An edifying read

Rolling Stone's June 9, 2011 issue has a highly edifying read entitled How Roger Ailes Built the Fox News Fear Factory which I found revelatory.  A persistent topic of conversation amongst my dinner companions is why the Democrat's messages are so consistently drowned out.  We had been approaching the topic as a compare and contrast of how the Democrats are messaging versus how the Republicans are messaging.  After reading this article, I believe our starting premise is off base.  It's not the Democrats versus the Republicans; it's Democrats AND rational Republicans versus the rabid dogs of Fox News.  It's appalling and distressing to read Tim Dickinson's analysis and realize how much sway Roger Ailes wields over the way that policies are formulated and implemented.  The graphic (on the website, a slideshow) detailing how Fox New coordinated its distortions of President Obama's State of the Union address is particularly telling.  Distort, Attack, Repeat.

A recent academic study found that the ignorance of Fox viewers increases the longer they watch the network.

Ailes' strategy exhibits an outrageous disdain for the very people who make him successful, the Fox viewers.  In turn, Fox viewers' anger and frustration is remarkably misplaced.  Most Fox viewers resent what they see as the condescension and elitism of President Obama and other intellectuals.  In fact, these are the individuals in positions of power who are actually working in others' interest while Ailes and those of his ilk, solely to advance their own self-interest, are mercilessly manipulating the Fox viewers, playing on and intentionally deepening their ignorance.  In short, Ailes is exploiting the hoi-polloi in order to solidify his own upper class interests.  

He'd make an excellent comic book villain.  The problem is that this is real life, not a comic book, which leaves us desperately seeking an effective foil. 

Disappointed

Although I'm disappointed in Obama's failure to go to the mat on tax cuts, I'm still enough of a fan that I'm open to an explanation that will help me understand.  In furtherance of that end, I watched yesterday's press conference and was struck by his monologue at the end.   What he had to say was compelling and I will be watching this story develop with interest.

So this notion that somehow we are willing to compromise too much reminds me of the debate that we had during health care. This is the public option debate all over again. So I pass a signature piece of legislation where we finally get health care for all Americans, something that Democrats had been fighting for for a hundred years, but because there was a provision in there that they didn’t get that would have affected maybe a couple of million people, even though we got health insurance for 30 million people and the potential for lower premiums for 100 million people, that somehow that was a sign of weakness and compromise.

Now, if that’s the standard by which we are measuring success or core principles, then let’s face it, we will never get anything done. People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people. And we will be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are and how tough we are, and in the meantime, the American people are still seeing themselves not able to get health insurance because of preexisting conditions or not being able to pay their bills because their unemployment insurance ran out.

That can’t be the measure of how we think about our public service. That can’t be the measure of what it means to be a Democrat. This is a big, diverse country. Not everybody agrees with us. I know that shocks people. The New York Times editorial page does not permeate across all of America. Neither does The Wall Street Journal editorial page. Most Americans, they’re just trying to figure out how to go about their lives and how can we make sure that our elected officials are looking out for us. And that means because it’s a big, diverse country and people have a lot of complicated positions, it means that in order to get stuff done, we’re going to compromise. This is why FDR, when he started Social Security, it only affected widows and orphans. You did not qualify. And yet now it is something that really helps a lot of people. When Medicare was started, it was a small program. It grew.

Under the criteria that you just set out, each of those were betrayals of some abstract ideal. This country was founded on compromise. I couldn’t go through the front door at this country’s founding. And if we were really thinking about ideal positions, we wouldn’t have a union.

So my job is to make sure that we have a North Star out there. What is helping the American people live out their lives? What is giving them more opportunity? What is growing the economy? What is making us more competitive? And at any given juncture, there are going to be times where my preferred option, what I am absolutely positive is right, I can’t get done.

And so then my question is, does it make sense for me to tack a little bit this way or tack a little bit that way, because I’m keeping my eye on the long term and the long fight -- not my day-to-day news cycle, but where am I going over the long term?

And I don’t think there’s a single Democrat out there, who if they looked at where we started when I came into office and look at where we are now, would say that somehow we have not moved in the direction that I promised.

Take a tally. Look at what I promised during the campaign. There’s not a single thing that I’ve said that I would do that I have not either done or tried to do. And if I haven’t gotten it done yet, I’m still trying to do it.

And so the -- to my Democratic friends, what I’d suggest is, let’s make sure that we understand this is a long game. This is not a short game. And to my Republican friends, I would suggest -- I think this is a good agreement, because I know that they’re swallowing some things that they don’t like as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing them on the field of competition over the next two years.

Seriously? What makes you think I'd support that?

I don't think it's any secret that I'm an Obama fan.  I don't think it's any secret that I support the healthcare reform bill.  

So, why, oh why, would Citizens United, that conservative, hypocritical organization that battled to overturn campaign fundraising limits, think that I would support them in their latest quest to repeal the healthcare reform bill by suing the Obama administration in an attempt to get in front of the Supreme Court again?

I got a fund raising phone call from Citizens United and Dick Morris and by the end of it, I was laughing at the poor woman.  It was typical offensive Republican speak (with a little Dick Morris book selling tangent), asking me if I agreed with Obama's efforts to socialize healthcare, destroy the military and other imagined horrors.  I told the woman that, while her scripted question was offensive, pejorative and ridiculous, I wholeheartedly agreed with Obama's efforts thus far.

I must be on some list. It must be the same list that resulted in my invitation to the McCain rally in Grand Junction just prior to the 2008 election.  I have no idea how I would have ended up on such a list.

Either that or they're so misinformed as to think that everyone who figures out how to afford to live in Aspen must be a die-hard Republican who supports their twisted agenda.

Colorado Town Hall

I just submitted my request for two tickets to Obama's Colorado Town Hall on Saturday, 8/14/09 in Grand Junction. I'll know tomorrow afternoon if I got selected . . .

Grand Junction, Colorado Town Hall

Thank you for your interest in attending a Town Hall with President Barack Obama in Grand Junction, Colorado on Saturday, August 15th at 4:15 pm.

Due to limited space at the event we will only be able to fulfill a limited number of requests for tickets. Please note that filling out this form DOES NOT guarantee a ticket to this event. Filling out this form qualifies you to be selected for a ticket.

Doors for the event will open at 1:45 pm. The event location and further details will be given to those individuals who are selected to pick-up tickets.

At 12:00 pm on Thursday, August 13th, when the online sign-up has expired, a limited number of individuals will be selected and contacted regarding ticket pick-up information. Each individual selected will have the opportunity to pick up a maximum of TWO tickets.

Please note that the White House will not be able to respond to all requests for tickets. You will only receive a call if you are selected to pick up a ticket.

Because of space limitations we will not be able to accommodate all interested parties.

This form will be available until 12:00 PM Mountain Time, Thursday, the 13th.

THIS IS NOT A TICKET

Thank you for submitting your information. You will be contacted only if you are randomly chosen to receive a ticket. At that time, we will give you information regarding how to pick up your tickets and attend the event.

Tickets are not for sale.

Well then

My Political Views
I am a left social libertarian
Left: 4.25, Libertarian: 4.5

Political Spectrum Quiz
My Foreign Policy ViewsOn the left side are pacifists and anti-war activists. On the right side are those who want a strong military that intervenes around the world. You scored: -5.35

Score: -5.35

Political Spectrum Quiz


My Culture War Stance
Where are you in the culture war? On the liberal side, or the conservative side? This scale may apply more to the US than other countries. You scored: -8.15

Score: -8.15

Political Spectrum Quiz

Another take on healthcare reform

I'm on a few email lists which deal with medical billing and payment issues. Most of the time, we're discussing the nuts and bolts of how to bill and how to get paid. Occasionally, we detour to more broadbased, policy discussions which can get pretty heated since,like the country, we are representative of every political persuasion.

Recently, a dyed in the wool Texas Republican initiated a discussion of healthcare reform with a complaint about a specific portion of one of the proposed bills. Below is the response of another more liberal (centrist by his own description) list member which I found compelling. Since it was published to a public email list, I trust that I'm not violating any Internet protocol by reprinting it here:

I haven't replied till now because I have a business to run and long threads on three different lists are not compatible with that. Now that we both have our rants done with, my friend, we can talk about this in a less humorous and satirical way. As I said in my initial response, "we need to really look at this issue as citizens of a democratic republic, take a deep breath and find out enough about all the issues (not just what I'd like or what you'd like) and voice our opinion with suggestions to make reform as reasonable and fair as possible for as many people as possible. Maybe we will need to recall or not vote for some folks. Maybe we need to realize that getting the same amount of money back from the Feds as we put in in taxes is not the way a united country works for the best of all citizens."

Let me set my parameters. Sociologists generally refer to the middle class economically as those making between $30,000 to $80,000 per year. Those making above that amount (to about $150,000) are either upper middle class or considered lower upper class (see any text on social class). The most recent reliable poll I have(from Kaiser, one of those who sit on the fence because of their insurance connections and confirmed by POLE from St. Norbert's College) is that 56% of Americans want health care fixed now and believe they and the country will be better off. Interestingly enough, the figures of those folks go up to the 70% - 80% when limiting the responses to the economic middle class. Further, 60% want a public plan. I understand we differ in politics. I tend to vote centrist but can look at and adopt policies and stands from both right and left. That tends to make me unpopular with the folks from either the conservative or liberal side. One final thought, I never ever trust the Lewin Group for anything. Their track record as objective, accurate predictors and as being reliable is somewhat worse than that of the pharmaceutical research and besides they are owned by United Health Care (such a reliable group:-0)

Let's talk about what you said. "It does no good for either of us to rant about what damage the previous presidents did." I see that you do not choose to include Obama in the category of those who should not be flamed. The president inherited an economy just shy of complete chaos and depression (from one of the past presidents you want to exclude from consideration). He and his administration had to spend their initial time cleaning up after George which makes George part of the problem. Obama and his administration have passed stimulus bills and aids in a few months that seem to be working, if slowly. The successful idea was called "priming the pump" when Roosevelt did it. Obama has had only 6 months to fix George's problem, the financial crisis and health care. That's the same sort of thing that took President Franklin Roosevelt over 8 years and a war. We might note from a historical perspective that both Obama and Roosevelt inherited their disasters from Republicans. Both recoveries took a huge amount of money and some serious Supreme Court issues. This is no different.

I did point out before that no matter what, you do have 3 choices, join a plan, keep the plan you have or after taking what consequences may be put into a final law, drop out completely and put your premium in the bank or under the bed. But those choices do not exist now because we do not have a law. Odds are they may not exist by the time the Senate gets done with its input. What we have is a proposal or actually a couple of proposals still being negotiated. Discussion on the various points is good. If you want to make a change, get to DC and talk to folks or do so on the phone, by fax, e-mail or whatever. That is the way of the democratic republic that I swore an oath to when I went into the Army.

Now someone asked why are we in such a hurry. We can do nothing to change this growing economic and health disaster at a cost of roughly 10 times what it will cost us to change. As a nation, we have been fighting this growing disaster since Reagan and the end of Carter's time. We tried MAC limits and freezes on reimbursement income, DRGs, diddling with details such as requiring CPT and I-9 and tighter regulation. Then we did Mangled care, PPOs and other HMO related delivery systems and gate keeper docs. Then we went to the whole new coding system and tied that to a new ZERO (0) sum reimbursement system called RBRVS. We let ourselves be scared out of change by Harry and Louise and massive lobbying by payors, changed Medicare updates to stricter guidelines, reduced payment regions and other juggling acts, a whole new appeals system, then increased audits, health care saving accounts, etc. till now when we have special audit groups set up to take away cash earned. So we've tried a lot but the problem gets worse and now the problem has become too much for the economy for us to do business as usual.

On top of which (as Business Week noted), there is no real and serious competition in the insurance industry. 94% of the metropolitan areas in this country are controlled by one or two companies. In over 15 states, one payor has 50 % or more of the entire market. Clearly we need the public option, whatever form it takes, to actually get some real free market competition. That is part of why health care reform is needed as part of the economic fix. It might be nice if we could lay back and argue again all the possible and impossible options, But if we do that ,then we truly will be spending ourselves so deep in debt that our grandchildren and their grand hildren will be paying for it. Denying the problem and setting up Obama as a straw man villain doesn't change the facts. We are at a point where it costs us more money to maintain the status quo than it would to change the system. That is why we need to get something passed.

As usual in the U.S., what we pass will not be perfect. Perfection happens in the hereafter, not here. What we will do, however, is amend what we have and pass new stuff to meet whatever we did not hit this time or fight it out in court till it becomes clear and the best we can do. It seems to me that we'd be much further ahead talking to our reps than scaring people by referring to shadows that are not yet incorporated into a single proposal, yet alone a final bill or law.

My thoughts on healthcare reform

Susie said that she wishes I would blog about health care reform.

My problem is that even though I'm a smart person (or at least my test scores and grades would so indicate) and even though I'm experienced (having spent 16+ years directly working in the business side of health care plus the lifetime that I've spent in a physician's family), I don't know what the answer is.

What I do know is that it's time.

I know that whatever we come up with, it's not going to be perfect. But it can't help but be an improvement.

Many people say that they don't trust the government to run healthcare (not that any of the current options propose that government run healthcare). I'll tell you who I don't trust to run healthcare; for profit insurance companies.

I'm worried about what reform will mean to my practice. I'm particularly concerned about paying the bills (mortgage, payroll, etc) if reimbursements for all patients get cut to Medicare rates. It's tough to do business planning in such an uncertain environment.

I don't understand why health insurance needs to continue to be employment based. Do you get your car insurance, your life insurance or your homeowner's (or renter's) insurance through your employer?

I don't understand why group policies and individual policies shouldn't be subject to the same rules regarding underwriting, pre-existing conditions and tax deductibility.

And yet, at this point, as far as I'm concerned, the specific details are far less important than the need to take action now. I completely agree with Obama when he says that in order to fix the economy, we need to fix healthcare. I wish the CBO could assess the 10 year cost of doing nothing because there's no doubt in my mind that it would far exceed the cost of reform.

I say, pass the damn law now and we'll figure it out. Every time I hear that there will be a delay, the pessimist in me thinks that, Obama or no Obama, the do-nothings will prevail and healthcare reform is doomed.

Another healthcare reform debate snippet

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the proposed healthcare reform would cost a trillion dollars over 10 years.

NPR gave some perspective by pointing out that that's 100 billion dollars a year and that the US is spending a trillion dollars a year on the war in Iraq.

So, for 10% of the cost of the war in Iraq, we can fix healthcare?

The perfect is the enemy of the good

The go-slowers are in fact advocating, perhaps inadvertently, perhaps not, no health care reform . . .

It's a Republican Conspiracy . . .

The Bush appointed Republican Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, misquotes the Presidential Oath of Office which is set forth in the Constitution.

Accidental? Nerves?

Or A Republican Conspiracy??

Granted this is the Chief Justice's first Inaugural go-around. But he is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. And the oath is clearly set out in the Constitution. The oath is 35 words long. Too long for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to memorize?

Robert's misquote then leads President-elect Barack Obama to incorrectly restate the oath.

Does this mean he's not really president?

Wow

What a stupid, stupid man . . .

1-20-09

Am seriously considering taking Rachel to DC for this historic inauguration.

Spent the day mulling over options.

Hmmmm . . .

Late to the party?

Ok, I'm sure I'm not the first person to have figured this out but how cool is it that Inauguration Day 2009 is the day after Martin Luther King Day?

Watching it, I cried again

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

History

From last night

Blogging the election

Georgia to McCain? West Virginia to McCain. Dumbass rednecks. Oooo, that's kinda mean.

I'm amazed at the turnout here at Belly Up.

Wow, Obama leading Ohio by 56%?

I'm texting my husband and my boss, IMing my daughter, blogging, watching CNN, tracking NPR.com and CNN.com, poaching wireless and drinking in a public place. I'm living in the future.

CNN just called Ohio.

I'm starting to feel optimistic.

Obama's holding his party in public Grant Park, Daley invited the whole city. McCain's holding his party at the exclusive Biltmore. What could be more telling?

John what's his face on CNN just hypothetically gave Colorado to McCain and the crowd erupted in boos.

Such good energy here!

I just emailed my one friend in Ohio to tell him that I guess Ohio doesn't suck.

New Mexico doesn't suck either.

Utah sucks but we knew that.

Kansas still thinks the world is flat so they don't count. (hehehehe-Rachel)

Colorado is 75% against the Human Life amendment. This is a good thing.

GOP insiders say that it's over for McCain 8:04 pm MST!

Boo, Texas. What the heck is wrong with Texas?

Dana Bash has the McCain blink thing going on.

Arkansas, Mississippi, dumbass rednecks

Someone here has a tshirt that says put the black man in the white house.

This is really cool. But as Rachel says, it'so only cool 'cause we're winning.

Wow, a lot of time with no news. 8:49 pm

Obama's grandmother's vote will be counted. That's cool.

Rachel says that Anderson Cooper's hair makes him look like an anime character.

Wow, 5th consecutive election where the candidate with the better war record doesn't win?

Rachel says that CNN is good for people with ADD.

Virginia called for Obama. That puts him at 220. Add California's 55 and what do you get? 275!!!!

Barack Obama is the projected President Elect! This place is going crazy!

Yes, we can!

It's been a long time but I'm proud to be an American.

Colorado went Obama! We rock!

Look at Jesse Jackson cry!

My friends? So not.

Classy concession speech. When he wants to be, McCain can be a classy guy. But only when he wants to be.

Nice mention of Obama's grandmother.

What he's saying is good. Too bad he got lost in the campaign.

No more pretending to be Canadian when we travel overseas.

No, the failure is in your choice of Palin . . .

For all the shit he's been through, he does not look like a 72 year old.

I had this vision that with all the running around McCain has done, he was going to get elected and then drop dead on election night.

I don't know what more we could have done to win this election? Different VP!

With the difference in the electoral vote, it's amazing how close the popular vote is.

I'm so glad that Palin is not our VP.

Now the Secret Service really has to do its job! For the next 4 or 8 years.

Day after tomorrow, Rachel goes to visit her black family . . .

Rachel says Hillary is saying, I wish it was me but oh, thank god!

Oprah & Stedman in the house.

So glad to hear that the popular vote is also clear.

So where's Obama?

Wow, expectations are gonna be high. But Rachel says he's tall. And he has big feet. (as in shoes to fill)

I was wrong. Happy to be wrong. Wrong about McCain on the night of the Iowa caucus and wrong about the US's readiness to elect a black man.

Someone just asked me if Anderson Cooper was married. A friend says no, he's gay.

Oh shit, battery died. Found power!

Can you imagine? Ohmigod, my father's president of the US.

Man, does he look presidential!

Look at the bullet proof glass.

We are the UNITED States of America.

No more politics of fear.

Change had come to America. AMEN.

Nice mention of McCain's sacrifice.

Where's Biden?

Michelle, the new Jackie?

A new first puppy?

Mention of his grandmother makes me cry.

As I look at my beautiful biracial daughter, I think what a beautiful biracial president we have.

Rachel says he has Will Smith ears. Is this a compliment?

Hope.

Rachel just saw one of her teachers in Grant Park.

There's Joe Biden.

I'm so glad it's VP Biden and not VP Palin.

There may be a god.

Holy shit.

Wrong number?

I got home this evening to a voicemail message inviting me to a McCain victory rally in Grand Junction tomorrow.

Someone is very confused or desperate and I don't think it's me.

Good advice?

The town hall debate

Has Tom Brokaw had eye surgery?

Obama - "a lot of you I think are worried." should have said that I know a lot of you are worried.

I'm watching CNN and wow, look at Obama's approval lines at the bottom of the screen. The people are loving it.

McCain - does the president have the authority to order the secretary of the treasury to buy down home mortgages?

Obama - he's not answering the question about whom he would appoint to fill Paulson's vacancy.

McCain - oh no, you're not touting the fact that you suspended your campaign to tank the bail out compromise.

A bit condescending to suppose that we've (or the black questioner) have never heard of Fannie or Freddie.

Barack's breakin' it down for the man. Here's how the bailout will help, here's what's happening, small businesses can't get loans so they can't make payroll, so the bailout helps loosen credit and helps the average man.

Boy, I just finished reading the Rolling Stone cover story about McCain and I'm really not feeling the love for him. Yuck.

Obama - net spending cut!

McCain - cynicism? stealing Obama's word.

McCain - "I have fought earmarks" Can we talk about an aircraft carrier that Carter vetoed twice?

McCain keeps walking towards Brokaw and then suddenly changing course, oh wait, I'm supposed to be talking to the audience.

McCain keeps saying that we can do them all at once but he's going to have a Democratic congress so it's going to be a stalemate.

Brokaw - "there are some real questions about whether we can do everything" Slam?

Obama ranks the priorities, 1 energy, 2 healthcare, 3 education.

Fiorra asks what sacrifices we'll have to make and McCain is talking about the defense budget and contractors. Except for defense and veterans programs, McCain will cut all other programs?

Obama - "A lot (?) of you remember the tragedy of 9/11." Bush's call to service (Go out and shop) wasn't the kind of call the American people were looking for. "Each and every American can start to think about saving energy." Nice way to specifically tell Fiorra what sacrifice she can make.

Hatchet/scalpel. Steve says that's a good line. I agree.

McCain says that Obama's going to raise taxes on 50% of small businesses. I'm thinking that this isn't accurate.

Nice way to adjust on the fly, Tom.

"Straight talk express lost a wheel on that one." Nice jab.

Nice way to bring it back around to the question. Taxes back to Medicare.

McCain has been so divisive in this campaign and he think's he's going to sit down with Democrats?

I hate the way McCain is dropping his mike every time he finishes. It's so smug.

I love the question about Congress moving quickly. You've shown us you can do it, now you can't pretend like you don't know how.

Yep, we're the best workers and the best innovators. And the best screw-ups. Just ask Iceland, basically bankrupt because of the US mortgage crisis.

God, he did it again! Oh, he's pissing me off.

3% of the oil reserves and we use 25% of the world's oil! I love that statistic. Drill baby drill is dumb baby dumb.

McCain wants Tom to jump up and down.

McCain - Ugh, he's so nasty and sarcastic. "You know who voted for it? That one." Ugh.

McCain's smile is so smug and condescending while Obama's is just sceptical.

If McCain starts taxing employer health insurance benefits, I'm going to tell my employer to stop offering health insurance. Basically, the rules should be the same. Both group coverage & individual coverage is tax deductible and no exclusion for pre-existing conditions on either, if you've have continuous coverage.

Healthcare - privilege, right or responsibility? McCain - responsibility. Obama - right.

Obama - he's right. if you can shop state to state, then you'll lose the consumer protections. All of the insurance companies will set up shop in the least regulated state and you'll be buying less coverage than you think you are .

McCain makes "my friend" sound like a slam.

"I don't understand why we invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9/11." Me either!

Obama lived overseas and I think that's huge when it comes to understanding the US position in the world.

We'll establish the Obama Doctrine and the McCain Doctrine and then next week, we'll ask Sarah if she knows what they are.

Let's work in concert with our allies instead of in spite of our allies.

Can we be done now? Can't we just have the election today? I'm so sick of all this. I'm so sick of McCain.

McCain and Obama are saying the same thing about Pakistan but McCain is trying to make it sound like it's totally different.

Nice jab, Obama on the bomb, bomb, bomb Iran quip. Don't tell me I'm not speaking softly when you're off saying that North Korea should be annihilated.

"I'm going to act responsibly as I've acted responsibly in my military career." Bullshit! Please, please, please read this.

General McKiernan?? I thought it was McClellan. The pitbull says it's McClellan.

Steve - Who's living normal lives? The families of the US soldiers or the oppressed Iraqis?

Obama - "We honor your service." We. Awesome.

Look at the lines during Obama's response to the Iran/Israel question.

Obama - "Direct talks with our enemies to deliver a direct message that if you don't change your behavior, there will be dire consequences." Amen!

Great last question!!!! "What don't you know and how will you learn it?" Obama - "Michelle could give you a much better answer to this question." Opportunity. Seizing opportunity.

"Are we going to pass on that American dream?" "Can't continue to do the same things we done over the last eight years and expect a different outcome."

Obama will seize opportunity to learn what he doesn't know.

McCain doesn't know what's going to happen but so far he hasn't said how he's going to learn.

My country first? Hell no! Please read this.

Why indeed?

Why are basic diction and intellectual coherence presumed to be out of reach for "real people"?