ObamaKennedyDeathCare Hits The Ground Running

Now that the August recess is over, it's open season on the phone lines at your congresspersons' offices. Get busy.

First, the legislative updates. President Obama is planning to call a joint session of Congress tonight to deliver a speech about the urgency of passing his health care bill. It's amazing how he is taking such extraordinary measures to force Congress into extracting him from his own political mess. Nevertheless, that's what he's doing. It won't be easy, though, as 37 Democrats are already on record against any plan with the public option in it. If the GOP holds the line, Obama can only lose one more vote and the bill goes down, thanks to his own party. It's very possible that he could buy off even a few of those, but it's going to take some work. Of course, on the other side, Obama also has to deal with a group of 83 Democrats who have pledged to oppose any plan without the public option. In effect, here's what it comes down to:

Ultimately, the political logic that President Obama is urging Members of Congress to act on, is illogical:

I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THE VERY THING THAT IS CAUSING MY POLL NUMBERS, AND YOUR POLL NUMBERS TO DROP. IF YOU IGNORE THE POLLS AND PASS OBAMACARE, THINGS WILL BE BETTER THAN IF YOU DO WHAT YOUR VOTERS WANT.

Is that like, we have to spend $1 trillion to save money? Or, ObamaCare will not increase the deficit?

OR

IF YOU DO WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN TELLING YOU NOT TO DO, AND PASS OBAMACARE, YOUR POLL NUMBERS WILL GO UP! REALLY, I PROMISE.

Oh, what's an obedient Democrat drone to do??

There are a few who are trying to put together a compromise bill, like Sen. Max Baucus:

Senator Max Baucus finally got his version of Obamacare out. It is supposedly an attempt at compromise. Among the provisions:

The plan from Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana would make health insurance mandatory, just like auto coverage. It would provide tax credits to help cover the cost for people making up to three times the federal poverty level. That's about $66,000 for a family of four, and $32,000 for an individual.

But those who still don't sign up would face hefty fines, starting at $750 a year for individuals and $1,500 for families. The maximum penalty on individuals would be $950.

The max penalty for a family would be $3,800.

As I wrote this morning: subsidies and taxes. This is just another anti-prosperity plan.

The ranking Republican on that committee, Charles Grassley, isn't playing ball. And well he should not - this is not something on which compromise should be enacted. If you think otherwise, just ask our friends who are already suffering under such a system. RedState is going to post 100 stories from the book, Shattered Lives, over the next 100 days, and here is the first:

Engineer Left Blind for Three Years Awaiting 20-Minute Operation

According to Britain’s state-managed health service, cataract surgery is a “common” and “straightforward” operation that usually should last between 15 and 20 minutes. But such a quick turnaround would have been news to Richard Adams of London, who went blind in both eyes while waiting three years for cataract surgery.

The 85-year-old retired engineer and award-winning dancer began losing his vision in 2004. That year, doctors diagnosed Adams with cataracts, but an operation to remove them was not scheduled until March 2007.

His excitement in 2007 at the prospect of getting his sight and livelihood back was short-lived because doctors cancelled the surgery.

...

In despair, Adams said his life was “being wasted”: “I have all these ideas in my head but I can’t see to write and I can’t see to draw. All I can do is sit in my house and listen to the TV. I can’t see it and I have to turn up the volume because I can’t hear well.”

...

Finally, after Adams’ plight received attention from the British press, doctors removed the cataracts in one of his eyes in June 2007.

“He was really pleased with the result of the operation,” said Roger Woolsey, a family friend. “When I went to visit him he would raise the eye-patch and say: I really can see again.”

Tragically, four days after the procedure that restored his sight, Adams died. He had a heart attack after developing blood poisoning in the hospital.

Sound like the way you want to go?

One of the biggest questions in this whole debate is one for which Obama still hasn't given an answer: how is he going to pay for this? His minions can't answer it, either:

But hey, who's worried about that little $1 trillion cost thingy?

On a related note, guess what you are if you oppose ObamaKennedyDeathCare? Yep, it's Obama's favorite: raaaaacist!

As Gateway Pundit says, though:

To make their plan more appealing the democrats will fine Americans up to $3,800 for failing to buy health insurance.
But, you're a racist if you oppose this.

Natch. That's standard Obama operating procedure. Remember how you were a racist if you didn't vote for him? Mm-hmmm.

Finally, I leave you with this terrific report on health care from John Stossel, one of the few real reporters left in America:

Like I said before, your Senators and Congressman are back in session now and beginning to debate this issue in earnest, so feel free to call them to let them know your thoughts on their behavior, their positions, and the issue at large.

Stay tuned for more updates.

There's my two cents.


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The problem is the brand, not the plan
Mandates are the opposite of choice
Two possible outcomes...?
Prescription costs will go up under ObamaKennedyDeathCare
Why the trigger is a bad idea
Five major flaws with the plans
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