March 22, 2010
— DrewM Hi, itÂ’s me Drew.
Yeah, I know we havenÂ’t always gotten along. IÂ’ve said some nasty stuff about you, refused to return your calls and thrown your letters in the trash without even reading them. And letÂ’s be honest, you had it coming, what with all the times youÂ…no. This isnÂ’t about the past. We donÂ’t need to rehash all the problems we have with each other. We have bigger problems than those and a common enemy.
In an effort to get our new relationship off on the right foot, let me just say you guys (especially in the House) were magnificent in fighting health care. No seriously. I thought the ‘summit’ was going to be a trap like the one the Emperor laid for the rebels above Endor but you sniffed it out like Lando Calrissian and Admiral Ackbar. Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Tom Coburn, hell even Lamar! Alexander were magnificent in calling Obama out on his bullshit.
Mitch McConnell even kept the Maine sisters and George Voinivich on board. ThatÂ’s a manÂ’s day work right there by anyone's accounting.
Now, you didnÂ’t have the numbers in the end to stop it, of course if you hadnÂ’t fucked things up for the 8 years itÂ…no, I said itÂ’s a new day so we wonÂ’t go there. As I was saying, you didnÂ’t have the numbers but you won the argument.
I donÂ’t expect you guys to stop being politicians. Even the founders were politicians who fought some nasty battles within their own group and could be as mean and petty as any generation of politicians. But I need, America needs you to step up here. You need to be statesmen on a mission as much as you can. Something bad happened last night and I think you know it. There werenÂ’t the usual stupid politician tricks, you guys looked scared. And youÂ’re not scared for your political lives, none of you is in any trouble (other than maybe Sen. Burr from N.C.) , I think a lot of you were flat out scared for your country. ThatÂ’s good, thatÂ’s a start. It focuses the mind.
You need to be the party of No for the next 6 months on just about every issue. The only issue (other than national security) that matters is repealing this monstrosity. I donÂ’t know if it can be done but it has to be tried.
Please donÂ’t let Obama drag you into a pissing match over the small stuff. If he has another idiotic jobs bill, just let it go. Vote no but donÂ’t fight about it, reframe the fight in terms of health care. Reframe everything in terms of health careÂ…immigration, taxes, Cap and Trade, whatever other crap they throw at you. It all comes down to health care and the fundamental shift in the relationship between the government and the people. I know the presidency is a hard institution to fight with and Obama just makes shit up but youÂ’ve got to try and keep the focus on the health care bill. More and more details will come out and that will help you.
But it’s bigger than legislation and even politics. You guys are going to be asked to do something you’re not necessarily equipped to do…speak philosophically about what it means to be an American. You are going to have to tell people something politicians don’t like to have say…no. No, Americans can’t have everything and not pay for it. No, they can’t have ‘free’ health care forever. No, you can’t expect the government to do the basic things that free adults should and must do for themselves.
You also need to tell people what that will give themÂ…freedom. Freedom to do the best they can. Freedom to chart the course of their own lives and freedom to live in peace without an army of pushy bureaucrats treating them like children.
I know that kind of freedom scares some people but you need to sell it to them. Remind them how it’s their birthright and how even if they want lots of ‘stuff’ given to them, it’s got to come from somewhere. Freedom and free enterprise are the greatest wealth generators known to mankind, without them there’s nothing else.
You need to remind people of Margret Thatcher’s famous statement that “the problem with socialism is eventually you run out of other people’s money”. Well, we’re out and China will be soon. When Obama and the Democrats say “We’re the richest nation on Earth, surely we can afford to….” You need to remind people we aren’t the richest nation any more. Sure we’ve got assets but they are in hock.
We can be the richest, freest, most prosperous nation again but only if we free the great engines of prosperity from the shackles of statism. Once we do that, we can go back to the old fights about dividing it up but right now we are talking about dividing up the assets of a dying concern and in the process speeding up its demise. ItÂ’s insanity.
I know this is hard for you. I know it’s dangerous. People may say they want less spending and smaller government but they don’t vote that way. Well, maybe that’s because they don’t always have a choice (again, we’re not going to go there). Too often people telling these truths are seen as kooks, fringe nuts and they kind of are, at least numerically. You need to speak together and make it clear that there are a lot of us. There’s a safety in numbers. Make it safe for people to stand up for freedom. Make it safe for people to say, ‘no, I don’t want the government to do this for me’. Make it safe for people to be Americans.
HereÂ’s the sad part, even if you do this or come up with something even betterÂ…it still may not work. We may have lost too much ground, too many basic assumptions about liberty and personal responsibility. YouÂ’re message may fall on deaf ears. It doesnÂ’t matter. You have to try. You know it.
To achieve greatness, you have to be willing to fail in total. ItÂ’s an immutable law of life. If you succeed, you may save America. If you fail, then at least you will have tried. Either is honorable. Where there is no honor is deciding to ride the wave of decline, picking up small scraps of a failing America to hand out for one more term in an ever declining D.C.
You got a peek of the future this last year and last night. I think it scared you. I hope it did.
Dare to be great, you might just wind up being great. And I might even read your letters again.
Posted by: DrewM at
07:42 AM
| Comments (216)
Post contains 1137 words, total size 6 kb.
Posted by: Y-not is grumpy at March 22, 2010 07:50 AM (Kn9r7)
Posted by: Andy Rand John ryan at March 22, 2010 07:51 AM (mhD2v)
2 Mallamutt -
Thanks for the poll numbers on Burr. I have been wondering why people have been saying he was in trouble and I couldn't find any info.
I find it hard to believe that any Democrat is going to win - but especially now. And Burr has been very conservative in his voting. Heck, I think he was in a top 10 list of most conservative senators.
Posted by: PAgirlinNC at March 22, 2010 07:52 AM (GNydv)
Posted by: Ultraviolet Lite at March 22, 2010 07:53 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Mallamutt at March 22, 2010 11:48 AM (V9SYy)
Violet's chili ring is sore!
Posted by: conscious, cut, and bleeding out at March 22, 2010 07:53 AM (Vu6sl)
Posted by: logprof at March 22, 2010 07:53 AM (Mmw0q)
If they frame it right (you can't have this because you spent it all on HCR) great.
If it comes to becomes like the gov't shutdown of the '90s, it's not going to be good. It's hard to win that kind of fight with the President because he's one voice and controls a lot of the narrative.
I'm not saying vote for shit, I'm just saying keep the focus where it belongs, on the big picture and big items. Now if it's shit like cap and trade or immigration...go to the mattresses.
Posted by: DrewM. at March 22, 2010 07:53 AM (9B5OK)
I wanted to believe that Obama was a good man. I wanted to believe that if the Dems won, then at the very least, we'd get a competent, moderate guy to be the first black president. I knew better after I'd learned a little about him, but I don't really fault McCain for saying that.
What I do fault McCain for is running to lose.
Posted by: Farmer Joe at March 22, 2010 07:53 AM (z4es9)
They're Democrats--they'll cheat. You don't think Al Franken really had the votes, do you?
Well said, Drew. I hope they read this.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 22, 2010 07:54 AM (eNxMU)
Posted by: Dan at March 22, 2010 07:54 AM (1jzSs)
(1) Lying to the electorate -- both Obama and the Stupakers campaigned as something they weren't. We need to establish that this is a mostly Democrat trait.
(2) Corruption -- this is easily the most corrupt piece of legislation in history.
(3) Fiscal irresponsibility -- debt, debt, debt (h/t Mallamutt)
(4) Unemployment -- they're creating a hostile work environment. They're hostile to work.
And one step to framing the philosophical debate is to stop calling it Obamacare. It's Health Control.
Posted by: AmishDude at March 22, 2010 07:54 AM (T0NGe)
Posted by: Sheila at March 22, 2010 07:55 AM (8OQiE)
Posted by: Glock and Load! at March 22, 2010 07:55 AM (adM1a)
Yeah, but you and I didn't sit with him in the Senate.
There's no way in god's green earth that anyone who spent more than a few hours with this guy in Congress wouldn't know he's a US-hating leftist.
Posted by: Y-not is grumpy at March 22, 2010 07:56 AM (Kn9r7)
Posted by: PAgirlinNC at March 22, 2010 11:52 AM (GNydv)
Not when it counted. He's another Stupaker.
Posted by: AmishDude at March 22, 2010 07:56 AM (T0NGe)
It's a lovely day in SoCal and - so far - they haven't found a way to tax that! Off to do some errands.
Posted by: Y-not loves you guys at March 22, 2010 07:57 AM (Kn9r7)
Don't get me started on those retarded fuck-sticks.
Posted by: Dang at March 22, 2010 07:58 AM (UA4gE)
We have to keep this intensity up through Nov. 2012 and beyond.
http://tinyurl.com/ye5pepn
Posted by: The Hammer at March 22, 2010 07:58 AM (YBTwf)
Posted by: Great rightwing slogans at March 22, 2010 11:55 AM (vsoRI)
Health care is going down already, troll. Say hello to your Pakistani-trained doctor -- if you're lucky enough to see him. We need to repeal fascist Health Control!
Posted by: AmishDude at March 22, 2010 07:58 AM (T0NGe)
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 07:59 AM (QrA9E)
Saddle up, brothers.
Posted by: Great rightwing slogans at March 22, 2010 11:57 AM (vsoRI)
I'm against slave wages, how about you Mr. Liberal compassion?
Posted by: AmishDude at March 22, 2010 08:00 AM (T0NGe)
I appreciated this, Drew. A lot. Maybe they won't do it, but I for one plan on sending your letter along to my own representative (with credit given, of course).
We're all demoralized this morning. We're all scared. I know of no one that's not freaking out over this.
But we can keep fighting. As a famous man once said, "A Republic. . . if you can keep it." It's time to fight. Honor will only be lost if there's no fight.
Geez, now I want to stand up and sing The Star-Spangled Banner.
Don't let Democrat-style cynicism take you down. There's plenty of time for bitter snarking, but we need to stay focused. This is not yet the law of the land. And when it it, there is no law that cannot be undone. If enough of us refuse, it cannot stand. And when we're all in jail, they'll have to give us free healthcare!
Posted by: Biblio at March 22, 2010 08:00 AM (y5VNb)
Posted by: Great Leftwing Slogans at March 22, 2010 08:01 AM (T0NGe)
Posted by: AtlasMugged at March 22, 2010 08:01 AM (PbkDy)
Fight.
Look, I know we've had our problems in the past, what with you supporting "Progressive Republicans" who can't win elections and result only in electing Democrats.
All too often, you take on the voice of your opponents. For example, only yesterday you were saying you wanted to "defeat health care." Nobody wanted to defeat health care, but by taking on the speech patterns and slogans that your opponents create, you fell into their trap of portraying Republicans as evil health care withholders.
* You say you want to cut Social Security instead of strengthen it.
* You say you want to cut Medicare, instead of strengthen it.
* You say you want to cut government instead of make it efficient.
In every way, you've adopted the language that your opponent has chosen ... his framing of the debate in his terms. You've accepted his narrative.
So, you lose elections.
And, you lose legislative fights.
You help enshackle us.
Because you won't smarten up.
Because you support candidates like Mitt Romney, who paved the way for ObamaCare by signing into law virtually the exact same type of health care system while he was Governor of Massachusetts - bankrupting the state before he abandoned it.
You rip on Sarah Palin and other conservative candidates because they don't have the polish you deem them to require; and foist on us candidates such as John McCain who have attached their names to laws stripping Americans of their First Amendment right of free speech and association. These are people you know we can't turn out for. People you know we cannot donate to.
And yet, you persist in presenting these as our only viable candidates. The only serious choices. Losers all.
Well, they're not viable. They reach across the aisle to work with Democrats to enact Democrat legislation instead of fighting to the death for the principals that founded the Republican Party.
Just watch ... shortly Lindsey Graham, a Republican scion, will reach across the aisle to work with Democrats to enact their Gitmo legislation. He'll reach across the aisle to work with Democrats to enact their amnesty legislation.
Will you call for his ouster from the Party? Will you demand that no Republican donations go to Lindsay Graham?
Ace, look guy it's been fun. The Anka bit is still funny. Work that side of the street more and you may even be able to continue to make a living blogging.
But you've made a lot of rookie political mistakes recently. It's time for you to look in the mirror and admit that you are part of the problem. That you have to change. That you've been in denial. That you've helped do real damage to your country.
It's time for you to become a Conservative and help rid your party of those who would reach across the aisle and in a bi-partisan fashion enact Democrat Party legislation.
You know who these people are. I don't have to spell it out for you.
You know what to do.
Do the right thing.
Posted by: someguy at March 22, 2010 08:01 AM (VRJIW)
Yeah, but you and I didn't sit with him in the Senate.
There's no way in god's green earth that anyone who spent more than a few hours with this guy in Congress wouldn't know he's a US-hating leftist.
But I get the impression that Barry wasn't there much, and when he was he showed up late and such (probably left early too--you know to shoot some hoops, catch a show or work on his bracket). The dude's not used to working--I think that's why we were seeing all those "Obama's depressed" stories a couple weeks ago.
Posted by: runningrn at March 22, 2010 08:02 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:02 AM (tcMQZ)
Health care is going down already, troll. Say hello to your Pakistani-trained doctor -- if you're lucky enough to see him. We need to repeal fascist Health Control!
Posted by: AmishDude at March 22, 2010 11:58 AM (T0NGe)
If you like your Pakistani Doctor, you can keep your Pakistani Doctor.
Posted by: Barry Hussein Obama - The Fucking HealthCare King at March 22, 2010 08:02 AM (Vu6sl)
That's why it's so hard to fight a President. He's one guy who by definition is good a keeping cool. There are over 200 congressional Republicans and not all are ready for prime time but only one of them has to say something dumb and all of them get killed.
The difference between now and 95-96 is the economy. It was hard to sell fiscal responsibility in that climate. It's a lot easier now.
Posted by: DrewM. at March 22, 2010 08:03 AM (9B5OK)
BS...the commie vampire Democrats voted to steal our earnings and our private healthcare. Moochers and looters all.
Andy Rand must be collecting his loot.
You and your ilk should be/will be hung by the neck until dead....like the common horse thieves your are.
Posted by: pam at March 22, 2010 08:03 AM (h8R9p)
Hi, itÂ’s me Drew.
Drew, this cracked me up. It reminded me of when people start praying to God after a "little hiatus" from talking to him, and when they're really desperate.
Posted by: runningrn at March 22, 2010 08:03 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:04 AM (tcMQZ)
The GOP is about to get a lesson in the real nature of the electorate. Like the Brits and Canadians, a consistent majority will prefer the certainty of "free" poor government care rather than the tumult of the marketplace. The only really unpopular part of Obamacare is the taxes. Convert it to debt and the Dems would surf a popular wave to victory in Nov.
Posted by: deadman at March 22, 2010 08:04 AM (dvEtf)
I know it will be tough - no one outside the conservative blogosphere has actually held Obama to one of his pie-in-the-sky promises. Lord knows the media won't - but you should.
Posted by: Blogluddite at March 22, 2010 08:04 AM (fDWFP)
Anyone who is considering an elective surgery of any sort better get it done before this piece of crap goes into effect or you may not get it at all.
Posted by: Land of Leakin, Three guns, 1800 rounds of ammo and counting at March 22, 2010 08:05 AM (AMYl0)
Posted by: Salem at March 22, 2010 08:05 AM (86rbG)
From the Corner:
...shame on the New York Times for comparing those who protested the DemocratsÂ’ health-care policy with the virulent southern racists who participated in violent and often deadly protests against civil-rights demonstrators. Give us a break.
The LeftÂ’s plan for November is to promote exactly this kind of thinking, shaming opponents into staying at home rather than going to the polls to vote the bums out, while fooling proponents that opposition is nothing more than the most atavistic form of prejudice.
That's Ploy #1. Ploy #2 is "think of the children and don't be mean" which we saw earlier on the Headline thread. That wasn't a person, that was only a ploy.
Don't know how many more they'll come up with, but I don't care. What they think of us is not important. Actually, it's what they claim they think of us, isn't it?
Posted by: Mama AJ at March 22, 2010 08:06 AM (Be4xl)
Posted by: Great Leftwing Slogans at March 22, 2010 08:06 AM (Z+qzA)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:07 AM (tf9Ne)
After reading some namby-pamby "play by the rules" bullshit over at Tepid Air, I was hoping you (or one of the other Big Cheeses here) would realize one point made obvious last night:
As far as Papa Doc Obama, the Traitor-in-Chief and his cadre of America-haters are concerned, the "rules" are over. Dead. finito. They consider themselves the sole arbiters of what's good for our new USSA Constitution? Bill of Rights? Fuggeddaboutit.
Supporting the current crop of Repubs in office is not a valid solution. We have to somehow find, and support, real conservatives. Just voting "no" or voicing opposition to the Death Plan from the safety of a broadcast booth or web page ain't cutting it.
In short, we have to organize and use the same playbook as the friggin' traitors if we are to survive. Fight ugly, fight hard, but FIGHT! Start -- and push -- the drive to impeach the Chicago Jesus, start recall drives wherever legally possible, work in every legal way to kill the Beast.
If we can't do that, the only options will be taking to the streets or capitulating to our new Soviet masters.
Posted by: Ray-man at March 22, 2010 08:07 AM (0dfST)
Could you please tell us more about your island paradise? *sob*
Posted by: FUBAR at March 22, 2010 08:07 AM (1fanL)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:08 AM (tcMQZ)
Posted by: maddogg at March 22, 2010 08:09 AM (OlN4e)
Did you see that post I had about that Clinton episode earlier this morning from that "patriot's History of the U.S." that I finished last night?
It seems that there was a memo that showed that the shutdown was planned in advance before Newt had even came up with a budget. The idea was to cause a gov shutdown regardless of what was submitted and to get the press to help them blame it on the Repubs. .
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 08:10 AM (QrA9E)
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."
I remember reading that somewhere, once...
Posted by: Jess at March 22, 2010 08:10 AM (2RRSC)
Nevertheless, the House of Reps is in reach and this is good.
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at March 22, 2010 08:10 AM (ympF8)
Anyone who is considering an elective surgery of any sort better get it done before this piece of crap goes into effect or you may not get it at all.
With the 5% surtax on plastic surgery procedures, a lot of the Precedent's Hollywood supporters are going to be in a world of hurt. In the next 4 years, Celebutards will be stocking up on Botox and Restalyne like morons and value-rite. Aging Hollywood actresses hardest hit (especially in this age of high def and all). I will laugh my butt off when all these idiots get kicked to the curb for younger, prettier girls. Implants will be taxed for the procedure and for the silicone/saline filled sacs (medical device tax). I love unintended consequences.
Posted by: runningrn at March 22, 2010 08:11 AM (CfmlF)
Rush just compared Stupak to Neville Chamberlain. Perfect.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 22, 2010 08:11 AM (UOM48)
Posted by: Great left wing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:12 AM (4Kl5M)
Posted by: Land of Leakin, Three guns, 1800 rounds of ammo and counting at March 22, 2010 08:12 AM (AMYl0)
Hell, he had an ACU rating of 100 last year. You can't get much better than that.
Do you have some examples?
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 08:12 AM (QrA9E)
No, shit. Do you know how much I sweated getting those friggin' yachts she calls shoes stuffed into the closet before I could lock it up tight for 4 months?
Posted by: Mitch M. at March 22, 2010 08:12 AM (aVzyR)
Posted by: Ultra Violet Lite, Ellies Retarded Sister at March 22, 2010 08:13 AM (CfmlF)
We need the party to step up. But, we need to step up too.
Perfection isn't on the menu.
Crazy won't get it done.
We need to focus.
Fighting the corrupt liars in the democrat party is where we can all agree.
Posted by: Lemon Kitten at March 22, 2010 08:13 AM (0fzsA)
Hell, he had an ACU rating of 100 last year. You can't get much better than that.
Do you have some examples?
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 12:12 PM (QrA9E)
My bad. I was thinking of another Senator. My apologies.
Posted by: Great Leftwing Slogans at March 22, 2010 08:14 AM (T0NGe)
Posted by: Land of Leakin, Three guns, 1800 rounds of ammo and counting at March 22, 2010 08:14 AM (AMYl0)
Posted by: Salem at March 22, 2010 12:05 PM (86rbG)
These wounds I had on Crispin's Day...
Posted by: Lady Ga-Ga at March 22, 2010 08:16 AM (h22YH)
All the people who said that whiny little bitches were making a huge mistake by sitting home and acting like they were actually making a political statement worth anything in 2006 and 2008 have been fully vindicated. You assholes sat at home, you put on your holier-than-thou get-up, and we can thank you for the results. Great job.
Posted by: skwiself at March 22, 2010 08:16 AM (nohPf)
There's no way in god's green earth that anyone who spent more than a few hours with this guy in Congress wouldn't know he's a US-hating leftist.
Remember McCain's letter to Obama?
As I noted, I initially believed you shared that goal. But I understand how important the opportunity to lead your partyÂ’s effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman Senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isnÂ’t always a priority for every one of us. Good luck to you, Senator.
Posted by: Mama AJ at March 22, 2010 08:16 AM (Be4xl)
I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part........
We're just the guys to do it.
Posted by: Gerry Owen at March 22, 2010 08:17 AM (4Hy88)
ps. Repubs, I want to ask one more little thing in addition to all the above. I want you to smack down the professional race-baiters that keep lying about the values of conservatives. I want to see Congressman Lewis deposed under oath about his accusations. I want to see the videos his staff took subpoenaed and the Capital Police ask him to identify the moment the alleged slurring and spitting occured, with a view to identifying the culprit. I want to see the offical communications from the police concerning whether there was a suspect detained or not read into the record of the House. I was to see Rep. Lewis challenged to take a polygraph test.
Are you getting my drift here, Pubbies? I want you to see me as an offended and insulted party for a change, and I want to hear your balls clank as you go after these bastards in Congress and the media who are defaming me! When do I get some respect? If I don't start seeing some action on this, you know, I just may come to the conclusion that both sides of the House need to be fumigated this November, capice'??
Posted by: sherlock at March 22, 2010 08:17 AM (G9/8V)
Dear GOP;
My community is almost 90% Republican, yet we are stuck in the 53rd California congressional district that has been gerrymandered into a Dem +14 (Cook Partisan Voting Index). I am now stuck with a former social worker that graduated from Berkeley and has now held that district longer than any congressman since Truman. You allowed my vote to be stolen and left me disenfranchised. Why?
What makes you think you deserve anything from me now?
Jim in San Diego
Posted by: Jim in San Diego at March 22, 2010 08:17 AM (F09Uo)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:18 AM (tcMQZ)
Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 22, 2010 08:18 AM (UOM48)
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 08:18 AM (QrA9E)
I want the GOP to fillibuster *EVERYTHING*. No matter how petty or small. The dictator needs to learn that there's a price to pay for his arrogance, and if the GOP doesn't start making him pay, the people will rise.
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Posted by: Peter at March 22, 2010 08:19 AM (lAADn)
+1
Posted by: Filly at March 22, 2010 08:19 AM (onwJ3)
Now that's historic.
Posted by: Mal at March 22, 2010 08:19 AM (Z+qzA)
Posted by: Great Left-Wing Slogans at March 22, 2010 08:20 AM (RD7QR)
The mood at work this morning: people are PISSED. Even people who I had no idea felt that way. The non-PISSED people get PISSED when they are informed of the details. The co-worker from emigrated from the Soviet Union: PISSED.
FIGHT!
Posted by: IreneFingIrene at March 22, 2010 08:20 AM (MFQJZ)
I really like that. I'd add "and the stimulus bill."
Sorry, New York! We can't bail you out, we gave you all that money in the stimulus bill, and now we're tapped out. You should have used it for fixing bridges instead of cash-for-baby-mamas.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 22, 2010 08:21 AM (mR7mk)
When the Republicans openly acknowledge the Democrats resoundingly declared war on the citizenry this weekend, that's when I'll support the RNC with money. For now, it's individuals.
Posted by: Editor at March 22, 2010 08:21 AM (pUfK9)
Just heard on the radio that the police are looking for people who threw bricks through Dem party locations in Niagara Falls and Rochester. I believe the NF location was Louise Slaughter's office, but not sure about the Rochester location.
Any other local stories out there like this? I imagine the MSM will put a damper on these sorts of stories, so unless locals get the word out, no one will know.
Posted by: grognard at March 22, 2010 08:22 AM (v0kvW)
Posted by: dvdivx at March 22, 2010 08:22 AM (mE32g)
Posted by: Yakoc Smirnoff at March 22, 2010 08:22 AM (Z+qzA)
Posted by: incognito at March 22, 2010 08:22 AM (u6X4c)
Posted by: Filly at March 22, 2010 08:23 AM (onwJ3)
Posted by: Dan at March 22, 2010 08:24 AM (1jzSs)
Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 22, 2010 08:25 AM (UOM48)
Dear GOP:
Someday you'll have control again. Remember these tactics. Turnabout is fair play.
Fukkin-A. I want to see Botox's eyeballs bugging out as she takes the place of the chicken.
Posted by: maddogg at March 22, 2010 08:25 AM (OlN4e)
Hrm. I imagine the MSM will bleat on about how the tyrants are "innocent victims of evil violent teabaggers!" I'd prefer it happen like you imagine.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 22, 2010 08:26 AM (mR7mk)
Posted by: onlyme at March 22, 2010 08:26 AM (7g4LE)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:26 AM (tcMQZ)
acorn fully funded
free elections...ha ha
leader forever
help us be like the russians..they have figured ways around things...they are now a nation of thugs.
teach us how to become smarter than the govt.
Posted by: non_dhimmie at March 22, 2010 08:27 AM (zACGu)
Posted by: rawmuse at March 22, 2010 08:28 AM (NvDv2)
Posted by: HeatherRadish
at March 22, 2010 12:26 PM (mR7mk)
Well...not sure about that. First, I haven't heard either of these events "go national" yet. Maybe the story has been picked up, but at least one of these happened on Friday, as I remember hearing about the NF brick then. Why wouldn't the MSM take it national? Perhaps they've decided that "the teabaggers are unhinged!" isn't a message that's working for them anymore, and they are keeping it quiet to isolate people.
Posted by: grognard at March 22, 2010 08:29 AM (v0kvW)
Just heard on the radio that the police are looking for people who threw bricks through Dem party locations in Niagara Falls and Rochester. I believe the NF location was Louise Slaughter's office, but not sure about the Rochester location.
Any other local stories out there like this? I imagine the MSM will put a damper on these sorts of stories, so unless locals get the word out, no one will know.
The media will breathlessly cover it as unhinged, dangerous teabaggers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was acutally some DUer or Kos Kid who broke the windows--kind of like those nooses that appear in various strategic locations (like college campuses of black professors, etc.) I'm not going to assume it was a Tea Partier that broke this window. The Dems have already come out with their "racial/homophobic slurs" cast at the demonstration on Sat. They are trying to marginalize and destroy this movement because they had to expend way too much political capital to get this health care bill passed (which should have been a cakewalk with their pre-Scott Brown majorities).
Posted by: Ultra Violet Lite, Ellies Retarded Sister at March 22, 2010 08:29 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Jean at March 22, 2010 08:29 AM (7K04W)
I'm gonna finish my coffee then head to the driving range. I feel the need to hit something--HARD!
Posted by: Land of Leakin, Three guns, 1800 rounds of ammo and counting at March 22, 2010 08:29 AM (AMYl0)
Posted by: onlyme at March 22, 2010 08:30 AM (7g4LE)
As I sit here, I'm in a great deal of pain.
My right shoulder feels like there's a hot needle in it. I cannot raise my arm above my shoulder. I've lost about half the range of motion in my arm and everyday tasks such as showering are becoming increasingly difficult to do. I cannot sleep on my right side anymore. Sleep uninterrupted by pain is now a dream.
I'v been out of a job for over two years thanks to the manufacturing downturn. I've exhausted all of my savings. I have no insurance and no money to see a doctor. I've been to a clinic and was prescribed NSAIDs which my heart doctors nixed after 5 days due to the harm they caused my kidneys (verified by blood tests).
I may need surgery, as I fear something may have torn and be rubbing on a nerve.
I cannot afford it.
I do not know what to do.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy at March 22, 2010 08:30 AM (i3AsK)
I cannot write "Decline and fall" any longer. Declined and finally fell, 2010.
Then now what for you?
The natural state of humanity is serfdom. Bush et al were wrong - people don't strive for freedom, they strive for security. The Founders were aberrations.
Yet again - Half right.
The founders were not aberrations. The founders were 10-30% (at most, at peak) who really didn't give a shit what the others wanted of what they weren't entitled - by God or by Nature - to have. Consent alone validating government to do whatever it pleased was regarded by them as the tyranny of the mob.
There is an objective reality in which there are objective truths. Consensus does not make reality.
10-30% of the population, if active enough, can easily control the whole of it. It almost always does. Ruling classes were never the largest by number.
The left of today need not have majorities to ultimately win, if they pursue what they want without concern for whether or not consensus supports them.
Posted by: Entropy at March 22, 2010 08:30 AM (IsLT6)
Posted by: Great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 12:02 PM (tcMQZ)
And by aspirin, you actually mean cyanide, Herr Pelosi?
Posted by: Crowsting at March 22, 2010 08:31 AM (61BD9)
Posted by: doug at March 22, 2010 08:32 AM (dxxkS)
Posted by: BackwardsBoy at March 22, 2010 12:30 PM (i3AsK)
Sorry to hear of your troubles. It could be your rotator cuff.
Posted by: runningrn at March 22, 2010 08:33 AM (CfmlF)
If a person is a Democrat, from here on out he/she is dead to me. No conversation, no help, no business, nothing. Screw them all, the thieving, lying, racist bastards. If very many people are as angry as I am, we're not far off from civil war.
Posted by: mac at March 22, 2010 08:34 AM (CzB/V)
Take Medical Savings Accounts. If, and yes - big if, people had piles of money in existing MSAs, they'd be doing a lot more shopping around. Not for everything (duh), you need help for a heart attack -> you need it now. But the vast majority of service is fundamentally elective in how quickly one needs it, and competition in related aspects would still reduce even the cost of 'non-elective' care.
So (1): Let's at least set the freaking things up, even if they're empty. (2) Set up a framework where you can get your own damn money into it. (3) I don't even mind a tiny bit of free-government-cheese in this particular trap.
What if you put a 5% mandate on every single insurance company: "Thou shalt return 5% of every premium into a tax free account." That's going to obviously mean an immediate 5%(ish) increase in insurance premiums... but after just one year 75% of people will have enough money in the account to move up to a higher deductible level! That, in turn, means they pay less in premiums - and probably means they actually pay less in the second year than they did in the year before this plan was enacted. (Even going from $0 deductible to $100 deductibles is a sizable improvement for lots of things.)
There are also ways to approach assistance for the bottom quintile and any other group. Picture your account with two separate numbers - a deposit-only number (think just a unique name), and a completely separate withdrawal arrangement (I picture a credit card with big freaking "Medical Only" on it... and the first four digits as being unique to this card. Auto-blocked at grocery stores, etc.) A pin sounds good too.
Regardless: Private John Doe's 'deposit' number is something that can -not- be used to deduct money. Just like knowing his name allows you to write a check to him - but doesn't allow you to withdraw a damn thing. But there are duplicate names - so we need unique numbers instead.
But John's a veteran - and one of the many organizations for helping vets gets his number and publishes it "Vets who could use help." The NAACP would be doing something mechanically similar with less valid reasoning. You could have a field on the 1040EZ "My total assets are less than $500,000, my deposit number is 123321" filter that through to limit it to the bottom quintile in income as well -> you have an instant pile of screened numbers for charitable donations. And the assurance that it will be medical spending.
Regardless, if you have 'deposit numbers' you can at least start down this path. And it doesn't fundamentally cost the government anything. Not a happy thing for insurance companies in the short or long term, but they rolled over and played dead through this entire fight anyway - and - the only real danger is if everyone ends up completely self-insured. Mighty unlikely.
Posted by: Al at March 22, 2010 08:34 AM (0lyUI)
Posted by: tdpwells at March 22, 2010 08:35 AM (Ei3oZ)
Posted by: doug at March 22, 2010 12:32 PM (dxxkS)
Hey doug, how does satan's cock taste?
Posted by: Editor at March 22, 2010 08:36 AM (pUfK9)
Posted by: great leftwing slogans at March 22, 2010 08:38 AM (J3CA3)
Posted by: Pelvis at March 22, 2010 08:39 AM (LlaBi)
I do not know what to do.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy at March 22, 2010 12:30 PM (i3AsK)
I'm sorry BWB. Can you go to an ER...not a clinic...a real ER? What state/area are you in? Maybe another moron knows a doc in your area that would be able to help you.
Posted by: Tami at March 22, 2010 08:40 AM (VuLos)
I wouldn't be surprised if it was acutally some DUer or Kos Kid who broke the windows--kind of like those nooses that appear in various strategic locations (like college campuses of black professors, etc.) I'm not going to assume it was a Tea Partier that broke this window.
Would it be so terrible if it was a Tea Partier?
What congress has done to us does NOT warrant a broken window pane?
Posted by: Entropy at March 22, 2010 08:43 AM (IsLT6)
Posted by: cowsmoke at March 22, 2010 08:44 AM (2vicX)
Thanks, y'all. I'm down here in Orlando. The ER may be my only resort. Not that they'll look forward to treating me, I still have a large stack of bills from my heart attack that I'm inable to pay. My point, aside from whining, is now that we're the proud recipients of government largesse, who do I see to get treated, now. Not in four years, now.
But if this doesn't get any better, I may have no choice.
On the bright side, if I could find a doctor that really likes a clean car and wants to work something out, well...
Posted by: BackwardsBoy at March 22, 2010 08:46 AM (i3AsK)
Posted by: Singlwe-named concern troll at March 22, 2010 08:47 AM (YmPwQ)
Posted by: Olliander at March 22, 2010 08:48 AM (6uiF7)
Posted by: Single-named concern troll at March 22, 2010 08:52 AM (YmPwQ)
My right shoulder feels like there's a hot needle in it. I cannot raise my arm above my shoulder. I've lost about half the range of motion in my arm and everyday tasks such as showering are becoming increasingly difficult to do.
Sorry to hear. I have troubles with both shoulders. Yoga and other soft gentle stretching help greatly. Not immediately, but after at least a few days.
If you can get it to stop hurting bunches, make sure you keep moving it in different directions.
Might be related to how/on what you are sleeping.
But--read about bursitis and other stuff before stretching. Usually I need to stretch more, but sometimes the answer is not moving it and icing it a ton.
If you have a chunk of calcuim in there, it's painful, but easily treated with a shot, at worse.
Disclaimer about me not knowing much of anything, just sharing my experiences.
Posted by: Mama AJ at March 22, 2010 08:53 AM (Be4xl)
I'm not going to assume it was a Tea Partier that broke this window.
The brick had a note attached, which read “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice,” credited to Barry Goldwater, said Democratic Committee spokesman Sean Hart.
Seems doubtful it wasn't.
Posted by: Entropy at March 22, 2010 08:54 AM (IsLT6)
Posted by: Single-named concern troll at March 22, 2010 08:55 AM (YmPwQ)
Drew,
I would modify the following sentence like so:
"You guys are going to be asked to do something youÂ’re not necessarily equipped to do...stand up and act like an American."
Posted by: SFC MAC at March 22, 2010 09:00 AM (RPkOk)
and strangely, that's the astroturf theme of the day. Is he part of this LGF Andrew Sullivan fake GOP thing? Seems obvious that he is.
If the GOP hadn't fought so hard, the people wouldn't be against this bill, it would have passed a year ago, and if would be much worse than it already is. The GOP simply didn't have the numbers to do better, but came damn close and had a lot of dems join in.
Sorry, Frum, this isn't what Waterloo looks like. The is the GOP's Alamo, if anything. We were outnumbered, and outgunned, and had every disadvantage, and we lost, however we lost a much more narrow loss than the odds provided.
We have nothing to be ashamed of, and I'm damn proud to be a republican. I see no way Frum's POV makes any sense for conservatives. Sure, if you're a beltway republican, you just lost big on some sweet backroom payola. That's the only downside to fighting injustice, you dumbass, Frum.
Posted by: throwaway handle at March 22, 2010 09:01 AM (dUOK+)
Thanks, Mama AJ. I'd stretch if I could manage the pain, but beyond a certain point, I hurt so much I'm almost in tears. So much for being Mr. Tough Guy...
I thought it was unusual that the D.O. at the clinic didn't examine or even touch my shoulder, didn't discuss any treatment options, she seeemed more concerned that I was trying to score cheap painkillers. Thanks, but if that's all I wanted, I wouldn't have called her. I know people who know people, IYKWIM.
Agains, thanks everyone. If anyone knows a doctor in the Orlando or Central Florida area that might be of assistance, let me know.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy at March 22, 2010 09:01 AM (i3AsK)
Posted by: alexthechick at March 22, 2010 09:01 AM (8WZWv)
Posted by: Bugler at March 22, 2010 09:02 AM (YCVBL)
While those fucks over at Daily Kooks are talking about their "win" (oh never mind that most of them were bitching and moaning 2 weeks ago that this wasn't liberal enough) and talking about how Obama now has momentum, I say fuck 'em. I say that have woken up voters of a conservative mindset. This is day 1. We start here.
And momentum? Where's your 60th vote jokers? You got jack. And you will not get jack done until election day. Try immigration reform.. just try it.. pleeease.. I beg you..
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at March 22, 2010 09:04 AM (f9c2L)
whether a few Tea partiers threw bricks, or it was just democrats pretending (again), I think it's remarkable how well behaved such a huge and passionate group is over such a horrible bill passing.
3 windows? Democrats burned down the governor's mansion in Texas, and tried to blow up the GOP convention in 2008. A democrat communist flew a plane into an IRS building. Obama's best friend/babysitter tried to blow up US Soldiers.
Crazy people exist on all sides and corners, but I just haven't seen the crazies on the right yet. Broken windows hardly qualifies. Even if a few crazy right wingers get violent (and they shouldn't so long as we have the vote), I won't see that as anything but the normal noise of our system now.
Posted by: throwaway handle at March 22, 2010 09:05 AM (dUOK+)
I'd like to believe that the R's will fight back but after they recently left Bunning twist on his own for calling the Dems for ignoring their own recently passed Paygo , I think we are royally scerwed.
Posted by: Schwalbe at March 22, 2010 09:05 AM (UU0OF)
I wouldn't stretch. If you have a tear in there or impingement syndrome, you'll be doing more harm than good.
Repost your original post here on the current thread. Maybe a moron there that's in your area.
Posted by: Tami at March 22, 2010 09:08 AM (VuLos)
The DEA is cracking down on docs who write "unnecessary" scripts for abusers. At my dad's last job, every other new patient who came in with some sort of pain was on a list the local docs circulated of known drug-seekers.
It's a damn shame you can't get an appointment with someone who has seen you before and knows your history.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 22, 2010 09:10 AM (mR7mk)
The DEA is cracking down on docs who write "unnecessary" scripts for abusers.
Posted by: HeatherRadish at March 22, 2010 01:10 PM (mR7mk)
Don't you love it when the government gets involved with your health-care decisions?
Posted by: fozzy at March 22, 2010 09:38 AM (ccEuN)
I hope we never forget that a "liberal" Republican is always better than a "conservative" Democrat. Hopefully conservatives will get more engaged and fewer and fewer races will come down to this choice, but we must make the right choice if it does.
I hope we never forget that we will be the ones schooled if we "sit out" an election to teach someone a lesson.
Conservatives who were mad about the spending, which looks positively thrifty now, and decided to sit out need to reflect on the stupidity of that decision and what it has cost us not just in dollars.
Posted by: LorB at March 22, 2010 09:54 AM (PEp+h)
@148 Backwards Boy:
My brother is in a similar situation–unemployed, no insurance. He was able to get hernia surgery at very little cost through a local physician-led organization that provides low-cost medical care for people in need and without resources. We are in Tenn. Here it’s called KAPA. I did a brief search for something similar in your area. Found PLAN in Collier County, but nothing so far in Orange Co. With some research, you may be able to find something that serves your county and for which you may qualify.
Sorry I couldnÂ’t come up with a specific for you; I was reading these posts during lunch break and am out of time. Just an idea, but maybe worth a try. Best wishes.
Posted by: EyeTest at March 22, 2010 10:07 AM (ip+1t)
Posted by: RM at March 22, 2010 10:07 AM (GkYyh)
Posted by: T at March 22, 2010 10:13 AM (z9Awt)
BTW Drew, good post.
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Posted by: Bugler at March 22, 2010 11:02 AM (YCVBL)
Posted by: ktgreat at March 22, 2010 11:04 AM (16W5C)
Posted by: evil libertarian at March 22, 2010 11:45 AM (hZOPt)
GOP - foh a small fee, I'd offuh y'all the followin' advice (plus it butters up the wife foah sum nookie later):
It's the 'conomy, stupid !
ObamaCare = wreckin' the 'conomy. Amnesty = wreckin' the 'conomy. Cap and Trade = supuh-dupuh wreckin' the 'conomy.
Now go vote GOP - they'll fix that 'conomy AND cut yoah taxes ! Yee-hah !
Problem solved. Now wheah's mah money ?
Posted by: Jim Carville at March 22, 2010 12:15 PM (rPDD/)
Been a lot of Reischtag fires lately hasn't there? ...I'm just saying.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at March 22, 2010 12:25 PM (P0eLC)
Dear DrewM:
Thank you for your letter of March 22, 2010. As you know, the issue of Health Care Reform is a critical matter to us, as it is to all Americans. Please know that we in the Republican Party are fully committed to ensuring fair and equitable reforms for everyone in our great nation. Can we count on your support during this important time? A donation of $25, $50, $100, or more will help us guarantee that Americans get the health care that they deserve.
Please note that we will not be expending any political capital in this fight. We are holding it in reserve for truly important issues. By the way, have you filled out the contribution form enclosed herewith? If you use our new DirectBleed option. you can set up a monthly gift on $25, $50, $100, or more directly from your bank account.
We can haz munny naow?
Love,
The GOP.
Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at March 22, 2010 12:26 PM (kmEfr)
Posted by: MittRomneyCylon at March 22, 2010 01:55 PM (oLRg0)
The GOP!!!.... I can't stop laughing..... kinda sad when when registered independents make up your largest base of support.
I've said it a hundred times before... the fish rot's from the head.... Dump Steele
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Drew, the Repubs said that if the Dems used cram-down and the nuclear option on this health-care they would lock up all other business in congress for the rest of the year.
I want to see them do that!
Posted by: Vic at March 22, 2010 07:50 AM (QrA9E)