In the spring of 2009, a Republican strategist settled on a brilliant and powerful attack line for President Barack Obama’s ambitious plan to overhaul America’s health insurance system. Frank Luntz, a consultant famous for his phraseology, urged GOP leaders to call it a “government takeover.”
“Takeovers are like coups,” Luntz wrote in a 28-page memo. “They both lead to dictators and a loss of freedom.”
The line stuck. By the time the health care bill was headed toward passage in early 2010, Obama and congressional Democrats had sanded down their program, dropping the “public option” concept that was derided as too much government intrusion. The law passed in March, with new regulations, but no government-run plan.
But as Republicans smelled serious opportunity in the midterm elections, they didn’t let facts get in the way of a great punchline. And few in the press challenged their frequent assertion that under Obama, the government was going to take over the health care industry.
PolitiFact editors and reporters have chosen “government takeover of health care” as the 2010 Lie of the Year. Uttered by dozens of politicians and pundits, it played an important role in shaping public opinion about the health care plan and was a significant factor in the Democrats’ shellacking in the November elections.
Posted by Len on Friday, December 17th, 2010 at 8:47 am CT in Politics
In an extremely rare display of what some are calling bipartisanship (this is the first time in his presidency that President Obama has gotten more than two or three Republican votes on any piece of legislation – usually he gets none), the House of Representatives passed the Obama/GOP tax bill just before midnight last night. The final vote was 277-148, with each party contributing an almost identical number of votes in favor (the Democrats, 139 and the Republicans, 138). Opposed were 112 Democrats and 36 Republicans.
The Senate passed the bill earlier in the week by a vote of something ridiculous like 83 to 17 (I forget the exact number). It now goes to President Obama for his signature. He is expected to sign the bill sometime this afternoon.
This monstrosity adds $858 billion to the deficit. Do not at any time in the future believe any politician who voted for this legislation, Democrat or Republican, who tries to tell you they are the least bit concerned about the deficit. They aren’t.
Posted by Len on Monday, December 13th, 2010 at 6:14 pm CT in Entertainment
Break out the egg nog! A bit of the holiday spirit…
Happy Holidays one and all.
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
Posted by Len on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 at 8:24 am CT in Politics
“Protecting the Middle Class & the Economy”
From the White House weblog:
The President strongly urges both parties in Congress to pass the compromise on tax cuts, unemployment insurance, and job creation. Not doing so would hurt the middle class, those struggling to find work, and the economy itself.
(You knew this was coming, right?)
Click below to listen to the audio only:
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The transcript of the president’s weekly address, as prepared for delivery, is available after the break.
Posted by Len on Thursday, December 9th, 2010 at 6:12 pm CT in Politics,Republicans
Republicans continued their obstructionist ways today in the United States Senate. First, they blocked the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. John McCain and bigots everywhere are still celebrating that one. Then, in a move I am still trying to understand, they defeated a measure that would have provided medical care to rescue workers and others who became ill as a result of working at the site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Their argument for this was that the bill would have cost about seven billion dollars and was not paid for. They have no problem providing the richest Americans with $700 billion in tax cuts that are not paid for, but they are going to scream about $7 billion going toward health care for the 9/11 responders?
And people wonder why I don’t particularly care for Republicans.
Posted by Len on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 at 5:15 pm CT in Politics
President Obama held a press conference while you were probably at work today. He discussed his recent deal with Republicans on the extension of the Bush tax cuts…
Transcript following the break. Pay particular attention to his final answer. He addresses those Democrats who feel he is giving too much away to the Republicans.
Posted by Len on Monday, December 6th, 2010 at 9:07 am CT in Entertainment
Occasionally throughout the day I will find myself with the need to just settle down and lower the old blood pressure a bit. I find that taking a short break and listening to some good music will often do the trick… like K.D. Lang’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. Enjoy
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