Lawrence O'Donnell questioning four Tea Party leaders. Derp x 4.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

Sunday night O'Donnell had four tea party group leaders on his show. He asked them how they were connected and they said vague things about how they knew each other. I think his point was that they were disorganized. Also that they were mad, but their rage was extremely vague.

He asked them what they would cut from the budget. First he asked them if Social Security and Medicare were socialist programs. They agreed that they were socialist programs.

Then he asked them what they would cut. One guy said "eliminate the Dept. of Education and the Dept. of Energy". Somebody else said "cut the fraud and waste in Medicare". The one woman said "cut the waste in Medicare".

Mostly they were silent. Eventually O'Donnell said "Medicare is bigger than the Dept. of Energy and the Dept. of Education put together. You need to know what's in the budget before you make suggestions to cut it".

They were basically pretty silent and inarticulate when he pinned them down. NOT ONE of them offered specific numbers in what they would cut, either. Not one single number of dollars was mentioned.

They all passed when he asked them if separation of church and state was in the Constitution. One guy said "The Supreme Court has interpreted the First Amendment to separate church of state" which implied that the speaker might have disagreed with that.

Lawrence O'Donnell is my new hero!!!

:loveya: :headbang: :yourock:

[xchrom]

1. They're not angry or outraged - that part is all

Phony 'authenticity'.

That's me opinion - but I think that's all a bunch of shit.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. They get real quiet when you try to pin 'em down on specifics.

They won't talk about budget cuts. I think all they care about are the Second and Tenth Amendments. Guns and states' rights.

[golfguru]

2. It is really simple..follow lead of UK

10% cuts across the board. Pain is equally shared by
all and increase taxes 10% across the board.

[CTyankee]

3. This however ignores the fact that the Brits start ahead of us in the

health care area. They are not planning on cutting that. We don't even have it...

[golfguru]

6. AFAIK the Brits are planning serious cuts in Healthcare

Correct me if I am mis-informed on this, please.

[CTyankee]

7. Can you tell me what will be cut?

I am only going on some info I have, but I admit it is not in depth. We have such an inept health care system in this country that even if cuts are made in national health care cuts, such as they have in the UK, they will probably be ahead of us.

It just seems to me that a universal health care plan is the most sensible and helps the most people. A system based on a market based system, such as ours, cannot work, can never work. You cannot make a profit in the health care "business." Not unless you ration, and even deny, health care to the very people who need it most. That is self evident.

[golfguru]

8. In general sense you are right

However as you know, everything and I mean without exception everything has two sides. There is lot to be
said for taking "profit" out of healthcare. The question
is can the government manage such a complex item as healthcare.

I feel healthcare is a basic necessity and should be available to all in an industrialized country such as ours. At the same time most very beneficial advances in medical treatment have come from private, for profit incentivized companies.

The "perfect" system should evolove slowly, by much experimentation of what works and what does not. I am on
Medicare and scared to death my doctor could drop me and there are not many docs accepting new Medicare patients.

Take our new HCR bill....which expands the pool of insured people but does nothing to expand supply of doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmaceuticals etc.

[golfguru]

9. Universal Healthcare ?

However as you know, everything and I mean without exception everything has two sides. There is lot to be said for taking "profit" out of healthcare. The question
is can the government manage such a complex item as healthcare.

I feel healthcare is a basic necessity and should be available to all in an industrialized country such as ours. At the same time most very beneficial advances in medical treatment have come from private, for profit incentivized companies.

The "perfect" system should evolove slowly, by much experimentation of what works and what does not. I am on Medicare and scared to death my doctor could drop me and there are not many docs accepting new Medicare patients. When and if we get Universal Healthcare I hope this issue gets addressed. It is very good to have Medicare but not if doctors refuse to see you.

Take our new HCR bill....which expands the pool of insured people but does nothing to expand supply of doctors, nurses, hospitals, pharmaceuticals etc.

[Kind of Blue]

5. I saw some of that and was surprised

there was no shouting from them. They seemed so meek. I guess logic wins out win you have them under the microscope. Probably why they have to send out their most vociferous as candidates.

Lawrence is a hero and he takes no prisoners.

KnR, MoL.