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Republicans Should Be Embarrassed By Their Hypocrisy
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Republicans Should Be Embarrassed By Their Hypocrisy |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XFDOAPM3M |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
I certainly agree with the hypocrisy...of Obama. MOnth after month, Democrats ignored the Republicans on anything to do with health care input. They disregarded bills submitted, proposals, and even walked out of the Senate when the Republicans tried to debate it. In the closed door meetings to finalize the health care bill, they were not admitted. Now, all of a sudden, Obama in on a bi-partisan kick. Only those with a single-digit IQ would not know what caused this transformation - the lost election which took away their filibuster-proof majority. Had that been a Democratic victory, they would continue ignoring them. Now they can't. Obama is like a fellow trying to rob a man with a knife and, when the man pulls out a gun, Obama says, "Hey, wait a minute. Can't we be friends? Look, everyone! I'm putting away my knife and he still doesn't want to be friends!!" This is a typical dog and pony show. The democrats have no intention of working with the republicans but they need to put on the act. They need to say, "Look, public! We WANT to work with them (and please ignore the past year we told them to get lost)." That way, when no results are achieved, they can blame the Republicans. Obama has shown that he finds no shortage of people to blame for his failings. It's becoming his trademark. In a rare show of intelligence, Republican can see this act exactly for what it is...and aren't buying it. They will meet with the president but with little expectation that anything will change. Obama and Pelosi don't want the change - they just want the show. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
My turn for a copy and paste. The six Republican ideas already in the health-care reform bill “At this point, I don't think it's well understood how many of the GOP's central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP's "Solutions for America" homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them -- yes, you read that right -- are in the Senate health-care bill.” (1) "Let families and businesses buy health insurance across state lines." This is a long-running debate between liberals and conservatives. Currently, states regulate insurers. Liberals feel that's too weak and allows for too much variation, and they want federal regulation of insurers. Conservatives feel that states over-regulate insurers, and they want insurers to be able to cluster in the state with the least regulation and offer policies nationwide, much as credit card companies do today. To the surprise and dismay of many liberals, the Senate health-care bill included a compromise with the conservative vision for insurance regulation. The relevant policy is in Section 1333, which allows the formation of interstate compacts. Under this provision, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho (for instance) could agree to allow insurers based in any of those states to sell plans in all of them. This prevents a race to the bottom, as Idaho has to be comfortable with Arizona's regulations, and the policies have to have a minimum level of benefits (something that even Rep. Paul Ryan believes), but it's a lot closer to the conservative ideal. (2) "Allow individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, the same way large corporations and labor unions do." This is the very purpose of the exchanges, as defined in Section 1312. Insurers are required to pool the risk of all the small businesses and individuals in the new markets rather than treating them as small, single units. That gives the newly pooled consumers bargaining power akin to that of a massive corporation or labor union, just as conservatives want. It also gives insurers reason to compete aggressively for their business, which is key to the conservative vision. Finally, empowering the exchanges to use prudential purchasing maximizes the power and leverage that consumers will now enjoy. (3) "Give states the tools to create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs." Section 1302 of the Senate bill does this directly. The provision is entitled "the Waiver for State Innovation," and it gives states the power to junk the whole of the health-care plan -- that means the individual mandate, the Medicaid expansion, all of it -- if they can do it better and cheaper. (4) "End junk lawsuits." It's not entirely clear what this means, as most malpractice lawsuits actually aren't junk lawsuits. The evidence on this is pretty clear: The malpractice problem is on operating tables, not in court rooms. Which isn't to deny that our current system is broken for patients and doctors alike. The Senate bill proposes to deal with this in Section 6801, which encourages states to develop new malpractice systems and suggests that Congress fund the most promising experiments. This compromise makes a lot of sense given the GOP's already-expressed preference for letting states "create their own innovative reforms that lower health care costs," but since what the Republicans actually want is a national system capping damages, I can see how this compromise wouldn't be to their liking. (5) To stop there, however, does the conservative vision a disservice. The solutions the GOP has on its Web site are not solutions at all, because Republicans don't want to be in the position of offering an alternative bill. But when Republicans are feeling bolder -- as they were in Bush's 2007 State of the Union, or John McCain's plan -- they generally take aim at one of the worst distortions in the health-care market: The tax break for employer-sponsored insurance. Bush capped it. McCain repealed it altogether. Democrats usually reject, and attack, both approaches. Not this year, though. Senate Democrats initially attempted to cap the exclusion, which is what Bush proposed in 2007. There was no Republican support for the move, and Democrats backed off from the proposal. They quickly replaced it, however, with the excise tax, which does virtually the same thing. The excise tax only applies to employer-sponsored insurance above a certain price point, and it essentially erases the preferential tax treatment for every dollar above its threshold. (6) And finally, we shouldn't forget the compromises that have been the most painful for Democrats, and the most substantive. This is a private-market plan. Not only is single-payer off the table, but at this point, so too is the public option. The thing that liberals want most in the world has been compromised away. On Sunday, John Boehner and Mitch McConnell responded to Barack Obama's summit invitation by demanding Obama scrap the health-care reform bill entirely. This is the context for that demand. What they want isn't a bill that incorporates their ideas. They've already got that. What they want is no bill at all. And that's a hard position for the White House to compromise with.” http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
A copy and paste with no input from you is just that....words written by others, not worth reading. At least that's what you thought last week  |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
The difference, Balladeer, is that my copy and pastes are worthy reads. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Anyway, did you bother to check out the video and see all those Republicans who trashed and voted against the stimulas plan taking credit for the jobs it created in their home state? Maybe you were too busy sharpening your zinger? PS - You distorted what I actually said. Ho hum, nothing new there. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Oh....then let me clarify with your exact words..most of them were copy and paste, written by someone other than yourself. Why should I bother responding? This is a discussion forum. The authors of those articles aren’t here. I’d be talking to myself more than I usually do. Thank you for clearing up the definition of worthy....if something agrees with you, it is. If not, it's not. Heavy is the head that wears the crown |
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threadbear Senior Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 817Indy |
The Republicans shouldn't try to predict the future of the conference as simply a trap. Take the Man at his word: work with him on this. Either Health Care is an issue worth doing, or it isn't. If it's too expensive, say so: but don't use the excuse: it's a trap to get Republicans to share the blame. The Republicans need to show something positive to the American voters. So far, the only things they've done proactively is to save billions of dollars by voting NO on most discretionary spending bills. The opportunity ALWAYS exists, for both wings to reattach itself to the back of the eagle, and work together so the bird may fly again. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
The opportunity does. Does the desire? Pelosi stated, "We won the election. We run things." Bayh is leaving because the far left is trying to impose it's will on congress and the public. He also stated that congress has changed. They used to be able to vote on things and, regardless of the outcome, go have drinks or share a few laughs together and it's not that way any longer. I would love to see the two sides be able to work together for the good of the country. The question is....can they? I hope so. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
In an interview on MSNBC this morning, newly retiring Sen. Evan Bayh declared the American political system "dysfunctional," riddled with "brain-dead partisanship" and permanent campaigning. Flatly denying any possibility that he'd seek the presidency or any other higher office, Bayh argued that the American people needed to deliver a "shock" to Congress by voting incumbents out en masse and replacing them with people interested in reforming the process and governing for the good of the people, rather than deep-pocketed special-interest groups. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100216/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1134 |
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threadbear Senior Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 817Indy |
/pip/Forum6/HTML/001724.html prophetic, huh? or just the right thing to do ... The solution has been staring us in the face for a long time. Does the American people have the guts to pull the lever on them? |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
You must have thought the article worthy, Balladeer, or you wouldn’t have started a distraction. Wow, look, now we have two distractioners. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Since we're in distraction mode - googled and can't find that Pelosi quote, Balladeer. You auditioning for Fox, making stuff up? |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Save your personal insults, Jennifer. You've made your reason for posting in the Alley obvious. If all you can do is insult and try to start arguments, then you are not worth responding to. |
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threadbear Senior Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 817Indy |
Jennifer, I hardly call a solution to the problem: a 'distraction.' Your post merely states a gripe. My post solves the problem. A good post should not only state the problem, but open dialogue to discussion for answers. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Source for the Pelosi quote, Balladeer. Simple request, not the least bit unreasonable considering your history of twisting words to suit your agenda or create a distraction. edited for typo |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
another personal insult, Jennifer? Just can't help yourself, can you? Here is a skit based on her "We run things" quote. Enjoy... http://jammiewearingfool.blogspot.com/2009/02/pelosi-we-won-we-run-things-now-video.html |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
In the infamous words of terminally smug pro-abortion Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, "We won. We run things now." Well, yes and no, and maybe for a lot shorter period of time than the San Francisco Democrat believes. http://www.nrlc.org/news_and_Views/Mar09/nv030909.html |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
A SNL skit and a “quote” that doesn’t even match yours, Balladeer? Anyway, not that I like the result, but the Dems have indeed listened and made compromises. “At this point, I don't think it's well understood how many of the GOP's central health-care policy ideas have already been included as compromises in the health-care bill. But one good way is to look at the GOP's "Solutions for America" homepage, which lays out its health-care plan in some detail. It has four planks. All of them -- yes, you read that right -- are in the Senate health-care bill.” http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/02/five_compronises_in_health_car.html |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Threadbare, it's possible the American people have reached the point where they DO have the guts.. There's little doubt the public is angry. A CBS News/New York Times poll in early February found 81 percent saying it's time to elect new people to Congress. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
You're right, Jennifer. My quote was "We won the election. We run things" when the actual quote was, "We won. We run things." My bad for such a glaring misrepresentation. DOn't worry. I wasn't expecting any acknowledgement or an apology for your unwarranted insult. I know better. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
A SNL skit and an unsourced quote from a monthly anti-abortion newsletter? Give me a credible souce, the context from which the quote was supposedly taken and my most humble apology will be followed by bunches of unworthy smilies. Night, Balladeer. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
LOL..I don't know which is funnier...the thought of you apologizing or the thought of it being humble. I doubt you are capable of either. You got the reference. You are simply unwilling to admit it. I didn't expect any less, or more, from you. Goodnight. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Knew you were bluffing. Anyway, a little more on GOP hypocrisy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx3lMPWPch0&feature=related |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Can't you two talk to each other more respectfully? |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
As you noted in another thread, Ess, sometimes there are those who accuse others of personal attacks when there is nothing to back it up. But your point is well taken. I’m sure our Alley sparrings might look more like personal insults than the rib jabs, tongue in cheeks, or teasing gotchas they are often meant to be to those not aware I’ve made it very plain to Balladeer in another forum, that I do indeed respect his “knowledge, intelligence, experience and insight”, among other things. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Yep, and I believed it...then. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
See what I mean, Ess, can’t help but admire Balladeer for his quick and clever repartee. |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
J.M., you have a silver tongue, and I think poor Mike has fallen for your charms. It appears that at some time in his past he fell for your patter and may have flirted, however briefly, with the light, before realizing that your enthusiasm was for the greater good for everybody. The shock was probably crushing. Ess probably needs to understand the history of these things. And you, my blond haired beauty, you need to understand the power your inherent blondness brings you and must guard it carefully lest you loose unwitting havoc upon the world. It is but a cautionary tale, but one that needs be taken closely to heart. And Mike, surely you can put your era of bitterness and devastation behind you. Conservative guys are supposed to be able to tough this sort of heartbreak out without, sob, cracking under the pressure. Essorant, let this be a lesson to you, Man. Buck up! |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
See, told you Bob was in a mood. Just didn't expect him to be quite that random. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
cracking under the pressure, Bob? In real life, perhaps that could happen, although you won't find anyone in my life who would believe it.....but on an internet site? Please.... |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
*chuckle* I love and admire you both so much. (Pardon me if I cough, laugh, and pee all at the same time) but it seems to me that Mike accuses Jenn of doing what Mikes does to Jenn, and then vice-versa? Jenn? I do happen to agree with you on this one-I have no idea why our new President gets demerits when gross invalidations of the constitution were evident previously? But I think that precedents (and ante-precedents) can be undone. (Let's hope so, anyway.) Mike? You know I love and respect you, but you only see disrespect when it happens to you--and I didn't see anything that was disrespect from Jennifer. She just lobbed back your balls. (Um, so to speak.) This might have been said before, because I don't actually read this crap, so I wouldn't know, but I do believe that United States of America is at a crossroads, of sorts. Sort of like a family, where gramps and grammaw, remember when, and they have a say, and Mom, and Dad, when they get along? They both have a say, and the kids get to say something too. And I have lost friends because I wouldn't speak up. I didn't want to be divisive. I happen to think that's the worst thing that can happen to a family--is no, not argument, but SILENCE. So thank you Jenn, and thank you Mike. I have learned so much from reading...  [This message has been edited by Ron (02-18-2010 06:20 AM).] |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
Not a bit of cracking up at all, Mike, it was just that the same day I got fitted for this here Hook after loosing me hand from boarding that rich freighter we took, me right eye began to ich something terrible. The patch was just an accident, because I hadn'r gotten me scratch reflex under control yet. I'll tell you about how I learned to sing counter-tenor some other time. Life's difficult when yer a pirate, ya know, especially with them thar private insurance companies telling me that the eye work was because of this here pre-existing condition with the hook. Still hasn't changed that much, from what I hear. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
It's not you so much that bothers me, Captain Bob. It's that parrot on your shoulder. |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
Har! It's not me parrot atoll, Buckaneer. It's the pie rates of Penn's Aunt's up in Philly Delphia. They broke the Baking cartel monopoly on those precious pies and caused the Revolution all by themselves. Took a while though. Har. Also Har Har Har. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
You guys having fun yet? Anyway- Road to Recovery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWmUnU7HS-I |
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Bob K Member Elite
since 2007-11-03
Posts 4208 |
My dear Jennifer, a day without Mike is a day without Funshine. If I have upset you, however, I am truly sorry.. I know you can and do stand up for yourself. It's my way of giving folks a breather when I see things have gotten bruising, and it looks like we don't know any other way of backing off. Think of it as throwing a flash/bang into a hostage situation. Everybody gets rattled enough so that when talk restarts we can all remember we're friends again. It even works from time to time. Now, as for Mike. . . . Truth is, after the light and loud sounds clear, he likes a goofy fat laugh as much as everybody else. He simply forgets it when he gets too serious. Don't tell he though, he hates it when people know he's got a sense of humor. Spoils the image, Oz the great and terrible. |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Speaking of which, where is our little funshine maker, I’ve been a kinda worried about him. You don’t suppose a gator got him on the 9th hole or something? Nah, not the least bit upset. If I had been, I would have said you boys instead of you guys. I think serenity did the flash/bang thing with her cough, laugh and pee line. Kind of hard to top that no matter how pretty you think your old polly is. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Whoa. Wait a minute. Jennifer...is blonde?  Really? I'm more impressed now. *laughing* Don't worry Jen, I'll save you from Bill Maher. Me and Wanda Sykes--we got ya covered.  And *ahem* My apologies for my previous indiscretion, Ron. It's a medical condition, LBL. I know because I saw it on a tv commercial. I can apparently get medication for this now. I'll axe my doctor if it's right for me.  |
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JenniferMaxwell
since 2006-09-14
Posts 2423 |
Thanks for your support, serenity. Yep, one really has to work a lot harder when one has a handicap like inherent blondness. Anyway, Wanda, Sykes OMG, can’t decide whether I’d rather have her as a mother or a wife. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
If you haven't seen her special on HBO, Check it out! I laugh till I...cried?  |
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