This Independence Day weekend marked the second incarnation of the fabled Tea Party movement, protesting the government’s growing involvement in economic matters. And, just like the first go-around, the July 4 protests saw an elected Republican official, undoubtedly hoping to harness some of that the popular unrest, taking the stage to a chorus of boos.
This time the recipient of the unforgiving welcome was Sen. John Cornyn. The crowd yelled at Cornyn, called him a traitor and shouted that he was "the problem" when he took the stage in Austin.
I will add that I sorta like this new development of these clowns booing their guys. It was also about 105F on the 4th of July. Not any of the corporate sponsors that were asked to sign on and pony up the big sponsorship money they were hoping for.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/06/cornyn-booed-called-trait_n_226110.html
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The BackChannel Blog 
Google Plans to Introduce a PC Operating System
Use Scroogle instead of Google,it’ll give you a nice shiney coat!
http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm
I am not sure that wall to wall Michael Jackson is not preferable to listening this new morning show on MSNBC. Dylan and Dr Nancy S are two Right Wing tools. Rich get richer. Nancy S wants to have health care rationing. Again it is “who is moving my cheese” syndrome.
Good Morning. TB, I generally oppose rationing of medical care. However, there are some instances where medical personnel need to just say “NO” to patients. Dr. Nancy S. used the example of patients who demand antibiotics for colds and the flu, both of which are caused by viruses. She’s correct. Antibiotics do absolutely nothing to kill viruses; they only kill bacteria. Yet, everyday people rush to the doctor at the first sign of a sniffle to demand a script for a drug they don’t need. Far too often, doctors give in because it is easier to just write it than to explain why it isn’t needed, And even when doctors do the right thing and decline to prescribe the unnecessary med, a large percentage of patients will go elsewhere until they find a doctor who will do their bidding.
This scenario is played out with many different meds and many different conditions. It needs to stop. It is a huge misuse of resources and it can be very harmful. So if by rationing Dr. Nancy means ending these poor practices, I and most other healthcare professionals are 100 per cent behind her.
BTW, that is only one example of the misuse of medical resources in this country. Patients and healthcare providers share a lot of blame for this. Patients don’t need referrals to specialists when their primary care providers can adequately deal with the patients’ problems. Many conditions are best treated without pills and expensive tests. Time will heal a cold; relaxation techniques will relieve stress better than pills; MRI’s are not necessary for sprains and strains. We waste billions of dollars in this country on unnecessary tests, procedures, meds, etc. That needs to stop. That money can be better spent providing quality care to more people.
Nannymm,
I somehow think Dr Nancy was talking about rationing as the withholding of services because the uninsured can’t pay for them.
Why is it that the RWNuts want to say the US has the best health care in the world when there is not one organization that lists the US as #1. The highest I have seen is about 7th.
I think “rationing” w.r.t. health care is a Frank Luntz-ism, designed to scare people into thinking that the government dipping it’s toe into the health care waters will result in you not getting the health care you need.
The argument is specious. Think of active military or the VA. When high ranking government officials want the best care possible, where do they go? Walter Reed.
But the objective is not to debate the facts and enlighten the public, the objective is to scare the public.
As to today’s thread, check out the rude pundit’s 7/06/2009 post “Pictures of a Tea Party.”
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/
This crowd is a revival of the John Birch Society, even if they’re not card carrying members.
CAUTION: There’s a reason his blog is called “rudepundit.” Not for the overly sensitive.
morning peeps
TB, I suspect you’re right about Dr. Nancy’s motives. And I agree with you that ours is far from the best system.
dnd is also correct that “rationing” is most likely a term that Luntz has recommended to frighten the ill-informed.
What I’d like to see is an an to the waste. And, of course, I want universal coverage.
Greetings from the desert.
Rationing of health care services is practiced in Oregon since Governor (MD) Kitzhaber and the OR legislature were forced to concede that the Millsian concept of “the greatest good for the greatest number” was applicable to state spending. Elderly patients who are comatose and aren’t likely to recover are not given expensive surgeries when fifty patients with lesser ailments can be served and cured. Oregon also has a “physician assisted death” law that many other states are seriously debating as many individuals are way ahead of the government in “rationing” their time on earth. When it’s my time, please don’t let the state or some family member try to keep me alive for the sake of living. LOL, and, my time is coming, that’s for sure. Oh, your time is coming too!
eprof2,
the best way to insure that your wishes are carried out wrt your last days, make sure you and yours have a “Living Will”. Every visit I make to the VA, the nurse asks me if I have a Living Will on file with them.
Great points, eprof. We hate the word rationing but we need to make some very difficult decisions about healthcare and who gets what. No matter what we call it, we need to allocate resources in a rational way that does the most good. What we have now is an unfair and irrational system that allows some (generally the wealthy and well-insured) to monopolize medical resources and exclude the rest.
If Michael Jackson had “rationed” health care, he might be alive today.
That’s true, dnd. It can be very difficult to say no to ordinary patients when they are dogged about their wants. With celebrity patients who are used to getting everything they want it is a nightmare. Still. doctors must say no. The docs who didn’t say no to MJ may now pay a heavy price. They should.
Here is an interesting WaPo article I just read about the subject we’ve been discussing:
In Retooled Health-Care System, Who Will Say No?
By Alec MacGillis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The question came from a Colorado neurologist. “Mr. President,” he said at a recent forum, “what can you do to convince the American public that there actually are limits to what we can pay for with our American health-care system? And if there are going to be limits, who . . . is going to enforce the rules for a system like that?”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/07/AR2009070702745.html?wpisrc=newsletter
I believe in Britain each local govt has a board who decides the issue of how health care funds are spent. I’d much rather have some local elected official making these decisions than some low level exec at the insurance company’s home office, which is exactly how it’s going on now. This argument is bogus, the insurance companies have been rationing for years without the right crying foul.
You got that right, Brian. Too bad the repugs are lying again and trying to frighten people into opposing change that is in their best interests. Too bad so many people are ignorant and gullible enough to fall for it.
Liberty can not be preserved without general knowledge among people.”
(August 1765) John Adams
Great link Nannymm. The Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic have demonstrated that fee-for-service models result in worse outcomes at higher prices.
So my thoughts are smart insurers, be they the government, a non-profit or a for-profit, give big price/paperwork breaks to non fee-for-service health care providers. Particularly those who practice preventative medicine. Things will change pronto.
Side note: Colorado has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer. Often times with non-aggressive cancers, urologists/oncologists recommend just monitoring it, particularly for elderly men. Not only is it cheaper, it’s likely to have fewer side effects than other treatments.
Think twice before getting a PSA
http://trueslant.com/turimcnamee/2009/06/29/think-twice-before-getting-a-psa/
Hey, Brian. It looks like we’ll be getting a Lt. Governor later today. Since he or she will be able to break tie votes in the state senate, perhaps our good for nothing politicos in Albany will get back to some semblance of work. About damned time!
Paterson Set to Name a New York Lieutenant Governor
By JEREMY W. PETERS and DANNY HAKIM
Published: July 8, 2009
Coulter: Palin Resignation “Brilliant”
http://video.newsmax.com/Manage/Videos/VideoGallery/Coulter–Palin-Resignation–Brilliant-.aspx?s=al&promo_code=830A-1
Well, let’s just consider the source…
The Place of Women on the Court
Here’s a question none of the MSM asked Palin at the fishing trip photo-op: “Why aren’t you and Todd wearing life vests?”
Trust me, if you’re wearing chest waders and go overboard, they fill up with water really fast.
They sure do, dnd. My best friend’s cousin died that way. Poor guy never had a chance.
“if you’re wearing chest waders and go overboard, they fill up with water really fast.”
We can only hope!
With foreign-policy speech, Clinton plans to raise her profile
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/07/08/with_foreign_policy_speech_clinton_plans_to_raise_her_profile
Good morning!
Morning peeps,
No thread change today, too busy here. Carry on.
Avalanche captian Joe Sakic to retire. Avalanche will retire his number:
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_12798077
“One of the chief reasons Sarah Palin has given for resigning as Governor of Alaska is that her state’s taxpayers are being forced to spend money defending her government against ethics complaints that would otherwise fund teachers, cops, and road repair.”
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/republican-party/key-reason-palin-gave-for-quitting-appears-to-be-false/
Oops! Time to get the Department of Law involved 😉
Public Option Enemy No. 1
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/07/public-option-enemy-no-1
David Corn blasts Time for their Palin puff piece:
“In a classic example of newsmagazine overthink, Time profiles Sarah Palin with a cover story that practically celebrates her thin résumé and essentially makes the case that know-nothingism could be good for America. Seriously:”
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/07/time-goes-gaga-palin
Good for David Corn. That Palin piece hardly qualifies as journalism. It was pure propaganda. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. We have had enough stupid and ill-informed people in positions of power. And look where that got us? I wonder if anyone would celebrate “know-nothingism” in his or her physician or surgeon. Perhaps Time will recommend “know-nothingism” as the new standard for teachers, lawyers and judges, law enforcement officers, and fireman. Hell, let’s make sure we strive for stupidity in the military, too. Why not? If we’re going to celebrate incompetence and ignorance, let’s go whole hog. Why should we just fuck up government? Let’s screw the entire country and everyone in it.
Get ’em Nanny!!
Anyone on board with HR 1207?
Nanny some good news for us New Yawkers:
Defector Said to Be Ready to End Albany Stalemate
Hi,AI.
I was just reading that, Brian. Such fickle politicians we have. LOL
Ensign is toast!
Anyone on board with HR 1207?
I don’t know what HR 1207 is AI, how bout giving a link to it!
Here is a link. If you havent heard of this bill,you should be asking yourself why.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1207
Is it just me or do others find it odd that the Panetta statement is being spun by the Pelosi haters as some sort of partisan issue?
For those who jumped all over Pelosi for her May statement, they should either keep quiet, or if they have any decency, apologize.
Good Evening Keith (English Voice), oh wait, Richard Wolfe has that line copyrighted…. Hope my old buds are well, been busy for two days, catching up on thread…
Dnd: I dont think any of the people who were trying to get Pelosi to resign a few months back are going to admit they were wrong. Sometimes I think its all spin on the hill…
Of Clinton from earlier this afternoon, she has handled Honduras well so far. I like that she brought in Oscar Arias and now seems to be a bit more hands off…..
Trout i agree with you about these “Dylan and nancy” people. I hope their show s are off soon….
I give Ensign 10 days, 60/39 nice!
Yeah, Ensign. Get the parents to pay hush money to the mistress. Family values.
Hi gang…
My take on the CIA lying, misstating and otherwise omitting is what I left over at you know where.
I take Pelosi’s side on this issue even though she betrayed her Oath of Office when she took Impeachment off the Table.
After all because of her she allowed the Bush\Cheney War Crime Family to continue to destroy our Country, Constitution, Integrity, Honor and bring the collapse of both Our Economy and the Global Economy to financial ruin. So…..
So does anyone still believe that the CIA does not mislead, lie or omit on going programs to Congress for oversight.
A while back Seymour Hersh made a remark that stunned everyone at a event he was speaking at. Could this be what Panetta found out about and when he did, go directly to the oversight committee about it?
“So what are the “significant actions” that these seven lawmakers insist were kept from Congress? Another theory being bandied about concerns an “executive assassination ring” that was allegedly set up and answered to former Vice President Dick Cheney. The New Yorker’s Seymour Hersh, building off earlier reporting from the New York Times, dropped news of the possibility that such a ring existed in a March 2009 discussion sponsored by the University of Minnesota.
“It is a special wing of our special operations community that is set up independently,” Hersh said. “They do not report to anybody, except in the Bush-Cheney days, they reported directly to the Cheney office. They did not report to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff or to Mr. [Robert] Gates, the secretary of defense. They reported directly to him. …
“Congress has no oversight of it,” he added. “It’s an executive assassination ring essentially, and it’s been going on and on and on. Just today in the Times there was a story that its leaders, a three star admiral named [William H.] McRaven, ordered a stop to it because there were so many collateral deaths. Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That’s been going on, in the name of all of us.””
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/was-the-cia-hiding-cheney_n_228864.html
I would bet that this is what Panetta found out and he is trying to cover his you know what since when this does become public knowledge with Hersh’s book that will include this story all hell will break loose.
So lets wait and see what unfolds over the next few months and see what is in Hersh’s upcoming book.
No Michael Jackson resolution in Congress
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi balks at a vote to honor the late pop star. Some lawmakers worried that the debate would get ugly.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-jackson-pelosi10-2009jul10,0,764678.story
How many people in the US Senate are mixed up in these public affairs? Well, I mean, private affairs that have become public?
Anon, I always enjoy reading your takes and hope you are well.
Who would replace Ensign? I wonder if the Dems could pick that seat up?
New thread.