Lynn Dee's Blog

Why a Mandate

2009-12-18T17:33:28Z

Steve Benen made a good comment the other day about how the two progressive/lib factions are now engaged in a far more substantive debate re health care reform than we ever saw when the teabaggers and Republicans were sucking up all the oxygen.

Anyway, here's Ezra Klein in response to a comment by Markos Moulitsas about the problems Massachusetts has had with the individual mandate:

"Markos Moulitsas takes a look at Massachusetts and concludes that the individual mandate isn't working well, because Massachusetts's costs have merely improved from 'the worst in the nation to merely one of the worst in the nation.'

There's a lot to say about this (and I think there's something to Steve Benen's insight that the arguments folks on the left are having about this bill have gotten comically substantive), but one thing to say about this is that the reason Massachusetts had the most expensive average premiums in the nation was because they had a robust set of insurance regulations and subsidies but no mandate. That gave them a huge adverse selection problem. They added a mandate and, well, the situation, as Markos admits, improved. It's only been a year or two, so it's not like the place has transformed. But the trend line is positive.

Massachusetts, far from being an example that the mandate doesn't work, is an example that health-care reform won't work without it."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/12/the_lessons_of_massachusetts.html

Abandonment Issues

2009-12-17T21:29:23Z

Reader AK wrote, in regard to feeling abandoned by the left:

"I am unemployed and have a pre-existing condition that requires daily medicines, quarterly doctors visits and an annual test. I am on COBRA, which runs out mid-2010, when I will have to find new health insurance. I will need to purchase some kind of health insurance, assuming I can find provider who will insure me."

I guess we're all feeling abandoned by one contingent or another, but I really feel for AK's situation (and the millions of others in a similar situation).

My son, who is 23, has had Type I diabetes since he was 14 months old. He's in good health, is currently covered by my health care insurance and will graduate from college next year. On top of that, the economy sucks. What happens to him when he graduates, is off my insurance and is looking for a job?

Steve Benen has a good post up at washingtongmonthly.com about the substantive debate taking place at the moment between the various factions of the progressives, which I appreciate and have actually enjoyed reading and thinking about. At the same time, I've pretty much quit checking in on sites like firedoglake, because -- even though they're progressives and really could be part of this debate, all I'm seeing is "Kill the bill!" and -- worse -- disparagement of those who don't come down on the exact same position with the same level of vehemence. Just not helpful, IMO.

Chris Matthews and the Stupak Amendment

2009-11-12T21:55:41Z

What is wrong with this guy??!! First off, he will not let go of his constant need to trumpet: "I saw this battle coming!" BFD, Chris!

But here's what really bugs me: He keeps saying that the Stupak amendment is a reasonable compromise between those who support a woman's right to have an abortion and those who do not. Here's the problem with your "compromise," Chris: Those who do not support a woman's right to have an abortion do not support a legal medical procedure. What if a group sprang up that was against C-sections and what if they had some political clout? Would Matthews say "no federal funds, subsidies or exchange coverage for C-sections" is a reasonable compromise between those who support C-sections and those who don't? Of course not. The very idea is ridiculous.

So, there may be a political reason to seek a compromise with those who would deny women the right to have an abortion, but there sure isn't a legal one. And Chris Matthews seems not to recognize that distinction at all.

Hillary Clinton's Political Career Is Over

2008-08-25T03:22:11Z

Okay, not her political career as a Senator. As far as I know.

But she might as well hang up her aspirations ever to be the Democratic nominee for President. And for that she can thank her PUMA-like supporters, who have apparently decided to toss her career onto the funeral pyre of their rage at Sen. Obama.

God I hate belonging to this party. Is there a progressive party somewhere that doesn't have the Clintons in it, or anyone like them?

Which reminds me -- Anderson Cooper just referred to "Bill Clinton supporters." Bill Clinton's got supporters? What the hell for?

The So-Called Liberal Media and Republican Concern Trolls

2008-08-24T22:03:32Z

Okay, I had the T.V. on MSNBC -- actually, it's still there, but I have it on mute. Chris Matthews with Republican tool Mike Murphy, plus Jim Vandehei and Roger Simon from the right-leaning politico.com. I thought, Well, let's see how it goes... Jim Vandehei immediately began "concern trolling" for how badly Hillary was being treated. Please! As I've mentioned elsewhere, Hillary apparently told the Obama campaign she didn't want to be vetted unless she was going to be picked. So that was a non-starter.

As for consulting Bill and Hillary -- which is what Vandehei was going on about when I had to put it on mute ("Think about it! He didn't even consult her!") -- for all we know, he did. But, assuming he didn't, my first reaction was: How could he? Why would he? Wouldn't that be kinda like a guy consulting his ex-girlfriend on what kinda woman he should date next? ("What do you think, Hill? Big tits or a fine ass?") And wouldn't consulting Bill Clinton be like consulting his ex-girlfiend's dad? And aren't the PUMAs all like her best friends and sorority sisters?

The analogy's not perfect, and in fact, it sounds pretty sexist. (I apologize in advance to anyone who might be offended.) But really, this whole thing's INSANE!

Mark Penn advised Clinton: "Paint Obama as Foreign"

2008-08-10T16:42:27Z

Gee, that's McCain's strategy too. It's almost as if Obama was right when he said: "They'll say I have a funny name. They'll say I don't look those other guys on the dollar bills."

The Top One Sign You're Too Into McCain

2008-08-06T19:02:23Z

You're thinking about voting for him.

"Oops! He Did It Again"

2008-07-30T17:38:02Z

That's the Obama team's response to McCain's new smear.

"On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another. Or, as some might say, 'Oops! He did it again.'"

http://www.tmz.com/2008/07/30/oh-baby-baby-obama-fires-back/

Clinton Supporters Who Say They'll Vote for McCain: Where Are They From?

2008-06-01T16:35:07Z

I've seen about 4 or 5 youtubes of Clinton supporters who are so they angry they say they'll vote for McCain, and all but one of them are from New York -- which makes sense, of course. But I wonder if anyone has looked at whether this is representative of Clinton's most impassioned "McCainocrat" supporters. And if it is, is anyone really worried that New York will go Republican in the general election?

Why Can't Senator Obama...

2008-05-21T13:06:33Z

... close the deal with racists? Is he not reaching them? Not connecting with them in some way?

HuffPost: Clinton Camp Considers Nuclear Option to Take Delegate Lead

2008-05-04T20:35:48Z

Has everyone seen this? It's been kicking around for a while, but I guess the Clintons are floating another trial balloon.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/04/clinton-camp-considering_n_100051.html

Anyway, I found this line curious:

"Clinton loyalists on the Rules Committee would have to be persuaded to put their political futures on the line by defying major party constituencies, especially black leaders backing Barack Obama. Committee members are unlikely to take such a step unless they are convinced that Clinton has a strong chance of winning the nomination."

Kinda circular, isn't it? Committee members wouldn't take this step unless convinced she had a strong chance of winning the nomination -- and yet, for her to have any chance at all, they have to take this step???

Hillary's Gas Tax Holiday Bill (Teri Schiavo, anyone?)

2008-05-02T21:33:11Z

So, in support of her doomed bid for the Democratic nomination, Hillary's going to embroil the Congress in her machinations??!

You know what this reminds me of? It reminds me of the Teri Schiavo bill. Except here it's being driven by one Senator who wants to be President. ONE SENATOR.

The Liberal Blogosphere's Response to Obama on Fox

2008-04-28T19:25:48Z

There seem to be two sets of overlapping arguments that state the liberal blogosphere’s opposition to Obama’s appearance on Fox:

"TPM's Strange Reaction to Obama on Fox"

2008-04-28T07:43:26Z

FWIW: Jedreport has a post about "TPM's strange reaction to Obama on Fox."

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/04/tpms-strange-re.html

I have to agree. Maybe it's some kinda atmospheric disturbance. Whatever. It'll pass.

Blood in the Water?

2008-04-17T17:44:09Z

Looking around the blogosphore, it appears that the Hillary shills (example: Taylor Marsh at huffingtonpost) think they smell blood in the water, which proves two things: (1) they’ve been breathing the befuddling fumes of Hillary’s own sputtering campaign for so long now that they think last night's "gotcha" moderators raised "real" issues that voters care about; and (2) history - even recent history - is no guide for them.