The Command T.O.C.

Jason Altmire (D-PA) Brings Shame on His Party

Jason Altmire, A Democrat from Pennsylvania,  has brought shame on himself and on the Democrat party. If you can believe it, he actually voted for the Stupak Amendment which severely restricted women's rights to abortions (A Constitutionally protected right whether he likes it or not) and against health care legislation. What was the point of that?

Altmire has brought shame on himself and Pennsylvania. What a disgrace. He should be removed immediately. Look at him closely on the left.. it is the face of pure evil. 

If you would like to contact him (I highly recommend it) his contact information is:

Phone: 202-225-2565

Fax is: 202- 226-2274

Senator Levin Speaks About Health Insurance Profits

Senator Levin (D-M) made a very nice speech concerning the issues with health insurance companies. In fact, he cited Humana insurance as a company which increased profits by 65% year over year and did that due to,

"Our government segment continued to perform well in the third quarter particularly in our Medicare business.” (quote from Humana).

So, is there any doubt we need reform? Is there any doubt these insurance companies are getting very wealthy off the backs of Americans. Absolutely no doubt in my mind. We need to pass health care reform in the Senate and get on with making America the best Country in the world!

The total speech for Senator Levin can be found at this link titled, "Our People Need A Sensible Health Care System" from the Senator Levin website. 

President Obama Weekly Address - Takes on Insurance Companies

In this week's weekly address President Obama rightfully takes on the insurance companies. They enjoy special treatment under the law in terms of anti-trust but they do not want to be regulated by the Government. That is baloney. They get one or the other. Either total capitalism which means they lose their anti-trust exemption or they participate in national health care. It is not a true capitalism what they have now. Don't let them fool you and CONGRATULATIONS Mr. President for being willing to take on the powerful insurance interests. 

Insurance Industry Takes One Last Desperate Swipe - Scare Tactic

First, I must say that the fact the insurance industry took this one last desperate swipe encourages me to believe the Congress is on to something. There is no way this industry would commit such political suicide unless they felt the "gig was up". And, oh boy, is the gig every up on these industry fat cats. For too long they have scared this Country into inaction. No more. The Country is acting and we are coming right after them. 

The industry found a lap dog consulting group in PricewaterhouseCoopers. As anyone who has worked with these people know, they will "find" anything you want them to find. I can picture the first meeting going something like this:

1. PWC: So, Mr. fat cat insurance company exec, what would you like us to find for you today?
2. FCE (Fat Cat Exec): Please find that the bills they are trying to pass in Congress will be bad for people so we can scare the sh*t out of them. 
3. PWC: Oh, sure, that should be easy. We can make up some numbers showing their costs will go through the roof. Will that help?
4. FCE: Oh, yes, please, that should be great thank you.
5. PWC: Hell, look at what our industry did for America when our industry "audited" Enron, MCI, Tyco etc. We had all of America believing one thing as we looted the Country on the back end. This, lying to the American public about health care, is easy compared to that. Should have the report ready in about one hour. That is how long it takes to print. No need to research. We can just say whatever we want. 
6. FCE: Oh, thank you thank you!

A quote from the Huffington Post article referenced above:

The study finds fault with what Baucus sees as one of the crowning achievements of his bill. Even with a tight budget, it would cover an estimated 94 percent of eligible Americans, up from about 83 percent now. The study – and the insurance industry – say that's not enough, particularly since senators have weakened the stiff fines Baucus originally proposed for ignoring a requirement to get coverage. 

"You really have to have a coverage level in the high 90s to make this work," said an industry executive. 

So, they are against it because it only covers 94% and in order for this to work, they need to get the high 90% covered by the bill. Ah, excuse me, but isn't that NATIONAL HEALTH CARE!!? Isn't that what we wanted in the first place? Their position is essentially:

1. In order for the plan to work it must insure the vast majority (high 90%) of people. 
2. If it did that we would have national health-care
3. We are against national health-care
4. Therefore, this won't work..... TILT!!!!

Conservatives have a knack for contradicting themselves but rarely do they even do it in the same sentence. In this case, they decided what the hell, might as well say anything just to confuse and scare America. 

Not this time insurance lobby. Not this time. Your "gig is up".

Read also: 

Representative Weiner on why this AHIP report makes the best case for universal healthcare we have seen. 

Politico: Insurers Face Blowback After Report

Glenn Beck Describes Health Care in US

So, what happened in the last 16 months. Here Glenn Beck does a story on how horrible the health care system is in the United States after his surgery goes wrong. Now, 16 months later, he says we have the best health care in the world. Amazing reform in 16 months.

Or, could it be that he has found out the ratings he can get by playing to the mob? Has he found the money involved when he gets the nut cases on the right to buy stupid books? I would say Glenn Beck found out the health care system in the United States is broke and needs reform. However, he also found out he can make millions on Faux News network playing to the mobs. 

He talks how his wife saved him since after the surgery he would have "blown his brains out" if his wife had not stopped him. Damn. Why did she do that?

Another Very Nice Tribute to Ted Kennedy

Another very nice tribute to Ted Kennedy and his enduring legacy. We must continue the fight for universal health care in his honor. 

Ted Kennedy - R.I.P.

Even with all his personal issues, his ideals are ones which live on forever. He was a great man. God Speed and Rest in Peace, Ted Kennedy:

Republican Admits He Will Vote Against Healthcare Without Reading The Legislation

A few days ago I was watching the point man for the idiocy against health care which is the Republican party. This man was Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. You know, he was the numskull who perpetuated the idiotic Sarah Palin claim of "death panels". He did this even after admitting he supported the exact same legislation many years ago (end of life counseling). 

Something I noticed was every time he was asked a specific question about "the bill" he had to refer to his staff or say, "I will look that up and get back to you".  It was obvious he had never read the pending legislation which was in committee. Now, this is not surprising because everyone knows these guys never read "the bills". Rather, their staffs read the bills and provide summary data to them so they can make up their mind. No big deal except the Republicans have made it into a big deal. So, it surprised me that their point man clearly had not read anything. 

Now comes along Senator James Inhofe (R- OK). This Senator actually admits he has never read the bill, will never read a bill and is against it no matter what. Why does he believe this? Because he has listened to "polls and the media" (I am sure, Faux News Network). Why does he have such a closed mind you may ask? Politics. He has stated before that "stopping or blocking health care reform will be a huge win for Republicans in 2010".

And now we see the Republican party we know and love. The party of the close minded, hypocritical ("a.k.a. read the bill) and the "mob". 

The Health Care "Debate" Continues

This is a great parody of what FAUX News network has become. This is the Faux news network debating health care:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Healther Skelter - Obama Death Panel Debate
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Katie Couric Hits The Nail on The Head

Are we really debating health-care when a man brings a loaded gun to a church where the President is speaking?  So asks Katie Couric of CBS News and the question is, in fact, the right question to ask. Very few of the people attending these town halls are there to talk about the health care debate in this Country. They are there to disrupt, destroy and obfuscate. Many are there to further other agendas and are just using the chaos created by Fox News and people like Hannity and Coulter to further crazy agendas. 

The right has once again (like they cannot help themselves) gone over board. What started as a movement to complain about a policy has turned into a mob scene which the American Public is now using as a caricature of the right wing. They are being known as crazies and lunatics because that is what they have unleashed. I cannot wait to see a right wing Republican defend bringing a loaded gun to a demonstration where the President is speaking. I cannot wait to see them defend the painting of Swastikas. And, I cannot wait to see them defend Senator Grassley calling out against Obama "Death Squads" ( A term made up by the wildly ignorant Sarah Palin) when he actually supported the same provision of end of life counseling in the 2003 REPUBLICAN Medicare drug bill. 

I actually thought this was going to work against President Obama and was wondering why he was not getting out in front of it. But, in reality, what he has done is allowed the crazies to escalate to the point that the rest of the Country realizes just how crazy they are and it has destroyed any debate the right wing may have had. 

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