The World’s Simplest Health Care Plan

From Paul at Open Left:

(1) Have everyone opposed to socialized medicine sign a waiver, relinquishing their Medicare coverage.

(2) Extend Medicare coverage to everyone currently without health insurance.

(3) Sit back & have a beer.

Word.

The Pro Life Republican Senator Responsible For Those So-Called “Death Panels”

So you know those advanced care planning consultations “death panels” in the health care bill Republicans are raising hell over? Well aside from being complete and utter bullshit there’s an even better twist in this story. The person who came up with the idea for these so called “death panels”  is none other than Republican PRO LIFE Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia. And get this, not only does Isakson stand by this provision in the health care bill, but he calls bullshit on republicans promoting this blatantly false lie in his recent interview with Ezra Klein:

Is this bill going to euthanize my grandmother? What are we talking about here?

In the health-care debate mark-up, one of the things I talked about was that the most money spent on anyone is spent usually in the last 60 days of life and that’s because an individual is not in a capacity to make decisions for themselves. So rather than getting into a situation where the government makes those decisions, if everyone had an end-of-life directive or what we call in Georgia “durable power of attorney,” you could instruct at a time of sound mind and body what you want to happen in an event where you were in difficult circumstances where you’re unable to make those decisions.

This has been an issue for 35 years. All 50 states now have either durable powers of attorney or end-of-life directives and it’s to protect children or a spouse from being put into a situation where they have to make a terrible decision as well as physicians from being put into a position where they have to practice defensive medicine because of the trial lawyers. It’s just better for an individual to be able to clearly delineate what they want done in various sets of circumstances at the end of their life.

How did this become a question of euthanasia?

I have no idea. I understand — and you have to check this out — I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin’s web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You’re putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don’t know how that got so mixed up.

Investor’s Business Daily and Health Care: The Definition of EPIC FAIL

This is going around the internet but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t point out the blatant stupidty and  misfortunes of people I don’t like. Take it away Paul Krugman:

“And just as an illustration: a number of people have pointed this out, but here’s the latest in the “Obama’s health reform will kill people” news: Investor’s Business Daily — which poses as a reputable source of financial information — opines that:

People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn’t have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.

That would be Stephen Hawking, British professor, who was born in the UK and has lived there for his whole life.”

I think this would be an appropriate time to use the term EPIC FAIL

Russ Feingold For The Supreme Court??

With another one, possibly two, Supreme Court Justices within an arms reach of retirement, it’s never too early to start thinking of potential Supreme Court nominees. But here’s one out of left, no pun intended, field. Senator Russ Feingold. Matt Rothschild makes an excellent argument in favor of a Feingold nomination:

Feingold has the intellectual heft for the job, as he was a Rhodes Scholar and then graduated from Harvard Law School.

He is one of the staunchest defenders of civil liberties in the country, and he chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. Not afraid to stand alone, he was the sole Senator to vote against the USA Patriot Act. He also has led the fight against illegal domestic spying, and he has spoken out strongly against the shredding of due process in the Military Commissions Act.

And perhaps Feingold’s best qualification for a seat on the Supreme Court; the dude has balls. If you ever need a member of  Congress to give you a straight answer or tell it like it is, Feingold’s your man. For all of his hemming and hawing, I think Obama owes progressives a Feingold nomination to ensure a firebrand progressive has a seat on the court for many years to come.

It’s also worth noting that the Governor of Wisconsin, the state Feingold represents in the Senate, is held by democrat Jim Doyle. This is important because the major drawback with elevating any democratic politician to a higher office is the potential that he or she would be replaced by a republican. (Ask voters in Arizona how that one turned out). Thus, if Feingold were nominated he would theoretically be replaced by another democrat.

I’m particularly interested in Feingold, because his selection would represent a return to selecting non judicary figures for Supreme Court vacanicies. A little known fact, it was once very common to select non judges to the Supreme Court as a means to balance the types of opinions on the court. Some of our most famous Justices were not judges at the time of their nomination. Think Justice Hugo Black.

Is Jeremy Piven’s New Movie “The Goods” umm..Any Good? (Video Clip)

Okay, I’ll admit it. When I first saw the Tv Trailer for “The Goods” I was extremely skeptical. A poorly marketed mid August comedy with no major comedic talent. Umm I think I’ll pass. I mean I love Jermey Piven but this had “paycheck movie” written all over it. Don’t get me wrong, Piven is gold (ha! get it?) but he’s no Will Ferrell. Luckily “The Goods” has Will Ferrell in it, albeit in a minor cameo role. But more importantly, seeing clips like this make me a lot more optimistic:

(Warning, this clip is only suitable for viewers 18 and older, or kids 17 years and younger smarter enough to lie)

What Happened In Albuquerque from The Goods

Best Quote Ever?

Gotta hand it to the Chinese. They were definitely on the “Awesome train” before any of us.

“Do not allow other men to snatch away your awesomeness.”

–T’ai Kung’s Six Secret Teachings

Luckily for me, my awesomeness can’t be stolen. Though I can understand why you might want to try. Consider this an open thread for any of you who have a favorite quote you’d like to share, humorous or not.

God Bless The Internet And All The People Willing To Suffer For My Enjoyment

Okay, this is awesome. But I can honestly say it would have been significantly more awesome had he missed…but I’m just a jackass like that.

On the other hand, this is very awesome and I’m glad he didn’t miss.

He probably wishes he would have missed.

Do you have a laser, a dog, and an unsuspecting friend?

BEST.B-MOVIE.EVER

Those of you who saw Grindhouse probably remember getting a laugh at the fake trailers that were shown in between movies. The funniest trailer was no doubt, Machette which stared Danny Trejo as the “star”.

Well supply and demand is a bitch because apparently they’re making the once popular trailer into a real movie. And check out the cast

It began production this week on `Machete,’ the film that Robert Rodriguez is co-directing with protege Ethan Maniquis. Danny Trejo is playing the title character and Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Steven Seagal, Lindsay Lohan, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson and Jeff Fahey play supporting roles.

No, that’s not a typo. Jessica Alba in the same movie as Don Johnson. Robert De Niro in the same movie as Cheech (think Cheech and Chong). Hell, I figured the only way I’d ever see Lindsey Lohan and Steven Seagal in the same movie was if the two struggling actors tried to restart their ignominous careers by releasing a sex tape together.

This cast defies all rules and customs of cinema. Its almost as if  Barney started working on a new movie with Britney spears as his love interest.

In case you didn’t see the original Grindhouse trailer for Machete here’s a youtube clip of it:

Bill Clinton: “Hey North Korea…SHUT THE FUCK UP…You’re Bugging The World”

I’ve always imagined that Bill Clinton had this blunt smoking, 40oz drinking alter ego that he calls upon when ever he needs to lay the smack down on some punk ass bitch who gets uppity with him. Eminem has Slim Shady whereas Bill Clinton has “Billy C”, as Jamie Foxx calls him. After today’s events I feel comfortable label my theory as a fact:

Former President Bill Clinton arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday morning after a dramatic 20-hour visit to North Korea, in which he won the freedom of two American journalists, opened a diplomatic channel to North Korea’s reclusive government and dined with the North’s ailing leader, Kim Jong-il.

While the front pages of the New York Times and Washington post will highlight the freed American journalist, I think the real story here is that “when Bill Clinton tells you to STFU you STFU” This just shows you how strong Billy C’s pimp hand is. After being held hostage for weeks, Clinton takes a trip to North Korea and manages to free the two caputered journalist in less than 24 hrs.

Health Care Reform And The Innovation Myth

For anyone who’s worried about the alleged drop in innovation that will occur in the pharmaceutical industry if the United States implements a universal health care system, this interview with with Dr. Jerry Avon is a must read.

This part is worth highlighting in particular:

But let’s go back to the basic economics for a second. How can it not be the case that if profits go down, incentives for innovation won’t follow? How can that be wrong?

It’s not true for a few reasons. One is that the amount of really good science you get for your drug dollar is even less than the 15 percent I mentioned before, because that 15 percent also includes the development of me-too drugs. That’s one aspect of the answer. We are not getting that much drug innovation for our dollar at present.

But perhaps a better answer is that if we want innovation and scientific discovery we should fund innovation and scientific discovery, not go after it bass-ackwards by paying too much for overpriced drugs and hoping that some of the excess profit will trickle down into innovative research. If I’m right that a lot of the important and useful innovation comes from NIH studies, then the way to get more innovation is to fund innovation. It frankly would be a far more interesting use of any given dollar one wanted to spend.

An even better question that should be asked is : Why should sick Americans subsidize artificially low drug prices for Europeans?

Seems kind of socialist if you ask me…