I have serious thirst.

I really want President Obama to turn up the rhetorical heat on the iranians over these kangaroo courts and show trials. Whatever happened to America as the champion of freedom and fairness? This silence is making me sick.

That was a very fattening thread back there.

re: #2 _RememberTonyC

I really want President Obama to turn up the rhetorical heat on the iranians over these kangaroo courts and show trials. Whatever happened to America as the champion of freedom and fairness?

Do I really have to answer this question?

re: #2 _RememberTonyC

That little fuck Dinnerjacket will pardon all of them to make himself look good. If these trials weren't public, these people will already be dead. As for Zero, he has no spine. Coward.

Hey! How long has the comments bar told us how many new comments were waiting?

Charles, you rock!

re: #4 Athens Runaway

Do I really have to answer this question?

it was rhetorical, but my anger is not

New comments button now gives total # of comments now available. Cool!

re: #3 Emmmieg

That was a very fattening thread back there.

"Does this thread make my ass look fat?"

///

re: #8 Born Again Republican

New comments button now gives total # of comments now available. Cool!

I was just noticing that too... apparently Charles is at work.

re: #6 Emmmieg

Hey! How long has the comments bar told us how many new comments were waiting?

Charles, you rock!

I just saw that, too! Charles, you tricky man.

re: #5 Cannadian Club Akbar

He'll pardon the defendants and then arrange for some sort of 'accident' to get the best of both worlds (eliminating opposition before making himself look good for pardoning their 'crimes')

re: #8 Born Again Republican

New comments button now gives total # of comments now available. Cool!

Noticed that...very nice!

/Thanks, Charles!

re: #6 Emmmieg

Hey! How long has the comments bar told us how many new comments were waiting?

Charles, you rock!

Wow! That is ultra cool, Charles.

Wow. Nice feature. A button that updates itself with a comment tally. I bet when I press "post this comment" that the number will go up. :)

re: #3 Emmmieg

That was a very fattening thread back there.

Indeed. Time to slim down.

re: #1 esch

I have serious thirst.

Chimay Peres Trappistes Premiere over ice is a good quencher for a Saturday afternoon...especially with 90F heat.

re: #5 Cannadian Club Akbar

That little fuck Dinnerjacket will pardon all of them to make himself look good. If these trials weren't public, these people will already be dead. As for Zero, he has no spine. Coward.

france has spoken out, the UK has spoken out, but the USA seems fine with this situation.

The number in the new comments button is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

re: #19 Charles

The number in the new comments is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

Well, that's my queue...

Gonna eat bbiab.

re: #19 Charles

The number in the new comments button is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

Very nifty...thanks, Charles!

re: #19 Charles

The number in the new comments is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

Quit spoiling us!! Well never learn if you do it for us!!
/

Charles this is a cool update :)

re: #14 MandyManners

Wow! That is ultra cool, Charles.

Wow! I just noticed that. This is the Rolls Royce of blogs!

The number updates at 5-second intervals...

re: #19 Charles

The number in the new comments button is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

now if you can just come up with a "troll-o-meter" so we can see which comments to ignore. (you just can't please some people).

hmm "Caddyshack" is on again, wondering how many times can u watch it? i think i watched it about 50+ times, thanks AMC, comedy central and such...

re: #19 Charles

I always use that button because I get new totals for ratings. Auto link doesn't update that figure. Got any extra time?

Thanks, really nice feature, Charles.

re: #22 Cannadian Club Akbar

Quit spoiling us!! Well never learn if you do it for us!!
/

So true...with all of the features and enhancements that Charles, slaving away over a hot keyboard, has added over the years, it's like I'm slumming when I'm at other blogs/forums.

re: #2 _RememberTonyC

I really want President Obama to turn up the rhetorical heat on the iranians over these kangaroo courts and show trials. Whatever happened to America as the champion of freedom and fairness? This silence is making me sick.

Too busy telling his staff to turn up the rhetorical heat on ordinary Americans.

Well, I have finished the Honey-Do list, which entailed building and staining a 4' by 9" by 7" hanging planter box for She Who Must Be Obeyed. It topped out at 102 degrees here today, which was our *average* high for July (the hottest month evah!! in Austin). I am now drinking well deserved IPA's.

Interesting set of posts by Charles today, isn't it?

I sure can taste the cherry in this here Sam Adams Cherry Wheat...

re: #29 talon_262

So true...with all of the features and enhancements that Charles, slaving away over a hot keyboard, has added over the years, it's like I'm slumming when I'm at other blogs/forums.

Because you are slumming when you're at other blogs/forums.

Does that make me an elitist?

re: #9 talon_262

"Does this thread make my ass look fat?"

///

Perfect answer: "I don't know honey, come here."

*wrap arms around woman's waist and pull her close. After a moment, declare...*

"You fit into my arms just perfectly."

re: #33 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Because you are slumming when you're at other blogs/forums.

Does that make me an elitist?

Maybe eLizist?

re: #34 SteveC

Perfect answer: "I don't know honey, come here."

*wrap arms around woman's waist and pull her close. After a moment, declare...*

"You fit into my arms just perfectly."

ass kisser :)

Charles Johnson: Keeping LGF state of the art. Period.

Well done!

re: #36 _RememberTonyC

ass kisser :)

I didn't see anything in there about her standing on her head.

re: #33 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Because you are slumming when you're at other blogs/forums.

Does that make me an elitist?

Well, yeah, but that's a good thing...

re: #26 _RememberTonyC

now if you can just come up with a "troll-o-meter" so we can see which comments to ignore. (you just can't please some people).

Now that would be cool... maybe a randomized comment that autoposts from a file that contains statements like:
"Stinky hits a bankshot into the corner pocket off [name of troll]"
"Stinky whacks a skunk called [name of troll]" etc.
"Stinky serving sauteed gamey [name of troll] buttocks in the [thread title] thread."
Whenever a troll gets whacked.

re: #27 Gella

hmm "Caddyshack" is on again, wondering how many times can u watch it? i think i watched it about 50+ times, thanks AMC, comedy central and such...

Cue the Music!

Im alright
Nobody worry bout me
Why you got to gimme a fight?
Cant you just let it be?

Im alright
Dont nobody worry bout me
You got to gimme a fight
Why dont you just let me be

re: #38 esch

I didn't see anything in there about her standing on her head.

Ba dum dum ... there are other ways to maneuver it into kissing position!

regarding the thread about Charles advocating violence... I just posted it on that thread but it looks like the crowd has moved on...sorry for the repost.

Definitely a distortion of what Charles has said. Of course he does not support violence. Anyone reading here for more than 5 minutes will figure that out.

Now to my other point...
The reason these town halls may be so heated and becoming unruly is the sense of urgency. IF you want to take time to have a rational discussion, fine. However,the democrats are rushing this thing (like everything else) so fast and with such urgency is that it feels by the time we sit down to discuss the bill it will have been voted on, passed and enacted before we even got served Hor d'ovres.

When time is of the essence and people are stressed actions tend to be more severe. That just the way people react to stress.

re: #6 Emmmieg

Hey! How long has the comments bar told us how many new comments were waiting?

Charles, you rock!

I just noticed it too!

re: #36 _RememberTonyC

ass kisser :)

Is it female? If so, I'm guilty.

re: #25 Charles

That is a cool feature. Thanks.

re: #43 danrudy

regarding the thread about Charles advocating violence... I just posted it on that thread but it looks like the crowd has moved on...sorry for the repost.

Definitely a distortion of what Charles has said. Of course he does not support violence. Anyone reading here for more than 5 minutes will figure that out.

Now to my other point...
The reason these town halls may be so heated and becoming unruly is the sense of urgency. IF you want to take time to have a rational discussion, fine. However,the democrats are rushing this thing (like everything else) so fast and with such urgency is that it feels by the time we sit down to discuss the bill it will have been voted on, passed and enacted before we even got served Hor d'ovres.

When time is of the essence and people are stressed actions tend to be more severe. That just the way people react to stress.

Well, there is rushing things and *rushing* things. Please consider that the first time national health care was broached was in the 40's. This has been a 60-year discussion, driven by insurance company profits, both pro- and anti-.

re: #45 SteveC

Is it female? If so, I'm guilty.

we can arrange a pardon for you ...

There is no getting around it: Laura Ingalls, one of the original Fox Girls, is hot.

I didn't notice the new feature, 'cause I always have auto clicked.

an even cooler feature.

re: #47 austin_blue

So...trying to cram it through before the recess wasn't rushing it then?

re: #49 pat

There is no getting around it: Laura Ingalls, one of the original Fox Girls, is hot.

Little House on the Prairie?

re: #51 Fenway_Nation

So...trying to cram it through before the recess wasn't rushing it then?

Oh, I agree that the pause was appropriate. We will get a more substantial look at whatever this plan turns out to be in September.

re: #43 danrudy

IF you want to take time to have a rational discussion, fine. However,the democrats are rushing this thing (like everything else) so fast and with such urgency is that it feels by the time we sit down to discuss the bill it will have been voted on, passed and enacted before we even got served Hor d'ovres.

The Dems want to screw us without the niceties of dinner, a movie, flowers, protection, or even a little note on the pillow.

The media is sure being quiet about the 6 arrests in St. Louis the other night.
Why no word about those who were arrested and if they were in fact SEIU union members?

Protesters Demand Apology For Fracas At Town Hall Meeting

encore...
Image: we-take-the-cake-chocolate-cake-1-292x300.jpg

Ohhh.

Laura Ingle

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

/Emily Latella Off

re: #50 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I didn't notice the new feature, 'cause I always have auto clicked.

an even cooler feature.

I always use the auto function too. Turned it off for a little while. And sure enough, the number of comments waiting to be clicked showed up in parentheses.

Neat.

re: #47 austin_blue

Actually, before the '40's. This is an interesting look at the politics that are still in play:
The Wages of Sickness: The Politics of Health Insurance in Progressive America

Hoffman also provides a broader institutional perspective on the AALL's development of health insurance than do other works on the subject. In the second chapter, Hoffman first notes the failure of the AALL to court groups that would be affected by their proposed legislation. This oversight is a central theme in the book -- chapter 4 is entitled "The Worst Insult to the Greatest Profession," and discusses how the AALL failed to include physicians in the development of their model legislation. In chapter 5, Hoffman similarly discusses how the needs and/or anxieties of employers and commercial insurance companies were barely considered and their opposition seriously underestimated. Both groups were liable to bear considerable costs associated with the legislation. Employers would be required to contribute to the cost of the insurance program, yet AALL reformers erroneously believed that employers would come to support the bill (as they had workers' compensation laws). Despite the fact that commercial insurance companies were also a potentially serious source of opposition, the AALL included burial insurance as one of their proposed benefits, thus threatening one of the most profitable lines of commercial insurance companies. [Link: eh.net...]

re: #54 SteveC

The Dems want to screw us without the niceties of dinner, a movie, flowers, protection, or even a little note on the pillow.

Well, that's not fair. There has been a pause for reflection. And, of course, we will respect you in the morning!

;-)

re: #19 Charles

The number in the new comments button is showing you how many new undisplayed comments are waiting for you to click the button.

Really cool. Thanks for spoiling us.

re: #57 karmic_inquisitor

Ohhh.

Laura Ingle

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

/Emily Latella Off

Jennifer Eccelson (sp?) was THE hottest. I think she covered the Iraq war in '03.

re: #57 karmic_inquisitor

Ohhh.

Laura Ingle

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

/Emily Latella Off

Ooooh... she was a reporter on Geraldo at Large...

(I don't have cable- have no idea who she is...)

re: #62 Cannadian Club Akbar

Absolutely right. What ever happened to her?

cool cherry cream...

re: #49 pat

There is no getting around it: Laura Ingalls, one of the original Fox Girls, is hot.

You mean Laura Ingle. I make the same mistake, I occasionally think they are talking about Laura Ingraham.

You gotta be careful, the adult Melissa Gilbert is smokin' hot but a man crush on Half Pint is a little much!

re: #64 lincolntf

Absolutely right. What ever happened to her?

I think she is at NBC. But until then...

[Link: www.cameroncole.com...]

re: #62 Cannadian Club Akbar

Jennifer Eccelson (sp?) was THE hottest. I think she covered the Iraq war in '03.

Was she blond? I vaguely remember a very pretty, very sleep-deprived blond girl causing Walid Phares heartburn.

re: #68 SanFranciscoZionist

Was she blond? I vaguely remember a very pretty, very sleep-deprived blond girl causing Walid Phares heartburn.

See #67. She is yummy.

re: #66 SteveC

yeah. that is who I met. She is doing air crash live stuff

re: #49 pat

There is no getting around it: Laura Ingalls, one of the original Fox Girls, is hot.

I have a Laura Tingle running up my leg...

/giggity giggity giggity

re: #67 Cannadian Club Akbar

Thank you kindly.

re: #47 austin_blue

I have considered it...Hell, I live it as a physician.
Even if one accepts the premise of a 60 year discussion (I don't), so what was the conclusion of all the studies or discussion? I would think that not having reached a consensus after a 60 yr discussion would lead folks to be more and not less cautious about overhauling after several weeks of creating a new radical model.

My buddy who is a pediatric ENT (you know, the ones that take out tonsil unnecessarily from poor suspecting children) told me about a conversation he had a few days ago with a guy he trained with and who went back to Canada to practice. (Both my friend and his colleague are from Canada and trained in the US. He stayed in US and his friend went back)

He said that it actually takes about ONE YEAR for a child who is referred to him by the child's pediatrician to get an appointment with him. And, if he decided that the condition requires surgery (talking tonsils here) that it is another year before he can schedule and perform the operation. This is the conversation that I had with him a few days ago.

Does the USA really want this kind of health care?

re: #61 Sharmuta

You missed the lady [finger] talk earlier.

Laura Ingraham: All this and brains, too!

re: #72 lincolntf

The girl who does traffic M-F on local CBS here is a Goddess.

Honey Pie

re: #73 danrudy

I just had my daughter's tonsils out. (Too many strep throats.)

My answer is: NO!

re: #73 danrudy

Preach it Dan.

re: #77 Cannadian Club Akbar

The girl who does MF'n traffic on local CBS here is a Goddess.

That's probably better.

re: #77 Cannadian Club Akbar

The girl who does traffic M-F on local CBS here is a Goddess.

That just looks wrong. I halfway expect a beautiful woman to flash that Pepsodent Smile and say "I got your traffic right here, M-F!"

re: #82 SteveC

That just looks wrong. I halfway expect a beautiful woman to flash that Pepsodent Smile and say "I got your traffic right here, M-F!"

MMTA.

re: #81 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

That's probably better.

re: #82 SteveC

That just looks wrong. I halfway expect a beautiful woman to flash that Pepsodent Smile and say "I got your traffic right here, M-F!"

Heh.

re: #73 danrudy

I have considered it...Hell, I live it as a physician.
Even if one accepts the premise of a 60 year discussion (I don't), so what was the conclusion of all the studies or discussion? I would think that not having reached a consensus after a 60 yr discussion would lead folks to be more and not less cautious about overhauling after several weeks of creating a new radical model.

My buddy who is a pediatric ENT (you know, the ones that take out tonsil unnecessarily from poor suspecting children) told me about a conversation he had a few days ago with a guy he trained with and who went back to Canada to practice. (Both my friend and his colleague are from Canada and trained in the US. He stayed in US and his friend went back)

He said that it actually takes about ONE YEAR for a child who is referred to him by the child's pediatrician to get an appointment with him. And, if he decided that the condition requires surgery (talking tonsils here) that it is another year before he can schedule and perform the operation. This is the conversation that I had with him a few days ago.

Does the USA really want this kind of health care?

Okay, so another question: What happens when the problem is an emergency? My oldest son's tonsils nearly abcessed when he was a toddler. He was hospitalized overnight. His tonsils were removed a month later, when he had stabilized.

Would he have had to wait a year?

Oooh, no wasted clickage if there is no number on that button. Hey, a number appeared! Time to click productively!

re: #83 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

MMTA.

*Google MMTA*

Minnesota Music Teachers Association

Massachusetts Marine Trades Association

Maryland Motor Truck Association

You got me - what's MMTA? That one is new to me!

re: #87 SteveC

Mediocre Minds Think Alike

re: #88 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Mediocre Minds Think Alike

Day-Um! I shouldn't have asked! :)

Sorry Charles, I should have thought twice before posting that...

re: #85 Emmmieg

I honestly don't know the answer to the question. I am not super familiar with the system. I was just relaying the conversation that I heard.

I will tell you that my neighbors mother had a heart condition that required further testing. Rather than wait the month it required to have her get test in Canada I helper to arrange to have an exam for her here (I am a radiologist) the next day withing 2 hours of her landing. (incidentally, it was cheaper for her to fly down here then to drive across the border to have it done in a US facility because apparently those guys were jacking up the price because so many Canadians were coming across the border. The price for her to fly down here and back, the exam and a few days at hotel was cheaper then her simply driving across the border to have it done) What does that tell you. It tells me that according to supply and demand theory that the demand is so large that they could get away with charging ridiculous prices for imaging to wealthy Canadians.
I am told by my Canadian friends that the reason the Canadian health care system works as good (or bad) as it does is because Canada borders the USA.

Swine Flu = ticket to Heaven! (with Virgins free of charge!)

Saudi calls Swine Flu death "Martydom"

The legal adviser in the Saudi ministry of justice has reassured Muslims that whoever dies of swine flu will get the reward of a 'martyr'.

In an interview with the Okaz daily, Sheikh Muhsin al-Ubaikan said the spread of swine flu as a pandemic is tantamount to plague.

The senior Saudi legal scholar referred to what he said was a saying by the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) that can be explained to mean that plague victims are martyrs.

What's really going on is that a couple of countries (Iran being the main one) has banned its citizens from going to Mecca, saying that the faithful are going to have to just take one of the other pilgrimages this year. The Saudis see Mecca as much as a tourist site as the Holiest Place in Islam and are worried that the t-shirts, ice cream cones, and plastic Mohammad ears won't sell as well, so we gotta keep them pilgrims coming!

We worship Allah, but we also worship the Dollar Bill, Peace Be Upon It!

re: #92 SteveC

Swine Flu = ticket to Heaven! (with Virgins free of charge!)

Saudi calls Swine Flu death "Martydom"

What's really going on is that a couple of countries (Iran being the main one) has banned its citizens from going to Mecca, saying that the faithful are going to have to just take one of the other pilgrimages this year. The Saudis see Mecca as much as a tourist site as the Holiest Place in Islam and are worried that the t-shirts, ice cream cones, and plastic Mohammad ears won't sell as well, so we gotta keep them pilgrims coming!

We worship Allah, but we also worship the Dollar Bill, Peace Be Upon It!

One of my summer school students lost her uncle to swine flu. He was a Baptist minister. (Also a local small business owner, and quite remarkable man.) Does he count, or must you be on your way to Mecca when the swine gets you?

re: #92 SteveC

Swine Flu = ticket to Heaven! (with Virgins free of charge!)

Saudi calls Swine Flu death "Martydom"

What's really going on is that a couple of countries (Iran being the main one) has banned its citizens from going to Mecca, saying that the faithful are going to have to just take one of the other pilgrimages this year. The Saudis see Mecca as much as a tourist site as the Holiest Place in Islam and are worried that the t-shirts, ice cream cones, and plastic Mohammad ears won't sell as well, so we gotta keep them pilgrims coming!

We worship Allah, but we also worship the Dollar Bill, Peace Be Upon It!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAA

re: #93 SanFranciscoZionist

One of my summer school students lost her uncle to swine flu. He was a Baptist minister. (Also a local small business owner, and quite remarkable man.) Does he count, or must you be on your way to Mecca when the swine gets you?

Who knows? Read the article and the comments, a LOT of Muslims read it as just what it looks like - money grab! (And then there is the guy who thinks H1N1 is being fed through the air conditioning system...!)

re: #92 SteveC

Swine Flu = ticket to Heaven! (with Virgins free of charge!)

Saudi calls Swine Flu death "Martydom"

What's really going on is that a couple of countries (Iran being the main one) has banned its citizens from going to Mecca, saying that the faithful are going to have to just take one of the other pilgrimages this year. The Saudis see Mecca as much as a tourist site as the Holiest Place in Islam and are worried that the t-shirts, ice cream cones, and plastic Mohammad ears won't sell as well, so we gotta keep them pilgrims coming!

We worship Allah, but we also worship the Dollar Bill, Peace Be Upon It!

Unless you had contact with an actual swine, in which case, you're unclean.

I hope Israel comes up with a good cure, and the only way it can get sold is if it clearly comes from Israel. Then the Saudis would have to decide whether to do business with Israel or let their people die.

re: #95 SteveC

Who knows? Read the article and the comments, a LOT of Muslims read it as just what it looks like - money grab! (And then there is the guy who thinks H1N1 is being fed through the air conditioning system...!)

I'm gonna get swine flu this fall. I just know I'm gonna get swine flu this fall. No amount of Purell in the classroom is going to save me.

re: #96 Kosh's Shadow

Unless you had contact with an actual swine, in which case, you're unclean.

I hope Israel comes up with a good cure, and the only way it can get sold is if it clearly comes from Israel. Then the Saudis would have to decide whether to do business with Israel or let their people die.

If Israel comes up with a vaccine, they will get blamed for every death afterwards.

re: #73 danrudy

I have considered it...Hell, I live it as a physician.
Even if one accepts the premise of a 60 year discussion (I don't), so what was the conclusion of all the studies or discussion? I would think that not having reached a consensus after a 60 yr discussion would lead folks to be more and not less cautious about overhauling after several weeks of creating a new radical model.

My buddy who is a pediatric ENT (you know, the ones that take out tonsil unnecessarily from poor suspecting children) told me about a conversation he had a few days ago with a guy he trained with and who went back to Canada to practice. (Both my friend and his colleague are from Canada and trained in the US. He stayed in US and his friend went back)

He said that it actually takes about ONE YEAR for a child who is referred to him by the child's pediatrician to get an appointment with him. And, if he decided that the condition requires surgery (talking tonsils here) that it is another year before he can schedule and perform the operation. This is the conversation that I had with him a few days ago.

Does the USA really want this kind of health care?

I don't know. We already have bean counters at the insurance companies second guessing physician's decisions, often after the fact. You are perfectly aware of this. Several cents on every insurance dollar goes to reviewing procedures, often denying them. Another 20-25% goes to profit margin. Canadians whine about their single payer system, but when asked if they would prefer the American system, the overwhelming answer is no.

The other thing is the cost on productivity. Medical costs are passed on through our manufactured products. When a country like Germany, with single payer, saves several hundred dollars per vehicle compared to its American competitor, we are hurt as an exporter.

re: #98 Cannadian Club Akbar

If Israel comes up with a vaccine, they will get blamed for every death afterwards.

Don't be silly. Our Jewish Overlords will use the American pharmaceutical companies they control to produce their vaccine, avoiding all blame yet realizing all the profits.

/

re: #98 Cannadian Club Akbar

If Israel comes up with a vaccine, they will get blamed for every death afterwards.

You're right.
They'll be blamed whether someone actually got the vaccine or not.
And then people will claim swine flu is really a joooish plot to get people to buy the vaccine, even if they also say it doesn't work.

Modern day witch burnings.
(Jews did not get the plague to the same extent as others, largely becuase of the higher sanitary standards - the commandment to wash hands before eating is an example of that. And the were therefore blamed for bringing the plague.)

re: #92 SteveC

Swine Flu = ticket to Heaven! (with Virgins free of charge!)

Saudi calls Swine Flu death "Martydom"

What's really going on is that a couple of countries (Iran being the main one) has banned its citizens from going to Mecca, saying that the faithful are going to have to just take one of the other pilgrimages this year. The Saudis see Mecca as much as a tourist site as the Holiest Place in Islam and are worried that the t-shirts, ice cream cones, and plastic Mohammad ears won't sell as well, so we gotta keep them pilgrims coming!

"Meanwhile, Muslim clerics do not approve the Saudi verdict calling it irrational, "Anyone considering himself a martyr for dying while performing Hajj is a fool," said Abdul Moati Bayoumi, a member of the Islamic Research Centre, an influential arm of al-Azhar, which is the Sunni Muslim world's most prestigious religious institution."

We worship Allah, but we also worship the Dollar Bill, Peace Be Upon It!

re: #99 austin_blue

These bean counters you refer to are often people with no real medical background. I cannot tell you the frustration many docs feel having their decision reached in concert with a patient second guessed or denied by a 23 yr old barely educated phone jockey. This phone jockey will be replaced by the government telling you what you can and cannot have. Much like in Britain.

condider this...
I cannot remember the ladies name in Britain, but apparently after being denied therapy for her metatatic breast cancer she sold (or wanted to sell ) her house to raise the money to pay for the treatments on her own. SHe was told by the government that if she did this (or becasue she did it..I am not remembering the facts exactly) she would be required to pay back the national healthcare sytem the equivalent amount since it would not be fair.

Does the Usa want this type of health care system?

re: #99 austin_blue

Austin? Speaking of costs. How much medicine is tort protection?

Why do you think there is zero tort reform in the Healthcare bill?

You seem to have studied up a bit on this issue, and I haven't heard a satisfactory answer.

The last time I had any kind of flu, I had to go into work early because someone had to go home because they had the flu. That was 12 years ago. All flu bugs can bite it.

re: #66 SteveC

You mean Laura Ingle. I make the same mistake, I occasionally think they are talking about Laura Ingraham.

You gotta be careful, the adult Melissa Gilbert is smokin' hot but a man crush on Half Pint is a little much!

And she can SCREAM like a motherfrakker! (5:20)

re: #104 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Austin? Speaking of costs. How much medicine is tort protection?

Why do you think there is zero tort reform in the Healthcare bill?

You seem to have studied up a bit on this issue, and I haven't heard a satisfactory answer.

I was going to mention that next...I think the article Charles posted from Krauthammer addressed this perfectly.

re: #55 FrogMarch
That alone indicates that they were SEIU members, seeing that they were assigned the task of patrolling these "meetings" in the first place. To protect the congressmen from their constituents and their rude, ill considered ways, don't ya know.

re: #104 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Austin? Speaking of costs. How much medicine is tort protection?

Why do you think there is zero tort reform in the Healthcare bill?

You seem to have studied up a bit on this issue, and I haven't heard a satisfactory answer.

Maybe it is addressed in the pages, I just haven't heard of it if it is.

re: #104 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Austin? Speaking of costs. How much medicine is tort protection?

Why do you think there is zero tort reform in the Healthcare bill?

You seem to have studied up a bit on this issue, and I haven't heard a satisfactory answer.

I am in full support of limits on court pay outs. I have no love for trial lawyers. Interestingly, Texas passed tort reform several years ago and has seen no significant decrease in MD insurance premiums. Go figure.

WEED on NGC!! Wait, I don't smoke.

re: #110 austin_blue

I wasn't asking you how you felt about it. I was asking why you thought it wasn't addressed.

re: #103 danrudy

These bean counters you refer to are often people with no real medical background. I cannot tell you the frustration many docs feel having their decision reached in concert with a patient second guessed or denied by a 23 yr old barely educated phone jockey. This phone jockey will be replaced by the government telling you what you can and cannot have. Much like in Britain.

condider this...
I cannot remember the ladies name in Britain, but apparently after being denied therapy for her metatatic breast cancer she sold (or wanted to sell ) her house to raise the money to pay for the treatments on her own. SHe was told by the government that if she did this (or becasue she did it..I am not remembering the facts exactly) she would be required to pay back the national healthcare sytem the equivalent amount since it would not be fair.

Does the Usa want this type of health care system?

Is that truth or apocrypha? I really don't understand how we are the only country in the Western World with this archaic system. Where are the horror stories from Germany? From Denmark? From the dirty rotten Belgian Bastards?

Why are 23-year phone jockeys even *allowed* to second guess a seasoned, degreed professional such as yourself? It's absurd.

Sanity outbreak alert: Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), appearing Thursday night at a town hall in his deeply conservative upstate district, was greeted with boos and prompted constituents to walk out when he told an angry crowd to turn off Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck. [Link: www.politico.com...]

re: #112 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I wasn't asking you how you felt about it. I was asking why you thought it wasn't addressed.

[Link: www.campaignmoney.com...]

re: #112 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I wasn't asking you how you felt about it. I was asking why you thought it wasn't addressed.

I hope it will be in the evolving legislation. Everything is still on the table.

re: #116 austin_blue

I hope so too. It is a costly monkey wrench in the machinery.

re: #103 danrudy

Does the Usa want this type of health care system?

I don't think our system is going to be like the UK or Canada. We haven't seen the final proposal but as far as I can tell private insurance is still going to be around.

re: #116 austin_blue

At least the table is still there for it to be on. Thanks.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

Sanity outbreak alert: Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), appearing Thursday night at a town hall in his deeply conservative upstate district, was greeted with boos and prompted constituents to walk out when he told an angry crowd to turn off Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck. [Link: www.politico.com...]

I would like to shake that man's hand.

re: #117 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

I hope so too. It is a costly monkey wrench in the machinery.

Agreed. But it must be replaced with a real disciplinary system that weeds out the incompetents. They are out there, though rare, and they kill people.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

Lol.

re: #116 austin_blue

I hope it will be in the evolving legislation. Everything is still on the table.

Horse hockey, the only things on the table are put there by the Dems. To imply otherwise is really disingenuous.

It will be a blue moon in Austin before tort reform gets anywhere near this cram down.

re: #118 Killgore Trout

Not for long.

re: #113 austin_blue

This was quoted to me from a news article my wife was reading incredulously months ago. I would have to ask her to help track it down. But consider this from National Review

The problem is the belief that Washington can measure health-care value, determining for the nation’s doctors what are good treatments and what aren’t. The inspiration is the British National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Under NICE, the government takes months, sometimes years, to determine if drugs are worth the cost.

Often NICE refuses to fund new cancer drugs. Writes Karol Sikora, a former head of cancer control at the World Health Organization: “As a practicing oncologist, I am forced to give patients older, cheaper medicines. The real cost of this penny-pinching is premature death for thousands of patients — and higher overall health costs than if they had been treated properly: Sick people are expensive.” Sikora speculates that NICE is one of the reasons that Britain so badly trails the United States in cancer outcomes. Here’s the irony: At a time when Washington fawns over the sophistication of NICE, Whitehall is reviewing this very government body with an eye on overhauling it.

It certainly sounds like it is true considering that I am under the impressio that in Britain you are not allowed to pay for your healthcare if in the public system (can any Brits online confirm this?)

Here is the rest of the page

[Link: article.nationalreview.com...]

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

Sanity outbreak alert: Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), appearing Thursday night at a town hall in his deeply conservative upstate district, was greeted with boos and prompted constituents to walk out when he told an angry crowd to turn off Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck. [Link: www.politico.com...]

Well, that's good news. Very glad to hear it.

Perhaps more reps will follow his lead while they're back home on break.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

Here's the video from your link...

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

Sanity outbreak alert: Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), appearing Thursday night at a town hall in his deeply conservative upstate district, was greeted with boos and prompted constituents to walk out when he told an angry crowd to turn off Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck. [Link: www.politico.com...]

He is my new hero!

re: #110 austin_blue

I am in full support of limits on court pay outs. I have no love for trial lawyers. Interestingly, Texas passed tort reform several years ago and has seen no significant decrease in MD insurance premiums. Go figure.

People who get increased medical costs shouldn't have to pay them, and they should get something for real negligence. I'd like to see a system that was run more on the basis of actual science and medicine, than on the basis of the jury feeling sorry for someone. What that system is, I don't know; a panel of doctors might tend to protect other doctors.

And one reason obstetricians have such high premiums is that now, babies can be born alive, and kept alive, when they would have died years ago. But often, keeping them alive requires a lifetime of medical care, which is expensive. And then, the parents either give up income to take care of the child, or leave the child in some impersonal hospital.

The medical bills could be handled by a universal insurance plan in which case the parents' insurance would cover it up until the age when he was no longer a dependent (currently 25, I think); after that, some form of disability coverage would take care of it.

re: #99 austin_blue

"Another 20-25% goes to profit margin."

Can you Please name one of these !! I have some spare cash and would dearly love to put it in a company making that kind of profit! Even pre-tax for most large companies 10-14 is doing very well.

re: #118 Killgore Trout

How long will it be around if it's undercut by the Gov't sponsored option?

re: #118 Killgore Trout

How?

As an employer I would much rather have the government pay for their healthcare so I will stop offering it to employees.
How are private insurers going to compete or stay in business. Eventually it will cease to exist.
I am sure you have seen the video online of Obama stating that that is his goal during private meetings (while publivly denying it) He has stated that aftr implementing this new healthcare he envisions a 10-20 years out (maybe it was longer) that all private insurance would dissappear in favor of his public plan.
I know I wathced the video via a link on Druge a few days ago...anyone witht he link?

BTW, I got chills (in a good way) when they swore in our new Associate Justice of the SCOTUS today.

May she be wise, and may God bless her.

re: #133 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

BTW, I got chills (in a good way) when they swore in our new Associate Justice of the SCOTUS today.

May she be wise, and may God bless her.

Why did you get the chills?

To make this story even "better" Bob Inglis is not in favor of Obama's healthcare plan...
Bob Inglis:Health Care Debate 2009

A public option makes no sense. It could dump as many as 83.4 million Americans onto the already sinking ship of the SS Medicare. It would do nothing to control costs. It would bankrupt local hospitals and medical practices with low reimbursement rates, and it would destroy the private insurance market.

We can do better with market-based, patient-centered health care. These principles include:

* Individuals paying for the small things
* Insurance companies paying for the large things
* Do health care, not sick care
* Everyone is covered
* Everyone pays in

re: #127 Killgore Trout

There is an anti-vaccine type at 4:11, going for the kook trifecta evidently.

re: #132 danrudy

Don't have the link, dan...but I'm afraid you're going to have to report yourself to the White House for ciruclating 'fishy' rumors...

Sometimes Bill Maher is an ass, but he's right on the money here:

Nearly half of Americans don't know that states have two senators and more than half can't name their congressman. And among Republican governors, only 30% got their wife's name right on the first try.

And here:

Until we admit there are things we don't know, we can't even start asking the questions to find out. Until we admit that America can make a mistake, we can't stop the next one. A smart guy named Chesterton once said: "My country, right or wrong is a thing no patriot would ever think of saying... It is like saying 'My mother, drunk or sober.'" To which most Americans would respond: "Are you calling my mother a drunk?"

re: #128 Sharmuta

He is my new hero!

finally...to bad they didn't stick around for a Beck debate...people just have to have their security pundits

re: #131 Fenway_Nation

How long will it be around if it's undercut by the Gov't sponsored option?

I don't know. I'm really interested in what the proposed system will be, how it will function, the possible long term consequences. With so much bullshit and misinformation floating around I really don't trust anybody's analysis. I don't beleive anything anybody has to say about the healthcare debate. I've resigned myself to accept whatever happens and hope for the best.

re: #131 Fenway_Nation

How long will it be around if it's undercut by the Gov't sponsored option?

Depends on the details. The key would be to restrict access to the government plan to avoid competition with private insurers. Medicare, for example, is restricted to old farts. Medicaid is restricted to the indigent. VA coverage is restricted to veterans. And so forth.

A regulation requiring employers who opt out of private plans to make a full accounting and pass their savings on coverage directly back to their employees would be a deterrent to dumping private coverage and pocketing the savings. So would making the government plan a very plain vanilla, basic services only plan that would make employer-provided plans more attractive.

But of course, there's no telling what shape this will take yet. And with Democrats withdrawing behind closed doors, there may never be.

re: #136 MrPaulRevere

There is an anti-vaccine type at 4:11, going for the kook trifecta evidently.

Lol. I haven't gotten that far in yet. I'm looking forward to it.

re: #134 The Shadow Do

Why did you get the chills?

It's a great Country. What can I say? Goose pimples? Chills? Tingle?

re: #132 danrudy

/they should just stop lying about it, that's what gets people so angry and crazy, they know they're being lied to

re: #140 Killgore Trout

I don't know. I'm really interested in what the proposed system will be, how it will function, the possible long term consequences. With so much bullshit and misinformation floating around I really don't trust anybody's analysis. I don't beleive anything anybody has to say about the healthcare debate. I've resigned myself to accept whatever happens and hope for the best.

Pretty fatalistic there Kilgore. What are you reading these days, Jack London?

re: #143 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

It's a great Country. What can I say? Goose pimples? Chills? Tingle?

I don't get it. Sorry.

re: #135 Killgore Trout

Sounds good on the surface. At least until I got to the section:

"Instead of setting a minimum dollar amount necessary to access health care, we can set the minimum standard at “health care should be accessible for everyone,” and then work on how much an individual is able to pay."

re: #128 Sharmuta

Unfortunately, this is also a guy who took a junket to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkle, under the guise of a global warming fact finding mission (see Drudge for the link).

We need to start realizing that our politicians, no matter of what political stripe, are mostly scum. The burden of proof is on a politician to show me they have principles and values. Otherwise, they are considered scum and crooks in my book. Sadly, that is what they have done to the once great American political system.

re: #55 FrogMarch

The media is sure being quiet about the 6 arrests in St. Louis the other night.
Why no word about those who were arrested and if they were in fact SEIU union members?

Protesters Demand Apology For Fracas At Town Hall Meeting

You really have to dig to find out anything about that.

I have absolutely no use for anyone who goes to a public meeting like that and disrupts the proceedings. None.

But the only violence to have come from these things (as of now, anyhow) has been the SEIU folks beating Mr. Gladney, who was giving out flags.

Earlier reports indicated 3 of those arrested were SEIU members; one was a lady who identified herself as a Carnahan staffer, but he denies it and it doesn't appear that she was. One was a reporter. I couldn't find any information on the other person. I'll try to find the links.

re: #136 MrPaulRevere

anti-vax, paranoid fear, Mentions of god and the constitution get wild applause. If I didn't know any better I'd think they were Paulians and Birch Society.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere
We've been here before, sort of. Seeing Dan Rostenkowski (D, Il-8) chased out of his own district by his victims (I meant constituents) was one of the all-time great moments in politics. [Link: www.professorbainbridge.com...]

"Oh Karl the world isn’t fair
It isn’t and never will be
They tried out your plan
It brought misery instead
If you’d seen how they worked it
you’d be glad you were dead
just like I’m glad I’m living in the land of the free
where the rich just get richer
and the poor you don’t ever have to see
It would depress us, Karl
Because we care
that the world still isn’t fair"

Ugh, Randy... There ~is~ no other way to work it.

The Randy Newman vid in the previous thread was ok but he suffers from the misconception I suspect is shared by many others which is that Communism is good in theory but is a failure in practice. I like morality stories. Ones that begins from some principle and takes you through to its logical consequences.

Socialism comes to Twentieth Century Motors. Actually this is from the book Alas Shrugged, but it can be read as a very short morailty story in a >1000 page epic.

"From Each According To His Ability, To Each According To His Need"

Tony.

re: #114 MrPaulRevere

He is an Nation Public Radio listener and promoted it several times in his town hall meeting.

re: #148 LionofDixon

Unfortunately, this is also a guy who took a junket to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkle, under the guise of a global warming fact finding mission (see Drudge for the link).

We need to start realizing that our politicians, no matter of what political stripe, are mostly scum. The burden of proof is on a politician to show me they have principles and values. Otherwise, they are considered scum and crooks in my book. Sadly, that is what they have done to the once great American political system.

Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in

re: #149 reine.de.tout

You really have to dig to find out anything about that.

I have absolutely no use for anyone who goes to a public meeting like that and disrupts the proceedings. None.

But the only violence to have come from these things (as of now, anyhow) has been the SEIU folks beating Mr. Gladney, who was giving out flags.

Earlier reports indicated 3 of those arrested were SEIU members; one was a lady who identified herself as a Carnahan staffer, but he denies it and it doesn't appear that she was. One was a reporter. I couldn't find any information on the other person. I'll try to find the links.

A woman who was filming on what appears to be a camera phone or small camera also had the device knocked out of her hands by an SEIU member while recording Mr. Gladney's beating. I believe the police took her (the SEIU person) away too.

re: #150 Killgore Trout

There is talk of revolution toward the end... a perfect Beck inspired audience.

re: #150 Killgore Trout

"Energy efficient bulbs"
"BOOO!"

re: #132 danrudy

Obama on "public option", aka private insurance is hard to kill, but we'll kill it, yes we can!

re: #153 Born Again Republican

OMG, he listens to NPR!!! ///

re: #151 Semi Cartman

"Eventually, the 6-foot-4-inch Rostenkowski cut through a gas station, broke into a sprint and escaped into his car, which minutes earlier had one of the elderly protesters, Leona Kozien, draped over the hood."

Man, reminds me of the Kurgan.

"You shall always be weaker, than I"

re: #152 Fierce Guppy

When Randy came out with the satirical song "Short People", some short people didn't get it and protested. He wrote a song about Baltimore and the people in Baltimore were upset at him for telling the truth (and things have only gotten worse since then).

Randy Newman doesn't write linear, black-and-white, bumper-sticker verse, and a lot of people don't get that.

You among them, it would seem.

Congress can already rewrite private insurance regulations to accomplish any necessary reform. The only legitimate reason for a "public option" is as a stalking horse for a single payer system, period.

/they need to stop lying about their intentions, Americans aren't stupid

re: #153 Born Again Republican

Speaking of NPR, do they buy special microphones that automatically make the speaker sound like a pompous windbag? I mean, everytime I hear "From NPR in Washington, I'm..." I half expect the name of the newsreader to be "Arrogant Gasbag."

re: #118 Killgore Trout

HERE IS THE VIDEO IN OBAMAS OWN WORDS Saying his healthcare will eliminate private insurance!!!

HE says one thing to the AMA. However, listen in as he envisions a single payer system and elimination of private insurance when he addresses a different crowd.
Also note what the rest of the Dems pushing this plan think about single payor sytem...DO not drink the Kool-Aid
Obama " in his own words...

re: #156 MrPaulRevere

There is talk of revolution toward the end... a perfect Beck inspired audience.

OMG, I'm just getting to that part. That's a threadworthy video.

re: #164 danrudy

It's not in the current proposal.

re: #158 Yankee Division Son

I was busy posting this and didnt see that you also did...thanks for finding it!

re: #154 albusteve

Two legs good...four legs bad.

re: #163 LionOfDixon

Speaking of NPR, do they buy special microphones that automatically make the speaker sound like a pompous windbag? I mean, everytime I hear "From NPR in Washington, I'm..." I half expect the name of the newsreader to be "Arrogant Gasbag."

Maybe you miss the shrieking, chest-thumping, cringe-inducing mania of right-wing AM radio?

re: #141 SixDegrees

Depends on the details. The key would be to restrict access to the government plan to avoid competition with private insurers. Medicare, for example, is restricted to old farts. Medicaid is restricted to the indigent. VA coverage is restricted to veterans. And so forth.

A regulation requiring employers who opt out of private plans to make a full accounting and pass their savings on coverage directly back to their employees would be a deterrent to dumping private coverage and pocketing the savings. So would making the government plan a very plain vanilla, basic services only plan that would make employer-provided plans more attractive.

But of course, there's no telling what shape this will take yet. And with Democrats withdrawing behind closed doors, there may never be.

Kind of makes the push for "universal" health care not so universal, dontcha think?

re: #99 austin_blue

Another 20-25% goes to profit margin.

Where'd you get that figure? It sounds completely made up.

re: #159 MrPaulRevere

Turn off Beck, turn on NPR?? They still talk about how Bush lied.

re: #172 Born Again Republican

Turn off Beck, turn on NPR?? They still talk about how Bush lied.

That's because he did.

re: #125 danrudy

This was quoted to me from a news article my wife was reading incredulously months ago. I would have to ask her to help track it down. But consider this from National Review

It certainly sounds like it is true considering that I am under the impressio that in Britain you are not allowed to pay for your healthcare if in the public system (can any Brits online confirm this?)

Here is the rest of the page

[Link: article.nationalreview.com...]

Well, I certainly wouldn't want to base any system on the British model! There are numerous other systems out there, many of which work, like Germany's, rather well.

But that is beside the point. The early legislation did *not* have a nationalized system. It is *not* single payer. It did offer an expansion of Medicare to compete with private insurance. Medicare runs with about a 4% overhead. Cigna spends much more than that on their phone jockeys.

re: #171 JPL17

Where'd you get that figure? It sounds completely made up.

86.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

re: #174 austin_blue

Medicare runs with about a 4% overhead. Cigna spends much more than that on their phone jockeys.

Thank you!

re: #169 Cato the Elder

No...Rush sounds like a real person. Lakshmi Singh sounds like someone who has no clue and makes a living reading what others have written for her. Moreover, when was the last time AM radio had to have a telethon to subsidize its overpaid, undertalented employees?

re: #172 Born Again Republican

I think Glenn Beck's rhetoric is irresponsible in the extreme; having said that, listen to whomever you choose, its a free country. The notion that the congressman should be mocked simply because he listens to NPR is in a word, silly.

re: #173 Cato the Elder

That's because he did.

Maybe you can explain to me why many leaders around the country thought Saddam had weapons but Bush is called a liar for saying so?

re: #171 JPL17

Where'd you get that figure? It sounds completely made up.

That is certainly the top end:

Top 10 Profit Margins by Industry

Accident & Health Insurance
8/19/08
Welcome to our Top 10 Profit Margins page, which lists the top stocks based on Net Profit Margins in certain industries each week. This week we look at Accident & Health Insurance. Only U.S. companies are shown. Profit Margins are calculated on the trailing twelve month period. These stocks are taken from a screening program and are not recommended to buy or sell. Further investigation is most appropriate before acting on this information.
INDUSTRY: Accident & Health Insurance

Company
Symbol Profit Margin

PICO Holdings
PICO 36.25%

FPIC Insurance
FPIC 20.60%

I say Kill the Bill.

Completely, utterly and without mercy. The initial draft showed their basic intentions and end goals of this effort. I don't trust anything they put forth now.

Then we can talk about the real numbers of under insured, Medicare reform, tort reform and fix the preexisting condition issue. Each one singly.

That would solve 90% of what they're yammering about.

re: #170 talon_262

Kind of makes the push for "universal" health care not so universal, dontcha think?

Universal doesn't have to mean equal. And it will never mean that, no matter what the intent of the authors may be: the rich are always going to have more and better health care than anyone else, and the same will be true downwards through most of the middle class, relative to the very poor.

To me, all that "universal" coverage means is that there is some level of health care which is available to everyone. It doesn't imply that everyone will receive the same level of health care.

Time for everyone to get used to that disparity. Whether they like it or not, that's what reality is going to bring to the table.

re: #178 MrPaulRevere

It doesn't sit right with me he's telling other people who to listen too. These are adults at this meeting and they can certainly figure what's going on for themselves. Nonsense to blame radio/tv personalities, imo.

re: #181 esch

Tarantino could direct it...

re: #181 esch

Hear, hear. The Dems. motives are neither health nor car. Their sole motive is power. Otherwise, how can they with a straight face tell seniors to think about euthenasia and then turn around and give free healthcare to illegal alien criminals? Socialize people's health and you socialize their life. Then you have complete power.

re: #174 austin_blue

Well...the administration looks at Britian as a good model. Especialy for healthcare as the article suggests.

I am not familiar with German model

But, the point is moot...As the links above show...he wants a single payor plan. Regardless of what his teleprompter tells him to say today.

In this country, someone needs to point out to me ANY PROGRAM that the government runs that is a success. VA hospitals..a mess. Fannie and Freddy..mess. Gone to the DMV lately?
Now take that wonderful organization and entrust it with 1/6 of our economy.
Does not sound like a good idea to me.
DOes it sound like a good idea to anyone???
anyone?
Beuller?

re: #183 Born Again Republican

I'm sure you'd have a problem if he told them to turn off Air America ///

re: #177 LionOfDixon

No...Rush sounds like a real person. Lakshmi Singh sounds like someone who has no clue and makes a living reading what others have written for her. Moreover, when was the last time AM radio had to have a telethon to subsidize its overpaid, undertalented employees?

Heh. It's called "public support". Also "this way I don't have to listen to hyperventilating car salesmen or ads for vitamin supplements for the privilege of hearing a bloated billionaire pontificate about how evil poor people are".

And Lakshmi is hot. I doubt even Rush's current trophy wife can honestly say the same about him.

But at least you spelled her name right...

folks...must start packing for flight...

and to all a good night...

Exit Stage Left...

re: #187 MrPaulRevere

Did anybody turn it on to begin with?

re: #189 danrudy

pssst. stage right.

when it comes to the feds, I naturally assume the worst and work backwards from there...health care is no different, it's all the same...drop the entire bill and start working for improved care piece by piece...

re: #189 danrudy

Best wishes doc, thanks for your input.

re: #181 esch

I say Kill the Bill.

That's probably not going to happen and throwing a hissy fit in a town hall meeting certainly isn't going to help. Probably the only hope is if the pharmaceutical companies can bribe enough senators. They have deep pockets so that might happen.

A Slighty Different Joker Poster

re: #195 Killgore Trout

THAT is hilarious!

re: #188 Cato the Elder

Cameron 'Rape will be legal' Diaz was hot [at one time]...should I be taking my political cues from her?

re: #188 Cato the Elder

If that's your vision of hot...you need glasses. She's a plumper and has a face for radio.

Public Support? that's rich. It's a subsidy and the closest thing to Radio Moscow that exists. NPR couldn't exist in the free market without government welfare.

On the other hand, Rush is a self-made man whom his listening public supports. For a guy who never went to college, I'll bet he would whip Singh's butt in any debate...

re: #180 austin_blue

That is certainly the top end:

Top 10 Profit Margins by Industry

Accident & Health Insurance
8/19/08
Welcome to our Top 10 Profit Margins page, which lists the top stocks based on Net Profit Margins in certain industries each week. This week we look at Accident & Health Insurance. Only U.S. companies are shown. Profit Margins are calculated on the trailing twelve month period. These stocks are taken from a screening program and are not recommended to buy or sell. Further investigation is most appropriate before acting on this information.
INDUSTRY: Accident & Health Insurance

Company
Symbol Profit Margin

PICO Holdings
PICO 36.25%

FPIC Insurance
FPIC 20.60%

From Yahoo Finance:
PICO Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and development of water resources and water storage operations in the southwestern United States. It identifies end users, such as water utilities, municipalities, or developers who require water and develops new sources of water for municipal and industrial usage, as well as develops water storage infrastructure to facilitate the allocation of available water supplies. The company also develops and sells real estate, and related mineral and water rights; and leases properties for grazing and agricultural uses. It focuses on the acquisition, ownership, and development of residential lots, primarily in California. In addition, PICO Holdings engages in the acquisition and financing of businesses. It has operations in the United States and Europe.

Why Was Jewish Radical Earl Krugel Slain in Prison?
Judge Stephen Wilson Keeps Alleged Murder by the Aryan Brotherhood Under Wraps

re: #195 Killgore Trout

A Slighty Different Joker Poster

ha!...another good Joker poster...I get a kick out of them

re: #148 LionofDixon

I will listen to you bitch about politicians when you denounce the BNP.

Oligarchy in WA State...

EFF challenges Gov. Gregoire's records denial

Does the governor's executive privilege exempt her from the state's Public Records Act? Looks like we'll find out.

Climate change was a hot topic during the 2009 legislative session. Gov. Gregoire had requested legislation that ultimately died in the Senate. Not to be stopped, the governor issued Executive Order 09-05 to address climate change. Curious to see the backstory, EFF filed a request for documents related to the executive order's drafting and implementation. We've received many records, but the governor's office has refused to release 48 documents. The denial cites several reasons, including "executive privilege" and "deliberative process."

There's a problem with this denial. There is no "executive privilege" exemption in the Public Records Act. And once the executive order was published the "deliberation" exemption no longer applies. (This isn't the first time Gov. Gregoire has claimed the phantom "executive privilege" exemption.)

I say keep the bill and throw out the congress, then have new elections and then throw out the bill.

Hiya Lizards! Hope everyone is well tonight...
It's Saturday Night! Let's get this party started!

Hey new feature, the "new comments" button show an automagic counter!

Daddy likes!

re: #198 LionOfDixon

If that's your vision of hot...you need glasses. She's a plumper and has a face for radio.

Public Support? that's rich. It's a subsidy and the closest thing to Radio Moscow that exists. NPR couldn't exist in the free market without government welfare.

On the other hand, Rush is a self-made man whom his listening public supports. For a guy who never went to college, I'll bet he would whip Singh's butt in any debate...

If the debate were held according to Glenn Beck/Tea PartyAlex Jones rules, no doubt.

GET OFF MY PHONE!!!1!!1!

And it's been a while since I've seen a bigger non-sequitur than the implied conjunction in your last sentence.

For a guy who can't tell sense from gibberish, I bet you could take offense at that.

re: #205 HoosierHoops

Hiya Lizards! Hope everyone is well tonight...
It's Saturday Night! Let's get this party started!

Hoops!

Whatchya drinkin'?

re: #202 Sharmuta

I don't care if you listen (or read) or not. I never said I support the BNP. As for your insinuation that I did, well, the truth and you may not be neighbors. For the record, I denounce any political party that supports white supremacy as a part of its platform.

re: #205 HoosierHoops
Im drinking caninha da roca, and kuat zero.

re: #195 Killgore Trout

A Slighty Different Joker Poster

Excellent

re: #198 LionOfDixon

Public Support? that's rich. It's a subsidy and the closest thing to Radio Moscow that exists. NPR couldn't exist in the free market without government welfare.

From the NPR audit page:

31% from listeners in the form of pledges, memberships, and other donations
20% from businesses via corporate underwriting
11% from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is federally funded*
10% from licensee support
9% from foundations and major gifts
5% from local and state governments, and
14% from all other sources.

*A note on CPB funding: There are 434 stations in 47 states and territories (including Guam and Puerto Rico) that specifically serve rural and minority communities; the latter includes numerous African-American, Native American, Latino, and multicultural licensees. In many cases, they are the sole local broadcasting service available. These stations receive significantly higher funding from CPB - in some cases, as much as two-thirds of their budgets - since many of their listeners simply don't have the financial resources to provide support.

So 11% of their funds come from gov't support. Some local stations have a higher percentage (and obviously some would be lower too.)

re: #211 The Shadow Do

Excellent

I want one of myself now...woohoo!

re: #194 Killgore Trout

That's probably not going to happen and throwing a hissy fit in a town hall meeting certainly isn't going to help. Probably the only hope is if the pharmaceutical companies can bribe enough senators. They have deep pockets so that might happen.

Not saying it will.

This is a debacle streamrollering along that will happen whether I like it or not. Plenty of people are going to end up much worse off for it.

/Squish.

re: #212 freetoken

And don't a portion of FCC liscensing fees got to NPR or PBS?

re: #212 freetoken

Which privately owned local stations?

re: #195 Killgore Trout

LMAO

Ok, ok...that's awesome.

re: #213 albusteve

I want one of myself now...woohoo!

What, that's not you?

/kidding! really!

OT: Gardening question
I've been using beer traps for slugs in the garden lately. I always though it was an old wives tale that the slugs get drunk and fall in but watching them it really seems to happen. If I push them in before they get drunk they crawl back out. Does any know if they really get drunk?

I am almost resolved to take the medicine, America deserves this crap, after all we voted for change.

re: #212 freetoken

So 11% of their funds come from gov't support. Some local stations have a higher percentage (and obviously some would be lower too.)

Thank you. Favorited for the next time some lying twerp starts with the Radio Moscow crapola.

The fact is, listening to Limbaugh is free. You don't have to support him financially in any way. The people who listen to NPR put their money where their ears are.

Which kind of support is more convincing, passive or active?

re: #186 danrudy

Well...the administration looks at Britian as a good model. Especialy for healthcare as the article suggests.

I am not familiar with German model

But, the point is moot...As the links above show...he wants a single payor plan. Regardless of what his teleprompter tells him to say today.

In this country, someone needs to point out to me ANY PROGRAM that the government runs that is a success. VA hospitals..a mess. Fannie and Freddy..mess. Gone to the DMV lately?
Now take that wonderful organization and entrust it with 1/6 of our economy.
Does not sound like a good idea to me.
DOes it sound like a good idea to anyone???
anyone?
Beuller?

The Air Traffic Control system. The Marine Corps. Pell grants. The interstate highway system.

And would you be surprised that the VA has a satisfaction rating that is 25 points higher than the civilian world?
Here:

[Link: www.cbo.gov...]

Counterintuitive, but true. 83-84% satisfaction versus +/- 60%. Who knew?

[Link: finance.yahoo.com...] here's Aetna, their net income is about 5% of gross revenue.

re: #212 freetoken

So 11% of their funds come from gov't support. Some local stations have a higher percentage (and obviously some would be lower too.)

Try to add in at least the 5% from local and state gov'ts next time, at least.

re: #218 The Shadow Do

What, that's not you?

/kidding! really!

my green hair is much longer

re: #221 Cato the Elder

Thank you. Favorited for the next time some lying twerp starts with the Radio Moscow crapola.

What's with right-wing hatred of PBS? I love that channel. I don't listen to the radio so I don't know anything about NPR.

re: #202 Sharmuta

I will listen to you bitch about politicians when you denounce the BNP.

Oh SNAP! ;-P

re: #208 jcm

Hoops!

Whatchya drinkin'?

Hiya JCM! There is one Bud light in the fridge...We are back home in Indiana and so unless I buy beer today I'm out of luck for Sunday.. You see the religious folks that live here save us from ourselves by making buying beer on Sunday illegal.
It's one of the little things the State of Indiana does to save us from Hell..
I'm too tired to go to the liquor store tonight...

This rum is starting to kicka my ass.
whoohoo.

re: #207 Cato the Elder

I guess the little jab at your lustobject got to you, eh?
As for the rules of grammar, yes it was implied, but everyone knows what was meant. I suggest you consult a good text on MODERN grammar usage, such as Kies' Modern English Grammar. You apparently are stuck on rules written in the 20's and 30's.

I've been driving a fiat for three weeks and it is the worst piece of crap I have ever drove, when the AC kicks on its like hitting the brakes, this is the future of american autos?

re: #186 danrudy

In this country, someone needs to point out to me ANY PROGRAM that the government runs that is a success.

Well, there's the public school system. They are massively successful...just look at today's high school graduates...oh wait, never mind. Forget I said that...

re: #222 austin_blue

I agree with everything but Pell grants. They radically drive up the cost of education and end up encouraging the creation of plenty of worthless graduates that would have been better off doing something else more Vo-Tech.

re: #226 Basho

I simply don't want my taxes going to a left-leaning broadcast medium. NPR violates the separation of the media and the government.

re: #228 HoosierHoops

Hiya JCM! There is one Bud light in the fridge...We are back home in Indiana and so unless I buy beer today I'm out of luck for Sunday.. You see the religious folks that live here save us from ourselves by making buying beer on Sunday illegal.
It's one of the little things the State of Indiana does to save us from Hell..
I'm too tired to go to the liquor store tonight...

We're going to hell anyway for drinkin' according to my Baptist up bringing, so we might as well enjoy the trip!

re: #222 austin_blue

The Air Traffic Control system. The Marine Corps. Pell grants. The interstate highway system.

All legit.

Government taking of private enterprise - not legit.

re: #231 ron paul

I've been driving a fiat for three weeks and it is the worst piece of crap I have ever drove, when the AC kicks on its like hitting the brakes, this is the future of american autos?

Fiat = Fix It Again Tony
And Chrysler makes crap and then they don't care about the consumer.
I've heard horror stories of cars declared lemons and the company would not do anything. They almost lost the right to sell cars in California, because they were re-selling lemons as new cars.
Combine the two and get a real disaster.

re: #219 Killgore Trout

OT: Gardening question
I've been using beer traps for slugs in the garden lately. I always though it was an old wives tale that the slugs get drunk and fall in but watching them it really seems to happen. If I push them in before they get drunk they crawl back out. Does any know if they really get drunk?

It's the yeast they are attracted to. I don't know if they get drunk - ours seemed to just drown.

If you don't want to waste beer, you can try putting some water in your traps mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking yeast and 1 tbsp. sugar.

re: #231 ron paul

I've been driving a fiat for three weeks and it is the worst piece of crap I have ever drove, when the AC kicks on its like hitting the brakes, this is the future of american autos?

My work car is like that. Have to turn the effin AC off to pass a bicycle.
But it's for work...

re: #186 danrudy

In this country, someone needs to point out to me ANY PROGRAM that the government runs that is a success.

Armed Forces not good enough for you?

re: #219 Killgore Trout

OT: Gardening question
I've been using beer traps for slugs in the garden lately. I always though it was an old wives tale that the slugs get drunk and fall in but watching them it really seems to happen. If I push them in before they get drunk they crawl back out. Does any know if they really get drunk?

As tempting as this may be I am really going to stay away from any beer summit jokes here.

re: #219 Killgore Trout

I heard the alcohol is absorbed through their pores...which makes them mega-drunk...kinda like a slug beer-bong.

re: #230 LionOfDixon

As for the rules of grammar, yes it was implied, but everyone knows what was meant. I suggest you consult a good text on MODERN grammar usage, such as Kies' Modern English Grammar. You apparently are stuck on rules written in the 20's and 30's.

Art is the opposite of well-meant.

I'm not into rules, I'm into sense.

Now stop peddling your NPR = Pravda idiocy and go watch a BNP video or something.

re: #240 Sharmuta

Armed Forces weren't a private enterprise to start off with.

re: #233 esch

I agree with everything but Pell grants. They radically drive up the cost of education and end up encouraging the creation of plenty of worthless graduates that would have been better off doing something else more Vo-Tech.

Education should be free. For all citizens. If they want to go to college, they should go to college provided they can keep up their grades. I would be very happy to pay more taxes for that.

re: #243 Cato the Elder

Art is the opposite of well-meant.

I'm not into rules, I'm into sense.

Now stop peddling your NPR = Pravda idiocy and go watch a BNP video or something.

They're as bad as the NAACP, you know.

re: #222 austin_blue

The Air Traffic Control system. The Marine Corps. Pell grants. The interstate highway system.

And would you be surprised that the VA has a satisfaction rating that is 25 points higher than the civilian world?
Here:

[Link: www.cbo.gov...]

Counterintuitive, but true. 83-84% satisfaction versus +/- 60%. Who knew?

The interstate system is largely maintained by the states with Federal money.
The Air Traffic Control system is seriously obsolete, partially because Congress, back arond 1980, would not fund an upgrade of the then-obsolete system, and the new one was put off. Europe has more advanced systems. We could have been selling them had the government been willing to buy one back then; now we're behind.
(In 1980, they were using 15 year old computers; they had to use them for another 5-10 years - and then replaced them with custom made ones that ran the same software because there was no money to rewrite the obsolete software.)

re: #180 austin_blue

re: #180 austin_blue

INDUSTRY: Accident & Health Insurance

Company
Symbol Profit Margin

PICO Holdings
PICO 36.25%

FPIC Insurance
FPIC 20.60%

Your numbers appear to be bunk. The true net profit margin for the U.S. health insurance industry is currently only 3.3%.

SOURCE: [Link: biz.yahoo.com...]

re: #237 Kosh's Shadow
This car has 49k kilometers on it and it has absolutely no balls, the airconditioning isn't even that good and when it kicks on its like pulling the E-brake.
I keep thinking that americans will buy tese in droves...not!

re: #245 WinterCat

Education should be free. For all citizens. If they want to go to college, they should go to college provided they can keep up their grades. I would be very happy to pay more taxes for that.

Do you mean tuition or living expenses?

re: #238 reine.de.tout

If you don't want to waste beer, you can try putting some water in your traps mixed with 1/2 tsp. baking yeast and 1 tbsp. sugar.

That's a great tip. I can do an experiment and compare the beer and non beer traps. I seriously doubt the slugs actually get drunk, their anatomy is so different. We aren't even in the same phylum.

re: #245 WinterCat

Education should be free. For all citizens. If they want to go to college, they should go to college provided they can keep up their grades. I would be very happy to pay more taxes for that.

Can't disagree more. You get what you pay for. And when you pay, you work harder.

All the engineers I've worked with that got their 'advanced' degrees from overseas 'free' schools were pretentious overrated hacks.

re: #250 Emmmieg

Do you mean tuition or living expenses?

Tuition.

re: #235 jcm

We're going to hell anyway for drinkin' according to my Baptist up bringing, so we might as well enjoy the trip!

LOL
Monday morning when I woke up and started drinking beer and getting the boat to take out on the lake some lizards were worried about drinking and boating laws here...
I'm pretty sure there were no sober people on any lake in Wisconsin last week..I know that is a blanket statement but somebody needs to say it..
LOL
Hope you are well tonight...