I sense an MDDOTW award coming on... :D

Michale.....

MoveOn and Pink were very bad examples. But the point is still valid.

Humana's free to mail out anything they'd like. Free speech and all of that. All they have to do is tell the feds "no thanks" to all of that money. My guess — ain't gonna happen any time soon.

So, what you are saying is that, if Humana (or ANY corporation) is a recipient of any government funds, they are not allowed to contest, dispute or talk against any government actions, even if said government actions would be hugely detrimental to their business..

Hmmmmm

That sounds positively draconian.

I like it!! :D

But, I think you have been hanging around me too long.. :D

Michale.....

I beg to differ. When any organization takes federal money, it ALWAYS comes with strings attached. I believe I pointed this out when writing about ACORN recently, even. Left, right, or center, those federal bucks come with strings.

Humana's free to mail out anything they'd like. Free speech and all of that. All they have to do is tell the feds "no thanks" to all of that money. My guess -- ain't gonna happen any time soon.

Code Pink and MoveOn, to the best of my knowledge, are not funded by taxpayer dollars, which leaves them free to do anything they'd like. Except the PAC that MoveOn set up, there are separate rules for PACs, which is why they split it off the main organization, I believe.

When you suck off the federal teat, you accept the rules the feds lay down. That's the way it's always been, and likely always will be.

Of course, some of this could change fairly soon, as there is a wide-ranging case for corporate political speech being pondered right now by the Supreme Court, but that's a different subject. Corporate free speech isn't the same as personal free speech, and never has been (or at least not for the last 100 years or so).

-CW

He smacked down the healthcare giant Humana after he discovered they were sending scare-tactic letters out to seniors warning them they were essentially going to be left to die in a forest if the Democrats passed healthcare reform.

Ignoring for the moment that the Humana letter said nothing of the sort, your applauding Baucus begs the question.

You come down in FAVOR of Congress attempting to censor a private company over a political disagreement??

As I am wont to do, let's put the sock on the other hand and see what is what...

.... I got nothing analogous.. :(

But, consider the precedent ya'all are wanting to be set.

You are advocating that the US Government attempt to muzzle a private company because said company opposes a measure by said government.

So, once Dems lose their majority (which may be as soon as next year) ya'all won't have a problem if a GOP controlled Congress censors, oh let's say, CODE PINK or MOVE ON DOT ORG when said organizations oppose anything the GOP Congress pushes.

Is THAT what you are advocating??

WHO are you and what have you done with CW!!!??? :D

So, be loud and clear — if the Democratic Party (and in particular, the senator or representative who represents you) does not deliver, then the money flow to them will end. And not only that, but the voters they're expecting next fall will stay home. Because we sent them to Washington for a reason. If they don't deliver, then we will wash our hands of them. Period.

Democrats in general and Obama in particular have been disappointing the rank and file since 2006 (2008 for Obama)..

{cough} Gitmo {cough} {cough} Iraq {cough} {cough} FISA {cough} {cough} Gay Rights {cough}...

Do you HONESTLY believe that the Dem leaders will believe this threat now??

Ink,

Honestly: if you were going to pick ONE person on the White House staff to play the bad guy, isn't Rahm the perfect choice?

The time to answer THAT question will be when (actually IF) DunselCare passes.

Michale.....

I have so many favorite PP&M songs, it would be hard to pick from them. Even a top five would be tough. My favorite thing from them isn't even a song, but rather Paul cracking wise on the "In Concert" album. I still play their "A'Soalin' " intro every Hallowe'en just to get in the mood.

I guess if I had a favorite, it would be their version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" or maybe "I'm In Love With A Big Blue Frog" or perhaps "500 Miles" or "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" or even the hilarious live version of "Blue"... nah, I'd be lying... my favorite is still (with all the Paultalk -- repressed comedian than he was -- from the live album) the greatest-ever rendition of all time of the song "Car Car."

Mary Travers' greatest line in her entire career was, at least in my mind (delivered in her sexiest voice):

"Take me for a ride in your car, car.
Take me for a ride in your car, car.
Take me for a ride, take me for a ride,
Take me for a ride in your 3.2-liter Ferrari with torsion-bar suspension and those ported-Venturi carburetors!"

I mean, seriously, what's not to love?

:-)

From "A'Soalin' ":

"One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all."

That's the lyric that's stayed with me all week, I have to admit. Couldn't imagine why. I'm not even religious or anything, but the line's notable because Mary's missing, I guess...

You can see why -- even though I think Mary Travers passed away before last week's column -- it's taken me a whole week to compose myself enough to write about her. If anyone had ever asked me what an angel on Earth would sound like singing, I would have said either Maggie Reilly, who used to sing for Mike Oldfield, or Mary Travers.

-CW

PS. I'd be happy enough if David Axelrod put this column on his must-read list each week....