Thursday, February 4, 2010

Christmas Day Underwear Bomber Supplies Actionable Intelligence

The narrative on the right about the Christmas Day underwear bomber has been that the Obama administration blew it by letting him have a lawyer, reading him his Miranda rights and not charging him in a military court. Even though President Bush did exactly the same thing with over 300 terror suspects, the right is moving even further to the right.

Last night, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow covered the lies that Republicans have been telling in trying to discredit President Obama on his national security and terror policies.

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9 comments:

Jay-Ney said...

Great job on bringing this to light. Scott Brown is trying to be #41. We have to stop it. Any ideas? Sorry I was so angry all the time. I just hit 50 and my body is getting pissed. I'm on hormones now so it should get better.

Jay-Ney said...

This is from moveon. Top Five Health Care Reform Lies—and How to Fight Back
Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!
The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."1 What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.2
If you'd like to read the actual section of the legislation that spawned these outrageous claims (Section 1233 of H.R. 3200) for yourself, here it is. It's pretty boring stuff, which is why the accusations that it creates "death panels" is so absurd. But don't take our word for it, read it yourself.

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Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!!
The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.3 Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option—a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers—that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.4 If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.5 But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or individuals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now.

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Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!!
The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered—that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that.

Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.6 And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation.

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Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits!!!
The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits.7 Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care—in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.8

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Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!!
The truth: We need health care reform now in order to prevent bankruptcy—to control spiraling costs that affect individuals, families, small businesses, and the American economy. Right now, we spend more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care.9 The average family premium is projected to rise to over $22,000 in the next decade10—and each year, nearly a million people face bankruptcy because of medical expenses.11 Reform, with an affordable, high-quality public option that can spur competition, is necessary to bring down skyrocketing costs. Also, President Obama's reform plans would be fully paid for over 10 years and not add a penny to the deficit.12
Now is the time to fight hard. Lets make this happen by hook or crook.

vomamike said...

The Right is engaging in what I call the "Alice in Wonderland" diatribe. They are trying to make the illogical - logical. Sadly, too many buy into that distorted vision of reality. Sort of like the defense lawyer who doesn't have to prove his client innocent - just distort the truth enough to cast an element of doubt. Republicans are good at wordsmithing. Hollow jingles and distorted sound bytes that capture the 'intellectually challenged' in our society. Instead of logical recriminations against big business, Republicans have been able to sow a distrust of government - which is the only bastion of protection against the avarice, greed & insecurity sowed by big business we have left.

Jay-Ney said...

vomamike,I like the point you made about the neo-cons being dumb. Are you a prof? Do you have your own blog vomamike?

vomamike said...

Jay-Ney - I'm not a professor. I'm a retiree who has studied American History all his life. Between books cluttering my house and a worn out library card, I think I have accumulated a lot of information along the way. Bruce does an excellent job of blogging - which means I just get to put my two cents in every now and then. I try to stay informed by checking out progressive web sites, listening to such progressive radio shows like Thom Hartman and frequently watch Oberman & Maddow on MSNBC. Every now and then I will catch a Right Wing talk show or visit a Right Wing blog.

Jay-Ney said...

vomamike what do you think about President Obama now hinting that lawmakers might have to split up a climate bill, which could mean the end of cap-and-trade.

At a recent town hall meeting, the president reiterated his support for a price on greenhouse gas emissions, but admitted that the votes may not be there. Reading between the lines is the executive editor at ClimateDepot.com, Marc Marano.

"President Obama is selling climate down the river. This is what he's doing," he states. "[Obama] is telling people that cap-and-trade is dead. He's recognizing political reality."

Morano believes Congress will pass a bill that promotes alternative energy and call it a climate bill.

"But they're so desperate to check the box of 'climate and global warming' that they're going to now declare a typical energy bill in Washington as a climate bill," he explains.

"So it's a new reality: we're going to have climate bill without dealing with climate -- which is about where we should be, given that the entire [climate change] movement has now become a laughing stock scientifically, politically, and economically."

Morano says Capitol Hill Democrats will have to spin the bill as a climate bill because there is zero support to actually pass real cap-and-trade legislation.

I think it is bullshit. Congress better start getting shit done or else. It's nice to have someone smart on this blog. Why don't you post on the Bonsai blog? We could use someone smart like you to help out the progressive cause.

vomamike said...

Jay-Ney - I have posted a comment on Bonsai on a few rare occasions. I read it fairly regularly. I am however, disinclined to post a comment because of the personal attacks of vitriol it engenders from some of his commenter's. I don't mind debating the pros & cons of issues, but far too often, his site is a refuge for fanatics who prefer to attack the messenger rather then debate the issue.

As for 'cap & trade' - I think it is too soon to claim defeat - or victory for that matter. I don't think President Obama is being tough enough on many of the issues we progressives are fighting for. It is a testament to the obscene influence that big business has over our legislators. It is also a testament to the ignorance and stupidity we citizens are exhibiting.

I have been watching a lot of the cable channels like the science channel, the discovery channel and the National Geographic channel. They all from time to time, covered the issue of climate change. That we are facing a crossroad climatological speaking, is not in dispute. If we fail to respond - we do so at our own peril. I continue to battle as best I can, for the sake of my children and grandchildren. But I am convinced the very fate of humanity is on the line. We mock or ignore Mother nature at our own peril.

Jay-Ney said...

You have to see what JoeC did on his blog. It's called "John is my prison bitch". He isn't afraid to say how it is and fight back. vomamike don't be afraid of them attacking you. We will help out a good progressive like you any day. Our voice needs to be heard and you are one of the only people that sounds smart. JoeC. is doing a great job and he sounds smart too.

Bruce Fealk said...

Jay-Ney, can you provide a link to John's blog?