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Universal Health Coverage Attracts New Support

Onetime Foes Become Unlikely Advocates, Citing Rising Costs and Tougher Access
By Christopher Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 22, 2007; A03
Harry and Louise have had a change of heart.

Thirteen years after television ads from the insurance industry featuring the fictional middle-class couple helped kill the Clinton health-care plan and make universal coverage politically radioactive, comprehensive proposals for expanding coverage to millions of uninsured Americans are flowering again inside the Beltway and around the country.

If Congress, the medical community, the insurance industry, the healthcare cottage industry and the public would have engaged this issue 20 years ago, the problem could have been avoided. As it is now, there is no shortage of proposals to fix the problem. It would be nice to think the former foes who now claim to be problem solving found themselves in a hole and stopped digging. But the reality is these are interim shifts to avoid or diminish political damage. The hotter a problem becomes, the faster politicians invoke damage control. You don’t want to be the last one crafting a defense.

Stanford Matthews
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Nanotechnology Venture Capital Available (Apply Within)

There have been stories of renewed interest by several groups around the country about private investment. The word is venture capital markets may be ready to move. A little evidence of that should interest those involved in nanotech. The Nano Venture Showcase will offer the most promising applicants a chance to present their business plan to venture capital firms. Click on the title above for the full story.

MoreWhat.com staff

Bush enjoys first-term success

Nothing like an ambiguous headline to wrinkle the brow.

MoreWhat.com staff

President’s Veep In Deep When It Comes to CIA Leak Case

As new details continue to emerge from the Lewis “Scooter” Libby trail, it’s now known that Vice President Cheney “personally orchestrated his office’s 2003 efforts to rebut allegations that the administration used flawed intelligence to justify the war in Iraq and discredit a critic who Cheney believed was making him look foolish,” according to the Washington Post.

Stop the presses!!! This is the first item in a long time from the Democratic party for which it is difficult to find fault. With no further analysis than the headline, one can reasonably conclude they have a point. But then, they are referring to an article in the Washington Post, so ok, it is not their point. They just like it. That’s fair enough.

An earlier post here drew a loose comparison to the Nixon administration. Cheney plays Agnew. Saddamgate is born. And a flawed war strategy is allowed to continue. That means civilians are having undue influence on the military. Civilians should shape policy. Congress should vote on war. A President is Commander-in-Chief. And war is the proper jurisdiction for the military.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

The Real Newt Gingrich: Special Interest Shill

As Newt Gingrich prepares to address leading conservative activists at this weekend’s National Review Institute summit, recent reports are shining a harsh light on his true motivations.

You can click on the link above to read the entire press release by the Democratic Party. Apparently, they see Newt Gingrich as a threat. Maybe they still have nightmares about 1994 and worry about history repeating itself. Here is some news for both parties. The administrations of George W. Bush and William J. Clinton are not stellar examples of American politics. Besides, when is the last time you heard anyone use the term statesman. It has been just politics for a very long time. And this latest press release is just another fine example of how absurdly distant from principled reality the task of governing has become.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Released on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 05:14 PM

Must Read: Democrats’ Minimum Wage Increase Benefits African Americans

According to a Reuters article today, proposed increases in the minimum wage, such as those passed by Democrats in the House of Representatives, would result in a raise for nearly 2 million African American workers.

Gotta love those Dems. So many speeches, photo ops and campaign slogans that use the phrase ” for the American people” or “for all Americans”. Speaker Pelosi’s phrase referred to “15 million hard working American families” when praising the minimum wage increase. And now the press release above from the Democratic Party. Could the source for this study be at all biased in their effort to further an agenda? The source of the study is described below from their own website. No, no bias or subjective influence here. The Dems are guilty of the same thing the GOP is, partisan politics. If politicians would just tell the truth, the public, when interested, would not need to determine what is accurate and what is fabricated. ………….. Stanford Matthews, MoreWhat.com

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a national, nonprofit research and public policy institution. Founded in 1970 by black intellectuals and professionals to provide training and technical assistance to newly elected black officials, the Joint Center is recognized today as one of the nation’s premier think tanks on a broad range of public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other communities of color.

Pelosi: ‘Increasing the Minimum Wage Is a Victory for America’s Families’ “After nearly a decade, 15 million hard-working families will finally receive the pay raise they have deserved for so long.” 01/10/2007

It is especially sweet when a politician you disagree with makes your point for you. This announcement of which Nancy Pelosi is obviously feeling proud indicates her love of politics is stronger than her sense of what is best for the country. Is this not the party that campaigns on the education issue as well as claiming to be for everything that will improve the quality of life for all Americans, NOT JUST THE privileged few??

And yet they can’t seem to get their minds around the fact that the minimum wage issue should only relate to a person’s early work years while they are supposed to be developing skills to earn an adequate living or better. If you are a student in high school or college and trying to save money for future education plans or working while in school, the minimum wage will allow you to better meet those goals. Especially if you are a working student and single, minimum wage is intended to provide enough to pay for room and board or similar expenses. It was never intended to be a life long replacement for having enough skills to earn a decent living or raise a family. Not a victory for America’s families because the real problem is all the years neglecting attention to acquiring skills to earn a living.

International appraisals of students around the world finds the United States below average every year. Besides politicians, the public can share in this failure. We fail to teach our children well enough to compete with other students on the planet as well as fail to help them acquire the skills necessary to earn above minimum wage. Of course this doesn’t mean all children. But it does mean enough fall short to place us below average in every measure.

And the burden of minimum wage is more than the strain on small business. If, as indicated, relief is sponsored for small business by Congress, the money will come from government revenue otherwise known as taxpayer funds. So if they don’t tax our brains out for supporting their school spending which does not work, they will tax our brains out paying for wage supports that only serve to exacerbate the problem. Nice going Dems and any Republicans or independents who favored this bill.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Press Release from House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn

House Completes 100 Hour Agenda

January 18, 2007

“We showed the political will to advance an agenda, not for the special interests, but for the American people: greater access to affordable education, safer and more secure communities, a fairer wage for an honest day’s work, a pathway to energy independence, and lower prescription drug costs.

Oh the folly of politics and the politician’s addiction to laying praise. First of all, Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, you just might raise the minimum wage over 26 months, but that does nothing to encourage the public to advance their skill set and be able to earn more without artificial support.

Second, authorizing the federal government to negotiate drug prices has not proven to be a success. Until it does you might consider withholding praise for you and your colleagues. Third, it is not greater access to affordable education but a lowering of an interest rate. A burden on the taxpayer for failure of other policies is not greater access. It is politics as usual. Where are the proven technologies that meet specs toward efficiency, reduced expense and less harm to the planet for energy needs? Many of the applauded options contain their own set of problems equal to or exceeding current choices.

Politicians assemble a marketing plan for presenting ideas to the public. It usually favors those responsible for the lion’s share of campaign contributions. Once it is analyzed for lack of re-election risks and benefits the current political challenge, we get to hear about it. The emotional or feeble buy it and the rest of us see it for what it is.

Political will to advance an agenda would only apply if the agenda was of critical importance and your political futures were at risk. Those are the only agendas worth having. Because in order to get done what is right and noble one must take risk. Since you are not in the habit of taking risk, we are not likely to see meaningful work completed. Besides, as stated here before, you only legislate. You conveniently forget that even when releasing funds or raising taxes, all your work requires the other two branches of government to be completed and successful. Passing laws by itself is of no value.

I almost forgot. It is easy to skip fertilizer. The last item is safer comunities. The 9/11 Commission recommendations are by themselves no guarantee of success against enemies of this country. I better stop now because politics as usual when the country is at risk makes me crazy.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Escalating Our Military Involvement in Iraq Sends Precisely the Wrong Message Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Richard Durbin released the following statement tonight on President Bush’s address to the nation on the war in Iraq. 01/10/2007

There seems to be more conflict among people in this country as to an Iraq strategy than there is in Iraq. How’s that for helping out the other side? One of the drawbacks to freedom of speech is that people use it even when it is not in their best interest.

President Bush’s Administration is reminiscent of Lincoln and his difficulties with General McClellan in the Civil War. I will skip some obvious comparisons for the Demoratic party’s sentiments but can ask if anyone else was reminded of 1968.

It is unlikely that war plans have ever been completed without modification. Somewhere I heard someone say that after the first round is fired the battle plans go out the window. What politicians won’t give to us they expect from everyone else based on the words in the critiques. They claim they have the answer in their proposal. Leaving Iraq will solve the problem. They also claim the President’s current plan sends the wrong message. They think we’re doomed to fail. Have they ever considered their own actions may become a self-fulfilling prophecy? I have heard them say support the troops. Have they considered the positive effect of also supporting the mission? Slowly the Democrats opposition will convince me of the Dems suspected belief that utopia can be delivered if we all just talk and give each other a big hug. Let’s see ya try that with a terrorist who has repeatedly announced the fundamentalist mantra of killing all infidels. In case you’re not aware, that applies to anyone who doesn’t believe what they believe. And the way two distinct Muslim groups are killing each other in Iraq, that probably means everyone else.

Give the Bush Administration a chance to make something turn right about this wrongly initiated war. You might stop to think that some of us hold Congress partially to blame for failing to uncover the flaws as opposed to covering your political butts. And if the holier than thou minority of those voting against the war feel above reproach, forget about it. You were among the entire Congress, both houses, who failed to unearth the hoax. There is no “fool me once” loophole in matters of this importance. You all have a responsibility to see this thing through to a positive conclusion to right the wrongs and honor the sacrafice of others, Iraqis as well as Americans.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Microsoft’s net income falls by 28 percent in Q2
Microsoft’s net income fell 28 percent year over year for its 2007 second fiscal quarter as it spent ahead of its mass market launch of Windows Vista this month.

A few days ago the only smile in a group of news items was Senator John Kerry announcing his intention not to run for President for 2008. Ah, but this is much better. The sky is falling. Really, the sky is falling for Microsoft. Why do you suppose Mr Gates Foundation is distancing himself from the company. This way he can blame its fall on someone else.

Who cares? More evidence of the much anticipated fall of Microsoft will always be welcom here.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Hagel Ponders White House Run As War Criticism Raises His Profile
His Republican colleagues regard him warily. The White House barely speaks to him. He is reviled by his party’s conservative base.

That’s a great reason to oppose the war. Raise your profile to run for President. Maybe Hagel has already conceded his re-election bid for 2008 in the Senate. So why not take the long shot for President? If you think your career is over, run for President even if you can’t win. While your doing it, never mind the consequences of your purely self-promotional politics.

Politicians call it political reality. Most people see it for what it is. Attempting to justify dishonest decisions.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

In Ex-Aide’s Testimony, A Spin Through VP’s PR

By Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 26, 2007; A01
Memo to Tim Russert: Dick Cheney thinks he controls you.

This delicious morsel about the “Meet the Press” host and the vice president was part of the extensive dish Cathie Martin served up yesterday when the former Cheney communications director took the stand in the perjury trial of former Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby.

This whole matter and the war in Iraq conjure images of Nixon and Viet Nam. Crazy, you say? Reflect on this. Spiro T. Agnew, Watergate, Nixon resumes bombing of North Viet Nam. Or, Dick Cheney, Saddamgate and Bush calls for surge in Iraq. Is all this a rerun of the 70’s GOP playbook?

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Emerging Grievances Within Party Likely to Test Pelosi
Beneath the resounding Democratic victories of the past two weeks, tensions have been growing between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and many new committee chairmen and other members over her aggressive management style and her approach to the war, according to lawmakers and advisers.

Don’t you just love it? An earlier post here may have jumped the gun with the title of “The Gloves Will Come Off”. We can criticize President Bush for proposing solutions for issues he knows won’t be addressed in Congress any time soon. We can criticize the Democratic party for self-praise on the 100 hour agenda. As with any legislation, unless or until positive results are verified, there is no cause for celebration. We can criticize the GOP for failing to support the President for purely political reasons. 21 GOP Senators are up for re-election in 2008. That might explain Sen Chuck Hagel’s actions of late. There is plenty of criticism to go around. More proof that the expectation of politics as usual with the 110th Congress and the Whitehouse, etc., is well-founded.

But based on the brief excerpt at the top of this post, the GOP may just lay back a little and wait for the Dems to undo themselves.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Obama Calls for Universal Health Care
WASHINGTON (AP) — Every American should have health care coverage within six years, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday as he set an ambitious goal soon after jumping into the 2008 presidential race….

Just a little addition to a previous post (click here). The review for now is, 13 years of ignoring healthcare issues since the Clinton’s made it their centerpiece. President Bush and each Congress has done no better. So what’s the deal? Barack Obama was reading the paper and this seemed like a good campaign driver? Whatever.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

USC Loses the Championship!

What will happen if Reggie Bush is declared ineligible?
By Daniel Engber
Posted Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007

The federal government may have new, taped evidence that former USC football star Reggie Bush accepted cash and gifts while he was still a student. If so, he could be declared ineligible retroactively, in which case USC might have to forfeit its 2004 national championship as well as all its victories from the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Does it hurt a school to lose a game after the fact?

After seven or eight attempts to post something worthwhile on this story, the urge to type has simply gone away. Every account similar to this one, whether in sports or not, is a disappointment. Not because of the story details, just because there are so many similar stories. Maybe we have allowed ourselves to relax self-discipline to a point where anything goes…..and does.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com