Orrin Hatch: Healthcare reform threatens survival of two-party system
The healthcare reform proposals before Congress threaten the existence of the two-party system, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) alleged Monday morning.
Hatch asserted that the health bills, which he believes represent a “step-by-step approach to socialized medicine,” will lead to Americans’ dependence on Democrats for their health and other issues. “
And if they get there, of course, you’re going to have a very rough time having a two-party system in this country, because almost everybody’s going to say, ‘All we ever were, all we ever are, all we ever hope to be depends on the Democratic Party,’ ” Hatch said during an interview with the conservative CNSNews.com.
Orrin Hatch says that if health reform passes the GOP won’t win another election? I’d use that quote on some fundraising literature if I were the DNC.
11:59:30 Republicans set to introduce actual alternative Health Care bill
Mr. Boehner said Sunday the Republican bill would extend health-insurance coverage to “millions” of Americans but wouldn’t try to match the scope of the House Democratic bill unveiled last week. The Democratic legislation, if passed, is estimated to expand coverage to more than 30 million Americans now without insurance. Its estimated gross cost is $1.055 trillion over 10 years.
[…]
He said the bill wouldn’t raise taxes, nor mandate that individuals and businesses purchase insurance, as the Democratic legislation does.
Costs $1.055T, I wonder how they want to pay for it?
Cut taxes!
Sharif University Student to Khamenei: Why Can’t Anyone Criticize You?
This is great.
Obama planting a commemorative tree on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, October 28, 2009.
The tree replaces one planted by former US President George W. Bush in the same spot in April 2008 that failed to take root.
(via)
That’s a socialist shovel.
New strategy from the right: fake dog poop
RedState’s Erick Erickson launches a campaign to send joke poop to a Democratic congressman.
GOP has tired of delivering only figurative turds, and has taken the next step.
CBO: Insurance provided by the public option will be more expensive than a private plan
Sigh.
This is why the robust public option (i.e. the one tied to medicare rates) was always the incarnation that made the most sense. As this writer says:
If it’s just a separate, but unequal insurance plan for people who need a lot of medical care, and won’t put downward pressure on premiums in the private market, what’s the point?
A deeper look inside the health insurance industry from This American Life
I recommend this episode/podcast/program. Act Two is a very lucid presentation of the principal reasons we have the very strange and inefficient health care system we have (centered on employer-based insurance).
The final part is a more nuanced look at why insurance companies make the decisions they do (hint: it’s actually not because they are evil).
Excellent stuff.
Deal Reached in Honduras to Restore Ousted President
A lingering political crisis in Honduras seemed to be nearing an end on Friday after the de facto government agreed to a deal, pending legislative approval, that would allow Manuel Zelaya, the deposed president, to return to office.
The government of Roberto Micheletti, which had refused to let Mr. Zelaya return, signed an agreement with Mr. Zelaya’s negotiators late Thursday that would pave the way for the Honduran Congress to restore the ousted president and allow him to serve out the remaining three months of his term. If Congress agrees, control of the army would shift to the electoral court, and the presidential election set for Nov. 29 would be recognized by both sides. Neither Mr. Zelaya nor Mr. Micheletti will be candidates.
Surprisingly little about this on my dashboard today. And by surprisingly little, I mean “nothing.”
ABC News Poll: More Americans Prefer Public Option to Bipartisan Bill
Unfortunately it’s the same 51% who prefer their congresspets to have vertebrae, so this doesn’t make for a pretty venn diagram I can use to get 112 reblogs.
Plus I’ve already used up all my photoshop skills for the day.
