The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
continued...
The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea [...]
...always good advice, even if you're the President.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato
The Heritage Foundation and Republicans are trumpeting a health care study by The Lewin Group. Just one link this time, sorry about that huge 5am post Tuesday with, like, 30. And the link is to a short post. Don't be scared. About the Lewin Group
continued...
Now later, if you're [...]
Dr. Ellison finally begins this tour at stickwithanose.com.
"The truth is really pretty simple. It's the mechanics of making it work that breaks men down." -Hunter Stockton Thompson
@Bloomberg.com:
How is this different from a tax? First, the number of allowances declines over time, guaranteeing that emissions go down. A tax can’t do that. Second, since allowances can be bought and sold, capital flows to the most cost-effective technologies. A new tax means more work for accountants. [...]
Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, John Duncan, Jr.
Breaking President Obama? You're losing fast.
“If we’re able to stop Obama on this (health care) it will be his Waterloo. It will break him.” -Jim DeMint
"I think that's a good way to put it" -RNC Chairman Michael Steele
You [...]
... they count only with people who trust credentials — a dwindling breed.
In a classic example of newsmagazine overthink, Time profiles Sarah Palin with a cover story that practically celebrates her thin résumé and essentially makes the case that know-nothingism could be good for America. Seriously:
Wendell Potter, an ex- health insurance company exec, testifies to the Senate that we heard the same undelivered promises from private industry 15 years ago. When people repeat to you talking points about socialized medicine,
continued...
share this with them and ask them again if it is time for [...]
...and when that promise is not a promise to us, but also a promise by us, we make our own destiny.
So let us renew this promise. This is not an oath I cannot fulfill by myself. In this country we elect leaders not to rule, but to serve. But we [...]
...and keep the Antichrist out of Tennessee politics. Bad blogger, bad. Election Commissioner Paul Crilly ranks this guy ahead of Mackay. Why?
You'll have to register at Medscape.com to read this essay. Teaser: "market power arises from the absence of effective substitutes."
continued...
The link just goes to the prologue. There are six sections.
...a few highlights:
As much as these predominantly private-sector leaders dread the prospect of deeper interventions by government, few of' [...]
...and it's still keeping you freeloading commies out of doctor business. Media Matters has the history of the term "socialized medicine."
Here's a taste:
The American Medical Association (AMA) launched a spirited attack against the bill, capitalizing on fears of Communism in the public mind. The AMA characterized the bill [...]
The McKinsey Quarterly is all over it, but there are some juicy links after the break
continued...
"In our experience, these reforms typically fall short: with few exceptions, they skim the surface, cover too little ground, take too long, and leave much of the public sector relatively untouched. That’s why" [...]
The Twitter campaign is being run by Bob Davis' mustache, @BobDavismustach. A Google search currently reveals little about the mustache who started "campaigning for" Zach Wamp about 5 hours ago, but is already being followed by Fred Thompson, Kleinheider, and LA Times Top of the Ticket.
continued...
The' [...]
Maybe everyone has been taught to be a skeptic.
continued...
(surely you knew this deep-end memofesto was coming.) Maybe people really don't care about the increasing percentage of GDP that gets spent on health care. Maybe people think the lobbyists are going to get their way anyway. Maybe we've become so [...]
Next month's Esquire (with Bar Refaeli on the cover) has a featured article by Charles Pierce, "On the Slight Chance our President is Crazy" from which I'm stealing the first 2 paragraphs to show to you:
continued...
What if he's crazy? Do we trust him, even though he's not talking amiably to' [...]
The article "Cost Conundrum" in the New yorker today was apparently good enough to elicit a response from Peter Orszag, Director Of the Office of Management and Budget at the White House blog
Also "The SUPPOSED Difficulties of Converting to Single-Payer"
By Joel A. Harrison
LINK
UPDATE June3
What exactly [...]
@singlepayeraction.org: After months of proclaiming that single payer is off the table, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Montana), bowing to mounting pressure from advocates around the nation, has asked to meet with some representatives of the single payer movement in Washington, D.C. Wednesday. Senator Baucus, the leading architect [...]
Whitehouse.gov announcement here
How can we strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness by making government more transparent, participatory, and collaborative? Submit your ideas and vote on others here
Open Government Initiative homepage here
Discussion phase begins June 3, collaborative drafting phase June 15.
In the last 3 months alone, oil, coal, and natural gas companies have outspent environmental groups 16 to 1. The industries spent $79 million to lobby Congress, outspending the Green community's comparatively meager $4.7 million in the same time period. Exxon-Mobil alone spent $9.3 million, over twice the amount of' [...]
Lawmakers Consider Change To Water Quality Standards, News5 Nashville has the story.
The state attorney general just released an opinion saying the EPA would likely reject this bill if lawmakers pass it.
But Critics say if the bill passes it would still muddy the waters for the lawsuit because coal companies [...]
“Everybody thought health care was going to happen and energy was just going to sit there,” a Democratic leadership aide said.
Ed Markey said the critics and doubters on the outside weren’t aware of the progress being made behind the scenes in recent months.
“It’s down on the 10-yard [...]
The national health care cage match is relevant to Tennessee unless you think TennCare is a beautiful system without fault. It's no secret that we need to reform or replace some systems, and this applies to the states as well. Amid all of the obfuscations, an honest discussion on health [...]
What do you get when you combine journalists, politics, celebrities and the latest in social networking? #nerdprom
"Good evening...I had an entire speech prepared... but tonight I want to speak from the heart. I'm going to speak off the cuff." (Two teleprompters then rise noisily)
"Good evening. Pause for'" [...]
2008 RNC platform's plan for health care plan predicated on less regulation for the private insurance industry. They’ve defended the private insurance industry for so long, can they really get separation from them enough to score political points? And also, if you can’t say government will fix health care, and' [...]
I found out about this from a seemingly unlikely source: a facebook cause invitation sent from 2010 gubernatorial candidate, Ward Cammack. Umm, kick ass!
The Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee bring people together to create and sustain a secure and healthy food system for their region, from production to [...]
Copy/pasted portion of an email from insider@sierraclub.org:
It was great news for Earthlings (like you) when the U.S. EPA ruled last month that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and should be regulated by the Clean Air Act. The finding could go a long way toward curbing [...]
It's hard to find this stuff in East Tennessee news sources sometimes - had to read about it in a facebook status update from some unknown running for Governor:
The Green Collar Jobs Task Force of Nashville-Davidson County had a very informative meeting at 15th Avenue Baptist Church in [...]
Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Homeowners Who Are Aware of the Newly Created Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Intend to Make a Qualified Purchase in 2009
This headline is starting to pop up on the mojo wires, but this report from EON takes the time to provide some background and [...]
SLOW DOWN, you don't want to make us look like a bunch of "early adopters", do ya?
Current TNDP Membership Stats
Total - 464
Davidson Co. - 105 - 23%
Knox Co. - 68 - 14.6%
Shelby Co. - 32 - 6.9%
Rutherford Co. - 24 - 5.1%
Hamilton -' [...]
Paula Flowers to replace Wamp in Tennessee's Third Congressional District in 2010? Swing State Project News
from the Center for American Progress:
Since the release of CAP's report "Wired for Progress" in February, much progress has already been made on Capitol Hill in advancing' [...]
Cnn.com
"If you expected a GOP alternative to the failed policies of the past that got our country into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, then I have two words for you: April Fools," said Kenneth Baer, communications director for the administration's Office of Management and Budget.

