Obama rips health insurance lobby as ‘deceptive,’ ‘dishonest,’ ‘bogus.’
Obama rips health insurance lobby as ‘deceptive,’ ‘dishonest,’ ‘bogus.’
Earlier this week, the health insurance lobby AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) issued a false and dishonest report claiming that the Baucus health care bill would increase health care costs. Even the firm hired to do the analysis — PriceWaterhouseCoopers — backpedaled from the report’s conclusions. The insurance lobby’s strategy backfired as it appeared to alienate Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who voted with the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee. But Republicans dutifully peddled the study to try to sink health reform. In his weekly address, President Obama struck back at the insurance lobby, calling them out for their deception and deceit:
This is the unsustainable path we’re on, and it’s the path the insurers want to keep us on. In fact, the insurance industry is rolling out the big guns and breaking open their massive war chest – to marshal their forces for one last fight to save the status quo. They’re filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads. They’re flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists and campaign contributions. And they’re funding studies designed to mislead the American people. [...]
It’s smoke and mirrors. It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, “Take one of these, and call us in a decade.” Well, not this time. The fact is, the insurance industry is making this last-ditch effort to stop reform even as costs continue to rise and our health care dollars continue to be poured into their profits, bonuses, and administrative costs that do nothing to make us healthy – that often actually go toward figuring out how to avoid covering people. And they’re earning these profits and bonuses while enjoying a privileged exception from our anti-trust laws, a matter that Congress is rightfully reviewing.
Watch it:
Of course, the best way to keep insurance companies honest would be to pass a robust public health insurance plan — a provision that Obama did not talk about in his weekly address.
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It’s about time!
October 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pmI can’t wait for one of our trolls to show up and defend the health insurance companies as other than deceptive, dishonest, and bogus.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pmObama is finally growing a spine. It’s a very little spine but at least it’s a start. The time for flowery speaches has ended, Mr. Presdent, and it’s time for action.
Note to Rachel Maddow: Please give lessons in courage to Barack Obama – and hurry!!
October 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pmThis “tough talk” is designed to fool us into thinking that the watered-down bill that comes out of conference will be equally tough.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pmWont someone please think of the poor CEOs of these wonderful insurance companies? How are they going to buy gold toilet seats if we pass healthcare reform?
October 17th, 2009 at 1:38 pmCome On Prez O!
Flex that Spine!!
Teach others to just…FIND – THAT – SPINE!
…gee, a new game show. ;-)
October 17th, 2009 at 1:40 pmOne could substitute “repug” for health insurance lobby in the headline
October 17th, 2009 at 1:46 pmSingle Payer. Insurance companies are the main problem with our Health Care.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pmCall them out at every opportunity.
They threaten our premiums will rise if reform passes — but it is they who raise the premiums! This in addition to ginormous bonuses for the CEOs who come up with very creative ways to disallow clients and their claims for payment.
Public option is the only way to go. When that proves to be successful, then we will move to single payer, univresal health care, which doesn’t stand a chance today. We need it one step at a time — that’s what the repugs and their insurance friends are worried about. Their gravy train is going to end sooner or later.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:50 pmIn this part of the kabuki from DC being enacted for your dsitraction, Obama will now be accused of ‘pandering’ to his left-wing constituency. The corpoRats will react with horror, the rest of the big players will join the fray, the measure will fail, and the Left will be blamed…
Brilliant!
October 17th, 2009 at 1:51 pmSoapBox says, “Come On Prez O! Flex that Spine!!”
We don’t need insurance companies to administer America’s health care system. That’s the government’s job. Insurance companies are accountable to nobody except overpaid CEOs.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pmOk, who is this guy and what did he do with the President?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:01 pmObama rips health insurance lobby as ‘deceptive,’ ‘dishonest,’ ‘bogus.’
– - Obama was being kind, at that.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:04 pmOf course, the best way to keep insurance companies honest would be to pass a robust public health insurance plan — a provision that Obama did not talk about in his weekly address.
Actually the best (and in my opinion, the ONLY) way to keep the insurance companies honest is to put in a single payer system. In other words, extend Medicare to everyone.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pmThe question then comes….what can we do to help make the change? If these companies are worth many billions (of our money!) then a few tens of millions to pay off the ATAP (Against the American People) gangsters and pols is petty cash! For the thousands of people who are brain washed it puts MEANINGFUL change in big jeopardy. What can be done to educate them and fight their masters?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:26 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Mr.Duke says:
How much money did the Obama senate and presidential campaigns take from the “health insurance” lobby?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:42 p
Maybe you could tell us?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:45 pmDook???
Who’s proposing we do something about it, and who’s digging in their heels on behalf of an entrenched virtual monopoly??
Alejandro,
Do you already have a copy of the Bill signed by the President into Law? I didn’t think that had happened yet, but you seem to know exactly what it is already. Tarot?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:49 pmAt some point hopefully these ceo’s will get fired and replaced by some average joes’.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Mr.Duke says:
the “health insurance” lobby
Are your quotes meant to indicate sarcasm? What companies do you think these lobbyists actually work for?
October 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pmObama is using his bully pulpit but the real battle is going on in Congress. The insurance lobby is spreading money and lies like there is no tomorrow. The spotlight should be on the people in Congress who are aiding the insurance lobby. Presidential addresses, blogs and MSNBC reach a limited number of people. The MSM needs to show the public what is the truth and what is happening.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pmHi Mr. Duke
October 17th, 2009 at 2:58 pmInstead of beating poorly about the bush why don’t you just come forward and acknowledge that you are both frustrated and angry
in the end it will be
mandate out,
p.o. in, with amendments geared to help the effects kick in asap.
righties will then be rending their garments and flagellating themselves on the tv, and it will be even more entertaining than the last election was.
i just hope the righties will be back sooner than they were after the election last fall, ’cause i love the scent of their bitter, bitter tears.
October 17th, 2009 at 2:59 pm??? Music to my ears. ???
October 17th, 2009 at 3:03 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
When I pictured the GDP pie chart, I know the slices you see are large and 6% is a huge slice. Especially to keep an industry we don’t need and is hell bent on making us pay for the their extravagant lifestyles. And I know the insurance companies won’t deny their families based on preconditions.
The insurance companies don’t want to compete because it will dip into their goldmine. They can offer customers extra benefits to keep their base.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:15 pmWhat continues to shock me is those who actively seek to work against their own self interest and those of their families to protect an overbloated insurance industry whose executives take their money and deny them the services they agreed to provide. Everyday there are stories about this person or other in serious medical need who get their policies cancelled and end up in severe financial difficulty, so an insurance executive can give himself another bonus, buy and expensive car, and take an exotic vacation. People moan and groan about the liberals or communists or socialists or facists, when they should be worried about their families health.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:16 pmWiz says:
What continues to shock me is those who actively seek to work against their own self interest and those of their families to protect an overbloated insurance industry whose executives take their money and deny them the services they agreed to provide. Everyday there are stories about this person or other in serious medical need who get their policies cancelled and end up in severe financial difficulty, so an insurance executive can give himself another bonus, buy and expensive car, and take an exotic vacation. People moan and groan about the liberals or communists or socialists or facists, when they should be worried about their families health.
Amen to that! Their resistance to something totally in their best interest is astonishing.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:20 pmJagman spews:
“1. 5th Amendment – “nor shall private property be taken”
2. 13th Amendment – “nor involuntary servitude””
Taxes are illegal?
**BPTF**
October 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pmI expect that this is probably as much as we will see from President Obama. I think he knows and understands what needs to be done, and to what negative effect a “guns blazing” attitude is going to garner “us” ( This is ONE politician I still have some faith in) I am glad he is taking this “step” and continue to support his efforts in supporting “US”.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
President Obama’s legacy and this survival of his presidency depend on whether he can defeat the devils in the health insurance industry. This is the decisive battle that would either make Obama a forever-national hero or a just another loser against the tyranny of the evil health insurance industry. The people have elected President Obama to WIN this battle and be different from the rest of other previous politicians who were corrupted by the health insurance industry. It’s a matter of life and death for the American people. And it’s time the American people get behind this president to win against evil: the health insurance industry!
October 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pmOne thing that impresses me about Obama is continues to play the adult. He refuses to act in ways that may be satisfying, but yet distracting from the goals. I think his determination has been vastly underestimated, especially by the radical right who are in a panic.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:42 pmPerhaps Mr. Duke thinks that the natural order of Washington is that Republicans accept campaign contributions from an industry and then allow that industry’s lobbyists to write the laws “regulating” it.
If that’s the case, then I could see how accepting campaign contributions from an industry and then pursuing reform that the industry opposes would be seen as somehow askew, eh, Dukester?
October 17th, 2009 at 3:51 pmPeople need to be working for their health care. If they’re walking through the isle and find a good procedure they want, they need to save up over time, choosing a good time to buy it. The human body has a good way of letting you decide when certain parts fail. So that gives you plenty of time to fatten your bank account for the big day.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:55 pmjockslinger, that’s the beauty of democracy. We can vote for the white guy in our underpants or ACORN Prostitute costume. The free, unregulated markets provide us plenty of white guys from which to choose. It’s never too late to vote for the white guy.
October 17th, 2009 at 3:58 pmginslinger says:
Flag on the field. Flagged and reported for racism.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pmFLAGGED.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:00 pmjagman1017 says:
but there’s nothing repugnant about Ken Lay or Anthony Mozilo or Bernie Madoff or any of those guys, huh? we should just cut out any pretense of rules or regulation and let those guys go at it, should we?
y – better they should have all the money in the f’ing world, and everybody who just lives here and goes to work for real every day should just eat shit and die, right??
f that, and f your pessimistic bullshit.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:01 pmThat way, instead of creating another bloated govt entitlement program – they regulate the Insurance companies! What a concept! Who know?
First, one must pay into the public option.
Second, since blue states pay the most in taxes, they can ask for a lot out of their government. They’re already compromising as single payer’s not even up for consideration.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:05 pmHey, ginslinger, when exactly did you decide you were in favor of the public option?
Oh, when you read this article?
Well, thanks for taking the time to let us know how intellectually bankrupt your political views are.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pmThe teabagger is still at it.
Waxing poetic about the constitution yet doesn’t make enough to actually pay any taxes.
Let’s talk theory of money, teabagger.
I am sure you have quite a pretty penny invested, as the sht flinging Baboon sez, in precious metals.
And plastic.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:10 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
jagoff troll says:
You stole that word for word from wiki…..shame on you!
October 17th, 2009 at 4:19 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Well, the point is that it would help if you cited your source, jagman. It at least gives you a little credibility when you credit others.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:24 pmginslinger says:
The money quote is….
Of course, the best way to keep insurance companies honest would be to pass a robust public health insurance plan — a provision that Obama did not talk about in his weekly address.
Gee, I wonder why? Is he trying to pull the wool (baa baa black sheep) over someones eyes?
Well, you can suspect that, but my guess is you would likely be wrong about that. Neither of us has proof if he is or isn’t, but he’s not the lawmakers here. He’s the guy who pushes for reform, then signs the bill.
Until then, keep spouting conspiracy theories and weak humor.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:28 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
The teabagger philosophy has been debunked many times, yet they cling to it by repeating it chants as if somehow that rebuts the overwhelming weight of arguments against their social Darwinism. Tax cuts and deregulation, commonly known as trickle down Reaganomics, have failed as admitted by its biggest proponent, Alan Greenspan. After the crash of the stock market he admitted that his theories are flawed. All the teabaggers have left is Ron Paul who is just another politician who keeps claiming that more tax cuts and deregulation are going to cure the problems it created. They cannot explain away Greenspan’s admissions because he was appointed by St. Ronnie Reagan. In any event, the teabaggers and Republicans are stuck with the massive failure of the policies they advocate and they need to find some new chants because the old ones are not working.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:34 pmmissed by a mile, jag, arrogance notwithstanding.
your false equivalancy started this.
your “government is the enemy” thesis is what i attacked.
feel free to continue with your puerile innuendo campaign though.
i know none are persuaded by it.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:34 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Uh, no. We can do both. And have.
You’ve accomplished absolutely nothing, except perhaps persuading independents to move in the exact opposite direction you’d want them to.
Have a nice birthday, though.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:48 pmAnd the whole thing about health care reform being unconstitutional is absolutely strange. There is a lot that the Governement does that are not specifically spelled out in the constitution. Food and drug safety, clean water, building of public works, infrastructure, social security, all things that individuals cannot do for themselves. And health care reform, stopping the ongoing rip off is well within the constitution, it is called the General Welfare clause.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:49 pmnice attempt at saving the fail, jag, but it spoke for itself.
you and your “arguments” will just have to fend for each other, something i’m sure you’re accustomed to.
i’m sorry.
October 17th, 2009 at 4:54 pmThe anti-trust exemption for health insurers also has to go. Why are they exempt from competition? It is a prescription for becoming “too big to fail” and for screwing consumers without recourse.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:07 pmUmmm, I could be wrong, but isn’t the health care bill as it currently is nothing more than a handout to the private health insurance companies? Isn’t the current plan going to mandate that we buy from the same people that Obama called “deceptive” “dishonest” and “bogus?”
I know the speech sounded nice, but I do not want to give these private health insurance companies my money.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Just flying over…Didn’t President Obama give the pharm, a nice package for this? Read some where he did…If it’s anything like the health care, medacare, drug part D we are screwed….Time for the dancing, flowery speeches and BS to end…Anything that puts penelties on the poor for not joining or big promises to the drug and med insurers is a bad deal…Words in speaches are not results just pandering and stalling for time untill the hammer’s hit us in the head….Sorry folks I’m no longer impressed, we are past the spine for the day speech…Let’s see action..And BTW Mr. President I’m still waiting for the promises of change like ending the GD war’s….Blessings
October 17th, 2009 at 5:27 pmFriday’s Republicans: Obama wants to destroy the insurance companies!
Saturday’s Republicans: Obama is in the pockets of the insurance companies!
It’s almost like the GOP is run by an insane woman ranting on her Facebook page. Oh, wait.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:30 pmOff Topic
But let this be a warning to racist trolls and traitor teabaggers bit chin about their “constitutional rights”
California Man, Charged With Threatening Obama
…
In seeking an arrest warrant, authorities asked for permission to enter Gimbel’s house without knocking because sheriff’s deputies had found him with a loaded handgun during an earlier arrest and some of his e-mails included threats against law enforcement officers.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/16/john-gimbel-california-ma_n_324511.html
October 17th, 2009 at 5:31 pmLie.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:41 pmkws, you forgot the entire quote that you “borrowed” from Dan Eggen:
“Obama, who is not included in the analysis because he is no longer in Congress, received more than $2 million from the insurance and pharmaceutical sectors during his record-breaking presidential campaign. All of the contributions were from individuals, however, as Obama forswore donations from political-action committees.”
Is Obama in the pocket of Big Pharma? Or is he just accepting donations from individuals?
Way to cherry-pick, kws.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pmThe health insurance companies are nothing but blood sucking leeches. They add nothing to health care, but instead every dollar that goes to them (billions and billions in total) is one more dollar that could have gone to health care. In a perfect world, health insurance companies would be abolished.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pmIt only happens under republicans, see katrina.
Social Security is the most successful program on the planet despite republican efforts to get it to fail.
When you say government can’t work and then set out to prove it you are a republican.
Despite republicans the IRS, Military, etc. all work quite smoothly and much more efficiently and cheaper than the private sector could ever hope to accomplish.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:47 pmActually, Fred, government does have something of a record for mismanagement. Every time a decent program is established and begins to function there is a certain group that works to derail or sabotage the program in the name of profit and free enterprise.
Social Security. Everytime it has built up a surplus, someone sticks their fingers in the cookie jar.
Medicare. Part D anyone? And just how many private insurance companies have been convicted of defrauding it?
Mismanagement, thy name is Republican.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pmPurple State, that makes ole kws look like a total fool. Good job.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pmI’m thinking about starting my own show, “GOP Jackass”, where I do daredevilish things along the lines of the GOP bootstraps agenda, like pay for health care w/o insurance and take out one of those new traditional mortgages that see the interest rates skyrocket after a year. Any other ideas?
October 17th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWell said, Mr. President.
OTOH, quoting Faiz’s post; “Of course, the best way to keep insurance companies honest would be to pass a robust public health insurance plan — a provision that Obama did not talk about in his weekly address.”
Certainly, a robust public health insurance plan would help a great deal to keep the health insurors focused on being competive and delivering quality service. Keeping them honest, however, requires Federal oversight, and would be helped enormously by removing the insuror’s anti-trust exemption and proceeding with vigorous DoJ investigation and external audits of the insurors.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:49 pmHoodathunk, I was fishing for a bite but none came so I thought I should qualify my statement before a progressive called me to order…..mia culpa
October 17th, 2009 at 5:49 pmFred, I was just jiggling the minnow a bit.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:51 pmSo why are we having a discussion about keeping the Health Insurance industry honest? If they had any inclination towards honesty they have had decades to display it.
Its sort of like asking Al Capone to open a fish market.
October 17th, 2009 at 5:53 pmDemocrats can’t prove those programs don’t work, so we do. You can put it out there that we’re actually the one’s screwing things up, but we’ll always have a base that eats up what we spit out. Charitable giving, taxes, comfort, roads, schools, military- the little guy can pay for it and we’ll pretend as though we benefit from any of those programs. We’re independent of the world and an empire amongst ourselves simply because we’re wealthy. I’m a billionaire who won’t even tip the pizza guy $10. Why would I give a shit about the rest of humanity?
October 17th, 2009 at 5:58 pmjagman 1017: forcing a citizen to give their money to a private company ( whether they like it or not) exceeds the authority of the legislative branch of the federal government
Excellent ! Blackwater and Haliburton owes everyone a refund.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:08 pmSpeaking of Al Capone, can someone explain the difference between what he and his cronies did and what the Health Insurance companies are doing today?
About the only one I see is they don’t send a couple of guys with no necks to collect their money and threaten you with dismemberment and death if you don’t pony up. They add nothing to your life or business. They collect money to ‘protect’ you and then decide if its worth it.
Legalized gangsters.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:12 pmNo, not “government” — just the Bush administration. And I think that the record bears that out.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:21 pmThere is another analogy that works here. The Health Insurance companies are like the school yard bully. They steal your milk money, your lunch money, make your life miserable until the time you take the Jack Armstrong course and suddenly stand up for yourself.
Then they run crying to the principal.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:29 pmI noticed the adjectives the President chose aptly fits our trolls.
Deceptive, Dishonest and Bogus. All three of them are indicative of liars and all our trolls do is lie.
October 17th, 2009 at 6:50 pmI hope President Obama keeps ripping the health insurance industry!
October 17th, 2009 at 6:56 pmKayInMaine says, “I hope President Obama keeps ripping the health insurance industry!”
I’m surprised it took this long for President Obama to fight back against the bloodsucking insurance companies. I wonder if he’s negotiating behind closed doors with the Republicans.
George W. Bush never gave a damn about what the Democrats thought. Bush and the Republicans did anything they wanted and most of the Democrats went right along with them. Go figure.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:19 pmDelafield, I doubt Nancy would allow anyone to come in the way of getting the public option into the bill! My money is on Nancy right now. She’s good at mopping up messes:
http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/obama-grab-socialist-mop
:-)
October 17th, 2009 at 7:26 pmKayInMaine, I’m looking forward to telling the next troll who sticks his ugly face in here to grab a mop!
October 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pmOMG! I just stepped in and realized the last several posts are troll free. Could it be we will have some peace tonight?
October 17th, 2009 at 8:11 pmBut seriously am I the only progressive that that thinks the current health care bill stinks to high heaven? It is seriously just a handout to the private insurance companies. They are going to MANDATE that we buy from the same crooks and criminals that have been denying us care.
I know Obama’s speech sounded good but his solution to this problem is that we should be forced by law to give these criminals more money?
Without a public option the current health care reform plan in all smoke and mirrors.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:23 pmI’m with ya. The mandate without a public option is just a big giveaway.
I trust that our representatives won’t try that.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pmNow you’ve done it, PD.
*sigh*
October 17th, 2009 at 8:28 pmI’m with you, austex_chris. It truly sucks.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:31 pmExactly Ralph! Great idea! We’ll call it the Socialist Mop Brigade and then tell the Lazy Bastards to get cracking!
October 17th, 2009 at 8:36 pmZooey@90, Yeah. Me bad. I tempted fate. Now the Fates will send the worst of the trolls sleazing right in. I should knock on wood.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:37 pmIt’s so quiet here tonight! Everyone must be pooped out after the long thread last night. :-)
October 17th, 2009 at 8:44 pmI have always had health insurance through my employers. I did pay for it every week. It was usually about ten or fifteen dollars a week. I was laid off 8 months ago,with that job I had bluecross. That cost me 42 dollars a week. It was worth it. I do see a doctor evey three months and get meds every month. Just having the piece of mind knowing that you do have health insurance is worth the price. If I was told that my insurance rates were going to be a little higher every month because our government wants to insure the 47 million people who dont have it. Then im all for it. Eveyone who lives in America should have access to affordable healthcare. Just knowing that you and your children can get proper medical care when it is needed will make our country more productive and healthier.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:46 pm“If I was told that my insurance rates were going to be a little higher every month because our government wants to insure the 47 million people who dont have it. Then im all for it.”
Exactly, Sscncturn64!
October 17th, 2009 at 8:48 pmKay@94, i stepped out when it was just getting fun. i left around the 200 mark. i was stunned when I saw over 1,000 posts. Man. What an all nighter.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:54 pm17,000, people a day lose thier health insurance. How many of them were at becks tea party`s protesting against Obama because of healthcare reform. Now these very people need it for thier families. I really hope that healthcare with a publc option does pass. I gaurantee next year at this time the repugs and wingnuts wont even bring up Obamas healthcare because its going to be a huge success.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pmss@98, As I watched those baffoons at the ‘Tea Parties’ I couldn’t help but to think how ignorant they are. These people are the first to complain the electric is out, or the trains aren;t running on time, or the library hours are being cut. They are sheeple. ‘Low Intellegnet’ voters. They make ALL Americans look stupid, thanks to our MSM who dub them ‘Mainstream’ Depressing no?
October 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pmP.D., I couldn’t believe it was still going strong this morning when I cleared the sleepys from eyes and started chugging coffee!
October 17th, 2009 at 9:21 pmWell, it’s that time again….going to bed! Night all. :-)
October 17th, 2009 at 9:21 pmKay@101, Goodnight. But, Damn Girl. If you live in Maine, it’s only 9:30. But then again, I love my weekends. I believe in staying up all night, them regreting it on Monday.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:24 pmSweet dreams KayInMaine.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:28 pmThis is fluff and OffTopic, but there are charges being filed in the Balloon Boy saga. Like we didn’t see that coming.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:31 pmOffTopic, The charges are going to be filed against Richard Heeny.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:00 pmPresident Obama, sir…?
One word:
DUH. At long last, sir: DUH.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:53 pmI am so glad to hear Obama slam the health insurance cabal.
Kick them in the balls, Mr. President.
They are totally corrupt.
The biggest mistake made by Gingrich’s gang of crooks in 1995 was to allow the health insurers to transform into for-profit corporations.
Has that move helped anyone’s medical rates for the better?
No, I didn’t think so…
October 17th, 2009 at 11:27 pmIt is high time that the President clearly articulated how he perceives the information being disseminated by the insurance industry. Until this point, the lack of response by Obama could have been interpreted as some level of implied agreement because the information being presented had some validity. Now at least, their is no ambiguity.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:19 amP.D. @99,
I think the Republican/Tea bagger health care episode may go down as a testimony on “how not to do politics”. The rhetoric was mindless and the demonstrations were pointless. Obama has used this as a contrasting backdrop. He has articulated clearly and his timing appears ideal. I think health care is Obama’s to lose, and he is an astute politician.
Health care is a hallmark in his presidential legacy. It is in a historic interest that these reforms must be viable for the American public, not just window dressings.
The other point is health care reform is the right thing to do. The public option will be a component of that reform at some time or another. The game is just getting started this year.
Rambling on, flight
October 18th, 2009 at 12:35 amGood for Obama.
Words are good, but now it is time for action.
October 18th, 2009 at 1:57 amMr.Puke says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Obama rips health insurance lobby as ‘deceptive,’ ‘dishonest,’ ‘bogus.’
How much money did the Obama senate and presidential campaigns take from the “health insurance” lobby?
How many braincells did you fry when you posted this filth?
October 18th, 2009 at 3:30 amDid anyone else hear Sen. Bunning say how much healthcare would cost us in the year “twenty thousand and nineteen” if reform passes? I think it’s past time for him to step down.
October 18th, 2009 at 4:31 amsscncturn64 says, “I have always had health insurance through my employers.”
It’s time to remove insurance companies from America’s health care system. Insurance companies add no value to our health care. They’re unnecessary. All we have to do is put every American on Medicare. Problem solved. And no more 35% added cost for lazy, worthless, lying, greedy, overpaid, good for nothing, unnecessary, insurance company CEOs.
Health insurance will be a thing of the past if we get real health care reform.
October 18th, 2009 at 4:40 amPathetic huh? A Saturday night and I went to bed early. LOL
October 18th, 2009 at 8:46 amIf we want real healthcare\insurance reform we first need to repel the laws passed in the mid-1940’s that setup the insurance industry’s exemption from the anti-trust laws. They have been allowed to collude on prices and carve up the country in to zones of little or no competition for over fifty years.
October 18th, 2009 at 9:28 amWake up! Noone really needs health care reform, because the way it is, or the way (it has) to be described today, parents already have the responsibility for the health of their children, and community leaders already care about those traditional families in their communities!
IMO, sadly, the way it also, already, there is a powerful social force works against a traditional institutional base for individuals and families: FEMENISM, because it works against traditional religions-and a proper macro-definition is lacking (escapes words)!!
Atheists may be protected in their safe, and realistic beliefs, however, common sense dictates that those beliefs must naturally maintain the individual consistency, and regularity which may support leading a productive life, and engaging in healthy relationships. Surely, atheistic advocacy never has to include ‘mind control’, extreme views, or new science/practices which don’t add up!?
The ‘press’ cannot continue to print less than a true, and accurate assesment of the facts; because, in spite of apparant widespread confusion about atheism, the rest of us need the truth!!
October 18th, 2009 at 10:17 amEdgeOnIt @116,
I sense exclusiveness with your traditional family/community approach. For starters all atheists would be excluded. I see your list growing insuring the correct, like minded people would be included in your communities.
You have just defined a religious based fascism. You are spreading fear and hate in the name of Christianity. This is truly a grave evil in the Christian traditions I am familiar with. I suggest you think, any pray for enlightenment.
Humbly, flight
October 18th, 2009 at 12:16 pmNo! Your problem is one of your own (improper) design! The fact remains: communities are composed of atheists, and also of other individuals who attend churches, synagogues, mosques, and Hindu places of worship. Therefore,
“..the fact of exclusion, is non-exclusionary!”
Sry, for the mis-understanding(s)!!
October 18th, 2009 at 12:23 pmEdgeOnIt,
October 18th, 2009 at 12:43 pmAlas, by your definition I stand corrected.
I strongly suggest you enlighten the Conservative Right on this very important point.
From my perspective I am witnessing Religious Fascism in the Republican Party.
In my experience with consultants (including PWC) the entity that hires the consulting firm usually gets to dictate what they expect to read in the consulting firm’s final report prior to the start of an analysis. Then, the consulting firm sends its “experts” to analyze a given entity or situation. When the consultants begin to analyze, they seek-out the experts within the entity they are evaluating and interrogate them as they rapidly take notes. I have been appalled at the low level of expertise exhibited by those so-called evaluators. When the final report is generated, the customer gets findings that favor the customer’s cause. Plus, the findings, were generated by a “neutral” party. The customer is always right! When are we going to learn?
October 18th, 2009 at 4:38 pmThen why are you not demanding a strong Public Option Mr. President?
Hummm…?
October 18th, 2009 at 9:45 pmThank you for your sharing.!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pmIn this week’s Presidential Youtube-Radio Address, President Obama doesn’t hold back in his disdain for the The Insurance industry: estetik They are “deceptive,” “dishonest,” “smoke and mirrors,” “bogus,” and “phony.” Ouch. burun estetigi And, Bravo (even if it’s four months too late). From The White House Website: As the health insurance reform debate enters into its final stages in Congress, the President denounces the desperate and deceptive last-ditch efforts of the health insurance companies to derail it. gögüs büyütme ameliyatlari This is the unsustainable path we’re on, and it’s the path the insurers want to keep us on. gögüs estetigi In fact, the insurance industry is rolling out the big guns and breaking open their massive war chest – to marshal their forces for one last fight to save the status quo. gögüs küçültme ameliyatlari They’re filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads. They’re flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists and campaign contributions. vajina daraltma ameliyatlari And they’re funding studies designed to mislead the American people. lazer epilasyon Of course, like clockwork, we’ve seen folks on cable television who know better, waving these industry-funded studies in the air. karin germe estetigi We’ve seen industry insiders – and their apologists – citing these studies as proof of claims that just aren’t true. estetik They’ll claim that premiums will go up under reform; but they know that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that reforms will karin germe estetigi lower premiums in a new insurance exchange while offering consumer protections that will limit out-of-pocket costs and prevent discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. saç ekimi
October 24th, 2009 at 3:50 am