What’s interesting in the news today?
It’s been an interesting few days hasn’t it? In the past few days the perceived enemies of the President have been called extremists, terrorists, jihadists, murderers, un-American, hostage takers, arsonists, accused of being anarchists, and of holding a gun to the country’s heads.
And yet actual terrorists, jihadists, extremists, murderers (and the rest of the list) who actually do these things, are labeled as moderate rebels, and freedom-fighters by the same people. And the same RINO’s too. Go figure. Actual enemies of this country are treated better than the Republicans. Very sad, not to mention cowardly.
New tone? Anyone?
From TheWashingtonTimes “Democrats, who have long posed as the party of peaceniks and doves, have been anything but during the great rhetorical war of 2013. In fact, the party of George McGovern and Jimmy Carter has been mad as hell as of late, leading an offensive of bombastic insults and rhetorical bullying that has dominated the government shutdown. It’s a perfect storm, with Democrats leading the pace.
President Obama called Republicans “reckless and irresponsible,” casting the Grand Old Party in the role of villain. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, referred to Republicans as “anarchists,” and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, deemed Republicans “legislative arsonists.””
““Democrats have hurled every insult imaginable, such as ‘terrorist,’ ‘arsonist’ and ‘murderers’ against Americans who differ with President Obama. Despite their threats and childish behavior, the speaker has been steadfast in his vision to reduce the size and scope of government and treat everyone fairly,” Mr. Stockman said.”
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Liberal religious leader Jim Wallis gets in on the act as well. He says these “political extremists” are acting in an unbiblical manner. Thoughts?
From TheBlaze “Progressive faith leader Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners, is joining a chorus of Americans who are frustrated over the government shutdown. In a video monologue this week, he unleashed his views on the matter, calling the closure “unbiblical” and hitting back at the “political extremists” he believes are responsible for it.
While most of the debate surrounding the shutdown is partisan in nature, Wallis argues that the conundrum is deeper than mere strife between the parties; in fact, he says it’s spiritual.
“There is a deeper problem here than politics. There’s a theological problem,” he proclaims in the clip. “As a Christian I want to say shutting down government is unbiblical. Yes, that’s what I’m saying — it’s unbiblical.”
“Wallis goes on to instruct readers to explore what the Bible has to say on the matter and specifically cites the 13th chapter of the Book of Romans, which discusses the importance of complying with government.”
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Harry Reid yet again shows himself to be “anti-veteran” by even his low standards.
From TheWashingtonExaminer “Senate Democrats blocked four resolutions to fund government programs, including paying the National Guard and opening national parks, as Republicans offered the limited measures in an attempt to win the government shutdown fight by financing popular programs and leaving those they oppose untouched.
“Unbelievably, today Senate Democrats went on record to oppose funding for National Guard and Reserve salaries, veterans’ services, lifesaving medicine and cures, and national parks and museums,” Senate Republican Conference chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said in a release following the procedural battle.
“Congress unanimously passed a bill to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid during this lapse in government funding, and it’s unclear why Senate Democrats wouldn’t pass similar measures to fund these important services,” Thune said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., asked for unanimous consent to pass funding for the Veterans Affairs Department and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, requested unanimous consent to pass a bill funding the national parks and monuments. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., rejected both.”
He won’t fund veteran services to try and force people to give in to his wishes, but they’ll fund terrorist rebels in other countries with no strings attached.
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Folks on the Gulf Coast are preparing for Tropical Storm Karen, which appears to be turning into a full-fledged hurricane.
From AccuWeather “Tropical Storm Karen has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and will move into the southern United States this weekend with heavy rain, gusty winds and rough seas.
Karen will continue to move along a curved northward path over the central Gulf of Mexico through Friday. During Saturday, Karen will begin to turn toward the northeast and will make landfall along the upper Gulf Coast from southeast of New Orleans to west of Panama City, Fla.
There is a chance Karen becomes a hurricane prior to making landfall. Shortly after being officially named a tropical storm, Karen’s maximum sustained winds had reached 65 mph. The threshold for a tropical system to become a hurricane is sustained winds of 74 mph.”
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Wandering Views 
In case CB doesn’t see my reply to her on yesterday’s thread, I’ll repost it here…
CB – Have you read my comments on this issue from Wednesday, & what I wrote above (on Thursday)? I don’t think the ACA is going to be the answer people wish it to be, & I also know that the current system is faulty. More than one person here has pointed out that one of the reasons medical costs are so high is because the gov’t or insurance has payed the bill for most over the last several decades. At this point, I don’t see a workable solution, & yes, that bothers me.
My own spouse, my husband, also has a pre-existing condition. Right now we have no health insurance.
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Karen
I’m sorry to read that. It has to weigh on your mind. Pre-DOMA ruling I was constantly worried that we’d come up with a health bill that would bankrupt us. I feel fortunate to now have coverage by virtue of my job. I do agree that the ACA is a half-measure as it uses the current system which was already broken. I don’t agree that medical costs have risen only because of government/insurance coverage – the free market does price up on medical care — people will pay whatever they think is necessary for themselvesor the health of their loved ones. Insurance reflects that perfectly.
AJ
Tone. Really. Now you are complaining about tone? Where were you with concern about tone in the past several years? Do you not see any irony in complaining about tone and then calling Reid anti-veteran?
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So you’re putting calling someone anti-veteran in the same league as calling them terrorists, murderers, and arsonists? Not even close CB. But you knew that.
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CB,
Looks like Reid agrees with me that he and his party have been over the top with the rhetoric and name calling.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/4/reid-apologizes-nasty-tone-senate-floor/
“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid delivered a striking mea culpa on the Senate floor Friday as he opened the chamber, saying he and his colleagues have simply gotten too personal and nasty in their floor debates.
A day earlier Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, had scolded Mr. Reid for attacking Sen. Ted Cruz, another Texas Republican, by name as they debated the government shutdown. Mr. Cornyn read directly from the Senate Rules that prohibit members from impugning each other’s motives or conduct.”
“Mr. Reid on Friday said it was a lesson all senators, including himself, should learn.
“I’ll work harder and I hope my senators will work to their best to maintain these habits of civility and decorum,” he said.”
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I live somewhere between New Orleans and Panama City. The map I last saw had it going right over Gulf Shores
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AJ
If I really cared I’d cut and paste for you the long, long list of name calling and personal attacks that have been going on for a fairly long period of time – that includes words like terrorist, traitor, Hitler, murderers, communists … you all have wracked up a pretty long list. But you already know that, don’t you.
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The rhetoric on both sides is quite extensive. And I have said before I believe its because the difference between Democrats and Republican is fairly small so they have to distinguish themselves in other ways.
Quote of the day, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) told WTVD in Raleigh, N.C. that she won’t be giving up pay during the government shutdown she and her party created because, she said, “I need my paycheck. That’s the bottom line.”
I wonder why Republican’s oppose the ACA so much. Its originally their plan … they should take credit for it, especially if it succeeds. Or do they think it will succeed and hence oppose it so Obama doesn’t look good. Here’s a story of a happy Republican;
http://www.businessinsider.com/republican-likes-obamacare-2013-10
Karen, I don’t think cost increased because of insurance and government programs. If that was true, Europeans should have the most expensive health care but they don’t the US does. And the US is the only country with a semblance of a free market in health care.
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Medicare and Medicaid were uniquely created in a way to drive up costs. For the first two decades of its existence, Medicare was essentially a blank check. Whatever test or procedure a doctor, hospital or device manufacturer could dream up, the government would pay for. That is why by 1980, Medicare was costing nine times as much as had been originally projected. Costs will never be contained until the users begin to pay a percentage of the cost for most procedures.
If we had Accountacare and Accounticaid which provided free accounting services for the poor and elderly, don’t you think the share of GDP used to pay for accounting costs would increase greatly? Don’t you think the average cost to prepare a tax return would increase?
To reform healthcare now with our population is impossible. It would require shared sacrifice that Americans have not shown since WWII. Obamacare is probably a good fit for modern America. We are not a resourceful or independent people. Eventually, we will have a low quality, single payer plan like England. Rich Americans will go to Singapore, Hong Kong or another foreign country for high quality care.
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Isn’t there a problem in here with tort reform? Isn’t that why the US has such high medical costs, all those tests run to protect physicians from being sued?
I’ve felt for a long time something needed to be done about health care in the US–it never seemed right to link it to employment–but this program put into place is about health INSURANCE not health care and it never touched tort reform.
I think that was wrong.
Also, anything coercive that requires such personal data needs/ed to be handled with great discretion. I haven’t seen much evidence of that, yet.
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Rick,
Have you looked up comparative stats on health of populations in industrial countries?
Anon, torts account for a small amount and was offered during aca negotiations.
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CB, Here is the history of healthcare spending as a share of GDP since 1965 when Medicare and Medicaid were started:
http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2011/09/19/a-brief-history-of-health-spending-since-1965/
I will not defend the current system. I contend it is largely socialist. The federal government pays 60-65% of all healthcare costs. Local county hospitals pay another large chunk because of federal mandates.
To truly reform the system and move it to a market system would:
A. Take at least 25 years and would require “grandfathering”;
B. Would gradually phase in additional copayments from Medicare and Medicaid recipients
C. Would naturally result in the reduction of salaries of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospital administrators, drug salesmen, medical equipment makers, nursing home owners, home health providers, health insurance salesmen,etc.
D. Would require an intelligent public and courageous politicians.
That isn’t going to happen.
Accordingly, our quality of care will continue to go down even as costs go up and the system becomes more socialized.
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Here is an alternative to the current system. The Okies are not to be underestimated.
http://reason.com/reasontv/2012/11/15/the-obamacare-revolt-oklahoma-doctors-fi
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I agree with CB on tort reform. It is a part of the problem, but only a small part. Plaintiff’s lawyers are like canaries in coal mines. If you examine who they are currently suing, you will find a group of individuals or businesses who have been artificially enriched by some non-market (governmental) action. They are currently turning their focus on other lawyers and the big banks. What does that tell you?
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CB,
Negotiations? You mean when the Dems rammed it thru? There were no negotiations, they just did as they pleased. This is all of the Democrats making.
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