Politics - my FAVORITE!

There were so many political items this summer that I completely missed out on blogging about them - aka spewing my thoughts to the internet as if anyone really cares what I think about stuff anyway. But I love to do it - so here I go again. Get ready for the cheers, jeers, rants and raves. Buckle up baby!

#1 best thing to happen this summer (and perhaps this entire DECADE) was (drum roll please)... the resignation of Sarah Palin. (Insert the Hallelujah Chorus here.) I was to the point whenever she'd be on television I'd just turn the channel. Wouldn't even listen to the story. Never read an article online about what she was spewing about that second. It's literally like whenever she opens her mouth, puke just falls out everywhere and the Charlie Brown 'wa wa wa wa' stuff starts. Terrible thing she is subjecting us innocent Americans to, isn't it? We were at the cabin when the story broke - and I almost missed it because I was reaching for the remote to turn the channel. I guess that time it was most excellent that I was stopped - good thing I was cooking in the kitchen and had further to go to reach the remote I guess! The sad part is, Ms. Palin just won't GO AWAY. Seriously, so make millions speaking to those who are as closed-minded as you are, and leave the rest of us alone. One excellent item to stem from her action is her complete inability to run for President in the near future. To do so she would have to complete 1 term of an elected something, and I think Alaska is tired of her crap and won't go down her road again after she bailed on them the 1st time. So YEA for the rest of the country. She won't get a shot at messing the other 49 states up. WAHOO!

Moving on - Senator Ted Kennedy died. I never really cared for Teddy when he was alive. Sure he was seen as 'the' Daddy of all things liberal. But this is the sad part. The public never really knew all the great stuff he did until after the guy died. How sad is that? Republicans & Democrats extolled his career in their highest regard. But publicly when he was living - they shredded him constantly. Part of the Kennedy 'curse'? Probably. My line this summer was that I had to give GW Bush 1 complement on his Presidency. And that was that he passed prescription drug coverage. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. Well you know what? Come to find out - it was Teddy's bill. So now I still can't find anything to complement Bush on! And you all know that that actually makes me really really really happy, because giving that guy a complement was extremely difficult. It was like when you puke a little of something up in your mouth and swollow it back down again. Eeewwwwww - I know. But THAT was what it was like. And I did it more than once too with several witnesses! SOOOOO nobody can say that I don't at least try to get along with Republicans. Because I swollowed my puke more than once to try it just this summer! lol Teddy - rest in peace.

The topic of the summer was health care and the HR 3200 bill that Obama is promoting. There isn't 1 person you talk with that doesn't think our system needs changing. Everyone agrees on that point. But I think that is where the agreement ends - oh yes - it of course needs to be cheaper. Frustration set in when the emails started flowing about what was in the bill. False emails. One, in specific, included a link to the bill online. So I went there one day. The pdf file was 1,018 pages. At least it is double spaced. So I read 20 pages (before my 'natives' got restless). In those 20 pages alone I was able to negate 1/2 the email statements. I never did go back and read the rest. I probably should to be a fully in formed citizen and critic. However what is so frustrating is the time people take to make stuff up to stuff the internet with incorrect information. It inflames people for the wrong reasons. Then to talk about 'death panels' on top of it all? Right. People get mad when access to care is restricted or denied. But you know what??? It ALREADY IS. By your insurance company. I am not saying a government run system should exist. Usually government messes stuff up pretty badly. But would you rather have an insurance company restricting or denying coverage of a procedure or an elected official that can get booted out for their actions? Let's face it - a 99 year old person should not be receiving a quadruple by-pass. Not a popular thing to say - and if it were my parent on the table, it'd be the absolute last thing I'd want to hear. But is that a realistic procedure to be performing? No. It's not. Is it ethical? No. It's not. In my lovely state of MN, and this is not even under 3200, the Department of Health has decided to change how people can use and acquire long term health care services (nursing home/assisted living). But only if you are on Medicare. If you are, and the DOH doesn't believe you should be in one of these facilities, they will be asking you to leave and move - and they won't pay your bill. This is even if a Dr. doesn't agree with them. Even if the family doesn't agree with them. Even if the elderly person doesn't agree with them. And if you move back in within 6 months, the building who admits this person will be punished financially for taking them back. Now when have you ever seen people in nursing homes and assisted living facilities that shouldn't be there? People aren't exactly lining up, bombarding these places. Generally they are the last places people want to go. What could possibly save money in this scenario? If you know, please enlighten me. This is happening. It was passed this summer as a cost saving measure within the MN State budget. Now I know this isn't directly related to 3200, but you want to discuss limitation of services? We're there. And it's being done based on being POOR of all things. It violates civil rights completely. And you know what will happen when the DOH makes these actions? Elderly will end up in the hospital more, more ER visits and more homes burning. Is that cost saving? Nope. It's spending a whole bunch more. THAT is what happens when elderly do not receive the services needed. It's been proven. We know this. But we're willingly going down this road in the name of balancing the state budget. It's sick. I'll probably add to my FBI file for this one - be on some euthanasia listing too. That is completely NOT my point. There are some very taboo things to discuss regarding health care - like giving a 99 year old person a quadruple by-pass. But they DO need to be discussed. And until we discuss the hard stuff, true and complete reform won't happen and costs will still be high.

More on health care? Yes. The GOP has blasted 3200 from every angle they possibly can. And most of it is P&M-ing all the way. In this regard, I really do wish our system was a bit more like the Brits. Why doesn't the GOP put a bill on the table? They want reform as well, on their terms. Well, put in writing what you would agree to. Get an opposing bill on the table. One that is a bit more 'middle of the road' that Dems could agree to. That sucker passes - and you know what? You've just re-invigorated your party that seemed to be dead a few months ago. You've done what the party in the complete majority has failed to do & pledged to do. Pass reform. They could claim it. But they won't. They won't put a bill on the table - they'll P&M about 3200 and campaign that 'see, the dems can't get anything done when they're in the majority, so we deserve your vote.' routine. It's sick and sad. People want something done. And it doesn't happen just so these bozos can be re-elected. I am so proud.

More? Yes. Tort reform. It's required - and that's not a very Dem thing to say. But come on. When Docs pay over six figures a year just for mal-practice insurance something needs to change. And some ob-gyns pay upwards of $200k annually. Think of the insurance dollars saved - and therefore the less you'd need to pay Docs - where could that money be doing? Think of those possibilities. Wow. Completely mind-blowing.

More? No. I'm on to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and his mistress escapades in Argentina. I must say, I was so glad his wife Jenny refused to stand at his side. This was huge. Never in American history has a politician's wife NOT stood at the guy's side whilst publicly proclaiming his adulterous actions. GO JENNY. No woman should ever be asked to do that. Ever. And Mark needs to resign and pack up and move to Argentina & take his 'family values' with him (More than likely the dude campaigned on it - idiot.) Bon voyage!