Joe Klein: Right-Wing Nervous Breakdown

[babylonsister]

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/03/19/right-wing-nervous-breakdown/


Right-Wing Nervous Breakdown
Posted by Joe Klein Friday, March 19, 2010 at 4:26 pm


This is becoming a rather difficult week for the wingnuts. Glenn Greenwald details the insanity prevailing among the neocons on the question of Israeli settlements. But the froth-at-the-mouth-rabidity seems to be increasing across the board...and the reason for this is the probable passage of the health care reform legislation on Sunday in the House of Representatives.

We've been so caught up in the day-to-day shenanigans, on both sides, that the truly historic nature of the moment has been missed. A great American injustice is about to be addressed. More than 32 million people, who lack health insurance now and live in constant fear of chronic disease will be helped--not immediately, but gradually, as the provisions of the bill kick in. Countless millions of others will never have to worry about losing their insurance coverage because of a pre-existing condition or because chronic illness has caused them to exceed their lifetime "cap." A system of exchanges will allow individuals and small business seeking health insurance to enter the market with the same power as major corporations. This is a big deal.

And a big problem for Republicans who, yet again, have chosen not to participate in the extension of a basic human right to all Americans--the right to health care--a right that is common throughout the rest of the civilized world. There is talk of the GOP starting a "Repeal Health Care" campaign as soon as the bill is passed, but that's not a likely scenario. Indeed, Democrats are salivating over the notion of such a campaign. They'll be able to run for Congress next fall, saying: "We made sure no one can ever take away your health insurance...and the Republicans want to repeal that right."

To be sure, this bill is not perfect...and, in some ways, quite awful. But it is the first step in what will undoubtedly be a continuing process to rationalize the American health care system. Medical malpractice reform will have to be addressed sooner or later. The bill unnecessarily expands Medicaid, as Karen has reported extensively, a program that really should be abolished--Medicaid recipients should receive their health care through the exchanges (as should senior citizens for that matter, but that may come in time, too). Indeed, over time, I'd hope that we can move to a system that relieves employers of the financial burden of providing health insurance...and also to a system that pays doctors salaries, rather than a fee for every service they perform.

But, in political terms--and despite the smokescreen wafted by the Republican opposition--passage of this bill will be a triumph for Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. If it passes. And that looming triumph is at the heart of what's driving Republicans crazy this week.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Just note how the whores in the M$M turn on a dime once the HRC legislation is passed?

The GOP will look like "Robin Hood."

It's going to get real ugly before it gets better. :(

[FrenchieCat]

3. Looking at most of your comments starting quite a ways back....

we past ugly long ago.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Oh stop. I have complemented President Obama on occasion. You just will not allow yourself

to consider that this bill is, overall, not good because IMO, you're an ultra-loyal democrat who's devoted to this Administration. Even Dennis Kucinich agrees with me but is voting as a "good democrat."

I'm not "ugly" just because I disagree with you.

[mkultra]

10. DK doesnt agree with you

he only said so to gain your support. He voted on his principles.

[ShortnFiery]

11. DK said flat-out that he did NOT like this bill but he was going ...

to vote for it, IN THE HOPE that it may keep the democrats in power so they can later do some good. I can understand his logic: we both believe that this is a *horrible* bill. :shrug:

[mkultra]

18. he also said he wasnt going to vote on it in principle

So either his principles have have changed, or he never had the belief to begin with.

[CreekDog]

12. Are you a mind reader? A lot of us who support the bill do so because of what it does

I would support it whether the presidency or majorities in congress were on the line or not (though they are).

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

13. The bill is a net positive and should be supported.

It isn't the grail but it will at least give some relief to many people.

[damonm]

5. There IS a reason I put that individual on ignore.

Teh crazy was just too thick.

[Dappleganger]

6. Did the same. nt

[ShortnFiery]

7. Oh thanks. That was a real thoughtful post.

:(

[Hekate]

20. No kidding. Despite the Friday night housecleaning around here...

... my personal "worsts" in the Iggy pile are still here. Oy yoy yoy.

Hekate

[DevonRex]

2. Good article. K&R nt

[Phx_Dem]

8. Boner is on my TV every morning threatening that "we'll be sorry"

if we pass health care reform. ROLF. Really?

That should make you happy, Boner. Instead you're on my TV every morning telling us the Democratic party will implode on Sunday, and your normally orange face is beat red and you look like you're about to have a coronary.

:rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl::rofl: :rofl:

[treestar]

9. Republicans are crying their eyeballs out over this socialism

[GoCubsGo]

29. It's gone beyond crying with some of them

I have heard interviews and call-ins from wing nuts on NPR every day this week. Every last one of them was apoplectic. We're talking spittle-flying, foaming-at-the-mouth rage. It was rather scary listening to them. A good chunk of them have lost all grasp of reality. It won't surprise me in the least if we see another event like the Oklahoma City bombing in the next year.

[Cha]

14. Krugman seems optimistic

it's going to pass.:)

[high density]

15. Just turned Hannity on out of curiosity

Boner was on. Saying the GOP is going to run the House a lot differently if they win in November. He says the Senate isn't going to fix the bill because they have no reason to, and the House is going to end up endorsing all the bad stuff in the Senate bill instead of finishing reconciliation. (Makes no sense at all to me, but then again this is the orange man we're talking about.)

On the screen there were the words "HEALTH CARE ALERT" and on the set "UNIVERSAL NIGHTMARE" was scrolling by over and over.

[4lbs]

17. "Universal Nightmare" ? The bill isn't anywhere close to Universal Healthcare that having the PO

and/or Single Payer would have been.

But hey, that's Faux News for you. Fear Dot Net

[DeepModem Mom]

16. K&R!

[stevietheman]

19. What's "awful" about it?

The reality is that this bill is far better than the status quo, so why can't we support it on those grounds?

[Lautremont]

28. If the insurance industry is the fish hook in the rainbow trout that is American health care,

this bill is in some ways the barb. Don't get me wrong - on balance I'm glad to see Americans' lives generally improving, glad to see a Democratic victory and so on. But I think it will help render universal health care, which is what you should be getting instead, a virtual impossibility for many decades to come. It might be impossible in that time frame anyway, what with the sheer number of crazy people in your country, but with the insurance companies' participation in the process more cemented in than ever before, the (non) deal is thereby sealed.

I think the long view has been ignored by this weak-tea bill's big fans. But I am very glad to see the burden, for some, being at least partially lifted in the fairly-near future.

[Hekate]

21. Perhaps I will be able to open the good Scotch after all, and tune up my Schadenfreude Dance...

But I will wait until 100% of the votes have been counted.

Then we shall have Scotch and Schadenfreude.

Hekate

[Turborama]

24. I'm curious

Which Scotch is it? I've just invested in a liter bottle of The Glenlivet (15 year old French Oak Reserve).

[Hekate]

26. That would be The One, all right.

:toast:

Hekate

[olegramps]

22. This bill isn't Utopian, but it addresses some of the worst abuses.

I look forward to the expansion of Medicare to all citizens. The passage of this bill, in my opinion, will set the stage for the passage of progressive legislation as the voices of opposition are silenced by its success. After reading the history of Social Security I can imagine a similar expansion as its merits become apparent. People who are presently being mislead by the Republicans' opposition that is driven solely by political hacks will become like their grandparents, who were similarly misled, and become its most ardent supporters. Nothing could be more clearly demonstrated as when Bush's neo-con handlers attempted to dismantle Social Security. What is absolutely ludicrous are the Tea-bagging seniors who are being used by corporations, but are sole dependent on Medicare for even being alive.

[Peacetrain]

23. There will be a LOT of nervous breakdowns going around

[opihimoimoi]

25. GOP at DEFCON-5...BATTLE STATIONS.....5 ALARMS....INCOMING!!!!

The Dems have Vectored in the right coords

Camp GOP in Tatters....desperation mode....doing crazy things....no white flags yet.....keep firing.....

[Born_A_Truman]

27. Yet FEAR FEAR FEAR seems to continue to work for some...

I have a friend that is fighting for her life trying to get her HMO to give her a referral to get treatment. They are dragging their feet. Her doctor said it was approved but until she gets the paperwork, she cannot even make an appointment. No paperwork still. That's the REAL death panels at work.

Is this bill perfect? Hell no! Is it a step in the right direction? YES! So those that would withhold treatment until a 100% cure comes down the road are willing to let alot of people die. Sickening!

BTW, Sister, how come the first posts on your threads seem to be by ignored?