Monday musings: October 26, 2009

According to White House Deputy Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, 

“In his September 9th address to Congress, President Obama made clear that he supports the public option because it has the potential to play an essential role in holding insurance companies accountable through choice and competition,” Pfeiffer wrote. “That continues to be the President’s position.”

“Senator Reid and his leadership team are now working to get the most effective bill possible approved by the Senate,” he added. “President Obama completely supports their efforts and has full confidence they will succeed and continue the unprecedented progress that is being made in both the House and Senate.”

You know what? They’d better freaking be on the same page, and toward a public option that is NOT tied to ‘triggers’ or ‘opt-outs’. Anything less than a robust public option is simply not acceptable, and I will not support those who chicken and play to the center/Snowe/Blue Dogs.

Period.

Now these people, in the ad airing in Maine, get it:

Click here to support this ad on the television.

I’m also sick and tired of hearing about how much a real health insurance reform bill will cost. Guys like Mitch McConnell have no shame. He sat there on the news show circuit and decried the supposed $1 trillion cost. Where was he and his budget busting worries when it came time to sink us into the morass of two wars? Whore. Lying whore.

The $1 trillion or $900 billion or whatever it is, is a number that is spread over 10 years. I’ve pointed out before that these numbers are essentially meaningless when taken out of context of a - hopefully - rescued and growing economy. Folks this isn’t 1932. The numbers are just bigger now, and they will continue to get bigger with or without a health insurance reform bill.

If you just take a look at the massive, obscene amounts of money the insurance industry is spending to defeat a public option … that alone should make you suspicious. Why do the insurance companies not want it that badly?

Ummm, maybe because it’s right for America?

I tuned in briefly to listen to the Sunday morning pundits alternatly decry and defend the executive pay schemes at places like Goldman Sachs. They part they never mention: the massive amounts of money the financial services industry is spending to lobby against meaningful regulation that would prevent another 2008 debacle.

As usual they’re all whining about the wrong issue.

Fortunately, I missed Dick Cheney’s evil smirk, as he accused Obama of ‘dithering’. This man has more balls than a government mule. Evil bastard. As George Will said, Cheney might have well dithered a bit more before sending our kids to die in two pointless wars.

“A bit of dithering might have been in order before we went into Iraq in pursuit of non-existent weapons of mass destruction,” Will said on ABC’s “This Week. “For a representative of the Bush administration to accuse someone of taking too much time is missing the point. We have much more to fear in this town from hasty than from slow government action.”

You go, George.

Biden had a great line when asked what he thought about Cheney’s snarky remark: “Who cares…”

From local blogger, Blue Lyon:

“Who knew that when it came down to crunch time, Harry Reid would be the one who stepped up to the plate and Barack Obama would shy away from the fight,” emailed one progressive strategist.

“Who knew? I did “according to Blue Lyon.

I soooo want this to be nothing more than a bad dream that I’ll awake from to real, enduring change.

So, with that, I’m going to go read more of Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol”. Whale of a tale, although I think Robert Langdon, the protagonist, could be fleshed out a bit more. In fact, most of the characters lack the kind of depth I’d like … why are they acting the way they are? The bad guy is soooo bad, but I don’t really get his reason for being so completely evil. If this were a Marvel comics book the evil guy would make more sense.

But as I said, it’s a riveting tale well told, especially if you’ve spent as much time in Washington D. C. and the great buildings as I have over the years.

Only tonight I can’t stay up until 1:30 a.m. I’ve got to be bright and chirpy for work, work, work in the morning.

Nighty night.

I’ll let myself out.

maven