole, through the government, owes it to veterans to provide the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art mental and physical care possible to those sent into harm’s way on our behalf.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:23 am39. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: Having insurance companies pay for services is not the same thing as having private healthcare companies provide the service. The arguments against President Obama’s floated idea are related to the provision of service, while his idea is related to payment of services.
Is that your final answer?
*rolls up sleeves* Please reconsider before I pull out chapter and verse over insurance providers paying bonuses to their employees to specifically deny services and needed procedures….
March 17th, 2009 at 10:28 amHappy St. Patrick’s Day, TP’rs!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:36 amhanshiro, insurance companies do NOT deny services. They deny PAYMENT for services, which of course often effectively results in no services being provided. But having a VA provide services and billing private insurance as one source of payment for those services does not necessarily mean those services will not be rendered if the insurance benefits do not cover the services. That is, IF the VA remains a government operated healthcare system that is required by law to provide those services.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:38 amWHAAAT???
i fully expected to see, here on the FAST thread, a photo of the GREEN FOUNTAIN at the white house – it’s a first ever!
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
March 17th, 2009 at 10:50 amPatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
Wow, trying hard to defend Obama on this are you not?
Why don’t you check what some of the veteran organizations are saying about this idiotic move before embarrassing yourself further.
You are going to look very hard before finding a veteran that will support making veterans buy insurance from private firms for something already prommised by the government.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:50 am… i guess the photo that IS up is showing the green…
March 17th, 2009 at 10:51 amwrong shade though…
42.PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: hanshiro, insurance companies do NOT deny services. They deny PAYMENT for services, which of course often effectively results in no services being provided. But having a VA provide services and billing private insurance as one source of payment for those services does not necessarily mean those services will not be rendered if the insurance benefits do not cover the services.
Okay, what??
Let’s take this incrementally:
They deny PAYMENT for services, which of course often effectively results in no services being provided.
Hence, denial of services. Disseminating doesn’t strengthen your case, PLC, it makes you appear disingenuous.
But having a VA provide services and billing private insurance as one source of payment for those services does not necessarily mean those services will not be rendered if the insurance benefits do not cover the services.
Please explain how that would work, PLC. If a procedure doesn’t get approval for payment, (which, of course private insurers are extremely fond of,) how then does the doctor override a denial and, all mavericky, provide an unapproved procedure, possibly setting themselves up for malpractice to boot?
All ears here…
March 17th, 2009 at 11:04 amMemo to the Pope – People are going to have sex, whether you condemn it or not. If you give them condoms then they will use them. If you don’t give them condoms they will have just as much sex without them. Condoms cannot solve the HIV epidemic, and nobody claims they can, but they are a cost effective way to affect the spread of the disease.
The sexual abuse by priests is a direct outcome of this short sighted attempt to thwart human desire. If priests can’t learn to masturbate in their cell out of undue devotion to the deity they profess to worship, then how in the hell do you think your average guy on the street is going to manage celibacy simply because you say so?
March 17th, 2009 at 11:05 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
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Exactly how would the distribution of condoms increase the problem of AIDS?
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I think that the Catholic Church alone has caused more pain and suffering in this world than any other religion.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:16 am
It should be more than obvious by now to most TPers that condom distribution does not auto-majically condom users make.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Mar16/0,4670,DCAIDSEpidemic,00.html
Report says 3 percent in DC have HIV or AIDS
Other articles note that this rate is higher that the rate of infection in West Africa.
bit would assume that condom availability is greater in D.C., but that’s just an assumption.
I think that the Catholic Church alone has caused more pain and suffering in this world than any other religion.
bit isn’t prepared to disagree with this remark. However, bit believes the ideologue leader in misery, pain, and suffering must still be recognized as the communists.
Browse this:
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/welcome.html
BTW, what ideology has produced more good that Christianity in which the Catholics are included?
March 17th, 2009 at 11:15 ambitblt Says:
OOOPS!
Still providing links to brainwashed, Wingnut babble.
Shame.
Time to realize what a right-wing propaganda machine Fox’s agenda has become by now.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am48.bitblt Says: BTW, what ideology has produced more good that Christianity in which the Catholics are included?
Christianity is a johnny-come-lately in the religion biz. They’ve stolen every aspect from other religions and misrepresent their body count in all their literature.
From the Inquisition to the Crusades to Manifest Destiny, the christians have cut a murderous, intolerant swath through every land they infect.
Let’s come upon a verdant forest glade teeming with life and nature, cut down all the trees, pave over the grass and plants, erect a poison-permeated edifice replete with sealed windows, air-conditioning, synthetic wood pews, imitation wood paneling, sound system, fake flowers…
…and sing praises to God and His creations…
March 17th, 2009 at 11:40 amIt should be more than obvious by now to most TPers that straw man arguments will not be auto-majically rejected by bit.
In fact, they will frequently be received by bit with open arms, given a new jacket and bow tie, and sent out on job interviews for which they are unqualified.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:44 amhanshiro, this is not hypothetical to me as I am a healthcare provider. As an example, person’s primary private insurance may not pay me because I am not a preferred provider. However, that person may also be covered by Medicare or Medicaid as a secondary insurer and I can, and do, bill for my services through them. The VA can seek payment from the private insurer as primary and, if denied, have the services paid by tax dollars as a secondary insurer. Finally, I can and have provided my services without charge if there is no insurance coverage. The provision of services is between the first party, the patient, and the second party, the healthcare provider. Insurance, as a possible payor, is called the “third party”. The presence or absence of the third party has no impact on whether or not malpractice is an issue.
If President Obama can require insurance companies to pay part of the treatment, lowering the burden on the tax payer then I would support the idea. If the proposal is for privatizing the delivery of the health care, I am opposed. All I have heard thus far about the consideration is having insurance companies pay. If you and Wayne want to label me an apologist for that, then have at it.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:48 am_________
It should be more than obvious by now to bitblt that no one here so stupid to believe there is a one size fits all (no pun intended) solution to such a complex problem.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:54 amthis is not hypothetical to me as I am a healthcare provider
So vague.
You sell insurance?
You swab petri dishes with bacteria?
You file claims for a physician in an office?
Whichever, you definitely have sided with the insurer side of the argument, not the patient, that is painfully clear.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:00 pmDNFP, I am a “healthcare provider”, a person who treats people’s healthcare needs. I am not siding with the insurer. If you think that from what I have written, it is your bias.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:06 pm52. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: The VA can seek payment from the private insurer as primary and, if denied, have the services paid by tax dollars as a secondary insurer. Finally, I can and have provided my services without charge if there is no insurance coverage.
Thus is also a completely disingenuous claim. Citing scenarios that patently do not exist, particularly on the scale of a government agency, do not strengthen your position.
As a ‘healthcare provider,’ you should be well aware of the role which private insurance companies or “third party” play in the supply of necessary procedures. Notwithstanding the obvious arrangement that ‘healthcare providers’ have with consultation of policy and coverage with insurance office employees or “third party” prior to administering of services, a majority of ‘healthcare providers’ will not administer services without the express approval of said insurance company, or “third party”.
So, the patient is left to haggle for arrangement of payment when denied by the primary insurance provider, or “third party.”
The issue of malpractice is a massive consideration in administering procedures that are ‘not on the approved list of procedures,’ covered by the primary insurance provider. Reimbursement, the question of viability of the procedure if it isn’t vetted by the insurance provider also contributes to grounds by which said malpractice claim can be brought.
I wouldn’t label you as an Obama apologist because you don’t appear versed enough about the healthcare alternatives to qualify. (Look into France’s #1 rated healthcare system to see the viable template that we should be adopting.) More smitten with the hype than anything else…
March 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pmI don’t live in the fantasy-land of overly-PC laden labels.
Either your a Doctor (PhD), a nurse, a candy-striper, or you’re not.
“Healthcare provider” is not a term I’ve ever heard ANYBODY in the medical industry use, UNLESS they represent an insurance company.
So which is it?
March 17th, 2009 at 12:09 pmhanshiro, so now I am not an apologist but a liar because I reported that I provide services that primary insurance and sometimes secondary insurance won’t pay for? And you ignore the fact that I clearly stated that I believe the VA must continue to be government operated, from both the service provision AND the payment ends. And how in the hell can you make the claim that I don’t know or, by implication, don’t support an alternative healthcare delivery and payment system?
What do you want from me? Denial of my own experience? Denial of my own opinions?
March 17th, 2009 at 12:15 pmDNFP, I am a psychologist. For your reading pleasure:
http://www.apa.org/releases/healthcareC05.html
March 17th, 2009 at 12:17 pmhttp://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/providers/mhcp_reading.jsp
March 17th, 2009 at 12:18 pmhttp://www.medem.com/
March 17th, 2009 at 12:22 pmPediatric Advanced Life Support Course — PALS
March 17th, 2009 at 12:28 pmThe American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support course is based … healthcare providers who initiate and direct advanced life support in …www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml
58. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: hanshiro, so now I am not an apologist but a liar because I reported that I provide services that primary insurance and sometimes secondary insurance won’t pay for?
No, you’re disingenuous to promote the notion that such a strategy can be applied on the scale of a government agency.
And you ignore the fact that I clearly stated that I believe the VA must continue to be government operated, from both the service provision AND the payment ends.
Which isn’t possible if you’re also advocating for private insurance; particularly such entity as one that prides itself on profit at the express expense of their own patients, resulting in death and/or prolonged illness.
And how in the hell can you make the claim that I don’t know or, by implication, don’t support an alternative healthcare delivery and payment system?
I made no such claim, implied or otherwise. I posted a link to what should be considered. “If you think that from what I have written, it is your bias.”
Fold up your indignity tent and put it away.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:30 pmBirthing Choices : American Pregnancy Association
… of medicine including obstetrics, pediatrics, surgery, and internal medicine. … These health care providers can have a wide spectrum of training. …www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/birthingchoices.html
Cook Children’s Health Care System, Fort Worth, Texas
… Health Care System, Fort Worth, Texas 76104, is one of the country’s leading integrated pediatric health care delivery … year American Heart Association BLS …cookchildrens.org/education/…/Pages/UpcomingEvents.aspx
Providers
March 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm… Society, Kentucky Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American … As primary health care providers working in collaboration with …www.familyallergy.com/office/providers.asp
Everybody knows what the problem in Afghanistan has been. Bush failed to follow up on tracking bin Laden down. He was cornered in Tora Bora but Bush had already pulled some of the American forces out of Afghanistan for the build up to invade Iraq. Had Bush not been so terribly incompetent back then and actually gotten bin Laden then our reasons for staying in Afghanistan today would not be very great. As it is, we still have the unfinished work of bringing bin Laden to justice and that requires our presence in Afghanistan.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:34 pmDNFP, I am a psychologist. For your reading pleasure:
Ooh, clinical psychology, my favorite!
The pharmaceutical industry would like to thank you and your brethren for years of servitude and countless patients now addicted to “legal” drugs.
Let me whittle your practice to it’s core nub:
Brain function abnormalities are the result of chemical imbalances in the body/brain, which can be mended through drug therapy combined with counseling. While counseling alone is often adequate to correct or offset chemical induced trauma, drugs are commonly prescribed to “jump-start” the healing process.
Been there, done that. Never felt like I was receiving “healthcare” in the traditional sense.
More like “voodoo”.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:37 pmdisingenuous – American Heritage® Dictionary
ADJECTIVE: 1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating
hanshiro, I reject your labeling of me as not being straightforward or candid and that I was somehow insincere or calculating in any of my posts. I stated facts about the provision and payment of healthcare services from my experience and my opinion that criticism of Obama’s idea. Then, I have had the displeasure of being labeled an apologist, disingenuous, presenter of “scenarios that patently do not exist”, and a representative of the insurance companies.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pmDNFP, your ignorance is showing. A psychologist does not have prescription priveleges, only psychiatrists do. And, yes, there are chemical imbalances in the brain that can be corrected with medications.
Veterans who return with PTSD will need the services of both psychiatrists and psychologists, despite your ignorance and belittling.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:46 pmFirst off let me say Thank you one and all for the great post’s today, second..Happy St. Ptarick’s Day/Third..This will likely be my only post since I am sick as a poisoned pup and do not wish to bore you all to tear’s with more of my rant’s…
The pope is creating more problem’s then he can solve, clearly he can’t solve any since he is in a bubble of papal insanety driven by ritual’s crated hundred’s of year’s ago to control the massees, strip the pagan’s of their property and burn witch’s..Go away old man and burn your incence while adult’s try to save live’s..No one should die for having sex, aid’s kill’s…
Next let me get to the biggie for the day..Our military deserve’s better, in fact they deserve the best our country can give them when they come home from a miserable war they never should of been sent to…To date our VA has done a piss poor job.I have said before all military and their famalie’s should be allowed to walk into any hospital in the country and get the best treatment available and the Gov. should pick up the tab..Like everything else in our country right now the VA need’s a huge overhaul and clean up, it’s not good enough, people in prison are treated better…
Pre and Present President Obama said we need to hold his feet to the fire when he screw’s up….The match I am holding is huge, like the one’s used in a big fire place…Get a grip Mr. President or you will not serve a second term and this term will be full of marching in the street’s…Given your voting record and the few iffie selection’s for your cabinet many are not happy camper’s out here in the real world. I’m in that group….I held my breath, voted for you and against all odd’s hoped you would prove not to be a republican lite. it appear’s now you may be leaning further to the right than I feared..Shape up or I will light my match…Time for huge email block’s to the white house..Support out military people, especiely when the administration will not. ….P.B. & J.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:57 pmRe #66 – 68: I am thrilled with the results from my brain medication. It does work for a lot of us. leave PLC alone on this one, your experience is not everyone’s experience.
re the pope: Of course he knows that condoms will help prevent the spread of AIDS. All the heads of organized Christian religions WANT war and pestilence, it says in their fairy tale that Jeebus will return under those conditions. Do not be fooled by their pretending to be compassionate, it is a fake. BTW, I do believe there are plenty of nice Christians out there who would not approve of this stance – but in the words of some guy, “forgive them, they know not what they do”.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:02 pm67. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: disingenuous – American Heritage® Dictionary
ADJECTIVE: 1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating
3. Usage Problem Unaware or uninformed; naive.
I, too, use a dictionary. The usage reflects your intentional over-admiration for the simplistic, rather than pragmatic solutions for the healthcare/insurance issue.
hanshiro, I reject your labeling of me as not being straightforward or candid and that I was somehow insincere or calculating in any of my posts.
Rejecting something of which I was not a participant or accessory is an extraneous exercise. You seem anxious to jump to conclusions that have little to do with my point or intention. Your sin is one of intentional ignorance, magnified by arrogance, that I find doesn’t advance the crux of the issue at hand. Resorting to referring to your occupation only signals your lack of ability to state clearly the tenets of your contention, relying instead on an implied knowledge that isn’t apparent in your extrapolation.
I stated facts about the provision and payment of healthcare services from my experience and my opinion that criticism of Obama’s idea.
That is not quite accurate; You stated impractical applications as an answer/antidote to private insurance denial, claiming that “third party” insurance would not be the impediment to necessary service. This has been positively proven fallacious and the basis upon which I took issue.
Then, I have had the displeasure of being labeled an apologist, disingenuous, presenter of “scenarios that patently do not exist”, and a representative of the insurance companies.
This last and first was not me, but the charge of “citing scenarios that patently do not exist, particularly on the scale of a government agency,” is a fair statement. Medicare has refused service based on coverage; this coverage stemming from sources of payment/remittance. Government agencies are not originators of viability of procedures; those guidelines are derived from insurance agencies and providers, not medical personnel.
Do you wish to dispute this? Please?
Again, climb down off the high horse. You’re wrong and too huffy to even get your attributions correct.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:19 pmOK, hanshiro, you win. Apparently that’s what you want. I will obediently climb down from my high horse, admit that I know nothing about my profession, and discontinue my disingenuous opinions.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pmhanshiro woke up on the wrong side of the bed today…
March 17th, 2009 at 1:55 pm72. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says: OK, hanshiro, you win. Apparently that’s what you want. I will obediently climb down from my high horse, admit that I know nothing about my profession, and discontinue my disingenuous opinions.
Absurd overstatement in order to dismiss a viable point, now that’s ‘1. Not straightforward or candid; insincere or calculating’
Nowhere did I say you knew nothing about your profession. Your grasp of private insurers and the viability of inflicting that snakepit on veterans, however, is lacking.
Your need to misrepresent my posts and the issue, however, may be grounds to seek your own bit of therapy….
March 17th, 2009 at 1:55 pmWhat someone who actually knows, not a pundit or talking head or blogger needs to tell us the cost of the alternatives and then let the American people decide which road we want to go down.
What are the implications of allowing AIG or Citi or Bof A to fail? How would we be worse off than we are now?
Someone needs to explain how the steps of a “bailout” with or without the heinous bonuses is helping the American people who are paying for all of this!
Only when we know those points will we be able to really know where we are going as a country!
March 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pm75. blood1 Says: What are the implications of allowing AIG or Citi or Bof A to fail? How would we be worse off than we are now?
Someone needs to explain how the steps of a “bailout” with or without the heinous bonuses is helping the American people who are paying for all of this!
I’d start here, get out your headphones and listen:
This American Life: Giant Pool of Money
Also here:
This American Life: Bad Bank
One of the best produced shows on radio.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pm.In 2000, Citigroup had co-CFO’s John S. Reed and Sanford Weill. Reed earned $293 million that year and Weill earned $224 million that year. That’s $517 million for two people for one year! Source: Business Week.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pmAh, TP finally picks up the veteran dump of service injury to private insurors. This does two things.
One, it shifts the cost of service injury care to the private sector.
Two, it turns the care, if VA provided, into a revenue center.
More budget games and more dumping the cost of care to anybody else. This is the Defense Department that made commitments to soldiers. Sad.
March 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pm