BP Admits Lobbying for Libyan Prisoner Exchange – Gothamist
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – It’s always about the money.
BP has released a statement denying that the company had any specific role in his release, but acknowledging that they lobbied the British government to enter into a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya. Read more…
Palin puts rifle targets on Democrats
From the Daily Kos, Palin puts rifle targets on Democrats on her Facebook page….
Given the fact that threats against lawmakers have increased recently since the Health Care vote, this kind of rhetoric and imagery is uncalled for and extremely dangerous. There are better ways to get your point across Palin.
WellPoint CEO defends rate hikes as pressure grows | Reuters
As much as I don’t like the health insurance companies increasing rates, the one thing that the WellPoint CEO said, during the congressional hearings, that I agree with 100% is:
There are no measures in any of the bills proposed that would control the rising costs of health care. Especially in the form of tort reform. Why is there no mention of tort reform? Because trial lawyers, those that benefit from frivolous lawsuits, are HUGE contributors to the Democratic party, giving close to 73% of the time to Dems (almost $179 Million, in 2008 alone).
Have provisions to control costs, then I’ll come on board. Until then, you’re all a bunch of posers.
WellPoint CEO defends rate hikes as pressure grows | Reuters.
AFP: Student detained over Arabic flashcards, lawsuit says
Police state anyone?
via AFP: Student detained over Arabic flashcards, lawsuit says.
4 Big Mortgage Backers Swim in Ocean of Debt – NYTimes.com
4 Big Mortgage Backers Swim in Ocean of Debt – NYTimes.com.
Even as the biggest banks repay their government debt in what is being heralded as a successful rescue program, four troubled giants of the financial world remain on government life support.
These companies, the American International Group, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and GMAC, are not only unable to repay the government, they are in need of continuing infusions that make them look increasingly like long-term wards of the state.
Things will not be getting better anytime soon.
In House, Many Spoke With One Voice – Lobbyists’ – NYTimes.com
In House, Many Spoke With One Voice – Lobbyists’ – NYTimes.com.
Statements by more than a dozen lawmakers were ghostwritten, in whole or in part, by Washington lobbyists working for Genentech, one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies.
E-mail messages obtained by The New York Times show that the lobbyists drafted one statement for Democrats and another for Republicans.
And we wonder why people are fed up with Congress.
Senate health care bill – insurance companies can kick you out if you get cancer and treatment costs too much: AMERICAblog
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth.
“A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer,” reports the AP. The Senate Finance Committee barred annual caps altogether. The merged Senate bill only erases “unreasonable” annual caps. What’s “unreasonable?” Hard to say.
Keep It In Your Pants!
Looks like Tiger Woods has joined a nice long list of guys with $$ who can’t keep it in there pants!
Others we know of recently:
and of course Bill Clinton!
Any body else I missed?
Healthcare Debate
Just read an article in The Week which describes the universal healthcare program in Massachusetts which sounds strongly similar to the program the Feds want to pass now. One of the main points of the article is that Massachusetts, when originally drafting and passing the plan, never took into account the rising costs of healthcare. Thus, when the recession hit, more people were out of work, more people applied for the state subsidies for insurance, and tapped out the insurance fund. The rising healthcare costs fueled a $9 Billion gap, which took away money from education, public safety, and other services.
Similarly, the government plan fails to address the rising costs of healthcare. No way are they going to discuss putting caps or limits on payouts if they want the healthcare industry on board with the plan.
