Special Comment By Teh Keith

[filkertom]

Death panels, Palin, and crazy people.

Comments

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

When Olbelmann gets angry, he doesn't hold back. He clearly learned from Edward R. Murrow. It's not a happy moment when he lets loose, but it is satisfying.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

[zenturbo.livejournal.com]

WHY do we still pay attention to this bimbo?

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

I hate it when Keith pulls his punches like that. If only the damn media would let him speak his mind!

[baphnedia.livejournal.com]

Well, instead of speaking here, I spoke there:
http://world-news.newsvine.com/_news/2009/08/10/3140022-olbermann-death-panel-palin-dangerously-irresponsible?threadId=647820#c8754495

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Now me, personally? My favorite moment is any time a Republican congressoid bawls that "socialized medicine" will mean government interference with his personal medical decisions.

Nearly always said by a man who's tried to make it legal to force women to cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with a herring before he'll graciously allow her to get an abortion.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Well pointed out.

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

"...government interference with his personal medical decisions."

Does anybody here know if Medicare interferes with a person's medical decisions?

Because, y'know, if we've already got it for everybody over a certain age, I'd like to take a look at sharing.

[tropism.livejournal.com]

Never mind that his HMO's 'death panel' will make a judgement about whether they can get more money out of him over his life than they will if they let him die -- never mind that they have people with high-school diplomas making decisions about medical care ... *sigh*

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

The proponents of health care reform have a problem, though, because what we're looking at here is the old onesy-twosy. Expect a further outcry from the wingnuts, along the lines of how government-subsidised health care will bankrupt the country because they'll pay for everything. And then when the voices of reason point out that they won't, it'll be back to the death camps.

Unfortunately it's far too easy not to trust the government these days.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Ahhh...I'll take Teh Keith over coffee in the mornings any day. I find something very satisfying about watching him while my right-wing boss is walking around the office...

[ursa-angelous.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised that you haven't commented on This (http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2009/08/more-asinine-right-wing-fear-mongering.html) yet

In case I screwed up the link, it is the discussion of the editorial in Investors Business Daily that contains the wonderful quote:

People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

A bunch of people already had, so I didn't worry about it too much. But, yeah, it's one of the most clueless, classless "arguments" yet against any form of socialized health care. What's really funny, of course, is that Hawking was born in the U.K., has lived there his whole life (67 years so far), and is known the world over as... well, Stephen Hawking. If that's "not having a chance", gimme three.

fact checking

[capplor.livejournal.com]

is for those godless heathern liberul scum?

It absolutely amazes me that people can spout points like this, and CONTINUE to spout points like this when absolutely, positively, shown to be wrong about the facts (most recent reference: Birthers)

"Four legs good; two legs bad"?

Re: fact checking

[dornbeast.livejournal.com]

Facts are for people who accept reality. As far as I can tell, most of the people on the planet prefer to alter reality at one point or another, rather than accepting reality.

[lariss.livejournal.com]

To live as many years as he has with ALS...

Oh no... he's receiving NO medical care from that awful commie country.

[kanemaker.livejournal.com]

Pg 354 Sec 1177 HCB Gov't will restrct enrollment of special needs people

[lariss.livejournal.com]

Under this plan. There is nothing in the plan eliminating the EXISTING care system for people with special needs - the CAP programs AND Medicaid. So These folks will probably continue to be covered in that way...as they always have.

What do I know about this? I work in the CAP-MR/DD program.

Actually, we need more of this

[capplor.livejournal.com]

versus the near-riots that are going on now. I'd LIKE to hear two sides, clearly, and with documentation.

Re: Actually, we need more of this

[lariss.livejournal.com]

I wish American society did not love the "They who shout loudest must be right because God has lent power to their lungs" argument.

Well crafted legislation should be easily available to and read by every literate person of voting age in the country.

This particular point about the restriction of "special needs" people with regards to the public health plan does seem to be answered by what I can find in that they will continue to be eligible for the same services they have now. I'd argue that those services could be improved, but at least have been in place for a long time. Always was hyperbole, by a long shot, I'll admit.

[janedit.livejournal.com]

I loved Keith's Special Comment last night, but in one way I thought he missed the boat.

In the second half of it he was speaking to misinformed, scared people with legitimate concerns, like my mother-in-law (with whom I am currently visiting). In the first half of the comment he let loose (I think totally justifiably) on the idols to whom those very people turn for their misinformation. After hearing Keith trash their figureheads, I can't imagine that many of them were in a mood to listen to anything sensible he had to say about the actual issues. I know Mom Reily wasn't.

Perhaps it would have been better strategically to reverse the two halves of the comment, or to split it into two separate comments on separate nights. As it was, I fear Keith was "preaching to the choir" and not making many new converts (to use a metaphor that will likely appall you).

I'm just sayin'.

[capt-video.livejournal.com]

When my brother was diagnosed with cancer, his (private) insurance company canceled him... and his wife and child. Cancer, it seems, qualified as a "pre-existing condition".

When my mother turned 65 last year, she was giddy... she could now qualify for Medicare, which meant she could "fire" her (private) insurance company, and possibly get her hearing aids covered.

When my husband was told that he needed spinal surgery, or risk paralysis or death in even a low impact accident or fall, we were given the name of three qualified surgeons in the area. Every one we knew urged us to get a second opinion... to see multiple surgeons before settling on one. We didn't... because only one would accept the (private) insurance issued by my husband's employer.

When I lost my job, I also lost my insurance. I can't afford insurance... or a doctor's visit... on unemployment.

The right assures me that all of the wonderful coverage my family has had under private firms will be lost if the Health Care Reform Act is passed.

Funny... I don't think I'll miss it.

[tropism.livejournal.com]

I've often said that the only people who get good, reliable health care in this country are the very poor -- those who qualify for Medicaid, or a few of the better low-income state-subsidized programs -- or those who have enough money to pay whatever the cost, right out-of-pocket. Oh, and the military. And government workers. (I work for the IRS. My insurance company -can't- drop me, for any reason but nonpayment. On the other hand, I'm also tied to a government job, or one with a very powerful corporation, since I know have potentially expensive pre-existing conditions.)

[tropism.livejournal.com]

Er, now. Whoops.