General Political Thread

[KevinG]

So with all the Benghazi talk recently I am surprised no one else here chimed in with any ACA talk.  The big story is thousands of people are getting dropped from their current plans because they do not meet the ACA requirements.  Which seems to go against the President's assertion that you can keep your current health insurance if you want to.

 

So naturally there have been some individuals with this story featured on the news.  However it seems that media refuses to fact check and follow up with these individuals.  But the LA Times recently did  http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-debunked-20131030,0,6010994.story#axzz2jIggOA62.

 

So yes it appears not all people can keep their insurance, but often times the insurance available through the ACA marketplaces are better.  No one really in the media is following up on that.  But you know the media has a huge liberal bias.  

[lost highway]

It's not statistical, but I've heard a few anecdotal pieces from participants on NPR.  One person got gouged (a wealthy business owner who's premiums actually went up along with his deductible), and another had some decent savings (a middle class free-lancer who's premiums went down considerably).

 

The thing I'm considering is this: while on the one hand this needs time to shake down, before we can evaluate its many successes and failures; on the other hand this could be but one in a string of health care reforms that could pass in the next few decades.  I'm still not done with the single payer concept, and it could be that the country ultimately isn't either.

[Hixter]

From what I can tell, al Qaeda was not involved in Benghazi

They were involved.

 

Al Qaeda is a very decentralized "organization." Many separate groups, under no control of anything that could be called a central al Qaeda authority, have co-opted the name for their own purposes

They also train together, travel to different parts of the world to fight, communicate extensively with leaders like bin Laden, share funding and hold strategy meetings with each other. 

 

The Benghazi attackers are not members of the same group that carried out the attacks on 9/11/01.

They are members of the same umbrella group: al Qaida.

 

The Benghazi attackers did not target civilians.

Yes they did.

 

The big story is thousands of people are getting dropped from their current plans

Millions.

[Atticus]

I didn't even know President Obama was from Kenya

[Good Old Neon]

Poor George just can't catch a break.

 

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/31/george_zimmerman_allegedly_threatened_his_estranged_wife_with_a_shot_up_bullseye/

[KevinG]

Millions.

 

So ok millions, that does nothing to further my point.  So they are being dropped, but are the plans they want actually cost them more in the long run?  It seems like current news cycle is only focusing on part of the story.  But of course the liberal media doesn't run a news story about the thousands of planes that landed safely today, they will only run a story on the ones that crashed.   

[John Smith]

I find it interesting that being dropped is coming as a shock to people. I've known for a couple of years that there are minimum requirements and plans had to meet them or drop. So I don't see how this is surprising at all. Willfully ignorance? Uninformed?

[Hixter]

Poor George just can't catch a break.

 

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/31/george_zimmerman_allegedly_threatened_his_estranged_wife_with_a_shot_up_bullseye/

A bullet-riddled silhouette target adorns the door in my garage.

 

But of course the liberal media doesn't run a news story about the thousands of planes that landed safely today, they will only run a story on the ones that crashed.   

I worked at a newspaper for 8 years and many of my best friends are reporters, editors and publishers. They'll all admit -- privately, at least -- that the media is very much skewed to the left.

 

I find it interesting that being dropped is coming as a shock to people. I've known for a couple of years that there are minimum requirements and plans had to meet them or drop. So I don't see how this is surprising at all. Willfully ignorance? Uninformed?

 

“That means that no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.”

 

-- President Obama

[John Smith]

Oh my god scrap it all then and go back to the way it was with so many uninsured. Or better yet give the Republican Party something of their own design to save the world , something line an individual mandate to buy insurance. That would help end the socialism of the current system where 30% or more are free riders having their health care paid by the rest of us. To make it more palatable lets name it after a highly regarded politician from the right, let's call it Reagancsre, wait no the left will never buy in with Reagan's name attached. Hmmm how about we name it after a republican who did well in liberal land, let's call it Romneycare. I think the dems will buy in if we can sell it as a middle of the road fix this way. Remember Benghazi!

 

Really after 4 years the argument is really ducking stupid.

[Hixter]

Really after 4 years the argument is really ducking stupid.

The president sold a multi-trillion dollar program that will affect the health and financial situation of every American based on a lie which he told over and over again for years. It's a big deal.

[IRememberDBoon]

THE WORLD REALLY IS COMING TO AN END THIS TIME!! I SWEAR IT IS!! JUST WAIT!

Wasn't the insurance mandate what Democrats had to do to compromise with the Republican Party? I guess we see where that gets you.

[KevinG]

 

“That means that no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health-care plan, you’ll be able to keep your health-care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.”

 

-- President Obama

 

It is obvious that PBO lied on this one.  I am truly bothered by it.  However there is a flip side, which is not being acknowledged, what options are there for these people, are they better, are they worse?  From the anecdotal evidence, most people are able to find better plans, but the media is not focusing on that, or really mentioning anything about options after being dropped.  

 

But I agree with John Smith, it is pretty crappy of insurance companies to give these letters or drop this on their customers now, when it could have been dealt prior.  Or a heads up letter.  

 

 

I worked at a newspaper for 8 years and many of my best friends are reporters, editors and publishers. They'll all admit -- privately, at least -- that the media is very much skewed to the left.

 

 

Well too bad that there is no evidence to support that.  In fact I have pointed to evidence that directly disputes that.  I am not saying that the media is on either side.  Actually I think media is just stupid, appealing to the lowest common detonator, really just selling ad space rather than informing and educating.

 

A bullet-riddled silhouette target adorns the door in my garage.

 

You nail that to a door of someone you are estranged from (or their parents) that is different.  And should be considered a threat and should be dealt with accordingly.  I would hope you see it that way.  

[Hixter]

It is obvious that PBO lied on this one.  I am truly bothered by it.  However there is a flip side, which is not being acknowledged, what options are there for these people, are they better, are they worse?  From the anecdotal evidence, most people are able to find better plans, but the media is not focusing on that, or really mentioning anything about options after being dropped.  

I, too, am bothered by it. But for what it's worth, I've seen plenty of articles trying to paint the cancellations in a positive light. I don't read/watch Fox, so I can't really say if it's damage control or actual, factual, reporting. All I can say is that I hate lying politicians (I guess that means I hate all of them.)

 

Well too bad that there is no evidence to support that.  In fact I have pointed to evidence that directly disputes that. 

Yeah, you posted a link to Daily Kos; that would be like me posting a link to Fox News. I'm going to stay with what I've known and experienced firsthand: most of the media are bent very much to the left. They are good people and they try to be impartial in their reporting, but their news tends to slip to the left.

 

You nail that to a door of someone you are estranged from (or their parents) that is different.  And should be considered a threat and should be dealt with accordingly.  I would hope you see it that way.

Not sure that it's a threat that can be acted upon legally. Divorcing people do/say some crazy shit.

[KevinG]

Not sure that it's a threat that can be acted upon legally. Divorcing people do/say some crazy shit.

 

This is a threat, regardless of divorce or not.  Going through a divorce does not give you license to threaten anyone.  Yes putting a target on someones door is threatening and can be acted upon legally.  I feel you are blinded by all the stuff that went on with the Martin case and you feel the need to defend him.  I don't understand why.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, you posted a link to Daily Kos; that would be like me posting a link to Fox News. I'm going to stay with what I've known and experienced firsthand: most of the media are bent very much to the left. They are good people and they try to be impartial in their reporting, but their news tends to slip to the left.

 

 

But the Kos article had links to other articles demonstrating why the liberal bias media is a myth.  I could post others.  The Right tends to bring up the bias myth when the media reports things they don't like or agree with.  I have never said the media is impartial, but idiots just trying to sell ad space.  

[Hixter]

Yes putting a target on someones door is threatening and can be acted upon legally. 

I can't see how.

 

I feel you are blinded by all the stuff that went on with the Martin case and you feel the need to defend him.  I don't understand why.

I think he's probably a douchebag, but his trial was unnecessary. This is even more ridiculous.

 

But the Kos article had links to other articles demonstrating why the liberal bias media is a myth.  

We'll have to agree to disagree, because I have years of experience and many media friends who say otherwise. Maybe we can talk about university professors next?

[lost highway]

If "skewed left" means that you perceive government as serving a role in increasing economic stability, providing a safety net, and at its best increasing the quality of life of its citizens, then yes- a lot of professors are skewed left.  A lot of smart people in general.

[John Smith]

The president sold a multi-trillion dollar program that will affect the health and financial situation of every American based on a lie which he told over and over again for years. It's a big deal.

Like WMD or these tax cuts will pay for themselves? I'll do a little searching so I can rest assured that you are outraged every time this happens and not just being a partisan hack.

 

Done, no outrage found, current outrage disregarded. Continue on with conservative health care plan.

[twoshedsjackson]

If "skewed left" means that you perceive government as serving a role in increasing economic stability, providing a safety net, and at its best increasing the quality of life of its citizens, then yes- a lot of professors are skewed left. A lot of smart people in general.

But those are SMART people! You know - the intellectual elitists & "experts". They talk about scary things like evolution, climate change, gender equality, facts, reality, etc. They're not to be trusted.

[John Smith]

When dealing with a divorce situation what would be the reason for putting a bullet riddled target on your soon to be ex's home? Hey honey look how well I did shooting last week? Really now use some fing common.

 

Here's the thing in the media it tends to be generally conservative but gets painted as liberal because they are not right wing cheerleaders. One network is not conservative leaning though and that is fox. They are pretty much cheerleaders for the right, and by right it pretty much boils down to cheerleading against anything democrats are for, even when the dems take conservative positions like with the ACA.

[Hixter]

If "skewed left" means that you perceive government as serving a role in increasing economic stability, providing a safety net, and at its best increasing the quality of life of its citizens, then yes- a lot of professors are skewed left.  A lot of smart people in general.

I was thinking more along the lines of college professors being so far left that I just shake my head at them, just like the nuts on the far right.

 

Like WMD or these tax cuts will pay for themselves?

Despite the revisionist history about the war being based only on WMDs, I'll be outraged whenever anyone proves that Bush knew that there were no WMDs in Iraq before the war began. The current administration knew that their claims that people could keep their insurance policies was a lie from Day One.

[Winston Legthigh]

Of course the news has a liberal bent. 

 

The very idea of reporting news at all is liberal.

 

The very idea of gathering new information and expanding one's mind is liberal.

[Sir Stewart]

 

Despite the revisionist history about the war being based only on WMDs

 

Were you around in early 2003?

[Hixter]

But those are SMART people! You know - the intellectual elitists & "experts". They talk about scary things like evolution, climate change, gender equality, facts, reality, etc. They're not to be trusted.

I think you'll find that there are millions of Republicans who are smart, too. Hell, I'm willing to bet that my IQ is higher than President Obama's. I'm sure there's a reason that he never released his SAT scores or college transcripts.

 

Here's the thing in the media it tends to be generally conservative

Nope. 

[Hixter]

Were you around in early 2003?

Yes, and I remember a lot of talk about removing a dictator and bringing freedom to the Iraqi people. I also remember that Sadam's regime resisted WMD inspections tooth and nail for years. They'd block inspection teams, sneak stuff out the back gate and generally hinder the entire process.

 

Then there were the repeated attacks on coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones ...

[Sir Stewart]

Yellowcake Yellowcake Yellow Fucking Cake.