Watching the Stupidly's, meaning Baucus, Conrad and Reid
I've been reading the blogs, including the GOP/Sarah Palin "I'm With Stupidly" columns. Admit, most of them I've seen through Media Matters, one of the watchdogs of the wingnuttery going on because of the consequences of elections.
It doesn't bother me that our Congress is partisan. Many of us who supported JRE knew this is what would occur, especially when it had to do with special interests.
Here's JRE at YearlyKos about transparency and lobbyists:
No one took his advice to reform our own party when he said, "we don't need want to trade our insiders for theirs" and what do we have today? Baucus, Reid, and Conrad. All slaves to the Insurance, Pharma, and Financial Svs ATM's.
JRE was always right when it came to health care insurance reform, one could not invite the lobbyists to the table or else they would eat all of the food. He didn't mean just the White House; it was probably knowing what the ATM Insurance company-influences on senators (or Blue Dogs of the House) would do. That is why he wanted to take away the Congressmen's health insurance choices that all they possess for a much lower cost from most Americans. But if only they couldn't have a bill in 6 months.
During parts of the campaign, we couldn't figure out legally how to do this in explaining this position, but perhaps President Edwards could have said these things, if "what if Congress didn't have their health care choices with very reasonable prices and no problems of pre-existing or chronic issues now? Let her/him who doesn't want true reform to do without--NOW."
(To Obama's credit he has tried this but no carrots nor sticks, which is the point.)
Who would be the chicken shits then if the POTUS, leader of the major parties in both House and Senate strongly suggested to make legislation of what the people (not just the big money lobbyist representing big companies) want from them?
JRE, the man with ideas, but like those who didn't get a photo-op first for climbing an important mountain. Those who got the photo-ops got the credit.
It doesn't bother me that our Congress is partisan. Many of us who supported JRE knew this is what would occur, especially when it had to do with special interests.
Here's JRE at YearlyKos about transparency and lobbyists:
No one took his advice to reform our own party when he said, "we don't need want to trade our insiders for theirs" and what do we have today? Baucus, Reid, and Conrad. All slaves to the Insurance, Pharma, and Financial Svs ATM's.
JRE was always right when it came to health
During parts of the campaign, we couldn't figure out legally how to do this in explaining this position, but perhaps President Edwards could have said these things, if "what if Congress didn't have their health care choices with very reasonable prices and no problems of pre-existing or chronic issues now? Let her/him who doesn't want true reform to do without--NOW."
(To Obama's credit he has tried this but no carrots nor sticks, which is the point.)
Who would be the chicken shits then if the POTUS, leader of the major parties in both House and Senate strongly suggested to make legislation of what the people (not just the big money lobbyist representing big companies) want from them?
JRE, the man with ideas, but like those who didn't get a photo-op first for climbing an important mountain. Those who got the photo-ops got the credit.
Labels: benny's world, John Edwards, reform
posted by benny06 at
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
15 Comments:
I wonder what Edwards is thinking now - he gave kudos to Obama for not taking lobbyist money (at that time).. it must be wrenching his gut to see all the special interest groups sitting at the table and eating everything up. I wish he could have a voice in all of this, perhaps for now it will have to be us. Thanks benny, I always get a bit verklempt when I hear him speak.
By
Unknown, at 8:55 PM
To add another valuable voice to the criticality of health care reform, check out Elizabeth Edwards' testimony regarding the impact of medical debt on Americans: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2009/07/edwards_test.html
Like the President, I have health insurance and have been fortunate enough to not experience any health problems that couldn't be handled by insurance and myself but I know that is rapidly becoming the exception rather than the rule in the United States.
My question for President Obama and all the Senators and Congresspeople: If not now, when? It truly is a matter of life and death for too many people!
By
indyvoter, at 6:03 AM
Sorry for the incomplete link above! Try: Elizabeth Edwards' testimony
By
indyvoter, at 11:56 AM
I wish JRE would just come out and say the child is his if it is and then say, "So take all your best shots. I'm willing to take all the crap you want to dish out because I cannot stay silent while I watch this rigged game going on. Somebody has to speak for those with no voice which clearly is the majority of Americans. Yes, the majority of Americans have no voice in Washington except for a brave few. The lobbyists have won. Wall Street has won. Big Pharma has won. The U.S.A. no longer exists. It is the United Corporations of the World."
Just a fantasy of mine that JRE and Spitzer would hitch up together with some other "sinners" and form some kind of "Dirty Dozen". No wonder people turn to comic books
By
montana maven, at 2:09 PM
I agree with you MontanaMaven - I too wish JRE would come out and admit the child is his. I think the "powers that be" must be holding more than the paternity issue over JRE's head that he has decided to stay silent.
By
StandupGuy?, at 5:25 PM
But admitting paternity entails bigger problems for Edwards. First, he will be admitting he lied in his interview that the child could not be his because of timing. If it is possible he is the father, the affair continued after he told his wife about a one night stand - despicable. (Although Elizabeth has already exposed this lie in her interviews, it will be more damning having him finally say it.) He'll also have to answer for the fact he did not assume responsibility for his own child.
Far worse is he'll have to admit to the cover up which is certainly immoral and may even be illegal. Of course, it is going to be exposed with Young's book. It is the cover up, not the "crime" (affair), destroying Edwards now.
By
Anonymous, at 4:22 AM
He just watched Ensign and Sanford making idiots of themselves with their premature and overblown mea culpas. He's not going to do the same thing. He's not going to admit to anything unless he can prove it.
BTW-- when is Young's book supposed to come out? Haven't heard a peep yet. Still hoping that whatever publisher he went to is going to exercise a little judgment and not give it a go.
By
Frances, at 8:16 AM
I haven't heard when Young's book is supposed to be published but my guess is it will take some time. They probably have to hire a writer - can't imagine they would let someone who sounds like a glorified "gopher" (driving Edwards around, etc.) do the actual writing. Then, they'll probably have lawyers check EVERYTHING so the publisher can't be sued. (If a statement cannot be proven, it will probably be cut.)
Unfortunately, if there is a buck to be made, there will be someone willing to print it. In the end, it's all about money for the publisher and Young. Young said he wanted to tell his story because his reputation was destroyed. Why does he think admitting he would sell his soul and put his family through hell make him look like anything other than a bigger loser? He just wants money!
It's interesting the only person in the whole mess actually working to earn a living and support a family is Elizabeth Edwards, who needs it least. Young and Hunter need to get honest jobs and quit preying on others.
By
Anonymous, at 9:12 AM
We rarely have grown up honest conversations of the difficulties of marital relationships. And we especially don't get it with politicians or their wives. We get it after careers are over. We had a little bit of it when Bill Clinton's "sins" were exposed and people speculated about Hilary and Bill's relationship. Do they sleep together? Do women become more like mothers than lovers? What happens when post menopause hits and the wife puts on weight?
Since relationships are very complex and unique to each couple, we should be like the Europeans and just look at their policies. But that would take too much work for Americans. It's easier to get all high and mighty about people's sex lives.
By
montana maven, at 12:46 PM
Bottom line, John Edwards made his own bed. He has put himself in this position and took his family and supporters along with him. He silenced himself with his bad judgement and poor choice of companions.
I read an article that compared his relationship to Paul McCartney's and Heather Mills'. At least Paul had the good sense to take care of his wife and family during a bad time and wait until his wife was gone before chasing "loose", exploitive women.
Wheither he eventually hooks up with his mistress or not, he's not trustworthy anymore and not fixable and she will steal his children's birth right and do it in the name of her child. He won't have the "nads" to stop her.
I listened to this video and it made me sad that this man blew himself up. No pun intended.
I think Andrew Young will prove John was seeing his pregnant mistress after he said the affair was over. I don't know anyone that doesn't believe this. That kid is his or he has too much interest in pregnant women.
BTW, what kind of people allow a sleezy sexual relationship to go on in their house, when they have 3young children. How do they explain what "Uncle" Johnny is doing?
By
oklahomagirl, at 3:59 PM
*No one* is unfixable.
Least of all Edwards, who did indeed "take care of his wife and family during a bad time", even right in the middle of the affair, which is baffling; and which makes his affair different from any other I have witnessed.
Edwards is probably the *most* fixable straying husband I can think of. It's hard to imagine it, particularly if you already believe he's untrustworthy; but what if some cheaters really are otherwise decent and honorable? What if the affair took place as a stupid, insane attempt to ease his pain-- which would be a testament to the strength of his marriage, not its weakness?
Also, he's not acting like Ensign or Sanford or any of the others. He's keeping his foot out of his mouth, working out the legal kinks behind the scenes, and working for his cause as best he can-- he's in El Salvador now. As is Elizabeth, keeping herself around for health care, thank God. Say what you like about her book, they're handling themselves better than any other infidelity-rocked couple I've ever seen.
If we're to learn to separate a politician's personal failings from their message, we ought to start now, and with who better than Edwards? His affair was out-of-the-ordinary for him... not a pattern as it was with Clinton.
Plus, his message is too important to throw away, just as I'm increasingly finding is the case with Spitzer (he's got the inside poop on AIG, etc.) If we're to stop doing the very Republican thing of throwing the baby out with the bath water, we have to start somewhere.
By
Frances, at 6:44 PM
I'm not sure what's up, other than the fact that both major parties when it all comes down to it depend on big business for either money or votes. The package has gotten watered down so badly that it's hard to see it as meaningful progress.
By
Chancelucky, at 2:50 PM
I agree that the proposal is being watered down to the point that it will not only fail to solve existing problems but may very well create new ones. In the meantime, the insurance companies continue to "win" (Humana just reported second quarter profits rose 34%!) while the American public loses . . . literally.
Too much business as usual in Washington! Lobbyists rule.
By
indyvoter, at 5:30 AM
Yeah, it is about consensus amongst the Congress, according to ATM reports, not what we want.
I appreciate the comments about JRE, but this is really more about his vision of what he would have done, forget the "other woman" at the moment, which is what Montana Maven was getting at. We need more voices like JRE and Spitzer, but unfortunately the Democratic Party eats their own more quickly, even if the visions are solid. Sucks, which is her opinion.
Thanks, CL for bringing this discussion back to point.
Another post l8tr.
By
benny06, at 8:39 AM
So the "tea party" movement has now moved on to disrupting town hall meetings on health care. A memo has been disseminated instructing people how to do so by standing up and shouting to prevent an intelligent health care reform discussion. They are busing protesters to meetings.
Someone should point out to them that the prior administration wouldn't let dissenters into events. If the same continued, they'd be outside on the sidewalk.
What are these people so afraid of? Has it been so long (eight years - seems like eighty) since an administration led conversations that they cannot relate to informative discourse? Are they being paid to protect the insurance companies or are they doing so for free, and if so, why?
America cannot allow itself to be hijacked by a small group of extremists - tea party, birthers, etc. The issues are too critical to play these games!
[Regarding the birther movement, Orly Taitz who is spouting this nonsense says in every interview that a person must have two parents who are citizens to be eligible for the Presidency. Why doesn't anyone point out no such requirement is in the US Constitution? Her "argument" is based on incorrect information but for some reason she keeps getting attention. Enough already!]
By
indyvoter, at 5:19 PM
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