Kathleen Sebelius

As I understand it, this is an issue where the fault lines may not be as clear, with some Republicans wanting to be on the side of a real solution. The shadow players, as Obama suggested in his weekly address will be the industry donors -- to both sides -- and lobbyists. Who represents "big health" in the current congress?

President Obama, from his recent Congressional Address:
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...this is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what's necessary to move this country forward.
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And for that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care.
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This is a cost that now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds. By the end of the year, it could cause 1.5 million Americans to lose their homes. In the last eight years, premiums have grown four times faster than wages. And in each of these years, 1 million more Americans have lost their health insurance.
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It is one of the major reasons why small businesses close their doors and corporations ship jobs overseas. And it is one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of our budget. Given these facts, we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold. We can't afford to do it.
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(APPLAUSE)
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It's time.
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(APPLAUSE)
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...Now, there will be many different opinions and ideas about how to achieve reform. That's why I'm bringing together businesses and workers, doctors and health care providers, Democrats and Republicans to begin work on this issue next week.
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I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. Once again, it will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and our conscience long enough.

So let there be no doubt: Health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.

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Apart from the long-term financial soundness of it, apart from the moral imperative of it, apart from the current widespread electoral popularity of it, this is the most astute long-term political move the Democratic party could possibly make.
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If the Democratic Party manages to get people in this country guaranteed access to reasonably good health care, it will be the enactment of Social Security multiplied by one hundred.
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It will be the most popular thing the government could possibly do for its citizens. It will be wildly, spectacularly popular.
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It will take decades before people get so accustomed to it that they'll listen to somebody who says "government is not the solution, it's the problem".
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This is the smartest thing I've ever seen these people do.
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Now, let's see if, given majorities (don't give me that filibuster-proof necessity in the Senate --this isn't an emergency deficit spending bill) in both Houses, and the Presidency, whether the Democrats could possibly f*ck up this precious, heaven-sent, golden opportunity to exceed New Deal and Man-on-the-Moon in the public's mind.
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If Congressional Democrats screw Obama on Health Care, there will be hell to pay.
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It's time.

I hope she doesn't have a tax problem that suddenly pops up. Owing a little bit in back taxes doesn't bother me unless it's on Daschle's scale. I think his was just a case of cheating on his taxes deliberately and that does bother me. What I don't understand is why there isn't a chorus for Palin to resign. She defrauded the state out of $17,000 for per diem and travel and got to keep the money! She only had to pay taxes on the money she stole. She also had to pay the state $7,000 for her kids mooching on the state dime. She claimed they were on state business. The expenses totaled $21,000. I'm guessing the 7k was taxes too. Maybe it's better to let it slide for now and then use it to torpedo her shot at the presidency in 2012. After she gets the nomination of course.

@ stuartzechman: I think you nailed this one. Universal healthcare has got to scare the beejesus out of the republicans. If they think their governors are showing signs of supporting Obama's stimulus package and breaking with the Washington leadership now, wait until the governors raise a howl if they think their house and senate members are going to try to screw them out of healthcare cost relief/reform. Good Lord...it's fun being a democrat now.

This is where we can make a difference. We can organize the letters, the phone calls, let them no they will pay a price in 2010 for not supporting Obama on healthcare. There are even some Republicans who will be vulnerable on this issue. Like Peter King in NY who answers to too many teaching hospitals and blue collar workers who lost their health care in upstate NY to screw with this once the people know the deal.

Sacredh,
The rules are different for Republicans. The MSM will never bring up Palin's tax issue again.

Sacredh because the msm only hold Democrats to this higher standard. The GOP will tell them to phuck off and they know it.

K Tizzle
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First what did the kids decide on re Choc Chip pancakes?
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Second have you heard anything about Rahm's brother getting the Health Care Czar gig? They had something about him getting it at firedoglake but they are obssessed over there with villifying Rahm at this point so it might have just been another slap at him.

Personally I hope his brother is in there this is one overachieving clan. I could use a little sibling rivalry based competition on whose more successful. I want health care and I pretty don't much care how I get it. They can trade souls for all I care (well as long as it's not mine I'm hedging my bets).

Dee: "A walk through the ocean of most men's souls would scarcely wet your feet". I think a noted philosopher said that, but hell...for all I know it was Elvis Costello.

This is some wild sh*t. This is via Ballon Juice.
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http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2009/02/rick-santellis-faux-rant/#more-20449
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I am not one for conspiracy theories but uhmm this is fishy as hell.

The genius of Obama never fails to astound me. It's more than likely inadequate, but included in the 2010 budget is over $600 billion dollars for health care. Amazing. The mandate is funded BEFORE it has actually been determined! Now THAT is scary-smart!
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BTW Sgw, Playboy actually does do journalism. And some fairly decent journalism at that (not that I'm suggesting a career change for KT or anything!) so there may in fact be a there there. If it's true, can I make Santelli a crow humble pie?

sgwhiteinfla: Thanks for the link. That does sound like an orchestrated "spontaneous" event. This sort of thing shouldn't surprise us though. Remember Linda Tripp wearing a wire and getting Monica to confess all the lurid details of her protein adventures and then after Bush gets in the White House Linda gets a half-million dollar settlement from the government to settle her suit? Pay-off for job well done. Raise the taxes on the scumbags. They can even claim taxation without representation since those clowns can't even buy an election now.

I sure hope some serious journalist is planning to ask Santelli & Co. a few tough questions. Follow the money, right?

Love love aboslutely phucking LOVE reading you guys. My brain grows a bit every time.

Therein lies my inaugural post to Swampland.

Just wishing I spelled better.

COLONEL QUARK'S FIRM BREACHES MARINE ONE HELICOPTER SECURITY:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29447088

= SANDY BURGLAR ACCOMPLISHED =

sgwhite,
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I saw the same thing yesterday at eXiledOnline. linky
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http://exiledonline.com/exposing-the-familiar-rightwing-pr-machine-is-cnbcs-rick-santelli-sucking-koch/

Here in LA. we do a lot wrong, but one thing we do right is our teaching hospitals (charity). Patients pay what they can, are treated with respect. I was shocked a few years ago to find this wasn't the case everywhere. Is this a feasible prospect nationwide?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2196472/posts

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COPTER-GATE 2009.

Um...
What happens to Kansas now? And their Senate seat in 2010?
Or should I ask Nate?

More ass hole cop video
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[...] Kathleen Sebelius - Swampland [...]

If Playboy is correct, and they usually are.. then Santelli is toast. As much as the whole channel is in the pocket for the Republican Party, I don't think the management of CNBC is going to be too crazy about the implications that they have been used for political purposes. Of course Larry Kudlow the poster child for corporate greed and main anti Obama figure on CNBC will defend Santelli to the end. Should get really interesting over at CNBC.

Everyone one on Swampland should watch the strip seach video, as an ex MP it is disgusting and violates every form of human decency. It happened in 2006! By the way the Sherrif has sued the television station over the news coverage. I believe it happened in Ohio so it will be interesting to see if the Ohio state government does anything or just tries to make it go away. I would expect the Obama adminsitration will be sending in the Justice Department to investigate.

The officers in the video and the officer filming the video and the Sherrif all need to go to jail. Especially the female officers involved in this event. For them to ignore a basic protocol and allow male officers to assist them in the stripping of this female prisioner is unconsciable. There are allegations from other female who have been arrested in this county that it also happened to them.

Karen, will Time be doing a story on this?