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What a Disaster Looks Like - ObamaCare will have been a colossal waste of time—if we’re lucky.
Wall Street Journal ^ | March 4, 2010 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 03/06/2010 1:16:12 PM PST by neverdem

It is now exactly a year since President Obama unveiled his health care push and his decision to devote his inaugural year to it—his branding year, his first, vivid year.

What a disaster it has been.

At best it was a waste of history’s time, a struggle that will not in the end yield something big and helpful but will in fact make future progress more difficult. At worst it may...

--snip--

Does anyone believe this? Does anyone who knows the ways of government, the compulsions of Congress, and how history has played out in the past, believe this? Even a little? Rep. Bart Stupak said Thursday that he and several of his fellow Democrats won’t vote for the Senate version of the bill because it says right there on page 2,069 that the federal government would directly subsidize abortions. The bill’s proponents say this isn’t so. It would be a relief to have a president who could weigh in believably and make clear what his own bill says. But he seems to devote more words to obscuring than clarifying.

The only thing that might make his assertions sound believable now is if a group of congressional Republicans were standing next to him on the podium and putting forward a bill right along with him. Which, obviously, won’t happen, for three reasons. First, they enjoy his discomfort. Second, they believe the bill is not worth saving, that at this point no matter what it contains—and at this point most people can no longer retain in their heads what it contains—it has been fatally tainted by the past year of mistakes and inadequacies.

And the third reason is that the past decade has taught them what a disaster looks like, and they’ve lost their taste for standing next to one.

(Excerpt) Read more at peggynoonan.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: noonan; obama; obamacare
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To: omega4412

hmmmmmmm


41 posted on 03/06/2010 3:53:25 PM PST by arthurus ("If you don't believe in shooting abortionists, don't shoot an abortionist." -Ann C.)
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To: omega4412
Affirmative Action

frees protected minorities

from the tyranny of

the Peter Principle!

A campaign slogan.

42 posted on 03/06/2010 3:55:27 PM PST by arthurus ("If you don't believe in shooting abortionists, don't shoot an abortionist." -Ann C.)
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To: stop_fascism
Who cares? She’s dead to me.

Richard Feynman is dead too, but I still admire him.

43 posted on 03/06/2010 4:00:43 PM PST by Steely Tom (Obama goes on long after the thrill of Obama is gone)
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To: PghBaldy; Chaguito
Yes, I know exactly to whom she is referring, and I still think she is completely wrong. And while Bush had many missteps, he wasn't the disaster Noonean and the corrupt MSM elite insited he was. Bush had very low approval rating because of his liberal tendancies, not simply because Bush was a screw-up as they continue to suggest.
44 posted on 03/06/2010 4:17:08 PM PST by Obadiah (Democrats and their life partners, the MSM)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Yeah, that is better. Obama is Captain Ahab.


45 posted on 03/06/2010 4:19:45 PM PST by Obadiah (Democrats and their life partners, the MSM)
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To: Common Sense 101

Well said.


46 posted on 03/06/2010 4:20:42 PM PST by Obadiah (Democrats and their life partners, the MSM)
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To: neverdem
The only good thing about 0care is that it has kept them from a lot of other mischief.
47 posted on 03/06/2010 4:21:39 PM PST by mad_as_he$$ (usff.com)
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To: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
Now, one year later, the subtext is now saying that Zero is a moron, out of touch, and a bit bizarre.

Thing is, all during the campaign FReepers were shouting exactly what Noonan is now concluding. Proving that, in reality, Noonan is nothing more than just another blind squirel.

48 posted on 03/06/2010 4:27:42 PM PST by Obadiah (Democrats and their life partners, the MSM)
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To: Steely Tom

Only temporarily.


49 posted on 03/06/2010 4:44:29 PM PST by AdaGray
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
...and perhaps an authoritarian impulse too.

All liberals are closet totalitarians. Even the bleeding heart ones.

The world would be a better place if you would just do what they say.

50 posted on 03/06/2010 4:55:31 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Bahbah
This at the exact moment Americans were coming to be concerned that Washington was broken, incapable of progress, frozen in partisanship.

Peggy needs to realize that Washington has been "broken" for a generation. Broken by the "governing class".

And those of us who are not in Washington are trying to fix it -- because its denizens can't, they only make it worse.

51 posted on 03/06/2010 4:58:20 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: okie01

Exactly right, okie.


52 posted on 03/06/2010 5:00:08 PM PST by Bahbah (Only dead fish go with the flow)
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To: 9YearLurker
And she’s an intellectual disaster. This right-of-center country needs this ‘progressive’ president to be successful—

Peggy proves herself a creature of Washington. A shallow political critic, with no regard for the fundamental ideas that in conflict.

In this respect, she seems to reflect the view of the entire Washington press corps -- both left and right.

53 posted on 03/06/2010 5:01:26 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Daisyjane69

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” ~~ President Ronald Reagan

OBAMANOMICS—TRICKLE DOWN DESTRUCTION of the economy

Bambi doesn’t keep his promises...so buyer beware!

SET THEIR LOCAL AND DC LINES ON FIRE!

PLEASE ASK THEM TO REPEAL THE BIG NEW FEES in TRICARE for Life, the retired Military over 65 secondary health ins. which they passed in a DOD bill. They promised our Military these benefits, and our Military have earned them.

Sen Scott Brown’s number is 202-224-4543
Capitol Hill switchboard is 202-224-3121

Lots of local demwit phone numbers on this thread
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2408217/posts

Rename, repackage, rewrite it a tad smaller, and sell another pig in a poke. NO COLAs for granny, retired Military or retired fed employees. BIG NEW fees for Tricare for Life retired over 65 Military’s secondary health ins. (DOD bill already passed, delayed but goes into effect 2011 NEEDS TO BE REPEALED!
..............................

OBAMA’s WAR ON SENIORS http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2433867/posts/

New Dem mantra: Woof, woof eat dog food granny....ala let them eat cake.

Obama says slight fix will extend Social Security, http://townhall.com/news/us/2010/02/19/obama_says_slight_fix_will_extend_social_security

Health Care Rationing for Seniors Another Problem in New Obama Plan http://www.lifenews.com/bio3058.html

Medicare tax may apply to investment income (ObamaCare tax hike)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2460988/posts

Obama: No reduced Medicare benefits in health care reform
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/28/obama.health.care/index.html

Will healthcare reform mean cuts in Medicare for seniors?
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2009/1017/will-healthcare-reform-mean-cuts-in-medicare-for-seniors

Health Reform’s Hidden Victims Young people and seniors would pay a high price for ObamaCare.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574306303720472842.html

.......................

SOCIALIZED MED THREAD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2464538/posts
...........................

MILITARY & Retired MILITARY
Veterans’ G.I. Bill benefits MIA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2464680/posts
TRI CARE FOR LIFE This from a google search:

http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html

This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollee’s cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.) http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf

Bill Would Restrict Veterans’ Health Care Options 11/06/09
Buyer and McKeon Offer Amendments to Protect Veterans and TRICARE Beneficiaries

Congress plans to block Tricare fee increases
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w/

By Rick Maze - Staff writer, Oct 7, 2009

Tricare fee increases imposed last week by the Defense Department will be repealed by a provision of the compromise 2010 defense authorization bill unveiled Wednesday by House and Senate negotiators.

The fee increases were announced on Sept. 30 and took effect on Oct. 1, but the defense bill, HR 2647, includes a provision barring any fee increases until the start of fiscal 2011.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Matz, president of the National Association for Uniformed Services, said the announcement of fee increases was shocking considering that the Obama administration promised earlier this year to hold off on any new fee Tricare fee increases until fiscal 2011.

“President Obama and DoD assured NAUS and the entire military family earlier this year that there would rightly be no increases in any Tricare fees” in fiscal 2010, Matz said. “We took them at their word, and I can’t believe that a co-pay increase like this was allowed to go forward,” he added.


54 posted on 03/06/2010 5:58:09 PM PST by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, disabled,seniors & retired Military)
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To: Steely Tom

Obamacare call list: Courtsey of TN Eagle Forum:

PLEASE CALL! DC OFFICE LOCAL OFFICE State District
Harry Mitchell (202) 225-2190 (480) 946-2411 AZ 5th District
Gabrielle Giffords (202) 225-2542 (520) 881-3588 AZ 8th District
Ann Kirkpatrick (202) 225-2315 (928) 226-6914 AZ 1st District
Jerry McNerney (202) 225-1947 925-833-0643 CA 11th District
John Salazar 202-225-4761 970-245-7107 CO 3rd District
Jim Himes (202) 225-5541 (866) 453-0028 CT 4th District
Alan Grayson (202) 225-2176 (407) 841-1757 FL 8th District
Bill Foster (202) 225-2976 630-406-1114 IL 14th District
Baron Hill 202 225 5315 812 288 3999 IN 9th District
Mark Schauer (202) 225-6276 (517) 780-9075 MI 7th District
Gary Peters (202) 225-5802 (248) 273-4227 MI 9th District
Dina Titus (202) 225-3252 702-256-DINA (3462) NV 3rd District
Carol Shea-Porter (202) 225-5456 (603) 743-4813 NH 1st District
Tim Bishop (202) 225-3826 (631) 696-6500 NY 1st District
John Hall (202) 225-5441 (845) 225-3641 x49371 NY 19th District
Bill Owens (202) 225-4611 (315) 782-3150 NY 23rd District
Mike Arcuri (202)225-3665 (315)793-8146 NY 24th District
Dan Maffei (202) 225-3701 (315) 423-5657 NY 25th District
Earl Pomeroy (202) 225-2611 (701) 224-0355 ND At-Large District
Steven Driehaus (202) 225-2216 (513) 684-2723 OH 1st District
Mary Jo Kilroy (202) 225-2015 (614) 294-2196 OH 15th District
Zach Space (202) 225-6265 (330) 364-4300 OH 18th District
Kathy Dahlkemper (202) 225-5406 (814) 456-2038 PA 3rd District
Patrick Murphy (202) 225-4276 (215) 826-1963 PA 8th District
Christopher Carney (202) 225-3731 (570) 585-9988 PA 10th District
Paul Kanjorski (202) 225-6511 (570) 825-2200 PA 11th District
John Spratt (202) 225-5501 (803)327-1114 SC 5th District
Tom Perriello (202) 225-4711 (276) 656-2291 VA 5th District
Alan Mollohan (202) 225-4172 (304) 623-4422 WVA 1st District
Nick Rahall (202) 225-3452 (304) 252-5000 WVA 3rd District
Steve Kagen (202) 225-5665 (920) 437-1954 WI 8th District
Bart Gordon (202) 225-4231 TN
Bart Stupak (202) 225 4735 MI
senator mark begich (202) 224-3004 toll free. (877) 501 - 6275 just became a MAYBE


55 posted on 03/06/2010 5:58:53 PM PST by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, disabled,seniors & retired Military)
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To: Obadiah

OK.


56 posted on 03/06/2010 6:45:39 PM PST by PghBaldy (Like the Ft Hood Killer, James Earl Ray was just stressed when he killed MLK Jr.)
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To: neverdem

Gee Peggy, just shut up.

I haven’t forgotten that you were too stupid to see 0bama for what he was during elections, when your opinion mattered.

You have NO CRED with Conservatives now.

Go fill your face with Botax.


57 posted on 03/06/2010 8:37:57 PM PST by happygrl (Continuing to predict that 0bama will resign)
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To: neverdem

Wow.. when Peggy jumps off the Obama bandwagon, you know things are looking bad for Democrats in November!


58 posted on 03/06/2010 8:38:50 PM PST by OCC
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