Topiary is theft.

Go DMC! My Garmin GPS uses the same voice. Sweet.

“that your moustache is the affectation of a lonely and desperate man”

I nominate these cartoons for Academy Awards in the best short category.

These are f***ing BRILLIANT.
Love the long shot!

The Meeghan McArglyFargly quote sounds entirely too plausible.

Pinko is turning out to be kind of a jerk, isn’t he?

Acting, my dear zombie – those dramatic chops are the result of a steady diet of brainz, I assure you.

The Pinko/DMC toons are nearly perfect. They could use a little more cowbell, but nevertheless, I ROTFLOL at them as they are.

Pinko’s stunningly accurate jerk makes the jerks look reaaaaaaaaaal bad. Hehehe.

Bring more of that punk, Pinko.

The English guy rocks too. That monologue….whoooeee was like a fist to the jaw.

I call plagiarism. You’re just quoting any actual discussion one might have with a libertarian.

Can you not put a handfirestick in his hand?

Possibly the best one yet.

I call plagiarism. You’re just quoting any actual discussion one might have with a libertarian.

Quoting is theft.

any actual discussion one might have with a libertarian.

When have you ever met a libertarian who “discussed”? T’ain’t a reality, so carry on ACTORS.

Can you not put a handfirestick in his hand?

He has no opposable thumb, Prometheus got no lobster claws!

Uh oh — Obama’s now trying to surrender us all to our Chino-Pakispanic conquerors, without a fight.

Off-topic, to be sure, but I was pretty amused by RedState’s reaction to the CBO report:

http://www.redstate.com/dan_perrin/2010/03/18/revenue-neutral/

Shorter Dan Perrin, RedState:

“[Fingers in ears] LALALALALALAL!! I can’t hear you!”

No need to click the link. The actual argument is just as ridiculous: I believe but have no evidence that most Americans think this report is bullshit, and they are right (no evidence or argument provided).

Oh, the poor CBO: hailed as a hero when you happen to fit someone’s agenda, part of the communifascimuslim conspiracy when you don’t. “Someone” being a Republican, of course, because when the CBO put a wrench in the Democrats’ plans in June, they actually, you know, listened and took their advice, and didn’t stand around bitching about how unfaaaaaaair things are.

Needs more pork snorkel references, but still the best yet, D.A.
~

Utopiary is theft.

Acting, my dear zombie – those dramatic chops are the result of a steady diet of brainz, I assure you.

They’d BETTER be union!

union xombies?

what the hell you on about, 212?

Of course, actor! PP and DMC are both card-carrying members of the Screen Actors Guild, Actor’s Equity and the AFLP-CIO (American Federation of Lego People and Congress of Industrial Organizations).

Also, the set was ISO 9000-certified.

You know what these cartons could use?

Transcripts. So I don’t have to spend three minutes wasting my time when I’m already wasting my time thinking about these idiots.

Oregon Beer Snob said,
“The Meeghan McArglyFargly quote sounds entirely too plausible.”

Not just plausible, she actually said that.

Looks like Pelosi doesn’t have the votes to ram this thing through. Tick tock goes the clock, liberals, if she can’t get this done by Sunday a lot of blue dogs are going to get cold feet.

Bart Stupak alone has 12 members voting against this (as it funds killing innocent babies in the womb).

Tick tock tic tock….only eight more months until the adults are in charge of Congress again.

This thing is going down to defeat.

Looks like Pelosi doesn’t have the votes to ram this thing through.

You’ve got it all wrong – it’s Obama that is doing the ramming. As in, down your throat with a dark and massive package.

This thing is going down to defeat.

Bookmark City!

Blue dogs are cold feet!

SCREAMING HARPY FORCE + RED STATE TRIKE FARC ARE GO!

State of the health care debate: Talk radio attacks an 11-year old

By Les Blumenthal | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Conservative talk show hosts and columnists have ridiculed an 11-year-old Washington state boy’s account of his mother’s death as a “sob story” exploited by the White House and congressional Democrats like a “kiddie shield” to defend their health care legislation.

Marcelas Owens, whose mother got sick, lost her job, lost her health insurance and died, said Thursday he’s taking the attacks from Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Michelle Malkin in stride.

“My mother always taught me they can have their own opinion but that doesn’t mean they are right,” Owens, who lives in Seattle, said in an interview.

Owens’ grandmother, Gina, who watched her daughter die, isn’t quite so generous.

“These are adults, and he is an 11-year-old boy who lost his mother,” Gina Owens said. “They should be ashamed.”..

…”Now this is unseemly, exploitative, an 11-year-old boy being forced to tell his story all over just to benefit the Democrat Party and Barack Obama,” Limbaugh said on March 12, according to a transcript his show. “And, I would say this to Marcelas Owens: ‘Well, your mom would still have died, because Obamacare doesn’t kick in until 2014.'”

Beck, according to a transcript of his March 15 show, pointed out that Owens’ recent trip to Washington was paid for by Healthcare of America, a group that has been lobbying for a health care overhaul.

“That’s the George Soros-funded Obama-approved group fighting for health care,” Beck said. “Since all of the groups are so concerned and involved now, may I ask where were you when Marcelas’ mother was vomiting blood?“…

…Malkin dismissed Marcelas Owens as “one of Obama’s youngest lobbyists” who has been “goaded by a left-wing activist grandmother,” promoted by Murray and has become a regular on the “pro-Obamacare circuit.”

Malkin also suggested there were other programs that could have helped Tifanny Owens, adding, “It’s not clear that additional doctors’ visits in the subsequent months would have prevented her death.”

…The treatments can cost as much as $100,000 a year and must be “consistent and constant,” said Katie Kroner, the director of advocacy and awareness for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.

“It’s extremely important to have health coverage,” she said.

…Tifanny Owens might have been eligible for Washington state’s basic health care plan, which is aimed at the working poor. The plan has had a long waiting list for some time, said Sharon Michael of the Washington state Health Care Authority.

“Right now, we have 100,000 people on the wait list,” Michael said.

…Marcelas Owens said he’ll never know if his mother might have lived if she had health insurance.

“At least if she had it she would’ve had a fighting chance,” he said.

Now, that’s the sort of conservative gumption we need in this country — asking 11 year old boys where their damn big liberal heroes were when Mommy was vomiting blood.

Also, from now on, all allegations that medical care of any type could have stopped someone from dying need to be first run by Michelle Malkin to be carefully verified via countertop measuring methods.

FUCK YOU ALL YOU DAMN PARASITE CHEMO-QUEENS, OLD FUCKS WITH PARKINSON’S, YOU WORTHLESS ASSISTANT MANAGERS OF FAST FOOD PLACES WITH LITTLE WHINING BRATS WHO DON’T WANT MOMMY TO DIE: THIS IS TEATARD COUNTRY, YOU UNPRODUCTIVE SHITS!

H/T GOS

‘Let me tell you how I this will go down…’

That is a good question: why didn’t Barack Obama or some other wealthy liberal donate money so his mom could get medical care?

Maybe the same reason why Barack Obama isn’t even giving a cent to his brother who lives in some tin hut in Africa?

Private charity, not government force, should take care of cases like these.

If it’s voluntary, it’s charity. If it’s by government fiat, it’s tyranny.

Well, if the Democrats were trying to throw up a “kiddie shield”, it obviously didn’t fucking work, now did it? How could it work on people who have absolutely zero fucking human empathy?

Typical liberal tactic, “if you disagree with me you’re racist/sexist/hate the children”. Sickening.

Private charity, not government force, should take care of cases like these.

As long as the miserable, cancer-ridden bitch doesn’t ask for any of your money, right Troofie?

…but does Tedisco wiiiiiiiiiiiin?

…but does Tedisco wiiiiiiiiiiiin?

SCOTT BROWN won.

BOB MCDONNELL won.

CHRIST CRISTIE won.

Start to see a pattern here? Change is Coming in November…..

I want to see ROY, dammit.

Oh, and DMC, you = my Libertarian-pwning idol 4evs.

But SCOTT BROWN voted for the COMMUNIST FASCIST ” ” ” “JOBS” ” ” ” BILL, remember? You guys hate him now because he’s a sellout traitor, remember?

Private charity, not government force, should take care of cases like these.

I don’t agree. So, fuck you, loser. Get ready to have a big, huge, beautiful package being driven by a handsome black man rammed right down your throat.

Over and over and over and over.

Republicans were kicked out because they spent too much taxpayer money.

And what do Democrats do? Spend more in one year than the Republicans did in eight! And the voters are going to kick YOU out even harder for wasting their money

Bart Stupak alone has 12 members voting against this

Members he’s never named, and who have never come forth to lend their support publicly. On a provision that is legislatively unnecessary and procedurally impossible to insert in the current bill.

Oh, and he hates nuns, apparently.

And there will soon be much weeping and gnashing of teeth by Republicons and TeaTards alike, and they will beg on the streets for pity and there will be none.

Bart Stupak is looking forward to closely handling 12 members…

they will beg on the streets for pity and there will be none.

Well, there will, but not for their lack of trying to vote against it.

Troofie, was that you in the Captain America suit? Lookin’ good, man.

All that Captain America was missing was a powdered wig and a tricorne.

And there will soon be much weeping and gnashing of teeth by Republicons

I said it before and I’ll say it again: I hope there is a decent interval of time between the ramming and cramming and weeping and gnashing of teeth. That could be painful.

OK, was that funny this time?

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over said, This thing is going down to defeat.

Gotta love a nym/post cog-diss like that.

Keep shovelin’ troofie!

Health care is deadeadead french fag or both mom’s basement tons of ip addresses honda civic jena six actaw hmmmm helen suzman great liberal freakout that was goober asspie badger nymjack LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Bookmark it, libs

Well, St. Looch, Obama’s big package is just SO big that the gnashing of teeth won’t even affect it. It’s like he can’t even feel it at all.

If you ram this thing through (and it’s still doubtful) Republicans will simply campaign to repeal it. People will HATE the taxes and won’t see any supposed “benefits” until 2014.

We will campaign on a TAX CUT of abolishing the reform package.

I said it before and I’ll say it again: I hope there is a decent interval of time between the ramming and cramming and weeping and gnashing of teeth. That could be painful.

We’re being metaphorical here — we’re mainly talking about people who have no teeth anyway, so the gnashing of teeth is more like a smacking of gums…

and it’s still doubtful

Playing hard to get, I see.

Republicans were kicked out because they spent too much taxpayer money.

Or possibly because they:

– squandered our opinion abroad
– deregulated our economy to invite flagrant abuse
– flouted international law with an illegal invasion
– dismantled environmental and consumer safety protections
– held civilians without charge and tortured them, then claimed that they didn’t torture them, then claimed that the torture was okay all along because shut up, that’s why
– and left a huge financial and social mess for the next administration to clean up… with taxpayer money

Am I missing anything here?

Troofie and all that ramming. Makes ya wonder, don’t it?

Private charity, not government force, should take care of cases like these.

Failed miserably the last time we tried that system. Can’t imagine it would be any better today.

SOCIALISM failed, Major Kong, the USSR failed, and you’re trying to turn us into the Soviet Union.

so the gnashing of teeth is more like a smacking of gums…

A fair cop, Guv’nor.

I’m as afraid of Republicans cutting the new health care reform as I have been of them claiming every year they’d stop Medicare or privatize it until they realize that their diapers are just too wet to remain in the room any more.

– squandered our opinion abroad
– deregulated our economy to invite flagrant abuse
– flouted international law with an illegal invasion
– dismantled environmental and consumer safety protections
– held civilians without charge and tortured them, then claimed that they didn’t torture them, then claimed that the torture was okay all along because shut up, that’s why
– and left a huge financial and social mess for the next administration to clean up… with taxpayer money

Am I missing anything here?

Howzabout…
– Campaigned on denying rights to ho-mo-sectuals while at the same time getting caught with their hand in the brownie pan?

Parody troll overstayed welcome.

If you ram this thing through (and it’s still doubtful) Republicans will simply campaign to repeal it.

Wait; are we talking about HCR or The Patriot Act?

SOCIALISM failed, Major Kong, the USSR failed, and you’re trying to turn us into the Soviet Union.

Please repeat last transmission. You’re coming in broken and stupid.

SOCIALISM failed, Major Kong, the USSR failed, and you’re trying to turn us into the Soviet Union.

All these words, and the order they are presented, mean not what you think they mean.

Ptroll or not? Hard to tell.

El Cid faster than St. Looch.

I think the rightwing radiotards attacking the 11 year old boy for his mom dying of pulmonary heart illness deserves front page status. When have we before had both Glenn Beck mocking a little boy for others not being there while Mommy’s vomiting blood while Michelle Malkin’s doing a Bill Frist long distance Schiavognosis and decides that more medical care wouldn’t have helped keep Mommy’s heart from blowing up?

Where can I get one o’them newfangled package rammers? Coz, well, y’know…

Makes ya wonder, don’t it?

Not really. Hard to get any more obvious…

Silly rabbit, haven’t you learned? The Republicans didn’t get thrown out on their keisters for spending money; they got thrown out for squandering it. Taxpayers, teatards included, tend to not get all that upset about spending that actually benefits themselves.

Like this modest health insurance reform will do.

How obvious was it to the good citizens of this country that the Republicans were running a corruptacracy? So obvious that they elected a black man in the largest popular and electoral vote presidential victory in two decades.

Here’s how it will go down: this modest proposal will pass, and…nothing much will happen for a while, except that people with pre-existing conditions will finally be able to buy insurance and recissions will stop. A few years will pass, with no one’s grandma being death-panelled. During this period the insurers might try to start playing cute games and may find further restrictions or some type of public option passed as a result. Finally, the taxes and the subsidies will kick in, and people will notice that they’re not being required to salute the hammer and sickle. And anyone who suggests that a return to the good old days of letting insurers make the decisions about who lives or dies, who gets treatment and who doesn’t, and who will go bankrupt, will be run out of town on a rail. Instead there will be pressure for more regulation and reform.

Bookmark this, dipshit, because this is how it will go down.

“That’s the George Soros-funded Obama-approved group fighting for health care,” Beck said. “Since all of the groups are so concerned and involved now, may I ask where were you when Marcelas’ mother was vomiting blood?“…

Gee Glen, I’m not sure where I was, but wasn’t that right around the time you were having a youtube breakdown over your hemorroid surgery?

(And by the way dude, if you decide to sue, you have a case. The hemorroid is still there – and it’s talking.)

I love this theme that, um, you see, Americans were so mad that Republicans spent too much money that they overwhelmingly elected a liberal black guy with an Afro-Muslim name.

And what part of this suggested to REALAMURKA that this would mean he would ‘spend less’?

And why do the toothless uneducated angry blue collar retards of the South give a damn anyway how much the federal government spends?

I mean, they’re so poor they’re already receiving Ronald Reagan’s Earned Income Tax Credit so they ain’t paying any taxes.

Is it just ’cause they’re afraid that some of that money might be goin’ to n******? Or do they just listen to too many hours of their favorite con artists convincing the idiot rabble to go out and buy gold and colloidal silver and other End-Times nonsense?

Typical liberal tactic, “if you disagree with me you’re racist/sexist/hate the children”. Sickening.

LOL WUT

If the positions in question are positions in favor of being anti-racist, anti-sexist or anti-kid-bashing, it’s no mystery who’s going to oppose those positions now, is it?

Yeah, if you overtly advocate racism, sexism or anti-child* ideas, that’s what you get called, & it’s not going to stop because you whine about how “sickening” you think it is, you big fucking crybaby. Do people stating the obvious hurt your precious fucking feelings?

Tough shit. Go paint your room black & start cutting – the deeper the merrier – with my enthusiastic blessings.

Any bipedal filth that would defend this kind of psychologically morbid ugliness are no better than Malkin & Limbaugh themselves.
—————

* No, you sulky man-bitch, don’t even DREAM of turning “anti-child” back against pro-choicers, either – not unless you can take me into a daycare or schoolroom & show me some kids that are a millimeter long, have tails & rely on an umbilicus to survive.

Not sure if it’s been mentionede or not, but Olberman’s dad died. My own moment of silence…

…

Ok, I’m done.

“mentioned” also. Speeling fali majoryl doen.

Is it just ’cause they’re afraid that some of that money might be goin’ to n******?

This. It is.

What unnnecessary medical procedures are all of you going to get with troofie’s fiat-stolen tax dollars? I’d suggest abortions, even for the men, and the non-pregnant women too. Or a sex change. I hear they’ll be mandatory anyway in 2014. Beat the rush.

may I ask where were you when Marcelas’ mother was vomiting blood?

Pushing for single-payer, probably before she was even born. And your kind stopped it, Blecch.

Or a sex change. I hear they’ll be mandatory anyway in 2014.

Does a new position count as a change?

Flip, I figure that I’ll start with liposuction. And since all the luscious, fattening food I get from sucking the government teat fills me up so fast, I’ll probably need it 6 or 7 times. And whenever I wolf down another cheeseburger, I’ll think of Troofie, and how his throat made this all possible.

Is it just ’cause they’re afraid that some of that money might be goin’ to n******?

This. It is.

I’ll elaborate, because I’ve been drinking and staring at coeds: I recently finished reading Alan Lomax’s The Land Where Blues Began and as a generic 40-year-old white man who grew up in the Northwest I will say: I had absolutely no idea how bad it was for blacks in the south in the Jim Crow era. It was horrifically, awfully, nastily horrible, with a side of WTF.

Racism most definitely influences these people (see what I did there?).

Flip, I figure that I’ll start with liposuction. And since all the luscious, fattening food I get from sucking the government teat fills me up so fast, I’ll probably need it 6 or 7 times.

It would be far more efficient to hook up the lipo vacuum directly to your George Foreman grill to keep recycling the same pound of fat.

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March 18, 2010
Bret Baier: 1; President Obama: 0
By C. Edmund Wright
Don’t you just love it when a young student hammers the arrogant professor in a debate? That was the distinct feel of last night’s “Special Report” program, where Bret Baier interviewed President Obama. In case you have not figured it out, Baier is the victorious young student in this analogy.

Certainly this was not what the White House had in mind when President Obama agreed to sit down and chat with the heretofore-nondescript Fox anchor. Where is Anita Dunn and her war on Fox News when you need her?

With all due respect to Brit Hume and Charles Krauthammer, who didn’t acknowledge on air that their colleague bested the president, Baier clearly had Obama fumbling around and stuttering and totally flustered. Like other young and studious-looking white guys Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor, Baier used annoying and inconvenient facts to unveil the childish and petulant Obama that a fawning Jurassic media has never bothered to investigate.

The best example of this was when Obama tried to play an unseemly game of “top this” with Baier over concerned Americans’ e-mails:

BAIER: Let me insert this. We asked our viewers to e-mail in suggested questions. More than 18,000 people took time to e-mail us questions. These are regular people from all over the country. Lee Johnson, from Spring Valley, California: “If the bill is so good for all of us, why all the intimidation, arm twisting, seedy deals, and parliamentary trickery necessary to pass a bill, when you have an overwhelming majority in both houses and the presidency?”

Sandy Moody in Chesterfield, Missouri: “If the health care bill is so wonderful, why do you have to bribe Congress to pass it?”

OBAMA: Bret, I get 40,000 letters or e-mails a day.

BAIER: I know.

OBAMA: I could read the exact same e-mail —

BAIER: These are people. It’s not just Washington punditry.

OBAMA: I’ve got the exact same e-mails, that I could show you, that talk about why haven’t we done something to make sure that I, a small businessperson, am getting as good a deal as members of Congress are getting, and don’t have my insurance rates jacked up 40 percent? Why is it that I, a mother with a child with a preexisting condition, still can’t get insurance?

So the issue that I’m concerned about is whether not we’re fixing a broken system.

The funny part is that Baier was coming at Obama with a variation of the favored tactic that the president and other Democrats continue to use ad nauseum: quoting e-mail anecdotes as a way to make a point. It clearly got under Obama’s skin. The “I get forty thousand letters or e-mails a day” retort from the president was sensationally sophomoric in tone. Like a number-one seed in the NCAA’s playing a number sixteen, Obama was clearly caught off-guard by the high level of the competition in this interview.

Evidence that he was off balance could be found in the fact that he avoided answering almost all of Baier’s questions and resorted to burying himself in the worn-out clichés of this entire debate, as this early exchange demonstrates:

BAIER: You have said at least four times in the past two weeks: “the United States Congress owes the American people a final up-or-down vote on health care.” So do you support the use of this Slaughter rule? The deem and pass rule, so that Democrats avoid a straight up or down vote on the Senate bill?

OBAMA: Here’s what I think is going to happen and what should happen. You now have a proposal from me that will be in legislation, that has the toughest insurance reforms in history, makes sure that people are able to get insurance even if they’ve got preexisting conditions, makes sure that we are reducing costs for families and small businesses, by allowing them to buy into a pool, the same kind of pool that members of Congress have.

We know that this is going to reduce the deficit by over a trillion dollars. So you’ve got a good package, in terms of substance. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what the procedural rules are in the House or the Senate.

(BAIER TRIES TO REDIRECT– CROSS TALK)

OBAMA: What I can tell you is that the vote that’s taken in the House will be a vote for health care reform. And if people vote yes, whatever form that takes, that is going to be a vote for health care reform. And I don’t think we should pretend otherwise.

(AGAIN, BAIER TRIES TO GET OBAMA BACK TO THE QUESTION, LEADING TO CROSS TALK)

OBAMA: Bret, let me finish. If they don’t, if they vote against, then they’re going to be voting against health care reform and they’re going to be voting in favor of the status quo. So Washington gets very concerned about these procedural issues in Congress. This is always an issue that’s — whether Republicans are in charge or Democrats in charge — when Republicans are in charge, Democrats constantly complain that the majority was not giving them an opportunity, et cetera.

What the American people care about is the fact that their premiums are going up 25, 40, 60 percent, and I’m going to do something about it.

The “Bret, let me finish” statement had the same feel as the “John [McCain], the campaign’s over” moment of the health care summit. It was a juvenile, “I’m going to take my ball and go home” remark.

Another key moment was when Baier pressed the president with an “in your face” question on the Slaughter Rule and the president’s call for “courage.” In this case, the president’s answer had nothing to do with the question.

BAIER: Monday in Ohio, you called for courage in the health care debate. At the same time, House Speaker Pelosi was saying this to reporters about the deem and pass rule: “I like it, this scenario, because people don’t have to vote on the Senate bill.” Is that the kind of courage that you’re talking about?

OBAMA: Well, here’s what’s taking place – we both know what’s going on. You’ve got a Senate bill that was passed, that had provisions that needed to be changed. Right? People were concerned about, for example, the fix that only fixed Nebraska, and didn’t fix the rest of the states.\

Now, a lot of the members of the House legitimately say, we want to vote on a package, as the president has proposed, that has those fixes embedded in it. Now that may mean they have to sequence the votes. But the ultimate vote they’re taking is on whether or not they believe in the proposal that I put forward, to make sure that insurance reform is fixed, to make sure the deficits are reduced, and premiums go down, and small businesses are helped. That’s what they’re concerned about.

Frankly, I’m not sure what the president was stammering about in that answer, but since he brought up the provisions that singles states out, Baier pushed for clarifications on which fixes were still in and which ones were out — and Obama could not give clear answers on those. This snippet is illustrative:

OBAMA: … this notion that this has been not transparent, that people don’t know what’s in the bill, everybody knows what’s in the bill. I sat for seven hours with —

BAIER: Mr. President, you couldn’t tell me what the special deals are that are in or not today.

OBAMA: I just told you what was in and what was not in.

BAIER: Is Connecticut in?

OBAMA: Connecticut — what are you specifically referring to?

BAIER: The $100 million for the hospital? Is Montana in for the asbestos program? Is — you know, listen, there are people — this is real money, people are worried about this stuff.

OBAMA: And as I said before, this — the final provisions are going to be posted for many days before this thing passes, but —

BAIER: Let me get to some of the specifics on substance, not process.

OBAMA: The only thing —

(BAIER, TRYING TO REDIRECT, LEADING TO CROSSTALK)

BAIER: (INAUDIBLE)

OBAMA: — the only thing I want to say, just to close up, is that when you talk about one-sixth of the economy, this is one-sixth of the economy that right now is a huge drag on the economy.

Overall, I submit that Fox Contributor A.B. Stoddard was correct when she said that Baier “had the president off-guard” and that “he [Obama] was at his worst” in the interview. While I am not sure exactly what interview Hume and Krauthammer — two pundits nearing the end of brilliant careers — were talking about, the one I saw was a clear defeat for President Obama and his health care plan. The fact that he agreed to appear on Fox News likely means that his party is in trouble on the vote count. It also means that he thought Baier, a man lost in the deep shadows of Fox’s other stars, would be easy fodder.

As it turns out, Baier was anything but easy fodder. This was was easy to score. Baier: 1; Obama: 0.

Long. Massive. Huge. Package. Throat. Ram. Shove.

Nothing like dull-as-shit copypasta to bring a good thread down.

Badgers dancing furiously.

Even liberal blog FireDogLake says you’re nowhere NEAR the number of votes required!

Patriotic liberals are STANDING UP with conservatives and the TEA Party Movement to finally, at long last, kill this bill.

KILL

THE

BILL!!!

HUUUUGE package being shoved DEEPER AND DEEPER down AMERICA’S THROAT. So huge. All being shoved by that black African guy.

It’s all up to the patriotic elements of the progressive left like FDL to kill this.

It’s your hands: do you want to see corporate stocks go through the roof? Don’t you still want to hold out for a public option? Don’t you think it’s wrong to mandate that you buy corporate insurance owned by BIG CORPORATIONS? Big, capitalist corporations? Hmmmm?

Huge. Huge package. Thrusting, shoving, ramming. Throats. Unwilling, America’s throat.

Won’t it piss you off if health insurance corporation stock goes up El Cid? Don’t you want to hold out for your precious public option?

St. Looch said,

Troofie and all that ramming. Makes ya wonder, don’t it?

I think I get the picture.
~

Ah, the classic Troofie Sudden Change of Topic. My favorite.

But, Troof, don’t you remember this question getting smacked down a couple of weeks ago? No one’s taking the bait, you little shit.

I suspect that the troll is an equal-opportunity douchebag, and at the the same time as douching it up around here he has another browser window open at some conservative website for the purpose of goading the readers there. Any particularly witty or wounding rejoinders from El Cid et al. will be seized upon and echoed straight to a trolljacked thread at the conservative website. So it’s all good.

Yeah, the health insurance companies love this bill. That’s why the radio has been covered with anti-HCR radio ads all week.
I also love the self-reinforcing Fox news narrative about how Baier supposedly embarrassed Obama. From the transcript, it seems like Baier is fumbling around because his talking points are all getting shot down with facts.

KILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
the
BILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL?

KILLL IT! NOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1DTwoGBgvk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA0EOugizPY&feature=player_embedded

You’re toast. Toast in 2010 if this passes. Get it?

KILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
the
BILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL?

Can’t say I p’ticularly enjoyed that flick, in spite of Uma and David…

Get it?

Is there a pun embedded somewhere in there? Is it that ‘toast’ ’20’ and ’10’ all begin with the letter T?

Well, thanks for taking the time, you twisted-tuckused troglodyte, but Sesame Street-level wordplay ain’t exactly the pinnacle of humor ’round here. Now, PENIS…now we’re talkin’.

Liposuction is a good use of troothie’s tax dollars. I’d also recommend tatoo removals for all those hippy tatoos all liberals get. Not so you have clear skin, but so you have room for a fresh round of anti-capitalism tatoos. And whore brands, so the women can signal their eagerness to have irresponsible sex and use goverment subsized abortion as birth control.

Toast in 2010 if this passes. Get it?

Mmmmmmmmm… toast. (drool)

If you liberals shove this socialism down our throats against the will of the people and against freedom we the productive class of USA will go Galt and withhold our talents, services and taxes, so good luck trying to buy minorite votes for nothing when there is nothing left because defits bankrupted our children

Going Galt apparently requires insufficient punctuation. Of course, punctuation is theft. Measly little commas taking the rightful place of a letter.

This isn’t a joke. It’s not a joke, ok? We’re about to ruin the best healthcare system in the world, and get what for it? Mandates and individuals, mandates and regulations on wealth-producing businesses, rationing, subsidized abortion, etc. More regulation, higher taxes, more spending: we can’t afford this CAN’T AFFORD IT!

We will be ordered, regulated, taxed, and rationed.

The fact is, communist health care will make it easy for lazy black people to not die and therefore vote Democrap, therefore we need to stop it in the name of freedom, I would rather have a shrewd businessman deciding my coverage than a government fuctionary who was an afirmitive action hire.

The fact is, yes, we will ruin the best health care in the world through the socialest policies of the Ursurper

You’re toast. Toast in 2010 if this passes. Get it?

Soooo…if the Democrats scrap the bill, the GOP will endorse the Democrats running in 2010 as a reward?

What’s that? “They’ll run smear campaigns anyway because they’re the opposition party?” Well, screw them then.

Who do you think will be given preffered healthcare under this system and get to the front of the line in the rationing? Probably only Democrats and people who donate to the DNC, that’s part of the agenda, too.

No healthcare for Republicans! To the back of the line, grandma!

And that goes double for anti-Obama leftists like Jane Hamsher and, maybe the next time you publically disagree with Obama on something, one of YOU, liberals! Think about it…

Who do you think will be given preffered healthcare under this system and get to the front of the line in the rationing? Probably only Democrats and people who donate to the DNC, that’s part of the agenda, too.

But, how could they possibly organize such a “rationing,” given that they are “ramming” legislation instead of sliding it in all nice-like? Or even find out who’s who?

Unless…unless…OMG! THE 2010 CENSUS! WE WAS FOOLED! SOLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE! KAISER SOZE WAS THE HANDICAPPED GUY! THE RED HULK IS REALLY SANTA CLAUS!

This isn’t a joke. It’s not a joke, ok?

Why do you think I took you to see all those “Police Academy” movies, FOR FUN? I DIDN’T HEAR ANYONE LAUGHING, DID YOU? except at that guy who made sound effects.

Now where was I? Oh, yeah: stay away from my booze.

And that goes double for anti-Obama leftists like Jane Hamsher and, maybe the next time you publically disagree with Obama on something, one of YOU, liberals! Think about it…

First they came for Jane Hamster, and I said nothing, ’cause I had never heard of her before some douchebag troll mentioned her…

Hey lobotomized DemocRATs!! A simplistic metaphor is more than you deserve, you grief-inducing idiots! You’ll get your gays in the military when you pry it out of the cold dead hands of Conservatives.

You’ll get your gays in the military when you pry it out of the cold dead hands of Conservatives.

Is that before or after they get shoved down your throats?

KILL!!! THE!!! BILL!!! said,

No healthcare for Republicans! To the back of the line, grandma!

Yet another reason to donate to Connie Saltonstall!

Want Health Care? Vote/Donate to Connie!

OTHERWISE DIE IN A DITCH…
~

Best part of the Union gig, craft services.

Why does the troll always sound like a junior high cheerleader, except less sophisticated?

Are they worried if gays are let in the military, there will be less gays in them?

SO ANYWAY BACK ON TOPIC…

Oh, snap. I hadn’t seen any of these because I am a slacker who reads this blog at my job where speakers are forbidden in our cubicles. What was I saying? Oh, also, they’re brilliant.

Here is a list of countries with universal health care

Norway, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Sweden, Bahrain, Brunei, Canada, Netherlands, Austria, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Slovenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, Australia, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, South Korea, Iceland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Israel

Aside from not letting people suffer and die, I can think of no better reason to have universal health coverage than to make everyone who is threatening to go Galt, actually go Galt. But why wait? Leave already. Bye. I’m waving. Good luck. Happy trails. Sayonara. Toodle-loo. Tchuss nay.

And whore brands, so the women can signal their eagerness to have irresponsible sex and use goverment subsized abortion as birth control.

I was considering getting the KY brand logo tattooed on my lower back, but was worried about the “taste level” (so to speak) of said tattoo. However, if the government is paying for it, why not? I might even make a full backpiece out of it…

Glennzilla has an excellent column today in which he analyzes the bargaining position (or lack thereof) the Progressives are in. He also makes several salient points about how the deal will be treated as a vindication of the political genius of Karl Rove Rahm Emmanuel as his boss’s supragenius hardnosed diamond sharp go-to guy.

I’m not criticizing anybody who has finally decided to put some lipstick and Donna Karan pumps on this particular pig and take it to the prom. I can see the arguments that it’s better than nothing. But I was interested in this particular salient and salacious scoop Greenwald links to at Huff Po of all places that seems to confirm what Greenwald and others have been saying for a long time–there were backroom arrangements made by Obama and his team that made sure the public option was lost from the start http://www.huffingtonpost.com/miles-mogulescu/ny-times-reporter-confirm_b_500999.html .

I’m not outraged by this, because I’m not surprised by this, because I was under no illusions when I voted for Obama. And under the same set of circumstances, I’d have voted for Obama ten times out of ten. But it’s still enough to make me say “Fuck you, Obama.” But then I guess I always knew it was going to be like this.

Wait wait wait WAIT

Is Roy moving to Cloverhill Big Texas Honeybun? THIS IS THE EXACT 3B SECRET LAIR.

Don’t forget COSTA RICA!

my job where speakers are forbidden in our cubicles.

So…is office communication by mime or interpretive dance?

Also, for a laff, please everyone go to alicublog and click on the link for “Tacitus” under “Wrong but Readable” under the blogroll.

Good times!

March 19, 2010 at 5:34

Yeah, co-sign, like, 10 billion percent.

Oh, but we’ll improve on it later, right? Right? Right????*

*Note: Not mocking anyone who thinks this–simply expressing my skepticism.

Ooh! Ooh! Say smoke signals, say smoke signals!

my job where speakers are forbidden in our cubicles.

So…is office communication by mime or interpretive dance?

I can’t figure out if that would make Teh Most Obnoxious Co-Worker Evar more or less annoying…

Ooh! Ooh! Say smoke signals, say smoke signals!

Also, we communicate by smoke signals. It tends to set the fire alarms off a lot.

Ooh! Ooh! Say smoke signals, say smoke signals!

Good night Gracie.

Also, for a laff, please everyone go to alicublog and click on the link for “Tacitus” under “Wrong but Readable” under the blogroll.

You’re lucky I’m not at work.

Actually, so am I, considering it’s 11:00 at night.

Yeah, co-sign, like, 10 billion percent.

Oh, but we’ll improve on it later, right? Right? Right????*

No, I’m with you. I don’t think it’s plausible to imagine we’ll “improve upon it later.” Particularly in light of the fact that the corporatists in the party are well aware progressives have zero leverage as it stands.

My position on this whole fiasco remains “Fuck you.” But I can feign neither shock nor outrage. And I can’t really fault the brokedick instinct to stumble along and try to hum the idiot tune we’ve all been taught, only because I can’t think of a preferable response. I’m certainly open for suggestions.

Pinko Punko said,

Is Roy moving to Cloverhill Big Texas Honeybun? THIS IS THE EXACT 3B SECRET LAIR.

I think he is, P.P.

Too be with his honey.
~

Maybe having more than one Progressive Senator would help the Progressive cause. Just throwing that out there. See if it sticks.

And I can’t really fault the brokedick instinct to stumble along and try to hum the idiot tune we’ve all been taught, only because I can’t think of a preferable response. I’m certainly open for suggestions.

I was almost convinced yesterday, I think mostly out of sheer despair. It’s not that I’m a purity troll; I just really believe that this thing could have really bad consequences. But I hope I’m wrong, I really do, especially since even I’m at the “Oh, fuck it, just pass the piece of shit” stage, myself. But GOD, I hate this fucking thing.

Yeah, Wiley, but that’s because all the people in those countries are stoopid. Not like us.

Whoa. Fast-moving thread.

KILL THE BILL!!!!!!!! KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!!!!!!!!!! WON’T SOMEBODY KILL THE GODDAMN BILL?!?!?!?! WHY WON’T YOU KILL IT??!?!?!?! KIIIIIIILLLL THE BILLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! GAK *SPRKK* JIZZ WILLYOUFUCkERSJSUT KILL THE DAMN BILL ARLREDY GOD IT”S LIKE A GIANT COCK BEING SHOVED IN MY THRATOAT AGAINA ANAD ANGAIN ANSD ALS SLURP BLURBLE GUH MMMM YUMMM OH THAT”S GOOD FUCKING DO IT TO ME OH YEAH I LOVE IT YOUR MY DADDY YOUR MY DADDY YOUR MY DADDY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

You’re toast. Toast in 2010 if this passes. Get it?

In that case, ought you not be rooting for it to pass, so your guys can get back into Congress? Seems like if it were really that toxic, it would be the greatest gift to the GOP in recent memory.

we the productive class of USA will go Galt and withhold our talents, services and taxes, so good luck trying to buy minorite votes for nothing when there is nothing left because defits bankrupted our children

Okay, serious question. Do you not get that, under strict free market assumptions, this is impossible? The Arbitrage Principle, simply stated, predicts that if there is money lying on the ground, somebody will pick it up. Let us accept, for the moment, your bullshit claim that there is a meaningful distinction between “productive people” and “unproductive people”. If a significant number of “productive people” went Galt, it would eventually drive the market value of the remaining “productive people” so high that they would become scabs before joining your strike, and the Arbitrage Principle would predict that the ones on strike would rush back to work to get in on the action. In short, you are requiring your “productive people” to ignore free market principles…in the name of free market principles.

Do you ever read what you write?

Speaking as a currently operative Chemo Queen who is also sucking at the Goverment teat (that would be my plush state job, where my paycheck has visibly shrunk due to increased INSURANCE premiums), I gots no patience.

Let the throat-ramming commence.

We will be ordered, regulated, taxed, and rationed.

You have been ordered. You have been regulated. You have been taxed. And you have been found rationed.

History suggests that we usually do improve on these types of things on down the line.

Will it happen within a year or two? Probably not. But at this point, just getting the concept of near-universal coverage/access into law is a big win; once that gets done it’s highly likely to be undone, and that’s really been the biggest stumbling block on health care reform since forever. As I said upthread, once the thing gets passed, people will start to notice that the black helicopters haven’t arrived to take grandma away to the death camp, and the whole idea that any government involvement in health care for the rest of us whatsoever = oooooo scary soshulizm will be a dog that won’t hunt for the vast majority of Americans. Which makes improvements on down the line not only much easier to pass but also much more likely.

Do you not get that, under strict free market assumptions, this is impossible?

LC, a serious answer to your serious question: morons do not get your point.

Gary/Not-Gary:

the Ursurper

It’s like Obama is the original usurper, the font of all that is usurpation, the Ur-Surper.

I guess I kind of knew deep down, even during the hype over the Bennet letter, that it probably wasn’t happening. Democratic politicians are by and large incompetent, which makes liberals pessimistic, which makes the politicians even more incompetent, because they don’t feel any pressure from their constituents, any sort of “vote with us or you’re dead” pressure.

It takes a generation to build up the sort of well-oiled political control machine that the Republicans have, where the politicians, media, activists, and regular people all mind-meld with each other and can get their message out within hours, and keep pounding it until it becomes truth. And the Republicans have had a generation or two to do that. Liberals may get victories here and there, but the overarching victory is theirs. For liberals to get something similar, it will take just as long. The health care bill, whatever you think of it, is a first step. It is the biggest piece of health industry legislation since Johnson, and it will be a “victory” in political-speak, as well as a victory in reality. Overcoming the sheer amount of Republican bullshit that has been thrown at this whole process and passing something that’s not entirely awful is itself a victory. For all the various liberals who have said that the bill will be so unpopular that it will doom the Democrats in November and doom future reform, I’ve yet to see why they think that. People will like ending recission, community rating, etc., you know what I think about this. And it can be something to build on. I know some people hate that “journey of a thousand miles” idea, but it’s true. However uncertain any future reform is with this bill, there is no future without it.

I thought that it meant he was secretly a bear, what with the “urs” prefix.

It’s like Obama is the original usurper, the font of all that is usurpation, the Ur-Surper.

Really? I just thought it was someone who illegally seizes bears.

Also, since when is ‘socialest’ a bad thing? Isn’t the superlative of ‘social’, however grammatically erratic, still something to aspire to?

Damn you, SL! Beat me to the punch.

It’s not that I’m a purity troll; I just really believe that this thing could have really bad consequences

I don’t disagree. In fact Taibbi is almost able to convince me that, in this case, nothing might be better than something. I’m a paranoiac in some ways, like Taibbi, so his polemics are more convincing to me than they would be to others. But the fact is, I can’t help thinking it’s a goddamn shame the best we’re going to get is something so bad I can’t entirely convince myself it’s better than nothing.

For the record, I don’t think it’s “purity trolling” to express serious reservations about aspects of a “friendly” President’s agenda. All of us are supposed to be individual interests with agendas we want to see met, not pom-pom wavers. I don’t know what the exact demarcation between “sincere disagreement” and “purity trolling” is, but I think I know it when I see it and anyone who thinks all criticism of Obama is purity trolling can, in the words of Michael Stipe, “kiss my skinny ass.”

Actually, conservatives went Galt on July 30, 2009. Surely there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth when we finally notice.

For the record, I don’t think it’s “purity trolling” to express serious reservations about aspects of a “friendly” President’s agenda.

Nor do I. Purity trolling occurs somewhere around the point where someone decides to hook up with Grover Norquist to kill the bill.

Also, for a laff, please everyone go to alicublog and click on the link for “Tacitus” under “Wrong but Readable” under the blogroll.

Where is the laff? I mean, I guess there is some distaff humor when Trevino double-fingers his coochie, but it’s kind of muted by this accompanying wonkish, if overtly Tutonic insight:

Dein Penis ragt stolz und zu voller Grösse aufgerichtet hervor. Ich massiere ihn mit kläftigen vor- und zurückgleitenden Bewegungen, das dir ganz schwindelig wird im Sex Chat.

If that’s not Foreign Policy material, I’m a Finger pressen und melken deinen Schwanz!

Hmmm, bad typo in my previous. Should have read “highly unlikely to be undone.”

Will it happen within a year or two? Probably not. But at this point, just getting the concept of near-universal coverage/access into law is a big win; once that gets done it’s highly likely to be undone, and that’s really been the biggest stumbling block on health care reform since forever. As I said upthread, once the thing gets passed, people will start to notice that the black helicopters haven’t arrived to take grandma away to the death camp, and the whole idea that any government involvement in health care for the rest of us whatsoever = oooooo scary soshulizm will be a dog that won’t hunt for the vast majority of Americans. Which makes improvements on down the line not only much easier to pass but also much more likely.

Jennifer, your post is intelligent and the mechanism you suggest for political change over time seems rational (I don’t have any empirical data to confirm/deny it but I’ll buy it) but my concern is still “Who wants to see this thing ‘improve’ down the road and is in the position to bring about these improvements?'” When I look at some of the points made by Greenwald in particular that this bill is more/less exactly the bill the Democratic establishment wanted all along I have to ask, who is going to come along and make improvements? I mean I hope you’re right, but this seems like exactly what the corporatists in the party wanted all along, and I don’t see any scenario in which corporatists lose control of the party, especially if they keep winning elections by, ironically, pushing the party farther and farther from what progressives have always said they wanted.

Nor do I. Purity trolling occurs somewhere around the point where someone decides to hook up with Grover Norquist to kill the bill.

That seemed to me an extremely daft tactical move that was motivated by petulance (which is never good politics, unless you’re Lieberman). The frustration was justified, but the stunt seemed a miscalculation.

No healthcare for Republicans! To the back of the line, grandma!

This is the greatest news EVER!!!

Especially in light of this:

Speaing of which, Actor, I’ll be in NYC in April for a business trip.

Got the sack to meet me and talk shit to me in person?

When Tr00fie gets fucked up in his little fight, Bellvue will refuse to treat his broken bones, so he’ll end up looking even more like Quasimodo than he does already.

hook up with Grover Norquist

Disturbing mental images are theft.

I’m a paranoiac in some ways, like Taibbi, so his polemics are more convincing to me than they would be to others.

Not to question your absolutely justified cynicism about this HCR shuffle, but Bill Maher had a pretty good line the other night about how great a some column was because he always really believes the last thing he’s just read.

The through-line for me on all this is what Jennifer says above – get something done, it’ll be waaay better than getting nothing done, because getting to first base has been the killer on health care for a generation.

Earnest Ed, over and out!

“Who wants to see this thing ‘improve’ down the road and is in the position to bring about these improvements?’”

The public option has widespread popularity across America, and everyone knows it. Yes, the corporate wing doesn’t give a shit. Call me naive, but I think that if progressives keep the pressure up, and let the politicians know that they won’t survive without passing it, they’ll have to eventually relent. Money or no money, a politicians needs votes to stay in office. I think the bigger question is whether progressives can get that kind of leverage. It would require a long, tiring, focused, and unyielding effort, something the left has never been good at, but something that’s allowed the right to control everything. And then the other part of it is messaging, which is a lot harder as the media needs to be involved.

I’m too young and naive to think everything’s hopeless, but I think it’s self-evident that nothing will be accomplished without lots of work.

By “everyone knows it”, I mean everyone here.

Also, for a laff, please everyone go to alicublog and click on the link for “Tacitus” under “Wrong but Readable” under the blogroll.

Where did his light saber go?

Kill Surf City – exactly. The Dems got what they wanted – to look like they were doing something while doing very little, and doing as little as possible to piss off their health insurance company donors.

But here’s the thing: the corporate interests in this country suffer from the same malady that their lackeys the Republicans do: they never know when to say enough. They can be counted upon to abuse any given situation to the utmost. But in the case of healthcare, they’ve already abused it right up to the brink, literally to the point that if nothing were done, within a few short years they would completely destroy their own market. In a way, this bill has self-correction built right in with that shitty mandate we all hate so much. Before when an insurer abused a customer, it was “meh, private business between the two of you.” That changes dramatically when people start getting abused by a company the law forces them to do business with. The heat on your average Joe rep or senator gets dialed up to 11 to do something to fix it.

That’s scenario 1.

Scenario 2 is that enough people hate the mandate so much that they refuse to comply. The fines, when they can be collected, are nowhere near what is required to sustain the system; it continues racing towards the cliff and out of self-preservation for the federal government, which is picking up more and more cost due to the opt-outs, has to step in and fix it by offering people a public option, or Medicare buy-in, or something of that type.

So those are the two most obvious things I can see that would force them into improving it; there’s probably quite a few more.

Not to question your absolutely justified cynicism about this HCR shuffle, but Bill Maher had a pretty good line the other night about how great a some column was because he always really believes the last thing he’s just read.

True indeed. Well, I tend to believe the last thing I just read by a writer who typically sweeps me off my feet, Taibbi could probably convince me the Mets were going to walk away with their division this year. A guy like E. Klein, on the other hand, couldn’t convince me of what time it was even if he showed me his Rolex, the back-up Rolex he carries in his Lacoste messenger bag, and his iPhone display.

Like I say, I am with you and Jennifer–I don’t see a preferable realistic alternative to support this bill. I’m not even as angry or outraged as most of the soi disant “progressives” I know because this is exactly what I expected the day I voted for Obama.

Trudging grudgingly along doesn’t mean I don’t get to stop from time to time and say “Fuck this” very loudly.

My grammar this evening is an atrocity. I blame half-assed proofing and the lack of an edit function.

And weed. Also.

Call me naive, but I think that if progressives keep the pressure up, and let the politicians know that they won’t survive without passing it, they’ll have to eventually relent

How do they keep the pressure up? What are Progressives bargaining with right now? Nate Silver pointed out that this entire bill seems to justify Rahm’s “Fuck the retards, they’ll be onboard in the end” strategy. At some point, there has to be some way to apply leverage. I don’t see how that happens in the forseeable future. I’m hopeful (in the real sense of the word, not in the hopeyness sense of the word) but out of ideas.

Jennifer–yeah, I’m actually with you as far as I can tell. Maybe I listened to too many Dead Kennedys and Refused albums back in school, but it’s the scenarios in which the system finally collapses on itself that seem to give me the most cause for optimism.

Still, given the “mandate” we supposedly had, how tragicomic is it that this is what I’m actually hoping for?

Mencken had it right: The Creator is a comedian whose audience is too afraid to laugh.

Once the bill is passed, it’s time to pressure our reps to pass Alan Grayson’s proposed bill.

What are Progressives bargaining with right now?

Buck up, friend. Remember what things were like six years ago?

Seriously, I know where you’re coming from. But it amazes me to see that liberals seem more in despair now than they did when God Was Republican.

Taibbi’s pretty great, no question. And ‘fuck you, Obama’ is second only to ‘fuck you, Rahm’ for things that linger around my lips these days, with the obvious exception of giant, throbbing HCR packages. Also, ‘fuck you, Geithner’.

Also, addendum to the plot to insert ‘Bukkake Theater’ into the national dialogue, can we also attempt the insertion* of ‘pump’ and ‘thrust’ in lieu of ‘ram’ or ‘shove’, in the context of verbs signifying how HCR will find its way into the throats of Americans?

*Oh, yeah

E.g.: ‘Obama wants to pump his massive health care package down the throat of virginal Icelandic-American Chastity Whitemundsdóttir!’

i love talking to myself, or was that the fifth Tecate-in-a-can speaking?

Dear Apple Pie Uber-Freedom Heartland Super Plus Real American Values (Now With More Absorption!):

When? Really. When are you finally going to get your fat ass off that sofa with the ghastly 70s-era flower print and GO FUCKING GALT ALREADY???

We’ve been assured that you are an armed and well-oiled militia (well, being a bunch of Repugs, I’m sure that some of the men are probably literally well-oiled and throwing longing glances at each other’s, um, MREs, but that’s a topic for another issue of “Going Galt Daily”), prepared to seize power and set up Randian Utopias throughout this great land of ours, from whence you will smugly gloat as the rest of us slowly starve to death in the wreckage of our liberal hopes and dreams.

Yes. We get it. Honestly. We’ve been lectured for YEARS about this. And I can assure you that we will never be as fully a-skeered as we are right now. Witness us trembling in our vegan boots as you shake your pudgy fist at us and contemptuously let the non-organic Cheetos dust fly.

If you love America so much, can you do any less than to stop with the toothless threats and get on with the action? I mean, you’re not some kind of terrust-lover, are you?

Thought not. So, can you promise us a shiny new political regime by the weekend? That would be super cool of you!

Love,
Rabies and Vitriol

Up thread someone mentioned FDL teaming up G Norquist to “kill the bill”.

If my memory is correct she teamed up with him on another issue, not the health care bill.

At any rate I get real tired of FDL and Jane being the villain in all of this instead of those who sold out real health care reform.

I don’t think anyone’s under the impression that Jane is responsible for selling out real reform, and I don’t think Jane has been portrayed as a villain so much as a useful idiot.

And it’s hard to argue otherwise. Because, hey, Grover Norquist.

urdsama-exactly. It was the “Audit the Fed” bill that jane teamed-up with Norquist on. And good on her. On HCR, jane wouldn’t even step into the same universe Norquist inhabits.

And as far as what might happen after it passes… if enough people hate it and refuse to comply…then I think the whole thing gets repealed or reduced to nothing.

I guess I am one of the very few on this site who refuse to go along with this so called reform. The negatives are far greater than the positives.

Remember, it was okay to punch the DFH before the Iraq war. How did that turn out by the way?

Why is she a useful idiot on HCR for her stance? As far as I know, she is one of the few who has not flipped her position on the matter.

Sorry for being unclear…I think the real villains are those who sold out, not FDL or Jane.

Oh and Jennifer, thanks for acknowledging she didn’t team up with Norquist on this matter.

More softcore porn, as only renew america does it. Enjoy.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/shroder/100316
“We will remember who votes for this bill. We will remember who shoved this bill down our throats. If Obama succeeds, we will remember who helped push us into the backseat of his car, and those names will go down in history, way, way down.”
© Jen Shroder

Heh, I posted the above thinking I was off topic but then I read several comments above and I am right on topic. The question is when will these asshats tie man on horse sex to HCR? [veiled S&M bestiality reference?]

urdsama – you’ll excuse me for using the google, wherein I find that my misconception came about due to writers on other sites advancing a theory that Hamsher was undertaking a scorched-earth campaign against the Obama administration.

BTW, the Hamsher/Norquist axis didn’t team up for “audit the fed”; they teamed up on a letter demanding the resignation of Rahm Emmanuel. So perhaps those other writers had at least some clue of what might be a “scorched-earth campaign against the Obama administration”. I don’t know if that’s what it was or not, only that it is extremely stupid to team up with the guy who’s been perhaps the individual most responsible for blocking and/or destroying virtually every principle you support. It’s ok to hold the same opinion – but writing a letter with him was a dumb move.

Going to the VA hospital Monday for neck-up check-up. Might have some interesting conversation with my other “socialist health care loving” peers, if the rest of ya’ll get some, too. Should be great fun.

“the backseat of his car” In this story Obama drives a Pontiac. I would have thought she would go with Caddy or “Hoopty”. What car would Obama metaphorically throw Jen Schroder into the backseat of before shoving his well endowed some might say hung like a horse HC Reee-form down her throught?

I guess if no one else had the stomach to go for the audit and after RE, then that is what she had to turn to. I don’t think it was dumb…hopefully it was not her first option but it might have not been the best. And from what is now coming out, maybe getting rid of RE would have been a very good thing.

Also, by that logic, was it wrong for Obama to use Bush II for Haiti relief?

I don’t know if that’s what it was or not, only that it is extremely stupid to team up with the guy who’s been perhaps the individual most responsible for blocking and/or destroying virtually every principle you support. It’s ok to hold the same opinion – but writing a letter with him was a dumb move.

By “the guy” did you mean Norquist, or Rahm, Jennifer?
~

urdsama – she could have stated her opinion/demands just as easily in a separate letter.

Somehow I continue to believe that a whole range of better options existed besides signing onto a letter with the guy who described bipartisanship as “date rape.”

urdsama – this place isn’t Balloon Juice, where the vitriol against Hamsher, FDL and DFHs runs a whole lot deeper. But look, when Kucinich gets on board with the HCR that we have (not the one we might wish we had), it says something about what’s possible right now. My take is, you fight the good fight until fighting it isn’t worth it anymore. And unless you really, really, really think that HCR as-is will turn out WORSE than doing nothing, than I don’t see how you cannot be on board with the (mostly, but not nearly all) crap sandwich at this point.

And for what’s it worth – to me, Kucinich is a hero for switching over DESPITE all the crap he’s been getting from the Rahm crowd lately. A lesser man would have held out on his position against out of sheer cussedness for the bullying he’s been receiving.

Also, getting as much relief to Haiti as quickly as possible is a very different matter than sacking a guy in the White House.

I feel obligated to remind people that there would be an implicit mandate in a public option-single payer system through taxes. And that’s a good thing. Getting rid of free riders who can afford health care but don’t want to buy it brings costs down overall, and that extra dough is how you pay for people who want health care but can’t afford it. The grief comes from the fact that insurance companies, soulless vultures that they are, are getting in on it, but the concept of a mandate was always part of the plan. Because insurance is weird in that the more people buy into it, the better it works, so it’s in everybody’s interest to have as many people buying into it as possible.

I agree with Jennifer and D.A.

I agree with gocart mozart.

Yo, Spaghetti Lee, read your review of The Island at the Center of the World at GOS. Nicely done! I live in Vanderdonck’s crib.

Seriously, though, what pisses me off is that Jonathon Alter was right like 9 months ago when I heard him on Stephanie Miller doing the ‘don’t-make-the-perfect-the-enemy-of-the-good’ spiel, and saying that the public option was pretty much dead but that HCR should pass anyway.

I finally swallowed that Kool-Aid (had it rammed down my throat?) back in December, but I totally get why those who haven’t reconciled themselves to the yummy yummy taste of shit sandwiches are still holding out.

The what now, B^4?

Damn, it’s late and it’s a school night. I gotta quit this joint, but not before I say I agree with both D.A. and gocart.

D.A., what I think aggravates people the most about it is that it seemed like the P.O. was always just within reach, and we’ll never know if we could have gotten one if we had just fought a little harder.

Of course, some folks think that Rahmbama floated it every so often on purpose, to get people excited, but that’s a bit too much tinfoil-ness for me, and I don’t even see what they would be trying to prove with that.

I will be so fugging glad when even this crummy bill is passed, ’cause I’m tired of hearing about people fighting about this crap.

DA, I hate to say that I do think HCR as is will be worse.

1. Not that many will see any benefit until 2014. Those that might see some changes may not really be helped. This is insurance reform not care reform. They still have to pay to get care. My fear is that so few people will be helped that this will be a redux of “welfare queen” attacks for the next 4 years. Under that cloud no lawmaker will want to get within a mile of HCR, unless it is to reduce the money going to it.

2. It is a forced mandate with the IRS involved (penalty phase, I think). I know some fairly liberal types in the SF bay area who hate that idea…even more evidence that the polls don’t really dig deep enough into that matter to see how the average person who is not a political junkie feels about HCR with forced buy ins.

3. I do agree this is not like BJ or DKos, but the tone is, while not as personal and aggressive as those places, is still: “You don’t support this? What is wrong with you?” I do see more concerns being issued here but I still see the same attitude for those who do not support this bill. The whole…”Do you want people to die?” is a great emotional hit, but not very good otherwise.

I guess what is most depressing is what I see is a variant of the attitude that was shown to the DFH before the Iraq war. Very sad.

On Kucinich I guess you and I will just have to disagree. He even said this was a bad bill, but there were bigger issues for the US. I’m not sure that lines up with your thinking on his change in position.

DA not out of snark, but in all seriousness…what happens, what is done if this bill is worse that doing nothing?

DA not out of snark, but in all seriousness…what happens, what is done if this bill is worse that doing nothing?

It’ll suck. I mean, what else can I say to that? I personally think the old saw that ‘things have to get worse before they get better’ is the biggest pile of horseshit there is, so I’m not going to foist that line on you.

It’s a risk. It’s always a risk. Getting on the train instead of riding your bike to work, or vice-versa, could get you killed any given day. What can I say – like you mentioned, we’ll have to agree to disagree.

I will be so fugging glad when even this crummy bill is passed, ’cause I’m tired of hearing about people fighting about this crap.

Right on, daddy-o.

I’m afraid your peace will be short lived. I expect the next major bill will have the same pattern attached to it. Not sure which one…immigration, climate change, etc. Take your pick.

urdsama:

If this bill turns out to be worse than doing nothing (kinda hard to prove, because you’d need to know exactly what would happen in both scenarios), then here’s what happens, in my opinion:

The short term is that the public massively revolts, the Repubs cruise to a huge victory in November, repeal HCR if they’ve got the votes, and everyone is too scared to touch the issue until it’s impossible to ignore (which will be shorter than the 1993-2009 interval: we don’t have that long this time.)

In the long term, of course, the problem’s not going away. In 5, 10, 15 years, if the Dems are in power, maybe we get another go at something similar to this, with an increased sense of urgency. If the Republicans are in power, we probably get a cocktail of deregulation, medicare cuts, and random tax cuts for the rich.

Personally, I’m in the better-than-nothing crowd, but if I had to speculate, I’d put my money on something like this.

A half a loaf is better than none and if this is not passed we won’t be discussing this issue for another 15 years at least. Pass the fucker, tweak it and try to add to it the next few years. Its the only game in town. Wingnuts will have a collective orgasm if this fails. That should tell you something.

Can’t support it for those reasons, gocart. I don’t really care what the wingnuts do, they will make up something new no matter the outcome.

Also I don’t think we will be discussing this for another 15 years if it does pass. Either way the majority of the US is fucked.

I’d just rather not be fucked and have the pleasure of paying for shitty health care.

The one thing that should be clear to progressives by now is that Obama really was playing 19 dimensional chess in Urdu while reading Kierkegaard and writing out (with his free hand) the OED from memory–some progressives (the ones who are the angriest now) are apparently only beginning to realize whom he was playing against.

Oh, hell, at this point I’m supporting passage of the HCR simply to watch the ‘sploding of teabag heads. If Pelosi can get this sucker passed, then The Very Special Conservative Freak-out will be go.

Hey, we live in a nation where more people believe in angels than in evolution: I’m just taking my entertainment where I can.

Actually, Hamsher directly teamed up with Norquist to demand Rahm Emanuel’s resignation regarding some matters relating to Fannie/Freddie and an IG appointee.

On the point of the public option, let’s bear in mind that I don’t think I heard anyone on the Democratic / liberal side seriously contemplating ANY publicly run health insurance plan earlier than the 2008 campaign.

And I don’t mean justified and well-applauded efforts for single-payer resolutions, etc., but I mean close enough to actually pass.

For what it’s worth, the Teddy Roosevelt era reforms and regulations of U.S. monopolies was significant and helpful, but were also largely designed by businesses themselves, in part so that companies other than the largest monopolies could themselves grow more wealthy.

Yet, on the whole, they were an advance, and they led to other New Deal reforms in which the power of business was reigned in quite a bit, up until Reaganism succeeded in replacing New Deal reformism with pseudo-cowboy big business de/anti-regulationism.

No healthcare for Republicans! To the back of the line, grandma!

You know they were talking about letting everyone get health care but you may have come up with a way to save a lot of money!

Maybe Republicans could volunteer to risk their lives by not getting any health care?

You know, risking their lives to save other Americans?

Not that many will see any benefit until 2014.
It seems like people believe that once a bill passes then a switch would magically be flipped. What every Agency gets to manage the program will actually have to build the systems that will support the program. Even if the Medicare systems are leveraged there will still need to be modifications to those systems which will take time.

When HCR passes, the business environment for the private insurers will change. There will be constant downward pressure on premiums and payouts will be increased. Customers they would have cut loose will be on their roles indefinitely. After a few years of this, it will be in the insurers own interest to have some basic level of single-payer system, with private insurers providing supplementary insurance to the middle class. just like they currently do with Medicare customers. And old people attacked by homicidal robots.

Apple Pie Freedom Mom said,

If you liberals shove this socialism down our throats against the will of the people and against freedom we the productive class of USA will go Galt and withhold our talents, services and taxes

You gonna stop baking those pies that smell like ass?

A little something for Pinko Punko from Adrian Belew

Jet set ski shop quasi silver porche jacket
Bleached blonde forty-dollar foster grant
Capped teeth two-inch eyelash
Pseudo gamma delta doll
Adidas in heat

Beer slob saturday addict pops another top
"kill that sonovabitch," he screams at the t.v.
The thrill of victory, the agony of my feet
Adidas in heat

Sports awareness t-shirt
Sports awareness t-shirt
You have the paraphenelic regalia
Of an athletic supporter

Forced to wear this t-shirt
Sports awareness t-shirt
You have the paraphenelic regalia
Of an athletic supporter

This comment is a little late, but it’s worth noting to Surf and urdsama that every progressive battle is like this. We know what should be done, we fight tooth and nail for slight improvement, stop-gap measures, and preventing life from getting worse while grinding our teeth as our initial ideas are eventually proven the right ones.

And we do make gains. Progressives wanted to pass some decent protections for blacks coming out of slavery, it took a century to repair it, inch by agonizing inch, piecemeal by piecemeal. Even the vaunted “Civil Rights Bill” was a half-measure constantly under attack.

But these pieces protect real lives, make things slightly better, get those scary “others” a little more human. Step by agonizingly slow step things become better and ideas once forbidden to even mention two generations or one generation back become the “no shit” of the next generation.

Is it perfect? Do I think we could have gotten more with some more ingenious tactics such as not trying to use your compromise position as your starting offer (seriously the message for progressives should have been Denmark or bust so that “making hippies cry” could have been a milquetoast public option and the media would have had to have been filled with desperate attempts to make a nation of ultra-polite bicycle riders look sinister)? Sure, but every fight is like that. Every damn one for every minority group on the planet.

The point is that the good guys still win in the long term, even though surviving the short term where everything sucks still sucks.