Ace of Spades HQ

March 29, 2014

Maryland Gives Up On Its Failed $125 Million Dollar Health Care Exchange; Will Implement Connecticut's System
— Ace

I assume Connecticut will want money for that, but who knows. I guess Democrats have a political incentive to share here.

Maryland officials are set to replace the stateÂ’s online health-insurance exchange with technology from ConnecticutÂ’s insurance marketplace, according to two people familiar with the decision, an acknowledgment that a system that has cost at least $125.5 million is broken beyond repair.
The board of the Maryland exchange plans to vote on the change Tuesday, the day after the end of the first enrollment period for the stateÂ’s residents under the 2010 Affordable Care Act.
...
Maryland is not alone in having deep-seated problems with its health marketplace. Technical issues also have plagued Oregon, Minnesota and Hawaii. But Maryland will be the first to walk away from its site, a particular embarrassment for Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who was placed in charged of implementing health-care reform in Maryland by Gov. Martin OÂ’Malley (D).
It was not immediately clear how much more money Maryland may have to invest to get a fully functioning system, according to the two individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the changes.

Stuff Democrats buy never "costs" anything. The War in Iraq "cost" a great deal of money.

But in the media's telling, Democratic expenditures are usually "investments."

phreshone worked out the math:

MD spent $125 million in an effort to enroll 150,000 people. Essentially $1000/person projected transaction cost (actual is running $2500, and cost will expand as the system will be replaced with a copy of CT's before the next enrollment period.

Maryland invested $1000 per sign-up.

What are you, against investing in our own people?

Posted by: Ace at 11:12 AM | Comments (257)
Post contains 313 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Buying votes isn't an investment?

Posted by: Aviator at March 29, 2014 11:14 AM (3rrMW)

2 Oh, first it seems.

Posted by: Aviator at March 29, 2014 11:14 AM (3rrMW)

3 But Maryland will be the first to walk away from its site, a particular embarrassment for Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D)

...so he just Gorelicked himself into a lucrative federal appointment. I'm in the wrong industry.

Posted by: HR at March 29, 2014 11:15 AM (hO8IJ)

4 https://vine.co/v/MOE6i620ETT Seemed apropos. Victory slap.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:15 AM (IXrOn)

5 Ace, you know it's a Saturday?

Posted by: garrett at March 29, 2014 11:16 AM (JdXg+)

6 ?akula51?
Probably NDF'd to silence.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 29, 2014 11:17 AM (DL2i+)

7 It didn't "cost" MD anything. It cost the taxpayers plenty. But hey.... it's only money. The politicians continue to treat us like the serfs we are at their peril. Something has got to give sooner or later. I am betting it gets ugly on the "sooner" side.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 11:18 AM (jucos)

8 I need to get me one of these government-contract programming jobs.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 29, 2014 11:18 AM (JFr1A)

9 Ace, you know it's a Saturday? Posted by: garrett at March 29, 2014 03:16 PM (JdXg+) With a ton of good soccer on. On this rainy day that keeps us inside...

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:19 AM (IXrOn)

10 Along the same lines of invest vs. cost, when there is talk of a tax cut, it's always portrayed as a cost to the govt. A $500B tax cut always "costs" the govt $500B, as if the govt owns this money and those thieving Republicans are trying to take it away from the rightful owner.

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 29, 2014 11:19 AM (0LHZx)

11 Love you Ace. Its Saturday. Go have a break or fun or pie

Posted by: thunderb at March 29, 2014 11:20 AM (zOTsN)

12 It's just amazing that this one-man clown car of dumbassery has continued for going on 10 years now. At this point all mockery, satire and parody have been used up, so we're left with: stupid humans.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:20 AM (x3YFz)

13 Anthony Brown is going to be the next governor of this shithole state. I would really like to flee but cannot.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 11:21 AM (jucos)

14 I'd laugh, but, you know, that whole "financial ruin" thing.

Posted by: BCochran1981 - Credible Hulk at March 29, 2014 11:21 AM (GEICT)

15 Hmmm. Portable care. Across state lines. Where have I heard that before?

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:21 AM (IXrOn)

16 The local weatherbabe who's on instead of golf? Yup, I'd hit it.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at March 29, 2014 11:21 AM (0HooB)

17 Even the Slow Newsday Gorn doesn't check in on Saturdays.

Posted by: garrett at March 29, 2014 11:21 AM (JdXg+)

18
Because somehow not enough "health care investments" in "data-driven technology" had stuck to the right sticky fingers in MD yet.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 29, 2014 11:22 AM (DL2i+)

19 Go out for pie

Posted by: thunderb at March 29, 2014 11:23 AM (zOTsN)

20 We'll have more flexibility when we win again works within the US borders as well.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:23 AM (IXrOn)

21 Feelings. Nothing more than feeeeeeeeelings.

Posted by: DM at March 29, 2014 11:23 AM (SMP3h)

Who cares how much we spend.....it doesn't impact you. We just have to raise taxes on the rich.

Which now is apperantly defined as anyone making more than minimum wage. Until we raise the minimum wage.

Posted by: Mallamutt, Lifelong Republican, First Time Obamacare Man at March 29, 2014 11:23 AM (o4MMe)

23 It would be so entertaining if some enterprising individual tracked the contracting process used in Maryland, Oregon, Minnesota and Hawaii to include consultants, specifications, performance criteria and previous experience requirements, penalty clauses, party affiliations of government officials involved, party donations of companies that got contracts, government and corporate linkages and family ties, but obviously this software stuff is a wee bit harder than the TOP.MEN thought it would be so let's just move along because there is absoutely nothing to see here!

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 11:25 AM (o3MSL)

24 $125 million pissed away? Is that all? Any more that's tip money to these fcuks.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 11:25 AM (ojnk6)

25 We can design a goat simulator but not a simple web site where you can buy insurance?

Posted by: Mallamutt, Lifelong Republican, First Time Obamacare Man at March 29, 2014 11:26 AM (o4MMe)

26 but obviously this software stuff is a wee bit harder than the TOP.MEN thought it would be so let's just move along because there is absoutely nothing to see here! Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 03:25 PM (o3MSL) It's only because Obama does not have time to do it himself.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:26 AM (IXrOn)

27 Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 03:21 PM (IXrOn)

"Catastrophic care insurance" is just too fundamentally simple to ever be practical in real life!

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 11:27 AM (o3MSL)

28 This is what access to health care looks like..

Posted by: Soothsayer, corn bread assassin at March 29, 2014 11:28 AM (EoeFV)

29 It's only because Obama does not have time to do it himself.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 03:26 PM (IXrOn)

That's only because Obama is too busy writing an add-on app for the "Goat SImulator".

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 11:29 AM (o3MSL)

30 The plan is working and the people love it.

Posted by: Harry Reid, alleged pederest and dementia sufferer at March 29, 2014 11:30 AM (o4MMe)

31 Life calls. /later

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 11:31 AM (IXrOn)

32 Sorta like when I invest in a big fat juicy steak.

We know what that turns into, eventually.

Posted by: BurtTC at March 29, 2014 11:31 AM (BeSEI)

33 With a ton of good soccer on. On this rainy day that keeps us inside...

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 03:19 PM (IXrOn)

"Good" soccer? Is that the variant where the pitch is seeded with dozens of buried anti-personnel mines?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 29, 2014 11:31 AM (u6NTO)

34 nah, I can wait

Posted by: Life at March 29, 2014 11:32 AM (EoeFV)

35 Saturday afternoon and Ace is posting a thread? Ace, you obviously didn't drink enough last night ... SLACKER!!!

Posted by: kbdabear at March 29, 2014 11:34 AM (aTXUx)

36 watch this for a solution; it's most of what you need

http://tinyurl.com/l2y2dw9

Posted by: Brian Boru at March 29, 2014 11:34 AM (omBWL)

37 We can design a goat simulator but not a simple web site where you can buy insurance?

Posted by: Mallamutt, Lifelong Republican, First Time Obamacare Man at March 29, 2014 03:26 PM (o4MMe)

We were going to design an "asshole simulator", but with Obama in the White House, we figured we could never beat that.

Posted by: Goat Simulator Guys at March 29, 2014 11:34 AM (u6NTO)

38 "Good" soccer? Is that the variant where the pitch is seeded with dozens of buried anti-personnel mines? Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 29, 2014 03:31 PM (u6NTO) Spiked shin guards and randomly explosive balls (soccer balls, oh yeah, saw that one a mile away). Ratings? I'll give you ratings.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:34 AM (x3YFz)

39 What are you, against investing in our own people?-Ace Of course we are. We are Fox News addicted conservatives

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 11:35 AM (HVff2)

40 In many ways this is the story of the Goat Simulator. Hay Ace! Lookee who's here.....

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:35 AM (fsLdt)

41 We were going to design an "asshole simulator", but with Obama in the White House, we figured we could never beat that. Posted by: Goat Simulator Guys at March 29, 2014 03:34 PM (u6NTO) It's not a simulation.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:35 AM (x3YFz)

42 38 -

Nah, authentic soccer is when you cut off the head of your enemy and kick it around for a while.

Not that lame game with an inflated ball.

Posted by: BurtTC at March 29, 2014 11:36 AM (BeSEI)

43 I'd laugh, but, you know, that whole "financial ruin" thing. Oh...yeah......that.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:37 AM (fsLdt)

44 Authentic Frontier Soccer.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (fsLdt)

45 Barrack just gave me an important new assignment. What's a goatse simulator?

Posted by: Joe Biden at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (JQuNB)

46 Dancing With Myself vs Dance Hall Days?

Posted by: Soothsayer, corn bread assassin at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (EoeFV)

47 Is this the gardening thread? It does have lots of compost, I suppose.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (SUKHu)

48 ..vs Safety Dance?

Posted by: Soothsayer, corn bread assassin at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (EoeFV)

49 43 I'd laugh, but, you know, that whole "financial ruin" thing. Oh...yeah......that. Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 03:37 PM (fsLdt) But, I thought you & BC had that kind of humor.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 11:38 AM (HVff2)

50 Raccoons probably got into Maryland's Health Care Exchange servers and caused it to go tits up.

Destructive critters, those raccoons.

Posted by: Taco Shack at March 29, 2014 11:39 AM (C+qQ0)

51 "Authentic Frontier Soccer." Jibber jabber hoswafit perniddy!

Posted by: Gabby Johnson at March 29, 2014 11:39 AM (A1oWF)

52 If representatives from Maryland want to join us at Amelia Island next week, we can work with them and our Democrat donors to help them find a "fix" for their health plans

Posted by: John Boehner and Eric Cantor at March 29, 2014 11:39 AM (aTXUx)

53 I'm willing to invest in boobs.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 11:40 AM (oFCZn)

54 You know, if I Maryland you know who I'd go to for a working website. Two words: Goat. Simulator.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 11:40 AM (A1oWF)

55 I'm going long on boobs.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 11:41 AM (oFCZn)

56 "What are you, against investing in our own people?" people? PEOPLE!? Racist! Going to go burn down an abortion clinic and buy 10 more guns while wearing camo gear in my pickup truck of redneckery. Might even stop by Walmart, give the finger to Whole Foods on the way.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:41 AM (x3YFz)

57 This fucker and his accomplices put my workplace out of business. If I have to laugh to keep my sanity I will.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:42 AM (fsLdt)

58 Does the Connecticut online system have a Goat Simulator?

Posted by: Dr Achmed Shalub at March 29, 2014 11:42 AM (aTXUx)

59 Has anyone checked the curtains at the Maryland Health Care Exchange? Couldn't hurt to give 'em a whack.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 11:43 AM (ZshNr)

60 "give the finger to Whole Foods on the way" I always, but always, give the finger to Whole Foods as I go by.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 11:44 AM (A1oWF)

61 Does the Connecticut online system have a Goat Simulator?

Posted by: Dr Achmed Shalub at March 29, 2014 03:42 PM (aTXUx)

Only if you opt for the Cadillac plan!

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 11:44 AM (o3MSL)

62 But it's totes awful that Texas didn't make an exchange, and if they had it would have made Obamacare teh best program ever.

Posted by: Obama at March 29, 2014 11:44 AM (hFL/3)

63 Don't blame us. REPUBLICANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Maryland at March 29, 2014 11:45 AM (A1oWF)

64 @45 - Ask Harry Reid.

Posted by: JEM at March 29, 2014 11:45 AM (o+SC1)

65 The correct word is not "costs". It's "pissed away". Your average bureaucrat appointed by a Democrat couldn't organize a two car funeral, but Lordie, Lordie, Lordie, how they can piss that taxpayer money away. It's for the chilluns of course.

Posted by: Comanche Voter at March 29, 2014 11:45 AM (wdHk6)

66 Oh, and the KOCH BROTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Maryland at March 29, 2014 11:45 AM (A1oWF)

67 Aw, don't hate Whole Foods, their CEO's a libertarian who spoke out against Obamacare. It's not his fault his customers are d-bags. In fact, it's brilliant he was able to prosper off the d-bags.

Posted by: Lauren at March 29, 2014 11:46 AM (hFL/3)

68 Spiked shin guards and randomly explosive balls (soccer balls, oh yeah, saw that one a mile away).

Newsletter?

Posted by: Blanco Basura at March 29, 2014 11:46 AM (0AKks)

69 No fair copying Connecticut.

Posted by: Oregon at March 29, 2014 11:46 AM (JQuNB)

70 I clicked on the link for Maryland's Exchange site, I think I see where they might have to throw in the towel http://tinyurl.com/mm5b8xo

Posted by: kbdabear at March 29, 2014 11:47 AM (aTXUx)

71 It would be so entertaining if some enterprising individual tracked the contracting process used

Perhaps they could write their notes in a "journal" and then publish them as "news" on some sort of "paper". Nope it's time to lose some other rich Ds money publishing lookitdaickyinbredRethuglican Post.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 29, 2014 11:47 AM (DL2i+)

72 I guess Maryland doesn't now how computers work.........?

Posted by: Harry Reid at March 29, 2014 11:48 AM (A1oWF)

73 So.....doing the math here...... 125 Democrats got 1 million dollars richer in Maryland, do I have that about right?

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:48 AM (fsLdt)

74 67 Aw, don't hate Whole Foods, their CEO's a libertarian who spoke out against Obamacare. It's not his fault his customers are d-bags. In fact, it's brilliant he was able to prosper off the d-bags. Posted by: Lauren at March 29, 2014 03:46 PM (hFL/3) noted, but the veggies there are 20x the cost of just putting a seed in the ground and watching it grow. And most of the food tastes like cardboard.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:49 AM (x3YFz)

75 Pretty much, eleven.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 11:49 AM (ZshNr)

76 Posted by: kbdabear at March 29, 2014 03:47 PM (aTXUx) That was a chuckle. Thanks

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 11:49 AM (HVff2)

77
Good news everyone.
I my eye doctor excepted Covered California but now they dropped it.
I was the last person who got to use it and got some money back to boot.

Posted by: Professor Farnsworth at March 29, 2014 11:50 AM (mETGQ)

78 This is the reason why the rest of MD wants to break away from Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard, Prince George, and Montgomery Counties. The rest of the state would be redder than Arkansas.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 11:51 AM (jucos)

79 There are a variety of people who go to Whole Foods-not just leftists, and they have an amazing prepared food section, hot foods and salad bar if you can afford it. Great soups too.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 11:52 AM (XyM/Y)

80 I loves me some soup. But not crazy expensive soup. I mean.....it still is just soup after all.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 11:53 AM (fsLdt)

81 The wife brings home great olives from WF, I think from their salad bar.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 11:54 AM (ZshNr)

82 hot foods and salad bar if you can afford it. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 03:52 PM (XyM/Y) it's not called "whole paycheck" for nothing.

Posted by: tangonine at March 29, 2014 11:54 AM (x3YFz)

83 Maryland (among other states) will be asking for that money from the fed. All of us will end up paying for this shit.

Posted by: Soona at March 29, 2014 11:54 AM (uwgVG)

84 If you get soup and a roll it's less that one would spend on going out to lunch at a restaurant. I don't shop there regularly but as a treat it's fine,

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 11:55 AM (XyM/Y)

85 83 Didn't the states that set up exchanges already get Fed funding?

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 11:55 AM (ojnk6)

86 It's getting to the point where almost everyplace is "whole paycheck". Prices up at every place from Shop Rite to Stop and Shop.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 11:57 AM (XyM/Y)

87 No, they got Fed Investment.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 11:57 AM (ZshNr)

88 @82 - in the grocery business the whole thing about Whole Foods is that: a) They're non-union, which gives them a LOT of extra flexibility in work rules and, to a lesser extent, payroll. b) That extra flexibility lets them build big pretty stores that suck in comparatively cost-insensitive customers. c) They can therefore price their stuff whatever their customer base will bear.

Posted by: JEM at March 29, 2014 11:57 AM (o+SC1)

89 @Whole Foods, I know one person who shops there. He's a carpetbagger (Wash state) and a Obama voter. Twice. He thinks he is a better person than I for shopping there. He told me so.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 11:58 AM (A1oWF)

90 There are a variety of people who go to Whole Foods-not just leftists, and they have an amazing prepared food section, hot foods and salad bar if you can afford it. Great soups too.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 03:52 PM (XyM/Y)

-------------------------------------------------

There's a key phrase in this comment. Can anyone spot it?

Posted by: Soona at March 29, 2014 11:58 AM (uwgVG)

91 87 Ah yes, Newspeak.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 11:58 AM (ojnk6)

92 53 I'm willing to invest in boobs. Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 03:40 PM (oFCZn) Past performance does not guarantee future results http://www.pinterest.com/pin/309341068125846248/

Posted by: kbdabear at March 29, 2014 11:58 AM (aTXUx)

93 Do all tolled.... How much money has been pissed away on this thing called OVomitcare? I am guessing that it is several billion dollars already.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 11:58 AM (jucos)

94 "if you can afford it."

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 11:59 AM (A1oWF)

95 Hey, wasn't akula51 part of the MD's exchange effort?

Posted by: [/i][/b]KG at March 29, 2014 11:59 AM (IPz9m)

96 You're not a better person for shopping at Whole Foods, but your Cave Aged Gruyere will be creamier.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 12:00 PM (ZshNr)

97 It's getting to the point where almost everyplace is "whole paycheck". Prices up at every place from Shop Rite to Stop and Shop.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 03:57 PM (XyM/Y)

You are making the mistake of believing your own lying eyes. The government has assured us that inflation is at an all time low.

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 12:02 PM (o3MSL)

93 Do all tolled.... How much money has been pissed away on this thing called OVomitcare? I am guessing that it is several billion dollars already.

Posted by: Truck Monkey

------------

Are you talking 'tax dollars spent'?

Or do we include all the extra money we're having to pay in premiums.

Posted by: wheatie at March 29, 2014 12:03 PM (m7/Sn)

99 I hear they got the OS from a Goat Simulator developer

Posted by: Beto at March 29, 2014 12:03 PM (/vO0r)

100 I can't even imagine living in a world where I thought I was better than someone because of my purchasing choices.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 12:03 PM (fsLdt)

101 CoverOregon, or CovOR as it is lovingly called by three gnomes living under the Burnside bridge, will continue on as a paper-based program providing top-level service to the neediest people of Oregon within its limitations for scope, money and staff. Our Glorious leader, Governor Kitzhaber has claimed that he will continue to back the roll-out while he appoints a high-level group to investigate who should carry the blame for not providing sufficient oversight of this, his signature program.

In other news, Governor Kitzhaber of Oregon has followed the traditional Democrat Governor's tradition of declaring statewide drought conditions just before a major series of storms rolled through the regions. Last Winter, his announcement of concerns about drought in the summer of 2014 was followed by a foot of snow at the Oregon Capitol. His predecessor, Governor Kulingosky, made his declaration prior to accumulations of record snow packs. Local farmers have indicated that they are happy for any additional funds made available by this declaration of drought emergency, but the feeling is that it would have been more useful if the declaration had been decided on in January, since, "rains at this time of year can interfere with Spring plowing and planting"

Posted by: Kindletot at March 29, 2014 12:04 PM (LRUgq)

102 You are making the mistake of believing your own lying eyes. The government has assured us that inflation is at an all time low.

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 29, 2014 04:02 PM (o3MSL)

---------------------------------------

Yeah. 2.1% inflation? Sure.

(They don't figure in food and gas) Assholes.

Posted by: Soona at March 29, 2014 12:04 PM (uwgVG)

103 86 It's getting to the point where almost everyplace is "whole paycheck". Prices up at every place from Shop Rite to Stop and Shop. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 03:57 PM (XyM/Y) Funny how that seems to happen with Dems running the show. Obviously it's part of Obama's personal journey of discovery that I'm paying more at the store. Oh yeah and the strange phenomenon of the shrinking containers. Price goes up while container shrinks in size. Marvelous.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 12:04 PM (oFCZn)

104 "I can't even imagine living in a world where I thought I was better than someone because of my purchasing choices. " Ever see a guy driving a BMW or Merc? Not all, but a lot of 'em think they are better than you because they can drop six figures on a car. It's not always about having a nicer car, sometimes it's about making you know they have a nicer car.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:06 PM (A1oWF)

105 And you're not automatically a better person for not shopping there. I have friends who shop there occasionally for things. They also shop at Trader Joes. They have not implied either indirectly or directly they're morally superior for their shopping habits, just as the people who go to Shop Rite don't give that impression either.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:06 PM (XyM/Y)

106 I just don't know of a good post to share this in. It's funny and the guy is a real inventor. http://tinyurl.com/olrj55n

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 29, 2014 12:07 PM (Lqy/e)

107 Now that all you staunch conservatives are coming around to see the benefits of Obamacare, I'd like to invite you to consider sponsoring a mime for the 2014-15 mime season. We are looking for good homes for 11-12 students from the Colorado School of Mimes in Golden. You only need to provide room and board, health insurance will be covered on the exchanges. Let me know if you are interested and I can send you the particulars.

Posted by: S. Muldoon, president United Mime Workers local #555 at March 29, 2014 12:08 PM (g4TxM)

108 Of course in Obamaland, the inflation index isn't mentioned, but anyone who shops knows the prices have gone way up and the containers are smaller too. I got a coffee from Dunkin Donuts the other day. No way that was an 8 oz cup.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:08 PM (XyM/Y)

109 101 Kindeltot, is that actually true? Unfucking believable.

Posted by: Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:10 PM (IFebu)

110 God bless this state. I really wish my family and in-laws weren't tied to this stupid state.

Posted by: HoboJerky, Hash Hunter at March 29, 2014 12:10 PM (E8IHS)

111

103...Oh yeah and the strange phenomenon of the shrinking containers. Price goes up while container shrinks in size. Marvelous.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis

-----------

It's not just the containers that are shrinking...the content is shrinking too.

We're paying more...and getting less.

This is the Barky Economy.

Posted by: wheatie at March 29, 2014 12:10 PM (m7/Sn)

112 http://tinyurl.com/olrj55n Is that clever? I honestly don't know.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:10 PM (A1oWF)

113 Ever see a guy driving a BMW or Merc? Not all, but a lot of 'em think they are better than you because they can drop six figures on a car.

I'm well aware that a pretty fair percentage of the people driving those cars can't afford them. They use all their income on the car, then live in a crappy apartment, or better yet, get money from the government (me).

My response to them is pretty much "either you have more money than brains, or, you can't afford that car but for some reason it's important to you that I think you can. It didn't work."

Posted by: pep at March 29, 2014 12:10 PM (4nR9/)

114 With a ton of good soccer on. On this rainy day that keeps us inside...

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 03:19 PM (IXrOn)

Oxymoron identified

Posted by: buzzion at March 29, 2014 12:11 PM (LI48c)

115 @104 - I drive one almost every day, Sometimes two. On rare occasions, three. Then on some days I drive an old Taurus, and on other days an even older Celica.

Posted by: JEM at March 29, 2014 12:12 PM (o+SC1)

116 "I'm well aware that a pretty fair percentage of the people driving those cars can't afford them. They use all their income on the car, then live in a crappy apartment, or better yet, get money from the government (me)." They be frontin'.....

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:13 PM (A1oWF)

117 Last July, the GDP estimates were changed so that "ideas" were counted into the GDP Meaning they're pretty well making shit up completely now. But the MSM reports it as solid fact, so there!

Posted by: kbdabear at March 29, 2014 12:13 PM (aTXUx)

118 Never mind this. I've pre-ordered Goat Simulator for my entire cabinet.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at March 29, 2014 12:13 PM (Dwehj)

119 Don't worry, it will all be fine when O'Malley is president! He's the next Kennedy! Just ask him!

Posted by: Karusky at March 29, 2014 12:13 PM (mes5f)

120 @115 That's why I didn't say "every," just some...

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:14 PM (A1oWF)

121 How much money has been pissed away on this thing called OVomitcare? I am guessing that it is several billion dollars already. Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 03:58 PM Don't think we're close to the money spent on Y2K. IIRC, that was close to 100 bill.

Posted by: olddog in mo at March 29, 2014 12:14 PM (EKOIc)

122 You don't know me, but I'm your brother, I was raised here in this living hell...

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 12:14 PM (ZshNr)

123 @112, How many guys do you know that would create a "uterus" out of a football, fill it with goat's blood and wear the thing to test his invention? Yeah, it's funny and the guy sounds like moron material to me. It didn't sound like anything I wanted to read either, but it's a great story.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 29, 2014 12:15 PM (Lqy/e)

124 is that actually true? Unfucking believable.

Posted by: Infidel at March 29, 2014 04:10 PM (IFebu)

Not in that many words. The facts are.

Well, except about the gnomes. They were forced to move out from under the Burnside by the legion of the homeless there.

Posted by: Kindletot at March 29, 2014 12:15 PM (LRUgq)

125 Ever see a guy driving a BMW or Merc? Not all, but a lot of 'em think they are better than you because they can drop six figures on a car. It's not always about having a nicer car, sometimes it's about making you know they have a nicer car. Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 04:06 PM (A1oWF) You ran into Moo Moo I see. He also paid more in taxes, which no one is impressed about but he sure is.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 12:16 PM (oFCZn)

126 Bridge gnomes are out? Bridge gnomes are out?

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 12:16 PM (ZshNr)

127 You ran into Moo Moo I see.

My investments are through the roof, I tells ya!

Posted by: Mr. Foo Foo at March 29, 2014 12:18 PM (Dwehj)

128 These SCOAMTTcare and exchange fails are an example of why the medical field is reluctant to switch to a much more complicated and less likely to be properly administered coding system. FWIW

Posted by: Justamom at March 29, 2014 12:18 PM (Sptt8)

129 There's no place like gnome?

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 12:18 PM (fsLdt)

130 "There's no place like gnome?" Nice try, but, nope.

Posted by: Nome, AK at March 29, 2014 12:19 PM (A1oWF)

131 30,000 Alaskans sign a petition to leave US, rejoin Russia. Linked on HA.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 12:20 PM (Mogjf)

132 MD: Well, we're abandoning in place our enrollment system, which sucked donkey balls. Is there an enrollment system out there which sucks less? CT: Try ours! It only sucks goat balls! MD: Okay! We're all in!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars™ [/i] [/b] [/s] at March 29, 2014 12:21 PM (HsTG8)

133 Tell me ~again~ why government can't go out of business??

Posted by: locomotivebreath1901 at March 29, 2014 12:22 PM (K3RTK)

134 "CT: Try ours! It only sucks goat balls! " When everything sucks, that which sucks least is by default the best option.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:22 PM (A1oWF)

135 Our country is so out of control, it will not end in a pretty way. It can 't keep on like this. Something has got to give. Gas/food/utilities, on the rise and the only community able to keep up is the DC area. Maybe I need to rent the Hunger Games.

Posted by: Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:22 PM (IFebu)

136 I've been an arms length away from an IT project that crashed and burned, not part of the project but just in the vicinity.

It's a brutal experience and I'm experiencing great schadenfreude at the misery of all those involved in this project.

In terms of 'investments', there's actually a new bridge being built from Windsor, Ontario, Canada to Detroit, Michigan. The Canadian government is paying for the ENTIRE thing, $2 Billion, recouping the dollars from tolls in the future.

All the U.S. has to do, is come up with a lousy $200 million or so to build the plaza on the American side of the border, and President Dumbass can't even get that done in his 'budget.'

Wasn't $800 Billion in TARP money supposed to be spent on exactly projects like this, actual infrastructure, an actual bridge, creating thousands of jobs? It's monumental incompetence.

I really wish conservative blogs would pick up the story and run with it because it does make the entire administration look completely incompetent. And there's also the fact that Canada is paying for 95% of the project because Dumbass is running the US economy into the ground.

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:22 PM (AC0lD)

137 "Tell me ~again~ why government can't go out of business??" Because I need this phoney-baloney job!

Posted by: The Governor at March 29, 2014 12:23 PM (A1oWF)

138 127 You ran into Moo Moo I see. My investments are through the roof, I tells ya! Posted by: Mr. Foo Foo at March 29, 2014 04:18 PM (Dwehj) Are you sure that wasn't Mini-SMOD, SMOD's minion and harbinger of doom?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars™ [/i] [/b] [/s] at March 29, 2014 12:23 PM (HsTG8)

139 I invested in hookers, whiskey and blow once. the rest I just wasted.

Posted by: goatexchange at March 29, 2014 12:23 PM (sYUHT)

140 Maybe I need to rent the Hunger Games. **Spoiler Alert** Everybody's hungry.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 12:23 PM (fsLdt)

141 I'm a registered Democrat (O.K. don't launch the missiles. I'm a DINO. ;^) and I think we've spent far, far too much money on "our" people in this boondoggle of a lousy program.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:24 PM (XyM/Y)

142 One of my funniest friends from high school, little Greek football player named Dean, was a hoot when I saw him last year, after at least ten years of not hearing from him. He has always been a hard worker, even as a kid at his father's pizza shop, and he still is, but now he's also rolling in money as the result of owning a food franchise at a large Medical complex in MA. He had just come from golf, was driving a BMW, wearing a watch that weighed five pounds and he gave me a big shit-eating grin. ""Lincoln, man, I gotta tell you, I fucking love my stuff!". It suited him to be like that, perfectly matched the Dean I knew. One of the things he loves is expensive (don't ask me what type, he was babbling) guns. And he hates Democrats, since they shake him down all the time.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 29, 2014 12:24 PM (ZshNr)

143 Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 04:16 PM (oFCZn) A day without Mr. Moo is like a day with constipation

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 12:25 PM (HVff2)

144 "I'm a registered Democrat (O.K. don't launch the missiles. I'm a DINO. ;^) " No worries, me too. I really have to vote in my home county.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:25 PM (A1oWF)

145 It's a tax! And an investment! And you still don't have standing!

Posted by: John Roberts at March 29, 2014 12:26 PM (oFCZn)

146 My son has a Libertarian Macro Econ teacher who told the kids last week that all government statistics are lies. Then proceeded to explain to them in detail about how you can funny the numbers to have them say anything you want. We still have good schools here in Frederick County MD.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 12:26 PM (jucos)

147 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 04:24 PM (XyM/Y) From your past postings you don't sound like a donk

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 12:27 PM (HVff2)

148 Anyone else here get the five am wake-up from the cops pounding on your front door ?

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at March 29, 2014 12:27 PM (XWw96)

149 "Anyone else here get the five am wake-up from the cops pounding on your front door ?" Not today. Mine usually show up more around 3AM.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:28 PM (A1oWF)

150 @149 - Damnit, you beat me to it.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at March 29, 2014 12:29 PM (0AKks)

151 Less than 200 comments on the goat simulator? It's like I don't even know you people anymore. Also, fuck this state. Seriously. Come on, DC's company, promote me. Texas is calling my name. Or Oklahoma. Either one.

Posted by: DC in Towson at March 29, 2014 12:29 PM (6NGyP)

152 "It's getting to the point where almost everyplace is 'whole paycheck'. Prices up at every place from Shop Rite to Stop and Shop."

You have to figure that if we had an actual opposition party wanting to oust a bunch of incumbents this fall, they might actually bother to run some battlespace prep ads right now, snap interviews with real people in store aisles expressing shock at the wave of food price inflation.

You have to figure that, because I'm sure not seeing that happen.

Back in 2012, my street level intelligence said that frankly the absolutely A-number-one-with-a-bullet source of popular discontent was... GAS PRICES. People were furious. Even here in liberal Commiefornia, it was a daily subject of vocal displeasure.

I sat there all goddamn year right up to election day waiting for the Republicans and their expensive consultants to run a single solitary ad on that topic. ::: crickets :::

Posted by: torquewrench at March 29, 2014 12:29 PM (noWW6)

153 On the Alaska thing, I'm sure Russia had something to do with getting that ball rolling.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 12:30 PM (ojnk6)

154

Everybody's hungry.

Exactly why Imma makin Sunday night gravy from my garden tomatoes I canned last fall.

Posted by: Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:30 PM (IFebu)

155 And I'm a fool. All this time and I didn't realize CoverOR could be spelled "GovError"
It makes perfect sense now!

Posted by: Kindletot at March 29, 2014 12:30 PM (LRUgq)

156 ot Jonah Goldbert What is Social Justice? Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBvQj2k6xo&feature=youtu.be

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 12:30 PM (IXrOn)

157 *Goldberg

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 12:31 PM (IXrOn)

158 148 Anyone else here get the five am wake-up from the cops pounding on your front door ? Posted by: Bill D. Cat at March 29, 2014 04:27 PM (XWw96) Don't keep us in suspense. What happened?

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 12:32 PM (oFCZn)

159 I had to cart my tax payment to the IRS in a wheelbarrow!

Posted by: Mr. Foo Foo at March 29, 2014 12:32 PM (Dwehj)

160 What is Social Justice? - Social justice is to justice as military music is to music.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 12:33 PM (Mogjf)

161 'If you like Connecticut's System, you can implement Connecticut's System.' -- Obama, playing a game of Strip Risk Later.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at March 29, 2014 12:33 PM (9W+0f)

162 The neighbours house two from mine burnt to the ground . Took like half an hour . If there were any wind at all , I'd have lost my house . Shakes a guy up a little .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at March 29, 2014 12:33 PM (XWw96)

163 Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 29, 2014 04:27 PM (HVff2) Well, no. I had a political conversion during the primaries before the 2008 election. :^) Some nice person on this site tells me that I probably was never a "real" Democrat-just idealistic. It's hard to get rid of years of political indoctrination by ones parents.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:33 PM (XyM/Y)

164 "My son has a Libertarian Macro Econ teacher who told the kids last week that all government statistics are lies. Then proceeded to explain to them in detail about how you can funny the numbers to have them say anything you want."

Also, if the teacher doesn't cover it, teach your kid how governments and dishonest businesses will quietly rob you with "stealth" inflation of product prices.

The container gets bigger and gaudier, says "New and improved!" but the number of servings gets smaller.

Or "now in a convenient multipack". Where if you do the math, the individual components of the multipack have become more expensive than the solo purchase.

Or the cat suddenly stops eating the cat food, even though the can looks the same, because cheaper ingredients are being substituted at the same retail price.

Many many ways to play that little game. Few of which consumers realize.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 29, 2014 12:34 PM (noWW6)

165

151...Also, fuck this state. Seriously. Come on, DC's company, promote me. Texas is calling my name. Or Oklahoma. Either one.

Posted by: DC in Towson

------------

Hey DC, come on over!

It's sunny and 71Â° here in Oklahoma today.

Posted by: wheatie at March 29, 2014 12:34 PM (m7/Sn)

166 "150 @149 - Damnit, you beat me to it." That's only partially foolin'. I've had the cops banging on my door at 3AM so many times over the last several years where I live it's not even funny. I live on a corner which so far appears to be the epicenter of a Weird Shit Bermuda Triangle.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:34 PM (A1oWF)

167 Whoa Bill D. Cat. I hope no one was hurt! I have lost a house to fire, not fun.

Posted by: Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:35 PM (IFebu)

168 Goldberg, the ex-director of CoverOR? Met him once just after he was appointed to sort out the problems with Oregon's Dept of Human Services. Wore a tie like a gentleman, admitted that there were astounding problems, and seemed to be affective (as possible in such a profoundly dysfunctional and abusive agency), but GovError apparently put him on the beach. Wonder how he feels about that and if he kept records?

Posted by: Kindletot at March 29, 2014 12:35 PM (LRUgq)

169 Not quite as bad of an idea as Obamacare but still a bad idea: waiting until the day before it's due to write a five page policy paper on Teddy Roosevelt.

Posted by: Adam at March 29, 2014 12:36 PM (Aif/5)

170 This is an interesting short video from Dennis Prager's "Prager University" on "What is social justice?"

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:37 PM (XyM/Y)

171 Sorry; Here's the link: http://www.prageruniversity.com/courses.php

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:37 PM (XyM/Y)

172 You want a weird shit Bermuda Triangle ? In the last ten months I've been evacuated twice in the middle of the night . Floods last June , fire today ........... two horsemen to go .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at March 29, 2014 12:38 PM (XWw96)

173 Whoops; Didn't realize artisinal 'ette had already posted that.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (XyM/Y)

174 Posted by: Mr. Foo Foo at March 29, 2014 04:32 PM (Dwehj) I'd bet you're one of those guys that has an "I love me" wall at their house or office.....you know, every piece of paper hung in frames.

Posted by: BignJames at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (j7iSn)

175 Oregon pissed away, what? ....340 million? MarylandSuccess.org.blowme!!

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (N4kKV)

176 Foreign Policy magazine on hashtag diplomacy: How many divisions has the hashtag?

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (Mogjf)

177 What is Social Justice?

Social justice is getting something you couldn't legally take from someone else.

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (AC0lD)

178 174 That's sort of a sock.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 12:39 PM (ojnk6)

179

>>>What are you, against investing in our own people?<<<

yes, i'm against the "investment".

and afternoon to all you RINOS.

Posted by: rich@gmu at March 29, 2014 12:40 PM (RhQvZ)

180 @168 - 'To be right and overruled is not forgiven those in positions of authority' - Barbara Tuchman

Posted by: JEM at March 29, 2014 12:40 PM (o+SC1)

181 I've been in two earthquakes and 1 and a half Hurricanes, and also been chased down the highway by a tornado. The universe is a dangerous place.

Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 12:40 PM (fsLdt)

182 Maryland just doesn't know how to use the internet to attract nubile young boys for parties.

Posted by: Harry Reid at March 29, 2014 12:40 PM (N4kKV)

183 "You want a weird shit Bermuda Triangle ?" That is drama.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:40 PM (A1oWF)

184

>>>Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 04:39 PM (Mogjf) <<<

and the selfie theory of international relations...

Posted by: rich@gmu at March 29, 2014 12:41 PM (RhQvZ)

185 What is Social Justice? - Robbery for the lazy.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 12:42 PM (Mogjf)

186 It didn't cost this Maryland anything. It cost the taxpayers of Maryland all that money

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:43 PM (nzKvP)

187 186 I believe this was Fed "invested" so it cost all of us.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 12:43 PM (ojnk6)

188 Mit dem Angriff Steiners, wird das alles in Ordnung kommen.

Posted by: A. Hitler, financial genius at March 29, 2014 12:43 PM (omBWL)

189 185 What is Social Justice? - Robbery for the lazy. Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 04:42 PM (Mogjf) Perfect bumper sticker.

Posted by: BignJames at March 29, 2014 12:44 PM (j7iSn)

190 " What is Social Justice? " If'n you gots it, I wants it.

Posted by: GibsMeDat Brigade at March 29, 2014 12:44 PM (A1oWF)

191 The universe is a dangerous place. Posted by: eleven at March 29, 2014 04:40 PM (fsLdt) __________________ In a constant chase to catch up to you and kill you.....it eventually will. No one gets out alive. No one......

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 12:45 PM (jucos)

192 What is Social Justice? A pickpocket on a spree

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:45 PM (nzKvP)

193 @CNN "Is Obama weak against Putin?"

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 12:46 PM (A1oWF)

194 I believe this was Fed "invested" so it cost all of us. Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 04:43 PM (ojnk6) Ain't dat always da truth

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:46 PM (nzKvP)

195 193 Wow, what stunning insights they have.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 12:47 PM (ojnk6)

196 If'n you gots it, I wants it.

Posted by: GibsMeDat Brigade at March 29, 2014 04:44 PM (A1oWF)

______________

You gots it? I took it.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 12:47 PM (jucos)

197 @CNN "Is Obama weak against Putin?" Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 04:46 PM (A1oWF) Does a bear shit in the woods? Is the Pope Catholic?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:47 PM (nzKvP)

198 Moar Mexicans!

Posted by: GOP at March 29, 2014 12:47 PM (AO9UG)

199 " I took it." Dats wat we a gonna do, sucka. If'n you don'ts gib it up we gonna take it.

Posted by: GibsMeDat Brigade at March 29, 2014 12:48 PM (A1oWF)

200 Ok.. so as a computer/database programmer, I have a question.

Since each state's own exchange does pretty much the same thing, why the freakin hell didn't they all share a common code base?

Oh wait.. I've got the answer.. cuz these are blue states and they saw fed money for their buddies with some kickbacks as well. Never mind.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at March 29, 2014 12:48 PM (b/lt+)

201 As a Maryland resident, how deeply grateful I am to my genius overlords in Annapolis for so effectively er, investing the taxes that I pay. Yes, deeply grateful.

Posted by: Stu-22 at March 29, 2014 12:49 PM (KbrNh)

202 Just like my good friend Harry Reid, I did it all for the Children...

Posted by: Martin O'Malley at March 29, 2014 12:50 PM (KbrNh)

203 artisanal 'ette: sorry I thought you were talking about Bruce Goldberg, not Johah Goldberg.
My typing is better than my reading.

Posted by: Kindletot at March 29, 2014 12:50 PM (LRUgq)

204 Why not just have Connecticut administer the Maryland health care system?

Posted by: Enquiring Minds at March 29, 2014 12:53 PM (UcA5R)

205 Former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah Denton, who survived 7Â½ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and alerted the U.S. military to conditions there when he blinked the word Â“tortureÂ” in Morse code during a television interview, died Friday. He was 89. DentonÂ’s grandson, Edward Denton, said he died about 8 a.m. at a hospice facility in Virginia Beach, Va., surrounded by family. Edward Denton said his grandfather had been in declining health for the past year and died from heart problems. Denton, a retired Navy rear admiral, in 1980 became the first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama since Reconstruction, but he narrowly lost a re-election bid six years later. As a senator, he was a strong advocate of conservative causes and backer of the Reagan administration. But the iron will that served him in such good stead in captivity gave rise to criticism that he was too rigid as a politician. He was the senior officer among former POWs who stepped off a plane into freedom at Clark Air Base in the Philippines. Denton epitomized the military spirit as he spoke for the returning soldiers: Â“We are honored to have had the opportunity to serve our country under difficult circumstances. We are profoundly grateful to our commander-in-chief and to our nation for this day. God bless America.Â” If this was mentioned today or yesterday I am sorry but I wanted to make sure it was not missed

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:53 PM (nzKvP)

206 Maryland? Wow...what a dumpster fire of a state (small s for emphasis). You could give it back to the Crown and no one would miss it....Land of the Parasite and Mobile home of the not so brave.

Posted by: IrishEd at March 29, 2014 12:53 PM (bfm04)

207 "Just like my good friend Harry Reid..." Martin's right and I, like he, desperately want to make love to a schoolboy.....I.....uh.......wait.....oh.

Posted by: Harry Reid at March 29, 2014 12:54 PM (A1oWF)

208 206 We do have some Rons and Ettes who call MD home, so....

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 12:55 PM (ojnk6)

209 Hey, now.

Posted by: Dumpster on Fire at March 29, 2014 12:56 PM (A1oWF)

210 US: We won't be able to stop Palestinian UN statehood bid if talks fail Washington demands flexibility of Israel, raising the possibility of another prisoner release of long-serving prisoners as a gesture to the Palestinians. Attila Somfalvi, AFP Published: 03.29.14, 22:55 / Israel News The United States will not be able to stop a Palestinian campaign to the United Nations for statehood should peace talks with Israel fail, American diplomats told The Washington Post on Saturday. I hope Israel has been saving up on KY jelly because obama/kerry is about to.....well you get the point or should I say the shaft

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:56 PM (nzKvP)

211 I actually got into the MD site back in November to check out the plans. Noticed a huge discrepancy in prices between the company I get ins. through work, United, and the other cheap plans from Blue Cross, etc. Methinks United isn't putting much faith in the exchanges.

Anyways, the site was an overdesigned mess. Trying to animate every page transition and make the whole user experience seem like a touch screen app. As a web programmer, it boggles the mind how you can spend $125 Million on a website. You can build a shopping cart app from the ground up with only 2-3 developers(one programmer, one designer, one DB guy) in around 9 months. So, WTF were they spending all that money on for these exchanges?

Posted by: Serious Cat at March 29, 2014 12:57 PM (7zo7A)

212 Goat Stimulator?
Wait, that can't be right. Where are my glasses?

Posted by: Enquiring Minds at March 29, 2014 12:57 PM (UcA5R)

213 So, WTF were they spending all that money on for these exchanges? Posted by: Serious Cat at March 29, 2014 04:57 PM (7zo7A) Because they can.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 12:58 PM (nzKvP)

214 @CNN -- "Is Obama weak against Putin?"

And that right there is an important matter.

Pollsters and pundits always say that Americans don't care about foreign policy or international affairs. That's true insofar as it comes down to the fine details.

But, Americans are still aware that there's a world out there beyond the borders of the USA. And they want for their country to be respected and honored in that world. And since the President is a psychological proxy for the nation as a whole, they want a President who is visibly respected and honored abroad.

For a while, this dynamic worked in Obama's favor. Americans, even the most isolated insulated low-information types, couldn't help but pick up on how deeply loathed (correctly or not) Bush had become in the rest of the world. and how by contrast, Obama was being greeted by huge cheering crowds at every overseas appearance.

Hey! We should elect this new guy! The furriners like him! He's got street cred with them. That'll help him sort out the mess the first guy made.

But now? Obama has burned up all of that foreign goodwill. And he barely realizes it has happened, from inside his bubble. It was hugely telling how Obama ended his condescending speech to the Eurocrats and the Europress the other day and waited, arrogantly poised, for the expected river torrent of applause.

And then... one guy doing a mocking slow clap. The expression on the face of the SCOAMF was priceless.

Really now, Obama is into Carter territory. Let's recall that Carter had an absolutely consistent poll edge on Reagan when it came to economic matters all through the 1980 campaign, even though Carter's economy was dire. What really sank Carter was the American public reflecting upon the sight of THE GODDAMNED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES daily being contemptuously shoved aside by a bunch of greasy-bearded Iranian mullahs.

Joe Sixpack and Jane Workaday finally just could not take that shit any longer and got rid of Carter. Because he was an embarrassment and a weak hand on the world stage, and even Joe and Jane were able to figure that out finally.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 29, 2014 12:58 PM (noWW6)

215 " So, WTF were they spending all that money on for these exchanges?" Prostitutes and blow ain't cheap ya know.

Posted by: Maryland at March 29, 2014 12:59 PM (A1oWF)

216 Washington demands flexibility of Israel, raising the possibility of another prisoner release of long-serving prisoners as a gesture to the Palestinians. - One thing for sure, Israel can rely on Obama's promise of .national security for them just like Ukraine did.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 01:01 PM (Mogjf)

217 "Really now, Obama is into Carter territory." I was really worked up about that yesterday. That idiot gash at State with the selfie. My God. Oh well, my fellow American decided these were the best and brightest and they will get what they wanted. Real good and hard.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 01:03 PM (A1oWF)

218 'I was Vladimir Putin's teacher' The Russian president was so grateful to his former German teacher that he bought her an apartment in Tel Aviv, and filled it with appliances. Michal Margalit, Polina Garaev Published: 03.29.14, 21:56 / Israel News Meet Mina Yuditskaya, Vladimir Putin's former high-school teacher, who now lives in Tel Aviv in an apartment her former student, the Russian president, bought for her. Â“I donÂ’t know, I donÂ’t want to guess, but I thank him very much for this. When I moved to this apartment I cried. Putin is a very grateful and decent manÂ”. The Story is on YNET Putin seems like a nicer guy than you know who

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 01:03 PM (nzKvP)

219 218 The one with a half brother that lives in a hut? That guy?

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:04 PM (ojnk6)

220 So Putin buys his old teacher an Apartment in Tel Aviv and obama's brother lives in a card board box?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 01:05 PM (nzKvP)

221 "The one with a half brother that lives in a hut? That guy?" Never heard of him.

Posted by: The MSM at March 29, 2014 01:05 PM (A1oWF)

222 So Putin buys his old teacher an Apartment in Tel Aviv and obama's brother lives in a card board box? Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 05:05 PM (nzKvP) good pick up. It took me a minute to put those 2 together

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 01:06 PM (nzKvP)

223

"Really now, Obama is into Carter territory."

______________________

I think that he is far, far worse. At least I wasn't intentionally trying to help the camel fuckers.

Posted by: James from Plains at March 29, 2014 01:07 PM (jucos)

224 He's serving his duty to country Â— and family. A U.S. Army Specialist has flown back to the States from Afghanistan, not for a new assignment, but to donate the majority of his liver to his dying grandfather. Ricky Glenn Henderson, 21, said he didn't want to have regrets, and offered to help his 62-year-old grandfather, Rick Homer Â— a veteran of the Vietnam War Â— any way he could. So Henderson phoned him up at his home in Longview, Texas, and explained why exactly he wanted to help. "I had to sit there and explain, 'You're my granddad. I want to do this. You still have stuff that you need to be around for," Henderson told ABCNews.com. Homer, who suffers from a genetic condition called hemochromatosis that causes cirrhosis of the liver, said if he doesn't get a transplant, that's the end. "If I don't get (it), I die," Homer told the website bluntly, adding that getting his name on a donor list was no guarantee of getting a liver. His grandson is currently undergoing tests at Baylor Medical Center to see if he is a match for his grandfather. If he is, Henderson will donate up to 60% of his liver to save his grandfather, which will resume normal function several months after any operation.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 29, 2014 01:09 PM (nzKvP)

225 Gardening thread up....I'll hang here.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:10 PM (ojnk6)

226 lulz Soccer shaming. How brave, boys. /shrug Kudos to the women that play soccer all across America every day. Evidently you are unAmerican lezbos or something. Ignorance veiled in intolerance. Have at it. Soccer is a great game, brave boys. Soccer shaming ftw! Hilarious.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 29, 2014 01:10 PM (IXrOn)

227 That's nice James but your brother was the only one of the bunch that ever amounted to anything. I mean, he made beer and shit.

Posted by: Zombie Jimmy's Dad at March 29, 2014 01:10 PM (A1oWF)

228

210...I hope Israel has been saving up on KY jelly because obama/kerry is about to.....well you get the point or should I say the shaft

Posted by: Nevergiveup

----------

Well it was only a matter of time, Ngu...

That Barky's foreign policy of 'leading from behind' would cause 'bleeding from behind'.

Posted by: wheatie at March 29, 2014 01:12 PM (m7/Sn)

229 $125 million in MD, $340 million in OR, who knows how much in the Federal "Exchange"... pretty soon that adds up to real money.

Compare all this money, absolutely pissed-away to that of a true market-based solution where companies were allowed to offer plans across state lines as so not have to meet unrealistic coverages in many states... For example, someone in Maine (which has insane mandated procedure coverage levels) could have found a catastrophic plan from Texas for $100-$200 a month (instead of the $500+). And could have been building a tax-advantaged health savings plan to pay the deductables... Then the Fed could have had a $10 billion advertising campaign about medicare and medicaid eligibility, seeing that's what a sizable chunk of people are in fact getting. Oh, and tort reform which could have cut OBGYN malpractice insurance rates by 90% in states like PA and NY, which would provide TRUE ACCESS to women's health care in those states by bringing doctors back to those states.

They fucked up on the 80/20 rule... they screwed with the 80%+ that was working to 'fix' the 20%, and are not going to solve even 20% of the 20%'s problems.

Posted by: phreshone at March 29, 2014 01:13 PM (kFxpe)

230 227 They needed Billy at home because he was the only one of the two qualified to run the bar.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:13 PM (ojnk6)

231 Damn, I missed this one...sigh...lol

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at March 29, 2014 01:13 PM (Mj+L4)

232 Bibi is no idiot. He knows that official American policy is against him now and he will act accordingly.

Posted by: James from Plains at March 29, 2014 01:14 PM (jucos)

233 232 I hope the Isreali birds are on the runway and warm...

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:15 PM (ojnk6)

234 Maryland? Wow...what a dumpster fire of a state (small s for emphasis). You could give it back to the Crown and no one would miss it....Land of the Parasite and Mobile home of the not so brave. Posted by: IrishEd ----------------------- This old, both worth the read..., because it is hilarious. Onion article on Maryland: "Deficit-Wracked Maryland Calls It Quits" http://www.theonion.com/articles/deficitwracked-maryland-calls-it-quits,577/

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 29, 2014 01:16 PM (aDwsi)

235 I hope the Isreali birds are on the runway and warm...

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 05:15 PM (ojnk6)

__________________

Always. When the Jews said "never again", they meant never again.

Posted by: Truck Monkey, Gruntled New Business Owner at March 29, 2014 01:16 PM (jucos)

236 If it could go wrong, it went wrong at the Exchange. This is the right move. Evidently anything that Connecticut did with Federal dollars can be shared with other states - certainly there is appropriate licensure of COTS technology that the Exchange is built on that will have to be sourced (part of the "investment" mentioned I'm sure). Some aspects of their solution should be a "life and drop" technology-wise. They don't have all the pieces working yet either (i.e., Medicaid interface, SHOP), but there are several folks with solutions in this space. The technology one of my teams is deploying will be "the interim solution"...I'm pretty happy with what we've been able to do to help - and the fact we arrived well after go-live...lol

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at March 29, 2014 01:19 PM (Mj+L4)

237 Should have made MD and DE merge with PA... same with CT, and RI with MA

Posted by: Thomas Jefferson at March 29, 2014 01:19 PM (kFxpe)

238 And you get a Sybian... And you get a Sybian... You all get a Sybian!

Posted by: Vlad Putin at March 29, 2014 01:20 PM (rKve2)

239 234 - This old, both worth the read..., WTF? Should read: "This is old but worth the read...

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 29, 2014 01:20 PM (aDwsi)

240 The technology one of my teams is deploying will be "the interim solution"..

I can't wait until we can implement the final solution

Posted by: Ezekiel Emanuel at March 29, 2014 01:21 PM (kFxpe)

241 "Homer, who suffers from a genetic condition called hemochromatosis that causes cirrhosis of the liver, said if he doesn't get a transplant, that's the end."

That stuff is sneaky shit. If you have it you can have it for many years with no signs at all, and then, zap, out of the blue, you're dying or dead.

Those of you with northern European genetics should keep an eye out for it when you're getting a physical or a blood panel.

Of course, as we all know, saving the lives of people with northern European genetics will be a TOP PRIORITY under the Obamacare regimen. Snort.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 29, 2014 01:21 PM (noWW6)

242 238 Just the tip please, Vlad. Barky

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:21 PM (ojnk6)

243 Putin bought his high school teacher and apartment with all the trimmings? Obama's brother lives in a hut.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 29, 2014 01:23 PM (oFCZn)

244 The mf'er doesn't really care about anyone other than Number One.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at March 29, 2014 01:24 PM (A1oWF)

245 Big loser here which goes unmentioned is the contractor who took over after the former prime was fired. Deloitte will be coming in to run their solution per the Post story. "Sources" always seem to float these semi-unattributed stories a couple days before "the decision". Wow, there are a lot of layers to this one that are yet to be seen.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at March 29, 2014 01:25 PM (Mj+L4)

246 You know how serious Maryland is about making the exchange work? They got the "How It's Made" guy for their new radio commercials. That's serious.

Posted by: [/i][/b][/s]akula51 at March 29, 2014 01:26 PM (Mj+L4)

247 246 Probably a relative bargain at a mere 10 million or so.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at March 29, 2014 01:28 PM (ojnk6)

248 Obama's brother lives in a hut. - Very small carbon footprint.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 29, 2014 01:28 PM (Mogjf)

249 MD Exchange TU?
WTF? - staunch self-proclaimed Cassandra

Posted by: NCwoof at March 29, 2014 01:34 PM (aUQgu)

250 Another earthquake....

Posted by: Pug-delicious! at March 29, 2014 01:34 PM (vFh9Q)

251 Democrat definition of "invest": to piss off money in an effort to buy votes and loot the treasury.

Posted by: WannabeAnglican at March 29, 2014 02:13 PM (g0H8G)

252 But Maryland will be the first to walk away from its site, a particular embarrassment for Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who was placed in charged of implementing health-care reform in Maryland Ever seen a picture of "Anthony G. Brown" and his wife? It's spooky how much they look EXACTLY like a slightly more attractive version of Barack and Michelle Obama: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Anthony_Brown_and_Karmen_Walker.jpg It's spooky -- it's like they're entrants in a "presidential lookalike" contest. Unfortunately, he seems to have won a prize not for looking like Obama, but having the same level of competence.

Posted by: zombie at March 29, 2014 02:40 PM (mizYg)

253 On the subject of healthcare, I decided to watch something on Hulu and one commercial out of every batch during the show was for Covered California. Irritating as all hell.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at March 29, 2014 02:44 PM (rakCv)

254 Are you talking 'tax dollars spent'? Or do we include all the extra money we're having to pay in premiums. Posted by: wheatie at March 29, 2014 04:03 PM (m7/Sn) ______________________ I thought we were taking about 'investments'. Am I missing something here?

Posted by: alwyr at March 29, 2014 03:17 PM (V0j3u)

255 Why not adopt Massachusetts plan? Hasn't it worked for them?

Posted by: RayNAiken at March 29, 2014 03:28 PM (gKPhl)

256 I thought I had read that the ACA requirements are so onerous that even Mass. is having problems...

Posted by: phreshone at March 29, 2014 03:50 PM (kFxpe)

257 Copied and pasted several of the fake Obamacare testimonials on another website. About half were deleted by moderators.

Posted by: drowningpuppies at March 29, 2014 05:28 PM (012vu)

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