"Paging Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) . . ."

Welcome to the third world.

Last month, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) even boasted, "There are no Americans who don't have healthcare. Everybody in this country has access to healthcare."

Watch as the existence of the free clinics is used as evidence that Foxx is correct. Watch further as the rationing & long wait times are used as evidence that efforts to extend health care are doomed to fail.

Virginia Foxx is either lying deliberately or incredibly dense. Emergency rooms are no place to get primary care. They are astonishingly expensive. I gasped yesterday when I opened the bill from the local hospital ER for $1,200 for putting my son's broken arm in a splint (and the x-ray bill was additional) on a Friday night. We have insurance but will be on the hook for hundreds of dollars in co-pays.

I honestly think these Congress people have no idea what it is like in the real world.

Me thinks "conservatives" like Rep. Foxx go home and pray, invoking Psalms 109:8-12, rather than pray for the salvation of all humanity!

Foxx is no Christian, and she is no American I want any part of! I blame her district's voters! -Kevo

I wonder, if there had been a large campaign to get those opposed to health care reform to attend some of these clinics, if that would have changed anyone's perspective like it did Potter's.

I think it may have- he WAS the face of the insurance industry that opposes reform, and his mind was changed.

None of the senators would ever go though; they would find they had 'scheduling conflicts.'

I know Landrieu didn't show up for the one in New Orleans. Did Lincoln show up here? After all, these were sited to put some pressure on them to vote for people instead of insurance companies.

Not only did Lincoln not show up, Bill Clinton backed out, claiming it was an anti-Lincoln political event.
Another indication that the Democratic party LIKES the status quo. Being helpless makes one so free of responsibility.

Did anyone invite the handful of Doctors in the House and Senate to attend?

Then there are the people who come these free clinics who are supporters of those very Republicans who are actively denying them healthcare because they are afraid of 'socialism' or 'communism' or 'fascism' or some other ism.

Of course, all of those who sought care at the free clinic had to deal with rationing and long wait times -- which, incidentally, is what conservative opponents of reform are constantly warning against.

this is what really gets me about the Moronic League of "Real Americans" i.e., the republican/conservative base. Can it really resonate with them when their vile pols rail against long lines from the evil democratic HCR when they don't have any health care at all and have to go to free clinics the once in a blue moon that they're available. What is it with these people - no body can by that stupid?

Jesus must be so proud of the teabaggers.

Bill was true to form.

Y'all just don't understand Republicans. Even though they rail against Darwin and evolution, they believe most fervently in social Darwinism, ie. the survival of the (supposed) fittest of society. That essentially means: "I'm rich, powerful and/or connected, therefore blessed by God, and I deserve to survive. Poor people are poor because they're lazy or disabled or criminals, therefore hated by God, and don't deserve to live. So why should I pay for health care that might help them do that?" That's what Ayn Rand was really saying (except the God part) and what many Republicans believe. I know. My dad was one.

Ever since I immigrated to this country in 1970, the Republicans reminded me of the elites and the wealthy of the country I left behind: self satisfied with a comparative high standard of living, and totally oblivious to the misery and pains of the less fortunate ones. When Reagan came to power, the Republicans' pronouncements on various matters convinced me that directly or indirectly they clamored for the US to be a third world country in which they would be perfectly at home.

Sadly their dreams have been realized to a large extent, and the week kneed Democrats and Obama will not be able to impede our regression into a hell hole.

We SHOULD make these events specifically political. Someone should have been at the Little Rock event taking the names of participants for Democratic database, and damn the fact that the Rethugs will scream about it. Of course they will scream and lie, that's a given. We don't care.

Karen: Agreed.

Politicians politicize the opening of the latest strip mall for godsakes, why can't they show up for the ribbon cutting on something they supposedly believe in. Where are the real populist politicians who should be out there talking to the people and promising a better way?

If President Bartlett could do it, why not President Obama (or Clinton)? It is time to get out there and see the people you should be fighting for.

When Reagan came to power, the Republicans' pronouncements on various matters convinced me that directly or indirectly they clamored for the US to be a third world country in which they would be perfectly at home.

Gregor, in "Made in Texas" Lind argues that the East Texas elite that G W Bush spent his adult life with were the political and economic heirs of the planters of the Old South, and that their ideal was for a wealthy elite to dominate a disenfranchised, demoralized, impoverished, easy-to-control work force.

Doesn't it make you proud for the world to see Americans waiting for hours to get healthcare, once we were a country that helped unfortunate people who needed it, now the name of the game is greed.
If we do not get this bill to pass we will go back to the republican health care plan - die quickly.

one eyepopping fact from a local krak tv news article: "The patients at Saturday’s clinic were 62-percent women and 38-percent men." someone should tell blanche lincoln and mary l.

First, obviously President Clinton supports the Congressional Democrat's healthcare agenda, so the idea he favors the status quo is ridiculous.

Second, obviously he is not about to attend an event ginned-up as being against a sitting Democratic senator of his former state of Arkansas. That would be stupid.

The hell with coddling any "sitting democratic senator" who opposes health care reform. It's an utterly bankrupt rationale that merely serves to provide cover to senators who are outright corporate whores, or who are republicans in all but name. They are few and far between, but there are issues in which loyalty to a party member must be ruthlessly disregarded for the good of the country. Health care reform is one of them.

I'll bet anything, that a lot of that money Olbermann collected came from the very companies -- insurance and Big Pharma -- which are great culprits in creating the current mess. They'll get a reason to pat themselves on the back (and blow their own horn in ads) and all for free; such donations are tax-deductible. I see it all the time at our Free Clinic (local, and more or less all-year-round regular, if we can find enough volunteers).

I've taken to calling it Richard Cory Healthcare (he freely gave to charity, he had a common touch; and we were grateful for his patronage and we thanked him very much) at least in part because the patients, while not required to, are "encouraged" to fill out an evaluation report (is anyone gonna say: "this stinks?") and write notes to "our patrons" (aka donors). Personally, I find the whole thing degrading to the concept of humanity. Nobody should be required to be grateful for substandard, do the best we can, healthcare. Everyone ought to be able to take healthcare for granted, at least a certain minimum of it...

Olbermann probably would have had a hard time setting up his free clinics in a socialistic country like Canada or France.

JW,

"The hell with coddling any ‘sitting democratic senator’ who opposes health care reform. It's an utterly bankrupt rationale that merely serves to provide cover to senators who are outright corporate whores, or who are republicans in all but name. They are few and far between, but there are issues in which loyalty to a party member must be ruthlessly disregarded for the good of the country. Health care reform is one of them."

Nonsense.

I'm quite sure President Clinton was fine with attending the event to positively promote the Democrat's healthcare reform legislation (and subtlety make the point that Senator Lincoln should too).

But to attend an event that is pushed as being against a sitting Democratic senator is CRAZY.

That only aides any Republican challenger.

The issue is fine to weigh in on, but being publicly negative against a sitting Democratic Senator will just help get you another Republican senator. With another Republican senator you would not have still had a healthcare bill last night.

Yes, it's degrading to the recipients.
When you are in the middle of a slow moving disaster it's hard to see what is going on: we are a third world country in so many ways. Extreme wealth, extreme poverty (relatively), dysfunctional safety net, dysfunctional government on a rotational basis.
As long as flat screen tv's are available though, we are the richest country in the world. I would say that rich does not mean the most toys, we are not a happy country, not by a longshot.

"..but being publicly negative against a sitting Democratic Senator will just help get you another Republican senator".

You mean a republican-in-all-but-name like Lincoln? Or is she just a corporate whore? Because it's one or the other.

Of course Foxx is right. In Republicanland, the ER is treatment. Just like all good Republican legeslation, it requires someone else to do something and pushes the the cost of the "government program" onto someone else.

Look at Medicare part D, the program bought senior votes and pushed the cost onto our children and grandchildren.

It's what all programs have done since Reagan got into office. Gingrich and co made sure the Contract on America would push all programs onto someone else.

Sorry that should have been "the Contract on America crowd."

Too quick on the post button.

[republicans]: "I'm rich, powerful and/or connected, therefore blessed by God, and I deserve to survive. Poor people are poor because they're lazy or disabled or criminals, therefore hated by God, and don't deserve to live. So why should I pay for health care that might help them do that?" .
Posted by: dalloway on November 22, 2009 at 1:41 PM | PERMALINK

The problem I have is the poor, at least the so-called "white trash" poor that vote republican because they believe the bullshit spewing from the mouths of palin, hucklebee, bachmann, and the rest of the cretins. Republican pols since reagan viciously undermine these people and make sure they do not get any break, and yet they still vote republican - its obscene.

"Republican pols since reagan viciously undermine these people and make sure they do not get any break, and yet they still vote republican - its obscene" -pluge

it's obscene and it is crazy... but then you have to take into consideration no matter that conservatives have typically held majority power over the past forty years, certainly within the executive branch, they some how manage to blame everything on liberalism...and the lower end of their base buy it... lock, stock and barrel, every year...not to mention the usual hot-bed social wedge issues that get tossed in the pot year after year, along with race baiting. I see no change in their approach, and the Beck-Palinites will also apply the same tactics in their money grubbing efforts as they shake down the country doing their thing, the greatest ruse in decades.

JW,

"You mean a republican-in-all-but-name like Lincoln? Or is she just a corporate whore? Because it's one or the other."

So I take it you would prefer she were replaced by a Republican ?

Look, I don't support Senator Lincoln, but then I'm not from Arkansas. If you have a plan for electing a progressive Democrat to the senate from Arkansas, then let's see it.

I think an immediate way to get media attention is to require all patients to publicly sign a Democratic oath.

seriously?

I'll bet anything, that a lot of that money Olbermann collected came from the very companies -- insurance and Big Pharma -- which are great culprits in creating the current mess.

Heck, I just heard a radio add for Blue Cross where the character of a new customer explains that one of the reasons he picked BC is that he is from Canada and accustomed to hassle-free health care.

The insurance industry works both sides of the aisle; it's natural that they would also work both sides of the debate.

and those of you slamming and sliming Keith Olberman last year because he might or might not have voted (did you ever think that he might not have wanted YOU to know if he voted, or who he voted for), should take a lesson from him and put your money where your mouth is.

"So I take it you would prefer she were replaced by a Republican "?

No, I saying that would be unnecessary. That it would be superfluous. That she is in fact already a republican (and/or a simple corporate whore).

I'm not from Arkansas either, thank God. But we're talking about a United States senator. United States, as in her votes impact my life. Her opposition to the health care reforms, reforms embraced by the majority of democratic senators, renders any claim on her part to the allegiance of the democratic party rank-and-file bankrupt.

The free clinic in Los Angeles mentioned in the article took place about two blocks from the school for which I work (in Inglewood, at the Forum, where the Lakers used to play). Even at 4:00 p.m., hundreds of people still stood in a line that snaked around the arena. Even if the clinic were open every day, that line would never end. Some of my students stated that their relatives had attended, many of whom had not seen a physician in years.

That so many require urgent (and continuing) care shames the so-called "free market" economics, "compassionate conservatism" hoo-doo voodoo that Republicans seem so proud to spout.

Screw their sham Christian compassion. So many need help.

JW,

"No, I saying that would be unnecessary. That it would be superfluous. That she is in fact already a republican (and/or a simple corporate whore). I'm not from Arkansas either, thank God. But we're talking about a United States senator. United States, as in her votes impact my life. Her opposition to the health care reforms, reforms embraced by the majority of democratic senators, renders any claim on her part to the allegiance of the democratic party rank-and-file bankrupt."

So you think it wouldn't matter if she were replaced by a Republican.

That's stupid.

So you think it wouldn't matter if she were replaced by a Republican.

That's stupid.

Care to explain? If she' already a Republican vote on the closely divided issues (HC w/ PO, card check), what's the downside of having her replaced by an actual Republican? At least it's easier to see where we actually stand. There's got to be a middle ground between the self-isolating lockstep of the modern GOP and the policy incoherence of the current Dems.

Shifting gears - I serve on the board of a health clinic for the uninsured here in Illinois - we've been in operation for over 10 years & provide over $2 million in care annually. Local physicians volunteer their time & we have a small paid staff. We provide care for over 5,000 patients per year & see enough demand for twice as many if we could recruit more physicians to help. These services go on day in & day out - not high profile like those described on Olberman - but embedded in the community. I work for the day we go out of business because real reform gives everyone access to care.

drkrick,

"Care to explain? If she' already a Republican vote on the closely divided issues (HC w/ PO, card check), what's the downside of having her replaced by an actual Republican?"

Sure.

As I posted upthread, you would not have a healthcare bill as of Saturday if her seat were held by a Republican. Lincoln votes with the Democrats on lots of other issues as well.

And it's Arkansas after all.