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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Breaking News

Breaking News

by John Cole|  August 2, 200912:41 pm| 89 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Media

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The guy who lost the election is still bitter.

I honestly don’t remember an election in my lifetime where the losers generated this much attention and media coverage. But everyday, we are inundated with Palin drama and mean old man McCain’s grumpy commentary. Doesn’t losing mean anything anymore? I haven’t had to spend the entire offseason listening to nonsense about the damned Cardinals.

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Reader Interactions

89Comments

  1. 1.

    Hunter Gathers

    August 2, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    “Doesn’t losing mean anything anymore?”

    Not when said loser is adored by our benevolent 4th Estate.

  2. 2.

    Bret

    August 2, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    When’s the last time anyone’s heard from John Kerry, another sitting US Senator? When’s the last time he was on one of the Sunday talk shows?

  3. 3.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    Yep. Just saw Grouchy McFuckstick on John King’s shitty show.

    The guy who lost the election (and badly) is on my teevee more than Ryan Seacrest. WTF?

  4. 4.

    joe from Lowell

    August 2, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    Because Republicans remain hyper-partisan dicks, who openly talk about policy and votes in terms of their consequences on partisan politics, while peddling racist conspiracy theories, Obama’s efforts to change the climate in Washington have failed.

    Whatever. Slapping away the olive branch harder and harder doesn’t change the fact that he offered it.

  5. 5.

    Hunter Gathers

    August 2, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I loved the part when Walnuts said that Obama has failed the ‘bipartisan test’. Sure, it’s Obama’s fault that everyone in your party is a deranged redneck. Is anyone going to call him out for foisting Iquitarod Winner Sarah Palin upon the rest of the country?

  6. 6.

    The Other Steve

    August 2, 2009 at 12:55 pm

    McCain’s idea of bipartisanship is that he get’s his way without compromising.

    That’s not bipartisanship we can believe in.

  7. 7.

    bayville

    August 2, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    In fairness to McGranpa, John King is an idiot:

    King asked McCain if Obama has “failed the test he laid out at [an inaugural] dinner, to be truly bipartisan.”

    When you tee-up a softball like that to a dishonest, political hack- he will always produce a headline the questioner (King) is looking for.

  8. 8.

    Comrade Jake

    August 2, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    I’m just wondering when the mediots who run these shows are going to figure out that:
    1) nobody really cares what John McCain thinks anymore
    2) Grumpy old men aren’t great for ratings

  9. 9.

    Jay Andrew Allen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    CNN’s Political Ticker had no less than 4 posts about this guy’s appearance on the morning circuit. The media just lives to fellate this man’s ego.

  10. 10.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    Hey, John, by the way…

    My constant pestering, combined with your many blog posts about Lily, finally inspired my Mom to adopt her first dog since our old boy Hounders passed away. We went to the dog shelters yesterday, and at the Montgomery County Humane Society in Dayton, Ohio, found her new, little, forever-friend…

    Meet Sailor, the All-American Mutt!

    http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/TavernWenchBlog/?action=view&current=Sailor2.jpg

    http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/TavernWenchBlog/?action=view&current=Sailor3.jpg

    Thanks for all your posts about Lily, because without the stories about your experience with adopting a shelter dog, I truly don’t think Mom would’ve taken the plunge. I hope Lily inspires many, many more of your readers to find Dog Love. :-) Mom, I, and little Sailor, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

  11. 11.

    JackieBinAZ

    August 2, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    Let’s not forget that there were five years where John McCain couldn’t pontificate on TV. Give the man a break.

  12. 12.

    gex

    August 2, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    @JenJen: I can’t think of anything I’ve done in my life that has been as rewarding and fulfilling as adopting my rescued dog. Sure, I missed out on the cute puppy phase, but I mist up thinking about how much better his life is now compared to before.

  13. 13.

    ericvsthem

    August 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    @Bret: Because Walnuts is good for ratings and Kerry is not.

  14. 14.

    ellaesther

    August 2, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    I think that there must be many reasons that this is so — not least that the purveyors of television news have a LOT of hours to fill — but at least one of the reasons has to be that the post-election GOP has behaved like a bunch of babies, and that draws attention, often unwonted and unwarranted attention, but attention.

    Add to the fact that Cheney is compelling (in an entirely chilling way, but still: compelling), Walnuts is charming (in an entirely disingenuous way, but still: charming), and Palin is both pretty and epically in articulate (meaning we can both laugh at and lust after her in one fell swoop) — well, it makes for good TV.

    Even when John Kerry, the last person to lose a Presidential election, is passionate, he is respectful and intellectual about it, not to mention occasionally boring. Not good TV.

    And let’s face it: Democratic passion does not rise to the levels of histrionics achieved by GOP passion.

  15. 15.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    @gex: You know, I’ve always adopted rescues, but Mom thinks I’m some kind of dog whisperer, and that it doesn’t work for everybody.

    Boy was she wrong. This morning she called me up and couldn’t stop talking about her wonderful new mutt and how sweet he is and how she can’t believe she waited this long to have a dog back in her life. That was after one night, so I can only imagine how she’s going to feel in another week. :-)

  16. 16.

    jnfr

    August 2, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    @Comrade Jake:

    I know that when I looked up and saw Grouchy McFuckstick (thanks JenJen!) on my TV, I immediately switched over to Rock Solid on DIY.

  17. 17.

    ellaesther

    August 2, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    @ellaesther: Yay for writing inarticulately when writing about someone being inarticulate! Sigh.

    I meant, “inarticulate,” of course, not “in articulate,” as if “articulate” were a place (which, for some reason, doesn’t warrant the capital letter of a place name).

  18. 18.

    Brachiator

    August 2, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    @JenJen:

    Meet Sailor, the All-American Mutt!

    Great mug shots!

  19. 19.

    bayville

    August 2, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    BTW, what are McCain’s bonafides when it comes to health care legislation. I mean, in 30 years in Congress, I can’t remember him ever citing a specific study on health care or introduce any legislation regarding the topic. All he’s ever done is spout political-speak gibberish whenever it comes to anything involving economics or the complicated issue of national health care.

    Nowadays, McCain should be limited to commenting on why he supports blowing up countries inhabited by brown- skinned people and Sarah Palin.

    Other than that, he is irrelevant.

  20. 20.

    PeakVT

    August 2, 2009 at 1:16 pm

    When’s the last time anyone’s heard from John Kerry

    He really has devolved into a non-entity, though a search on the Goog indicates he’s still working on policy issues.

    Today’s meaningless statistic: Kerry is currently the longest-serving junior senator.

  21. 21.

    calipygian

    August 2, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    The press loves a loser as long as its a Republican loser (see not only Grouchy McFuckstick, but Newtie Newt, Hizzonor the Don Giuliani, Mittens, et al).

    Otherwise we’d still be hearing from Mondale and Dukakis and taking their very important opinions into account.

  22. 22.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    August 2, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    @JenJen: OMG, he could ‘sail’ away on those ears. So totally adorable. Congrats to your mom.

  23. 23.

    trollhattan

    August 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    @JenJen

    Congrats to Mom and Sailor, may they have many wonderful adventures together. Get a load of those ears–he reminds me of Skippyjon Jones.

    http://www.skippyjonjones.com/

  24. 24.

    gex

    August 2, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    @JenJen: I think unless a dog has been severely damaged by abuse, most rescues should work out okay. Casey is actually my very first dog, but I did my research on positive training so the introduction into a house with 3 cats went pretty smoothly. And if I can handle it, I think just about anyone can!

    Pic of Casey (and Abigail)

  25. 25.

    ellaesther

    August 2, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    @PeakVT: I don’t know that he’s a nonentity — I think he’s a quiet entity.

    The one thing that comes to mind this Sunday morning (though I know there are more) is that he went to Gaza in the wake of the Israeli incursion this winter. When the Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs committee openly questions Israeli behavior in Gaza and calls for a real settlement freeze on the West Bank (some of this can be seen here: http://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/04/1003464/kerry-stalks-new-ground-on-settlements-syria-and-peace) that actually means something.

    I have the general impression that this administration is very busy on the quiet diplomacy front. They are doing all kind of things in the Mideast — getting Israel to prise open the border to Gaza a little more, for instance, halting the construction of the West Bank security wall, sending envoys to Syria — that we could have only dreamed of under Bush, and they are smart enough to know that “quiet” is often much more effective than “headline grabbing.” Every once and awhile, to President goes out and does something splashy to make sure people know what the direction is, and then Clinton, and people like Kerry, go about the business of trying to get there.

  26. 26.

    BethanyAnne

    August 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    @JenJen: Hehe, what a cutie :-)

  27. 27.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    @Bad Horse’s Filly: His shelter name was Joey, and he was a stray puppy picked up by the dogcatcher last April. Since then he was adopted and returned twice… the wonderful shelter workers told us the first family “got pregnant’ and brought him back after a week, and the second family after one night decided they really didn’t have time for a dog. Shelter workers try their best not to be opinionated, but they could barely hide their contempt for what the other families had put the dog through.

    Being your basic dog person, I knew when we were outside with him and in the playroom, that he was just perfect for mom. He was affectionate, knew how to sit on command, not the least bit hyper, but playful. He’s 11 months old and he really did deserve this third (fourth?) chance at a good life. Trust me, he’s found it. Just like Lily, he won the dog lottery. Mom changed his name to Sailor because she and my stepdad are avid sailors themselves, and you’re right, his goofball ears looked like he could help their boat with a little windpower. :-)

    @trollhattan: Ha!! That’s hilarious, and you’re right!

  28. 28.

    steve s

    August 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:47 pm Reply to this comment
    Bret
    When’s the last time anyone’s heard from John Kerry, another sitting US Senator? When’s the last time he was on one of the Sunday talk shows?

    Feb 1st he was on Meet the Press.

  29. 29.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    @gex: Ohhh! They are adorable!!

    (Sorry to hijack the thread, John!)

  30. 30.

    John Cole

    August 2, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    @JenJen: LOOK AT THOSE EARS!

  31. 31.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    @John Cole: How could you not love a dog with crazy-ass ears like that? One look at the guy in his cage, sitting like a good little boy with those ears up and reaching to Mars, wagging his tail like a champ, and Mom knew he was “the one.”

    If I start blogging about him, Sailor’s Ears will become the new Tunch Is Fat. I feel your pain.

  32. 32.

    TR

    August 2, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    Jon King married Dana Bash, who seems to be one IQ point above a houseplant. That’s all you need to know.

  33. 33.

    ellaesther

    August 2, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    @JenJen: They are very sweet animals, and it has not so far been my impression that our host is opposed to pet pictures, at almost any juncture! I suspect he would, in fact, approve….

    (And mazel tov to your mom! What a lovely story! [And I absolutely second the Skippyjon Jones reference…!])

  34. 34.

    MattF

    August 2, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    “So, John, why do you think you lost to the colored guy?”

    “Tell me, John, do you still think that Sarah Palin is qualified to be President?”

    “Just for the record, John, how to you think Iranians would react to being bombed?”

    “Hey, John, how’s the dumb c*** doing? Still rich?”

  35. 35.

    gex

    August 2, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    @JenJen: The pets. They hijack threads like they hijack our hearts.

  36. 36.

    Leelee for Obama

    August 2, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    (((Iquitarod Winner Sarah Palin)))

    imaginary block-quote

    this for the win!

    And McCain is still old and white and all too! One would think he’d have learned a thing or two from his loss and made some changes , but, sadly, no! I saw him t’other day saying Obama hadn’t changed Washington and said to him-don’t I wish-maybe that’s because you’re still there, Fuckhead!

  37. 37.

    gizmo

    August 2, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    As long as the media is owned by Korporate Amerika, we’re going to keep on getting biased “news.” Always, always follow the money.

  38. 38.

    schrodinger's cat

    August 2, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    OT: Ice-cream maker chronicles II

    I made frozen yogurt with tropical fruits. I made it with non fat yogurt, which I drained, so it was nice and thick and creamy. It could have done with more sugar though, also the mangoes were a bit green. Recipe needs some tweaking. Good first try though.

  39. 39.

    Max Peck

    August 2, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    You should follow him on twitter.

  40. 40.

    dmsilev

    August 2, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    In other news, the birthers claim to have unearthed Obama’s “Real” Kenyan birth certificate: link.

    Minor problem: The certificate says “Republic of Kenya”, and carries a date that’s several months before the point when Kenya became a republic. Oops.

    -dms

  41. 41.

    Demo Woman

    August 2, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: My son is making Salted Butter Caramel Ice Cream to bring over for supper. I’ll let you know how it is.
    http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/04/salted_butter_c.html

  42. 42.

    Sour Kraut

    August 2, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    BTW, what are McCain’s bonafides when it comes to health care legislation. I mean, in 30 years in Congress, I can’t remember him ever citing a specific study on health care or introduce any legislation regarding the topic. All he’s ever done is spout political-speak gibberish whenever it comes to anything involving economics or the complicated issue of national health care.

    The hell of it is (and I’ve yet to see or hear of a pundit calling him on it), there isn’t a private insurer in America that would sell McCain a policy. Not with his medical history. He can only get coverage as a Congressman. Now he *could* use that as a starting point for discussing the unethical rescission of coverage and insurance industry treatment of people with preexisting conditions, but I’m guessing we’d just get an indignant huff about ‘personal attacks.’

  43. 43.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    @Max Peck: Gawd, his tweets are truly entertaining, in their general grouchy-ness and tone of inflated self-importance. Oh wait… last part applies to 99% of all tweets…

    But seriously, the constant adoring media attention has clearly gone to his Twitter-head.

  44. 44.

    Beeb

    August 2, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    Well, hello Sailor! I’ve always wanted to say that. :>)

  45. 45.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    August 2, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    The GOP: Losers, quitters and whiners.

    He said those efforts have to involve “a true sit-down. Not ‘here’s the plan, how can we fix it so it satisfies enough of you and call it bipartisan.'”

    Too bad this isn’t an election year. McCane could put his campaign on hold, rush back to D.C. and … fuck everything up.

    @dmsilev: Obama faked evidence that he’s a citizen so it’s only fair that they fake evidence that he’s not!

  46. 46.

    MikeJ

    August 2, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    Well, hello Sailor! I’ve always wanted to say that

    xyzzy

  47. 47.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    August 2, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    @JenJen: Ha! I’m glad you posted that second picture so we could the dog attached to those ears. What an absolutely adorable little beast.

    Following McCain and his daughter on Twitter is quite an eye opener. I was particularly entertained by his daughter very public statement that she was against public option healthcare reform. The irony must have gone way over her head. As the daughter of an heiress and a sitting US Senator (who himself has had government healthcare for his entire life!) it was quite delicious. I have all these tweets filed away for future mocking and ridicule.

  48. 48.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    Republicans put out their plan. Their plan is to deregulate health insurance.
    I don’t know why they’re still getting away with inaccurate fear-mongering re:the Democrat’s plan. That was what they did last week, prior to putting out their plan.
    I thought they way this marketplace of ideas thing worked was you put out your proposal and defended it.
    Republicans need to explain how trumping every state regulation in the country is going to bring down the cost of health insurance, while improving quality of outcome, and keeping insurers honest.
    I insist they do that in the context of what just happened with banking, lending and finance, because that happened on John McCain’s watch.

  49. 49.

    Anne

    August 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    @JenJen: oh my god, those EARS!! How could you not take that dog home? Congrats to your mom on the new addition to her household, and good on her for giving a loving home to one in need.

  50. 50.

    Warren Terra

    August 2, 2009 at 3:17 pm

    @ #40 by dsmilev

    But I thought the Secret Kenyan Birf Certificate came out about a year ago, through the investigative work of Jesse Taylor?

  51. 51.

    Deschanel

    August 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    @bayville: “BTW, what are McCain’s bonafides when it comes to health care legislation?”

    Well, he’s had socialized government health care his entire life: as an army brat, a soldier, a Senator. He’s never paid a dime for his own health care, and his lifetime of knowing the government will cover him means he can tell the rest of us what a terrible thing it is.

  52. 52.

    Shibby

    August 2, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    I’ve always suspected the MSM actively works towards ensuring a 50-50 split in public opinion. That way they have the maximum amount of power to influence policy and thus become the king makers.

  53. 53.

    Comrade Darkness

    August 2, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Bitter old man is bitter.

    And Sailor’s ears totally win the intertubes for today.

  54. 54.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    I see Alan Greenspan is back too.
    Is there some rule that says I have to listen to Alan Greenspan defend his crappy failed dogma my entire adult life?
    Why is Alan Greenspan not ashamed to appear? Incredibly, he’s bitching about deficits and giving a stern lecture on interest rates.
    Is this a joke?

  55. 55.

    Comrade Darkness

    August 2, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    @kay: Republicans put out their plan. Their plan is to deregulate health insurance.

    The republican platform is always about socializing losses and privatizing profits. This is exactly in line with that. Insurance companies will take money from people until they need care, at which point they will cut them off from it. Perfect capitalism in operation.

  56. 56.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 3:47 pm

    @Comrade Darkness:

    It’s really bad. The only mandate is insurance companies have to offer one or another policy to all comers. No mandate to purchase, and we’ll lose the tax credit for employer-sponsored health insurance.
    They’ll give you an individual tax credit to purchase an individual policy when you lose your employer-sponsored plan, but you don’t have to buy it, and the insurance company only has to offer “a plan” to “fit your budget”.
    Healthy younger people are going to grab the tax credit, and not buy insurance. Less healthy and less young people are going to lose the coverage they now have, and be left to purchase a policy that currently costs 12,500 a year, with 6,000 in tax credits.
    Poor and middle income people are going to be the real cash cow, because they actually WILL have a mandate of sorts: if they want the government subsidy that applies to poor and middle income, they’ll have to spend the tax credit on insurance to to get it. One can only imagine what “product” the insurance industry will come up with to offer those people. Dear God.
    Oh, and there’s a “non-profit board” to regulate insurance companies, because we all know insurance companies are upright and honest, and will respond to sternly worded letters.
    It’s as if they set out to plunder the current system, and make things immeasurably worse.

  57. 57.

    cbear

    August 2, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    @JenJen: There are cute dogs and then there are CUTE dogs. That is one CUTE dog.
    Just looking at that little guy is enough to lift anybody’s spirits.
    Good on you and your moms, JJ.

  58. 58.

    Svensker

    August 2, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    @JenJen:

    That is one cute doggie! The ears, the ears… Killer. Yay, your mom!

  59. 59.

    bob h

    August 2, 2009 at 3:59 pm

    I don’t remember a situation either in which the outgoing VP attacked the new President in acerbic, dishonest terms, and got his daughter to do the same. (And then begged the new President to extend his SS protection).

  60. 60.

    JGabriel

    August 2, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    JenJen:

    Thanks for all your posts about Lily, because without the stories about your experience with adopting a shelter dog, I truly don’t think Mom would’ve taken the plunge.

    You let your Mom read this site? You do realize BJ is the top Google site for the query skull-fucking kittens? Right?

    .

  61. 61.

    Anne Laurie

    August 2, 2009 at 4:15 pm

    This morning she called me up and couldn’t stop talking about her wonderful new mutt and how sweet he is and how she can’t believe she waited this long to have a dog back in her life. That was after one night, so I can only imagine how she’s going to feel in another week.

    Well, be fair — give Sailor a few weeks to feel confident your mom’s house isn’t just another hotel, and to start testing the boundaries. He’s the right age and gender for a series of housebreaking “accidents”, possibly cocking a leg while looking straight at her or your stepdad. Or maybe a little resource-guarding over food, or the sweet spot on the couch / bed / favorite person’s lap…

    Seriously: I kid, because I love (with those ears, Sailor’s gotta be part Papillon, right?). Kudos to your mom, and felicitations to young Sailor!

  62. 62.

    nabalzbbfr

    August 2, 2009 at 4:30 pm

    Perhaps we will need to rethink the results of the 2008 election. The smoking gun of Obama’s constitutional ineligibility to serve has been found. The upshot is that the 2008 Electoral College vote would be recounted with the votes for Obama being disqualified. That would make John McCain POTUS.

  63. 63.

    Llelldorin

    August 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    You have to admit that the crowning touch of that little piece of Politico drivel is John McCain apparently saying that “it’s very clear that the stimulus has had some affect.”

    Christ on a crutch, guys, hire a fucking copy editor.

  64. 64.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Thanks to everyone for all of the dog-kudos… Sailor is a special little mutt.

    @Anne Laurie: Before choosing Sailor, Mom had visited shelters all over the community and just had difficulty making up her mind. She really did take her time with the decision; I don’t want anyone to feel as though it’s a super-great idea to adopt a dog on a whim, because obvs., it never, ever is. Mom is definitely well-equipped to raising a dog; it’s just that she and her husband were still grieving over their old hound dog that passed away [i]10 years ago.[/i] It was time. They’re super well-equipped to dealing with all the stages Sailor is going to go through, and they’re even more active than I am, and can entertain him with all sorts of adventures. They really are the perfect couple to rescue their first mutt. A lot like John… ideal candidates. :-)

  65. 65.

    JenJen

    August 2, 2009 at 4:33 pm

    Re: Post #63 – I can’t code for shit anymore, and it’s all Balloon-Juice’s fault.

  66. 66.

    JGabriel

    August 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    @JenJen: Text Formatting Toolbar for Firefox.

    Download here.

    .

  67. 67.

    ksmiami

    August 2, 2009 at 4:50 pm

    I really fuking hate Walnuts and so I am glad I missed another politics by moronic pundits. On the other hand, The Vizcaya grounds were gorgeous and the new Apatow film, Funny People, was pretty damn good – it even made me like Adam Sandler again. Of course any film with Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman is always a treat…

    also, John, Republicans are bad winners and perpetually outraged losers. Who cares what they think?

  68. 68.

    RedKitten

    August 2, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    @JenJen: Sailor is absolutely adorable. And yes, with those ears, if we didn’t know better, we’d think he was part dog, part Fennec Fox (and THEY look like they’re part fox, part Yoda.)

  69. 69.

    Sly

    August 2, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    “And so I have not seen a public option that, in my view, meets the test of what would really not eventually lead to a government take over.” – John McCain, R-BCBS

    According to the AMA’s 2007 report on insurance competition, BCBS and UnitedHealth control 65% of Arizona’s statewide insurance market. The majority of the remaining 35% is split between Health Net, Cigna, and Aetna, which exercise dominance over particular metro areas.

    The DoJ uses the HHI (Herfindahl–Hirschman Index of Competition) to measure competition in markets, largely in relation to whether they give the nod to mergers and acquisitions. A market with an HHI of 1,000 is considered to be “concentrated” and 1,800 is considered “highly uncompetitive.” There are four states where this index for PPOs and HMOs falls below 1,800. California, Florida, New York, and Ohio. There isn’t a single state with an HHI below 1,000.

    Bust the Trusts.

    http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/368/compstudy_52006.pdf

  70. 70.

    Anne Laurie

    August 2, 2009 at 5:43 pm

    They’re super well-equipped to dealing with all the stages Sailor is going to go through, and they’re even more active than I am, and can entertain him with all sorts of adventures. They really are the perfect couple to rescue their first mutt.

    Hey, your mom raised a great kid {grin}, so I’m sure they’ll do fine by Sailor, too. I was just having flashbacks about the Spousal Unit’s last Petfinder-impulse-adoption, an 18-month-old puppymill Papillon with a background much like Sailor’s, although Sydney was returned from at least 2 homes as “unhousebreakable”. Which meant he’d been beaten, and then locked in a closet (not a crate, a closet — that’s why the shelter took him back the second time) for “being dirty”. So he’d lost his natural canine unwillingness to sit in his own mess, and he’d learned to live by the Rabbit God’s code from Watership Down: “If they catch you, they will kill you — but first, they must catch you.” He’s the only dog I’ve ever met who could take a dump while running at full speed… halfway up a wall. Took us — meaning ME, because I’m the one at home all day — months to help him un-learn his bad habits, and that’s with the help of our other rescue boy Zevon, who has been an unbelievably patient “big brother” to young Syd.

    And I must admit that Sydney is not only VERY bright, he’s the first of our dogs for the last 10 years who actually enjoys Knowing Stuff, collecting information & learning new routines. (Zevon has no trouble picking up what we want from him, but he’s too much of a Scorpio to go the full Pavel Chekov “I know — I can do that!”… and Flicker, aka Miss Pig Princess, thinks we should be the ones doing tricks for her.) He may yet get me involved in competition obedience again, and he’d be a great agility dog if only I could rent a fleet young human to partner him. He’s even gotten less funny-looking as he matured, or else I’ve gotten used to his pitbull skull, mismatched ears, and whippet angulation, so now he’s only one of the World’s Top Ten Ugliest Papillons (/snark).

  71. 71.

    WereBear

    August 2, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    @JenJen: Just tell your Mom you obviously got your dog whisperer genes from her.

    Yes, at one time trust busting meant something.

    The Bush Administration let Microsoft off the hook.

  72. 72.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    @Sly:

    Sly, I think the truth is Republicans don’t have a health care plan. They can’t, and they won’t. At this point, they’re so ideologically hide-bound and narrow there is nothing they can put up that will actually solve any of the problems. To put forth an actual plan would violate reams of rigid dogma, and make Ronald Reagan cry.
    That’s why we”re not hearing anything on health care from Republicans. There’s simply no room in the narrow dogma to address a domestic economic issue anymore.
    There’s only one Party with the ideological flexibility to address this problem, and the media can’t admit that, or the whole “he said, she said” script goes all to shit.
    Pick an approach. It’s a variation of a Democratic approach, because there is no Republican approach.
    Obama would be negotiating with himself on health care, and that’s why he’s not negotiating, unless it’s with Democrats.

  73. 73.

    Sly

    August 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    @kay
    What we’re hearing from Republicans (and to a lesser extent, some Democrats) is that we can’t have government involvement in medical insurance because it will destroy competition.

    An essential truism of economics is that the less competition there is in a market, the higher the probability is for goods and services to be rationed inefficiently, be of low quality, and high price. In terms of medical insurance, more people are going uninsured and underinsured, insurance policies are covering less, and premiums have risen three to four times higher than the rate of inflation. This is not emblematic of market success, but market failure. The arguments being given, with a little investigation, turn out to be completely false.

    Every study done on the nature of medical insurance markets, since Ken Arrow’s in the 1960s, has revealed that these markets are extremely uncompetitive. There are several reasons for this, owing in large part to the nature of insurance, but also because we’ve allowed private insurers to erect corporate fiefdoms at the state and local level, which now yield immeasurable influence in the policy debates that shape the industry in which they operate. Simply put, antitrust provisions need to be a part of any insurance reform, and a national insurance exchange as well as a public option provide for that.

  74. 74.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 6:32 pm

    @Sly:

    Thanks. I had no idea that they were essentially regional monopolies until I read it in an Ezra Klein column, and again in your post.
    That explains a lot.
    I just think that for Republicans to actually address these problems is for Republicans to admit that a lot of the conservative dogma is simply bullshit, and they ain’t gonna do that.
    Obama can’t negotiate with them. They haven’t, won’t, and can’t propose anything. It comes down to liberal Democrats versus conservative Democrats, because there is no Republican “position”, other than to recite the “free market” fantasy they have relied on since 1980. If it was going to work it would have worked by now. The Republican plan has been in place for 29 years.

  75. 75.

    Elie

    August 2, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    What kay said

    And

    So much of what is happening – including the inexorably changing demographics of our nation – are signaling profound change that is making it enormously difficult for the party of White Status Quo. They are scared and pissed off — the old ‘understandings” are changing —

    Rich’s editorial today in the NYT is worth reading and thinking deeply about…

    On health care…I think that even those of us who advocate for change probably also don’t know what the scope of these changes will mean not only on the everyday lives of many people, but on 16% of our economy — the people who benefited from that old paradigm — the many employed in it, who profited, who riffed off of the business — are scared and business is hurting.

    There are huge dynamics of change right now. Huge. The old white grumpy complaining McCain faults Obama, but it is way past Obama now…way past that. The world he knew is changing. The train is moving faster and faster, leaving him and a bunch of old dead wood on the platform. Doesnt mean that they won’t raise H from time to time and actually cause some real pain. But they have to confront reality and they know they have no choice. They also know, as kay said, they have NO IDEAS, not only about health care, but about anything else. All they have now, and all we see over and over is resentment, pettiness and hissy fit anger coming out in racist, elitist and downright crazy talk…sure sign of loser mentality.

    So — keep up with your bad-ass talking points, John Mc. Yeah, your old buds in the media will lap it up, but you are a yawn and your time is way gone. The last time you had an opportunity to show the quality of your judgement, you gave us the possibility of a mentally fragile, wacko narcissist in the Vice Presidency. Of yeah, a match to go with YOUR wacko narcissistic senility!

  76. 76.

    Leelee for Obama

    August 2, 2009 at 6:50 pm

    The last few posts basically are telling the story! The McCain Party of Them, against Everybody Else are trying to stop the ocean with a sieve. The old ways are dying and good-riddance. Bill Buckley told them to stand athwart history and shout no, but he’s gone now and soon the thinking he put forth will be gone also. I think Elie is right about it being beyond what Obama advocates, but that’s important, because he WILL sign the bill. It’s our recalcitrant child-country growing up and realizing the Europeans do things in certain ways because they’ve tried so many others that ended up in World Wide Wars, and we bratty, brash Americans gave them the opportunity to be grown-ups. It’s our turn now, and as everybody knows, growing up is hard and it ain’t for sissies.

  77. 77.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    @Elie:

    They’re in such a tiny box of acceptable policy that they can’t move, and you have to MOVE in negotiations, or what’s the point?

    Including them on domestic policy issues is a waste of time.

    Deregulate, tax credits. Got it. What more do I need to know? That’s all they can propose, because that’s all that’s left that fits within that little box they have constructed.

    I loved the Frank Rich column.

  78. 78.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    @Leelee for Obama:

    I loved the Rich column because I love anyone who dares to put out a Big Liberal Theme, but I don’t know if what he says is true.
    I don’t think that way. I never have the big picture.

    I’m always like I was this morning, when I read it:
    “oh, is THAT what this is? Here I thought they were just being venal, small-minded jerks”.

    I hope Frank Rich is right, and we’re watching some major shift, and the dying throes of angry crazy people, but I never see those coming, because I’m stuck on day to day.

  79. 79.

    Comrade Darkness

    August 2, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    @nabalzbbfr: That would make John McCain POTUS. bring up the fat ole issue of John McCain’s eligibility and make Ralph Nader POTUS.

  80. 80.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    @Leelee for Obama:

    For example.

    If you had told me that the base of the Republican Party would immediately set about discrediting Obama and trying to remove him from office beginning nearly the moment he was elected, I would have laughed.

    But that’s what’s happened. I didn’t see birthers coming, at all. Nope.

    I did, however, come to know the Clinton-crazies militia movement wasn’t going to end well, when I realized it was being stoked and promoted in the pages of the WSJ. I still remember that morning, reading the WSJ and realizing “this insanity is now mainstream GOP”. I thought about the WSJ, and it’s role, when they blew up the daycare center in the federal building.

  81. 81.

    Mike in NC

    August 2, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    I don’t remember a situation either in which the outgoing VP attacked the new President in acerbic, dishonest terms, and got his daughter to do the same. (And then begged the new President to extend his SS protection).

    I’m 100% for Cheney getting protection via the SS, and maybe even the Gestapo…

  82. 82.

    Leelee for Obama

    August 2, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    @kay: Yeah, I saw the Party of No doing pretty much what they’ve been doing, though I’ll admit, the ConservaDems have me scratching my head a bit. I think they’ll come around when the Chicago Consiglieri tells them what’s what. The GooPers have to try to discredit Obama at any and every turn, because he got the majority, fair and square, unlike Clinton, who never did manage a majority. And look what they did to him! So they have his exotic background and desire to work with them to fuck with. They are all too aware that they are almost done-that’s why they’re so desperate and why the fringers are so whack. When they go down this time, it will make the post Roosevelt era look like a short vacation-as easily scared as people can be, this health-care, energy, education, financial reform stuff will happen, and the peeps will be happier than pigs-in-mud.

  83. 83.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 9:50 pm

    @Leelee for Obama:

    I so hope you’re right. I’m not hand-wringing or losing sleep over it, because there isn’t a thing I can do about mobs of crazy people being whipped into a frenzy but I read a short news piece today about a Glenn Beck fan armed to the fucking teeth and running around loose at a federal facility and I got spooked.
    I’d like for them to move any on-site daycare centers, as a precautionary measure. I think that’s reasonable, considering.

  84. 84.

    Leelee for Obama

    August 2, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    @kay: I hear you, Kay. My sister lives just north of OKC and knew some of the people hurt and killed there. They are scary as hell, no joke.

  85. 85.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    @Leelee for Obama:

    I just read that the Beck nut kept calling FEMA and asking about the FEMA camps and they pled ignorance.

    She continued, said the news was all over the internet, so why wouldn’t they admit they had these camps, and finally one or another fed-up FEMA employee told her “I work all day. I don’t have time to look this stuff up on the internet”.

    Which is a pretty funny response. I’ll try not to get spooked by them, either.

  86. 86.

    Elie

    August 2, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    I’m not wringing my hands.

    I smell fear and see incredible jitteriness and instability…
    Anyone who has played any kind of game of any kind — chess, bridge — Old Maid, anything knows thats when you KEEP DOING IT..We cannot let up, cannot temper anything — just gallop forward!

    Teh crazy is teh crazy. You can’t change it by conceding to it — you just have to keep going – take your losses when they ocurr but run as hard as you can for as long as you can –as Walter Payton used to say “You run your game until they stop it”.

    They are not stopping anything. They are whining in increasing decibels ever crazier stuff. Like the
    Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz, screaming when the bucket of water hits her: “Oh how could a little girl like you ruin my beautiful wickedness!”

    The people even may not fully support Health care change after all the hysteria. Medicare almost did not pass also way back in the 60’s. But damn it, the people are going to get health care reform — we need it and the Democrats and this administration are going to give it to em –even if quaking and shaking in fear…

    There.is.no.going.back

  87. 87.

    kay

    August 2, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    @Elie:

    No, honestly you never are hand-wringing, to your credit. You’re amazingly optimistic, and that is heartening.

    Health care is just particularly crazy-making because you like to think time actually moves forward, and I heard all this nonsense last time around, when Hillary was going to kill us all. Now, inexplicably and mysteriously, she’s been annointed the voice of moderate reason, a wise white woman, and Obama is the new anti-Christ. Enough already, right?

  88. 88.

    gnomedad

    August 2, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    Remember “Sore/Loserman”? I sure do.
    Shoe, meet other foot.

  89. 89.

    Batocchio

    August 3, 2009 at 4:48 am

    So lessee, according to Politico, we need to pretend that McCain knows jackshit about good policy and that the GOP cares about it all? As usual, these politicians and the reporters don’t seem to care about the quality of policies, or the will of the people. But doubting Saint McCain makes l’il David Broder cry.

    Gore “lost” – in court – and went on to get a Nobel. Meanwhile, the GOP gives us political obstruction and birther shit. And guess who the media sneers at and who it likes?

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