First, I’ll admit that I got the “ad homo-nem” joke from my elder son, who said that when he saw the same thing I’m reacting to here:
@TreyWalker: Effeminate sounding non-answers by @VincentSheheen on ObamaCare won’t cut it in this cycle. From the Post and Courier: postandcourier.com/news/2010/aug/…
Say what? Effeminate-sounding? And this from one of your more sensible Republicans, Trey Walker, a McMaster and McCain kind of guy…
Here, for the record, is what Yvonne Wenger wrote on that subject:
Sheheen said he has answered questions throughout his campaign about his national policy stances, such as abortion rights.“My answer is the same: I support life. I have always supported life and my voting reflects that,” he said.Likewise, Sheheen said he has laid out his position on the new federal health care law, including his concerns about the expense and the burden to small businesses. But the new law has components that will remedy long-standing issues in the country that only a “bitter partisan” would find fault with, such as denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.“I think it’s the next governor’s job to stand up against things that aren’t helpful to South Carolina within the health care law,” he said, adding that he would do just that if elected.It is unclear where Sheheen stands on the individual mandate that Americans have health insurance and whether he supports the court challenge on the new law by the state Attorney General Henry McMaster, a Republican. Sheheen’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to questions Tuesday on the matter.
On thing that astounds me is that MSM types will actually go along with the Haley strategy of distraction by asking questions about inside-the-Beltway GOP litmus tests of a candidate running for governor of South Carolina. Abortion? Immigration? Obamacare? (This kind of mindlessness — the phenomenon whereby reporters exercise no judgment whatsoever about what matters, slavishly going along with any idiotic topic that gets brought up by either of the two “sides” you’re falling all over yourself to be fair and impartial to, whether it’s relevant or not — is why I gave up news and switched to editorial in 1994. In editorial, you’re allowed to think, and call B.S. “nonsense.” Unfortunately, we still couldn’t call it “B.S.” Not in a family newspaper. Or on a family blog.)
There is no frickin’ way I would expect a governor of SC to have an overall opinion on Obamacare. Hey, I don’t have an opinion on Obamacare (if I did, you’d have read it here). But maybe that’s because I sort of quit paying attention to Obama on health care way back during the primary campaigns back in the Year Seven, when it became clear that he was too timid even to suggest doing what ought to be done. (Seriously, folks, have you seen any effects from this massive health care “reform” yet? Neither have I.) Since that’s my position, I tend to look at these Republicans who keep wetting their pants about their imagined “government takeover of health care” as though they were recent arrivals from Venus. (Which, in case you missed the implication, is an “effeminate” planet. Your more masculine delusionals come from Mars.)
Another thing that astounds me is that Vincent stays cool and doesn’t get totally ticked off about it. I certainly would.
Maybe that — the fact that Vincent stays cool — is what Trey thinks is “effeminate.” Maybe Vincent should take a swing at reporters when they ask stuff like that. Not at Yvonne; that wouldn’t be manly. How about Tim Smith of The Greenville News? He’s the one who always wears the cowboy hat. It’s always manly to hit a guy in a cowboy hat. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s a codicil in the unwritten Guy Code that if a guy’s wearing a cowboy hat, you’re allowed (and perhaps required) to hit him, whether he’s done anything to provoke you or not. OK, that should be Vincent’s strategy from now on: Whenever anyone in the MSM asks a particularly stupid, irrelevant or irritating question, Vincent should just take a big swing at Tim Smith. After a few times of doing this, the TV cameras would be ready and watching for it, and reporters would be making up stupid questions just to see Vincent pop Tim a good one. The voters would all see this on their boob tubes, and that would lay this “effeminate answers” non-issue to rest for good.
Anyway, I was standing there during the exchange that Yvonne was writing about, which you can see pictured in this image from a previous post (that’s Tim in his cowboy hat, and Yvonne at the left). You can also see Yvonne with me back on Episode 2 of “Pub Politics,” the one entitled “Wesley Sounds Like Crap.” But that’s sort of a digression, isn’t it? Although not nearly as much of a digression as asking candidates for governor of SC about abortion, immigration and national health care policy.
Vincent can stay cool in such absurd moments, because his staff gets all ticked off for him — the way I would. Below, you can see Campaign Manager Trav Robertson intervening to tell the reporters in no uncertain terms to can the stupid, irrelevant questions — and to arrange a time for an extended interview if they want to talk about irrelevancies. Good for you, Trav. Go get ’em…
Related Posts
Effeminate does not equal gay…nice try.
And this from one of your more sensible Republicans, Trey Walker, a McMaster and McCain kind of guy…
-Brad
Talk about your oxymorons. Sensible Republicans. That is the poster child for oxymoron.
Come on Brad. When are you going to get over this man crush you have on McCain. The guy has completely sold out every single principle he ever had. He’s pro-wall, anti-stimulus and very much anti-healthcare. McCain is the perfect example of the type of career politician that Doug Ross rails against. His addiction to office long ago overwhelmed any value his “experience” as a benefit for the office. He just needs to go. Too bad the folks in Arizona don’t see all the pandering.
Actually, as near as I can tell, Arizona voters DID see all the pandering, and liked it. Mind you, this is the state that gave us “Arizona-style immigration reform.” Which Nikki Haley thinks is a legitimate issue in running for governor of SC.
And “man crush?” Is that another “ad homo-nem attack?”
Asking a candidate for governor where he or she philosophically stands on abortion or “Obamacare”– arguably the most significant piece of domestic legislation to come down the pike in a generation–are pretty simple questions, actually. If someone is going to say that Haley is playing politics with her rhetoric and emphasis on “tea party” issues–or that she is playing politics with her seeming move to the center on several issues–then to be intellectually honest, they’d have to point out that Sheheen’s equivocating, vague answers on a lot of these so-called “hot button” issues is also playing politics. He’s having to do the same politics dance that many red-state Democrats have to do–just like those blue-state Republicans. And that’s called playing politics.
But his answer on the abortion question that his voting record reflects his support for life certainly provides an entre for a journalist to do some reporting. Any objective analysis of his record on abortion-related legislation since his time in the House shows that Sheheen has most certainly not consistently supported life through his votes (that is when you compare and contrast his record with those legislators willing to say they are “pro-life” and those willing to say they are “pro-choice”). Of course, if you count leaving the chamber when an abortion-related vote comes up and then returning soon after as contributing to a record of supporting life, then maybe Sheheen is doing better than we think.
I don’t like the word “effeminate”… but it’s an incredibly weak response. And no, he has never been clear at all.
Even the people who wrote and passed ObamaCare are trying to fix some of the crap they put in it that would hurt businesses… so his response is just boilerplate punting…
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/07/30/dens-try-out-obamacare-repeal-in-part/
“It is unclear where Sheheen stands on the individual mandate that Americans have health insurance”
Not really, he voted against a state’s rights resolution that specifically mentioned the individual mandate.
And just look at his disclosure reports… he is loaded with ObamaCare money. He is completely behind the federal mandate 100% because the insurance companies need that mandate. This is dangerous territory for state and individual rights.
BTW, I want to know Sheheen’s position on cap and trade. A lot of his green energy schemes he keeps touting are not economically feasible without something like it.
No, actually, those are not “simple” questions, unless you mean “simple” as in sense 4 in the Merriam-Webster Free Dictionary.
How could anyone could have a “simple” (in sense 5 or 6) answer to the question, “Where do you stand on Obamacare?” Personally, I don’t know anyone who could give a 10-minute summary answer to “What did the health care legislation DO?,” much less have a simple opinion on it.
As for abortion — well, he says he’s “pro-life.” Like me. After all, we’re both Catholic. But why on Earth would anyone wonder what someone running for governor of South Carolina think about abortion? What the hey does that have to do with the issues that actually matter to this state, such as economic development and education? It’s bad enough that that abomination of a court decision, Roe v. Wade, has distorted national politics to the point that candidates for commander in chief are grilled on the subject; why in the name of all that is sane would anyone demand a gubernatorial candidate’s position on the subject.
It makes no sense.
One’s stand on being “pro-life” really depends on the meaning of “pro-life” doesn’t it? My definition would include illegal wars and capital punishment along with abortion. But that’s just me.
I do think a governor’s position on abortion is relevant. If Roe v Wade is ever overturned then states will have to decide what to do. Even now states pass legislation regarding abortion from time to time. Seems relevant to me.
“Not really, he voted against a state’s rights resolution that specifically mentioned the individual mandate.”
You’re kidding, right? Don’t tell me you would actually consider voting for someone who voted FOR the New Nullification Act? I wouldn’t. I mean, I’m not a single-issue voter, but someone would have to be awfully strong on a lot of other fronts to overcome the insanity of voting for THAT.
And Bud, most people of the Bernardin persuasion would include capital punishment, and unjust wars (“illegal wars” is a narrow current-events argument, not a description of an abiding principle), and other issues bearing on basic human value and dignity. For instance, a truly “pro-life” person would favor just policies that make decent health care more readily available. (And one could argue all day whether “Obamacare” does that; I really don’t know.)
But this was brought up within the context of abortion. That was the way I understood it, anyway.
We’re not talking about thoughtful philosophy here. We’re talking about knee-jerk political litmus tests. We’re talking about Haley supporters trying to stick a mindless bumper sticker on Sheheen.
In Trey Walker’s world, where masculinity is defined by what you see in beer commercials, giving a nuanced answer to a question with many angles to it is considered “effeminate.” Just another sad indication of the low regard Southern conservatives have for education, for intelligence, or for somebody who can string together two coherent sentences in a row. How did this happen?
On the other hand, I do think that it’s reasonably fair ground for Sheheen to be asked about health care reform, as aspects of it do have effects at the state level. Sounds like he’s giving exactly the answers he should give to that, and I was glad to see him stand up for the aspects of the law that will “remedy long-standing issues in the country that only a ‘bitter partisan’ would find fault with.”
He should hang onto that “bitter partisan” phrase and haul it out frequently against Ms. Haley.
The knock against Sheheen is he won’t be tough enough to fight back. He’s got 2 months to take the gloves off.
Are there debates scheduled? Can anyone post a schedule? If Sheheen can’t win the debates, or if there are no Haley personal bombshells forthcoming, then we may be doomed to Sanford: Act II.
Isn’t it kind of un-manly for Sheheen to require protection from this short, bald-headed Trav dude. If Sheheen is going to be governor he needs to be tough and deal with the questions and questioners as they come no matter how ridiculous the questions are. I like Sheheen but he does need to man up sometimes.
I want a governor who wants to make the state a better place to work and live, not someone that is using the position to buff up their presence nationally for a higher office like SC Guv’not Sanford. Haley says that she’s not interested in being President or VP; but what is she talking about? Obamacare, immigration, …
How could anyone could have a “simple” answer to the question, “Where do you stand on Obamacare?”
I said a candidate should be able to tell you where they philosophically stand on things like Obamacare (“for it” or “against it” will suffice) or abortion (“pro-life” or “pro-choice” will do)–I’m not talking about getting into a detailed policy discussion here. Most regular people can give a basic answer to questions like these–whether they are well-versed in the topic being debated or just know enough from absorbing info from the world around them. It’s pretty simple.
People are looking for politicians to offer some clarity once in a while.
If Sheheen is effeminate, does that mean Haley is not?
Questions I would expect Sheheen to answer:
Would you have vetoed any portion of the last budget? If so, which parts? If not, why not?
Has the quality of education in South Carolina improved because of PACT and PASS testing? Is the amount of testing too much, too little, or just right?
What will you do to influence the legislature and Department of Education to decrease the dropout rate?
Is the issue of the Confederate flag settled and should no longer be discussed?
Do you support the lottery? Would you support legislation to open up other gambling operations like horse racing in Camden, casinos in Myrtle Beach?
Is the average citizen in South Carolina paying a fair amount of taxes?
Brad–perhaps you stopped caring about Obamacare when you got a job with health insurance?
Just sayin’
What is an “effeminate-sounding” remark–“This wallpaper is killing me?” “I adore this quiche?”
and yes, Dony–effeminate is not the same as gay.
Asking about health reform is a valid question, since the next Gov will have to put in place the mechanisms in SC to implement reform, such as the structures for an insurance exchange. Perhaps asking the Gov candidates who they would/might appoint for the Director of SC Dept of Insurance would be a good.
If I were in Sheheen’s position, the next time a media person or GOP plant in the audience asks about national issues, I’d say, “I’m running for governor of South Carolina, not President. I’m not going to tell our congressional delegation how to vote on such issues; that’s for the voters to do. I trust the voters of this state to do their jobs.”
Phillip says: “In Trey Walker’s world, where masculinity is defined by what you see in beer commercials, giving a nuanced answer to a question with many angles to it is considered “effeminate.”
That is a terrific answer- and I agree 100%.
I simply don’t care what a candidate for Governor thinks about national issues. I’m tired of being concerned about things that the Governor of South Carolina HAS NO CONTROL OVER AT ALL. It’s a huge distraction.
So let me get this “straight” – it’s not appropriate for Vincent Sheheen, who could be the Governor of South Carolina in five months, to comment on the most sweeping healthcare reform bill ever passed by Congress?
A bill that would impact:
– every man, woman, and child (born and unborn)
– every hospital, clinic, doctor, nurse, and other healthcare professional
– every health insurance company (including the largest employer in Columbia)
– every business, small and large
– every state-run health program
Is it too much to expect Sheheen to understand what impact something as massively game-changing as this bill will mean to the people he will represent? I thought one of the things you liked about him was that he was a true policy “wonk”? Do you think it’s pretty likely that someone in Sheheen’s law firm has at least done some analysis of the bill to determine what legal opportunities or hurdles it creates?
Even a political neophyte like me understands what the game plan is here: AVOID ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN SHEHEEN AND OBAMA. His campaign handlers have obviously told him that Sheheen + Obama = guaranteed loss (versus the likely loss he faces anyway).
Sheheen can’t say he supports Obamacare because he’ll lose the Republican crossovers he must have to win. And he can’t say he’s against it because he’ll lose some of the base that he absolutely must hold onto 100% in order to even get within 5% of Haley. With Obama’s approval rankings in a death spiral, Sheheen’s got to go solo.
So it’s not effeminate to avoid the Obamacare question, it’s just plain old politics as usual.
Kathryn says, “perhaps you stopped caring about Obamacare when you got a job with health insurance?”
No. My opinion on health care reform is the same now that it was when I had good (but ridiculously expensive) coverage at the newspaper, when I was unemployed, and now: That we need a single-payer system. And from everything I’ve heard, Obamacare doesn’t move us in that direction. Which is one of many reasons why Republicans pretending it’s so “radical” is so idiotic.
There’s nothing radical about Canada, folks. Or the UK, either. But they are light years ahead of what we have. And we aren’t even moving in the direction…
Canada’s not radical. But I wouldn’t want the wait they have to see specialists.
I have a friend in Canada and what he’s had to put up with to see a specialist wouldn’t be put up with in our country.
Doug has this tendency to see everything inside-out and backwards. It’s ASTOUNDING to me that he doesn’t see (or does, and is being intentionally, perversely obtuse) that Nikki’s campaign doesn’t insist on asking this question because they give a damn one way or the other about the effect of the legislation on health care. They’re raising it because it’s about Obama — something that Doug tacitly acknowledges in claiming that Sheheen AVOIDS it because it’s about Obama.
Sheheen avoids it because it’s a NATIONAL issue — and last year’s national issue, not a current one. The only decisions it poses to a governor are administrative, not political ones.
But unquestionably, Nikki’s allies raise it so that they can talk about Obama. It’s the only trick they know — in a Red State, shout “Obama!”
And yeah, Doug, you’re right about one thing — that’s politics as usual. And it’s intellectually offensive. And when you consider the South Carolina issues they ignore to talk about “Obamacare” and immigration and abortion, it’s morally offensive as well.
@brad
Even your most frequent supporters don’t seem to agree with you that Obamacare IS an issue that Sheheen should understand and have an opinion on.
Now if the question was “Should Washington D.C. be named the 51st state?” or “What should our foreign policy strategy with Iran look like?”, then we don’t care what Sheheen thinks.
But to think that as Governor, Sheheen won’t have to deal with the direct impact of the bill on the state of South Carolina in the next four years is the real “perversely obtuse” opinion.
In today’s news: Government expects 3 million seniors to be forced to switch drug plans due to Medicare changes.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100825/ap_on_bi_ge/us_medicare_drug_plans
You think SC seniors are going to want a governor who doesn’t care about those issues? Good luck!
Sheheen’s expected response (fingers in ears) “Nyah.. nyah… nyah… nyah.. I can’t hear you. That’s a YOU problem, not a ME problem. Let’s all sing a song together instead!”
@ Barry– A lot of us have to wait a long time to see a primary care physician here, and a lot can never see a specialist except in an emergency!
The world needs more Canada!
I figured it out: Sheheen is only comfortable providing an opinion if he’s getting paid by the hour.
Doug R: Obama’s approval ratings in a “death spiral?” Hmmm…they’ve just now reached exactly the same level that Ronald Reagan’s were in August 1982, the low 40’s. That “death spiral” led to six more years of Reagan; I fully expect Barack Obama to be President until January 2017.
@Phillip–and wasn’t W at 28% fairly recently?
and I don’t care what any politician’s opinion is on Obamacare. We need to move on to other issues.
@phillip
If the economy doesn’t come back and we’re still fighting in Afghanistan in 2012, it’s one and done.
The news on the economy has not been good. Home sales tanked again once the deficit funded government incentives disappeared. Unemployment hasn’t improved despite a trillion dollar stimulus. Data analysis of the “cash for clunkers” program revealed $90 million dollars in fraud PLUS the expected rise in the cost of used cars by 10-30%. The more government does to “fix” things, the worse it gets.
@ Doug
Yes, it is reasonable to expect Sheheen to understand the healthcare law and how it will impact our state. But asking him “where he stands on it?” is a different question and is irrelevant to his potential position as governor. It doesn’t matter where he stands on it because he can’t change it. That wouldn’t be his job. He has to abide by it no matter where he stands on it.
And like Brad said, it is surprising that you can’t see that Haley’s asking this question in the first place is a political ploy.
@scout
I’m trying to understand what the downside would be for Sheheen to answer the question? Does he have a list of questions that he will only respond to? If so, let’s get them out now so we don’t offend his sensibilities by asking him to comment on a bill that will change the entire healthcare system.
Maybe when Blue Cross/Blue Shield starts laying off people and they go on unemployment, Sheheen will decide to get engaged.
@Kathryn
And would Bush have won a third term if he was eligible to run? Doubtful. The Republican’s distanced themselves from Bush in 2008. It’ll be the same for Obama.
Sad to say but Sarah Palin has the cachet these days. She pulled off a major upset for her candidate in Alaska yesterday. An unknown came back from 30 points down to beat the incumbent.
Thankfully, 2010 appears to be the year of voter-enforced term limits. It can’t come too soon for me.
Doug Ross says: In today’s news: Government expects 3 million seniors to be forced to switch drug plans due to Medicare changes.
You think SC seniors are going to want a governor who doesn’t care about those issues? Good luck!”
Poor deflection Doug. Medicare -a federal program that the State of South Carolina has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH is a perfect example to use in this situation. Thanks for making it.
Sheheen or Haley have more control over Al Sharpton’s choice of underwear than they do with anything associated with Medicare.
So tell us again why Sheheen (or Haley) or anyone else running for Governor should be answering questions about – say – Medicare coverage?
Kathryn, – you need to change doctors.
I can see my primary care physician right here in Columbia -typically- within 2-3 days if I have an issue. (i’ve seen him 3 times in the last month so I speak from experience)
He referred me to a specialist about 3 weeks ago. I’ve seen the specialist already and have my follow up next week.
A friend of mine had to see a urologist in Canada for a procedure. It took him 6 months and a 2 hour airplane flight (he lives in city similiar to Columbia) to make his appointment.
We want some of what Canada may have. Trust me when I write that some parts of it wouldn’t last a day in our country.
Health care related contributions to the Sheheen and Haley campaigns during the primary:
Sheheen:
Agape Community Hospice Inc 3,500.00
Agape Community Hospice of the Grand Strand 2,500.00
Agape Community Hospice of the Piedmont 3,500.00
Aiken Regional Medical Centers 2,500.00
Beaubeouf Chiropractic Center 1,000.00
Palmetto Behavioral Health Holdings, Inc. 3,000.00
Pfizer Inc. 2,500.00
South Carolina Chiropractic Assoc 3,500.00
South Carolina Hospital Association PAC 3,500.00
Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America 1,000.00
Haley:
SOUTH CAROLINA PODIATRIC PAC 1,600.00
Interesting…
@ Doug: it takes a politician of great gifts to unseat an incumbent President: Reagan, Clinton. Not to mention an ability to attract moderates and “crossover” voters. Given the current climate within the GOP today, there is no candidate that I see out there who could remotely appeal to the center and yet meet the litmus test of ideological purity the Tea Party wing seems to demand. I know it’s a long way off, but if the two frontrunners now are Romney and Palin…geez…better start thinking about 2016.
Meanwhile, the State has more today on Sheheen’s take on these “national” issues…but the best line comes from Winthrop’s poli sci prof Scott Huffmon: “The [health care] bill is not well understood and most of the public has a poorly defined, cartoonish understanding of ‘Obamacare…’”
My opinion on health care reform is the same now that it was when I had good (but ridiculously expensive) coverage at the newspaper, when I was unemployed, and now: That we need a single-payer system. And from everything I’ve heard, Obamacare doesn’t move us in that direction. Which is one of many reasons why Republicans pretending it’s so “radical” is so idiotic.
One of the other reasons is that many of the concepts of the health care “reform” bill are actually . . . Republican ideas.
Who knew Bob Dole and Mitt Romney were so radical>
Barry, there are plenty of horror stories one could recite about the American health care system. Sorry but anectdotal arguments
do nothing for me. The bottom line is pretty simple: folks in practically all the rest of the developed world live longer than Americans. That’s because many Americans are denied health care services because they don’t have insurance. Compared to not being able to get treatment at all a six month wait for a non life threatening event seems trivial.
@Barry–
I despise my current Primary Care docs–the office is a nightmare to deal with and I had to argue with the docs about what turned out to be a significant diagnosis (I was right, and my specialist tells me they were using the wrong test.) In order to get in to the recommended Primary Care prax, I have to wait until January. Other friends have found getting on board with a practice with any kind of reputation takes months, if they are even accepting new patients. Stats back this up.
Who is yours?
@Phillip
I agree with you. If it’s Palin versus Obama, I would give Obama the win. Nominating Palin would be a disaster.
However, I think Romney or Huckabee would have a shot if the economy doesn’t improve. At least we won’t have the tired old choices like McCain, Guiliani, and Fred Thompson.
As for the healthcare plan, it’s understandable that American’s generally understand it — it’s 2000 freakin’ pages long and full of all sorts of rules, regulations, fines, loopholes. The scary thing is that one of the primary writers of the bill, Max Baucus, admitted last week that even HE hadn’t read it. Imagine that – we drastically changed the health care system for the country and its likely that no one person has any clue what the details are. That’s our government… bought and paid for by lobbyists.
@Barry
The Medicare example shows that Obamacare is going to impact every citizen in a variety of ways.
Now, in that specific case, Sheheen has no control over it. But guess what? Seniors vote. And there will be many seniors who will think that Sheheen CAN do something about it. Which is why Sheheen would be smart to say, “I understand this Obamacare bill is going to impact you in both positive and negative ways. I will do everything I can as Governor to make sure that you are protected from the aspects of the bill that negatively impact your life. For those parts of the bill that affect how South Carolina health care programs are funded, I will make sure that we use those funds in the most efficient way possible and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse so that all South Carolinians get the health care they need.”
See, is that so hard? It addresses the question and lets the voters know he’s working for them.
But there are all sorts of questions about Obamacare that Sheheen SHOULD have an explicit answer for: Should government funds be used to fund abortions? How will the state cover the cost of insurance for its employees if the new rules related to prior conditions, universal coverage, children up to age 26 cause premiums to rise – will the cost be shifted to state employees or will it be shifted to the taxpayers?
To treat Obamacare as an issue that cannot be addressed by the leader of a state of 3 million people is just political gamesmanship.
@Doug,
BCBS has already started laying off employees. The NC office announced recently 90 employees will be let go and their jobs will be outsourced to a company in Texas who uses a labor source in the Phillipines. SC, especially Columbia, benefits from BCBS employing so many across the state.
The reasoning? Anticipated increases in costs due to the new health care bill and an uncertainty of how the program will be administered.
SC can expect the same hit in the near future as events unfold and when analysts finsh their projections on cost vs returns.
The details are slowly coming out about the bill and as they are further explained or clarified, the impact is becoming more and more negative. Layoffs and outsourcing will be the answer to lost profits, especially outsourcing to other countries.
A rough calculation estimates a savings of about $2 million by eliminating 90 jobs.
This is what happens when a bill is passed and no one knew exactly what was in it and to make matters worse, Pelosi, in her usual above the common person manner, made the comment that we would just have to wait to see what was in it after it was passed because no one actually understood it in the first place.
Republicans are not setting the world on fire with their ability to run things effectively but this bunch in DC today is the most incompetent assembly of partisan hacks and ideolgues I have ever seen – ever! By comparison, the Nixon crowd of idiots and crooks comes across as brilliant.
As of now, Obama is doing a great job of unseating himself. He doesn’t need any assistance from the Republican side. If trends continue, our Democrat nominee for senate, Greene, could win against Obama in 2012.
I spent two months working in Canada late last year. I would ask people there what they thought of the system. The general answer was “For non-critical issues, it’s great. For critical issues, not so great.”
One mother of two told me “People just accept things like not having a private room when you have a baby”.
All it does is shift the decision making process on who gets what care when from insurance companies to the government. The Toronto Globe & Mail had frequent articles while I was there about which cancer drugs the government would approve or which treatments had the longest wait times or which Prime Minister flew to Miami to get treated rather than wait in line.
“Free” healthcare is worth every penny. Obamacare is the opposite – expensive AND inefficient.
Has “Lee Muller” hijacked Doug’s userID?
The government is not seeking to make a profit on our illnesses. Government ftw!
bud- I think you misunderstood me.
I’m not on here to crow about how great the healthcare system is in the United States. I also don’t really want to get sidetracked.
What I am saying is that folks – like me- in the United States would never put up with having to wait 6 months to see a urologist, or a cardiologist- which is often the case in Canada’s system.
Kathryn – there are quite a few good family doctors in the Columbia area – and in South Carolina. Keep looking if you feel so inclined. Good luck.
@martin
While I agreed with Lee about 80% of the time (he was pro-war, I will never be), I’m not him. We both have an engineering/computer science/consulting backgrounds. So it’s not surprising we would both have a similar view that is based on logic, facts, and the broad range of experiences we have encountered in the work world.
I’ve done consulting for the Federal Government, South Carolina state government, South Carolina tech schools, medical billing companies, insurance companies, and pretty much every private industry over the past 20 years. I’ve spent a month or more in the past two years in Texas, Utah, Florida, D.C., Toronto, Colorado, California.
It’s funny that people can’t imagine that there are others who actually have a broad range of experiences to draw upon to form an opinion. If you’ve rarely left the state of South Carolina and have worked in the same job for a long time, your view of the world might be pretty myopic.
Imho, and I grew up in engineering central–Aiken–home of the Savannah River Site, engineers only *think* they have a broad range of experience. Being systematizers on the autistic end of the spectrum, they have little empathy, for sure.
@Kathyrn
I’m the rare exception… 🙂 Lee wasn’t.
Stumbled across this thread of months ago. I am STILL undecided in the governor’s race. I’m an independent who mostly votes for Republicans, however, if Haley is the best the SC Republican Party can do, it is in deep trouble. Her honesty, integrity and fitness for the office are highly suspect. That said, as for seemingly irrelevant issues (such as Obamacare)being posed in a state political race, I am inclined to agree, at least to an extent, that such questions are typically political smokescreens. However, on a personal level, I happen to find the abortion question VERY relevant. I am extremely pro-life. At least for me, especially in this day of detailed scientific knowledge of the unborn, one’s take on this issue tells me some important things about a candidate’s thinking process as well as about his or her moral compass and character. How anyone could deem the unborn either not yet fully human or unworthy of protection, boggles my mind.