Conservative Thread: U.S. Steele - Back In Business

[SwedishMeatball]

I Googled this because my DH wanted to read the entire quote; it appears this is an urban legend. She did say in 2006 that the rich were evil and "all Bush's fault" because they made money in the stock market, but the comments above cannot be attributed to her. (Although she has made enough inane comments to qualify for an "I'm Stupid" button, it appears she did not say this.)

Good, but I still can't stand the witch.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Obama has now appointed a blogging czar.

 

[Humphrey Bear]

Good, but I still can't stand the witch.

Did anyone ever try throwing some water on her?

 

[mickeymedic]

Did anyone ever try throwing some water on her?

 

[Dolce27]

Anyone see this? This was written a couple of days ago, before the bill passed yesterday:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs#

Ruin Your Health With the Obama Stimulus Plan: Betsy McCaughey
Commentary by Betsy McCaughey

Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Republican Senators are questioning whether President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill contains the right mix of tax breaks and cash infusions to jump-start the economy.

Tragically, no one from either party is objecting to the health provisions slipped in without discussion. These provisions reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle, until recently the nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

Keeping doctors informed of the newest medical findings is important, but enforcing uniformity goes too far.

New Penalties

Hospitals and doctors that are not “meaningful users” of the new system will face penalties. “Meaningful user” isn’t defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose “more stringent measures of meaningful use over time” (511, 518, 540-541)

What penalties will deter your doctor from going beyond the electronically delivered protocols when your condition is atypical or you need an experimental treatment? The vagueness is intentional. In his book, Daschle proposed an appointed body with vast powers to make the “tough” decisions elected politicians won’t make.

The stimulus bill does that, and calls it the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (190-192). The goal, Daschle’s book explained, is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. He praises Europeans for being more willing to accept “hopeless diagnoses” and “forgo experimental treatments,” and he chastises Americans for expecting too much from the health-care system.

Elderly Hardest Hit

Daschle says health-care reform “will not be pain free.” Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. That means the elderly will bear the brunt.

Medicare now pays for treatments deemed safe and effective. The stimulus bill would change that and apply a cost- effectiveness standard set by the Federal Council (464).

The Federal Council is modeled after a U.K. board discussed in Daschle’s book. This board approves or rejects treatments using a formula that divides the cost of the treatment by the number of years the patient is likely to benefit. Treatments for younger patients are more often approved than treatments for diseases that affect the elderly, such as osteoporosis.

In 2006, a U.K. health board decreed that elderly patients with macular degeneration had to wait until they went blind in one eye before they could get a costly new drug to save the other eye. It took almost three years of public protests before the board reversed its decision.

Hidden Provisions

If the Obama administration’s economic stimulus bill passes the Senate in its current form, seniors in the U.S. will face similar rationing. Defenders of the system say that individuals benefit in younger years and sacrifice later.

The stimulus bill will affect every part of health care, from medical and nursing education, to how patients are treated and how much hospitals get paid. The bill allocates more funding for this bureaucracy than for the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force combined (90-92, 174-177, 181).

Hiding health legislation in a stimulus bill is intentional. Daschle supported the Clinton administration’s health-care overhaul in 1994, and attributed its failure to debate and delay. A year ago, Daschle wrote that the next president should act quickly before critics mount an opposition. “If that means attaching a health-care plan to the federal budget, so be it,” he said. “The issue is too important to be stalled by Senate protocol.”

More Scrutiny Needed

On Friday, President Obama called it “inexcusable and irresponsible” for senators to delay passing the stimulus bill. In truth, this bill needs more scrutiny.

The health-care industry is the largest employer in the U.S. It produces almost 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Yet the bill treats health care the way European governments do: as a cost problem instead of a growth industry. Imagine limiting growth and innovation in the electronics or auto industry during this downturn. This stimulus is dangerous to your health and the economy.

 

[TeresaNJ]

WOOHOO! I'm posting two days in a row. To anyone I didn't meet last night.
Hello and Good Morning!

Good morning and hello!

 

[breezy1077]

Anyone see this? This was written a couple of days ago, before the bill passed yesterday:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_mccaughey&sid=aLzfDxfbwhzs#

There's a whole thread about it.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Well, here we go again......

DS just threw up this morning, he's been up since 5am. I think this thing is inevitable.

Sorry.

 

[Dolce27]

There's a whole thread about it.

Haven't been out on the main CB. Dare I peek? How bad is it?

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Good, but I still can't stand the witch.

Even witches are up the food chain compared to that evil monster, IMO!

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I'm hoping people here don't vote Dem just because of the stars in their eyes over our current Prez.

I know what you mean, though. I'm hoping he's different. He wants to bring businesses back to NJ, he said everyone is leaving because of the high taxes. Well, YEAH! At least he can admit it. He could very well be FOS, but I'm hoping he's not.


Off to shop!

One of the OS just said he was chosen by God! This is so funny, since if anyone had ever said Reagan or whoever was chosen, there would be derision galore.

 

[MeghansMommy]

Another member of the chattering class here...just wondering why the Black Panthers (ACORN) needed $4.1 billion dollars in this stimulus package

Because Obama said so.

Howdy, ya'll.

Okay, so after talking it over with DH, I think that I pay too much attention to politics so I'm limiting my internet time to once or twice a day.

I will still come when I do to talk to my DIS friends and annoy the lurkers.

Yeah, I need to do that too.

OK have to vent for a sec - it makes me mad but its kinda funny.

DH has life ins thru AIG - policy premium needs to be paid in Feb - we just moved so could see how notice might be late. Last Feb we got the notice late though our address never changed. Curious. But we got notice 24 hours after policy was to be cancelled. Interesting business practice. So this year. No notice. Call (800) number in bill pay file online - gives me another (800) to call.

Call that (800) number.

It's a nasty girl talk line.

Is that what AIG spent its bailout money on?? Seriously? I would think they want me to pay the policy premium....but maybe not??

Ok sorry to interrupt.

Let's hope it's a typo?

I notice that a few of our house libs are pretty quiet tonight. There are the usual few that think we are all "chicken little" but not that many are jumping for joy and shouting the praises of this disaster.

All afternoon I have tried to talk myself out of panic mode. I know I need to be calm, I need to learn the facts, and then find a plan to deal with whatever is coming. But I also know that those who are defining this mess don't know, or care to know, how much this will affect the lives of our kids. I don't think they can see the bigger picture. At least not yet.

I noticed the quietness on the board yesterday too. I also can totally relate to your panic.

Exactly the things I'm studying in this class. Tonight I have to argue for God's existance.... ummmm..... yeah. To me, He exists, but how to I argue that, is what I don't know.

When's your paper due?

Ugh, Hannity just said that since LTEC Hussein't been elected, countries are releasing their terrorist prisoners.

Did anyone else catch that?

No. Please tell me this isn't so.

Oh my gosh, I want those now.

It got a little crazy here just a few minutes ago. Thankfully, it moved over me fast with no tornados.

I would like to say: A guy at work brought in 3 boxes of those babies last Friday and I didn't eat a one.

YAY DOLCE!!!

Those are wonderful donuts....

I just wanted to make a comment: I think someone put me on ignore (I know, I know, wishful thinking), but I have pointed out a couple of times (nicely, I believe) that this person says personal things about themselves in one post and, in another, says something totally different. The reason why I think this person must now have me on ignore is that when I dissect what they write and prove how illogical it is, they never try to counter. Actually, I think this is good: if no one ever argues with you, your point is always the last and most valid. Am I missing something in the equation?

Either that or you were right and they don't have anything to say.

I think those tanning booth sessions have fried his brain.

Yup.

Hi. Long time lurker on the cons threads. I am compelled to post. Soarin, why did you change your avatar? The Bold Brash Beck was the best Glenn pic ever.

Welcome to the thread Adams4! you have beautiful children. Soarin - I missed what you changed the avatar to - what was it?

I'm home! Our 2-week trip to Disney was fantastic.

No way I can catch up on all the messages, so I'll just say "hi" and it's good to be back.

Glad you're home safely.

Wow, thanks! I'll keep y'all updated as soon as I get the word. It's really nice to have you guys for support.

There is a web address that I'll PM to people who are interested if anyone wants to send messages to me at MD Anderson while I'm there. I'm going to try and find out if they have wireless there 'cause I don't know if I can go a whole week without the Dis!

I'm trying to figure out some funny T-shirts I can make to keep my spirits up.

I was thinking of doing "The Great Nose Pick, 2009!" on one.

I pray for you honu - I'll pm you because I'd love to send you messages. Good luck!

Well, here we go again......

DS just threw up this morning, he's been up since 5am. I think this thing is inevitable.

Oh no. I am so sorry. There's nothing worse than puke.

I am also waiting for my signed copy of The Christmas Sweater DVD. It was supposed to ship Feb.1, but Glenn was running behind on signing all of them. I guess he has been a little busy lately with our county falling apart and all.

I don't know why I found this so funny. Bad, bad MM.

I make it a rule not to hate people, but she makes it really hard.

Yup.

Obama has now appointed a blogging czar.

Whaaa? Is this constitutional.

Haven't been out on the main CB. Dare I peek? How bad is it?

I was on that thread yesterday - it wasn't that bad then, but I haven't seen it yet today.

Okay, to keep my mind off of what's going on in our government, my sister and I have a challenge going. We are reading a biography of each of our presidents and discussing them. Right now we are reading "General and Mrs. Washington" though my sis wanted to read "His Excellency" but my library doesn't have it.

Anyhoo - did you know that Washington ran for the House of Burgess and lost his first time? Wanna know why?

He didn't buy enough drinks for the voters.

Did you know that he won his second run for the House of Burgess? Wanna know why?

He did buy enough drinks for the voters.

Guess voter fraud has always been around, eh? It was technically illegal, but a common practice.

I found this to be very funny.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Pelosi doesn't seem to understand that if "everyone" makes the same salary that meand HER salary will be down to like $30,000 too.

She and her hubby are multi-millionaires, so she could not care less.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

One of the OS just said he was chosen by God! This is so funny, since if anyone had ever said Reagan or whoever was chosen, there would be derision galore.

Were they being serious??

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Because Obama said so.


Yeah, I need to do that too.
Let's hope it's a typo?

I noticed the quietness on the board yesterday too. I also can totally relate to your panic.

When's your paper due?

No. Please tell me this isn't so.

Oh my gosh, I want those now.

YAY DOLCE!!!

Either that or you were right and they don't have anything to say.

Yup.

Welcome to the thread Adams4! you have beautiful children. Soarin - I missed what you changed the avatar to - what was it?

Glad you're home safely.

I pray for you honu - I'll pm you because I'd love to send you messages. Good luck!


Oh no. I am so sorry. There's nothing worse than puke.

I don't know why I found this so funny. Bad, bad MM.

Yup.
Whaaa? Is this constitutional.


I was on that thread yesterday - it wasn't that bad then, but I haven't seen it yet today.

Okay, to keep my mind off of what's going on in our government, my sister and I have a challenge going. We are reading a biography of each of our presidents and discussing them. Right now we are reading "General and Mrs. Washington" though my sis wanted to read "His Excellency" but my library doesn't have it.

Anyhoo - did you know that Washington ran for the House of Burgess and lost his first time? Wanna know why?

He didn't buy enough drinks for the voters.

Did you know that he won his second run for the House of Burgess? Wanna know why?

He did buy enough drinks for the voters.

Guess voter fraud has always been around, eh? It was technically illegal, but a common practice.

I found this to be very funny.

Well, they may have been drunk, but, at least, they weren't dead like some of the voters that always vote straight-party D.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Were they being serious??

Absolutely, positively. Page 3 of the thread on all the "benefits" from the stimulus. I quoted it on Page 4, because it was so unbelievable.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Absolutely, positively. Page 3 of the thread on all the "benefits" from the stimulus. I quoted it on Page 4, because it was so unbelievable.

Oh that poor thing. All those libs speaking from their ivory towers crack me up.

 

[studentmom]

I'm with you girlfriend.




In other news:

Could it be? Could it really happen? Could NJ possibly elect a Republican Governor?







http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/poll_shows_chrsitie_leading_co.html

I saw him in a interview. I really like him. His looks remind me a little of Sal "Big *****" Bonpensiero & Fred Flinstone


And he has better hair than Corzine!

Oh, wouldn't that be neat?! It's possible. We have a replublican governor, after all.

WOOHOO! I'm posting two days in a row. To anyone I didn't meet last night.
Hello and Good Morning!

Howdy!

Check this out...

Windfall Tax on Retirement Income

Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, you're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you. That's what the Speaker of the House is saying.. Read below...............

Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income. In other words tax what you have made by investing toward your retirement. This woman is a nut case! You aren't going to believe this.

Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas , it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!

This woman is frightening.

She quotes...' We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this?), in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest.' (I am not rich, are you?)

When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:

'We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'.' (Read that quote again and again and let it sink in. 'Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it'.

Does anyone have that Pelosi wicked witch of the west picture?

 

[Humphrey Bear]

No, but i have this one:

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Oh that poor thing. All those libs speaking from their ivory towers crack me up.

David Koresh, Jim Jones, move over! Dare I say: CULT!!!!!