If YOU want to push the meme that TrainWreckCare, which you say is god's gift to this country, is a Republican plan, by all means..

Push it for all it's worth.. :D

But the TWO claims that ya'all make that "prove" TWC is awesome is ridiculous..

Claim #1
TrainWreckCare is awesome because more people are getting insurance...

Well, DUH.... If you make NOT getting insurance illegal, OF COURSE more people are going to have insurance!!

Claim #2
TrainWreckCare is awesome because costs are coming down...

Costs were already dropping before TWC became law... NO ONE... NO.... ONE.... can offer ANY correlation between TrainWreckCare and lower costs...

The ONE point that ya'all can't dismiss is that the majority of Americans are against TWC..

Never wanted it.. STILL don't want it..

And, with two exceptions, the will of the American people is the ONLY factor....

Michale

"A loony Right Wing Fringe Plan does not a Republican Plan make.."

Ok, so a plan supported and pushed by the then Republican Speaker Of The House is loony right wing fringe, got it!

"And what does this have to do with the fact that Obama blatantly and knowingly lied to the American people to pass his abortion of a plan??"

It seems very relevant to me when Republicans are pushing the very same plan, just in a different context, as the one they are railing against! Rather speaks to their credibility too, doesn't it???

"And yet, the majority of Americans STILL didn't like it, didn't want it and STILL don't want it..."

What you don't mention is that 40 percent of the people who are opposed to Obamacare are opposed to it because they don't think it goes FAR ENOUGH. What the plurality of people opposed to Obamacare actually want is a single payer system instead, ie. Medicare for all.

"But hay, if you want to make the case that a GOP plan is actually good for the country...???"

So if we call it Obamacare it's bad, but if we call it the Republican plan it's good, even though it is exactly the same plan! Got it!

And yet, the majority of Americans STILL didn't like it, didn't want it and STILL don't want it...

But hay, if you want to make the case that a GOP plan is actually good for the country...???

By all means.. :D

Michale

Except for, you know, facts.

Uninsured rate is down from 18.0 percent to 11.9 percent. That is a 1/3 reduction in the first two years. Exactly what Obamacare was designed to do.

Note the graph. That enormous downward spike happens right when Obamacare takes effect:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/13/uninsured-rate-obamacare_n_7043534.html

-CW

And the fact that you have to go back over 3 decades should indicate to you the relevance (or in this case, lack thereof) of that old and stale charge...

Michale

A loony Right Wing Fringe Plan does not a Republican Plan make..

That's like claiming that a 9/11 Truther "Plan" is a "Democrat Plan"...

Also the recent Republican budget proposal for Medicare is to give seniors a voucher, in other words a government subsidy, in order to be able to purchase private insurance with it on the open market. Now, where have I heard of a program like that before??? Oh yeah, Obamacare!!! The very program Republicans say they want to repeal entirely! Yet their plan for Medicare is to replace it with Obamacare! Oh the irony!!!

And what does this have to do with the fact that Obama blatantly and knowingly lied to the American people to pass his abortion of a plan??

We're discussing Obama's credibility...

Not the merits (or in this case, lack thereof) of TrainWreckCare...

Michale

"Just look at Obama's history and the depths he will go to when his ego is on the line. This is a POTUS who blatantly and knowingly lied to the American people to get his abomination healthcare program to pass.."

I have to say that's both rich and funny. Obamacare is not called Romneycare in Massachusetts for nothing! Also, Obamacare is essentially the Republican Conservative Heritage Foundation / Newt Gingrich alternative to the Hilary Clinton health care plan of the 1980's.

Also the recent Republican budget proposal for Medicare is to give seniors a voucher, in other words a government subsidy, in order to be able to purchase private insurance with it on the open market. Now, where have I heard of a program like that before??? Oh yeah, Obamacare!!! The very program Republicans say they want to repeal entirely! Yet their plan for Medicare is to replace it with Obamacare! Oh the irony!!!

OK, I'm not sure exactly how to read that one, personally...

:D hehehehehehe

http://louderwithcrowder.com/harry-reid-is-lying-about-his-exercise-accident-and-i-can-prove-it/

There.. Now you have seen pics of Reid's bathroom too.... :D

Michale

I got it, eventually.. It was one of the weirdest TNG episodes ever... :D

As far as the deal thing goes, that's one of the best descriptions of this mess I have seen. And you know I've seen plenty!! :D

But do you honestly believe that Obama will walk away from a bad deal??

I mean, forget partisan ideology and DEMOCRATS/REPUBLICANS SUCK!!

Just look at Obama's history and the depths he will go to when his ego is on the line. This is a POTUS who blatantly and knowingly lied to the American people to get his abomination healthcare program to pass..

Do you honestly believe that with so much of his political clout and his ego on the line that he will walk away from a bad deal?

I don't...

And that's what scares me...

Not so much that Obama is so ego-centric.. That's a given..

What scares me is that Iran's mullahs know that they have Obama over a barrel and will push it for all it's worth...

You yourself said that they couldn't agree on anything.. So, why didn't Obama walk away???

Because he NEEDS this deal..

This country doesn't need this deal...

The region certainly doesn't need this deal...

The planet doesn't need this deal...

OBAMA needs this deal...

And THAT is the entire problem..

Even though I am still bruising from my Hillary Clinton prediction (in my defense, it WAS a logical prediction. It just didn't take into account the power-hungry nature of Hillary) I am going to make another one..

Obama won't walk away from the deal. Even if it gives Iran everything they want and the other side gets nothing in return, Obama won't walk away...

As for you obsession with "immediate sanctions relief," Kerry and Obama have said they won't agree to that deal. Have patience, Grasshopper, and wait to see the final deal...

Ok, so we are ALL in agreement..

1. Immediate Sanctions relief is a BAD DEAL...

and

B. If Iran demands immediate sanctions relief, Obama should walk away...

We are all in complete agreement on that...

Michale

I have seen pictures of Reid's bathroom..

OK, I'm not sure exactly how to read that one, personally...

Heh.

As for you obsession with "immediate sanctions relief," Kerry and Obama have said they won't agree to that deal. Have patience, Grasshopper, and wait to see the final deal...

Michale [31] -

Aha! There it is... letting the waves of scahdenfreude wash over me...

Heh. Hey, you deserve it. You went pretty far out on that limb, my friend...

:-)

Michale [39] -

There's actually a whole subset of hilarious campaign photos devoted to "Iowa corndogs" -- I'm sure there are just as many Dems as Repubs in those photos, to be fair...

Michale [42] -

There you go. [41] has been freed!

Sorry...

OK, that's about it for now... all caught up!

-CW

So are we all here to revel in Michale's admittal that he called Hillary's intentions wrong?

Heh.

Sorry, that was snarky... let me start over... ahem...

John From Censornati [6] -

Oh, you're preaching to the choir, here. I keep hoping Eric Holder will sign a reschedule on his last day in office... it'd be perfectly legal of him to do so...

Heh.

Michale [7] -

OK, points for both amusement and an apt line from the other side. I tip my satirical hat to you...

:-)

John M [9] -

I have to say, both of those were excellent questions! Well done!

Michale [13] -

Somebody snuck a Star Trek reference almost completely by you? Man, you must be slipping or something...

Heh.

LizM [17] -

How's Toronto doing this year? Orioles started kind of OK, win some lose some...

The Giants... um... you'd have to ask my wife on that one... but the Orioles looked OK!

:-)

Michale [18] -

OK, here's my take on the framework agreement:

(1) It's a "framework agreement" it's not a deal. Several corollaries follow from this. One is that we don't know what the final details are yet. Nobody knows -- not Kerry, not the Irianians, nobody.

(2) What happened at the end of the framework time period was there were several things both sides couldn't agree upon. So they cobbled together some fudge/vague language on the issues, and put the framework out to prove to the world that both sides (actually, all SEVEN sides) really were committed to the best possible attempt at reaching a deal.

(3) What the White House and the Iranians have been spinning since then are the limits to the fudge/vague language, to both of their domestic audiences. BUT...

(4) This is actually a GOOD THING. Because it highlights the bones of contention between the two sides. Think about it -- you wouldn't be this far down in the weeds of the deal unless this focusing had happened. So we all -- the American and Iranian publics combined -- see the two ends of the rope. We can all see, from this point going forward, who moves more towards the middle. This will HELP people see who is making concessions, in the next couple of months.

Remember, please, this is NOT a final deal. Sure, go ahead, and advocate for the details of the points you care about. That's what this final period is all about, after all. We'll see what Kerry comes up with by the end of June, and then we can discuss the actual deal. When it's finalized.

Anyway, that's what I think of that. I'm going to post this now, just so I don't lose all that typing...

-CW

http://www.chrisweigant.com/2015/04/08/a-hard-look-at-the-big-blue-wall/#comment-58680

Just wanted to post that, so it didn't get overlooked...

I'll work on answering these now...

-CW

Any takers??

Michale

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3037460/Iowa-students-preparing-Hillary-s-listening-session-think-s-control-freak-talking-s-t-wants-immigration-reform-Democratic-party-needs-voters.html

HA!!!!

Someone with more than 2 brain cells to rub together... :D

Michale

To say the least, that future president is unlikely to agree that Obama made a good deal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-gamble-on-iran/2015/04/12/4799faec-ded6-11e4-a500-1c5bb1d8ff6a_story.html

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/biden-kicked-to-the-side-left-to-pitch-donors-for-obama/article/2562947

A shame...

Biden's got a LOT more going for him than Hillary does...

Michale

Can ya check the NNL filter..

Michale

But getting back to Iran...

Iran has built its foreign policy around the goal of “Death to America” for the last 36 years. It continues, unabashed, to be the world’s leading state sponsor of jihadist terrorism — in particular, anti-American terrorism. It has killed and abetted the killing of Americans throughout the current regime’s existence. It is a totalitarian sharia state that, at this moment, is imprisoning at least three Americans. One of them, Saeed Abedini, has been sentenced to eight years’ incarceration for establishing Christian houses of worship, which the regime says is a threat to national security. The regime, further, has repeatedly vowed to exterminate Israel, our close ally and the only true democracy in the region. With such a rogue state, there is only one negotiation a sensible nation — particularly the world’s most powerful nation — can have. You tell them that until they convincingly disavow their anti-American stance, cease their support for terrorism, release American prisoners, and acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, that there is no point in discussing anything else.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416796/obamas-iran-framework-chimera-andrew-c-mccarthy

That says all the needs to be said about any "deal" with Iran...

No civilized nation should deal with Iran any more than a civilized nation would deal with Nazi Germany in the aftermath of The Holocaust...

That's the point that no one seems to want to address...

Yes, sometimes we have to deal with bad people in order to accomplish good things... Even the lowliest street cop on the beat knows that one cultivates CIs who do petty crap that is overlooked in order to catch bigger fish..

But there is no "petty crap" with Iran... Brutally murdering innocent Americans is as NOT petty as it gets... Threatening to wipe a country off the face of the map is even MORE "not petty".. It's genocide...

And, in dealing with Iran, there are no "bigger fish"... Dealing with Iran won't help the US take down Russia or China...

But dealing with Saudi Arabia (the CI) WILL help the US take down Iran (Big Fish)....

No matter which way you slice it, no matter how you want to spin it, the US should NOT be "dealing" with Iran..

The US should be dictating to Iran....

It's THAT simple...

Michale

For example..

If you say "Hillary Clinton is ambitious" you are a sexist..

If you say "Hillary Clinton is secretive" you are a misogynist...

Here's a list put out by the Clinton Campaign that are "code words" for sexism and misogyny..

"polarizing"

"out of touch"

Oh, and if you call Clinton by her first name, you are also sexist..

All reporters have been "warned" that Hillary's.....

"Ooops, I did it again..."
-Britney Spears :D

...... minions will be watching to see if any of these "code words" pop up in media reports..

Nothing like threats and coercion and extortion to enhance freedom of speech and spur debate, eh?? :^/

Seriously, people...

THIS is the best candidate that Democrats can come up with???

Michale

One has to wonder what the reaction from the Left would be if the Right made a "splash" of Hillary eating a corn dog in such a manner..

No, one really doesn't have to wonder at all.. Her campaign has already set up a list of "code words" that equate to sexism and misogyny..

Note to the masses.. If you have to rely on "code words" to make your case......

You have no case...

Michale

I actually trust the P5 (- the US) more than I trust the Khamini or Obama...

I know that France was surprised that the US gave away so much and demanded so little in return..

If Obama walks away from the deal, I am sure it will be because the P4 will FORCE him to walk away...

As I said, Obama needs this deal way WAY too much..

Michale

Fair enough. So we agree that he SHOULD...

I honestly doubt he will, however. He NEEDS the deal...

You really have to listen more carefully to what Obama and Kerry and the rest of the P5+1 are saying about any potential deal and then you wouldn't have to waste your time and mine asking silly questions.

I listened to Obama when he said the deal was designed to PREVENT Iran from getting nukes.. Turns out it is just designed to DELAY Iran from getting nukes..

I listened to Obama when he said that if people like their healthcare plan they can KEEP their healthcare plan..

Obama has no credibility...

Kerry just says what Obama tells him to say..

Listening to either is dangerous..

Michale

Are you seriously suggesting that the Iranians understand how negotiation works and are asking for more than they actually expect to get?

Perhaps.

So ambitious. You can smell the tyranny. And twice as weird as Rmoney!

It's also a moot point, Michale, as I have already explained.

But, let me put it another way ... Obama WILL walk away from an Iranian nuclear "deal" if all sanctions are to be ended at the signing ceremony.

You really have to listen more carefully to what Obama and Kerry and the rest of the P5+1 are saying about any potential deal and then you wouldn't have to waste your time and mine asking silly questions.

I am sure ya'all will have MANY gaffes to point out with all the GOP'ers getting into the POTUS race... :D

Michale

"Hillary fought children and families all her career"
-Hillary Clinton Campaign Announcement

If this is an example of the "professional" campaign that Hillary plans to run, maybe the Democrat Party can just concede right now...

:D

Michale

I was wrong.... Hillary Clinton IS running for POTUS...

Her campaign slogan??

"I deserve this... It's MY turn!!"

The Democrat Party Slogan??

"She's the best we can do..."

It's gonna be a fun election...

:D

Michale

It's as if it's treasonous to the fealty of Barack The First that the masses won't even articulate how this deal could possibly go sideways...

It's a simple question...

Should Obama walk away from his grand deal if the Iranians insist that all sanctions be immediately ended at the signing of the deal??

I dunno what scares ya'all more....

Disagreeing with Obama....

or

Agreeing with me...

:D heh

Michale

:D

Let me put it another way..

If that's the only deal that the Iranians will sign, then you agree with me that Obama should walk away....

Right??

Michale

Toe-May-Toe, Toe-MAA-Toe

It will collapse because it's a bad deal...

I am not asking for you to renounce your Leftist ideals/ideology..

I am simply asking you to concede that ANY deal that has sanctions unilaterally lifted at the signing of the deal is a BAD deal...

Michale

The bad deal that you imagine will not materialize because the negotiating process will collapse before that happens. This is what you don't seem to understand.

Ya know, if the Iranians stay true to form and stick with their IMMEDIATE END TO SANCTIONS OR NO DEAL position, ya might have to reverse the MDDOTW and MIDOTW awards.. :D

Michale

OK, good. Now we're getting somewhere..

So, you agree as well that having the deal include the immediate cessation of all sanctions at the signing of the deal is a BAD deal and should not be accepted by Obama..

I am glad I am getting this on record.. :D

Michale

In other words, your question is a silly one.

So, you and I are in complete agreement..

If the deal states that all sanctions must be completely ended immediately upon signing the deal, then it's a BAD deal and should not be accepted by Obama..

Does that sum things up??

Michale

Are you seriously suggesting that the Iranians understand how negotiation works and are asking for more than they actually expect to get?

Of course, not.

But, that won't be what the deal is or there won't be a deal, Michale. And, that's been the P5+1 plan all along, in case you haven't noticed.

In other words, your question is a silly one.

So What Really Did Happen to Harry Reid?
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2015/03/29/so-what-really-did-happen-to-harry-reid/

I have always had a problem with the "elastic exercise malfunction" story...

I mean, seriously.. Looking at the way Reid was trashed?? How is it possible that a huge rubber band could do so much damage??

And he said it happened in his bathroom.. I have seen pictures of Reid's bathroom.. There is NO WAY he could have been using band exercise equipment in his bathroom...

I had always thought it was a drunk driving accident.. But the mobster theory in the above article makes a lot more sense...

Michale

I think they have their eye on their own legacy and their own Nobel Peace Prize more than they have their eye on America's interests..

So, no... They are not idiots and they don't hate America..

They are simply uber ego-centric and self-centered and put THEIR wants and THEIR desires before what's best for the country..

Michale

I think they have their eye on their own legacy and their own Nobel Peace Prize more than they have their eye on America's interests..

And, do you believe everything the Supreme Leader of Iran says?

As much as I believe everything President If-You-Like-Your-HealthCare-Plan-You-Can-Keep-Your-HealthCare-Plan Obama says

But, it's not a question of who to believe.. Each leader will put their spin on the plan..

My only question to you, to ALL of you is this.

IF the deal is that all sanctions are to be completely dropped immediately, as Iran says the deal is....

Do ya'all still support the deal??

Do ya'all still think it's a good deal??

Personally, I think it's as good a deal as the Berghdal deal was...

It's a deal that helps Obama's ego and interests and hurts America's interests...

What do you think??

Michale

Answer me this ...

Do you think President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry hate America or are they just idiots?

And, do you believe everything the Supreme Leader of Iran says?

Let's see if we can agree on the facts....

FACT #1
According to Obama this deal will only delay, not prevent, Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons..

Fact #2
This deal was supposed to PREVENT a nuclear arms race in the Middle East..

Fact #3
This deal actually PRECIPITATES a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Fact #4
According to Iran, this deal will require that all sanctions are immediately ended, not suspended but completely ENDED, at the signing of the deal.

Does anyone here dispute these facts?

Michale

Data's dreams... Right??

PICARD AND GEORDI PREFER ANDROID
http://grismar.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/animate_geordi_picard_android.gif

:D

Michale

Oh gods, what is that from!!!??? It's driving me crazy!!!

Wait!!

STAR TREK!!! NEXT GENERATION!!!

Data's dreams... Right??

Michale

In the here and now, Obama himself admitted that his deal only delays Iran from getting nuclear weapons..

Another Obama "red line" crossed with impunity..

Michale

I bet the response would also be "Let's try something else as an alternative."

Hokay...

What's the alternative that guarantees the security of our allies in the region and ensures there is no nuclear arms race in the region...

Obama's deal was supposed to PREVENT nuclear proliferation, not instigate it...

Michale

Michale

"If Jeb Bush is Hispanic, then I'm ..."

A cellular peptide cake with mint frosting!

"Do you favor an Iraq or Afghanistan style war as the alternative to Obama's deal with Iran?"

I bet the response would also be "HELL NO!"

Or

"Do you favor continuing sanctions against Iran as our only policy, even though that will not prevent Iran either from getting a nuclear weapon or leading to regime change in Iran, given the example of 50 years of sanctions against Cuba not being able to dislodge the Castro regime?"

I bet the response would also be "Let's try something else as an alternative."

Like I said, it's all in how you ask the question..

For example

"Do you favor Iran possessing Nuclear Weapons?"

I bet the response would approach 98% that says "NO!!" or "HELL NO!!"

Another example..

"Do you favor dropping ALL sanctions against Iran immediately after a deal is signed without Iran having to do anything at all??"

Betcha the NO on that would approach 85%....

Ironically enough, THAT is the deal that Obama is trying to sell to the American People...

Still think it's a good one???

Michale

Native American Elizabeth Warren..... :D

Michale

Not very. Seeing our pothead president celebrate his favorite pothead musician while Jamaica reforms their pot laws and USA doesn't is just another ugly reminder of his War On Some Drugs hypocrisy. It's way past time for a schedule change.

OK, folks, I've caught up for the past week!

I've gone through all the comments from all the articles back to this Monday's, and have added my own reactions to the comments. So if you posted something this week, I heartily encourage you to go back and read my reactions. And, as always, my apologies for the delay. To be absolutely honest, I've been binge-watching Father Ted episodes, to decompress from my recent trip to Ireland.

Heh. "Drink!"

:-)

-CW

Here you go:

http://www.drvino.com/2011/08/17/bachmann-perry-corn-dog-wine-pairing/

Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry, in full phallic glory...

:-)

BashiBazouk -

See, I thought that was Romney. Glad I didn't add a mention of it to the article!

goode trickle -

My recurring image is the "What is a logarithm?" Jeopardy! answer from the dog...

Heh.

-CW

The "Heb" segment has caused my brain to keep thinking of a little dog saying " Yo quiero Heb Bush?".....It pretty much makes me go JAJAJAJAJAJAJA!