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ETA:
Before Scott Brown googles it, I'll just tell him: There's a Senate race in Connecticut in 2016. #Midterms2014
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) November 5, 2014
Archives for 2014
I Picked the Wrong Election Cycle to Quit Drinking
Capito won, meaning WV is now Alabama politically for the near future. Just waiting for Rahall to lose at this point, which at this point is just a matter of inevitability. The only thing in question now is how long before Manchin becomes an Independent or leaves DC to run for governor, paving the way for Raese or McKinley to become Senators.
Scott Brown lost to Shaheen and the odious Corbett was kicked out of PA governorship, so that is good.
Penguins are winning, though.
I Picked the Wrong Election Cycle to Quit DrinkingPost + Comments (57)
Election Results Open Thread
CNN called KY for Yertle. Any other results to share? Keep the faith, comrades! Good things can happen, such as the ouster of Rick Scott.
Where Did You Vote? (Election Day Open Thread)
Valued commenter Shortstop had an interesting idea in an earlier thread:
Cole and other FPers, know what would be a fun topic for an election day thread (this day or another election day)? Descriptions of where people voted.
Years ago, the NYT (I think) did a photo essay of Americans voting and I was really struck by the range of environments in which people exercise their franchise. There were people voting in rural one-car garages, airplane hangars, hardware stores, all kinds of places besides the more usual schools and churches. It was quite moving seeing this basic, communal action being taken in so many disparate locales. I felt all e pluribus unum, though I know we aren’t!
Today I voted in the lobby of a Chicago high-rise: ours. I am so in love with my new ability to go downstairs in my pajamas (I didn’t, but I could have) and cast my vote, thus totally avoiding the aggressive electioneers just outside.
So what was your polling place like? Was it crowded?
The mister and I were among the first 20 or so to vote in our little town — we were outside the door when it opened at 7 AM. Our polling place is a small church, a satellite operation of a larger Southern Baptist megachurch.
The only time I darken the door of any church is when I visit this one to vote. Our fellow early-bird voters were all middle-aged or elderly white folks, not surprising given the demographics of the town.
Please feel free to share other election news or talk about whatever.
Where Did You Vote? (Election Day Open Thread)Post + Comments (301)
Cat Rescue Bleg – NYC Area
Token non-political content, via commentor Nicole, here’s “Chowder“:
This sweet, approximately 1 year old little girl was found in the Conservatory Garden near Central Park North. She was likely someone’s pet, as she’s litter trained, and very amenable to indoor life. She’s spayed and had all her shots, all she needs now is a new home. My dominant male tabby wants nothing to do with her, though she was friendly with him :)
If you’re interested in Chowder, or know someone who might be, let me know (you can email me at annelaurie dot verizon dot net, or click on my name in the right-hand column) and I’ll put you in touch with the lady who’s fostering her.
Creative destruction
Just imagine all of the great things that might happen if we destabilize the middle east.
Yes, people still listen to this guy. No, I do not know why.
Four is more than two
Last spring, I had some fun smacking around the reactionary ‘argument’ that Obamacare was creating a two tier health system by the simple observation that pre-PPACA, the US had effectively a four tier system, and post-PPACA, we are moving to a three tier system.
We had a four tier system with some caveats and carve-outs in 2009. We are moving towards a three tier system with some caveats and carve-outs under Obamacare.
In 2009 and 2014, the first tier was the tier for the rich and very well insured. Senator Ted Cruz’s $40,000/year family policy that his wife is the primary contract holder for is an example of this tier….
The second tier of 2009 coverage was solid employer provided group insurance and solid individual coverage. It was possible to have solid individual coverage, you just had to be lucky…
The third tier in 2009 was government insurance provided through a variety of programs. The big programs are Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and the VA….
The fourth tier in 2009 was the “You’re on your own” tier. This was for people who either had no insurance or had insurance that was so skimpy it could not protect people from financial ruin from a moderate size medical event much less a major medical problem.
The fourth tier is being phased out in half the states…
This complaint is back from Forbes — the US medical system will be a two tier system:
Get ready for two different health care systems. In one, patients will be able to schedule a doctor’s appointment in one or two days. In the other, patients will wait weeks or even months – with access problems similar to those in Canada. Patients who get health insurance in the new (Obamacare) exchanges will be in the lower tier. In fact, they may have even greater access problems than patients on Medicaid.
Again,bullshit, going to a two tier system would be a significant improvmeent over PPACA. Seeing that the author of this piece advocates for free market solutions to healthcare, I would have thought that an intellectually honest indiviual would acknowledge that the people who can pay more for a given service tend to get better service than those who can pay less, and those who can’t meet the market price are SOL. That would be an intellectually honest if morally depraved argument. However, the tell is the complaint that people on Exchanges could have it worse than the non-deserving poor on expanded Medicaid.
John C. Goodman, for neglecting to acknowledge that the US explicitly rations medical service by price and PPACA merely reduces but does not eliminate that rationing mechanism by price, AND dogwhistling on both race and class grounds (as those are extremely hard to disentangle in the US), wins asshole of the week.