I have yet to see the official text of the bill, but it is clear that the GOP has decided that the four decade experiment called Medicare and Medicaid is over.
The headline on Orrin Hatch’s Press Release says it all: "HATCH AND REPUBLICAN FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IMPLORE OBAMA: NO GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTHCARE PLAN" (The shouting caps are Hatch’s, not mine.)
I can’t wait to see the details of the bill they will introduce to get the government out of the healthcare business. No Medicare. No Medicaid. No WIC. No support for clinics in rural areas. No VA hospitals. No military hospitals. And certainly no support for foreign hospitals and medical programs.
I’m sure the only holdup in submitting the bill is that the GOP can’t decide whose name should be listed as the chief sponsor on the bill to repeal all these programs. But for the good of the country, I’m sure they will put aside their personal egos and submit their bill soon.
After all, what could be more sacred than the bond between a patient and his/her insurance company’s accountants?
Related posts:
- Roy Blunt: “Best” if Medicare, Medicaid were Never Created
- Medicaid for All: An Alternative To Subsidizing Insurance Companies
- Sarah Palin’s Medicaid Scandal: Letting People Die While Waiting
- Should the Public Option Use Medicare Payment Rates?
- The Max Tax: Would Baucus’ Medicare Changes Really Reform Health Care?





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Did you receive enough money from your owners to justify this? I guess the folks of Utah need a new senator. Guess they will probably get one.
I think this is very unfair to Hatch. I’m sure he meant to retain his own govt-paid for insurance coverage.
mebbe it is time for me to brush up my Francais
In addition, Senator Hatch will perform a funeral dirge for organ in D Flat at the services of all those Republican Senators who sponsor the “Let Them Eat Cake Act of 2009,” completely free of charge.
You go Girl!
As an Army brat, I had that ebil gubmint-run healthcare all my life until I left for college. Should I tell Orrin?
Damn, there goes my plan to have myself cryogenically preserved until eligible for Medicare.
It was only a matter of time.
Credit where credit is due, though – they don’t know when to quit. Democrats could use a little of that focus.
hahahahaahaa! My wingnut’s head is going to explode. It’s the one “socialist” program he is actively enjoying right now (besides the roads and law enforcement and calling the fire department for a lift to the hospital).
bwahahahaa!
Oh, I love the GOP now! /s
Hatch is sicking up for Republic constituants. If everyone can have health care, what’s the point of being wealthy?
This is known as “The Gullyvornia Plan.” Our governor plans to eliminate most MediCal, end the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, gut CalWorks (welfare), and close all state parks in order to balance our state’s budget without raising taxes.
Does that mean Hatch will give up is healthcare? .. Now and once he retires?
You know, perhaps Orrin is crazy like a fox. By stretching the health care issue so far to the crazy, the middle is now somewhere right of center, like they always say it is. Hmm.
Wasn’t it the GOP led “Administration” that added the prescription drug plan to Medicare just a short couple years ago??
“Let them eat cake bill” is good – or Orrin Hatch’s new book “How to Commit Political Suicide in One Easy Lesson” perhaps?
hey Teddy. We were watching “True Lies” last night back when Ahnold was having lots more fun acting tough.
oh jeeeeeeeeebus!
Shoot everyone has healthcare. All they have to do is go to the emergency room.
HATCHED….better watch out the 80 somethings are running around with shotguns and killing people lol
How about “The Daddy Raygun Smaller Government Bill” … that should be the final nail in the Coffin …
Sadlyyes !
The GOP has moved the “center” so far to the right that Liberal now means “not stupid and not a sociopath.”
Both the Democrats and the Republicans seem to be engaged in some kind of psychotic break, Republicans like Hatch more spectacularly so.
Shoot?
If folks would quit shooting, there’d be a lot less of a wait in the emergency rooms.
PETROVICH
Das Vidanya !
SORRY to go off topic,but my head is exploding!!!!
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said Wednesday that he is “frankly not terribly interested” in what the major health care reform coalition thinks and is pushing ahead with a proposal the group rejects.
DIDNT SHOW UP TO HEARING TODAY…oy another diary at OG
and the Jordanian King and court would BREEZE into the MAYO CLINIC…snicker
So…. one of the few constituencies they have left is older persons. And they want to lose them too?
INSANITY!
My spelling of shit when in polite company!
Repubs must be suicidal. They need meds!
dont forget the Latinas either
GOP=PARTY OF DIRTY OLD MEN
Conrad said
because
won’t fly on CNN, and looks intemperate on his web site.
There’s no meds for what’s wrong with the Rs.
These guys signed the letter:
Why do they hate America?
thorozine cocktails would make them less dangerous to the public at large
Behold the snark, it is truly a wonderous beast: I for one marvel at it, how it trips into the clearing and deposits a colorful and foul-smelling layer of crap all over Orrin’s pile of stupidity before uttering its familiar cry –
“Bwahahahahahahahaha!”
because its turning colorblind and intermarried imo
Meds: Only if they’re suicidal. But that would not change the insanity. And I’m pretty sure it’s all characterological. So, yes, you’re right!
Thought sadlyyes has a point.
You have a point.
Is this GOP insanity, or a joke? Or, are you sure this is not a joke?
Unfortunately, the same could be said about the Democrats. If healthcare were the Titanic, the Republicans and Blue Dogs would be supporting the iceberg.
OT
Poor Normy has to pay over half of Al’s legal bills.
Hatch wrote the headline, not me: “No Government-Run Health Care.”
I’m just taking him at his word, and awaiting the full text of the bill to repeal. Maybe I should call his office and ask them for a copy of it . . .
It is only a joke to the sane.
Righto. I’m like the Rs, in the sense that I don’t like my home team either.
we should INSIST they be medicated and carry a warning sticker like ciggs
Tres amusant, BW!!
BWAHAaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahashahas
speeeeeeeeeeew
Could not possibly happen to a more deserving weasel.
It’s on Hatch’s official site so for now….
{{{{{barbs}}}} hows the new diggs?
Too complex. Recommend Mr. Yukk symbols.
Yep.
You know, if John Edwards had been elected President, this Congress’s health care would be ending on July First. I’m sure they’d be out of session right now, getting all their bunions, hammertoes, corns, hemmoroids and other old-people electives taken care of.
They should go without health care until they get us some.
yeah, you can be sure no senator or congressperson will be denied anything as befits an oligarchy.
Ron said that the GOP should either love America or leave it.
Poor Normie … there goes his Brylcreem allowance for the month …
It’s lovely here! Pond and duckies and geese and herons. Okay, just the least little bit of excrement in the grass, but c’est la vie. Most of the boxes are unpacked. Way behind on wine and butter pecan ice cream. Come sit with me on the double glider on my patio!!!
I hope Al has security. Scary times.
getting all their bunions, hammertoes, corns, hemmoroids and other old-people electives taken care of.
spewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww rotfl
dont forget polynoidal cysts
You think the Blue Cross Blue Shields wouldn’t comp them
sounds devine,be right over
Indeed. Been down that road before vs. Normie.
But if you remove the cyst, they can’t talk.
Oh, wait…
Don’t suppose he can trade in his refrigerator row of teeth for a refund.
wooooot 707
You could signal aliens in outer space with those shinny choppers.
oh what a waste of good porcelain,could be the new whitehouse china
Haven’t been paying any teevee attention, but pals who do say Normie is looking mighty gaunt and weary. Gotta get over that, pal, so you can run for governor!! Vying for the endorsement against, amongst others, Michele Bachmann. OMG.
Oh sure, you love it there but after a few days, you’ll be the biting cold and snowdrifts ! *g*
… got some Grand Marnier for that Ice Cream ?
Or White House biffies.
Yes, I will. But now someone else has to plow/shovel it while I bake cookies and eat . . . Grand Marnier, you say? . . . yowza!
Those didn’t cost Normie a dime … his Uncle fitted him with those for free …
Okay, peterr, we’ve gotten far afield from the topic here, and I am at least partly to blame. (flogs self repeatedly)
Is it time for the Gray Panthers to re-group?
7000000000000000000000000000000000007
Normie’s going to jail … one of the reasons for stalling the Franken confirmation.
How insurance companies cut costs:
(1) If you don’t have a pulse, coverage is denied.
(2) If you do have a temperature, it’s a pre-existing condition to the phone call, coverage is denied.
(3) If it’s a chronic condition, coverage is differed until (1).
(4) If an injury happened at work, you are covered by workers comp, no medical insurance.
(5) If you don’t have a temperature, and you are not injured, and it’s not an acute condition, and you a not unable to be not ambulatory, coverage is denied.
(6) If you can’t understand (5), coverage is denied.
(7) If its acute, and you are not between 1 and 67, and not a child or a senior, and not working full time, and not only working part time, you are covered.
(8) If you work for the government, you are covered under the government employee health pal, unless you are in the military, on active duty, but not in base, you are not covered.
(9) If you qualify under any of the rules above, it was fraud, and coverage is denied.
they sure look like they were somebody elses(someone with a larger mouth…a horse?)
Just another example of GOP’ers being removed from reality.
Check out this clip where right winger, Ron Christie says there is no rush when it comes to reforming health care.
This coming from a man who probably has health care coverage.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=1701
Why is Coleman going to jail?
for now he does
im going for a drive take good care all
Yep, his Uncle worked at the Race Course … *g*
*ba dum pum*
Palin/Bachman 2012 Go Cavewomen!
FBI has an indictment hanging over his head … pretty damning evidence.
John Bush says no to that ticket…if it appears that a Republic could win or be close enought to steal the election.
Orrin Hatch is the definition of “prigg.”
No rush, right. Just wait until it’s reelection time and more people have bankrupted. I hate listening to these people who do not have any financial worries at all tell the rest of us, there there now. blah.
Also (o/t) My hinky meter went up about ten miles when watching a piece about alternative energy in California and a huge project that got the green light, but commencement of the program has been deferred to 2012….hmm. time enough for it to get scuttled altogether later.
Jane’s Silo piece upstairs!
Louise Slaughter Says Conference Report Will Not Contain Lieberman Photo Amendment
No pardon from the Decider? How ungrateful.
Saw a title over at the Orange Satan that labels the Rethugs GOPasaurs.
GOPasaurs = a herd of GOPasauris, a gassy, egg bearing, dung eating reptile known for standing with its head up its ass.
GOPasaurs. Has a nice ring to it, doncha think?
Amen!
Scarecrow’s diary promoted!
Sen. Kent Conrad Proposes Yet Another Way to Kill a Public Health Option
“HATCH AND REPUBLICAN FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS IMPLORE OBAMA: NO GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTHCARE PLAN”
Oh, goody……..I’m sure Sen. Hatch and his fellow Rethuglican committee members will be happy to surrender THEIR GOVERNMENT-RUN SENATE HEALTHCARE AND RETIREMENT PACKAGE FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY!!!!
His opponents need to focus in on a center-left alternative which forcefully enables the current health care system (sans gov’t run hospitals like the VA) to absorb the costs of a lot of patients, so that the new overall average cost for the nation will be reduced by some significant percentage.
I think a lot of the ‘add competition to the current system’ ideas are terrific, and I’ve proposed a couple. But, to reduce costs requires more force from government. It’s quite the opposite of a mandate which would bring more customers to the system and more profits, but similar in that government forces something (a mandate is quite forceful).
First I suppose, one would have to decide precisely how much money to wring out of the health care & insurance industry. Then you would match that somehow to standards by which people could qualify for subsidized (partial or whole) insurance. On one side is X dollars and on the other is Y people representing X dollars of insurance to subsidize.
These are very political-economic questions, but there might be some beginning points in the numbers of people already involved in certain programs or who are uninsured altogether and the dollars which would be needed to insure all of them as though in employee plans.
On the other side you have to tax the industry somehow to raise that money which would be fed into insurance on behalf of the special groups to be insured.
Hard as it is to imagine there are quite a few gov’t programs you could fold into this idea and maybe not eliminate them entirely, but certainly shrink them tremendously. You’d still have to have bureaucracy to gather information determining someone’s qualifications for admittance to that program.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if someone like Sen. Hatch could be enticed into a new kind of program which would be so revolutionary as to cover everyone in America at tremendously lower costs while putting the health care & insurance industry back in a box (in terms of cost containment)?
Most seniors are very happy with their Medicare. The Republicans now want to alienate them, too, along with Hispanics, women,…?