Quotes of the day
posted at 10:52 pm on August 11, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Senior White House aides expressed utter bewilderment and a bit of frustration on Monday with criticism of their health care agenda from conservative figures — particularly former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
‘I don’t even know where to begin,’ said one top-ranking official, when asked about Palin’s remarks that the president was creating a ‘death panel’ that would determine whether to euthanize the sick. ‘I mean. I re-read the House bill this weekend. I don’t even know what she is talking about.’”
***
“Q: How did this become a question of euthanasia?
ISAKSON: 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.”
***
“But somehow liberals have drifted into a strange servility toward big government, which they revere as a godlike foster father-mother who can dispense all bounty and magically heal all ills. The ethical collapse of the left was nowhere more evident than in the near total silence of liberal media and Web sites at the Obama administration’s outrageous solicitation to private citizens to report unacceptable ‘casual conversations’ to the White House. If Republicans had done this, there would have been an angry explosion by Democrats from coast to coast. I was stunned at the failure of liberals to see the blatant totalitarianism in this incident, which the president should have immediately denounced. His failure to do so implicates him in it.
As a libertarian and refugee from the authoritarian Roman Catholic church of my youth, I simply do not understand the drift of my party toward a soulless collectivism. This is in fact what Sarah Palin hit on in her shocking image of a ‘death panel’ under Obamacare that would make irrevocable decisions about the disabled and elderly. When I first saw that phrase, headlined on the Drudge Report, I burst out laughing. It seemed so over the top! But on reflection, I realized that Palin’s shrewdly timed metaphor spoke directly to the electorate’s unease with the prospect of shadowy, unelected government figures controlling our lives. A death panel not only has the power of life and death but is itself a symptom of a Kafkaesque brave new world where authority has become remote, arbitrary and spectral. And as in the Spanish Inquisition, dissidence is heresy, persecuted and punished.”
Blowback
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The Salon article is 100% right on, thanks for the link. Finally, an Obama supporter who sees the big picture. I personally put the blame of our current economic/health care/cap and trade conundrums at 90% Congress, 10% Obama.
He needs to ask Pelosi to step down. I’m 100% confident that if she goes, things will run a lot more smoothly for this administration and Congress MAY just get back to doing what’s right for our country. Maybe that’s what people should be protesting about, NO MORE PELOSI. She’s driving this country to ruin.
scalleywag on August 12, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I had not heard that he’s a health care advisor. Do you have a link stating this? This man is even more scary than Ezekiel Emanual (in my opinion).
I don’t know if people reading this are going to get the jist of what you said regarding “aborting” up to one year – they may just think you’re saying abortion up to full-term if they read your post too quickly.
He advocates the killing of born living children with disabilities up to – I think it is 6 weeks after birth (not a year unless he’s changed that stance). It’s as though he wants to give parents a trial period or something.
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/11/singer_speaking.html
Candy Slice on August 12, 2009 at 9:36 AM
He advocates the killing of born living children with disabilities up to – I think it is 6 weeks after birth (not a year unless he’s changed that stance). It’s as though he wants to give parents a trial period or something.
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/11/singer_speaking.html
Candy Slice on August 12, 2009
The danger is not so much that we will agree with this kind of thinking, it’s that we will be worn down and become numb to it. Then it will roll over us and engulf us because we didn’t fight against it like our children’s lives depended on it.
SKYFOX on August 12, 2009 at 9:47 AM
our own lives depend upon it too
right4life on August 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Just happened to see Glen Beck last night, the topic being the health care bill, and in spite of the dramatics – I feel that he makes a very compelling case as to what he fears is
happening. Ezekiel, Holden, and others who are close to and
advising the president have some very unique takes on the value of life.
Beck does not and refutes any evil labels to any of these people, however he does point out that much of what they’re exploring might happen as a result of limited assets(eg money, doctors, etc). Even if you’re not inclined to watch Beck, I would suggest you listen to his point and decide for yourself. As you can see, it caused me
to explore further just what is and might be happening
imgmaker on August 12, 2009 at 9:58 AM
If the dems get this health care thing passed get ready to move into lock step and form long lines. They already tell us what kind of light bulbs we can use and are working on making us buy the kind of car we can drive. Every aspect of our lives will be controlled. The pay czar will own our paychecks and dole out almost enough to eat on.
Kissmygrits on August 12, 2009 at 10:12 AM
What is in the Bill is so wrong that some just can not believe it. The “Death Panel” will not kill grandma directly. When it is decided that you cost to much to give medical care you need, you will instead get the medical care that costs less. Ezekiel J. Emanuel has the break down on your “worth” in the article he co-authored “Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions” in The Lancet Journal.
IowaWoman on August 12, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Remember that they will end up with a compromise, so instead of six weeks, lets just make it 3 weeks or if they really want to be “fair”, 10 days.
barnone on August 12, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Looks like the Dems and MSM are using the strategy Krauthammer described (worried about) on Monday. Opposition to Obamacare is so out of control it can’t be regarded seriously. Thus, we (Dems)will pass a healthcare bill without “any” GOP support or input.
Tomtomm_2000 on August 12, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Gee, the White House is “bewildered?” After they ran $50 million worth of TV ads saying that John McCain wanted to impose the biggest tax increase in history and ruin your health care? After the DNC put out an ad calling ordinary citizens a “mob” orgaized by “special interests?”
Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander!
I think the only thing they are really bewildered about is that they failed to intimidate every opposing voice into silence.
rockmom on August 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM
That isn’t what she said. She talked about “death panels” (in quotes, as a rhetorical flourish) determining whether or not someone could get medical care based on their worth to society.
single stack on August 12, 2009 at 10:50 AM
“You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don’t you call me ’cause I can’t go
I owe my soul to the
companygovernment store”Thank you Tennesee Earnie Ford!
Catseye on August 12, 2009 at 10:52 AM
“The Salon article is 100% right on, thanks for the link. Finally, an Obama supporter who sees the big picture. I personally put the blame of our current economic/health care/cap and trade conundrums at 90% Congress, 10% Obama.”
Remember one thing – Obama and his bully boys were pushing, nay intimidating, Congress to pass the Pelosi bill by the end of July.
I feel sorry for those of you who do not know Obama’s background. If you took the time to research his history you would see that the Pelosi bill is no different to what Obama would want.
Obama’s paid government employed advisors advocate for most of what is in the bill.
“Obama health care adviser Dr. Ezekial Emanuel (brother of Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel).
The article in which Dr. Emanuel puts forth his approach is “Principles for Allocation of Scarce Medical Interventions,” published on January 31, 2009. A full copy is embedded below. Read it, particularly the section beginning at page 6 of the embed (page 428 in the original) at which Dr. Emanuel sets forth the principles of “The Complete Lives System.”
While Emanuel does not use the term “death panel,” Palin put that term in quotation marks to signify the concept of medical decisions based on the perceived societal worth of an individual, not literally a “death panel.” And in so doing, Palin was true to Dr. Emanuel’s concept of a system which considers prognosis, since its aim is to achieve complete lives. A young person with a poor prognosis has had a few life-years but lacks the potential to live a complete life. Considering prognosis forestalls the concern the disproportionately large amounts of resources will be directed to young people with poor prognoses. When the worst-off can benefit only slightly while better-off people could benefit greatly, allocating to the better-off is often justifiable….
When implemented, the complete lives system produces a priority curve on which individuals aged between roughly 15 and 40 years get the most chance, whereas the youngest and oldest people get chances that are attenuated…
Obama said the n a letter to the Congress -
” am committed to working with the Congress to fully offset the cost of health care reform by reducing Medicare and Medicaid spending by another $200 to $300 billion over the next 10 years, and by enacting appropriate proposals to generate additional revenues. These savings will come not only by adopting new technologies and addressing the vastly different costs of care, but from going after the key drivers of skyrocketing health care costs, including unmanaged chronic diseases, duplicated tests, and unnecessary hospital readmissions.
To identify and achieve additional savings, I am also open to your ideas about giving special consideration to the recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), a commission created by a Republican Congress. Under this approach, MedPAC’s recommendations on cost reductions would be adopted unless opposed by a joint resolution of the Congress. This is similar to a process that has been used effectively by a commission charged with closing military bases, and could be a valuable tool to help achieve health care reform in a fiscally responsible way.”
davod on August 12, 2009 at 10:54 AM
GO SARAH!
Herb on August 12, 2009 at 11:45 AM
“Looks like the Dems and MSM are using the strategy Krauthammer described (worried about) on Monday. Opposition to Obamacare is so out of control it can’t be regarded seriously. Thus, we (Dems)will pass a healthcare bill without “any” GOP support or input.”
Boy, you surrender quickly, don’t you? You, like Krauthammer, worry so much about “strategy” that you can’t see the ability of a quitter posting on Facebook to force the White House to debate what she said.
Just sit back and enjoy the fact that Sarah is messing with Barry’s mind. And if she’s messing with his melon, he can’t move his ball forward.
BradSchwartze on August 12, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Everyone here worrying about their own, their children’s, and even their grandchildren’s health care should take solace that 15 million illegals will be in line ahead of them at the clinic. Oh and not one of their precious civil rights will be denied them by having to prove they are citizens, or paying insurance, or even having to pay any fee.
IT. WILL. COST. YOU. MORE
THERE. WILL. BE. RATIONING.
That is all.
jukin on August 12, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Completely off topic but…
At yesterday’s town hall in Portsmouth NH, 600-700 pro and against demonstrators waited four plus hours to see Obama drive by. He took the back door. Many people were disappointed – on both sides – and a somewhat subdued crowd (very long, hot AM) got all fired up again at this news. The Left (and they were on the actual left of the drive) started chanting something that sounded like “Sarah, Sarah”. Well, imagine the looks of dismay on their faces when our side took up the chant with a deafening “SARAH, SARAH”. Best moment of the day.
Will they ever learn to ignore her? Every time she opens her mouth she wins over more voters than she loses.
The question to ask – What on earth are all those committees and boards going to be deciding if they’re not actually making decisions about how to deliver healthcare and to whom, Mr. President?
gopmom on August 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM
DEATH PANELS
HIGHER TAXES
FINALITY OF DECISIONS
INCREASED NATIONAL DEBT
LOSS OF CHOICE
HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT
OMBAMACARE!
HondaV65 on August 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Isn’t what Sarah Palin’s Facebook commentary really a warning of a case of life threatening to imitate art? Being voted off the island by a ‘death panel’ of self-serving ruthless efficiency experts (aspirants who do not pass master) could likened to efficient, bottom-line bureaucrats who decide who passes muster on who receives health care based on what Sarah calls ‘a subjective standard’.
technopeasant on August 12, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Just sitting in on the ‘madness du jour’ as a newbie on here on HA. Greetings from southeast Texas folks!
Just for fun I’ll share a post of mine from another local Texas blog – it occurred to me after viewing Chris Matthews futile attempt to provoke an argument with the gent who attended the NH Obamacare rally yesterday while exercising his legal ‘open carry’ rights as a New Hampshire resident. It occurred to me to wonder:
Katfish on August 12, 2009 at 8:09 PM
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