Obama: Prime-time for healthcare reform

Yes they sent him there to solve problems, not change us into a socialist society. Our national debt is out of control and yet we continue to talk about more spending and debt. This is not a republican political move, it is a democratic one. He has to get this done before the economy gets worse and the public loses faith in him. The only reason it is taking so long is the fact that he controls the media. It took a lot of courage for Helen Thomas to call them out on it. This particular health care "reform" would be a disaster. He can say we can keep our health plan, but what happens when we lose our job, we would be forced into the goverment run one. It says so in the bill. Read the bill people, really take the time and read it.

Earlier, the revised HELP BILL with the public option and employer mandatory has got a green light from the CBO, yet still, a new 'incomplete' analysis of emerging House legislation said it would increase deficits by $239 billion over a decade.
But, CBO does not score any savings from prevention / wellness and the medical IT and the like, even as Prevention / Wellness is an actual and essential part of the savings, without which the reform would be meaningless.

Prevention / Wellness program can be compared to the 'levee' in flood time. Let's just imagine the cost before disaster and after.
And the company without IT system might be messed up with lots of paper works and hardly survive in the business.
It may be hard to assess the specific number on those parts, even so, at least the substantive amount of remaining $239 billion over a decade could be paid for and the remainder of it would be manageable over time one way or another, I think.

And I think the other things such as 'potential stem cell effect', 'mental stress relief', 'improved productivity / consumer confidence', and 'massive job creation', 'stock price effect' and etc considered, the reform might be within reach. Most importantly, a few years later, if the excessive war and military spending goes toward the health care program, the cost issue does not matter at all, I think.
Edward M. Kennedy argues, the perfect should not be the enemy of the good.

Thank You !

Mark, Mark, Mark, Mark, ALL of your Obama health scare stories are about Republicans trying to derail it. When will you report the truth: that most of the flak is coming from the Dems? With large majorities in the Senate and the House, there isn't much the Republicans can do. The Democrats can pass whatever health care bill they desire. So, if there are problems, those problems must be that there are Dems in the House and the Senate who are unsure of the course of the Dem leadership, and, in fact, that is the fact. The Republicans can't slow anything down, they can't derail anything. So, how about reporting the real story for a change. I know you get your marching orders from Axelrod, but tell him there are enough smart people in this country to know the health care reform problems are largely Democratic. Also, tell him, if he can't read the polls, that more and more Americans don't want Obama and Peloony health care. Those are the facts. Deal with it and report it -- honestly!

Anything to try to get his rating up.Wonder how much will b e true.

This is an historic moment. a moment when our President, stands up and speaks for the voiceless, the sick and the marginalized, in front of our nation. All he is selling is equal treatment for all of our citizens. All he is asking for, is for the nation to share some of its good fortune with the rest of our citizenry, who lack the basics to enjoy this good nation's bounty, including an affordable, reliable and non-discriminatory healthcare. Is that such a terrible request ? It isn't a request to start a war and occupy a nation. It isn't a request to assist victims of a hurricane, who watch, in horror, as that assistance trickles into a city that is underwater, if it arrives at all. No, President Obama wants to ask a christian nation. to prove its christianity, its concern for its fellow citizens. He is calling on our elected officials to support an action that will not result in more men and women of our Armed Forces, to brought home in caskets, or stretchers. He is calling on our elected officials to support his effort to provide health insurance, healthcare for all Americans, not just for the wealthy or the " lucky " ones, who have good health insurance. I, for one, don't think it is too much to ask of this nation, for some of its citizens to be better cared for, medically. What do you want them to do, continue to burden the already overburdened healthcare system, by going to the ER, whenever they need to !!? Or should they just die, quietly !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

Barack Obama will never say to your face what he actually plans to do -or achieve- with these huge new government programs. Everything's rolled-out in a trojan horse, and you're not allowed to look inside.

Rather, you get some specious auditory performance with styrofoam props to wow the plebes, like the tacky greek columns in Denver. To him, the revolutionary ends justify the Alinskyite means- so the Dear Leader just tells you whatever he needs to.

And the truth is that Obama is out to nationalize health care.. they'll be no private insurance industry left after five years of Obamacare... but of course he's lying about it.

As for the American public, the reality that Obama is not up to the job seems to finally be setting-in; the poll numbers are now headed steadily south- is he already facing his Waterloo on this legislation?

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com

I did not send him to Washington to solve problems. I sent him to preserve and protect the Constitution of the United States. Period. Based on his performance so far, I say, lets give him the honor of being the first man on Mars. Right now.

Headline: "Republicans hope to put the breaks on the president's reform legislation"

Not true.

Because the Republicans don't believe that Obama's legislation (which Obama admits he's "not familiar" with) is NOT reform. Instead, it's drastic change--for the worse.

I thought it was the Blue Dog Dems that are saying no no. Last time I looked the Dems had the majority.

Health-Care Reform is an Idea Whose time has Come...., and we must not allow Republican hacks to Obstruct and "Swift-Boat" this most needed reform, because Health care costs have spiraled out of control and are one of the basic culprits Directly related to our collapsing economic condition. We are drowning in this growing quicksand, which calls for an urgent and immediate address and attention. This is its time -- this is its moment.
GOP sponsored Media and politicians love to talk about Pres. Obama's apparent sinking poll numbers, but when one is on the Battlefield for positive change, one cannot pause to worry and fret about "allegedly" sinking poll numbers.... that is a "Trojan horse", For One cannot worry about the Separated Self, when they have the People's business to do!
It is hard to Change old habits of greed and selfish power to one of cooperation and a public good for all. Pres. Obama is going up against a Monster of Greed and Corruption that does not want to give up its power and control. This monster will Lie, Steal and Deceive. Now they are trying to say Pres. Obama is not an American citizen. We the people must not allow this Monster of Corruption to continue to have its way, which will only continue to bankrupt the United States. We must stand firm with Pres. Obama who truly represents the Change the people need and have voted for. He has the Vision and Will and sees the possibilities, while the Party of No Has no vision and only sees darkness and gloom.
GOP Media and politicians, say Pres. Obama is doing too much at one time, but if we in our own lives can do more than One thing at a time, so can Congress, and it is their duty and business to do so. If those in Congress want to continue to be a Do Nothing Congress, than we must elect leaders who can do Something for the whole of humanity and not just the separated self or special interest party.
Members of Congress have great insurance coverage, and a cushy salary. They do not live under the fear of unemployment and no insurance coverage. Congress was voted in to work on Behalf of the People, so they too, do not have to live in that fear... Yet, while in the care and leadership of the GOP, Congress has done a miserable job on taking care of the people and now the GOP want to obstruct the Democrats from putting into laws that which will benefit the people and grow the economy, not bankrupt it. But people are turning a deaf ear to the deceitful "Wizards of Oz" for they want us to continue to travel their yellow brick road of deception, while Pretending to be Helpful and Concerned! We must become immune to their lies and vigilant to their deception if we are to make progress towards prosperity and wholeness again.
I call on those of goodwill to work, speak-up and Stand firm for Change and for transformation -- towards a more just and equitable government for all.

Tonight is important for the press, but most ordinary Americans wont pay too much attention.

What has a greater impact is the overall public push from Obama that has lasted a week now. The only way that health care gets a jolt of public support is if Obama's personal popularity is able to convince Americans to support him.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

The current health reform direction is going to increase cost, not lower them. How the politicians completely missed the point of "cost" reform is amazing. We need lower cost medical delivery. That means providers making less money per hour. Period.
So, we need to create a new parallel health care system that uses 2 year educated professionals, like paralegals lower the cost of legal work. Dentists don't clean teeth anymore. Doctors with a 8 year education can't afford to spend the time needed to to treat lifestyle illnesses like diabetes, nutrition, allergies and high blood pressure. Only a therapists-type low paid healthcare worker can spend the time to hold hands and change people's lives. MD's just run from one patient to the next undertreating, and never fixing the cronic problems that are breaking the healthcare bank. We need to an army of new low paid health workers, not to replace doctors, but to actually improve peoples lives.

1. Nobody watches primetime

2. You don't want to sign a bad bill, but you want to sign a bill you haven't read...ok

3. USA isn't England, if you want to have NHS, go there Obama.

Pres. BO is in a hurry alright. Why? The year 2010 is going to be change we can "really" believe in. His socialist agenda or the people who work will pay for everything agenda is going to come to a screeching halt. So indeed he is in a race against time to pass this monster of a bill that is going to explode costs and taxes for America. There are ways to reform healthcare and it does not come with a price tag of over a trillion dollars. People have to pay something for healthcare. Nothing in life is free. Look at all the taxes that we pay which are above and beyond what people should be spending. 2010 the Dems will lose the majority. Why? People are NOT happy for what they voted into office and can't believe what has happened. Time for real change. Time for some real reformers to take over. Obama was a wolf in sheeps clothes.

Obama wants to ram this through without anyone reading it first. How did that work out in Chicago when Daley did the same thing regarding the parking meters? Huh? Thought so.

Well that was just parking. Can you imagine that same thing happening with the healthcare delivery system? His problem now though is that people ARE starting to read this bill and its scaring the hell out of everyone, except far left zealots looking to socialize America piece by piece.

By the way, I am not some right wing wing nut or lug nut or whatever. Didn't vote for McCain or Obama but I know who I WON'T vote for in 2012.

Obama is already shaping up to become the worst president evah. Wait until the terrorist attacks begin. Obama -- Empty. Dishonest. Narcissistic. Dangerous.

They haven't been working on this for 9 months, they are rushing this horrible legislation through before anyone knows what happened. We need to fix the problems we have with healthcare not destroy it by creating a goverment run program eqivelent to mediacare. Name me one thing that the federal goverment can run right?

Kudos to fox for refusing to air Obamas speech tonight, i know i'm going to watch "so you think you can dance".

The teleprompter in chief speaks! Touch the screen all ye sheeple, and feel his wisdom and powers. You will obey.

From the AP Today: "That was fast. The hope and optimism that washed over the country in the opening months of Barack Obama’s presidency are giving way to harsh realities.
An Associated Press-GfK Poll shows that a majority of Americans are back to thinking that the country is headed in the wrong direction after a fleeting period in which more thought it was on the right track.
Obama still has a solid 55 percent approval rating — better than Bill Clinton and about even with George W. Bush six months into their presidencies — but there are growing doubts about whether he can succeed at some of the biggest items on his to-do list. And there is a growing sense that he is trying to tackle too much too soon.
The number of people who think Obama can improve the economy is down a sobering 19 percentage points from the euphoric days just before his inauguration. Ditto for expectations about creating jobs. Also down significantly: the share of people who think he can reduce the deficit, remove troops from Iraq and improve respect for the U.S. around the world, all slipping 15 points.
On overhauling health care, a signature issue for Obama, hopes for success are down 6 points."

Mark
Thanks for posting the above comments, the American Citizen is beginning to hit the nail right on the head-

Bend over Americans, this is going to hurt thanks to Democrats. Big Nanny Democrats want to ration health care for everyone in America – except those who break our immigration laws. Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee defeated an amendment that would have prevented illegal aliens from using the “public health insurance option.” Every Democrat on the panel voted against the measure.
Wake up, folks.

Only fools believe there will be equal treatment with reduced costs which will only be funded by the rich.

Honestly, the sheer ignorance of so many Americans defies belief. Most likely, they've never read Canadian or British newspapers, which routinely feature government run health care horror stories. Denied treatment, horrible and deadly care, never enough money, life-threatening and outlandish wait times, lotteries to see a doctor, etc.

Perhaps there will be treatment for the intellectually inept.

would love to comment, but I have to go sit in the ER for a few hours to check my sore throat.

The teleprompter in chief speaks! Touch the screen all ye sheeple, and feel his wisdom and powers. You will obey.
Posted by: BDD | July 22, 2009 10:56 AM
Very good will the TelePrompTer tell you where you were born?

Obama qualifications to reform health care:

No birth certificate

Cannot stop smoking

Difficulty telling the truth.

Therefore, I Igor produce Obama Birth Certificate at www.igormarxo.org

Compare Obama Care vs Igor Care at Obama vs Igor Care

If there is no "equal time" response to whatever Usamabama says, that will speak volumes.

"Obama Speaks" Why am I begging! Why are you begging! Why are your parents begging! Why are your children begging! Why! Why! Why! Why are dying women begging! Why are dying men begging! Why are dying children begging! Why! Why! Why! Why did my mother have to die! Why did your mother have to die! Why did your father have to die! Why did your child have to die! Why! Why! Why! So why are We the People begging! Just do nothing! Well that "Theft." Just say nothing! Well that's just Deception! So Why am I begging! GOP Republicans who aren't begging for Healthcare!

We had our night of drunken revelry, We won! We won! We won! Now it is the morning after and the bleary eyed liberal saps are waking up to find they have married the village idiot, and he ain't looking so good.

On the nightstand is our empty wallet. The house is a mess and a lot of stuff seems to be missing. The phone rings, it is our bank manager, someone has mortgaged our home for the next 50 years and our credit cards are maxed out. Looking outside we see the repo man leaving with our car. When we call our business a stranger informs us that all our interests have been sold to China for Monopoly money. Not only are we not the owner any more but a guy from the DMV is running things.

This news makes us violently ill, no car so we have to walk the 23 blocks to the hospital. After waiting in line for over 2 hours we are admitted to the waiting room. We recognize the administrator, he used to work a desk at the DMV. Another 3 hour wait and then we are informed that the union doctor is not expected back until next week and that until then we need to fill out forms, and of course, pay the waiting room tax.

We contact some old friends and are greeted with explicit language telling us how our new spouse has been very busy insulting them, we get no help there. The dog doesn't even want to associate with us. Then our new spouse shows up with some gang members from across town, it seems they will be living with us and be our new best friends.

Bad dream? You ain't seen nothing yet!

With the Republican smear-the-public-option campaign---designed by Wingnut mouth-breather Frank Luntz---in full swing, here's a handy, crystal-clear rebuttal you can print out and leave on windshields and utility poles (and even in emergency rooms!) across America:

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION

1. Choice, choice, choice. If the public health insurance option passes, Americans will be able to choose between their current insurance and a high-quality, government-run plan similar to Medicare. If you like your current care, you can keep it. If you don't—or don't have any—you can get the public insurance plan.

2. It will be high-quality coverage with a choice of doctors. Government-run plans have a track record of innovating to improve quality, because they're not just focused on short-term profits. And if you choose the public plan, you'll still get to choose your doctor and hospital.

3. We'll all save a bunch of money. The public health insurance option won't have to spend money on things like CEO bonuses, shareholder dividends, or excessive advertising, so it'll cost a lot less. Plus, the private plans will have to lower their rates and provide better value to compete, so people who keep their current insurance will save, too.

4. It will always be there for you and your family. A for-profit insurer can close, move out of the area, or just kick you off their insurance rolls. The public health insurance option will always be available to provide you with the health security you need.

5. And it's a key part of universal health care. No longer will sick people or folks in rural communities, or low-income Americans be forced to go without coverage. The public health insurance plan will be available and accessible to everyone. And for those struggling to make ends meet, the premiums will be subsidized by the government.

It might not hurt to give your senators a jingle and ask 'em which they embrace more: campaign contributions from the big insurance lobby and Frank Luntz's Republican propaganda, or historic legislation that will enhance their legacy and make them heroes among their constituents for improving the health and well-being of all Americans. Be patient---sadly, it could take some of 'em a while to decide.

Wapost/ABC poll yesterday:

54% of Americans support a government run option paid for by taxes on the rich (the very same rich people whom the BushCo Republicans gave tax cuts to the last eight years while everyone else was left to drown in debt).
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_072009.html

That's a damning statistic and indictment against any claim that the Republican party is a national party. They only act in the narrow interests of their own small, local electorate, never what's in the best interests of the national party.

And the interests of the national party and the interests of those rigid, ideologue, conservative Republicans are opposed to each other.

The only Republicans left are extremists in extremely Republican states (excepting perhaps Maine) and their extremely Republican, conservative electorate doesn't line up with the American electorate.

We all remember the commercials that were made by Republicans and their pals at the Big Insurance Industry to trick Americans into thinking that health care reform would hurt average working families. We now see what has happened to the health-care system. CEOs rake in the big bucks from the huge profits they take in as health-insurance costs have skyrocketed.

FierceHealthcare reports the following top 10 CEO salaries for 2008:
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* Ron Williams - Aetna - Total Compensation: $24,300,112.
* H. Edward Hanway - CIGNA - Total Compensation: $12,236,740.
* Angela Braly - WellPoint - Total Compensation: $9,844,212.
* Dale Wolf - Coventry Health Care - Total Compensation: $9,047,469.
* Michael Neidorff - Centene - Total Compensation: $8,774,483.
* James Carlson - AMERIGROUP - Total Compensation: $5,292,546.
* Michael McCallister - Humana - Total Compensation: $4,764,309.
* Jay Gellert - Health Net - Total Compensation: $4,425,355.
* Richard Barasch - Universal American - Total Compensation: $3,503,702.
* Stephen Hemsley - UnitedHealth Group - Total Compensation: $3,241,042.

My rates go up and coverage goes down every time I turn around. And then they just decide not to cover certain medications without an explanation. Even scumbag criminals are resurfacing like Rick Scott to try and con America for a second time -- and the corporate media does nothing about it.
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http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/dont-let-third-way-ben-nelsons-or-repub

101,000 Americans die UNNECESSARILY each year because of lack of access to basic medical care that they would get in most other industrialized nations.
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http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jan/Measuring-the-Health-of-Nations--Updating-an-Earlier-Analysis.aspx

I keep asking my "Canada bashing" kool-aid drinking Wingnut friends to find me just ONE comprehensive poll in Canada showing that Canadians would swap their health care system, warts and all, for ours...Haven't seen any yet.

And believe me, if there were any polls favorable to the Republican cause of denying healthcare to everyone, the Republican minions would be linking to them all day long. Instead, all they have is a handfull of anecdotes that they got from Druggy Rush and Glenn Beck etc.

Everyone will be against this plan unless/until it affects them and they can't get coverage of their own.

Must be nice to be healthy and perfect while your neighbor is going bankrupt from paying medical bills.

Head in the sand.....

> 44,230 more people are losing health coverage each week.

> 191,670 more people are losing health coverage each month.

> 2.3 million more people are losing health coverage each year

Republicans know that a successful health care reform that achieves universal coverage will bury them electorally for a generation. Health Insurers and their Lobbyists and Big Pharma know that a powerful public option and a Medicare bargaining for prices will kick them off the gravy train permanently. Republicans and Big Insurance Company propagandists know their scare tactics aren't nearly as scary as reality for the large majority of Americans.

Republican Congressman who oppose universal health insurance should immediately relinquish their federal health insurance. After all, these members of Congress have long enjoyed taxpayer-subsidized health insurance, a privilege that they apparently believe tens of millions of working, uninsured Americans and their families don't deserve.

If Republicans don't think being uninsured is a big deal, then they should go right ahead and try it out. And if they really believe a public plan is such a bad option, maybe they can persuade their parents to give up Medicare too.

Most people are unaware how similar the major corporate health insurers are to our failed Wall Street firms.They are corporate cash cows and have virtually no fiduciary responsibility and few activities for protecting or improving health or the health care system. They will devote their vast resources to prevent any meaningful health reform. They have controlled Congress (mostly Republicans) and the mainstream media. The only cure is vigorous popular support for a public option.

* The corporate insurance companies are out for profit and must work to maximize their value on the stock market and not our friends. They treat patients like widgets or cost centers. This is not a culture of trust, caring, compassion, and fiduciary responsibility. If you were dumb enough to hope that Countrywide Mortgage would preserve your home and Lehman Brothers would preserve your retirement fund, then you will be stupid enough to expect Anthem Blue Cross and the other insurance companies to be there to protect your health. Yet it seems all Washington continues under this delusion.

* The employer based private health insurance industry has been created by us, is hugely subsidized by public policy and public money and is expensive, inefficient, costly , and a structural barrier to a healthy America. It needs to be eliminated.

* The only cure for our problem is a strong public option national, universal, health financing program like Medicare for All. This is an efficient way to pool risk and share the unexpected costs of illness. Fifty percent of our population has virtually no medical expenses while five percent consume 25 percent of all personal medical care costs. This why we need the insurance principle: unexpected medical expenses are relatively rare and can be huge and should be spread across the whole population. Financial costs related to illness cause over 50 percent of personal bankruptcies in the United States. Over 46 million Americans are rationed out of the medical system (and during this economic catastrophe this number is growing by 10,000 people per day) 46 million people are subject to excess morbidity and mortality because they cannot afford financing and the insurance industry cannot profit from them. Health insurance is important and necessary. We need an efficient, national, publicaly sponsored, universal health financing system. This is the only treatment that will be a cure.

With the government taking over finance, automobile industries...can't we see that the same thing is going to happen to our healthcare? I don't want the government to tell me when I can get diagnostic tests done and when I can't.

Socialism took over England...and the government controlled their auto industry, steel, etc. Now they have no auto industry, no steel industry. Prices have skyrocketed, taxes are unbelievable, and their health system is substandard. Obama is pushing America into socialism...can't everyone see that with their own eyes?

"Republicans know that a successful health care reform that achieves universal coverage will bury them electorally for a generation."

Really??? The Dems control both houses of Congress...how is it possible for the Repubs to be the ones resposible for this debacle not getting done?

I�m sorry. My head is still spinning over the news that the Treasury Department has opened a dozen or more programs to pass out as much as $23.7 TRILLION to the financial sector. This came directly from the Inspector General of the TARP program in testimony before Congress. (And I�m wondering if we may see another Inspector General get fired.) I am now positive that this administration is bent on destroying our current government and social order, and replacing them with new secular and governmental orders of its own design. The bailouts, rule by Tsar, and the current health care bill are just so many parts of the overall design.
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That�s it kiddies: Lap it all up like a good little bunch of drones.

I love all these fools who think that putting the government in charge of health care is a change for better- look around you- the post offfice, the dmv, Todd Stroger, Blago- they are all government entities- when I have to go to a doctor who is paid by the gov, hired to fill either some "minority quota" or is damn Kennedy or Daley relative- is the end of this country- I hope China can keep capitalism alive

I was sitting in our hospital in Chicago today waiting on an appointment and thought has smooth everything runs. A sense of peace or lull before the storm. Please everyone write your congressmen and senators tell them to STOP. It may sound good until you have a loved one that needs a quadruple bypass or other more serious conditions and they can't get healthcare before they are 65. This is SCARY. We work our whole lives and this is what is the proposed END. Subsidize the the 46 million that don't have healthcare excluding illegals and leave us alone. I want a few golden years with my husband

And of course, the health care bill that you want to pass has not been read, nor is it understood, by the President.
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"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clad be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee."
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John W, thank you for having the courage to point out the Anti-Religious Crusade that Obama is on. The TARP, He created, all on his own, without congress is proof that he wants to rule by new secular orders. Bush would never have allowed an anti-christian abomination like the TARP to be created! Never! Yesterday John, I went to my local church. You know what? There was a big sign on the door, "Closed by the TARP!" What an outrage! Then I went to my local bank to get a loan. You know what ahappened there? They told me that the Obama created TARP made it illegal to lend to anyone bur Athieists and Muslime (Because Obama is a secret muslim you know). How can we live with a secular governemnt and Banking system? We cann't, Bush new that, that's why he held the line against progranms like the TARP. We need more Christian Warrior Heros like you John to acccurately point evil secular nature of these government programs, created by the Anti-Christ Obama.

" I am now positive that this administration is bent on destroying our current government and social order, and replacing them with new secular and governmental orders of its own design."

John W , the Libertarian, now has a problem with secular government. I think poor John W is slipping beyond even his normal Libertarian nuttiness into full blown paranoia. Johnny, are the secular commies hiding under your bed? Are they threatening our Purity of Essence?

Calm yourself John W, you are ranting. You are also mistating the facts.

First of, the TARP is not a creation of this administration. It is a creation of the previous administration.

Secondly the 27 Trillion number is NOT the number that the Federal government will spend, nor is the 2 trillion a reflection of what the federal government has spent.

Included in those numbers are the amounts that the Federal Reserve has made available to banks ($6.8 Trillion). The Federal Reserve is not the federal Government. It is not a part of either the TARP creating Bush Administration nor the Obama Administration. They work in concert, but the Fed is not passing out tax dollars from the Federal budget.

Also included in the total are the funds made available to Fannie and Freddie Mac under Congressional appropiation under BOTH administrations, again totally separate from the $700 million of TARP money that the Bush Administration demanded. It also include the money that BOTH administrations have made available to the automakers.

Furthermore the total includes $1 trillion dollars for a toxic asset plan which has only said that it will provide about $40 billion dollars.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lawmakers-take-issue-with-tarp-transparency-costs

So take a couple of deep breaths, and try and look at this rationally, OK? No need to panic. No need to rant about a secular restructing of society. I don't know where that particular irrational worry of your stems from. Last time I checked we had a secular government. Has Obama done anything to limit you personal religious freedom?

To: No to secular banking laws! & Stanley K.
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Pardon my mistake. I meant to use the word “social” and ended up using the word “secular.” It’s probably because I so closely associate these two words. So, try re-reading my post while changing out the word “secular” and replacing it with “social.” After that, see if you can still justify your snarky replies.
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Oh, and Stanley K: If you are a Democrat, don’t talk to me about nuttiness. You folks can strain out gnats and swallow camels with the best of them.

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Posted by: Mel | July 23, 2009 11:31 AM
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1. No, Mel, I am not misstating the facts. See http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aZ27ITF7gaoQ The Inspector General for the TARP program disagrees with you. He says that the $23.7 trillion figure also includes “$2.3 trillion in programs offered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., $7.4 trillion in TARP and other aid from the Treasury and $7.2 trillion in federal money for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, credit unions, Veterans Affairs and other federal programs.” The same article quotes Barofsky (the TARP Inspector General) with saying that, “In the nine months since Congress authorized TARP, Treasury has created 12 programs involving funds that may reach almost $3 trillion …” And, contrary to your assertion, I have never heard of any congressional approval for a multi trillion dollar appropriation for Fannie, Freddie or others. I think that would have made a bigger splash than the TARP bill or the even the newer “stimulus package,” or both combined. Thus, even if we count out the “$6.8 trillion in aid offered by the Federal Reserve” (which is disturbing in itself), the information still indicates that fifty government agencies stand poised to expend the better part of 17 trillion dollars. Furthermore, if you read Barofsky’s Report ( http://www.sigtarp.gov/987egapograbme123654/J09-3-SIGRTC.pdf ) it confirms all of this (and see pages 137-139 in particular).
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So you can go calm down and take a couple deep breaths yourself, you snarky jerk. Between the two of us, I am not the one in denial over the facts.
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2. In the second place, it doesn’t matter that “TARP is not a creation of this administration” or that it was “a creation of the previous administration.” It is being administered by the CURRENT administration. In particular, it is being administered by Treasury Secretary Geitner - who was Barack Obama’s appointee. I might also remind you that Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and many others currently in the Obama administration voted for the TARP bill against all reason and rationality. Moreover, if the Obama drones thought the TARP bill and all the other federal programs poised to spend trillions of dollars was such a bad idea, they have the votes to pull the plug on it. In short, the current administration has the political responsibility for all of this right now.
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3. As I mentioned in my reply to two other posters (who are just as snarky as you), my use of the word “secular” was a mistake. I meant to use the word “social.” I, too, view our social order as largely “secular,” which is why I made the mistake.

"I have never heard of any congressional approval for a multi trillion dollar appropriation for Fannie, Freddie or others."

Well if you are that ill informed, I won't bother correcting any of your other errors.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/22/news/companies/fannie_freddie_bailout/index.htm?postversion=2009072220

"Since Congress essentially wrote a blank check to the Treasury Department in July 2008 to do what needed to be done to inject capital into the two firms, Fannie (FNM, Fortune 500) has received $34.2 billion of direct government support while Freddie (FRE, Fortune 500) has received $51.7 billion. "

Come back when you know a few facts OK John. I'm not going to waste my time arguing with an ill informed man whose anger has overtaken his reason and civility. If you don't want snark in the future, I suggest that you don't end posts the way you did, Kiddo. Respect is a two way street and until; you show some, don't expect any in return.

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Posted by: Mel | July 23, 2009 3:36 PM
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Mel:
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I asked for proof of a multi-TRILLION dollar authorization for Fannie, Freddie and the like. The article states (and I quote):
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"When Congress was debating the bailout of Fannie and Freddie last July, the official estimate from the Congressional Budget Office was that a bailout would most likely cost taxpayers $25 billion, with only a 5% chance of the price tag reaching $100 billion between them."
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How does that sound like a multi-TRILLION dollar bailout to you? Even a "blank check" doesn't come close to a bailout in the TRILLIONS - to the tune of 7.2 trillion, to be exact - when Congress is expecting only a 5% chance of the price tag reaching or eclipsing $100 billion. Thus, had I known everything the article said, it wouldn't have cure the so-called ignorance of mine that you claim exists. In any event, Congress' action in this regard got none of the coverage that either the TARP bill or the latest stimulus bill received. I think people in this country would have been extremely upset had been known that Congress authorized expenditures equal to seven-tenths of our entire national debt.
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In the second place, you were snarky out of the blocks - as you always are. I don't expect any respect from you because I think you are incapable of it. In which case, let it be known here and now that I have nothing but contempt for you. You don't act respectfully, in which case you don't deserve any greater respect than you get, Buddy. If that makes you want to go away butt hurt, then fine, go away.

I pity you John, I really do. You are so angry, so bitter, so full of rage and hate. You used to be a reasonable guy, but lately you make John D and Paulo look rational. I Hope your life gets better, because it's obvious that you are miserable now. I don't have contempt for you, I 'm not angry at you, I'm not hurt at what you say. I just feel seddened when I read your increasingly ignorant and vitriolic posts. Good Luck friend, may God give you the inner peace you clearly lack.