Posts Tagged ‘obamacare’

Well this is a sign that healthcare is going to pass…

Posted: March 15, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news
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Hey it’s always an indication that things are going well when undecided congressmen choose to skip a rally being attended by the president of the United States:

Representative John Boccieri, Democrat of Ohio, whose vote on major health care legislation could be crucial to the outcome, will not be attending President Obama’s health care rally on Monday in Strongsville, Ohio, not far from Mr. Boccieri’s own district, a spokeswoman said.

Sure it’s all about another project nothing to do with healthcare. And like the fully armed nuclear missiles coming from the planet Magrathea toward the ship Heart of gold, the thousands of protesters waiting to greet the president as mentioned by Michelle Malkin in this post are a special courtesy that is extended to every president who is about to successfully persuade members of his own party to pass an unpopular bill through congress at the risk of their seats.

It’s like watching a disaster movie in slow motion.

The political numbers don’t lie

Posted: March 15, 2010 by datechguy in employment, opinion/news
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From the Wall Street Journal (hat tip Independent Woman’s voice) we see that political costs of the healthcare bill are not insignificant:

The survey shows astonishing intensity and sharp opposition to reform, far more than national polls reflect. For 82% of those surveyed, the heath-care bill is either the top or one of the top three issues for deciding whom to support for Congress next November. (That number goes to 88% among independent women.) Sixty percent want Congress to start from scratch on a bipartisan health-care reform proposal or stop working on it this year. Majorities say the legislation will make them and their loved ones (53%), the economy (54%) and the U.S. health-care system (55%) worse off—quite the trifecta.

Seven in 10 would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions. That includes 45% of self-identified Democrats, 72% of independents and 88% of Republicans.

Even more troubling for the White House and the leadership is that the political benefits of changing your mind and opposing the bill, like the benefits of quitting smoking start almost at once:

A congressman can buy himself a little grace if he had previously voted for health-care reform but now votes against it. Forty-nine percent of voters will feel more supportive of that member if he does so, 40% less supportive. More dramatically, 58% of voters say they will be more supportive of their congressman’s re-election if he votes against the bill a second time. However, for those members who voted against it in November and vote yes this time, 61% of voters say they will be less likely to support their re-election.

So much for the Damned if you do damned if you don’t argument.

The administration’s attempt to create a Fait accompli is very foolish. it has the potential to blow up in their faces like the Olympics or the Obama visit to Massachusetts during the Scott Brown election.

Democrats would be well advised to keep this in mind before they join the congressional version of Judean People’s front Crack suicide squad.

That’ll show us conservatives!

Update: The full poll is here.

The funniest line in the entire healthcare bill…

Posted: March 14, 2010 by datechguy in opinion/news
Tags: ,

Take a look at this passage from pages 1073-1074 of the bill.

A qualified health benefits plan shall comply with standards established by the Commissioner for the accurate and timely disclosure of plan documents, plan terms and conditions, claims payment policies and practices, periodic financial disclosure, data on enrollment, data on disenrollment, data on the number of claims denials, data on rating practices, information on cost-sharing and payments with respect to any out-of-network coverage, and other information as determined appropriate by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall require that such disclosure be provided in plain language.

Now take a look at this section also on page 1074:

(2) PLAIN LANGUAGE.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘plain language’’ means language that the intended audience, including individuals with limited English proficiency, can readily understand and use because that language is clean, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices of plain language writing.

Now two quick thoughts spring to mind:

1. Why wouldn’t the law just require plain language in plans instead of directing the commissioner to require it?

2. Where is the plain language in the bill itself? If we are requiring plan language for the health benefits plan why can’t we require plain language for the bill itself? I mean look at the thing, how much “plain language” do you see?

Remember also this is the reconciliation bill, if the House passes the Senate version of Obamacare, this might not even see the light of day because the senate bill will be law.

The Lonely Conservative is on the ball!

Posted: March 14, 2010 by datechguy in opinion/news
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Via a Tweet from Michelle Malkin she links to the reconciliation bill which has just gone up.

She did not find the word abortion in it.

My understanding is they still need to pass the senate bill before they can consider this.

I have a breakfast with my elderly confirmation godfather scheduled tomorrow so I don’t know how much time I’ll have to go through it but we shall see.

Update: Michelle Has a full post up on the subject. I’m sure three days will be enough for everyone to understand just what is in this bill and what they are voting on.

Never forget that we as a nation elected these people. If this monstrosity is passed and we have to live with it, then a lot of voters who bought the whole hope change nonsense will only have themselves to blame.

Update 2: While the word Abortion is not in here the words “family planning” appear 19 times.

from page 784:

In the case of an individual described in section 1902(hh), such medical assistance shall be limited to family planning services and supplies described in 1905(a)(4)(C) and, at the State’s option, medical diagnosis and treatment services that are provided in conjunction with a family planning service in a family planning setting. emphasis mine

Hmmm…”treatment services that are provided in conjunction with a family planning service”. I wonder what that might be referring to? I suspect it doesn’t refer to foot massages.

Update 3: the bill is not without comedy.

Update 4: Memeorandum has it up but somehow doesn’t include the Lonely Conservative who was first. What gives?

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