The Note: Time to Ram It Through? — Schumer Sets Sept. 15 Deadline for Health Care Deal

With American Politicians taking a vacation, the news media in the USA is covering up the most illegal activities of an American President since Richard Nixon.
President Obama and his administrations illegal act of gathering and soliciting emails and conversations about information from one citizen concerning another American citizen is breaking the 1974 privacy act and the Constitution.
As always the pro and biased USA main stream media is no where to be found these days when it comes to reporting facts or informing the public about Obama’s illegal and unconstitutional acts. For them all criticism about Obama and his policies are labelled as racist! Yet, the only anti-white remarks are emanating directly from and within the white house.
Will this attempt against the people of America, to erode civil liberties, which has been orchestrated from the white house NOT be challenged in courts of Law? It is time for criminal charges to be laid in a court of law against Obama, his administration and his unelected gang of czars for these unconstitutional acts against the American people.
Why have elected Senators and Congress members NOT spoken out against this abuse of power and illegal act by the white house. Seems they tend to represent only their own self interests and not that of the American people or the constitution?
Time for Congress and the Senate to do their job of representing the people by holding hearings on the possible impeachment of this President for such illegal activities which are clearly in violation of the constitution; the 1974 privacy act and The Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988. Where is the appointment of an independent prosecutor to investigate such abuse of power allegations?

Here are some key reality checks ; for the climate bill, they said ” millions of green job will be generated”, the fact is that most manufacturing jobs will go oversea, not in US. For the stimulus bill, they said ” it will keep the jobless rate below 8% “, now it is 9.4-9.5%. On the health care bill, they said “the current health care spending is out of control, only the new health care reform can control the spending and save us money”, the fact is that, as found by CBO, the new reform will cost one trillion dollars more than the current spending and cut in current medicare will be needed.

Kudos to George on This Week for actually bringing up the fact the claims Gingrich was making: the death panel stuff, etc. are not actually IN the bill being considered. Wow, a journalist actually mentioned the facts. Howard Dean made exactly the point I keep making: the Republicans had 15 years after they defeated Clinton’s healthcare initative, to demonstrate how THEY would control costs and get people insured: and they did NOTHING. Now they are the party of “No” and they have refused to work on this with the President. The Republicans are dividing the country, once again, just to raise their political chances. Republicans DO NOT CARE how many people go without care or go bankrupt trying to pay medical bills.

Keep spreading lies, peterclarke.
I have no respect for conservatives who are too lazy to formulate rational arguments against the President’s health care iniative, and resort to lies, smears and personal attacks, you know, the usual conservative playbook.
Heck, I could formulate more intelligent arguments agaist this bill, and I support it! There is no need to resort to spinning lies and shouting down congressmen at town halls: open your brain and use facts to make your case.

austin
I too am disturbed by the CBO report, and I would like to hear how the President plans to address it. Kudos to you for presenting a rational argument against the bill. THIS is how democracy is supposed to work: people in opposition raising good points and contributing to making better policies.

They are feeling the heat from the drug companies. The pharmaceutical industry, with its $80B agreement, has told the Administration to pass this bill by the start of the fiscal year (1 October). Not only will the pharmaceutical industry love this bill but the major hospitals bordering urban communities, i.e., the University of Chicago Hospital/ Medical Center, can be count on billions of dollars coming their way via the huge influx of government dollars from the now uninsured or under-insured who will make these urban hospitals/medical centers their second home.

Who in their right mind would want republican ideology in a health care plan? The republicans brought us the credit default swap, hedge funds, derivatives, speculators, and speculation. Might end up with a brokerage firm in the front lobby with them selling hedge insurance to total strangers on whether you live or die. Of course if they had some inside speculators working as doctors the outcome may be design to line some pockets.

10 violations of our rights under HR 3200:
1. Forcing people to buy health insurance.
2. Forcing employers to provide health insurance for employees.
3. Forcing one group (wealthy, soda-drinkers, etc.) to pay for the health insurance of another group.
4. Forcing future generations to pay for the health care of the present generation.
5. Forcing patients to participate in a government-run plan.
6. Forcing doctors to participate in a government-run plan.
7. Forcing hospitals and other health care providers to participate in a government-run plan.
8. Forcing insurance companies to compete with a government-run plan.
9. Forcing insurance companies to write policies that offer coverage for specific conditions.
10. Forcing one group (older Americans on Medicare) to accept reduced benefits in order to fund other public health care plans.

One thing for certain is if the democrats do not pass strong public health care they are done and go into lame duck now. If they pass it they show they can lead and will be more respected than ever and will have pleased those that put them in office. Don’t worry about rejection from the health care industry. Plenty out there ready to replace them.

austin posted: “the fact is that, as found by CBO, the new reform will cost one trillion dollars more than the current spending and cut in current medicare will be needed.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
keep in mind, this is the same CBO that reviewed the Bush admins cost estimates for Iraq, in 2003, and deemed them “adequate” – doh!
just have defeated your own argument..perhaps you should also take in consideration that you have forgotten the inmense debt this administration got us into on the first 100m days…ohhh..I see . That does not count ..duh !

Spell checked
If you support goverment run health care you have lost your mind. I do not care what party you support but for once put politics to the side and research what you are supporting. Govt. run plans in other countries are NOT better than what we have, just ask a Canadian or someone from the UK. They think we are crazy to go down this path and they are right. If you want substandard care and dont mind waiting in long lines and waiting years for operations, than a Govt. plan is for you. Lets reform health care without the goverment plan and start with tort reform and allow insurance companies to cross state lines for more competition. That would be a good start. For the people who cannot afford health care than let there be a goverment plan to help them pay for private insurance but not just a give away.

Americans need health care reform. BUT NO PUBLIC OPTION. The idea that Obama can cover 50 million more people and reduce costs is ludicrous. Insurance companies must be held more accountable for their business practices, but that doesn’t mean the government should be the entity determining healthcare. There should be laws passed to protect consumers and allow them to negotiate for their own plans, independent of their employer. But medicare and medicaid are already bankrupt and now Obama wants to expand them? And he claims to be able to do it without raising taxes on the middle class? Wake up! This isn’t a realistic proposal!!

I’ll say it yet again. In 2003 Bush and the republicans passed The Pill Bill with no way to pay for it. The largest expansion of entitlement during my lifetime. And NONE of you opened your mouths.

WHAT is happening to the democratic party? They are totally getting out of control. They are sliding downhill quicker under Obama than the Republican party did under Bush.
I’m sick of all the game playing of which both parties are equally guilty of participating. The politicians need to grow up and look at the whole picture, not just their personal gains and/or perceived victories.

Why are libs so defensive, even apprehensive. Conservatives do want reform but not to carry the weight of lazy negligence at the cost of Taxpayers! This universal plan is obamas way of rewarding his acorn followers (already gave them a welfare raise while the rest of us took a cut). They don’t work, they stay out all night till 5 (their alcohol provided by taxpayers)in the morning and dont wake till 2 in the afternoon. They have no worries, obama provides them all they need. Sadly welfare is an accepted way of life in their communities. We are tired of the old excuse: It’s because of my race!That’s old and no longer an issue. I am a minority and I work for what I have! I scrape and cut coupons so I can send my children to a private school! Yet, somehow… they get it for free?! Wake up America, make the lazy earn thier freedom by their own hand and not our expense!!! And yes, lets put in firm regulations for commercial healthcare, fix Medicare and Medicaid as well as VA. But most of all make Welfare a 3 year maximum!!!!!!!

Just a heads up to all bloggers on these news sites, I think there is something “fishy” going on at the MSNBC website. I have been banned from blogging on their news stories and I don’t know why. There are many more offensive blogs than I have ever posted on their website. I am just wondering if they are attempting to keep a “fair” balance between liberals and conservatives blogging on their stories. If that is their intent, this is concerning that the MSM is deciding who is entitled to free speech and who isn’t.

OBAMACARE is about government control of our lives, not better healthcare. All we need is a reduction in cost(get the illegals out,reduce waste and fraud,etc.)not wholesale control of 1/7th of the economy. Say no to Socialism.

conversefive: re, MSNBC
That site is very tricky to get posted on, they only have a short window of opportunity to comment, unlike this site which accepts comments all day. The “regulars” on First Read jump on right away. I seriously doubt the MSNBC site is editing for content.

Schumer and the other dems. from NY and CAL. AREN’T FROM THE SAME PLANET AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY! Schumer should move to cal. where he will fit in with of the LALA LAND mentality found there!

NYT:
“the federal government already holds sway over the health care system through Medicare, Medicaid and various insurance programs for children, veterans, military personnel and other federal employees. The federal government will account for 35 percent of the expected $2.5 trillion in health spending this year, and that does not include subsidies built into the tax code.”

We’ll never get a reasonable health care system in this country or a reasonable energy/climate change/environmental policy until we get a law that corporations are not people covered under the Bill of Rights and money for lobbying is not tax deductible and money or services given to politicians are not a legal campaign contribution or whatever else the lawyers have come up with, but an illegal bribe. Until that happens, we are hostage to corporate special interests that will do absolutely anything, including fomenting violence, to protect and increase their profits.

NYT: Timothy Egan-
“The United States, like most countries, has long had a lunatic fringe who channel in the flotsam of delusion, half-facts and conspiracy theories. But now, with the light-speed and reach of the Web, “entire virtual crank communities,” as the conservative writer David Frum called them, have sprung up. They are fed, in the case of Sarah Palin, by people who should know better.
For a democracy, which depends on an informed citizenry to balance a permanent lobbying class, this is poison. And it’s one reason why town hall forums on health care, which should be sharp debates about something that affects all of us, have turned into town mauls.
The lies and shouts have had the effect that all crank speech has on free speech — stifling any real exchange.”

Whooooooo….. Socialism! Does having universal health care make you a socialist? Look up socialism in the dictionary and re-think yourself the next time you use that word. Now I don’t know exactly what Congress is attempting to do with health care but, I’ve heard Obama say that a single payer system is out of the question. Just so you know a single payer system is akin to socialism. I know personally I would like to see all people have access to health care. I would also like to see a drop in price in health care rates, do away with the pre-existing condition BS, and get these hospitals and doctors in line with inflation. Don’t get me wrong, I think what doctors do is very important and they should be well compensated, but when is enough, enough? Not to mention for profit health care. The only people that should be making a profit off of my health care are the people that had some hand in making me better. Not some share holder in an insurance company.

The more this kicks up the more I feel it’s a window into how bad our education system really is anymore. The ignorance out of republicans buying into the spin just continues to blow my mind. It’s always so refreshing to run across one that actually argues legislation on merits. One that considers a fact vs. rumor.

How do we know what the Presidents health care initiative is. Has any one of you read the over 1000 page bill. Has anyone read it. What exactly are they voting on. Would you vote for something you know nothing about. That is the reason that this needs to be beaten and a true cost saving system needs to be set up.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, recently called the Republican negotiators less independent decision-makers than agents of their party’s caucus — the same caucus that overwhelmingly opposed Mr. Obama’s economic stimulus legislation at the peak of the new president’s popularity.

Disease does not respect artificial class distinctions or income levels. If a pandemic hits a population in America with limited access to medical care, do you believe that the middle and upper class would be immune because of their “worthiness”? Do you understand that making immunization and other treatment available to every American is a form of enlightened self-interest? It’s not just innoculations, either — if your fellow citizen has good overall health, he’s less likely to be infected with a bug that can be passed on to you.

Analysis of Health Care overruns—sure I got one. Everytime the government gets involved in health care—-Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. Obama’s health care is scam to give more power and money to politicans while screwing over the american taxpayer and all of the rest who will be forced to suffer rationed care.

to demonstrate how THEY would control costs and get people insured: and they did NOTHING
————————————–
Explain SPECIFCALLY how HR3200 or any of the other “so-called” plans will CONTROL costs.
My point has been from the very beginning that NO ONE has a real plan to do this. Because they wont or cant explain what the components are in ANY individual bill you have in your own possesion.
They can’t tell you that out of a $350 Radiology charge that (for example) $125 is escalating overhead due to operating costs. That out of that $125 cost, 66 dollars is to offest legal costs. … ETC
People are not buying that you can magically create a unverisal data base in virtually no time and at no cost and that this will bwecome the spring from which savings will just flow & flow.

The Democrats/administration were trying to hijack the health care system. They tried to rush their health care bill through without allowing the public understand the implications.
Now they are not interested in hearing concerns at town hall meetings.
To show good faith that the true motivation is not to hijack health care they could stop blowing off ideas from Republicans.
I would feel better if this were a true bi-partisan bill.

Currently, if you want to drive you have to have a license and carry car insurance. You got a problem with that?
————————————–
Amy, Amy, Amy……
I dont have aproblem with it at all…HOW coem you dont?
LOL….YES, AND IF YOU ARE NOT A PERFECT DRIVER, YOU PAY MORE!!!!
Pre-existing conditions exist there – you previous driving record affects the rate you will pay! Why are you not up-in-arms over that?
And if you cannot afford it, YOU DONT GET TO DRIVE!
EVEN IF YOU A PERFECT DRIVER, IF YOU ARE MALE & UNDER 25 YOU GET HOSED!
So why aren’t you liberals outraged that “profiling” exists for auto insurance?
WHY are you not screaming that EVERY American should have a right to drive on the roads of this great country.
By the way, under certain circumstances, the GOVERNMENT (albeit state government) can take away your ability to operate a vehicle!
Strange, I do not recall this happening when a horse was the #1 method for people to get from point A to point B.
Their is no ‘right’ to healthcare just as their is no ‘right’ to drive.
People “interpret” phrases to extend what they “believe” are rights.
Has any court yet declared heathcare as a “right” ?
Has the Supreme Court upheld such a ruling ?

Question: if all or part of what is said about this healthcare bill comes true, can they be held liable in a court of law???????? Democrats won’t always be in the majority unless Pres. Obama has his way and rewrites the constitution.

There is a lot of back and forth about whether euthanasia is in this bill, with the elitist hacks making fun of the notion of “killing granny.” If you will go to pages 424-430 on the House health care reform bill you find it all there. First you will note that “Advance care planning consultation” will intensify as the patient lingers on without recovering. This is code for “You are using too much oxygen and you need to stop doing so.” Orders for life-sustaining treatments will be standardized. These are “actionable medical orders” that can be signed by a physician, nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. The orders can range from standard treatments to that of withholding antibiotics, nutrients, water, etc. In other words it is plainly written that standardized care includes the option of the health care provider being able to make the judgement (code for ordering) to withhold treatment, and to withhold food and water. We already had a practice run of this with Terri Schiavo and it worked marviously. And, if it’s good for Terri Schiavo it is good for the rest of the masses, i.e., the little people. So yes, granny, the physically and mentally disabled are marked individuals and are truly in danger if this health care reform is enacted. I think that Ted Kennedy, and his ilk, are safe, however. Wonder why that is??

Lizzie
When President Bush started his 2nd term, he tried to privatize social security – that is, putting those retirement accounts in the stock market, which, shortly after the senate defeated that plan, crashed.
Is that what you are talking about?

There is nothing “bipartisan” about this plan. It’s a totally liberal/socialist agenda and “ram it through” is an excellent choice of words.

Amy B Maine – please address the standardized medical orders that include withholding of antibiotics, food and water. That is euthanisia whether or not you believe it is, or whether or not you want to believe that it is not.

congrats republicans – my mother cried over the horror of Terry Schiavo being kept alive against her will – she pleads with me from time to time to be absolutely sure that doesn’t happen to her.
And now we have Sarah Palin and the republicans twisting an end of life documentation initiative into death panels!
This just makes me furious. This is important stuff and a lot of seniors want their wishes honored.

Anyone that believes government can run a massive healthcare insurance program more efficiently than many private sector providers do it today…you must be out of your minds. And rationing is an automatic MUST for any governenment run plan..today the market does its own rationing of HC resources…by the millions of workers and people making decisions on their own…which Drs to chose, which plans, and which procedures to have, etc…in the future should this bill pass..those decisions will largely be made by government bureaucrats…and we the people will have far less freedom and choices than we do today. Seniors and special care patients will be the ones likely to see the greatest change in benefits and coverage..much less than they have today…in order to cover the millions that don;t have coverage today including 11MM illegals (don;t forget amnesty is around the corner as well)…this plan is all about increasing government power and scope first…and last…nothing more. In the end..we will all be on the single payer government run system..and the quality and choices will be less.

Actually, health care rationing is already a reality. Almost a quarter of the population is rationed no health care whatsoever. The rest of us get our rationing from private insurance bureaucrats. As far as efficiency, the overhead for Medicare (a “public option” for seniors) is no more than 3%, compared with 25% (or more) for the multitude of private insurance plans.