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I don’t care where you are on the health care bill, you need to take sight of this.
The Republican Party, as part of their long-term project to delegitimize normal government functions and processes, has now defined “special deal” as anything which affects the residents of a state or region disproportionately. Apparently every piece of legislation now must apply to every living thing in America equally.
In this completely misguided AP story written, no doubt, by conservative operatives, they label offering Medicare coverage to the residents of Libby, Montana as a “special deal.” This is absolutely disgusting.
Preserves language won by Baucus permitting many of the 2,900 residents of Libby, Mont., to qualify for Medicare benefits. Some of them have asbestos-related diseases from a now-shuttered mine.
Seriously, fuck you, AP. The residents of Libby were sickened by a vermiculite mine operated by W.R. Grace, exposing the entire city to asbestos poisoning and leading to at least 200 confirmed deaths. It is the very least that this country can do for people poisoned by a corporate mining operation, through no fault of their own, to ensure their medical care. America has done this in similar situations for decades. It’s the very bedrock underlying the social safety net.
That’s not a “special deal.” That’s why we have a government, to promote the general welfare of its citizens.
If you don’t like it, go live in Libby, Montana, and don’t come running to me about that cough and the fact that you can’t expand your lungs so much anymore. In fact, I hope the AP puts a new bureau right there in Libby, maybe in the abandoned vermiculite mine, since it’s so “special” to be a resident of that town these days.
Keep in mind that we’ve never had so much access to the behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing of politics that we’ve had in this debate. Some of it has been undoubtedly ugly. But in their quest to paralyze government, to disallow anything from happening lest politicians be blamed for “special deals,” Republicans have massively overreached. If a politician trying to get medical care for people in Libby who were poisoned is an act of corruption and a “special deal,” then, bravo for special deals.
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This is kind of off topic, but it is just too amazing not to post. This just got leaked from politico.com. If it gets out (truly gets out, to the mainstream media), the Dems are in trouble. Here is the link.
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0310/EXCLUSIVE__Democrats_plan_doc_fix_after_reform.html?showall
If this was a “fox” exclusive or something, it would be dismissed, but you cannot tell me that this is not potentially damaging. Damnit! And here I was a little giddy about the CBO numbers yesterday.
“Apparently every piece of legislation now must apply to every living thing in America equally.”; and THAT -which is already existent in Federal law- is a MAJOR problem.
For instance, CA does not get back from the Feds what it contributes on a proportional basis.
Add to that the subsidies that go to government employees-such as TSA employees- that take into account the disparities of living costs in different sections of the country.
But that is NOT taken into effect for other government programs, such as healthcare reform.
I agree, the republicans singling out the Libby deal is petty. That’s not what the debate should be about. Unfortunately each side will do anything and everything to get their way at this point. In my opinion, anyone who thinks the republicans are the problem is part of the problem. Anyone who thinks the democrats are the problem is part of the problem. I don’t know who these politicians are representing but it sure as hell ain’t the citizens. I would love to see a government full of independents and cut all the party crap.
Dave… please do not ignore this. Please report it. This is an ACTUAL SECRET memo issued yesterday from the Dems. In the interest of fairness, please… I beg of you and your objectivity, please mention this.
http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0310/EXCLUSIVE__Democrats_plan_doc_fix_after_reform.html
Chris, don’t be surprised at thie link being just more kabuki associated with getting the bill passed(we’ll ‘fix’ it later’ propaganda).
IF they were really interested in deficit reduction, they’d go after the Pentagon (and it’s associated Homeland Security,et al funding) budget which comprises over half of the federal operating budget in Washington.
But they show the ACTUAL memo! Even TPM stated that while no Dems admit to getting such a memo, none of them are denying what is written in it. Unless I see a retraction in the next 24 hours from politico saying it is a hoax, this is bad bad news. Either the Republicans are doing the greatest piece of propoganda in American history, or some of us who want reform are s**t out of luck.
Dems are saying it’s a hoax.
People who get a raw deal need help getting back to equality. That’s what the “special deal” is all about.
And the memo’s a hoax.
Dear Dave and Digitalride, I am an actual resident of Libby Montana and will tell you point blank I don’t want neither the Health care Bill or it’s “Deal” for us here. What we do need here is JOBS. The Federal Govt. is stopping Mining and Timber cutting thus making Libby into a Dead Town walking. They have stopped those 2 businesses who were our only 2 sourse of imcome for the majority of our citizens. So if you want to say, “F.U.” to anyone on behalf of Libby, may I suggest you do so to the Eco-Fascist and our Govt who take their orders from them. Libby isn’t coughing to death, it is starving to death. If you really care about us then help by shining a light on what is really going on here.