The First Smack Down of the Summit

Mystery shoppers in hospitals?

Remember, when you refer to Lamar Alexander, the proper spelling is that from his presidential campaign signs — Lamar!
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http://www.gelatobaby.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/obama-open-images010.jpg

Thanks, Kate. I guessed you and KT would find out who was right.
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Hoyer says Coburn’s ideas already in bills. Good: why is Coburn still whining? Bad: are they a little too close and playing kissy-face? So will Cobrun still vote NO even with his ideas there?

Lamar must be shocked to learn that a lie isn’t the truth. Has he accused the President of deliberately telling the truth in an effort to confuse people?

So “Big ‘Gubmint” Tom Coburn is suggesting that we hire thousands of new government employees to spend their days traveling around going to doctors?
For some reason I think that if the government ever tried to do something like this Coburn would be one of the first to teabag the idea as government intrusion.

Step by Step™ – drink! Kate, is that the drinking phrase for you and KT? You might need to bring Amy over (with food) to do the typing soon.

Exactly. I thought the government can’ create jobs~ a la Stimulus. Don’t come to a gunfight with a spoon.

For some patent absurdity, MSNBC cut away from coverage of the summit in order to give time to…Armstrong Williams to tell why Obama was horribly wrong and why Republicans sounded so reasonable.

I thought a hopelessly liberal channel like MSNBC wouldn’t dare have on someone like that. You know, with all that discrediting and all.

DId I miss something?
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Did someone institute a “Rachel Maddow” type- drinking game for all of this?
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What are the rules and watch phrases? Remember, this looks like a long one, so the drinks of choice need to be rather mild; I’d like to be still breathing when it’s all over…

Smack down?

STOP WITH THE HYPERBOLIC HEADLINES! This is the crap that turn gatherings like this into in a sporting event and not the serious policy discussion that it is (or at least should be). Lamar said one thing, the president disagreed and said why. It’s not a steel cage match, it’s a discussion. Treat it as such!

afguy, I just made it up, but I really hope the swampwomen have a game there. I’d go for it w/ shots (not beer). However, I don’t want to see KT get sick; she needs to stay intact to watch figure skating tonight.

Yes! Let’s start investigating doctors. Would Sen. Coburn like to volunteer to go first?

Boehner doesn’t hear people complaining about the health care plans of major companies? Seriously?
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Pick a corporation at random and interview the HR folks. They have file cases full of these.

HSA’s / FSA’s – uh, how much do we need to save up for a heart job? C-sections – how much would Octomom have to pony up?

More Alexander absurdity, from his website right now:
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Recent Releases
* Alexander Votes in Favor of HIRE Act
* Alexander Calls Electric Cars and Trucks a “No-Brainer”
* Alexander Votes Against Cutting Off Debate on Sen. Reid’s Partisan Jobs Bill
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Note that the HIRE Act and “Sen. Reid’s Partisan Jobs Bill” are the exact same thing. (Via).

kevin,
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He can’t hear any complaints – he has his fingers in his ears so tightly he could scratch his nose from the inside.

I thought there might have been some hearing loss from his extensive use of tanning beds.

afguy: If Boehner stuck his fingers in just a little further, they’d touch.

The HSA is a big steaming pile. Where are the Americans who are sitting on large chunks of pre-tax income they can sink into these things? Most of the schmucks I know are paycheck-to-paycheck.

This is the same Boner that said he hasn’t met a single person who supports the “public option”. He is so busy wooing bribes out of Wall Street that he just doesn’t get to meet many regular people.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/1009/Boehner_searching_for_first_public_option_backer.html

Once again, Obama can use his personal approval ratings to his advantage – people are more willing to trust him at his word than an unknown Republican congressman. It is even better that he explained it while the Republican only gives the claim – people will probably trust an actual explanation more than nothing. That said, if the Republicans force him to use it too many times, Obama’s word might become a bit more suspect….

sacredh: if I look in his right ear, think I might be able to see Russia?

afguy: I’d guess you’d see the abyss. I know that when I bent down and peered into his right ear, he told me that he hadn’t decided on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” yet and then slipped me the key to his room.

“It’s not a steel cage match…”
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Imagine how many more people would be watching if it was.

The same Boehner who insisted there had been no stimulus funds spent in Ohio only to have his state point out they’d filled 52 different contracts with it.
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http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/07/odot-criticizes-boehner/

Why do get this image of Vince Mann with a microphone saying “Are you ready to obstruccccctttt”?

Republicans are at a disadvantage every time they have to defend their bullsh*t. It’s the main reason liberals don’t get air.

Same here, Cookie. RIght now, my concept of “health care” for an arthritic spine is $23.95 at Walmart for a lumbar support brace.
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Oh, and a couple of Advil a day… love this system we have.

Leeeet’s get ready to reconciiiiile!

kevin, Boehner is such a lying piece of sh!t. I live in Ohio and it’s hard not to drive 20 miles in any direction without seeing a sign on the highway saying that the construction is a stimulus money funded project. All the construction workers would be stunned to learn that they don’t exist. Of course Boehner might not be aware of anything that’s going on in his state. The guy is f**king cluelss.

What was written on the note handed to Obama when Clyburn started?
Michelle: Pick up milk and eggs. Tampons too. No smokes. Write this on your hand – don’t forget!!!
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Hillary: Mr. Prez, thx for NOT holding this meeting in the men’s room.
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Reggie Love: Mr. Prez, Wile E. Coyote is protesting outside re: smack down of ACME Insurance. FOX News claims 100,000 protesters joining him.

Dammit, I was watching this from about 10 to 11 (central time) but then I had to go to class. (though currently we are discussing whether the Constitution protects the right to sodomy…not a bad trade I’d say). Definitely set up the DVR though.

I hope that, somewhere, there are aides looking at these blogs, seeing in just how high low esteem their congressmen are held by many of us.
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BTW, I’m watching Olympic Curling right now on TV. It’s a tossup as to which activity makes more sense and is more productive…
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I think Curling has a slight lead…

Boehner to aide: “Pssst….I hear Vince is filthy rich. Invite him to dinner”.

Word, Cookie. Great point. Where the hell can we find all that money?

Whew, that’s Boustany. I thought that was “Dr. Rusty”.

Obama appears to b the only one at that hilariously large table trying to have an actual debate. A whole lot of political grandstanding from both sides and a GOP that is living up to its “party of no” moniker.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

BTW – it’s the summits ot which I refer. These blogs are a hoot!

apollyon07: Stand up and scream that you demand your constitutional rights. Right now!

So the GOP wants us to buy even MORE insurance–”Re-Insurance” to insure we have insurance if we have pre-existing conditions. Whoa. This guy must have insurance company investments. I imagine soon that EVERYTHING will be a pre-existing condition then!

I’m sorry if I make you laugh in class.

ha sacred, I don’t think Mr. Professor would appreciate that. though if the opportune moment arrived, I certainly would not hesitate.

apollyon07,
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Have you and sacredh set the date yet? If you’re not marrying him, I’m available…

I think Boehner is very worried about this 10% tax on tanning.

Boustany / Rusty: step-by-step (cheers!), problem with saving enough for HSA’s, thanks for the blinding obvious. Pre-existings – risk pools / re-insurance, but still allowed.

Back off b!tch. My ankle’s feeling better and I’m ready for a walk on the wild side.

This makes me cry in my pillow.

“Do you think Washington has the answers, or do you think that people can figure out what they want for themselves [and that the situation will improve if we have less regulation]?”

…neither?

But hey, at least we have bipartisan agreement that paperwork is a pain in the ass!

Hey… I’M the one with the new back brace!

Cry me a river. I’m wearing a TENS unit right now on my back.

“Tom Coburn just suggested using “undercover patients…”
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I believe Kramer and Mickey have some experience with that.
(” Bacterial Meningitis, Jackpot!”)

Obama to McCain: “We’re not campaigning anymore. The election is over.”

Then I defer to superior “technology”.
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Hope apollyon07 now appreciates her value. Not every day one gets superior humor and “extra support” in one package.
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Oh, BTW, what in the h*ll was this thread originally about, anyway?

12 days off and starting it out with some laughs. Thanks apollyon and afguy.
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It was about smackdowns. Mission Accomplished.

Wonder how many studies they had to conduct to come to THAT conclusion?

haha, this made me laugh. afguy, you can join, the more the merrier. Though I think I may be a little young for both of you!
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We’re on a new topic now in this class- free speech!

McCain: “I’m reminded of that everyday”
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This stuff is pure gold.

Reminded of what? The election results, or that there are still kids on his lawn?

afguy: I believe apollyon07 is a dude.

^ BUSTED.

afguy? AFGUY! Are you OK?

Don’t worry man, he’s okay, he’ll just be “out” for a while

D*mn! Thought I had found a keeper.
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So, does this blog count as a good or bad example of free speech?
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From the “keeping on topic” perspective, I’d have to say we suck.
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From a “giving the fools as much serious consideration as they deserve” viewpoint: B+.

This thread is why I’m not Catholic. Gargling with Holy Water just seems inappropriate.

Goodness… was it something we said…?

afguy what you said at 16.15 seems to sum it all up!
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Class is about to get out, time for some more health care summit viewing!

Since Erza Klein is a paid lackey of the WH, using him as the arbiter of “truth” is a bit silly. His analysis of the CBO findings has as uch holes in it as his disclosure of being paid by the WH. What the Lecturer in Chief and Erza omit in regard to premiums is accounting ofr excise taxes.
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In that CBO report is states the reduction in preiums described excludes the effects of the excise tax on higher premium policies. Individuals keeping high premium policies would pay higher premiums than under current law with the difference beign the excise tax. The CBO and JCT conclude most would avoid the excise tax by choosing plans that pay smaller share of HC costs or cover fewer services..

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At best Obama anbd Erza are disingenuous but in reality out and out liars. Higher premiums will be there or fewer services or higher out of pocket expenses. When you add then up you will pay it just might not be in the form of a premium.

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The fine print of “if you like your current insurance you can keep it” The missing line was ‘AT A COST TO YOU”.

Mystery patients….just gp pretend you are being admitted for hip replacement…or something. Just goes to show how utterly clueless Coburn and his crowd are…plenty of ways to crack down on fraud and abuse…just requires the kind of regulatory oversight that crowd hates!

‘The President explained how it actually is true and how Alexander was misconstruing the CBO estimate.’

It’s a shame that there isn’t a CBO representative at the meeting to deal with disputes about the estimates. Both sides are taking the same estimates and attributing opposite meanings to them. A CBO ‘referee’ could have helped to dispel the deceptive talking points before they took hold in the media. Fact checking after the meeting will probably be poorly reported and be of the ‘they all do it’ variety.

While dressed as a mack daddy.

Laughing so hard I forgot the point…oh yes, HSA’s. As one of the schmucks who lives check to check thanks to this recession and the replacement job at a third the pay. I’ll say again….the Republicans are clueless about the lives of most Americans. That’s being polite because one must otherwise just assume they are callously indifferent to the lives of most Americans. Oh yes, but their benefactors in the insurance industry are thrilled with them. Gag!

It would not be the first time an Obama lecture was false

Mack Daddy? What ….?

Uh, James O’Keefe?

AP already did a fact-check and they concluded that Lamer Alexander was lying.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_SUMMIT_FACT_CHECK?SITE=SCFLO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

A slow on the up take…cultural reference went right over me. I have the vision of it now!

Look up lying in the dictionary– the synonym is AP. (Ask somebody what synonym means)

Regulatory oversight? We mustn’t the dreaded “R” word.

I love all you air heads that THINK the President was actually interested in what the other side had to say.. they could care LESS and they could care even LESS what the people are saying.. it really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see what is going on.. EVEN my friends who are stanch (make that were) Obama supporters are running not walking away from him.. saying he sounds JUST LIKE BUSH.. WOW!! guess they didn’t notice McCain, Bush, Obama and a few more are all the same..LOL.. there was no slap down there was arrogance and NOTHING more.. I like arrogant people they make such fools out of themselves that when they go down in flames no one feels sorry for them..