The Liberal Elitist

Hypocrisy is alive and well in the Missouri legislature--and elsewhere

One of the best moments in the health care summit held at Blair House yesterday was when Illinois Senator Dick Durbin suggested to his Republican colleagues that they drop out of the Federal Employees Health Program if they were so disturbed at the Democrats pursuing a socialist plot to take over health care. 

The reason was simple--the government forces rules on private companies in the Federal health program that are similar to rules proposed in health care reform. If you think the system is so dreadful, get out of it. I don't believe any one took him up on that.

Durbin identified a basic hypocrisy in play that is difficult for Republican opponents of health reform to deny. But he should come to Missouri if he wants to see hypocrisy elevated to a high art. 

This is what it's all about: the case for health care reform in 90 very well-chosen words

What really struck me about the meeting, however, was the inability of Republicans to explain how they propose dealing with the issue that, rightly, is at the emotional center of much health care debate: the plight of Americans who suffer from pre-existing medical conditions. In other advanced countries, everyone gets essential care whatever their medical history. But in America, a bout of cancer, an inherited genetic disorder, or even, in some states, having been a victim of domestic violence can make you uninsurable, and thus make adequate health care unaffordable.

via www.nytimes.com

This is a paragraph deep in Paul Krugman's column appearing on Friday in the NY Times. But I think it sums up the case for health care reform better than anything I have seen, heard, or read in this long and tortured debate. Democrats have a very simple task--but a clear moral obligation--in front of them: pass this bill. Do it now.

This is the right way to think of the Republican Party

But there is a kind of logic to the current Republican position: in effect, the party is doubling down on starve-the-beast. Depriving the government of revenue, it turns out, wasn’t enough to push politicians into dismantling the welfare state. So now the de facto strategy is to oppose any responsible action until we are in the midst of a fiscal catastrophe. You read it here first.

via www.nytimes.com

Yes, the Republicans want to bankrupt the country. That is the only realistic conclusion to draw from their utterly irresponsible actions since they were taken over by the Reaganites.

Paul Krugman lays it out all very clearly. The logic is pretty simple: force a financial catastrophe of such colossal proportions (and hope the Democrats are in power when this happens), and we'll take over and dismantle everything the way we long envisioned.

We'll be partying like it's 1937 all over again.

How dumb are people? Maybe some can't count, but maybe pollsters make them sound dumb

CBS has a poll out that shows two interesting things. First, most people don't think they got a tax cut last year. Second, most of them think that President Obama's stimulus package passed last year caused more harm than good.

This is a pretty remarkable poll, and I suppose one could criticize the Obama team for not getting out there and making more noise about the bill they passed.

But just how dumb are people?

The truth is out: GOP wants to save Medicare so they can kill it

The bottom line, then, is that the crusade against health reform has relied, crucially, on utter hypocrisy: Republicans who hate Medicare, tried to slash Medicare in the past, and still aim to dismantle the program over time, have been scoring political points by denouncing proposals for modest cost savings — savings that are substantially smaller than the spending cuts buried in their own proposals.

via www.nytimes.com

I heard Paul Ryan, the GOP genius behind the party's latest effort to destroy Medicare, the other night on NPR.

He tries to pass the voucher plan for Medicare off like they're giving people "choice" to find the best plans. What idiocy. They simply want to isolate this program and drive it into the ground.

Thank goodness someone like Krugman is out there to speak out against this idiocy.

Seriously, she boggles the mind

Washington Monthly's Steve Benen provided a verbatim transcript of the inspirational part of Palin's answer: "I think, kind of tougher to, um, put our arms around, but allowing America's spirit to rise again by not being afraid to kind of go back to some of our roots as a God-fearing nation where we're not afraid to say, especially in times of potential trouble in the future here, where we're not afraid to say, you know, we don't have all the answers as fallible men and women so it would be wise of us to start seeking some divine intervention again in this country, so that we can be safe and secure and prosperous again. To have people involved in government who aren't afraid of what the media said about them if they were to proclaim their alliance on our creator."

Translation: Our God is red-hot, your God ain't diddly-squat.

via www.salon.com

Ah, Sarah Palin!

Such eloquence. She makes me nostalgic for a president with these kinds of rhetorical skills. Remember Bush 43? Why do we have to wait three more years before she can be leading us?

It's said that the "liberal" media is out to get her. Actually, the "liberal" media lets this drivel pass as legitimate, because they take this nitwit seriously.

Idiocracy is just around the corner.