The House That Jack Built

OK…  First the uninformed ideologue, “Jack Cassell”  (WHY do these people have to be named “Jack”?) refuses to treat any patients who voted for Obama.  He cited reductions in senior and hospice care.  (Which there is nothing in the healthcare bill that even remotely could cause such a thing).

When asked by Alan Colmes how much he actually knew about the healthcare bill, his reply was “I can’t tell you exactly what the deal is.”

Colmes then asked, “if you don’t know, why are you speaking out against it?”  His reply was “What I get online, just like any other American. What I’m supposed to understand about the bill should be available to me.”

To me, this was pretty much a non-story.  An uninformed ideologue, who knows nothing about the healthcare bill, acting like an ass.  (After all, there are thousands of uninformed ideologues acting like asses, so what?) The bottom line is, there are thousands of Urologists in Florida.  I have never supported this healthcare bill, and if I saw his sign on the door, I would turn around and go back to my car.  (NO WAY would I even THINK of letting this guy touch me.  ESPECIALLY THERE!!!!!)  I would get on the phone to my referring Doctor’s office (and my insurance company if necessary) and get ANOTHER referral. NO BIG DEAL.  That’s the way Capitalism works.

ok… So that’s no big deal.  Just another a-hole in a world filled with them.

Here is another story about ANOTHER uninformed ideologue, who is NOT turning away patients who voted for Obama, but claims he is LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES WHO VOTED FOR OBAMA!  He is now playing political games with people’s lives!

Like, the last guy, he has no idea what is in the healthcare bill.  He posted (under the name “dermdoc” on a Texas A&M message board: “Laid off my first Obama voting employee today.”

“Our reimbursement rates are spiraling downward, taxes are projected to go up with Obamacare, so I did it,” the person wrote. He later added: “I made this decision because I can.”

“It is kind of interesting watching their face as you explain to them the economic consequences of the policies of the guy they voted for,”

“And most analysts think reimbursement rates for docs will go down about 20-25% the next 2 years, and that is BEFORE Obamacare really kicks in.”

Again, this guy has no idea what he is talking about.  First of all, he’s a Dermatologist.  By “reimbursement rates”, I assume he is talking about Medicare/Medicaid.  Specialists like Dermatologists ALWAYS have enjoyed higher reimbursement rates then primary care physicians, and they are by NO means spiraling downward.  “Most Analysts”?  Really?

So, he decides to layoff an employee and brag about it on a college message board.  All  I can say to this guy is, G-d is watching EVERYTHING you do.  My prayers go out to this employee and his/her family.

Once he was outed, his reply was:

“That is the way business works,” …If that makes me an ahole, so be it.”

No Mr. A-HOLE, that’s NOT the way ethical business works in a Capitalist society.  We have a meritocracy.  People are NOT laid off because of their political views.  Obamacare (no matter HOW flawed) will have ZERO negative impact on your practice.  ZERO.  If you can’t run a business efficiently enough to maintain employment for your employees (who lack any performance issues, as there is no evidence of any in this case), that’s on YOU!  (Not Obama, or the healthcare bill)

You are TRULY an A-hole in every sense of the word.

When I saw the headline, “GOP Better Plan To Promote Jobs”, I thought, I bet it was going to be, gee “Let’s cut taxes for the rich!  That will create jobs!”

I watched the video, and guess what? I was right!  What a surprise!

msnbc.com Sen. Kyl GOP has a better plan to promote jobs

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Mr. Kyl rambles on about these HUGE tax increases on working families.  He fails to mention that the only families impacted are those making over $250,000/yr.  (Keep in mind he excludes the healthcare bill from the discussion).  He then says “most business pay their taxes through their personal income tax.”  He fails to mention the less than 1.5% of “small” business owners pay THEMSELVES over $250,000/yr!!!!  Almost NO small business owners can afford to take anywhere NEAR that amount annually out of their own businesses.

He also likes to cite the Obama Administration’s massive “failure to create jobs.”

Well, let’s compare this administration’s job record with the last administration’s (using the “tax cuts create jobs” theory)  Keep in mind, the RED section is under the Bush tax cuts.  Hmmmm  Mr. Kyl, you might me on to something with this “out-of-the-box” thinking….  Perhaps not.

Former Fox News, (and likely soon to be) former MSNBC anchor, David Shuster has been suspended indefinitely from MSNBC (why don’t they just fire him?) for taping a pilot for CNN in violation of his contract.

That’s a bit sad.  I haven’t seen much of him, but I always liked the reporting I have seen.  (Apparently, he made some offensive comments about Chelsea Clinton?)  However, if he violated his contract, MSNBC should just get rid of him.

It made me chuckle a bit, when fair and balanced Fox News called him a “liberal loudmouth”.  (a bit if whiny sour grapes)

Who knows, maybe he can go back to Fox News????

Rod Nordland’s article in the NY Times is indicating that Iran is now supporting Ayad Allawi (Iraq’s first Prime Minister) over Shiite-leaning Al Maliki.  That is a REAL surprise!  He suggests that it might be a pragmatic move.  It’s possible that disenfranchised Sunnis would not support Al-Maliki for another term, and the country could unravel.

Of course, Iran already got what it wanted from the U.S. invasion of Iraq (the elimination of a belligerent anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian, war-mongering dictator) so perhaps the Iranians don’t want to push their luck with a pure Shiite government in Iraq and risk an anti-Shiite (and most likely anti-Iranian) uprising.

In any case, this is GREAT news!

It still doesn’t mean that there is tremendous unity in Iraq and everyone still buys into a unified Iraq.  We’ll see what happens.

Ron Paul AGAIN makes a great showing in the straw poll at SLRC.  Ron Paul came in second behind Romney by ONE vote.

Maybe there IS something to the Ron Paul phenomenon?  Maybe conservatives actually want to vote for a conservative candidate?

The breakdown was as follows:

• Mitt Romney 24%
• Ron Paul 24%
• Newt Gingrich 18%
• Sarah Palin 18%
• Mike Huckabee 4%
• Tim Pawlenty 3%
• Mike Pence 3%
• Rick Santorum 2%
• Gary Johnson 1%

Other than Ron Paul, I just don’t see any conservative candidate emerging.  The Republican party seems to be in complete disarray.  Maybe a third-party candidate?

Obama is FARRRRRRRR from perfect.  If someone better could run, I would vote for that person in a heartbeat.

To tell you the truth, I strongly dislike the Neocons for “dumbing down” conservative thought.  (Look at Newt Gingrich, for example).   Why does being a Republican have to mean that you are completely clueless?  A better question is: Why does being a CONSERVATIVE have to mean that you are completely clueless? Why can’t there be an intelligent conservative from ANY party who deeply understands the issues and has some solid ideas and solutions?

Look what the GOP has to offer:

Mitt Romney:

• Author of Massachusetts Romneycare.  (Almost identical to this misguided national healthcare bill).  Completely wrong and clueless on Iraq and Foreign Policy.  (His “No Apologies” book is a great example of his complete lack of foreign policy understanding.)
• Wrong on the economy.  (Basically a continuation of the previous administration.)
• High on rhetoric, zero on ideas.

Sarah Palin: No depth of understanding on ANY issue (foreign or domestic).  Great at memorizing talking points for applause lines.  (That’s about it)  She is several steps behind Romney in understanding the issues (especially foreign policy) and not even close to forming new ideas.  Her nomination will completely guarantee an Obama victory.  She would carry a few states in the South. (MAYBE).  It would be a landslide the size of Nixon VS Humphrey.

Newt Gingrich: He is simply a shadow of his former self.  (A sad, Hannity-puppet.)

Tim Pawlenty: I don’t know much about him.  From what I can read about his PAC, it seems not very much different from the Neocon line.  (High on rhetoric.  Low on ideas).  Maybe he will surprise me?