Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

When I was faster i was always behind.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Every decision we make has lots of baggage with it, known or unknown.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

Books are my comfort food!

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.

To the privileged, equality seems like oppression.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / And It Is Snowing Again

Reader Interactions

321Comments

  1. 1.

    Jay C

    I think I am ready to shoot that groundhog.

    Really not advisable, John.

    The recoil will play hell with your busted shoulder……

    Anyway, what are the temps there? it’s coming down hard in the City this morning, but it’s not all that cold, so it probably won’t stick.

    Yet.

  2. 2.

    Bob In Pacifica

    It’s in the 60s out here on the Pacific Coast in Northern California. Rained yesterday and should rain tomorrow, but I think we get a dry day today. Think I’ll take a walk in the park and look at the deer.

  3. 3.

    Svensker

    Predicting 15 inches or so here over the next 2 days. Two days. Gonna attack the damn groundhog with the dang shovel. And I know where he sleeps…

  5. 5.

    Carnacki

    Hey, maybe you haven’t been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked by this winter pal!

    …

    I say we nuke that groundhog from orbit. Only way to be sure.

  6. 6.

    Mike Kay

    I’m watching CSPAN right now, and some winger calls in and talks about how great his federally subsidized health plan is, then he begins to rant about …. wait for it…. big government.

    Oy Vey.

  7. 7.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Democrat Ivy League Professor (Columbia) punches lady in jaw so hard the cooks could hear it in the kitchen.

    Democrat Ivy League Professor (Harvard) demands child seat which is denied, so punches mom in face while repeatedly stating “I am Doctor Amy Bishop” for the diners at IHOP. Earlier ices her brother and waves a gun in a parking lot. Later ices three more in Alabama.

    Democrat Ivy League Professor (Harvard) chases cop out of house screaming mom slurs.

    Likely Obama voter crashes plane into IRS offices.

    Democrat bites off cop’s nipple.

    And now… Drum roll please…

    Number One:

    Democrat Governor Aide chokes woman, strips her of her clothing, throws her into mirror, and smashes phones to prevent her from calling the cops.

    “I’m scared he’s going to come back,” she said.

    Number Two:

    Cole’s hung over and loading his gun.

    Life seems to be very exciting as a Democrat. Therefore, Teabaggers are unstable.

  8. 8.

    beltane

    We got over a foot but it’s very, very warm out (40 degrees). It’s perfect snow for building snowmen, etc. and I plan on taking a walk in the back woods with the dog later today. Snow itself isn’t bad; snow followed by five degree temps and thirty-mile an hour winds is bad.

    I’m still going to plant those spinach and lettuce seeds in the greenhouse.

  9. 9.

    RedKitten

    Calling for rain up here in Canuckistan. I can actually see multiple patches of bare lawn. Everything’s gone bass-ackward this winter, hasn’t it?

  10. 10.

    kindness

    Sorry the snow has you bummed. I guess with what you’ve gone through, body wise, I couldn’t blame you for not liking winter this year.

    Me, I’m hoping to get a couple more months of skiing in & am overjoyed that it’s snowing again up in the Sierra’s. Snow isn’t a sure thing in CA any more.

  12. 12.

    burnspbesq

    am overjoyed that it’s snowing again up in the Sierra’

    This. That’s our water supply.

    Any John Hiatt fans out there? New album out next Tuesday.

  13. 13.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I think you mean the cat that shit in your mouth this morning after the truck ran over you.

  14. 14.

    Ash Can

    We got hit with 5 inches of lake effect last night in what seemed like 20 minutes. It came down so hard we even got a thunderclap in the middle of it. But BFD — it’s Chicago, it’s February, and this kind of weather is to be expected.

  15. 15.

    geg6

    I know I’ve often felt like shooting something when I was a drunken fool the night before. Thankfully, I don’t have a gun. That said, I have battled the evil stomach virus/flu that attacked me yesterday and, though very weakened and shaky, come out semi-victorious in that I feel somewhat better but not yet well enough to work. Which may be good luck considering they are calling for another 4 to 6 inches. That damn groundhog is only about 45 minutes from here. I could take him out if I felt better.

  19. 19.

    kay

    I love snow. This has been the best winter in a long time.

    I mean it, too. Now you-all can throw things at me.

    You’re kneejerk anti-snow, as far as I’m concerned.

  21. 21.

    aimai

    Basement flooded. Former contractor’s wife has broken pelvis but he’s still sending someone over to help. Picture of Hatian Dancer with two legs amputated. Apparently Scientologists and all kinds of nuts, homeopathic, energy meridian, lunatic chakra hunters are heading down to Haiti to help the suffering people there. I’m grateful that I’m just dealing with a flooded basement.

    aimai

  22. 22.

    Face

    Wait……this doesn’t sound very Georgia Republican-like:

    Wrestling with a projected $1 billion budget shortfall, Georgia’s legislature is considering a 1 percent income tax surcharge on those earning over $400,000, a new $1 per pack tax on cigarettes, a new 1.6 percent “fee” on premiums charged by managed care insurers, and a 1.6 percent tax on hospital patient revenues.

    I’m sure I’m reading that wrong, but it appears to say a tax-hike for the rich. Just who the fuck took over the GA Legislature and turned them into soc’ialist Libtard zombies?

  23. 23.

    Walker

    I went to take my car in today, in the snow. The mechanic said that it was good that we are getting snow, because it has been a light year.

    Ah, the joys of living in central New York.

  25. 25.

    Chat Noir

    Oy, the commentary on MSNBC is pure drivel.

    Savannah Guthrie to Andrea Mitchell: “Is this summit good for our democracy?”

  28. 28.

    Bill H

    Rain showers and another significant rainstorm this weekend. It’s called El Nino. Net result is our rainiest year since 1997-98, after four years of severe drought. So if that means snow for you, I’m sorry, really am, but it might mean the end of water rationing for us. They are still saying that water rationing will continue, because our resevoirs are still only up to 50% capacity, but hope lives on.

  29. 29.

    Napoleon

    Hummmm, they are predicting 12 inches or so here over the next 24 hours. Maybe I should drive to Western NY to ski Saturday morning.

  30. 30.

    PurpleGirl

    Face: It’s very Republican… how many people are there who make over $400,000? Compare that to how many people will be affected by a higher tax on cigarettes? Who will end up paying that higher fee on health care premiums and hospital revenue but the people who pay the premiums in the first place and spend time in the hospital? It looks Republican to me.

  32. 32.

    Max

    Obama is making this opening statement very personal.

    ETA – and he’s throwing the GOP quotes back at them. Smart.

  35. 35.

    Libby

    Just dropping in before I check out the summit. No snow here in the little city in NC and I think I might be the Piedmont or to the west of it. Got a few flurries yesterday morning, then cold rain. Sunny but freezing today. Very windy again.

  36. 36.

    Max

    With the exception of Obama and Clyburn, it’s a very white room.

    We need more people of color in Congress.

  37. 37.

    Adam Collyer

    @Max:

    It seemed to be a smart move.

    The commentators on MSNBC said that the entirety of the GOP message today is, “Let’s start over.” Good luck lasting 6 hours with that, while the President hits you over the head with sensible reform in front of cameras.

  41. 41.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Health care is important and nutritious food and exercise are both key.

    As a nation, it is true that we need to address the growing threat of obesity. Therefore, if I were in charge, one of my twenty-six (26) personal servants would be assigned to get the little piggies on the treadmill daily, to set a good example for others.

  42. 42.

    twiffer

    here in CT we’re on the rain side of this storm. no snow. flood watch though.

    i’ve always found that it feels colder when it rains in the winter. mostly because rain gets you wetter than snow does.

  44. 44.

    dmsilev

    What’s the over-under on how long it takes before John McCain either falls asleep or starts drooling?

    -dms

  46. 46.

    beltane

    @Walker: My woodpile says it’s been a mild winter. This has been the first big storm of the year and it’s already melting. There are some years where we still have snow on the ground the first week of May; I have a feeling this won’t be one of them.

  48. 48.

    Adam Collyer

    Republicans picked a good opening speaker in Alexander. I fundamentally disagree with him, but he’s a lesser known quantity than either Boehner or McConnell. That’s a help to them.

  49. 49.

    dr. bloor

    @Chat Noir:

    The Republicans looked bored.

    It’s not easy to sit around for so long before being given the opportunity to tell the country to fuck off.

  50. 50.

    beltane

    @dmsilev: I miss Ted Stevens. He always used to sit right up front, picking his nose on camera. Those were the good old days of Senate comity.

  51. 51.

    dmsilev

    The Republican “step by step” plan:

    Step One: Cut taxes
    Step Two: Cut taxes
    Step Three: Whine about the deficit
    Step Four: Cut taxes
    Step Five: PROFIT!

    -dms

  53. 53.

    ruemara

    The groundhog is just a symptom of a larger problem, vicious rodents with magical weather control powers. I’m just sick of the cold. 54 is too low for me.

    And I want to set my crazy baby kitty on McDonnell’s giant turkey wattle.

  55. 55.

    arguingwithsignposts

    FSM, Lamar Alexander is a tool. The entire GOP caucus is a bunch of tools. ARRGGHH! I am so glad I’m going to be in meetings most of the day so I’ll miss these assholes with their “start over” message repeated over and over.

  56. 56.

    Remember November

    We’re jsut getting the icky shmutze here in NY- I don’t mind. Don’t need to break my tailbone sliding off my porch again.

  58. 58.

    Ash Can

    @Adam Collyer: He nevertheless sounds like a twit laying out all the GOP WATB talking points, and Obama looks as though he’s getting ready to go all UofC law prof on his ass. And I hope he does.

    ETA: LOL! I see you saw that too.

  60. 60.

    Adam Collyer

    I take back everything I just said about selecting Alexander. He’s speaking for too long and he’s certainly lost the audience that I’m sitting with. Sometimes, you just have to stop.

  62. 62.

    ChrisB

    The problem with this summit is having to listen to Republicans half the time.

    Where’s Rachel Maddow when you need her?

  63. 63.

    Chat Noir

    I hope someone on the Democratic side comes back and reminds Senator Alexander about the Republicans pushing through a $1.3 trillion tax cut for the wealthy via reconciliation back in 2001.

  64. 64.

    Davis X. Machina

    With the exception of Obama and Clyburn, it’s a very white room.

    Boehner’s usually orange — does he count?

  65. 65.

    El Cid

    Lamar Alexander’s reading an old history of the 1930s, 40s, 50s, and 60s, when Republicans worked in a bipartisan fashion, particularly when they didn’t, to craft social legislation, so, ‘why don’t you trash what you’ve already passed and let us pass whatever the fuck Republicans agree to?’

  69. 69.

    dr. bloor

    @Adam Collyer:

    It’s the legislative equivalent of the four-corners offense. The best they can hope to do is to keep the ball out of Obama’s hands for as long as possible this morning.

  70. 70.

    sloan

    Lamar Alexander: Tyranny of the majority! This has never been done! Republicans just want to start over and save the taxpayers money!

    The look on John McCain’s face is priceless. He can barely control his rage and disgust. That’s what you get for picking Palin! Ha ha ha ha ha!

  73. 73.

    Phantomist

    The tax legislation enacted under President George W. Bush from 2001 through 2006 will cost $2.48
    trillion over the 2001-2010 period.

    This includes the revenue loss of $2.11 trillion that results directly from the Bush tax cuts as well as the $379 billion in additional interest payments on the national debt that we must make since the tax cuts were deficit-financed

    It’s difficult to see how the Bush tax cuts could provide us with two and a half times the benefits of health care reform. In 2010, when all the Bush tax cuts are finally phased in, a staggering 52.5 percent of the benefits will go to the richest 5 percent of taxpayers.

  76. 76.

    Adam Collyer

    I appreciate Pelosi’s opening statement, but I do think she continues to drone on. One of the primary issues that we have in politics is knowing how to keep things concise and to the point.

    Politicians are notoriously terrible, Senators and leadership in the House in particular. Know your audience, get out your primary points, and move on.

  79. 79.

    wmsheppa

    Republicans idea of a bipartisan talk: say you won’t pass health care or we quit.

    Bets on how long it takes the first Republican to walk out? I’m putting the over/under at 11:30.

  80. 80.

    dmsilev

    Did Harry Reid just violate some rule of “Senate comity” by obliquely calling Lamar! an ignorant fool?

    -dms

  82. 82.

    Max

    Go Harry! Push back on the reconciliation bullshit!

    The Mormon affect makes it hard to sound angry, but the words are there.

  85. 85.

    Ash Can

    Reid does appear to have come out swinging. Maybe he’s the designated bad cop. Or maybe he’s just fed up with all the crap. Whatever the reason, me likey.

  88. 88.

    El Cid

    I’m shocked that Reid is emphasizing the deficit cutting nature of the HCR bill.

    Seems like Democrats forgot all about that in the post-Scott Brown diaper-dirtying.

  89. 89.

    chopper

    the snow out here in brooklyn is wet and flabby. if this is ‘snowmageddon II: electric boogaloo’ color me unimpressed.

  93. 93.

    Ash Can

    @wmsheppa: I’d laugh out loud if they walked out. That would be tantamount to waving the white flag. I doubt it’ll happen, but then, the GOP has surprised me before by being bigger fools than even I thought they were.

  94. 94.

    dmsilev

    @valdivia: Short recap:
    Obama: We need to reform healthcare because right now, it sucks.
    Republican opening statement (Sen. Lamar Alexander): No comprehensive concern, because, well, because.
    Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid: Lamar Alexander is a fool.
    Right now, Obama: Lamar Alexander is a fool.

    -dms

  96. 96.

    Ed in NJ

    Too bad Obama doesn’t say they won’t use reconciliation if you go on record ensuring an up or down vote.

    But sadly, my guess is that the headlines are already written: Obama refuses to start from scratch and renounce reconciliation (although it will incorrectly refer to it as the nuclear option).

  97. 97.

    wmsheppa

    @Ash Can: I don’t really think they’ll all walk out, I’m just seeing one Joe Wilson type asshat who walks out in a highly theatrical matter at some point. The Republicans as a group probably aren’t that stupid, but I’d bet one of them in the room is.

  101. 101.

    sloan

    McCain looks as clueless now as he did in 2008 at the financial crisis meeting that he demanded.

    Why does he keep showing up for these things? It looks like he wants to strangle Obama. Don’t worry Maverick, Palin will analyze it all on Hannity tonight!

  103. 103.

    Max

    Obama and Lamar going head to head over CBO comment.

    Obama says to Lamar “let me respond to what you just said because it’s not factually accurate”

    Lamar is the whipping boy so far.

  105. 105.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @wmsheppa: I tend to agree. People blame him for the institutional and personnel problems of the Senate and teh Caucus (by which I mean, there are a lot of assholes), but aside from a lot of ahistorical fantasizing about LBJ, I’d like to know who could do better.

  106. 106.

    dmsilev

    You’d think that after the House GOP got pwned by Obama not too long ago that their Senate colleagues would have learned the lesson. Guess not.

    -dms

  108. 108.

    Catsy

    I fucking hate El Niño.

    This has been the worst excuse for a winter I’ve seen in the PNW in quite some time. Not so much as a fraction of an inch of snow on the Eastside.

  109. 109.

    Jay C

    @Chat Noir:

    Nobody should go bankrupt because they get sick

    Really? And just where, pray tell, in all this demonstration of ” concern”, is your consideration of the needs of the executives, employees and stockholders of the country’s Healthcare Industry?

    Why do you hate America???

    [/snark]

  111. 111.

    wmsheppa

    @Elisabeth: I tried to think of a clever way to say it, but no. The real question is whether he vaults the table to go after Obama/Reid at some point or not.

  112. 112.

    Chat Noir

    @Max: When are these nitwits going to learn that Obama is WAYYYYYY smarter than any of them? He’s like the Big Dawg in that he can recite facts and figures like nobody’s business. I am constantly amazed at his capacity for being able to recite this stuff from memory.

  116. 116.

    Quackosaur

    Lamar: “I don’t want you [Obama] to keep making me look like a fool, so I’ll let other people talk.”

  117. 117.

    dmsilev

    Obama to McConnell: OK, now that I’ve eviscerated Lamar, who’s the next sacrificial goat that you’ve got?

    -dms

  120. 120.

    Will

    @Chat Noir:

    I am constantly amazed at his capacity for being able to recite this stuff from memory.

    One of them gets their debate prep from actual policy studies. The other gets their debate prep from talk radio. It’s not much of a contest.

  121. 121.

    Legalize

    Barack just put his foot up Alexander’s ass and Lamar wilted like a bitch, looking to MCCAIN for policy help! Dumb ass.

  122. 122.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    Obama made himself a Lamar sandwich and ate that fucker whole on national teevee. Shorter Lamar – don’t want to argue with you where folks can judge, but will mail it in cause I am no match for you Mr. Presnit

  123. 123.

    Quackosaur

    Does Coburn really want to go down the road of why things cost so much? I wonder if the AMA and the AHA have pre-approved him approaching this topic…

  124. 124.

    wmsheppa

    Does anybody take Tom Coburn seriously? “He’s a Doctor, so he knows about um… cost containment? Yeah..”

    Wasn’t this the guy who said Terry Schiavo wasn’t in a vegetative state based purely on a video?

  126. 126.

    Chat Noir

    Here we go. Doctor Senator No.

    OK, ladies, how many of you would like Senator Coburn to be your OB-GYN?

  127. 127.

    ChrisB

    I can’t believe the Republicans will let Obama school them the way he just did to Lamar.

    But what can they do other than throw out talking points and then squirm or flail when confronted with facts to the contrary?

  128. 128.

    Max

    Really, the rest of the Dems are just window dressing.

    Obama is all we need at this thing. Maybe Biden too, so Barack can take a bathroom break once in a while.

  130. 130.

    The Moar You Know

    Unless McCain is wearing a dynamite vest, I can’t imagine why they bought him. It’s not like he can say anything; he’s been having a lot of “senior moments” lately and Obama would cut him to pieces with facts.

  135. 135.

    El Cid

    TORT REFORM! THAT’S ALL YA NEED! TORT REFORM! STOP THEM DAMN GREEDY CRIPPLES FROM SUING THE 5% OF DOCTORS WHO KEEP INNOCENTLY REMOVING THE WRONG LEG OR KIDNEY!

  136. 136.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    All the wingnuts have is whining about reconciliation. And faux talking points that all fall down under a minimum of open debate. And kudos to Harry Reid. Brought his boxing gloves today.

  137. 137.

    geg6

    WTF is Coburn talking about? Does he even know? I’d never let him near me as a doctor. He talks about preventing asthma as a cost cutting measure but we don’t get his ideas on how we do that?

  138. 138.

    Legalize

    But what can they do other than throw out talking points and then squirm or flail when confronted with facts to the contrary?

    Nothing. That’s why they’re wholly opposed to this televised meeting. There really is no need for any of the Congressional Dems to be here from this point on. Obama can handle all of the GOP dumb-assery on his own.

  140. 140.

    El Cid

    By the way — what evidence is there that lowering costs via ‘tort reform’ would be passed on to patients?

  141. 141.

    mr. whipple

    If Obama is anything like me, in about 30 minutes, Obama is gonna need a cig. And is gonna start getting very cranky, and less charitable towards these douchenozzles, and less patient.

  142. 142.

    Citizen_X

    Oh God, yes, bring in fucking Coburn for the relief. And what is he telling us? It’s all the gubmint regalations! And TORT REFORM, bitches! Whoo!

  144. 144.

    arguingwithsignposts

    $150 billion in fraud. They pulled that number out of their asses.

    My notes so far from the GOP talkers:

    Alexander – DIAF
    Coburn – DIAF

    I expect most of the rest of the notes would be the same.

    ETA: Undercover patients! WTF?! Medical malpractice=extortion. !$#@%$!

  145. 145.

    dmsilev

    Can’t *any* of these Republicans talk in anything but talking points?

    Oh, and Dr. Coburn, we’d create a lot less diabetes if our farm policy stopped subsidizing high-fructose corn syrup.

    -dms

  148. 148.

    El Cid

    Ya don’t need no damn commie helf reform. You just need to stop the cripples from suin’. And STOP ALL DA SPENDIN’! AND CUT THE DEFFSIT! AND CUT THE TAXES!

  152. 152.

    John S.

    I am constantly amazed at his capacity for being able to recite this stuff from memory.

    I suspect Obama is good at mnemonics, like myself.

    Nothing enrages your colleagues like being able to call up facts, figures and precise recollections of events with startling accuracy. Especially when they are proven to be wrong and/or completely full of shit.

  154. 154.

    El Cid

    ‘We believe that several trillion dollars of health care costs are from negroes gettin’ free houses from Jimmy Carter.’

  155. 155.

    dmsilev

    @mr. whipple: Remember that SNL skit from last year about Obama getting angry and turning into “The Rock Obama” and throwing a bunch of GOP twits out a window? I’d pay to see that in reality.

    -dms

  158. 158.

    Will

    Coburn is using a tried-and-true GOP: throw so much crazy up in the air no one will be able to catch all of it when it comes down.

  159. 159.

    Max

    Harry Reid just shut down Coburn’s filibuster, saying “I’m not an expert on much, but I am on filibusters and you are filibustering”.

    hehe

  162. 162.

    Woodrow "asim" Jarvis Hill

    @geg6: Coburn has TOTALLY lost me. He seems to be saying that all we need to do to solve this is feed kids “right”, stop suing Docs, and, of course, get the gummit out of Health Care (which has “always solved the issue”).

    Bizarre. I’ll be curious to see if Obama et. al. even bother to respond.

    …wait. “Undercover Patients” is the solution to fraud? Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

  164. 164.

    wmsheppa

    My apologies to all for mixing up Coburn and Frist.

    @dr. bloor: The image of McCain in pinstripes charging at Obama is priceless…

    Reid is cranky this morning.

  166. 166.

    Jay C

    Isn’t Sen. Coburn the one whose website makes a special point of pointing with pride to his record of opposition to each, every and all initiatives of the Government in general, and the Obama Administration in particular?

  170. 170.

    Quackosaur

    How do “secret shoppers for doctors” work? There’s only so much you could lie about. Or are they just going around to different doctors and seeing how their diagnoses and treatments differ?

  175. 175.

    El Cid

    @Citizen_X: We need to crack down on all these damn patients irresponsibly getting expensive diseases. Follow Utah’s example on miscarriage and declare it illegal, un-American, and un-Christian to get bad diseases. That should stop it.

    Also, TORT REFORM, TAX CUTS, AND STOP DA SPENDIN’.

  176. 176.

    Adam Collyer

    So let me get this straight…

    A commentator on MSNBC just said that the President is naive, that the GOP sounds “reasonable and thoughtful” and that the Democrats don’t get enough time to speak in this forum because the President has to engage Republicans.

    Then Steny Hoyer gets the microphone after a long statement by Tom Coburn, and……..we cut to this nonsense panel.

    No wonder the news industry is dying.

  179. 179.

    geg6

    Oy. Secret shoppers will save the health care system! And did Steny Hoyer just fuck up McCain big time? I’m no Hoyer fan but that was awesome.

  185. 185.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    I happen to like baby seals. And don’t like to watch them clubbed mercilessly by the tall skinny black dude. It’s necessary, but who will clean up all the green lizardtoid blood on the floor when it’s over?

  187. 187.

    dmsilev

    I like how Hoyer called McCain “Candidate McCain”. Let his legacy be that carwreck of a campaign and nothing else.

    -dms

  189. 189.

    Ash Can

    lulz — Obama to Coburn, translated: Read the damn bill, you lazy moron, and you might see that you’re wasting our time with your phony “concerns.”

  192. 192.

    Adam Collyer

    C-SPAN 3 it is.

    My roommate walked into the room. Not overwhelmingly politically inclined.

    “Why do these people need to be on my screen explaining to me what’s happening on my screen? This isn’t sports.”

  195. 195.

    ChrisB

    Notice how all we’re getting from the Republicans are prepared statements? No actual engagement on the issues (except for Alexander’s brief, helpless flailing). No surprise though.

  196. 196.

    El Cid

    Does anyone remember how someone went through and showed that the bill isn’t that long once you deal with the huge print and the huge margins and the notations / chapter titles etc.?

  197. 197.

    Ash Can

    “We’ve all studied this issue a lot”

    Baucus, you’re kidding yourself.

    (ETA: Although I appreciate him going into detail on the various programs and provisions)

  198. 198.

    dmsilev

    @El Cid: Yesterday, they were complaining that the White House proposal was too short.

    Someone should ask them what the proper length should be, so that the fonts and margins can be appropriately adjusted.

    -dms

  199. 199.

    El Cid

    @dmsilev: it’s too short but it has too many words not enough pictures and balloon diagrams like the budget we made when we had no numbers

  200. 200.

    Quackosaur

    @Adam Collyer:

    Federal politicians obviously speak in a dialect of American English that only the media can understand, so they must distill the finer points for their confused audiences.

    @Ash Can:

    Isn’t that what Hill staffers are for?

  202. 202.

    Quackosaur

    McConnell: I’d like to yield to John [Boehner].

    Boehner: I’d like to yield to some random Republican.

    Can’t they coordinate things beforehand?

  204. 204.

    El Cid

    We are NOT spending “a trillion dollars” on this plan.

    We would be spending — per the CBO on the Senate bill as passed — about $600 billion net in the first 10 years with a god-damned surplus over the next 10.

    STOP LETTING THEM SAY THIS.

  207. 207.

    El Cid

    F*** you a**hole, I already do “consider price”, and there aren’t that many choices for non-shitty care available.

  208. 208.

    Quackosaur

    @El Cid:

    But people won’t be scared if they don’t frame cost in BIG NUMBERS!!1!!!

    Apparently, Camp doesn’t trust bean counters (i.e., federal bureaucrats).

    Obama: Camp, your laundry list bores me.

  218. 218.

    Jules

    These idiots do not seem to understand that there are already business organizations that have insurance pools and they are just too damn expensive.
    The Federal Gov is just fucking larger and create a larger pool of folks.

  219. 219.

    Max

    @El Cid: Obama just reminded McConnell that he’s the President and his time won’t be monitored or be considered part of the “Dems” response.

    Obama is showing remarkable restraint. I would have said fuck you a couple of times by now.

  224. 224.

    Ash

    How completely useless. All I’m seeing are all these asshats saying the same bullshit they’ve been saying for a year now?

  225. 225.

    El Cid

    @Max:

    Obama is showing remarkable restraint. I would have said fuck you a couple of times by now.

    There’s a reason I’ve never even considered running for office.

  226. 226.

    slag

    I loved Paul Ryan’s rant: Should we regulate the insurance market? Should we actually do our jobs? No. We’re paying you to sit there and clap harder for the free market fairy. I’m glad we agree on that.

  227. 227.

    Ash Can

    @valdivia: I don’t think the R’s are really getting away with lies. They’re not getting called on every single detail — that would bog everything down and Obama clearly doesn’t want that — but Obama and the rest of the Dems aren’t giving them passes on their tiresome rhetoric either.

  228. 228.

    El Cid

    NO FAIR! Chuck Schumer is remembering the past! Republicans are free from past reality! They make their own reality! If they want to have not done something in the past, they didn’t do it! If they want to have done something in the past, they did it!

  229. 229.

    Quackosaur

    @slag:

    I’m sure Ryan believes he’s only there to fund the military and legislate contract law. Everything else is an affront to the Constitution!

    now, Kyl: we cannot support Washington regulation!

  230. 230.

    valdivia

    @Ash Can:

    thanks. I snuck out from the meeting for a sec and caught Kyl on tv with a mountain of paper in front of him. hmm. are they back to complaining about it being too long?

  232. 232.

    El Cid

    NO FAIR! The Demo-Kraps want to mandate that insurers spend more money on actual health care versus profits & “administration” (i.e., executive wheeee)!

  236. 236.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    @cat48:

    Well at least he can now say that they might actually have a good idea and then let the Senate kill it…lol

    “Can’t they coordinate things beforehand?”

    Nobody told them which talk radio channel to tune into last night.

  243. 243.

    Quackosaur

    Shorter Obama: I don’t want to have what happened to credit cards (or even incorporation) to happen to health insurance.

  244. 244.

    Corner Stone

    @El Cid: El Cid – I’m becoming more than a little concerned about you.
    Not only have you mastered their lingo but you indiscriminately use CAPS in befuddling ways.
    Are you pulling a reverse-Cole?
    Stop now! While you still can!

  245. 245.

    El Cid

    @Quackosaur:

    Shorter Obama: I don’t want to have what happened to credit cards (or even incorporation) to happen to health insurance.

    BUT… BUT… CHOICE! CROSSING STATE LINES! FREEDOM!

  247. 247.

    R-Jud

    you indiscriminately use CAPS in befuddling ways.

    When the CAPS get religious, you know he’s gone over.

    CAPS LOCK JESUS LOVES ME!

  248. 248.

    Trinity

    I’m at work and can’t listen but reading the tweets and live-blogs on teh tubez is keeping me happy. …And El Cid you are cracking me up!

    kthnxbai

  250. 250.

    cat48

    Love Clyburn…..only pol in the state I can stand. Saw that people in the prez’s office have nicknamed him “Sage.” Clyburn has had a hard life here in SC & Sage fits him.

  252. 252.

    flukebucket

    @cat48:

    I was so god damn proud of him after the beatdown in Baltimore that I didn’t know what to do with myself.

    I was hoping today would turn out to be maybe not as good but close.

  253. 253.

    El Cid

    Does Washington know best for the people? Or does the individual know best?

    (There are no such things as insurance and pharmaceutical companies who have any role in such matters.)

  254. 254.

    valdivia

    I can’t listen but just from passing images the Reps look like they are sucking on lemons!

    Cat–love that they call Clyburn sage. Fitting.

  256. 256.

    Ash Can

    Boustany is just plain making shit up.

    ETA: I wonder how much it’s costing the insurance industry to keep him in their pocket.

  258. 258.

    Quackosaur

    Dr. Boustany: Paperwork is the devil!

    Of course, doctors can hire people to take care of (most of) the paperwork for them, but that would cut into their salaries; I suppose no one has told him that. I’m sorry that keeping track of what happens to your patients is so burdensome and unnecessary.

  259. 259.

    El Cid

    ‘As a small business doctor, like any small business owner, I am given the power to know how to run the entire economy. It’s true. Just ask any small business owner.’

  260. 260.

    El Cid

    @Quackosaur: The paperwork is overwhelmingly dealing with insurance companies. If only there were some sort of institution, maybe elected by citizens, which could implement some sort of rules, or guidelines, or ‘laws’ which could, you know, do something about that.

  263. 263.

    Quackosaur

    Have the American people voted on the bills Dr. Boustany? How do you know what the American people want? Is it because you were a small and have been imbued with omniscience?

  264. 264.

    cat48

    @Corner Stone:

    That is Orangeburg, SC dialect, with a touch of Gullah also called GeeChee, a type of creole dialect. It is quite common for Black folks to have this dialect near the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia. When they came from the islands or Africa, they lived on the coastal sea islands, so it is a dialect unique to this area called the “Lowcountry” in SC. Just the coast…….but I ramble……Interesting to me because I lived in IL for yrs and everyone sounds different here regardless of race. A real learning experience and interesting.

  266. 266.

    slag

    @Quackosaur: Well, then, he’s way overpaid. He should start his assault on government “waste, fraud, and abuse” by cutting his own damn salary to reflect the work he’s willing to do.

  267. 267.

    Quackosaur

    @El Cid:

    What you propose is GODLESS SOSHULISM!!!!! How dare you suggest that the hard-working Americans of Anthem and Wellpoint are burdening our doctors with their just inquiries into the well-being of patients! After all, they’re only trying to help.

    Edit- WordPress really doesn’t like excessive exclamation points. I’m just trying to be emphatic. Why does WP hate America?

  268. 268.

    Corner Stone

    @cat48: I honestly do appreciate your info – but actually that was snark on the Negro Dialect comment of Harry Reid fame.

    I don’t put the snark tag on posts because it should just be my signature tag.

  271. 271.

    Corner Stone

    Clue Wagon to Senator McCain – The American People do not give a flying bejeezus how HCR happens! FOAD you god damn choad licking moran.

  272. 272.

    Ash Can

    Crap. I was just about to say that, so far, McCain hasn’t said word one, and that, for once, that really was good news for him. So much for that.

  273. 273.

    El Cid

    John McCain: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! NO C-SPAN CAMERAS ‘TIL NOW! CORNHUSKER GIVE-AWAY! FLORIDA FAVORS! I’M DEEPLY HURT AND INSULTED THAT I WASN’T PRESIDENT!

  274. 274.

    geg6

    Fuckin’ Walnuts is deeply concerned about earmarks. Ooo, and slammin’ on his boyfriend’s state, CT. Blah blah blah. Gawd he sucks.

  275. 275.

    Corner Stone

    I could not be giggling any harder. Obama must have space-age polymer ear plugs installed because if he is actually listening to McCain and not laughing out loud? Superhuman willpower.

  276. 276.

    El Cid

    Actually, McCain’s right about the behind-closed-doors deal with Big Pharma in exchange for them not opposing HCR and for their multi-million dollar ad campaign.

    He’s a hypocrite, because Republicans don’t give a shit about that and want less regulation and more subsidies for Big Pharma, but still, it’s a good point.

  278. 278.

    Corner Stone

    That’s it! I’ve had it. I just had to turn the sound off and am now doing my own interpretations of what I believe McCain to be saying.
    And they could not be any crazier than the shit he was actually spewing.

  279. 279.

    demo woman

    John can remember how many pages in the document but can’t remember that he suspended his own campaign.

  287. 287.

    cat48

    @Corner Stone:

    Gotcha Corner Stone. I just get all mushy when I see Clyburn……lot of respect for him. Ok for the Rock though–I think he may have an uppity dialect…….or maybe, arrogant….

    /Snark

  291. 291.

    dmsilev

    Obama: “Earth to John McCain: Most people don’t give a rat’s ass about Senate procedure. If you don’t have anything to say about the policy, please shut up and listen to people who do.”

    -dms

  294. 294.

    Chat Noir

    OK, gotta say it. As a brunette who’s going gray and doesn’t want to color her hair, I love Kathleen Sebelius’s hair color and style.

  296. 296.

    Quackosaur

    @dmsilev:

    I’m sure McCain’s just upset that McConnell won’t let him extort favors from the Democrats. Well, that and losing to Obama and being overshadowed by Sarah Starbursts.

  297. 297.

    Corner Stone

    I’ll never understand how Sebelius was ever elected to office. IMO, she’s a very poor speaker.

  301. 301.

    Quackosaur

    @Corner Stone:

    This is totally just a seminar class in college/law school/graduate school. Obama’s the prof and the Repubs are the “that kids” who think they know better. The professor lets them say idiotic things, only to then smack them down. I don’t know how often this happens at other places, but this happens a lot at the U of C; of course, “that kids” never learn, so it’s always amusing to watch them crash and burn.

  302. 302.

    Ash Can

    Sebelius up now to address the nuts and bolts of insurance costs. Since the R’s shot their wad in the first segment bitching about everything at once, all they’ll be able to do now is repeat all the shit they’ve already spewed. Great.

    I’m wondering how many Republicans in attendance, instead of returning to the room after lunch, send some 22-year-old intern to read a statement about how the Congressman objects to the highly partisan atmosphere and feels his time can be better spent doing his job serving his constituents and the American people, blah blah blah.

    Also — Obama to Cantor: SMACK! “That’s for your stupid prop, idiot.”

  303. 303.

    Midnight Marauder

    Obama’s face when Eric Cantor said “We don’t care for this bill. The American People don’t care for this bill” was priceless. Hand over his lower face like “Is President Obama gonna have to choke a bitch today?”

  305. 305.

    Chat Noir

    In the dictionary under the word “weasel” is Eric Cantor’s picture. Whatta piece of shit human being he is.

    Edit: Obama’s body language while Cantor is droning on is priceless. “Eric, you’re a fucking moron and I’m president.”

  310. 310.

    Ash Can

    Obama to Cantor and the rest of the R’s: Healthcare reform is complicated, you lazy asses. Deal with it.

  311. 311.

    dmsilev

    The problem with Obama’s analogy of making food cheaper by eliminating meat inspectors is that the GOP probably thinks that’s a good idea.

    -dms

  318. 318.

    Gus

    @Face: Christ, as a Minnesotan I’ve never before wished for Georgia’s state government, but that might change if that shit passes.

  319. 319.

    Anne Laurie

    @cat48:

    Obama just outcrazied Coburn, “Maybe we can include that undercover patient thing.” Hmm

    IIRC, Coburn’s senatorial privileges barely got him out from under federal charges for performing hysterectomies on Medicare patients without their consent. Any kind of legitimate “undercover patient” quality control would’ve put the fat fvck in jail after taking his license away.

  320. 320.

    bob h

    The snow in NJ is as wet as it can get. My snowblower clogs in about 10 seconds. Guessing the hand surgeons are going to be busy in the ERs tonight.

  321. 321.

    asiangrrlMN

    Before reading the comments: I am very jealous of all y’all getting more feet of snow. We got a dusting earlier this week. That’s it. I WANT SNOWWWWWWWW!

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