It just shouts “I’ll pretend to listen because I have to but you’re just wasting my time and your own. I don’t care what you say.”

Do not tell a drowning man to take a number. Do not tell a sinking taxpayer behind on his property tax that while his ideas have merit we must ignore them. Do not call the destroyed citizen who lost all he worked for that he is a mob and does not represent America

Its the economy stupid.

The more politicians insist they must spend money on Healthcare to fix the economy, the more they dig themselves in. They made the mistake of writing a bill with a few details. Had the bill read “Congress shall grant 1 trillion dollars to satisfy everyone’s desires’ they might have had a chance of a humane execution, but they seem to prefer being torn limb from limb

Soros is doing his best to help the pols. He donated some millions to be given along with stimulus dollars as $200 handouts to New Yorkers on welfare. Yippee yi yo ki yay and vote for me

It’s free money!” said Alecia Rumph, 26, who waited in a Morris Park, Bronx, line 300 people deep for the cash to buy uniforms and book bags for her two kids.

“Thank God for Obama. He’s looking out for us.” – Daily News

Right out of an Ayn Rand novel

It might be true that TARP is a gigantic boondoggle and a grotesque manifestation of ineptitude and/or corruption in business and government. It might also represent nothing more than a panicked government response to a catastrophe of its own making. It is ongoing, but at least there is the likelihood that much of the money funneled into the banks eventually will be repaid. The real danger is that the precedent established by TARP will exist forever. Nevertheless, at its worst TARP mainly involved the squandering of taxpayer dollars. A grievous malfeasance to be sure, but the financial structure of the country survived and it will eventually recover. The proposed government takeover of health care, however, will involve the squandering of taxpayer dollars, both grand and petty larceny (see Medicare and Medicaid fraud), a diminution of quality of care, rationing, and — most importantly — the loss of individual freedom which once gone probably can never be recovered. In truth, I expect Congress to waste money, behave badly, and engage in various forms of corruption. It is the nature of the beast. I even expect Congress and the president routinely to engage in efforts to undermine liberty for the sake of their own power. It is our task as citizens to perpetually insist on economic freedom, fiscal sanity, personal liberty, and individual responsibility. Since the advent of the progressive movement at the beginning of the previous century, I would have to conclude that the citizens have failed in their responsibilities more often than not. God willing, we will not fail in this instance.

PRO Tort Reform, PRO Patients Rights, much clearer.

I’ve got not problem with the protestors, though count me as part of that sample who’s not persuaded by their approach. But what I don’t understand is where were these people in September and February when the government allowed the financial industry to rob us blind to the tune of 1 trillion+ dollars. Where have they been as the investment banking community gradually began to dominate the treasury and the regulatory agencies that are meant to keep Wall Street inline.

Honestly, I think this is where the arguments about corporate sponsorship of protests becomes relevant. No one is arguing that sentiment against the bill is not “real.” But anyone who’s tried to organize a public protest knows that it takes time and resources. There is no big corporate interest behind opposing the bank bailout, and thus, there is no huge public outcry over something that is much worse than any of the healthcare bills proposed by the Congress.

CrankyIndependent on August 13, 2009 at 7:26 AM

Do you realize that the “Tea Parties” and grassroots movement was not organized untill AFTER the TARP, and the Porkulas Bill was passed? As the one woman said to Senator Spector “..you have awakened a sleeping giant!” After Porkulas–the people realized that our Congress is not listening to us.

This is NOT

“…where the arguments about corporate sponsorship of protests becomes relevant”

Nor is it

“There is no big corporate interest behind opposing the bank bailout, and thus, there is no huge public outcry over something that is much worse than any of the healthcare bills proposed by the Congress

Do not try to say that those of us that attend tea parties, or townhalls, are paid shills like the Obama minions. The protests at the townhalls are genuine and heartfelt. People who were never involved in politics are seeing the consequences of their vote–that elections matter!

Do NOT say that I am a pawn of corporate interests!! I say–we have just begun–and you ain’t seen NUTTIN’ yet!!! WE WILL SURROUND THEM!!!

It is wrong to produce an omnibus legislation bill redefining the intimate relationship between the doctor and patient, insurer and insured, state and citizen, and citizen to their maker.

It is plain wrong to employ an intelligent but woefully misled bioethicist who would encourage the early demise of people who are fathers, mothers, grandfathers, husbands and valued members of our society. It brings into clear the true value of the individual and utterly exposes the devaluation of human life down to a simple cost figure. But, this is who we are dealing with.

Think of TARP as the Stamp Act of 1765 — merely the first act of a corrupt and unresponsive government in a struggle that may well last for years.

But I don’t think the healthcare bill and TARP are anywhere near the same in terms of perniciousness. No doubt I’m pissed off that the guy who ran on “reform” and “transparency” is making back door deals with Big Pharma to prevent the use of generics and price negotiations (the free market actually COULD work in this case). No doubt I’m horrified by Senators who’ve been bought off by the insurance industry pushing through a bill that would make health insurance mandatory ala car insurance, but wouldn’t open competition along state lines to prevent state health insurance monopolies.

But even if (when) this horrible giveaway to the insurance industry passes (and they call it healthcare) even THAT won’t be as bad as TARP. For every negative story about single payer (which isn’t even in any piece of legislation) I wish there was a story about Goldman-Sachs and Tim Geithner playing lottery with toxic assets. It’s a much more destructive act than a half hearted attempt to regulate the insurance industry. But this seems to push buttons and that doesn’t. Remember TARP I and II aren’t just September and February they are STILL happening.

But what I don’t understand is where were these people in September and February when the government allowed the financial industry to rob us blind to the tune of 1 trillion+ dollars.
CrankyIndependent on August 13, 2009 at 7:26 AM

You must have missed this! But it’s understandable, since it was not reported anywhere in the MSM. Even Allah dismissed it, but we were there and we knew this would grow as the career politicians have turned a deaf ear to their constituents.
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/27/fiscal-responsibility-is-the-new-counterculture/